An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita (Bhishagratna ed.)

the first sprouting of a tree does not enable a man to correctly ascertain the species, so the poison of a venom- ous spider in its first stage of incubation into the body, does not develop any specific symptoms sufficiently potent to throw any light on its nature, nor does it give any hint as to its correct diagonosis. A spider (Luta)- poison latent in a human organism, is marked by a slight itching sensation in the seat of the bite, as if the poison were shifting from one place to another* in that loca- lity, by the presence of Kotha (urticaria^ and by an indistinctness of colour on the first day of its incuba- tion. On the second day the seat of the bite becomes swollen at the end and sunk in the middle and the characteristic marks of biting show themselves. On the third day the specific symptoms (fever, shivering, etc.) of the poison of the animal set in. On the fourth day the poison is aggravated. On the fifth day the symptoms and disorders peculiar to its aggravated condition are present. On the sixth day the poison begins to course througli the organism and envolopes the Marmas (or the vulnerable parts). On the seventh day

* In place of "Prachala" Gayadasa reads "Prabala," i.e., strong and says that the poison becomes stronger and stronger with the lapse of tinae.

754 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VIII.

the poison is diffused throughout the whole organism, becomes extremely aggravated and proves fatal. 44.

Potency : — The poison of spiders (Lut^) which
are acutely and violently venomous proves fatal in the
course of a week. That of a middle-poisonous one would
take a little more time in order to prove fatal, while
a bite by one of the mild-poisonous brings death within
a fortnight. Hence a physician should try his best
with anti-venomous remedies for the complete nulli-
fication of the poison immediately after the bite. 45.

LoCa.tion : — A spider is found to secrete seven
kinds of poison through the seven different parts or
principles of its body, viz., saliva (Ldli), nails (claws),
urine, fangs, ovum (Rajas), fecal matter and semen,
and such poison is either keen or mild in its potency,
or follows a middle path between the two (keen and
mild). 46.

Characteristics of poison accord-
ing to its seat in the body of a spi-
der I — The poison which is secreted with the saliva
(of a spider) gives rise to non-shiftting superficial
Kotha (urticaria) attended with itching and slight
pain. The poison from a scratch with the tips of its
claws, is attended with swelling, itching, horripilation
and a sense as if fumes had been escaping from the
body. Any part of the body coming in contact with
the urine of a spider is marked by a (slight) blackness
of skin in the middle of the point of contact and red-
ness at its edge, and the affected part is cracked. In a
case of fang-poison (actual bite) the seat of the bite is
marked by fixed circular patches and becomes indurated
and discoloured. The poison in this case is strong,
A part of the body touched with the Rajas^ semen, or
with fecal matter of a (venomous) spider is marked by

Chap, vm.] KALPA STHANAM. 755

eruptions of pustules which assume a yellow colour like that of a ripe Amalaka or Pilu. 47.

Thus far we have described the effects of spider-
(Luta)-poison according to its seat in the body of the
insect and to the period of its aggravation. Now we
shall describe the mythological accouut of the origin of
these insects and the curable and incurable natures of
their bites together with the course of medical treatment
to be followed in each case. 48.

IVIythological account of the origin

of LutSL : — Once upon a time, it is said, king
Visvamitra went to the hermitage of the holy Vasishtha
and by his actions aroused the wrath of the holy sage.
Drops of perspiration were thereupon produced on
the forehead of that holy and celestially brilliant sage
and trickled down on the stacks of hay culled and
gathered (Luna) by the holy sages for the use of the
(celestial) cow, and behold 1 they (the drops of sweat)
were transformed into innumerable dreadful and venom-
ous spiders (Lutsi) which, up to this day, are found to
infest the articles of royal use for the iniquity of
that royal sage (Vis'vdmitra). They are called Luts^s
(spiders) from the fact of their being germinated from
the drops of perspiration of the holy sage Vas'ishtha
fallen on the culled (Luna) stacks of hay and they are
sixteen in number. 49.

