* Dallana explains this couplet to mean that clarified butter cooked with milk and Ativishd should be given for drink, and that cooked with Vacha and Mdlati flower as an errhine.
t Dallana says that some read "Tf^^M!^^ and explain "ejifiiil" to mean "iT^^f^^ 1^'
682 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. I.
or with the juice of Soma-valka in a cold state prove curative in such cases. 29.
The use of a poisoned Anjana (collyrium) to the
eyes is attended with copious lachrymation, deposit of
an increased quantity of waxy mucus (in the corners
of the eyes), a burning sensation, pain (in the affected
organs), impairment of the sight and even blindness.
In such a case the patient should be made to drink a
potion of fresh clarified butter (Sadyo-ghrita)* alone or
with pasted Pippali which would act as a Tarpana
(soother). Anjana prepared with the expressed juice of
Mesha s'ringi, Varuna-ha.rk, Mushkaka or Ajakama or
with Samudra'phena^diS^td with the bile (Pitta) of a cow
should be applied to the eyes, or the one prepared
with the (expressed juice of the) flower of Kapittha,
Mesha-s'ringi, Bhalldtaka^ Bandhuka and Amkotha
separately. 30.
The case which is incidental to the use of a paste of
poisoned sandals, is marked by a swelling in the legs,
secretion from the affected organs, complete anesthesia
of the diseased locality and the appearance of vesciles
thereon. Those due to the use of poisoned shoes or
foot-stools exhibit symptoms identical with those of
the above case and the medical treatment in all of
these cases should be one and the same. Ornaments
charged with poison lose their former lustre and give
rise to swelling, suppuration and the cracking of the
parts they are worn on. The treatment in these cases
due to the use of poisoned sandals and ornaments
should be similar to the one advised in connection
* Some are inclined to take **?5f^:*' as an adverb meaning "instantly" and modifying "^^(?t" meaning thereby that clarified butter should be instantly taken.
Chap. I.] KALPA-STHANAM. 683
with that due to the use of poisoned unguents (Abhyanga). 31-32.
General Treatment :— The symptoms
which characterise cases of poisoning commencing with
"poisoning through poisoned smoke" and ending with
that due to the use of ''poisoned ornaments" should be
remedied with an eye to each of the specific and charac-
teristic indications, and the medicine known as the
Mahsi-sugandhi Agada to be described hereafter should
be administered as drink, unguent, snuff and Anjana,
Purgatives or emetics should be exhibited and even
strong venesection should be speedily resorted to in
cases where bleeding would be beneficial. 33-34.
The drugs known as Mushikd and Ajaruhd should
be tied round the wrists of a king as prophylactics to
guard against the effects of poisoned food, since either
of these two drugs (in virtue of their specific properties)
tends to neutralise the operativeness of the poison. A
king surrounded by his devoted friends shall cover his
chest (with drugs of heart-protecting virtues) and shall
drink those preparations of clarified butter, which
are respectively known as the Ajeya and the Antrita
Ghritas*. He should drink regularly every day such
wholesome cordials as honey, clarified butter, curd,
milk and cold water and use in his food the meat and
soup of the flesh of a peacock, mungoose, Godhi (a
species of lizard), or Prishata deer. 35 — A.
The mode of preparing the Soup :—
The flesh of a Godha, mungoose, or deer should be
cooked and spiced with pasted Pdlindi (Trivrit), Yashti-
madhu and sugar. The flesh of a peacock should be
similarly cooked and spiced with sugar, Ativishd
* See Kalpa-Sthdna, Chaptei II. Para 27, and Chapter VII. paia 5, respectively.
684 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHlTA? [Chap. I.
and Sunthi and that of a Prishata deer with Pippali and
S^unthi. The soup of S^imhi taken with honey
and clarified butter should, similarly, be deemed
beneficial (as being possessed of similar antitoxic
properties). An intelligent king should always use
food and drink of poison-destroying properties.
In a case of imbibed poison, the heart should be
protected (with a covering of anti-poisonous drugs)
and the patient should be made to vomit (the contents
of his stomach) with a potion composed of sugar,
Pippali^ Yashti-madhu, honey and the expressed juice
of sugar-cane dissolved in water. 35-36.
Thus ends the first Chapter of the Kalpa-sthdna in the Sus'ruta Samhita which deals with the mode of protecting food and drink (from the effect^ of poison).
