सप्तमोऽध्यायः । अथातो मूषिककल्पं व्याख्यास्यामः, यथोवाच भगवान् धन्वन्तरिः ः।।१।।
Now we shall discourse on cases of rat poisoning (Musikakalpa). 1
Different varieties of rats
पूर्वं शुक्रविषा उक्ता मूषिका ये समासतः । नामलक्षणभैषज्यैरष्टादश लालनः पुत्रकः कृष्णो हंसिरश्चिक्किरस्तथा । कषायदशनोऽपि छुच्छुन्दरोऽलसश्चैव कुलिङ्गश्चाजितश्चैव कोकिलोऽरुणसंज्ञश्च चपलः निबोध मे ॥ २॥ कपिलस्तथा । ॥४॥ महाकृष्णस्तथोन्दुरः । ॥ ४ ॥ तथा । स्मृताः ॥ ५॥ च।।३।। श्वेतेन महता सार्धं कपिलेनाखुना मूषिकश्च कपोताभस्तथैवाष्टादश
Different varieties of rats (M. Text) : Now hear me enumerating the names of the different families of Musika (rats) briefly referred to before as having their poison in their semen, classified according to their different names, features and the medical treatment to be employed for the neutralisation of the effects of their poison. They are eighteen in number and are named as follows : Lalana, Putraka, Krsna, Hamsira, Cikkira, Chucchundara, Alasa, Kasaya-dasana, Kulinga, Ajita, Capala, Kapila, Kokila, Aruna, Maha- Krsna, Maha Sveta, Maha- Kapila and Kapotabha. 2-5
General symptoms of rat poisoning
शुक्रं पतति यत्रैषां शुक्रघृष्टैः स्पृशन्ति वा । नखदन्तादिभिस्तस्मिन् गात्रे रक्तं प्रदुष्यति ॥ ६॥
जायन्ते ग्रन्थयः शोफाः कर्णिका मण्डलानि च। पिडकोपचयश्चोग्रा विसर्पाः किटिभानि च।।७।।
पर्वभेदो रुजस्तीव्रा रुजस्तीव्रा मूर्च्छाऽङ्गसदनं ज्वरः । दौर्बल्यमरुचिः श्वासो वेप (वम ) थुर्लोमहर्षणम् ॥ ८ ॥
General symptoms of rat-poisoning: The blood of any part of a human body coming in contact with the semen of any of these different classes of rats or scratched with their nails, treeth, etc., previously besmeared with their semen (Sukra) is vitiated and gives rise to the appearance of Granthi (nodes), swelling, Mandala, eruptions of circular erethematous patches on the skin, Karnika (eruptions of patches pimples (pustules) violent and acute erysipelas, Kitibha (keloid tumours), breaking pain in the joints, extreme pain (in the body), fever, violent epileptic fits, weekness, aversion to food, difficult breathing, shivering and horripiration. 6-8
Specific symptoms and treatment of rat poisoning
दष्टरूपं समासोक्तमेतच्च व्यासतः शृणु। लालास्रावो लालनेन हिक्का छर्द्दिश्च जायते । तण्डुलीयककल्कन्तु लिह्यात् तत्र समाक्षिकम् ।। ९ ।। पुत्रकेणाङ्गसादश्च पाण्डुवर्णश्च जायते । चीयते ग्रन्थिभिश्चाङ्गमाखुशावकसन्निभैः । शिरीषेङ्गुदकल्कन्तु लिह्यात् तत्र समाक्षिकम् ।। १० ।। कृष्णेन दंशे शोफोऽसृक्छर्दिः प्रायश्च दुर्दिने । शिरीषफलकुष्ठन्तु पिबेत् किंशुकभस्मना ।। ११ । ।
Specific symptoms and treatment of rat-poisoning: The general symptoms of rat-poisoning have been briefly described above. Now hear me specially describing the symptoms of the bites by the different families of rats (Musika). A bite by a rat of the Lalana class is marked by a copious flow of saliva, hic-cough and vomiting. The patient in such a case should be made to use a lambative made of the roots of Tanduliyaka mixed with honey. A bite by a rat of the Putraka family is marked by a sense of physical langour, yellowness of the complexion and the appearance of nodular glands (Granthi) resembling young rats. A compound of Sirisa and Ingudi pasted together and mixed with honey should be given to the patient as a lambative in this case. A bite by a rat of the Krsna (black) class in cloudy weather and more especially on a cloudy day is characterised by the vomiting of blood. A pasted compound of Sirisa fruit and Kustha with the washings of the ashes of Kimsuka (flower) should be given to the patient in such a case. 9-11
