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

ViSha poisoning' : — Now hear me first describe the premonitory symptoms (of its aggravation). They are as follow : —Sleepiness, heaviness (of the limbs), yawning, a sense of looseness (in the joints), horripi- lation and aching of the limbs. These are followed by a sense of intoxication after meals, indigestion, disrelish for food, eruptions of circular patches (Man- dala) on the skin, urticaria (Kotha), fainting fits, loss of the vital principles of the organism (D. R — loss of flesh\ swelling of the face and the extremities (D.R, — Atro- phy of the hands and legs), ascites (Dakodara), vomiting, epileptic fits, Vishama-jvara, high-fever and an un- quenchchable thirst. Moreover, some of these poisons produce insanity. Some of them are characterised by an obstinate constipation of the bowels (Andha), others, by an involuntary emission of semen while a few others produce confused speech, Kushtha (leprosy), or some other similar disease. 22.

Derivative Meaning of ** Dushi-

ViSha " :^A constant use of some particular time,f
place and diet as well as constant and regular day-sleep
tends (slowly) to poison the fundamental root-principles

* See Chapter xxvii, Sutra Sthana.

t By *' the particular time" is meant a cloudy and windy day as well as the rainy season. By "the particular place" is meant a marshy country, and by ''the particular diet" is meant wine, sesamum, Kulaltha-pulse, etc. as well as physical exercise, sexual intercourse, fits of anger, etg.

Chap. II.] KALPA STHANAM. 69 1

(Dlifi^tus) of the body and this (slow) poison is conse- quently known as the Dushi-Visha. 23.

Symptoms of the different stages of Sthavara poisoning' :— In the first stage of a case of poisoning by a Stha(vara (vegetable or mineral) poison, the tongue becomes dark brown and numbed, and epileptic fits and hard breathing follow in its wake. The second stage is marked by such symptoms as shivering, perspiration, burning sensation, itching and pain in the body ; when seated in the Amds'aya (stomach) it causes pain in the region of the heart. The third stage is marked by a dryness of the palate and severe (colic) pain in the stomach. The eyes become discoloured, yellow-tinted aud swollen. When seated in the Pakvdsaya (intestines) it produces hic-cough, cough, and a sort of pricking pain and rumbling sound in the Antra (intestines). The fourth stage is marked by an extreme heaviness of the head. The fifth stage is marked by salivation, discolouring of the body and a breaking pain in the joints. It is marked also by the aggravation of all the Doshas and pain in the Pakvddhdna (intestines ?). The sixth stage is charac- terised by loss of consciousness or excessive diarrhoea ; while the seventh stage is marked by a breaking pain in the back, the shoulders and the waist and a complete stoppage (of respiration)*. 24.

Treatment : -In the first stage the patient
should be made to vomit and to drink cold water after
that. Then an Agada (Anti-poisonous remedy) mixed
with honey and clarified butter should be given him.
In the second stage, the patient should be first made to
vomit as in the preceding stage and then a purgative

• The seven stages of the poisoning are due to the poisoning of the seven fiindamantal root'principles (DhsttUS) of the body in succession.

692 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. It

should be given him. Anti-poisonous potions, medi-
cated snuffs (Nasya) and Anjanas possessed of similar
virtues are beneficial in the third stage. An anti-
poisonous potion through the vehicle of a Sneha (clari-
fied butter) is efficacious in the fourth stage. In the
fifth stage the patient should be given an antipoison-
ous medicine with the decoction of Yashti-madhu
and honey. In the sixth stage the treatment should be
as in a case of diarrhoea (Atisdra) and the use of
a medicated snuff in the form of an Avapida is
recommended. The latter remedy (Avapida-Nasya)
should be applied in the seventh stage as well and the
scalp after being shaved in 'the shape of a Kdka-pada*
(crow's claw) should also+ be incised with a small
incision. The incised flesh and the (vitiated) blood
should also be removed. 25.

Kosh^taky^di Yavagu :— After adopting

the respective measures enjoined in respect of the
several stages of poisoning, the patient should, in the
interval of any two stages be made to drink in a cold
state a gruel (Yavdgu) prepared with the decoctions of
Koshdtaki (Ghoshd), Agnika (Ajamodd), Pdthd^ Surya
valli, Amritd^ Abhayd^S'irisha, Kinihi, S'elu^ Girydhvd,
(white Aparajitd), the two kinds of Rajani, the two kinds
of Punarnavdy Harenu, Trikatu, Sdrivd, and Bald (D.R.
Sdrivd and Utpala) mixed with honey and clarified
butter. This is beneficial in both the cases of (animal
and vegetable) poisoning. 26,

* The particular form of shaving the hair, in which the part of the scalp from and above the forehead only is shaved is technically

called a KiCka-pada.

t The particle *'vi" means that the measures laid down in respect of the treatment of a Jangama poison viz. beating the patient on the bead, forehead, etc, should also be resorted to.

