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

* In the case of such an emission or oozing out a plug of bristles or hiir as described in the preceding chapter and remedial agents laid down in conneclion therewith, should be used.

t The principle of splintering and bandaging may be profitably compared with those followed in Agnur's splint.

286 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. III.

proper medicinal drugs) in the manner mentioned above in order to reduce it to its natural state. 39-40.

In the case of a faulty union of a (fractured) bone lying between two joints (Ka^ada-bhagna^, the union should be again disjointed, and the fractured bone should again be set right and treated as a case of ordinary fracture. In the case where a fractured bone would be found to have protruded out of the ulcerated part and dried, it should be carefully cut off near the margin of the (incidental) ulcer, (so as not to create a fresh ulcer on any other spot of the affected part) and subsequently treated as a case of fractural ulcer. A fracture occurring in the upper part of the body should be treated with applications of Mastikya-Sirovasti [oil-soaked pads on the head] and pourings of oil into the cavity of the ears. Potions of clarified butter,* errhines and Anuvasana (enematas) should be prescribed in cases of fractures in the extremeties. 41-43.

Gandha'-Taila ;— Now we shall discourse on the recipe of a medicated oil, capable of bringing about the union of fractured bones. A quantity of black sesamum-seeds (tied up into a knot with a piece of linen) should be kept immersed at night in a stream of running water and taken out and dried in the sun (for seven conse- cutive days). It should then be saturated with cow's milk (at night and dried in the sun, during the second week). During the third week the sesamum-seeds should be saturated with a decoction of Yashti-madhu (at night) and dried in the sun the next day. Then (during the fourth week) it should be again saturated with cow's milk and dried and powdered. The said sesamum-

* According to Jejjata, not. only Anuvds;ina-enematas but potions of clarified butter and errhines also should be prescribed in cases of fractures in the extremeties*

Chap. Hi.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 287

powder and powder of the drugs, constituting the Kdkolyddi Gana as well as Yasthi-madhu^ Manjishthd, Sdrivd, Kushtha, Sarja-rasa^ Mdnsi, Deva-ddru, (red) Chandana^ and S'atapushpd should be mixed together. Then a quantity of cow's milk boiled with the aromatic drugs (of the Eladi group) should be used with the pre- ceding pulverised compound for the purpose of pressing out the oil therefrom. The oil thus pressed out" should be boiled in four times the quantity of cow's milk with the drugs such as Eld^ S'dlparni, Tejapatra, Jivaka, Tagara, Rodhra^ Prapaundarika^ Kdldnusdri, (Tagara), Saireyaka, Kshira-Viddri, Anantd, Madhulikd, S'ringd- taka^ and those of the aforesaid list (Kdkolyddi group and Yasthi-madhu^ etc., up to S'atapushpd) pasted together. The oil should be duly cooked over a gentle fire and is called the Gandha-Taila. This oil should be administered with good results in possible ways (e.g., as potions, liniments, unguents and errhines) to a fracture-patient. Its efficacy is witnessed in cases of convulsions, hemiplegia, parchedness or atrophy of the palate, in Ardita (facial paralysis) as well as in Manyd-stambha (Paralysis or stiffness of the neck), in diseases of the head (cephalagia), in ear-ache in Hanu-graha, in deafness and in blindness and in emaciation due to sexual excesses. Administered in food or drink, or employed as a liniment, in Vasti-karma (enemata measures) or as an errhine, it acts as a sovereign restorative. Rubbed over the neck, chest and shoulders, it adds to the strength and expansion of those parts of the body, makes the face fair and lovely like a full-blown lotus and imparts a sweet

* There should be three parts of sesamum powder and one part of the powders of Kakolyadi, Yashti-madhu, ManjUhthd, etc. (combined). But siva Dksa says that four parts of sesamum-powders should be taken.

288 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. III.

fragrance to the breath. It is one of the most powerful
Remedial agents in disorders of the aggravated V^yu
(diseases of the nervous system). It may be used
even by kings and for them it should be specially
prepared. 44-45.

The expressed oil of the seeds of the Trapusha,
Aksha and Piydla should be cooked with a decoction of
drugs of the Madhura group (Kakolyadi gana) and with
ten times the quantity of milk. A quantity of lard if
available, should be poured into it (during the process of
cooking). It is an excellent medicated oil and used as
a potion for anointing, and as an errhine, Vasti-karma
and washes, it speedily brings about the union of
fractured bones. 46.

