Sushrut Samhita

Author(s): Sushrut Maharshi, Narayanram Acharya
Publisher: Chaukhambha Orientaliya

Page 12

[ xi ] Surgery is intimately related to warfare. During this period surgery was also developed parallel to the military medicine. general medicine and toxicology. general medicine, toxicology and surgery are there pillars of the military medicine. Nagarjuna : The foremost contribution of Nagarjuna is the addition of uttara tantra. Apart from this, the tantrika element, the astrological facts, minerals and their processings are probable contributions of Nagarjuna. Parada ( mercury ) is mentioned for the first time in Susruta for external use. There is also 'phenasma' ( arsenic ) which was probably used for homicidal purposes. Candrata : The latest facts which led the scholars to take the work as of the medieval period may be probable contributions of Candrata : 1. the fourth dosa might have been recognised under the Greek influence by Susruta but there is no doubt that this chapter is retouched by Candrata. The ideas experessed in the end exactly correspond to those of Bhavabhuti (8th Cent. A. D.). 2. The word 'aupasargika' in the sense of 'infectious' (Ni. 5.30) is probably used by Candrata because earlier this word is used for complications by Susruta ( Su. 35.15). . 3. ASwabala, though seems to have been introduced by Greeks, was popularised by the time of Candrata which is indicated by its description among common pot-herbs while Caraka mentions it by the name of 'nari among divine herbs which shows its rarity. 4. Methods of preservation, purification and refrigeration of water are not met with in Caraka and other ancient samhitas nor even in Vagbhata. It shows its introduction by the end of ancient period. Different views about the date of the Susruta samhita : There are quite divergent views on the date of the Susruta sam hita which can be classified in four categories as follows : A. 8000-600 B.C.--Hessler, Mukhopadhyaya ( 1000 B.C.) Hoernle (6th cent. B.C.) B. 1 cent. A.D.-Littard ( 1st cent. A.D.) C. 4-5 cent. A.D. Macdonnel ( 4th cent. A.D.) Neuberger ( 5th cent. A.D.) D. 9-12 cent. A.D.-Jones 9th cent. A.D.) Wilson ( 10th cent. A.D.) Haas ( 12th cent. A.D.)