w:Sushruta

“ A wise physician, with any regard to his own reputation, should abandon a patient laid up with an ulcer which appears to have been dusted over with a sort of pulverised crust, or who has been suffering from one accompanied by loss of flesh and strength, cough, difficult respiration and aversion to food. An ulcer, which occurring at any of the vital parts of the body secretes a copious quantity of pus and blood, and refuses to be healed even after a course of proper and persistent medical treatment, is sure to have a fatal termination. ”

“ A suppuration (D. R. swelling) in any of the unions (Sandhi) of the eye marked by a discharge of pus is called Puyá-sráva. This is due to the concerted action of the Doshas (Kapha, Pitta and blood) . The secretion of slimy, white and thick muco-purulent discharges marked by the absence of pain * [4] is called Śleshmá-sráva. The flow of thin, warm † [5] and blood-streaked copious discharge due to a contaminated state of the local blood is called Raktá-sráva. ”

“ It is the best of winds, gives vigour to the eyes, increases the strength, and soothes the blood and the Pittam without aggravating the bodily Vayu. The West wind:—The West wind is pure, non-slimy, dry, rough to the perception, and keen. ”

“ A physician (surgeon) making a wrong operation on the body of his patient either through mistake, or through the want of necessary skill or knowledge, or out of greed, fear, nervousness or haste, or in consequence of being spurned or abused, should be condemned as the direct cause of many new and unforeseen maladies. A patient, with any instinct of self-preservation, would do well to keep aloof from such a physician, or from one who makes a wrong or injudicious application of the cautery, and should shun his presence just as he would shun a conflagration or a cup of fatal poison. ”

“ The nomenclature of a disease depends upon where the affection of the several elementary principles of the body by the deranged bodily humours lies, and which is accordingly styled as it is seated in the lymph-chyle, or in the blood or the flesh, or it is in fat, bone, or in the semen. ”

“ In proper season thou shalt pair thy nails and clip thy hair and put on the sacred cloth, dyed brownish yellow, live the life of a truthful, self-controlled anchorite and be obedient and respectful towards thy preceptor. In sleep, in rest, or while moving about—while at meals or in study, and in all acts thou shalt be guided by my directions. Thou shalt do what is pleasant and beneficial to me, otherwise thou shalt incur sin and all thy study and knowledge shall fail to bear their wished for fruit, and thou shalt gain no fame. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The evils, which attend the oblique insertion of a surgical instrument, have been described before; and accordingly care should be taken not to leave any room for the occurence of those evils in connection with a surgical operation.
The patient, who may mistrust his own parents, sons and relations, should repose an implicit faith in his own physician, and put his own life into his hands without the least apprehension of danger; hence a physician should protect his patient as his own begotten child. ”

“ Now you may ask the question how can an acid substance, which is fiery in its virtue and heat-making in its potency, tend to subdue the effects of an alkali which is possessed of similar virtues and properties, instead of augmenting them, as can naturally be apprehended? Well my child, the question can be fairly answered by stating, that substances of all tastes enter into the composition of an alkali except the acid one. ”

“ Now listen, Sushruta, my dear child. The object or utility of the science which forms the subject of our present discussion, may be grouped under two distinct sub-heads such as (1) the cure of diseased persons, and (2) the preservation of health in those who are not afflicted with any sort of bodily distempers."
The etymological meaning of the term "Ayurveda" may be interpreted to denote either a science in the knowledge of which life exists, or which helps a man to enjoy a longer duration of life. ”

“ A strong and vigorous patient can easily endure a considerable amount of burning pain, etc. and does not feel distressed by a strict regimen of diet. A man of stupendous endurance and fortitude can sustain the fatigue and worry of even the most painful surgical operation. Accordingly, a boil or an ulcer, appearing in a patient of the above said description, is easily and speedily healed; whereas the one, which affects either an old, emaciated, or timid person or one of small strength and endurance, takes time to heal. ”

“ A physician is at liberty to exercise his own skill and wisdom, and to devise his own original means for the extraction of a Shalyam with the help of any surgical instruments when the abovesaid measures would prove abortive. A Shalyam, not removed from the body and left in its place of lodgment, brings on swelling, suppuration, mortification of the affected part, and a sort of excruciating pain, and may ultimately lead to death. Hence a physician should spare no pain to extract a Shalyam from its seat of lodgment. ”