A physician should exert his utmost to guard against
the advent of any suppurative setting in in a fractured
bone, since a suppuration of the local veins, nerves and
muscles is difficult to cure. A complete union of a
fractured joint should be inferred from its painless or
unhurt character, from its full and perfect development
(leaving no detectable signs of its once fractured con-
dition)j from the absence of all elevation (unevenness)
and from its perfect freedom in flexion and expansion,
etc. 47-48.

Thus ends the third Chapter of the Chikitsita Sihanani in the Sua'ruta Sanihila which deals with the medical treatment of fractures and dis- locations.

Now we shall discourse on the medical treatment of nervous disorders (Vata-vyadhi). i.

IVIetrical Texts ; — The patient having been
made to vomit in the event of the deranged Vayu being
incarcerated (lodged) in the Amais'aya (stomach), a
pulverised compound known as the Shad-Dharana-yoga
(a compound of six Dharanas or twenty-four Mash^
weight) with tepid water should be administered to him
for seven days. A compound made up of Chitraka,
Indra-yava^ Pdthd, Katuka^ Ativishd, Abhayd (taken
in equal parts) together is known as the Shad-
Dharana-yoga* and contains the properties of sub-
duing an attack of Vdta-vyadhi. 2-3.

In the event of the aggravated Va} u being incar- cerated in the Pakvsts'aya intestines), purgatives of fatty matters (Sneha-Virechana, i.e ,Tilvaka-Sarpih,ctc.), and Sodhana- Vasti of purifying drugs (with decoctions and Kalka of fatty matters) and diet (Pras'a) abounding in saltf or saline articles should be prescribed. In the case of the aggravated Vayu being incarcerated in the Vasti (urinary bladder), diuretic (lit. bladder-cleansing) measures and remedial agents should be resorted to. Anointing with medicated oils, Ghritas, etc., application of poultices (Upanaha) compounded of Vayu-subduing drugs, massage, and plasters (Alepa) of similar pro- perties are the remedies in cases where the aggravated Vayu is lodged in the internal ducts or channels such

* One Dharana is equal to four Mashas. I Sneha-Lavana and Kanda-Lavana, etc.

290 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. iV.

as the ears, etc, of the body. Blood-letting (vene- section) is the rem edy where the aggravated Vayu would be found to be confined in the skin, flesh, blood or veins (Sirds). Similarly, application of fatty matters (Sneha), actual cauterization, massage, appli- cation of poultices and binding of ligatures should be the remedies where the aggravated Vayu would be found to have become involved in the Siia(yu (ligaments), joints and boaes Where the aggravated Vayu would be found to have become situated in the bone, the skin and flesh of that part of the body should be perforated with a proper surgical instrument (Ara-Sastra) and the under- lying bone should be similarly treated with an awl. A tube open at both ends should be inserted into the aperture, thus made, and a strong physician should suck the aggravated Vayu from out of the affected bone by applying his mouth to the exteiior open end of the tube. 4-9.

In the case of the aggravatd V^yu having contamin- ated the semen, measures and remedies for seminal dis- orders (Sukra-doshai* should be employed. The intelligent (physician) would take recourse to measures, such as blood-letting, immersion or bath in a vessel (full of Vayu- subduing decoctions), fomentation with heated stones, as well as in the manner of Karshu-Sveda, vapour-bath in a closed chamber (Kuti sveda), anointment, Vasti- Karmas, etc., in the event of the aggravated Vayu having extended throughout the whole organism ; whereas bleeding by means of a horn (cuffing) should be regarded as the remedy when the aggravated Dosha

* Treatmenls, such as, the purification of the semen, etc., and the use of medicin s for making Aphrodisia (Vaji-karana) and for the remedy of the disordered urinary organ (Mutra-dosha) should be adopted and employed.

Chap. IV.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 291

would be found to have been confined in any parti ular part of the body* 10-12.

In the event of the aggravated Vayu being connected
either with the Pitta or the Kapha, such a course of treat-
ment should be adopted as would not be hostile to the
two other Doshas. Blood-letting (in small quantities)
should be resorted to several times in a case of
complete senesthesia (Supta-Vata) and the body should
be anointed with oil mixed with salt and chamber-dust
(Agcira-dhuma) Milk bailed with a decoction of the
drugs of the Pancha-mula group, acid-fruits (Phalamla),
meat-soup or soup of (well-cooked) corn (Dhanya)
with clarified butter are beneficial in cases of Vata-
roga. 13-15.

