A dry or parched condition of the organism should be inferred from a general dryness of the body, the hard and knotty character of the foecal matter (stools), a slug- gish digestion with a burning sensation on the epigas- trium (Uras) and an upward coursing of the Vdyu from the abdomen (Koshtha) as well as from the weakness and discoloration of the body. Lassitude, a sense of heaviness
Chap. XXXI.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 557
in the limbs, the oozing out of the Sneha through the lower orifices of the body and an aversion to any kind of oleaginous substance are the indications which mark the satisfactory action of an emulsive remedy in a human organism, while its abrupt excess or abuse is followed by aversion to food, salivation, a burning sensation about the anus, dysentery and diarrhoea and such like symp- toms. A condition of dryness in the organism should be remedied with a Sncha, while an excess of the latter should be corrected with meals of S'ydnidka or Kora- dusha grains, as well as with milk-curd (Takra), levi- gated sesamum paste (Piny^ka) and powdered barley (Saktu). 20-23.
The good effects of Sneha-pana :—
The blcsiings which attend a person who has duly
taken a Sneha are improved digestive capacity, regular
and satisfactory motions of the bowels, a growth of all
the vital principles of the body, strength and firmness of
the organs, improvement of complexion, a delayed old
age and the enjoyment of a hundred summers on earth.
The application of a Sneha is potent enough to increase
the strength and the digestive capacity of a weak person
suffering from impaired digestion, and a person having
his health and digestive capacity recouped (by the use
of a Sneha) does not yield to the evil effects of errors
of diet. 54-55.
Thus ends the Thirty-first Chapter in the Chikilsita Sthdnam of the Sus'iuta Samhitd which deals with the treatment of the diseases where oleaginous medicines are useful.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Now we shall discourse on the medical treatment by measures of fomentations, diaphoretic measures, etc.
(Svcda-vacharaniya). i.
Sveda* (calorification, fomentation, diaphoretic
measures, etc.) may be divided into four groups such as,
the application of direct heat (Tapa-sveda), foment-
ation (Ushma-sveda\ poulticing (Upandha sveda) and
the application of heated fluids (Drava-sveda). All
kinds of diaphoretic measures (Sveda) belong to one
or the other of these groups. 2.
Tapa-SVeda:— Of these the TApa-sveda consists
in repeatedly applying heat to (any affected part of the
body of) a patient made to lie down (on a bed) with
the help of the palm of the hand, a piece of brass, an
Indian saucer, a piece of baked clay or sand, or a piece
of cloth after heating them over a fire of Khadira wood,
etc. 3.
UShma-SVeda : — A piece of stone, brick, iron,
or baked clay should be made red-hot and sprinkled
over with water or with sour gruel (Kanjika). The
affected part of the body should be covered with (cotton
plugs soaked in) Alaktakaf and then fomented with
* The Sanskrit term "Sveda" is not properly rendered by the terms fomentations, diaphoretic measures or any other such word or phrase. Sveda is used to mean the application of heat in any possible way— it may be to cause or not to cause perspiration. Vapour baths, hot water baths, applications of warm poultices, etc., are also included in the mean- ing of the term Sveda. We have, however, for convenience sake, used the term fomentation as a synonym of Sveda in general.
t Jejjata reads "^^jf^^^TTfrtfect" instead of "dAlsikcti^MR^f^ci" and explains that the cotton plug soaked in Alaktaka should be made wet and placed over the affected part before applying the fomentation.
Chap. XXXII. ] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 559
the above-named (heated) articles. As an alternative,
a metal saucer containing milk, curd, Dhdnydmla, meat-
soup and a decoction of the tender leaves of the Vdyu-
subduing plants (jointly or separately) should be heated
over a fire. The mouth of the saucer should be covered
(with a piece of blanket or such other cloth)* and the
affected part of the body should be fomented with the
vapours rising therefrom. As an alternative, another
pitcher should be placed with its mouth downward over
the mouth of the above pitcher (containing the above-
named heated articles). Then an aperture should be
made in the side of the upper pitcher and a pipe to the
shape of an elephant's trunk should be inserted into it.
The affected part of the body should then be fomented
with the vapour escaping through that pipe. 4.
