CHAPTER III.
Now we shall discuss the chapter which deals with the classification of the Ayurveda and the order [in which the venerable Dhanvantari discoursed on them to his pupils]. Adhyayana-Samprada'niyam.
It has been stated before, that a hundred and twenty chapters have been distributed among the five parts or subdivisions (of the present work) in the following order :— Forty six in the part of Definitive Aphorisms (Sutra-Sthanam); sixteen in the part dealing with the Etiology of diseases (Nidanam); ten in the part explaining the Anatomy and physiology of the human body (Sharira Sthanam); forty in the part of Therapeutics (Chikitsitam); and eight in the part dealing with poisons and their antidotes (Kalpa-Sthanam). In addition to these the Uttara-Tantram consists of sixty-six chapters.
Metrical texts : The Sutra-Sthanam which contains forty-six chapters, is so called because it discusses in the form of hints, arranges in the form of aphorisms and connects by links topics relating to longevity. Chapter 1 Describes the origin of the science of the Ayurveda. 2 Relates to the formal initiation of a pupil into the science of medicine. 3 Deals with the classification and order of the study of the Ayurveda. 4 Dwells on general interpretations and explanations of subjects studied, 5 Treats of preliminary preparations for surgical operations. 6 Deals with seasons and their influence on health and drugs. 7 Treats of surgical appliances. 8 Describes surgi(l:al instruments. 9 Gives practical instructions for surgical operations. 10 Dwells on the duties of medical men preliminary to their commencing practice. 11 Pharmacy of alkalies (potential cauteries). 12 Cauteries and the rules to be observed in their use. 13 Leeches how and which to use). 14 Blood. 15 Dwells on the study of development and non-development of the humorous constituents of the body and excrements. 16 The ceremony of piercing the lobules of the ears. 17 How to distinguish between suppurating and non-suppurating swellings. 18 Dressings and bandages of ulcers. 19 The management of patients with ulcers, etc. 20 The salutary and non-salutary effects of regimen, etc. 21 The decisive modes in the treatment of sores, etc. 22 The opening of abscesses, etc. 2S General rules to be observed in the treatment of curable and incurable (surgical diseases). 24 The nature of diseases in general. 25 The (eight different) ways of using surgical instruments. 26 The exploration of splinters lost (deep seated) in the body. 27 The extraction of splinters. 28 How to know favourable' and unfavourable terminations in surgical diseases. 29 The favourable or unfavourable prognosis in diseases as known from messengers, omens and dreams. 30 Prognosis from the perversion of sense perception. 31 Prognosis based on the altered condition of features, etc. 32 Prognosis based on the perversion in the external appearances of the body. 33 Palliative treatment of incurable diseases. 34 The precautions to be taken (against dangers, such as poisoning of water, etc. by a medical man for the safety of a king whose army is on the march. 35 Clinical observations made by physicians. 36 Miscellaneous subjects connected with the treatment of injuries and surgical diseases. 37 The examination of the soil for the selection of vegetable products growing on it to be used as medicines. 38 Classification of drugs according to their therapeutical uses. 39 The two classes of drugs which cleanse the system [by evacuating bad humours] and drugs which pacify the irritated humours. 40 Drugs, their flavours, properties and maturity. 41 The properties of drugs specially considered. 42 Flavours. 43 The choice of emetics. 44 The choice of purgatives. 45 Liquids. 46 Food and drink.
From their investigating the (pathological) causes and symptoms of diseases, they 'are called Nidanam, (etiology) and are sixteen in number. Chapter I Causes and symptoms of diseases caused by wind. 2 Hoemorrhoids. 3 Urinary calculi 4 Fistulae. 5 Skin diseases Kushtha), 6 Urethral discharges. 7 Abdominal tumours and dropsy. 8 Abortion and unnatural labours. 9 Abscesses. 10 Erysipelas and Carbuncles. 11 Tumours 12 Scrotal tumours. 13 Fractures (and dislocations) 14 Diseases of the male organ of generation caused by Shuka. 15 Minor .and miscellaneous diseases. 16 Diseases of the mouth.
The great sage has devoted ten chapters to the subject of Anatomy and Physiology (Sharira-Sthanam) for medical men and contemplative saints to learn the component parts of the human body. They are:—
Chapter I Cosmology. 2 Healthy and unhealthy) condition of male and female germs. 3 Development of the foetus. 4 Analytical description of the fetus. 5 Component parts of the body. 6 Investigation of each vital part. 7 Description of the veins. 8 Venesection. 9 Arteries. 10 Pregnancy (child-birth and management of women in child-birth and of children).