हंसिरेणान्नविद्वेषो जृम्भा लोम्नाञ्च हर्षणम् । पिबेदारग्वधादिन्तु सुवान्तस्तत्र मानवः ।। १२ ।।
चिक्किरेण शिरोदुःखं शोफो हिक्का वामिस्तथा ।
जालिनीमदनाङ्कोठकषायैर्वामयेत् यवनालर्षभीक्षारं तु बृहत्योश्चात्र छुच्छुन्दरेण तृद् छर्दिज्वरो दौर्बल्यमेव च।
ग्रीवास्तम्भः पृष्ठशोफो गन्धाज्ञानं विसूचिका ॥ १४ ॥
चव्यं हरीतकी शुण्ठी विडङ्गं पिप्पली मधु । अङ्कोठबीजञ्च (श्वेतकबीजं क्षारञ्च तथा पिबेदत्र बृहत्याश्चात्र तम् । दापयेत् ।। १३ ।। विषापहम् । दापयेत्) ।। १५ ।।
A bite by a rat of the Hansira species brings on an aversion to food, yawning and horripilation. In such a case emetics should be first given to the patient who should be then made to drink a decoction of the drugs of the Aragvadhadi group. A bite by a rat of the Cikkira class is accompanied by headache, swelling, hic-cough and vomiting. In such a case an emetic consisting of the decoction of Jalini, Madana fruit and Amkotha should be prescribed. A bite by a venomous Musika of the Chucchundara (mole) species gives rise to thirst, vomiting, fever, weekness numbness of the muscles of the neck swelling of the back, loss of sense of smell and visucika. In this case Cavya, Haritaki, Sunthi, Vidanga, Pippali, honey and Ankotha seeds should be administered as a drink as an antidate to the poison’. 12-15
1. Different reading: A bite by a Musika of the Chucchundara class produces thirst, vomiting, fever, weakness, numbness of the muscles of the neck, swelling, abscess on the back, loss of the sense of smell and Visucika. A compound of cavya, Haritaki, Sunthi, Vidanga, Pippali, Svetaka-seeds and the ashes of (the plants of) Brhati pounded together and mixed with honey should be prescribed in this case. –Gayadasa
ग्रीवास्तम्भोऽलसेनो रुजा ज्वरः । महागदं ससर्पिष्कं लिह्यात् तत्र समाक्षिकम् ।। १६ ।।
निद्रा कषायदन्तेन हृच्छोषः कार्यमेव च । क्षौद्रोपेताः शिरीषस्य लिह्यात् सारफलत्वचः ।। १७ ।।
कुलिङ्गेन रुजः शोफो राज्यश्च दंशमण्डले । सहे ससिन्धुवारे च लिह्यात् तत्र समाक्षिके ।। १८ ।।
A bite by a rat of the Alasa species is characterised by a rigidity of the neck, an upward coursing of the Vayu, fever and pain at the seat of the bite. In this case the patient should be made to take the Mahagada with honey and clarified butter as a lambative. A bite by a rat of the Kasaya-dasana species is marked by somnolence or excessive sleep, atrophy (Sosa) of the heart and a general emaciation of the body. In such a case a lambative made of the bark, pith and fruit (seeds) of Sirisa mixed with honey should be given to the patient to lick. A bite by a rat of the Kulinga species is marked by pain, swelling and stripelike marks about the seat of the bite, the remedy consists of a lambative made of the two kinds of Saha (Mudga-parni and Masa-parni) and Sindhuvara pasted together and mixed with honey. 16-18