Metrical Texts :— The mode of applying heat to a patient suffering from any disease or affection of the bodily Vayu (disease of the nervous system, etc.,") is as follows : — He should be first anointed with oil, etc.,"^ and wrapped up in a thick cloth. He should then be made to sit in an easy posture. Heat should then be applied through a pipe shaped as an elephant's trunk. The advantage of this mode of fomentation is that the entire body of the patient may be easily fomented without causing him any serious trouble. The pipe should be made half a Vydmaf in length with three bends or turnst in its body to resemble
* The mouth of the pitcher should be covered only to mitigate and regulate the heat.
t A Vyama is the length measured by the outstretched hands of a man.
t The reasons for bending the tube are to make the fomentation delightful, in consequence of the vapour not passing in a straight course.
560 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXXII.
the trunk of an elephant * The use of a pipe made of
the materials (such as Kus'a, Kds'a, etc.) used in the
making of a Kilinji (basket) and resembling the trunk of
an elephant in shape is only recommended for the
purposes of Sveda iheat-application). 5.
A plot of ground commensurate with the length
of the patient's body should be dug and heated
with fire of Khadira wood and then sprinkled over
with milk, water and Dhanyamla. The heated ground
should be then covered with a layer of leaves (of
the Vayu-subduing plants) and the patient should be
made to lie down full stretched upon the (bed of)
leaves and thereby fomented.f As an alternative, a
stone slab should be heated and the fomentation
(Sveda) should be applied similarly to the patient by
making him lie down upon it after the ashes and
cinders have been removed |. As an alternative, the
patient should be seated inside a chamber with four
doors (one on each side) and fomented by lighting
up a good blazing fire (of Khadira wood) at all the
doors (simultaneously §. Another alternative is that the
patient should be laid on a mattress (made of Kus'a,
Kds'a^ etc.) or on a similar bed as before and fomented
with the fumes of duly boiled paddy (and Mdsha-
pulse, etc.) kept under the same mattress. In the
same manner, Sveda (fomentation) might be applied
with the help of heated co.v-dung, ashes, husks of
paddy, weeds, etc. 7.
Upan^ha-Sveda (Poulticing) -.—The roots of the Vdyu-subduing drugs should be pasted together
* This is called the " Nstdi-Sveda ". t This is called the " Karshu-sveda ". X This is called the " As'ma-ghana-sveda ". § This is called the «' Kuti-Sveda".
Chap. XXXlI.] CfllKITSA STHANAM. 561
with Amla (Kanjika) and mixed with an abundant
quantity of rock-salt and of Sneha (clarified butter, etc.).
The paste should be heated and applied lukewarm
to the affected part. Th^ pastes of the drugs included
within the Kdkolyddi, the Elddi or the Suras ddi groups
as well as a paste of mustard seed, sesamum or
linseed, or Kris'ara', Paiyasa (porridge) Utkairika^, or
Ves'ava^ra, or the drugs of S'dlvana* (as described
under the treatment of Vdta-Vy^dhi) should be
similarly applied (lukewarm to the affected locality)
folded in a piece of thin linen. This is what is called
the Upanaiha-Sveda. 8.
Drava-Svcda vDiaphoresis with fluids) :— A
jar or a cauldron should be filled with a lukewarm
decoction of any of the Vdyu-subduing drugs and
the patient should be immersed therein. In the same
way, the patient might hi immersed inatubfulof warm
milk, meat-soup, soup (of Mudga or Mdsha pulse), oil,
Dhdnyamla (fermented or sour gruel), clarified butter,
lard, cow's urine, etc.f The patient may also be
sprinkled over or washed with a tepid decoction (of
the above-mentioned drugs).]: This is what is called
the Drava-Sveda. 9.
Of the four forms of Sveda described above those
known as the Tdpa-Sveda and Ushma-Sveda pre-emi-
nently destroy the deranged Kapha, while the Upandha-
Sveda subdues the deranged Vatya of the body ;
• Drugs of the Kdkolyadi group should be used in cases of the diminant d^ran^ei Piita acting in cancert with the deranged Vayu ; those of Eladi group in cases of the dominant deranged Kapha acting in concert with the deranegd Vayu and the S'alvana, or sesamum, linseed, etc., in cases of a simple or complicated deranged Vayu,
t This is called the Avagsbha-Sveda. X This is called thj "Parislieka-Sveda."
562 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXXII.
the Drava-Sveda, however, is beneficial in cases due to
the concerted action of the deranged Pitta with either
of the other two Doshas {viz,, Vaiyu and Kapha). lo-A.
