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CHAPTER XII.

Now we shall discourse on the curative treatment of the type of Abhishyanda (Ophthalmia) which has its origin in the vitiated condition of the blood (Raktábhishyanda-Pratishedha). 1.

General Treatment:— A wise physician shall pursue the same course of medical treatment in those four diseases known as Adhimantha, Abhishyanda, Śirotpáta and Śirá-harsha due to the vitiated condition of the blood. Persons suffering from any of the aforesaid four complaints should be first anointed and lubricated with old and matured clarified butter technically known as Kaumbha Ghrita*[1], or with a copious quantity of clarified butter. Venesection should then be resorted to. The patient, having been made thus to bleed as much as required, should be treated with clarified butter duly cooked with Śiro-virechana drugs and mixed with sugar, as an errhine for cleansing the head. Plasters, washes, snuffs (Nasya), inhalations (Dhuma) of medicated smokes, eye-drops (Aśchyotana). Abhyanjana†[2], Tarpana (soothing measures), Sncha-karma (emulsive measures) and Puta-pâka should then be prescribed according to the nature of the deranged Dosha involved in each case. 2-5.

A plaster (Pralepa) composed of Nilotpala, Uśira, Dáru-haridrá, Kâliya, Yashti-madhu, Musta, Lodhra and Padma-Kâshtha (taken in equal parts and) mixed with Ghrita — duly washed, should be applied round the region

  1. * See Chapter XLV, Sutra-Sthána,
  2. † Dallana explains "Abhyanjana" as collyrium, but he also says that some commentators take it in its usual sense of anointment with clarified butter washed hundred times in water, or such other Sneha.