Chap. II.3 KALPA STHANAM. 693

AJcya-Ghrlta:— Clarified butter should be duly
cooked with an adequate quantity of water and the
Kalka of Yashti-madhu, Tagara, Kushtha, Bhadra-ddru,
Harenu^ Punndga^ Eld, Ela-vdluka^ Ndga-kes ara^ Utpala,
sugar, Vidanga^ Chandana, Patra, Priyangu^ Dhyd-
maka, the two kinds Haridrd^ the two kinds of Vrihati,
the two kinds of Sdrivd^ Sthird (Sdla-parni) and Sahd
(Prisni-parni). It is called the Ajeya-Ghrita. It
speedily destroys all kinds of poison in the system and
is infallible in its efficacy. 27.

ViShsCri-Agada :— A patient afflicted with the
effects of Dushi-Visha inherent in the system should be
first fomented and cleansed by both emetics and purga-
tives. The following anti-poisonous Agada (medicine)
should then be taken daily. The recipe of this Agada
is as follows : — Pippali, Dhydmaka, Mdmsi, Sdvara
(Lodhra), Paripelava*, Suvarchikd, small Eld, Toy a
(Bdlaka) and Suvarna-Gairika should be taken with
honey. It destroys, when taken, the Dushi-Visha (slow
chemical poisoning) in the system. It is called the
Vish^iri- Agada and its efficacy extends also to cases of
all other kinds of poisoning. 28.

Treatment of the Supervening

Symptoms of poisoning:— Cases of fever,
burning sensation in the body, hic-cough, constipation
of the bowels, loss of semen, swelling, diarrhoea, epi-
leptic fits, heart-disease, ascites, insanity, shivering,
and such other supervening symptoms (consequent
on the effects of a Dushi-Visha inherent in the
system) should be treated with remedies laid down
under the respective heads of the aforesaid diseases
in accompaniment with (suitable) anti-poisonous
medicines. 29.

* "Patipelava" means either "Dhanyika" or **Kaivartta-Mustaka'^

694 'i'HE SUSHRUTA SAMHitA. [Chap. IL

Prognosis S— A case of Dushi-Visha poisoning
in a prudent and judicious person, and of recent growth
is easily cured, while palliation is the only relief that
can be offered in a case of more than a year's standing.
In an enfeebled and intemperate patient, it should
be considered as incurable. 30.

Thus ends the second Chapter of the Kalpa Sth^na in the Sus'ruta Samhit^ which treats of the Sthdvara and jangama poisons.

CHAPTEE III.

Now we shall discourse on the subject of (the nature, virtue, etc. of) animal poisons (jang^aiTia-viSha-

vijnaniya). i.

We have briefly said before that there are sixteen
situations of poison in the bodies of venomous animals.
Now we shall deal with them in detail. 2.

Locations : — An animal poison is usually
situated in the following parts, viz; the sight, breath,
teeth, nails, urine, stool, semen, saliva, menstrual blood,
stings, belching* anus, bones, bile, bristles (^uka) and
in the dead body of an animal. 3.

Of these, the venom of celestial serpents lies in their
sight and breath, that of the terrestrial ones in their
fangs while that of cats, dogs, monkeys, Makara
(alligators ?), Frogs, Pdka-matsyas (a kind of insect),
lizards (Godhd), mollusks (Snails), Prachaldkas (a kind
of insect), domestic lizards, four-legged insects and of
any other species of flies such as mosquitoes, etc., lies
in their teeth and nails. 4.

The venom of a Chipita, Pichchataka, Kashdya-
vdsika, Sarshapa-vdsika, Totaka, Varchah-kita, Kaun-
dilyaka and such-like insects lies in their urine and
excreta. The poison of a mouse or rat lies in its semen,
while that of a Lutd (spider) lies in its saliva, urine,
excreta, fangs, nails, semen and menstrual fluid
(ovum). 5 — 6.

The venom of a scorpion, VisVambhara, Rdjiva-fish, Uchchitinga (cricket) and a sea-scorpion lies in their

* Vriddba-Vagbhata reads Alaji-S'onite in place of "Visardl^it^."