अजितेनाङ्गकृष्णत्वं छर्दिर्मूर्च्छा च हृद्ग्रहः । स्नुक्क्षीरपिष्टां पालिन्दीं मञ्जिष्ठां मधुना लिहेत् ।। १९ ।।
चपलेन भवेच्छर्द्दिर्मूर्च्छा च सह तृष्णया । सभद्रकाष्ठां त्रिफलां क्षौद्रैर्लिह्यात् जटान्विताम् ।। २० ।।
कपिलेन व्रणे कोथो ज्वरो ग्रन्थ्युद्गम: सतृट् । लिह्यान्मधुयुतां श्वेतां श्वेतां चापि पुनर्नवाम् ॥ २१ ॥
ग्रन्थयः कोकिलेनोग्रा ज्वरो दाहश्च दारुणः । वर्षाभूनीलिनीक्वाथकल्कसिद्धं घृतं पिबेत् ॥ २२ ॥
A bite by a rat of the Ajita species is characterised by vomiting, epileptic fits ( fainting), a catching pain at the heart ( Hrd-graha) and blackness of the body. The patient in such a case should be made to lick a compound made of (the roots of ) Palindi (Trivrt ) and Manjistha pasted with the milky juice of Snuhi and mixed with honey. A bite by a rat of the Capala species is marked by vomiting, epileptic fits and thirst, and the remedy in this case should consist of a lambative made of Tri-phala, Bhadra kastha (Deva-daru) and Jata mansi (D.R.-Yava) pasted together and mixed with honey. A bite by a rat of the Kapila species is followed by Kotha ( putrefaction) of the bite, appearance of nodular glands (Granthi) thirst and fever. The remedy consists in the use of a lambative made of Tri-phala, Sveta¹ (white Aparajita) and Punarnava pasted together and licked with honey. A bite by a rat of the Kokila species is attended with high fever, an intolerable burning sensation in the body and the appearance of nodular glands (Granthi). Clarified butter duly cooked with the decoction of Varsabhu and Nilini (Indigo plants) should be administered in such a case. 19-22
अरुणेनानिलः क्रुद्धो वातजान् कुरुते महाकृष्णेन पित्तञ्च श्वेतेन कफ महता कपिलेनासृक् कपोतेन भवन्ति चैषां दंशेषु पिडकोपचयाश्चोग्रः गदान् । एव एव च ।। २३ ॥ चतुष्टयम् । ग्रन्थिमण्डलकर्णिकाः । शोफश्च भृशदारुणः ।। २४॥
A bite by a rat of the Aruna (vermilion coloured) species is marked by an extremely aggravated condition of the bodily Vayu and the symptoms similar to it. A bite by a rat of the Maha-krsna (extremely black) species leads to an aggravated condition of the Pitta, while a bite by one of the Maha-sveta class ushers in an aggravation of the bodily Kapha. The blood of a person is vitiated by the bite of a rat of the Maha-kapila family, while the bite by one of the Kapota species leads to the derangement of all the four principles viz., the three Dosas (Vayu, Pitta and Kapha) as well as of the blood. Their bites are accompanied by a violent swelling of the affected locality, the appearance of nodular glands (Granthi) and such other erythematous and eczematous growths as Mandala, Karnika and Pidaka ( Pustules ). 23-24
दधिक्षीरघृतप्रस्थास्त्रयः करञ्जारग्वधव्योष प्रत्येकशो मताः । बृहत्यंशुमतीस्थिराः ।
निष्क्वाथ्य चैषां क्वाथस्य चतुर्थोऽशः पुनर्भवेत् ॥ २५ ॥
1. Some explain “sveta Punarnava” to mean “white Punarnava.” Gayadasa reads ‘‘Srestha’ in place of “Sveta” in which case also the white species of Punarnava is evidently meant.