The patient should be diaphorised by making him
put on warm clothing or exposing himself to the sun
or by becoming fatigued after a long walk, or by
wrestling, or some other physical exercise, load-carrying,
etc., or by arousing his anger in a case where the
deranged Va(yu would be found to be subcharged with
the deranged fat or Kapha. lo.
Memorable Verses :— The four forms of
Sveda mentioned above may be employed in two
ways, viz. : — either to the whole body or to any
particular part of it. Sveda should be first employed
in cases of patients fit to be treated with errhines
(Nasya\ purgatives, emetics or with Vasti-measures.
It should b3 applied to the enciente in cases of
obstructed foetus (Mudha-garbha) unattended with any
other supervening distresses {ie., excessive discharge
of blood, etc.) after the extraction of the S'alya (the
obstructed foetus) from the womb, and after parturi-
tion, and in cases where pregnancy runs to its full and
natural term. Sveda should similarly be applied both
before and after the surgical operation in cases 'of
fistula-in-ano and stones, gravel, etc., (in the bladder)
and of hsemorrhoids. Specific modes of applying
Sveda in other diseases should be duly described under
their respective heads, ii.
Men conversant with the rules of Sveda (fomenta-
tions, etc.^ should, under no circumstances, employ it
before rubbing or softening the body or the limb with a
Sneha (oil, etc.) inasmuch as a piece of wood is found
to break or burst immediately under the application of
heat if not previously rubbed with a Sneha. 12 — A.
Chap. XXX 1 1. J CHIKITSA STHANAM. 563
Effects of Sveda : - Improved digestive capa- city f Agni-dipti), softness of the limbs, smoothness and clearness of the skin, relish for food, clearness of the bodily ducts or channels, absence of somnolence and drowsiness and restored functions (free movements) of the numbed bone-joints are the benefits which result from an application of Sveda. The Doshas (morbific principles) having been moistened with a Sneha and lying inherent in the root principles (Dhdtus) of the body or imbedded in its ducts or channels or located in their specific seats within the system, become liquefied and carried down into the bowels ^Koshtha) by and after an application of Sveda and are eventually totally eliminated from the system (by means of correcting measures — D. R.). 12-B. A perfect or satisfactory application of Sveda is marked by a copious flow of perspiration, an abatement or amelioration of the disease, a lightness of the body and a desire for cool things and the softening of the patient's limbs, while the contrary effects result from an imperfect or unsatisfactory application of the same. An excessive application of Sveda would produce pain in the joints, and a burning sensation (in the body). It produces blisters, an aggravation of the Pitta, an excited condition of the blood, epileptic fits, vertigo^ thirst, and fatigue. In such a case the evils should be speedily remedied with cooling measures. 12.
Prohibited cases of Sveda :— Applica-
tions of Sveda should not be resorted to in cases of
persons suffering from jaundice, urinary complaints,
haemorrhage, pulmonary consumption (Kshaya), ema-
ciation, indigestion, ascites (Udara),* thirst, vomit-
* Vrinda evidently quotes this verse from Sus'ruta Samhita but by a little change in the versification he excludes cases of vomiting and poisoning from the list and mentions only the cases of Dakodara
564 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. Chap. XXXII.
ing, dysentery, and from diseases due to the effects
of poison. It is also prohibited in respect of pregnant
women and intoxicated persons, inasmuch as an appli-
cation of Sveda proves fatal in these cases or tends to
impart an incurable character to the disease (inflicting
an irreparable injury to the whole organism\ 13.
Mild Sveda may be applied (and that only in cases
of emergency) to the aforesaid persons suffering from
diseases amenable only to an application of Sveda, as
well as to the regions of the eyes, the heart (Hridaya)
and the scrotum. 14
Sveda should be applied unto a patient in a covered
and windless place and after the complete digestion of
his ingested food, and after having anointed his body
with a Sneha. During the application of Sveda (to the
eyes and to the heart) the eyes of the patient should
be (first) covered with something cold {e g., lotus leaves,
etc.) and the heart should be constantly touched with
something cold {e.£:, cold palms of the hand, etc.) 15.
After a full and complete application of Sveda, the
(body of the) patient should be well rubbed with a
Sneha (oil, etc.) and a hot bath should be prescribed.
The patient should then be made to keep his body well
covered (with warm clothes) and be removed to a wind-
less chamber (immediately afterwards). The diet should
consist of such articles as would not produce any
internal secretion (in the channels of the system) and
he should observe, if necessary, the ether rules of
Conduct (enjoined in such cases). 16.