The division of Therapeutics, (Chikitsitam) includes (amongst others) the modes of treating diseases by medicines, expiatory ceremonies, propitiatory rites, and tranquillizing efforts. Forty chapters have been devoted to this division. Chapter 1 Treatment of two varieties of ulcers. 2 Treatment of instant wounds and ulcers resulting therefrom. 3 Fractures and dislocations. 4 Diseases of wind. 5 Grievous maladies caused by wind. 6 Haemorrhoids. 7 Urinary calculi. 8 Fistulas. 9 Skin diseases. 10 Grievous skin diseases. 11 Urethral discharges. 12 Warts, pustules and sores caused by urethral discharges. 13 Diabetes. 14 Abdominal Dropsy. 15 Abortions and unnatural labours. 16 Abscesses. 17 Erysipelas and Carbuncles. 18 Tumours. 19 Scrotal tumours and Syphilis. 20 Minor diseases. 21 Diseases of the male genital organ caused by Shuka. 22 Diseases of the mouth. 23 Swellings. 24 Prophylactic treatment against diseases in general. 25 Miscellaneous diseases. 26 Tonics for virile debility. 27 Tonics for general debility. 28 Remedies for increasing mental powers and duration of life. 29 Remedies for innate maladies. 30 Means for removing wordly distresses. 31 Treatment of diseases where oleaginous substances are useful. 32 Treatment by diaphoretics. 33 Emetics and Purgatives. 34 Treatment for mishaps from the injudicious use of emetics and purgatives. 35 Nozzles and pipes, and enema apparatus. 36 Mishaps from injudicious use of enemas. 37 Enemas and injections. 38 Clysters. 39 Treatment of complications in general. 40 Inhalation, fumigations, gargarismata, etc.
From their proposing remedies against poisons, they are called Kalpas, and are eight in number. Chapter 1 Preservation of food. 2 Vegetable and inorganic poisons. 3 Poisons from organic creation. 4 Snake poison. 5 Treatment of snake-bites. 6 Rat-bite and its treatment. 7 Emitting the sound of kettle-drums (for the elimination of poison). 8 Antidotes for and treatment of venomous insect-stings.
Thus a synopsis of one hundred and twenty chapters has been given. Now here follows the supplementary division called after its own name (Uttara-Tantram).
The Chapter on Sympathetic diseases is placed first, as this division has for its main object the description of such diseases and their treatment. 2 Diseases of the joinings (margin of the eyelids) of the eyeball. 3 Diseases of the eyelids. 4 The Sclerotic of the eye. 5 The Cornea. 6. The eyeball, as a whole. 7 Diseases of the pupil. 8 Treatment of eye diseases. 9 Prophylactic and curative treatment of wind affections of the eye and ophthalmia. 10 Treatment of Bile affections of the eye and ophthalmia. 11 Treatment of Phlegm affections of the eye and ophthalmia. 12 Treatment of Blood affections of the eye. 13 Treatment of aftections in which scarification is needed. 14 Treatment in which paracentesis is needed. 15 Treatment by incisions. 16 Entropium and ectropium. 17 Treatment of the diseases of the pupil and vision. 18 General rules regarding ophthalmic medicine and surgery. 19 Treatment of traumatic affections of the eyeballs. 20 General signs and symptoms of ear diseases. 21 Treatment of ear diseases. 22 Signs and Symptoms of nose affections. 23 Treatment of nose affections. 34 Treatment of nasal catarrh. 25 Signs and symptoms of cranial diseases. 26 Treatment of cranial affections. These (twenty-six chapters) form the end of the eight divisions of the Ayurveda, called Shalakyam.
Chapter 27 Signs of diseases caused by the Nava-grahas. 28 Prophylactic treatment of diseases caused by Skandha. 29 Treatment of convulsions caused by Skandha. 30 Treatment of Sakuni affections. 31 Treatment of Revati affections. 32 Treatment of Putana. 33 Treatment of Andha Putana. 34 Treatment of Sheeta-Putana. 35 Treatment of Mukhamandika. 36 Treatment of Naigamesha. 37 Origin of the nine Grahas. 38 Diseases of the Vagina (and internal female genital organs). These twelve chapters together with what is included in (the last chapter of the division on ;anatomy, form the fifth division of the Ayurveda) called Kaumara Tantram.
