Chapter XXI - The medical treatment of poison caused by a Shuka (water insect)

Now we shall discourse on the medical treatment of the Sores on the penis produced by the Suka, a kind of poisonous insect (Shuka-Roga). 1.

Treatment of Sarshapi, etc.:—

In a case of the Sarshapi type of the disease, the affected (ulcerated) part should be scarified and dusted with the (powdered) drugs of an astringent taste (as described in the Mishraka chapter), and an oil, cooked with (the Kalka and decoction of) the same drugs, should be applied for healing purposes. In a case of the Ashthi- lika type of the disease, the skilful physician should apply leeches to the seat of affection. In case the swelling does not still subside, it should be removed and treated as a Kaphaja Granthi (glandular swelling). A Granthi type of the disease should be constantly fomented in the manner of Nadi-Sveda, and should be poulticed with a lukewarm medicinal compound mixed with a profuse quantity of Sneha (oil). 2-4.

Treatment of Kumbhika, etc.:—

An incision should be made into the suppurated seat of affection in a case of the Kumbhika type of the disease, and the incidental ulcer should be purified (disinfected) and healed up with the application of the oil, cooked with Triphala, Lodhra, Tinduka and Amrataka.^[1] In the Alaji type of the disease, the affected part should be bled by applying leeches to it and should then be affused with a decoction of the astringent drugs. An oil, cooked with the decoction of the same drugs, should be used to heal up the (incidental) ulcer. 5-6.

Treatment of Mridita, etc.:—

In the Mridita type of the disease, the affected part should be affused with tepid Vala oil and poulticed with a lukewarm plaster (Upanaha) of the drugs of the Madhura (Kakolyadi) group, pasted and mixed with clarified butter. Leeches should be speedily applied to the condyl- omatous growths (Pidaka) in a case of Sammudha- Pidaka. In cases of suppuration, they should be opened and plastered with honey and clarified butter. In a case of Avamantha, the growths (Pidaka) should be opened, when suppurated, and healed up with the application of an oil, cooked with Dhava, Ashva-Karna, Pattanga, Shallaki and Tinduka. 7–9.

Treatment of Pushkarika, etc.:—

In a case of Pushkarika, all kinds of cooling measures should be applied and the vitiated blood should be extracted by applying leeches. The affected part should be subsequently affused with clarified butter. In a case of the Sparsha-hani type of the disease, blood should be let out and plasters (Pradeha) of Madhura (Kakolyadi) drugs should be applied. The affected part should be affused with a very cold compound of milk, clarified butter and the expressed juice of sugar cane. In the type of the disease known as Uttama, the Pidakas (condylomatous growths) should be removed with the help of a Vadisa instrument, and powders of astringent drugs with honey should be applied to the seat of affection. 10–12.

Treatment of Shata-ponaka, etc.:—

In a case of the Sata-ponaka type of the disease, the affected part should be scarified and the measures laid down in connection with Rasa-Kriya should be resorted to. After this, an oil, cooked with the Prithak-parnyadi drugs^[2] should be likewise applied to the seat of the disease.' The medicinal treatment, in a case of Tvakpaka, should be the same as described in connection with Erysipelas (Visarpa). The remedial measures, laid down under the head of Rakta-vidradhi, should be employed in a case of the Sonitarvuda type of the disease. 13—T 4.

General Treatment:—

Remedies such as medicinal decoctions, pastes (Kalka), medicated clarified butter, powders, Rasa-Kriya, etc., and the measures for purifying and healing (incidental sores or ulcers\ should be employed with due consideration to the nature and intensity of the aggravated Doshas involved in the case. The application of specifically prepared medicated clarified butter, purgatives, blood-letting and light diet should be similarly prescribed.^[3] 15.

Prognosis:—

The medical treatment of the patient affected with any of the following types of the disease, viz., Arvuda, Mamsa-paka, Vidradhi and Tila- Kalaka should be undertaken without holding out any definite prospect of recovery, 16.

 

Thus ends the twenty-first Chapter of the Chikitsita Sthana in the Sushruta Samhita which deals with the treatment of Shuka-Roga.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Shiva-dasa in his commentary on Chikra-datta quotes this couplet from Sushruta, but there he reads amrakṛtena in place of amratakena that is to say, he says that Amra should be used in place of Amrataka. He further adds that the stones of Amra and Tinduka fruits should be taken.

[2]:

For Rasa-kriya and the Prithak-parnyadi drugs, see Chapter XXXVI—Sutrasthana.

[3]:

This seems to be the general treatment of all the types of Shuka-Roga.