w:Sushruta

“ The simple maxim or principle to be followed in the treatment of a disease is simply to forego the primary pathological causes of that disease. The special remedial measures that would pacify the different Doshas, Vâyu, etc. ”

“ A case of Sirotpáta, if not attended to and remedied in time through ignorance, gives rise to transparent and copper-coloured discharges in copious quantities from the eyes and produce a complete blindness of vision. ”

“ S'amkha and sugar mixed with honey, or of the pith of Madhuka pasted with honey, or of the inner pulps of the stones of Vibhitaka pasted with honey should be constantly used as an Anjana, in cases of the eye-disease known as Sukra. A compound consisting of conch-shell, oyster-shell, Drákshá, Yashti-madhu, Kataka and honey may be used and soothing application (Tarpana) antidotal to the deranged bodily Váyu, should be resorted to in cases of Śukra, if the second layer (Patala) of the eye is attended with pain (Śula) . ”

“ Timira, a thick white coat like that of a pack of white clouds or a deep white chowri (Chámara) seems to intervene in everything which look white and oily and dull and appear hazy and cloudy in a fine day, or as if laid under a sheet of water. ”

“ In a case of Sukra the affected part should be rubbed (scarified) with a compound consisting of S'irisha-seeds, Maricha., Pippali and Saindhava pounded together, or with Saindhava alone, A compound composed of powdered copper, Manah-s'ila, Maricha and Saindhavaeach preceding drug being taken in a quantity double the one immediately succeeding it in the order of enumeration* [8] , should be pounded together and made into a thin paste. Applied as an Anjana to the seat of the disease, it will cure a case of Sukra. ”

“ An accumulation of the deranged Doshas about the eye-lashes makes them rough and sharp-pointed, which give pain to the eye and give relief when drawn off. The disease is known as Pakshma-kopa in which the eye cannot bear the least wind or heat or the glare of fire. ”

“ Symptoms of Raktaja Adhimantha: — A pricking pain in and a blood-streaked secretion from the affected organ which looks (bright red) like a Bandhujiva flower, are the symptoms which mark the type of Raktaja Adhimantha (due to the vitiated blood) . The eye becomes painful and incapable of bearing the least touch or contact, and the objects of vision seem as if enveloped in flames. The extremities of the eye become red and the whole origin of the cornea (black coat of the eye) looks like an Arishta fruit submerged in blood, 11. ”

“ In cases of an inflammation of the Vartmas (eye-lids) the eye seems as if studded with the bristles of worms (Suka) and attended with pain (as if pricked into with thorns) and a sensible impairment of the faculty of the eyes in detecting colours and in closing and opening the eye-lids freely. An intelligent physician will conclude from these symptoms that the eyes have been affected by the (deranged) Doshas, with a due consideration whereof the remedies should be (carefully) administered, otherwise the eye-diseases might become too serious. ”

“ Rodhra, Yashti-madhu, Drákshá, sugar and Utpala should be soaked in breast-milk. It should then be folded inside a piece of silk (Kshauma) and employed as an Áŝchyotana (eye-drop) . A compound of Yashti-madhu and Rodhra rubbed in clarified butter should be similarly used. ”

“ Symptoms Of Kaphaja Adhimantha:— In the Kaphaja type of Adhimantha the eye is swollen with a slight congestion (inflammation) . Discharges with a sensation of itching, coldness and heaviness in the localities set in, and there is horripilation. The eye becomes slimy with deposit of mucous matter. The sight becomes cloudy, the nostrils are dilated, the head aches and all objects seem to be full of dust. ”

“ The rough, yellowish (D. R. white) growth of flesh on the white coat, and gaining (slowly) in size, is called Snáyvarma. 3-7.
The appearance of dark brown specks resembling flesh in colour or of those having the colour of an oyster-shell on the white coat (Śukla) of the eye is called Śuktiká. The appearance of a single dot or speck on the Sclerotic coat (Śukla) , coloured like a (drop of the) hare's blood, is called Arjuna. A raised and circular dot or speck appearing on the white coat and coloured white like pasted rice and (as transparent as) water is called Pishtaka. ”

“ Names of the Chhedya and Lekhya eye-diseases:—Diseases which should be treated with incision are Arśo-vartma, Śushkárśas, Arvuda, Sirá-Pidaká, Sirá-jâla, the five types of Arman*, [1] and Parvaniká (thus numbering eleven in all) . Diseases in which scarification should be resorted to (numbering seven in all) are Utsangini, Bahala-vartma, Kardama-vartma, Śyáva-vartma, Vaddha-vartma, Klishta-vartma, Pothaki, Kumbhikini, and Śarkará-vartma. ”

“ The eye-lid should be over-turned with the thumb and the index finger and should be very carefully fomented with a piece of linen soaked in lukewarm water and squeezed. The eye-lid should be covered with a piece of linen and over-turned with the thumb and the index finger at the time to guard against its movement and enclosing. ”

“ The appearance of a whitish milky film over the black part of the eye slowly shrouding it entirly with its mass and attended with acute pain is known as the Akshi-Pákátyaya. This is invariably found to result from an attack of Akshi-kopa* [1] and is due to the concerted action of all the Doshas. ”

“ They should be dropped lukewarm in winter and cold in summer into the eyes. In diseases of Vátaja origin they should be of a bitter taste; oleaginous in diseases due to the Pitta; and bitter, — warm and parching in diseases due to Kapha. ”

“ Young bamboo-sprouts, Arushkara, Tála (palm) and Nárikela (cocoanut) * [10] should be burnt to ashes and alkaline water should be duly prepared therewith. The burnt ashes of elephant's bones should be soaked several (seven) times with the above alkaline preparation in the manner of Bhávaná saturation. ”

“ In the following diseases of the eye, viz., Vartmá-vabandha, Klishta-vartma, Bahala-vartma and Pothaki, the affected part should first be gently scraped and then scarified. In Śyâva-vartma and Kardama-vartma, the intelligent physician will gently scarify the affected part neither deeply nor superficially. ”

“ The Sandhis (which serve as lines of demarcation of the circles) already pointed out are six in number, the first binding the eye-lashes (Paksha-mandala) with the eye-lids (Vartma-mandala) , the second the eye-lids and the Sclerotic coat (Śveta-mandala) , the third binding the latter with the Krishna-mandala (choroid) , the fourth situated between the latter and the Drishti-mandala, the fifth lying in the interior corner (Kaninakas) and the last (sixth) in the exterior (posterior) corner (Apángas) of the eye. 7-8. ”