CHAPTER XI
Now we shall discourse on the chapter which deals with the curative treatment of Abhishyanda due to the deranged action of Śleshmá(Śleshmábhishyanda-Pratishedha). I.
General Treatment:— An attack of Śleshmaja Abhishyanda or Adhimantha during the stage of acute aggravation should be treated by opening a local vein*[1] or by the employment of fomentation, Avapida-Nasya, Anjana, fumigation, washes, plasters, gargles or non-fatty (Ruksha) eye-drops (Áśchyotana) and Puta-páka. The patient should be made to fast on each fourth day and to take a potion of Tikta-Ghrita †[2] in the morning, and his diet should consist of such articles as do not lead to the aggravation of the bodily Kapha. 2-3.
Tender twigs or leaves of Kutannata, Áshpotá, Phanijjhaka, Vilva, Pattura, Pilu, Arka and Kapittha ‡[3] should be employed in (mildly) fomenting the affected eye. A thin plaster composed ofVálaka, Śunthi, Devadáru and Kushtha, should be likewise applied to the affected eye. 4.
Hingu, (Asafœtida), Triphalá, Yashti-madhu, Saindhava, Prapaundaika, Anjana (black Antimony), Tuttha (Sulphate of copper), and copper pasted together with water and made into a stick (Varti) should be applied as an Anjana to the affected eye. As an alternative, sticks (Varti) composed of Pathyá, Haridrá, Yashti-madhu and Anjana should be similarly applied. Compounds made of the equal parts of Pippali, Maricha, S'unthi, Haritaki, Ámalaki, Vibhitaka, Haridrá and Vidanga-seeds, or of Válaka, Kushtha, Deva-dáru, (burnt) conch-shell, Páthá (Ákanidhi), Anala (Chitraka roots), Pippali, Maricha, S'unthi and Manah-śilá (Realgar) and the flowers of Játi, Karanja and S'obhánjana*[4] pasted together with water should be applied to the eye. The seeds †[5] of Prakiryá (Karanja), or of S'igru with the seeds and flowers of the two kinds of Vrihati mixed with Rasánjana, Chandana, Saindhava-salt, Manah-śilá, Haritaki, and garlic taken in equal parts and pasted together with water should be made into sticks (Varti) and used as an Anjana in all forms of Kaphaja eye-diseases. 5.
The following medicinal compounds should be prescribed by experts as an Anjana (eye-salve) in a case of Valása-Grathita after the system of the patient had been properly cleansed by means of blood-letting. A quantity of blue barley with the horns should be soaked (for a week or two) in milk and dried (after the manner of Bhávaná saturation). It should then be burnt into ashes. These ashes should then be mixed with an equal part of burnt ashes of Arjaka, Áshphotaka, Kapittha, Vilva, Nirgundi and Játi flowers and an alkaline solution should be duly prepared therewith. Saindhava, Tuttha (Sulphate of copper) and Rochaná should now be added to the above alkaline solution and duly-boiled. The compound thus prepared should be applied as an Anjana with an iron pips (Nâdi). This is prescribed in a case of Valâsa-Grathita. Alkaline preparations may be similarly prepared with (the flowers, etc. of) Phanijjhaka etc., and may be employed in a similar manner. 6.
A (thin) plaster composed of S'unthi, Pippali, Musta, Saindhava and white Maricha*[6] pasted with the expressed juice of Mátulunga and applied to the eye as an Anjana, would bring about a speedy cure of the eye-disease known as Pishtaka. 7.
Vrihati fruits should be gathered when ripe and a paste compound of (the equal parts of) Pippali and Srotánjana should be kept inside those seedless fruits for seven nights. The (preserved) paste should then be taken out and applied to the eye as an Anjana. It proves beneficial in a case of Pishtaka. Paste may similarly be preserved inside a Vártáku (brinjal), Śigru, Indra- Váruni, Patola, Kiráta-tikta and Ámalaki and used for the same, 8.
Kâśiśa (Sulphate of iron), Samudra†[7], Rasánjana and buds of Játi-flowers pasted together and rubbed in honey, is advised to be prescribed as an Anjana in a case of Praklinna-Vartma. 9.
A single application as an Anjana of the compound composed of excellent Nádeya (Saindhava)‡[8] salt, white pipper[9] and Nepála-játa (Realgar-lit, that which is produced in Nepála) taken in equal parts and pasted together with the expressed juice of Mátulanga, would alleviate the itching sensation (Kandu) in the eyes. Similarly a compound of S'ringa-vera, Devadáru, Musta, Saindhavá salt and buds of Játi flowers pasted together with wine and used as an Anjana would prove efficacious in a case of swelling (Śopha) and itching sensation of the eyes. The above eye-diseases should be judiciously treated in accordance with the principles laid down in the treatment of the cases of Abhi-shyanda and Adhi-mantha. 10.
Thus ends the eleventh chapter of the Uttara-Tantra in the Sus'ruta Samhitá which treats of the curative treatment of S'leshmabhishyanda.
- ↑ * The word 'Atha' () in the text means says Dallana, that the local vein should be opened as the best resource, when fomentation, etc. would fail to effect a cure.
- ↑ † See Chikitsila-sthána, chapter IX.
- ↑ ‡ In place of "Kutannata" and "Arka" both Vrinda and Chakrapáni read "Surasa" and "Arja". Śrikantha the commentator of Vrinda however is of opinion that Arka should be better reading in place of that of "Arja".
- ↑ * Dallana quotes the reading of "Panjika'ka'ra" (another commentator of Sus'ruta) according to whom Murvá and the flowers of Játi only should be taken instead of the flowers of Jati, Karanja and Śobhánjana. This reading seems to be the correct one inasmuch as this makes the number of the drugs in the list twelve in all, as given by Dallana himself.
- ↑ † According to some commentators both the seeds and flowers of Prakirjá and of Śigru should be taken.
- ↑ * Dallana explains white Maricha as S'igru seeds.
- ↑ † Samudra may either mean Samudra-phena or Samudra salt, i. e. Karakacha salt. The commentators are silent on this point.
- ↑ ‡ Dallana explains Nádeya as meaning Saindhava, but it generally eans Srotanjana (black antimony).
- ↑ Dallana explains "S'veta-Maricha" as "S'igru-seeds", but there is a Particular kind of Maricha which is white in colour and this is also supported by some commentator.