78
त्रिवृद्गोज्यमृतावक्र-सर्पगन्धाः समृत्तिकाः । कपित्थदाडिमत्वक् च सुपिष्टानि तु दापयेत् ।। २६ । ।
तत् सर्वमेकतः कृत्वा शनैर्मृद्वग्निना पचेत् । पञ्चानामरुणादीनां विषमेतद् व्यपोहति ।। २७ ।।
काकादनीकाकमाच्योः- स्वरसेष्वथवा कृतम् । सिराश्च स्त्रावयेत् प्राप्ताः कुर्यात् संशोधनानि च ।। २८ ।।
Three Prastha measures¹ each of clarified butter, curd and milk should be duly cooked with the duly prepared decoction of Karanja, Aragvadha, Vyosa, Brhati Ansumati and Sthira (Kakoli), and with a quarter measure of Trivrt, Tila, Amrta ( Gulafica), Vakra, Sarpagandha, (black) earth – ( of an ant-hill) and the barks of Kapittha and Dadima as Kalka. The whole should be duly cooked over a gentle fire. The Ghrita thus prepared would destroy the poison of the five kinds of rats viz.. Aruna, etc. As an alternative, clarified butter duly cooked with the expressed juice of Kakadani and Kaka-maci should be given to the patient in such cases. A wise physician shall have recourse to bleeding or venesection in these cases and the system of the patient should be cleansed by purgatives and emetics. 26-28
General Treatment in rate bite Poisoning
सर्वेषाञ्च विधिः कार्यो मूषिकाणां विषेष्वयम् । दग्ध्वा विस्त्रावयेद् दंशं प्रच्छितञ्च प्रलपयेत् । शिरीषरजनीकुष्ठ-कुङ्कमैरमृतायुतैः जालिनीक्वाथैः छर्दनं ।। २९ ।। शुकाख्याङ्कोठयोरपि । च। शुकाख्याकोषवत्योश्च मूलं मदन एव देवदालीफलञ्चैव दध्ना पीत्वा विषं वमेत् ।। ३० ।। फलं वचा देवदाली कुष्ठं गोमूत्रपेषितम्। पूर्वकल्पेन योज्याः स्युः सर्वोन्दुरुविषच्छिदः ।। ३१ ।। ·
General Treatment: The general measures to be adopted in the case of a bite by a rat of what-soever class are as follows: The seat of the bite should be first cauterized (with boiling clarified butter), and blood-letting should be resorted to (by opening the veins of the patient). The seat of the bite should then be marked with superficial incisions and a plaster of Sirisa, Rajani, Kustha, Kumkuma and Amrta (Gulanca) should be applied. The patient should be made to vomit with the decoction of Jalini or with that of Sukakhya and Amkotha boiled together. The (powdered) roots of Sukakhya, Kosavati, Madana fruits and Devadali fruits should be administered with curd for the elimintion by vomiting the (internal) poison (if any). The patient should be made to take (with curd) the compound consisting of Phala (Madana), Vaca, Devadali and Kustha pasted with the urine of a cow ( as an emetic ). This remedy neutralises the effects of the poison of all species of venomous rats. 29-31
1. According to Dalhana, the recipe of this Ghrita is as follows: one Prastha each of clarified butter, curd and milk, two Palas each of Karanja, etc., and sixteen seers of water to be boiled down to four seers, the drugs of the Kalka weighing one seer in all.