Now we shall discourse on the chapter which treats
of the indications (efifects, nature and operations) of
Sthavara ^vegetable and mineral) poisons (Sthavara-
Visha-Vijnaniyam). i.
Sthavara-poison : its Source (M. T.)—
There are two kinds of poison viz.^ that obtained from
immobile things (^Sthaivara) and that obtained from
mobile creatures (Jangama). The sources of the
Sthdvara (vegetable and mineral) poison are ten, while
those of the Jangama (animal) poison are sixteen in
number. The ten sources from which a Sth^vara
poison may be obtained are roots, leaves, fruits, flowers,
bark, milky exudations, pith (Sdra\ gum (Nirydsa),
bulb and a mineral or metal (Dh^tu). 2-3.
Names of the d iff erent Vegetable and
IVlineral \iO\SOr\S\—Klitaka, As'va-mdra, Gunjd,
Subandha*y Gargaraka, Karaghdta^ V idyuch-chhikhd
and Vijayd are the eight root-poisons. Visha-Patrikd^
Lambd, Avaraddruka, Karambha and Mahd-Karambha
are the five leaf-poisons The fruits of Kumudvati^
Renukd, Karambha, Mahd-Karambha, Karkotaka^
Venuka, Khadyotaka, Charmari, Ibha-gandhd, Sarpa-
ghdti, Nandana and Sdra-pdka, numbering twelve in all,
are the twelve fruit-poisons. The flowers of Vetra,
Kadamba, Vallija [Ndrdcha — D. R), Karambha and
MahdKarambha are the five flower-poisons. The bark,
pith and gum of Antra -pdchaka^ Kartariya, Sauriyaka^
Kara-ghdta, Karambha, Nandana and Vardtaka are
* Lamb^, according to Gayi — D. R.
686 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. 11.
the seven bark-poisons, pith-poisons and gum-poisons-
The milky exudations of Kumudaghni^ Snuki and
/dla-Kshiri are poisons and are known as the three
Kshira-Vishas, Phenas'ma-bhasma ( white arsenic )
and Haritala ( yellew orpiment ) are the two mineral
poisons, Kdla-kuta^ Vatsa-ndbha, Sarshapaka^ Pdlaka^
Kardamakdy Vairdtaka, Mtistaka, S^ringi-visha, Prapaun-
darika^ Mulaka, Hdldhala, Mahd-visha and Karkataka,
numbering thirteen in all, are the bulb-poisons. Thus
the number of poisons obtained from the vegetable
and mineral world (Sthdvara) amount to fifty-five in
all. 4-rr.
Metrical Text:— There are four kinds of
Vatsandhha poisons, two kinds of Mustaka and six
kinds of Sarshapaka. The remaining ones have no
different species. 12.
Effects of poison on the human or-
ganism : — Root-poisons or poisonous roots produce
a twisting pain in the limbs, delirium and loss of
consciousness. A leaf-poison or poisonous leaf gives
rise to yawning, difficult breathing and a twisting pain
in the limbs. A fruit poison is attended with a
swelling of the scrotum, a burning sensation in the body
and an aversion to food. A fiower-poison gives rise to
vomiting, distensions of the abdomen and loss of cons-
sciousness. A bark-poison, or pith-poison, or gum-poison
is marked by a fetour in the mouth, roughness of the
body, headache and a secretion of Kapha (mucus from
the mouth). The effects of the poisonous milky exud-
ations (of a tree, plant or creeper) are foaming from
the mouth, loose stools (diarrhoea) and a curvature
(drawing back) of the tongue, whereas a mineral poison
gives rise to pain in the heart, fainting and a burning
sensation in the region of the palate. All these are
Chap. II.} KALPA STHANAM. 687
slow poisons proving fatal only after a considerable length of time. 13.
Effects of Bulb-poisons:— Now we shall
describe in full the respective effects of the bulb-poisons
which are very strong (Tikshna) in their actions The
bulb-poison known as the Kailakuta produces complete
anesthesia, shivering and numbness. Paralysis of the
neck and yellowness of the stool, urine and of the
eye-balls are the symptoms produced in a case of
Vatsanatbha-poisoning. Retention of stool and urine
(Andha), disorders of the palate and the appearance of
glands are the effects of a case of Sarshapa poisoning.
Loss of speech and weakness of the neck are the
symptoms in a case of Pailaka poisoning. Water-brash
loose stools (diarrhoea) and a yellowness of the eyes
mark a case of Kardamaka-poisoning. Pain in the limbs
and diseases of the head are produced in a case of
Vaira(taka-poisoning. Shivering and a numbness of the
limbs are the effects of a case of Mustaka-poisoning.
