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

Dantyarishta : — A Tula weight* (twelve seers

and a half) of the following drugs, ziz., Das'a-mula,

Danti, Chitraka and Hai'itaki should be boiled with

four Drona measures of water till reduced to one quarter

part (one Drona). The decoction, thus prepared, should

be cooled down, filtered, mixed with a Tuld measure of

treacle and preserved into a receptacle which formerly

contained clarified butter, which should then be

kept buried for a month in a heap of unthrashed

barley At the close of this period an adequate dose

of this preparation should be given to the patient

every morning. This medicine proves beneficial \n

cases of haemorrhoids, chronic diarrhoea (Grahani),

jaundice, obstinate constipation of the bowels (Udavartta)

and in an aversion to food. It is also a good stomachic

agent.

AbhayariShtat :— Two Pala weight of each
of the following drugs, viz., Pippali^ Maricha, Vidanga,
Elavdlukd and Lodhra, five J Pala weight of Indra-
vdruni, ten Pala weight of the inner pulps of the Kapittha
fruit, half a Prastha measure (one Prastha is equal
to two seers) of Haritaki and one Prastha weight of
Amalaki, boiled together with four Drona measures of

* Some are of opinion that one Tula weight of each of the drugs should be taken ; but Gayaddsa does not say so.

t Charaka also reads this under the name of Abhaydrishta.

X Experienced physicians recommend two and a half Pala weight of Indra-Vdruni in lieu of five Palas for its astringent taste. Charaka, liowever, recommends oply "half a Pala."

Chap. VI.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 325

water until reduced to one quarter of its quantity. This
decoction should be filtered (through a piece of linen)
and cooled down, after which two Tula weight of
treacle should be added to it. The whole preparation
should be then kept in a receptacle which formerly
contained clarified butter, and be kept buried half a
month in a heap of unthrashed barley. After the lapse
of the said period, the patient should be made to drink
(an adequate quantity of) this preparation every
morning according to his strength. This Arishta
proves curative in cases of an enlarged spleen,
impaired digestion, chronic diarrhoea (Grahani), Ars'as,
heart-disease, jaundice, cutaneous affection, ascites,
Gulma, oedema (Sopha), and worms in the intestines,
and improves the strength and complexion of the
body. 14

Anointing (Sneha-karma), fomentation, use of emetics
and purgatives and the application of Anuv^sana and
Asthcipana measures should be employed in cases of
haemorrhoids due to the action of the deranged Vaiyu*.
The use of purgatives is recommended in the Pittaja
type ; soothing or pacifying (Samsamana) measures in
the Raktaja type ; and S'ringavey-a and Kulattha in the
type caused by the action of the deranged Kapha. All
the preceding remedies should be combinedly employed
when the concerted action of all the Doshas would
be detected. As an alternative, milk boiled with the
proper drugs may be administered in every case. 15.

Bhallataka-yogaf :~Now we shall describe the mode of using Bhallattaka in cases of haemorrhoids.

* Some are of opinion that the Rishis do not read this line. But as Gayadasa explains it, so Dallana, he tells us, also does the same.

t A physician should apply this medicine after a due consideration and according to the physical condition of the patient.

326 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VI.

A ripe and fresh Bhalldtaka should be cut into two,
three or four pieces and a decoction should be made of
them in the usual way. The patient should be made
to drink four Tola weight of this cold every morning
after lubricating or anointing his tongue, palate and
lips with clarified butter, and should take his chief
meal with milk and clarified butter in the afternoon.
The number of Bhalldtakas in preparing the decoction
should be increased by one every day till the fifth
day, (and the quantity of the decoction to be drunk
by the patient should be similarly increased). After
that, the number of Bhalldtakas (and consequently
the quantity of the decoction to be taken) should be
increased by five every day. This method should be
followed till the number of the Bhallatakas reaches
seventy, after which it should be decreased every
day by five until it is reduced to five Bhallatakas
only (and five Sukti measures of the decoction).
Subsequently the number of Bhallataka (and the dose)
should be diminished by one (and one Sukti measure
respectively) every day,until it is reduced to the original
one (and one Sukti measure). By taking a thousand
Bhallatakas in this manner, one may get rid of an attack
of any kind of Kushtha and Ars'as, and, having
become strong and healthy, may live for one hundred
years. i6.