2. In place of “सर्पगन्धा समृत्तिका” some read “सर्पगन्धाहिमृत्तिका”, while Jejjata reads “सर्पगन्धागमृत्तिका।”
विरेचने त्रिवृदन्ती त्रिवृदन्ती त्रिफलाकल्क इष्यते । सारः शिरीषस्य फलानि च ।। ३२ ।।
गोमयस्वरसोऽञ्जने । सक्षौद्रो शिरोविरेचने सारः हितस्त्रिकटुकाढ्यश्च कपित्थगोमयरस:
लेह वा रसाञ्जनहरिद्रेन्द्र-यवकट्वीषु कल्कं सातिविषं प्रातर्लिह्याच्च तण्डुलीयकमूलेषु सर्पिः
आस्फोतमूलसिद्धं वा पञ्चकापित्थमेव सिद्धं इष्यते ।। ३३ ।। कृतम् । क्षौद्रसंयुतम् ॥ ३४ ॥ पिबेन्नरः । वा ।। ३५ ।।
A compound composed of Trivrt, Danti and Triphala should (if necessaryº be employed as a purgative (in such a case). A compound prepared with the pith of Sirisa and the pulp of its fruits should be used (if necessary) as an errhine (Siro-virecana). The watery secretion of fresh cow-dung mixed with a profuse quantity of (powdered) Tri-katu should be used as collyrium. The patient should be made to lick a compound prepared with the expressed juice of the fruits of Kapittha and with honey and the serous secretion of ( fresh) cow-dung, or a lambative made of Rasanjana, Haridra, Indra-yava, Katuki and Ativisa with honey should be given to the patient in the morning. A potion of medicated clarified butter duly cooked with the roots of Tanduliyaka should be given to the patient for drink. As an alternative, clarified butter, duly cooked with the five parts (viz., roots, bark, fruits, leaves and flowers) of a Kapittha tree or with the roots of Asphota, should be prescribed. 32-35
मूषिकाणां विषं प्रायः कुप्यत्यभ्रेषु निर्हतम् । तत्राप्येष विधिः कार्यो यश्च दूषीविषापहः ।। ३६ ।।
स्थिराणां रुजतां वापि व्रणानां कर्णिकां भिषक् । पाटयित्वा यथादोषं व्रणवच्चापि शोधयेत् ।। ३७ ।।
The poison of a venomous Musika (rat or mole) even though (apparently) eliminated from the system may sometimes still be aggravated in cloudy days or in foul weather. In such a case, all the above measures as well as the remedies laid down under the treatment of Dusi-visa should be resorted to. The round protruding edges (Karnika) of an ulcer, incidental to a rat-bite, whether benumbed or painful, should be excised (D.R.–made to suppurate) and should be treated with purifying or cleasing remedies according to the deranged Dosa or Dosas involved in other ulcer. 36-37
Causes of Rabies
श्वश्रृगालतरवृक्ष-व्याघ्रादीनां यदाऽनिलः । श्लेष्मप्रदुष्टो मुष्णाति संज्ञां संज्ञावहाश्रितः ।। ३८ ।।
तदा प्रस्त्रस्तलाङ्गुल-हनुस्कन्धोऽतिलालवान् । सोऽन्योन्यमभिधावति ।। ३९ ।। अत्यर्थबधिरोऽन्धश्च
Causes of Rabies: The bodily Vayu in conjunction with (aggravated) Kapha of a jackal, dog, wolf, bear, tiger or of any other such ferocious beast affects the sensory nerves of these animals and overwhelms their instinct and consciousness. The tails, jaw-bones (D.R.–neck) and shoulders of such infurated animals naturally droop down, attended with a copious flow of saliva from their mouths. The beasts in such a state of frenzy, blinded and deafened by rage, run about to bite one person after another 38-39
तेनोन्मत्तेन दष्टस्य दंष्ट्रिणा सविषेण तु। सुप्तता जायते दंशे कृष्णञ्चातिस्त्रवत्यसृक् । दिग्धविद्धस्य प्रायशश्चोपलक्षितः ।। ४० ।। लिङ्गेन
Symptoms of Hydrophobia: The limb or part of the body of a person bitten by such a rabid and (consequently) poisonous animal loses its sensibility of touch, and a copious flow of dark blood is emitted from the seat of the bite. The patient in such a case generally exhibits all the symptoms which mark a case of poisoning by a venomed arrow. 40
Prognosis of Rate Bite Poisoning
येन चापि भवेद्दष्टस्तस्य चेष्टां रुतं नरः । बहुश: प्रतिकुर्वाणः क्रियाहीनो विनश्यति ।। ४१ ।।
दंष्ट्रिणा येन दष्टश्च तद्रूपं यदि पश्यति । अप्सु वा यदि वाऽदर्श रिष्टं तस्य विनिर्दिशेत् ॥ ४२ ॥
