Susruta Samhita - Mandhata Global

CHAPTER XIL
Now we shall discourse on the medical treatment of
the abscesses or eruptions which mark the sequel of a
case of Prameha (Pramcha-Pidaka). I.
The nine kinds of abscesses (Pidakas), such as
Saravika, etc., have been described before. Of such
abscesses those, appearing in a strong person but
small in size, affecting (only) the Tvak (skin) and the
flesh, soft to the touch, slightly painful, easily suppura-
tive and after a time bursting, are curable. 2.
Patients suffering from Prameha and afflicted with
the above kinds of abscesses (Pidakas) should be
treated (in the following manner). Measures, such as
fastings (Apatarpana), etc., decoctions* (of Vata, etc.)
and the urine of a she-goat, should be employed in the
incubative stage of the disease. The urine, perspira-
tion and the Sleshma (sputum, etc.), soon acquire a
sweetish taste, if the aforesaid oreliminary measures
are not resorted to and if the patient goes on using sweet
articles of food in utter disregard of the instructions,
thus developing fully the specific indications of Pra-
meha. In this stage the system of the patient should
be cleansed (Sams'odhana) with both emetics and
purgatives. If the disease is not checked (even at
this stage) with the aforesaid measures (emetics and
purgatives), the aggravated Doshas of the body go on
increasing in intensity and tend to affect or vitiate the
flesh and the blood and produce an inflamatory swelling
of the body, or bring on other supervening distresses
* Astringent drugs of fig-tree (Vata-tree), etc.— D. R.