Sushrut Samhita

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

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xiii ] in detail. Sixty types of treatment of wounds and ulcers have been described along. with various types of bandage and anciliary method of treatment like blood-letting, cauterization and application of caustics which was developed as a separate disci. pline known as 'Ksaratantra'. There are also treatments for emergency conditions as burns etc. Plastic surgery is the unique contribution of Susruta for which the world is indebted to him. Looking to all these splendid achievements in that early age, Susruta has rightly been called as 'Father of Surgery'. 4. Military medicine, a corollary of surgery, has also found a fitting place in the Susruta samhita. Toxicology has been given a scientific shape by classifying the poisonous substances and prescribing suitable treatment. Various types of aconite and arsenic compounds have been described. 5. In the field of fundamentals too, Susruta has advanced the concepts further. He has named five types of Pitta, traced the process of intrinsic pathology in the form of six kriyakalas and also drew the attention towards the pathogeonic importance ( dosic nature ) of rakta (blood ). The definition of 'swastha' (healthy ) given by him is ideal one even today. - In the field of drug science, Susruta has not only elaborated and advanced the basic concepts of pharmacodynamics but also introduced many specific drugs for treatment of diseases such as tuvaraka, khadira and bijaka for leprosy, kutaja and bhallataka for piles, haridra for diabetes and guggulu for disorders of vata. He has classified drugs in 37 ganas according to therapeutic uses including one gana for mineral drugs. He has also introduced many new drugs as gudasarkara, timira, sakhota, vakuci, virataru, sarpagandha and kankustha. The use of mercury through external only, is seen first in the Susruta samhita. Commentaries on the Susruta Samhita : Commentaries of the following authors are important ones on the Susruta samhita : 1. Jejjata 7. Susrutaslokavarttika 14. Vangadatta, 2. Gayadasa 8. Suvira 15. Cakrapanidutta 3. Sri Madhava.. 9. Sudhira 16. Dalhana 4. Brahmadeva 10. Sukira 17. Gadadhara 5. Bhaskara 11. Nandi 18. Haranacandra 6. Gudhapadabhanga 12. Varaha 19. Bhaskara Govinda tipanna 13. Karttikakunda Ghanekara Out of these commentaries Cakrapani's commentary (Bhanumati) has been published in part from Shri Swami Laksmiram Trust, Jaipur. In the present edition, Gayadasa's commentary entitled 'Nyayacandrika' or 'BIhat Panjika' and Dalhana's commentary entiled "Nibandha samgraha' have been incorporated. Hence a few words about these two commentators would also be necessary.