Prognosis: A person bitten by a rabid animal barks and howls like the animal by which he is bitten, imitates it in many other ways and, bereft of the specific functions and faculties of a human subject, ultimately dies. If a person, bitten by arabid animal, sees its (imaginary ) image reflected in water or in a mirror, he should be deemed to have reached an unfavourable stage of the disease. 41-42
त्रस्यत्यकस्माद्योऽभीक्ष्णं दृष्ट्वा स्पृष्ट्वाऽपि वा जलम् । ।। जलत्रासन्तु विद्यात् तं रिष्टं तमपि कीर्तितम् ।। ४३ ॥
अदष्टो वा जलत्रासी न कथञ्चन सिध्यति । प्रसुप्तोऽथोत्थितो वाऽपि स्वस्थस्त्रस्तो न सिध्यति ॥ ४४॥
Symptoms of Jala-trasa: If the patient in such a case becomes exceedingly frightened at the sight or touch of the water, he should be understood to have been afflicted with Jala-trasa (Hydrophobia) and be deemed to have been doomed. Such a case of Jala-trasa (waterscare) even in an unbitten person or in a healthy person, if frightened (by such a scare), whether waking or in sleep, should be regarded as a fatal symptom. 43-44
Treatment of Rabid animal bite
दंशं विस्त्राव्य तैर्दष्टे सर्पिषा परिदाहितम् । प्रदिह्यादगदैः सर्पिः पुराणं पाययेत् पाययेत् च।। ४५।।
अर्कक्षीरयुतञ्चास्य दद्याच्चापिविशोधनम् । श्वेतां पुनर्नवाञ्चास्य दद्याद् धत्तूरकायुताम् ।। ४६ ।।
Treatment: In the case of a bite by a rabid animal, the seat of the bite should be profusely bled (by pressing it) so as to let out all the (vitiated) blood. It should then be cauterized with (boilling) clarified butter and pasted with any of the aforesaid Agada, or the patient should be made to drink a potion of matured clarified butter. Clarified butter mixed with the milky exudation of an Arka plant, as well as a compound of white Punarnava¹ and Dhattura² should be prescribed for the patient as an errhine 45-46
Treatment of bites by rabid dogs
पललं तिलतैलञ्च रूपिकायाः पयो गुडः । निहन्ति मूलस्य मेघवृन्दमिवानिलः ।। ४७ ।। धत्तूरकार्धिकम् । पेषयेत् तण्डुलैः सह । । ४८ ।। ।। विषमालर्क शरपुङ्खायाः कर्षं तण्डुलोदकमादाय उन्मत्तकस्य पत्रैस्तु संवेष्ट्यापूपकं पचेत् । खादेदौषधकाले तमलर्कविषदूषितः । करोति श्वविकारांस्तु तस्मिन् जीर्यति चौषधे ।। ४९ ।। विकाराः शिशिरे याप्या गृहे वारिविवर्जिते । चैवापरेऽहनि । ततः शान्तविकारस्तु स्नात्वा क्षीरेणोष्णेन शालिषष्टिकयोर्भक्तं दिनत्रये पञ्चमे कर्त्तव्यो भोजयेत् ।। ५० ।। वा विधिरेषोऽर्धमात्रया । भिषजाऽवश्यमलर्कविषनाशनः ।। ५१ ।।
Treatment of bites by rabid dogs: A compound of pasted sesamum mixed with its oil, treacle and the (milky) juice of a Rupika plant eliminates the poison of a rabid dog (Alarka) from the system as a gale of wind drives a pack of clouds before it. A quantity of rice, two Tolas (one Karsa) in weight of the roots of Sara-pumikha and half a Karsa weight of Dhattura (roots) should be pasted together with the washings of rice. The paste should be covered with Dhustura leaves and baked (on the fire) in the shape of an Apupaka (cake). The cake thus prepared should be given, at the proper time of taking a medicine, to a person bitten by a rabid dog for a complete nullification of the poison. But the use of these cakes produce behavioural changes in the patient resembling those in the dog at the time of their digestion and these troubles become subdued by a retiring to in a dry but cool chamber away from water. The patient (after the subsidence of the troubles) should be bathed on the next day and a diet of boiled Sali or Sastika rice with tepid milk¹ should be prescribed for him. On the third and on the fifth day, the aforesaid anti-venomous compound should again be administered in half doses to the patient for the elimination of the poison. 47-51
5. 1. Some explain “Sveta Punarnava” to mean “white Punarnava’, but others explain it to mean “Sveta (Katabbi) and Punarnava”.