Chapter 39 Fevers and their treatment. 40 Enteric Catarrh and its treatment. 41 Consumption and its treatment. 42 Diseases of the abdominal glands and their treatment. 43 Diseases of the heart (Angina Pectoris) etc. 44 Anaemia and allied diseases and their treatment. 45 Haemorrhagic affections and their treatment. 46 Apoplectic diseases and their treatment. 47 Diseases from excessive drinking and their treatment. 48 Symptoms, causes, and treatment of excessive thirst. 49 Causes, Symptoms and treatment of vomiting. 50 Causes, symptoms and treatment of Hiccough. 51 Causes, symptoms, and treatment of Dyspnoea. 52 Causes, symptoms and treatment of cough. 53 Aphonia. 54 Entozoa. 55 Causes, symptoms and treatment of retention of excrements. 56 Causes, symptoms and treatment of Dyspeptic and Choleric diarrhoea. 57 Anorexia and its treatment. 58 Causes, symptoms and treatment of cystic and urethral affections. 59 Causes and treatment of urine diseases. These twenty one chapters describe the remaining diseases of Kayachikitsa; (which forms the third division of the Ayurveda)
Chapter 60 Causes, symptoms and treatment of diseases caused by superhuman powers. 61 Causes symptoms and treatment of Epilepsy. 62 Mania. These three chapters form the Bhuta Vidya (the fourth division of the Ayurveda).
Chapter 63 on the different varieties of flavour. 64 General rules for the preservation of health. 65 Deductions and inductions drawn from the texts and study of the Ayurveda. 66 On the varieties of morbid elements (humours). These four chapters are to be understood as being supplementary, and as ornaments to this division. This last division from its superiority over the others, the great sages have called the Excellent (Uttaram). From the information it gives on varied subjects, it is called the best, the permanent and the last.
In this division which is called the last, there are included four divisions (of the Ayurveda) viz, Shalakyam, (treatment of diseases of parts situated above the clavicles), 2 Kaumarabhrityam (management of children), 3 Kayachikitsa general diseases) and 4 Bhuta-Vidya.
The division (named) Vajeekaranam (on the strengthening of virile power, etc.) and Rasayanam remedies preserving vigor, etc.) have been included in the (fourth) division (of this treatise called Chikitsa).
The doctrine of antidotes comes under the head of Kalpa of this treatise and Shalyam surgery is incidentally treated throughout the book. Thus these are the eight limbs divisions of the Science of Medicine proclaimed to the world by the original god. Those, who study them with due care and make use of the knowledge with caution, shall preserve the lives of men on this earth. It is imperatively necessary that the book should be read; and after having read it one should attend to the practice (of the science). The physician who has learnt these both, is lit to be honoured by kings, Authoritative verses on the subject :— A physician, well versed in the principles of the science of medicine (Ayurveda), but unskilful in his art through want of practice, loses his wit at the bedside of his patient, just as, a coward is at his wit's end to determine what to do when for the first time he finds himself in the ranks of a contending army. On the other hand a physician, experienced in his art but deficient in the knowledge of the Ayurveda, is condemned by all good men as a quack, and deserves capital punishment at the hands of the king. Both these classes of physicians are not to be trusted, because thy are inexpert and half educated. Such men are incapable of discharging the duties of their vocation, just as a one-winged bird is incapable of taking flight in the air. Even a panacea or a medicine of ambrosial virtues administered by an unpractised or ignorant physician, will prove positively baneful as a draught of poison, or a blow with a weapon, or a thunder-bolt. A physician, ignorant of the science and art of surgery and emollient measures Sneha-karma, etc. is but a killer of men out of cupidity, and who is allowed to carry on his nefarious trade only through the inadvertence of the king. A physician well versed in the principles of surgery, and experienced in the practice of medicine, is alone capable of curing distempers, just as only a two wheeled cart can be of service in a field of battle. Now hear me, O child, describe the mode of studying (the present science of the Ayurveda.) The pupil having worshipped and recited his daily prayers should calmly sit near his preceptor, pure in body and mind, who should teach him a full Shloka or couplet of the Ayurveda), or a half or a quarter part thereof, adapted to his intellectual capacity. Then he should make a full and elaborate paraphrase of the recited couplet or any part thereof, and ask his pupils individually to do the same. When the pupils have paraphrased the same to the satisfaction of the preceptor, he should again recite the same stanza or couplet. The passages or shlokas should not be recited too hastily, nor drawled out in a timid or faltering voice, nor with a nasal intonation. The voice should be neither too loud, nor too weak, but each sound should be clearly and distinctly uttered, and the lips, the eyes, the eye- brows, and the hands, etc. should not be lifted or moved to keep time with the recitation. No one should be allowed to pass between the pupil and the preceptor at the time of study.
Authoritative verses on the subject:—A pupil who is pure, obedient to his preceptor, applies himself steadily to his work, and abandons laziness and excessive sleep, will arrive at the end of the science (he has been studying).
A student or a pupil, having finished the course of his studies, would do well to attend to the cultivation of fine speech and constant practice in the art he has learnt, and make unremitting efforts towards the attainment of perfection (in the art).
Thus ends the third Chapter of the Sutrasthanam in the Sushruta Samhita which deals with the Classification of the Ayurveda.