Other forms of Bhallataka-yoga : —

The oil extracted from or pressed out of Bhallatakas, in the manner laid down in the chapter on Dvi-vrana, should be taken in a dose of one Sukti (four Tolas) every morning. The patient, as in the preceding case, should take his meal ( of boiled rice, milk and clarified butter) after the digestion of the oil with a similar good Qfifect. As ai) alternative, oil should be extracted froni

Chap. VI.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 327

the marrow of Bhalldtakas and the patient, after cleansing his system with emetics and purgatives, etc., and regulat- ing his diet in the order of Peya, etc. should enter into a spacious chamber, protected from the blasts of the winds and take two Palas, or one Pala weight of the oil according to his strength A meal of boiled rice, milk and clarified butter, etc., should be taken after the oil had been fully digested. The oil should be conti- nued, in this way, for a month, the regimen of diet should be strictly observed for a period of three months and the patient should abstain from anger, etc, during this period. The use of this oil, in the above mentioned way, not only ensures a radical cure of the disease with all its complications, but would increase the duration of life to a hundred years with the glow of youth and health and with an increment in the powers of memory, retention and wisdom. The application of this oil for every one month will extend one's life for a period of one hundred years. In the same way a continuous use for ten months would enable him to live for a thousand years. 17.

IVlemorabie Verses :-Vrikshaka (Kutaja)

and Bhallattaka* prove as much curative in cases of
all kinds of haemorrhoids, as Kshadira and Vijaka are
effective in cases of cutaneous affections (Kushtha).
Cauterization with fire, or with an alkali, proves as
much palliative in cases of external haemorrhoids as
turmeric proves soothing in those of Prameha. 18-19.

Medicated Ghritas, appetising drugs, electuaries,
medicinal wines, Ayaskriti and Asava should be
prescribed in cases ol haemorrhoids, according to
the nature and intensity of the Doshas involved

Boiled with sixteen times of water in the event of the Bhallataka being dry, otherwise with eight times of water only.

328 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VI.

therein. Voluntary suppression of any natural urgings
of the body, sexual intercourse, riding on horse-back,
etc., sitting on the legs and such diets as would
aggravate the Doshas, should be avoided in cases of
haemorrhoids. 20-21.

Thus ends the sixth Chapter in the Chikitsita Sthanam of the Sus'ruta Samhita which deals with the medical treatment of Ars'as.

Now wc shall discourse on the medical treatment of urinary calculus, etc. (Asmari). i.

Metrical Texts :— Asmari (urinary calculus, etc) is a dangerous disease and is as fatal as death itself. A case of recent origin (acute) proves amenable to medicines, while an enlarged or chronic one requires surgical operations. The remedial measuies, in the order of anointing, etc, should be employed in the first or incipient stage of the disease, whereby the entire defects with their causes {i.e., roots of the disease) would be radically cured. 2.

Treatment of Vataja Asmari :— Clarified

butter cooked with a decoction of Pdshdnabkeda, Vasuka,
Vas'ira, As'mantaka, S'atdvari^ S'vadamstrd^ Vrihati,
Kantakdrikd, Kapotavamka, A'rtagala, Kakubha^^ Us'ira,
Kubjaka, Vrikshddani^ Bhalluka, Varuna, S' dka-phala^
barley, Kulattha, Kola and Kataka fruits and with the
Kalka of the drugs constituting the group of Ushakddi,
speedily brings about the disintergration of As'mari
(urinary calculi, etc.) due to the action of the deranged
Vaiya. Milk, Yavagu (gruel), a decoction, soup, or an
alkali, properly prepared with the above Vayu-subduing
drugs should also be administered as food and drink
in the above cases. 3.