2. Some commentators prescribe the roots of Dhustura to be taken, while others hold that its fruits should be used.
कुप्येत् स्वयं विषं यस्य न स जीवति मानवः । तस्मात् प्रकोपयेदाशु स्वयं यावत् (प्र) कुप्यति ।। ५२ ।। बीजरत्नौषधीगर्भे: कुम्भैः शीताम्बुपूरितैः । चतुष्पथे ।। ५३ ॥ स्नापयेत् तं नदीतीरे समन्त्रैर्वा बलिं निवेद्य तत्रापि पिण्याकं पललं दधि । माल्यानि च विचित्राणि मांसं पक्वामकं तथा ।। ५४ ।। अलकाधिपते सारमेयगणाधिप । यक्ष अलर्कजुष्टमेतन्मे निर्विषं स्नातस्य दद्यात् संशोधनं तीक्ष्णमेवं अशुद्धस्य सुरूढेऽपि व्रणे कुप्यति कुरु माऽचिरात् ।। ५५ ॥ देहिनः । तद्विषम् ।। ५६ ।।
The person in whom the poison (of a rabid dog or jackal, etc.) is spontaneously aggravated has no chance of recovery. Hence the poison should be artificially aggravated (and then remedied) before reaching that stage of aggravation. The patient should be bathed at the crossing of roads or on the bank of a river with pitcher-fuls of cold water containing seeds of sesamum, gems and medicinal drugs and consecrated with appropriate Mantras. Offerings of cooked and uncooked meat, cakes and levigated pastes of sesamum as well as garlands of flowers of variegated colours should be offered to the god ( and the following Mantra should be recited). “O thou Yaksa, lord of Alarka, who art also the lord of all dogs, speedily makest me free from the poison of the rabid dog that has bitten me.” Strong purgatives and emetics should be administered to the patient after having been bathed in the above manner, since the poison in a patient with an uncleansed organism may sometimes be aggravated, even after the healing of the incidental ulcer. 52-56
श्वादयोऽभिहिता व्याला येऽत्र दंष्ट्राविषा मया । अतः करोति दष्टस्तु तेषां चेष्टां रुतं नरः ।
1. Dalhana says that in place of “क्षीरेणोष्णेन” Gayadasa reads “गव्येनाज्येन” that is to say, the diet should be taken with clarified butter.
बहुश: प्रतिकुर्वाणो न चिराम्रियते च सः ।। ५७ ।। नखदन्तक्षतं व्यालैर्यत् कृतं सिञ्चेत् तैलेन कोष्णेन ते हि तद्विमर्दयेत् । वातप्रकोपकाः ।। ५८ ।।
The poison of a (rabid) dog, etc., lies in the teeth and tends to aggravate the Pitta and the Vayu and hence the patient bitten by such animals is found to imitate their cries and nature. A patient afflicted with such poison cannot be saved even with the greatest care. The seat of a scratch made by the nails or teeth of any of those animals should be rubbed (and the poisoned blood should be let out). It should then be sprinkled over with tepid oil, since the poison in this case aggravates only the Vayu of the system. 57-58
This reading of Gayadasa seems to be the better one, as the use of clarified butter in such cases is supported by the custom of our country.
इति सुश्रुत संहितायां कल्पस्थाने मूषिककल्पो नाम सप्तमोऽध्यायः । ॥ ७ ॥
Thus ends the sixth Chapter of the Kalpa-sthaana in the Susruta Samhita which deals with the symptoms and treatments of rat-poison.