^alvana-Upanaha :-A poultice composed

of the drugs of the Kdkolyadi group, the Vayu-sub- duing drugs (those of Bhadra-ddrvddi and Vidari- gandhadi groups), and all kinds of acid articlesf (such as, Kanjika, Sauvira, fermented rice-gruel, etc.), the flesh of animals which live in swamps (Anupa) or in water (Audaka)l, oil, clarified butter and all kinds of lardaceous substances, mixed together and saturated with a profuse quantity of salt and then slightly heated is known by the name of Salvana A person suffering from any form of Vata roga should be always treated with such Salvana poultices (Upanaha). The poultice should be applied to such part of the body as is

* It is to be understood that measures and remedies laid do^vn under the head of Sarvanga-gata should be used when the Vayu would be found to be diffused throughout the whole organism instead of being confined to any specific pari.

t According to others it means all kinds of acid- fruits, etc.

t Chakradatla reads "^CT^^flt^l ^rf^S:" (well-cooked with the flj.h of "Anupa" animals) in place of ^l'Tqt^8Rl^t€'^ I

292 TJ'E SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. IV.

numbed, painful or contracted and the affected part
should be fiimly bandaged thereafter with a piece of
Kshauma* linen ( r woollen cloth. As an alternative,
the affected part should be plastered (and well rubbed)
with the ingredients of the Salvana-Upanaha and inserted
into a bag made of cat or mungoose skin or that of a
camel or deer hide. i6.

The aggravated Vayu, if located in the shoulders, the chest, the sacrum i^Trika) or the Manya, should be subdued by emetics and errhines judiciously employed. Siro-Vasti should be applied to the head of the patient as long as it would take one to utter a thousand Matras (a short vowel sound), more or less, as the case may require, where the aggravated Vayu would be found to have located itsellf in the head, (if necessary) blood-letting should be resorted to. As a mountain is capable of obstructing the passage of the wind, so the Sneha-Vasti (oily enema) is alone capable of resisting the action of the aggravated Vayu whether it extends throughout the whole system or is confined to a single part. 17-19

Measures beneficial to Vata-Vyadhi:

— An app'.ication of Sneha, fomentations, anointment of the body, Vasti, oily purgatives, Siro-vasti, the rubbing of oils on the head, oily fumigation, gargling with tepid oil, oily errhines, the use of meat-soup, milk, meat, clarified butter, oil and other lardaceous articles (of food), all kinds of acid fruits, salt, lukewarm washes, gentle massage, the use of saffron, Agura^ Patra^ Kushtha, Eld^ Tagara, the wearing of woollen, silken, cotton or any other thick kind of garments, living in a warm room or in one not exposed to the wind or in an inner chamber, the use of a soft bed, basking in the glare of fire, entire sexual abstinence, these and such like other things

* Some lead it as Valka, i.e.^ made up bark.

Chap. IV ] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 293

should be generally adopted by a patient suffering from Vata-roga 20.

The Tilvaka-Ghrita :— A paste (Kalka) of

the following drugs, viz, Trivrit, Danti, Suvarna-kshiri, Saptald, S amkhini^ Triphald and Vidariga, each weigh- ing an Aksha vtwo tolas\ and Tilvaka- roots and Kmnpillaka^ each weighing a Vilva (eight tolas), a decoction of Triphala and curd, each weighing two Patras '■'' ^^thirty-two seers) and clarified butter, weighing sixteen seers, should be duly cooked together. Medical authorities recommend this Tilvaka Ghiila as an oily purgative in cases of Vata-roga. As'oka-Ghrita and Ramyaka-Ghrita aie prepared in the same manner, (viz., by substituting As'oka and Ramyaka respectively for Tilvaka). 21.

The Anu-Taila:— The log of a long-standing
wooden oil-mill should be cut into small chips and then
thrashed and boiled in water in a large cauldron. The
globules of oil that will be found floating on the surface
of the boiling water should be .'^kimmed off either with
the hand or with a saucer. The oil thus collected
should then be cooked with the Kalka of Vayu-subduing
drugs as in the preparation of a medicated oil. This
oil is known as the Anu-Taila- The use of this oil has
been advised by medical authorities in cases of Vdta-
roga. This oil is so named from the fact of its being
pressed out of small chips of oily wood (as described
above). 22.