The different names of spiders and the general symptoms of their bites :—

The poison of spiders is divided into two classes — cur-
able with difficulty and incurable. Of the sixteen kinds
of spiders, the bites or poisons of eight may be cured
with the greatest difficulty, while those of the remaining
eight are incurable. The Tri-mandald, Svetd, Kapild,
Pitikd, Ala-vishd, Mutra-vishd, Rakta and the Kasana

756 THE SUSHKUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VIII.

are the eight species of spiders which belong to the first group. A bite by any of them is attended with an aching pain in the head, pain and itching about the seat of the bite and the symptoms and disorders peculiar to the aggravated Vayu and Kapha. The Sauvarnikd, Ldja-varna, Jilini, Eni-padi, Krishna-varnd, Agni varnd, Kdkdndd and the Mald-gund belong to the second group and their bites are marked by bleeding, fever, a burning sensation, dysentery and disorders due to the concerted action of all the three deranged Doshas of the body, and the bitten part putrefies. Eruptions of various sorts and pustules and large circular patches as well as large, soft and shifting swellings, red or brown in colour, appear on the skin about the afifected part. These are the general features of spider (Luta)-biies. Now we shall describe the characteristic symptoms which are developed by bites of the several classes of spiders and the course of medical treatment to be adopted in each case, 50-51-

Specific symptoms of spider-bites and their treatment :— A bite by a spider

of the Tri-mandalak species is marked by a flow of
black-coloured blood from the bite which is transformed
into an open ulcer. It is also attended with deafness,
impaired or cloudy vision and a burning sensation
in the eyes. In such cases, a compound consisting
of Arka roots, Rajani, Ndkuli and Pris'ni^parnikd
should be employed as snuff as well as in drink (Pdna),
enemas (Vastis) and ointments etc. A bite by a spider
of the SvetSk species is followed by the eruption of
white-coloured pustules attended with itching, burning
sensation, epileptic fits, fever, erysipelas and pain in
and secretion from the bite. An Agada consisting of
Chandana, Rdsndy Eld^ Harenu^ Nala, Vanjula^ Kushtka,

Chap. VIII.3 KALPA STHANAM. 757

Ldmajjaka^ Chakra and Nalada is efficacious in such a case. A bite by a Kapilai spider is characterised by eruptions of coppar-coloured pustules of an indurated nature accompanied by a sense of heaviness in the head, a burning sensation, vertigo and darkness of vision (Timira). The remedy in such a case consists of an anti-poisonous Agada composed of Padmaka, Kushtha, Eld, Karanja, Kakubha-hdiXk, S'third, Arka- parni, Apdmdrga, Durvd and Brdhmi. A case of bite by a Pitiksi spider is marked by an eruption of hard pustules, vomiting, fever, colic (^ula) and redness of the eyes, and the remedy consists in the application of an Agada, composed of Ktitaja, Us'ira^ Kinihi, S'elu, Kadamba and Kakubha-h^xV. A case of bite by an Ala-visha( spider is marked by the bright red colour of the seat of the bite, eruption of pustules like mustard seeds, parchedness of the palate and a burning sensation in the body. The remedy in such a case should consist of an Agada composed oi Priyangu, Hrivera, KushtJia, LAmajja, Vanjula, S'aia-pushpd and the sprouts of the Pippala and the Vafa trees. The case of bite by a spider of the Mutra-visha( class is attended with putrefaction (of the affected localityX erysipelas, a flow of blackish blood (from the seat of the bite), cough, difficult breathing, vomiting, epileptic fits, fever and a burning sensation. The remedy in such a case consists in Maftah-s'ild, Ala, Yashti-madhu, Kushtha, Chandana, Padmaka and Ldmajja pasted together and mixed with honey. The case of bite by a spider of the Rakta^ species is marked by eruptions of yellow-coloured pustules full of blood and coloured red in the extremities (round the seat of the bite), with a burning sensation and slimy secretion. The Agada in such a case should be prepared with To§)a (Bdlaka) Chandana, Us'ira^

758 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VIII.

Padmaka and the bark of Arjuna, S'elu and Amrdtaka.
A bite by a spider of the Easans^ class is attended
with a flow of slimy cold blood (from the bite),
and with cough and difficult breathing, the treatment
being the same as in the case of a bite by a spider of
the Ratkd class. 52-59.