696 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. tChap. III.

saliva. The venom of a Chitra-sirah, Sardva, Kurdisata, Ddruka, Arimedaka and Sdrikd-mukha, lies in their fangs, belching, stool and urine. The venom of a fly, a Kanabha and leeches lies in their fangs. The poison lies in the bones of an animal killed by any poison, as well as in those of a snake, a Varati and a fish*. The poison lies in the bile of a Sakuli, a Rakta-rdji and a Chdraki fish. The poison lies in the bristles (Suka) and the head of a Sukshma-tunda, an Uchchitinga (cricket), a wasp, a centipede (Satapadi), a ^uka, a Vala- bhika, a ^ringi and a bee. The dead body of a snake or an insect is poisonous in itself. Animals not includ- ed in the above list should be deemed as belonging to the fang-venomed species i.e.^ the poison lies in their fangs. 7—1 1.

Memorable Verses : — The enemies of a

sovereign poison the pastures, water, roads, food-stuffs
and smoke (Dhuma) of their country and even charge
the atmosphere with poison in the event of his making
incursions into their country. The poisonous nature
of the foregoing things should be ascertained from
the following features and should be duly purified
(before use). 12- A.

Characteristic Features and Purifi- cations of poisoned water, etc :— A sheet

of poisoned water becomes slimy, strong-smelling, frothy
and marked with (black-coloured) lines on the surface.
Frogs and fish living in the water die without any
apparent cause. Birds and beasts that live (in the
water and) on its shores roam about wildly in confusion
(from the effects of poison), and a man, a horse or an
elephant, by bathing in this (poisoned) water is afflicted

• Sottie read '«l<<^*i^^' (Varati-fish) as one word—the name of a species of &sh.

CBap. in.] KALPA STHANAM. 697

with vomiting, fainting, fever, a burning sensation
and swelling of the limbs. These disorders (in men
and animals) should be immediately attended to
and remedied and no pains should be spared to purify
such poisoned water. The cold ashes, of Dhava,
As^vakarna^ Asana, Pdribhadra^ Pdtald^ Siddhaka^
Mokshaka, Rdja-druma and Somavalka burnt together,
should be cast into the poisoned pool or tank, whereby
its water would be purified ; as an alternative, an
Anjali-measure (half a seer) of the said ashes cast in a
Ghata measure* (sixty-four seers) of the required water
would lead to its purification. 12-B.

A poisoned ground or stone-slab, landing stage
or desert country gives rise to swellings in those parts
of the bodies of men, bullocks, horses, asses, camels
and elephants that may chance to come in contact
with them. In such cases \\ burning sensation is felt in
the affected parts and the hair and nails (of these
parts) fall off. In these cases, the poisoned surface
should be purified by sprinkling it over with a solution
of Atlanta and Sarva-gandha (the scented drugs) dis-
solved in wine (Sur4)t, or with (an adequate quantity
of) black clayl dissolved in water or with the deccc
tion of Vidanga^ Pdthd, and Katabhi, 12. C.

Poisoned hay or fodder or any other poisoned food-
stuff produces lassitude, fainting, vomiting, diarrhoea or
even death (of the animal partaking thereof). Such cases
should be treated with proper anti poisonous medicines

* Jejjata explains 'Ghata' as a pitcher, «.«. , a pitcher-ful of water. t Dallana holds that the use of the plural number here in *' HKlf^Tt ** means that honey, treacle, etc. should also be used with wine.

t Dallana says that some read * earth of an ant-hill' in place of 'black clay for its anti-poisonous properties.

698 THE SUSHKUTA SAMHITA. CC ap- IH.

according to the indications of each case. As an alter- native, drums and other musical instruments smeared with plasters of anti-poisonous compounds (Agadas)* should be beaten and sounded (round them). Equal parts of silver {Tdra), mercury [Sutdrd] and Indra-Gopa insects with Kuru- Vinda\ equal in weight to that of the entire preceding compound, pasted with the bile of a Kapila (brown) cow, should be used as a paste over the musical instruments (in such cases). The sounds of such drums, etc. (pasted with such anti-poisonous drugs) are said to destroy the effects of even the most dreadful poison. 12-D.

Poisons of the Atmosphere and its

purification :— The dropping of birds from the
skies to the earth below in a tired condition is a
distinct indication of the wind and the smoke
(of the atmosphere! being charged with poison. It is
further attended with an attack of cough, catarrh,
head ache, and of severe eye-diseases among persons in-
haling the same wind and smoke. In such cases the
(poisoned) atmosphere should be purified by burning
quantities of Ldkshd, Haridrd, Ati-viskd, Abhayd,
Abda (Musta), Renuka, Eld, Data (Teja-Patra), Valka
(cinnamon), Kushtha and Priangu in the open ground.
The fumes of these drugs would purify the Anila (air)
and the Dhuma (smoke) from the poison they had been
charged with 12.