Lassitude, a burning sensation in the body and an en-
largement of the abdomen mark a case of S'ringi-visha-
poisoning. An enlargement of the abdomen and
redness of the eyes are the symptoms of Pundarika-
poisoning. A discolouring of the complexion, vomiting
hic-cough, swelling and a loss of cousciousness are the
effects of the Mulaka-poison. Difficult breathing and
a tawny brown colour of the skin mark a case of Haflai-
hala-poisoning. Aneurysm (Granthi) on the region of
the heart and a piercing pain in the same are the symp
toms in a case of Maha(-visha-poisoning; while a case of
Karkataka-poisoning is marked by laughing, gushing
of the teeth and jumping up (without any cause). 14
Specific properties of the above- named BuIb-poiSOns:~These thirteen kinds of
688 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. 11.
bulbous poisons should be deemed as very strong*
in their potency and they possess the following tea
properties in common. They are parching (Ruksha)
and heat-making (Ushna. in their potency. They are
sharp (Tikshna) and subtle (Sukshma> i,e.^ have the
power of penetrating into the minutest capillaries of
the body and are instantaneous (A^u) in their efifects.
They first permeate the whole organism and become
subsequently digested (Vyavdyi) and disintegrate the root-
principles of the body (Vikis'i). They are non-viscid
(Vis'ada), light in potency (Laghu) and indigestible
(Apdki). 15.
A poison aggravates the bodily V^yu in virtue of its parching quality and vitiates the blood and the Pitta through its heat-generating property. It overwhelms the mind (produces unconsciousness) and tends to disintegrate the limbs and muscles in virtue of its sharp- ness and penetrates into and deranges the minutest capi- llaries owing to its extreme subtile essence. It proves speedily fatal owing to its speedy activity and spreads through the entire organism (which is the very nature of a drug) on account of its rapid permeating or expansive quality. It annihilates the root-principles (Dhatus) as well as the Doshas and the Malas (excreta) of the body through the power of disintregation, and does not addhere to any spot therein owing to its non-viscidness. It baffles the efficacies of other drugs and thus becomes unremediable on account of the extreme lightness (of its potency), and it cannot be easily assimilated owing to its innate indigestibility. It thus proves trouble- some for a long time. 16.
* The text has **Ugra-viryani" (strong in potency). Gayi reads **Agra-ViryAni" (of great potency),
Chap. II.] KALPA STHANAM. 689
A poison of whatsoever sort, whether animal,
vegetable, or chemical, which proves almost instan-
taneously fatal (within a day) should be regarded as
possessed of all the ten aforesaid qualities. 17.
Definition of Dushi-visha (weak and
slow poison): — A poison whether animal, vegetable
or chemical, not fully eliminated from the system and
partially inherent therein, enfeebled, of course by anti-
poisonous remedies, is designated a Dushi-visha (weak
and slow poison) which is even extended to those
the keenness of potency whereof is enfeebled by the
sun, the fire and the wind, as well as to those which
are found to be naturally devoid of some of the ten
aforesaid natural qualities of a poison. A Dushi-visha,
owing to its enfeebled or attenuated virtue and as a
necessary consequence of its being covered over with
the bodily Kapha, ceases to be fatal though retained in
the system for a number of years. 18.
Sy m ptoms of weak and slow poison -
ing : — A person afflicted with any sort of DusM- Visha develops such symptoms as, looseness of stool (diarrhoea), a discoloured complexion, fetor in the body, bad taste in the mouth, thirst, epileptic fits, vomiting (D. R. — vertigo), lassitude, confused speech and all the symptoms of Dushyodara.* A Dushi- Visha lodged in the Am^isaya (stomach) gives rise to diseases due to the combined action of the V^yu and Kapha; seated in the Pakvas'aya (intestines) it brings on diseases due to the deranged condition of the V^yu and Pitta and leads to the falling off of the hair. The patient becomes rapidly atrophied, and looks like a wingless bird. When it attacks the Rasa, etc.f of the system
* See Chapter VII. para 10, Nid^na-sthdna,
t These are the seven fundamental principles of the body,
69b THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. CChap. 11.
it produces the diseases* peculiar to the root or vital
principles of the body. Its action on the body becomes
aggravated on a cloudy day and by exposure to cold
and wind. 19-21.