A bite by a spider (Lutd) of the Krishns^ class smells of fecal matter and is attended with a scanty flow of blood, as well as with fever, epileptic fits, vomiting, burning sensation, cough and difficult breathing. The treatment of such a patient should be taken in hand without holding out any definite hope of recovery and the remedy in this case should consist of an Agada composed of Eld, Chakra, sarpdkshi^ Gandhandkuli^ Chandana and the drug^ known as the Mahd-sugandhi (as described in the Dundubhi-svaniya chapter). The case of bite by an Agni-vamii spider is marked by a burning sensation in the seat of the bite, excessive secretion (of blood), fever, a sort of sucking pain, itching, horripilation, a burning sensation in the body and eruptions of pustules. In a case of this type, the patient may be treated with the Agada prescribed for the treatment of a bite by a spider of the Krishnd class but no hopes should be held out. 60-6 r.

General Remedies :— An Agada made of

Sdrtvd, Us'iraj Yas/iti mad/iu, Chandana, Utpala ditid
Padmaka may be used with advantage in cases of
spider-bites of all types. The bark of S'leshmdtaka and
Kshirapippala should be deemed equally efficacious in
all cases of spider-bites, and these may be employed
in any shape, viz., as snuff, potion, unguent, etc. 62.

We have described (the symptoms and the treatment
of the bites of) the eight classes of spiders which can be
cured with difficulty. Those of the two classes (of the

Chap. Vni.] KALPA STHANAM. 759

Other group whose bites are generally incurable) have
also been described above, as being sometimes found
amenable to medicine (with the greatest difficulty).
Now hear me describe (the symptoms and the treat-
ment of the bites oQ the remaining six species which
are incurable. 63. A.

Specific Symptoms of the incurable cases of Spider-bites : —A bite by a spider of the Sauvarnikji species is marked by swelling and a frothy secretion and a fishy smell from the seat of the bite, and is followed by cough, difficult breathing, fever, thirst and violent fainting fits. A bite by a Uja varn^ spider is marked by a flow of flesh-smelling and fetid blood from its seat as well as by a burning sensation, dysentery, fainting fits and pain in the head. A case of bite by a spider of the Jf^lini species is very severe and is marked by a cracking of the seat of the bite which is striped with lines as well as by numbness, difficult breathing, parchedness of the palate and continued dizziness of the head. The bite by an Eni-padi spider resembles the seeds of black ses^mum in shape and is marked by thirst, fever, fainting fits, vomiting, cough and difficult breathing. A bite by a KaTcandaks^ spider is marked by an excruciating pain and a reddish-yellow colour at its seat. A bite by a 'ULild- gnni spider is characterised by a cracking of the seat of the bite in several parts and is marked by a red colour, smoky smell, extreme pain, fever and epileptic fits. 63.

Treatment of the incurable cases of spider-bites
should, however, be taken in hand by a wise physician
with a due consideration of the aggravated Dosha or
Doshas in each case with the exception of making
incisions (chheda-karma). 64 A.

760 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. CChap. VII I.

Surg^ical Treatments :— in all cases of the

curable types of spider-bites, the affected part should
at once be cut open and removed with a Vriddhi-
patra instrument and the incisioned part should then be
cauterised with a red-hot Jambvoshtha instrument in
the absence of any fever or such like distressing symp-
toms and in the event of its not occurring in any of the
vulnable parts of the body (Marmas). The act of
cauterisation should be continued until the patient
himself (through pain) prohibits the continuation of the
same. If the affected part is found to be attended with
a slight swelling, it should be cut open and removed.
It should then be plastered with a paste of the (Mahd-
sugandhi and such other) Agada mixed with Saindhava
and honey or with the paste of Priycngu, Haridrd,
Kushthay Saman^d and Yashti-madhu, A potion com-
posed of the decoction of Sdrivd^ the two kinds of
Yashti-madhu^^ Drdkshd^ Payasyd, Kshira-morata^
Viddri and Gokshura mixed with honey should be
administered to the patient. The affected part should
be washed with a cold decoction of the bark of the
Kshiri-vrikshas. Any other distressing symptoms
should be remedied with anti-poisonous measures with an
eye to the deranged Doshas involved in the ca'^e. 64.

Any of the (ten-fold) remedial measures of Nasya
(snuff), medicated collyrium, unguents (Abhyanjana\
potions (Pdna) Dhuma (fumigation), Avapida form
of snuff, gargling, emesis, purging and blood-letting
by the application of leeches should be adopted
in a case of spider-bite according to its require-
ments. 65.