Treatment of Pittaja Asmari : —Simi- larly a medicated clarified butter cooked with the

* Chakradatta reads "Kopotavaklra" in place of "Kapotavamka" "Kanchana" in place of 'Kakubha" ; and ''Gulmaka" in place of "Kubjaka " From an examination of Dallana it appears that • 'Kachchhaka" is also a reading of "Ivakubha. "

330 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VII.

decoction of Kus'a,Kds'a, S'ara, Gundrd, Itkata^ Morata,
As'mabhid, S'atdvari^ Viddri, Vdrdhi^ S'dli-mula, Tri-
kantaka, Bhalluka, Pdtald, Pdthd, Pattura, Kuruntikd,
Punarnavd*, S'irisha, with the paste (Kalka) consisting
of S'ildjatu, Madhuka (flower) and the seeds oi Indivara\ ,
Trapusha and Ervdruka, would speedily bring about
the disintegration of Pittaja As'mari (calculi, etc.).
An alkali, Yavagu (gruel), soup, a decoction, or milk,
properly prepared with the above Pitta-subduing drugs,
should also be prescribed as food and drink in these
cases. 4.

Treatment of Kaphaja Asmari :—

The use of medicated clarified butter prepared from
the milk of a she-goatf and cooked with the paste
(Kalka) of the drugs constituting the Varunddi groupj,
Guggulu, Eld, Harenu^ Kushtha, the Bhadrddi group,
Maricha. Chitraka, Surdhvd and the Ushakddi group,
leads to the speedy disintegration and expulsion of the
As'mari (stone, etc.) due to the action of the deranged
Kapha. So also the use of an alkali, Yavdgu (gruel),
soup, milk, or a decoction, properly prepared with the
above Kapha-subduing drugs, is recommended as food
and drink in such cases. 5.

A potion consisting of the powdered fruit of the Pichuka, Amkola, Kataka, S'dka and /;^<^2Wr^ mixed with treacle§

* Chakradatta reads "Punarnave" i.e.^ both the kinds of Punarnava.

t Jejjata explains *'Indivara" as 'Nilotpala.' But Gayadasa does not support this.

X S^me say that "Aja-sarpih" is superfluous. Chakradatta reads ''■m ^^II^l^ "^ ^^1#^l^^f*(:'' in place of "^^t ^^^if^^ ^I^^I- fT^?r^ ''"' meaning thereby that the decoction of the Varunadi-gana is to be used. Chakradatta's reading seems to be the correct one and is observed in practice with good results. — Ed.

§ The quantity of treacle, to be taken, should be equal to the entire quantity of the powders ; anci hot water should be use4 — PaUan^^.

Chap. VII.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. '33'r

and water proves beneficial in cases of Gravel (Sarkard).
The bones of the Krauncha, camel and ass, as well as
the drugs known as S'vadamshtrd* Tdlamuli^ Ajamodd^
Kadambaxoots and Ndgara pounded together and ad-
ministered through the vehicle of wine (Surd) or hot
water, leads to the disintegration of Sarkara gravel).
The milk of an ewe mixed with powdered Trikantaka-
seeds and honey should be used for seven days for the
disintegration and separation of an Asmari. 6-y,

Alkaline Treatments:— An alkali should be

prepared from the ashes of the drugs used in the prepara- tion of the aforesaid medicated clarified butters, by dis- solving and filtering them in ewe's urine The alkali should then be slowly boiled with an alkali similarly prepared from the dung of domestic animals, with the powders of Trikatu and the drugs of the Ushakddi group thrown into them as an after-throw. It proves curative in cases of stone, Gulma, and gravel. Alkaliesf from burnt bark of sesamum, Apdmdrga^ plantain, P aids' a and barley taken with the urine of an ewe destroy the gravel (S'arkard). As an alternative, the alkalies of Pdtald and Karavira should be used in the preceding manner. 8-9. Two Tola (Aksha) weights of the pastes of S'va- damstrd, Yashti-madhu and Brdhmi (mixed with ewe's urine) should be given to the patient ; or the expressed juice of the Edakd, S'obJidnjana and Mdrkava (with the said urine) should be given, or a potion consisting of the pasted roots of the Kapotavamka with Kanjika, or Sura, etc., should be administered. Milk boiled with the afore- said drug (Kapotavamka) should be taken by a patient

* Some explain it as **Gokshura-seeds" and others as "Markataka- seeds."

t Four or six Tola weight of an alkali should be dissolved and filterrd for a number of times before use.

332 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VII.

in case there is pain (in urinating). Milk boiled with
Triphald or Varshdbhu should be administered as a
drink and a decoction of the drugs of the Vira-tarddi
group should be employed in all these cases.* lo.