Susruta Samhita - Mandhata Global

Chap. XXXV.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 593
bladder (Vasti) either of a full-grown ox, buffalo or a
sheep nor should it be soft (flexible) and firm, neither too
thick nor too thin and of adequate dimensions, 7.
Metrical Text : — in the absence of a pipe, a
reed, bamboo, or horn might serve the purpose. In the
absence of the bladder of any of the foregoing animals,
the Vasti should be made of skin or of thick linen. 8.
Construction of the Vasti :—-The bladder
(of which a Vasti should be made) should be cleansed,
tanned and dyed (disinfected). It should "be softened
and repeatedly lubricated with a Sneha. It has
generally a wide mouth which should be bent and lightly
fitted to the butt end of the pipe (Netra). The mouth
of the bladder should then be tied above the (Karnikd).
The whole bladder should be heated with a piece of hot
iron (in order to polish the surface and remove the pores
therein, if any). The mouth of the bladder should then
be folded and again tied (below the Karnikd). The
whole should then be carefully preserved. The Asthd-
pana or the oily (Snaihika) Vasti should be applied,
as the case may be, with the help of such a Vasti. A
mild Vasti should be applied specially to infants and
old men, since a strong one is likely to injure their
health and strength. 9.
Vastis may be grouped under two heads NairuMka
(dry or oilless) and Snaihika (oleaginous). The term
Asthdpana is synonymous with Niruha. The Vasti known
as the Madhu-Tailika is only an alternative of a Niruha-
vasti. The terms Ydpana, Yukta-ratha, and Siddha-vasti
convey also the same meaning. A Niruha-vasti is so
called from the fact of its expelling the Doshas (morbific
of an ox, buffalo, or a hog, should be used in the Asthapana and Anuvd-
sana measures, and the bladder of a goat or a sheep should be used in the
Uttara-vasti.
75