Susruta Samhita - Mandhata Global

676 TllK SUSHRUTA SAMHITA [Chap. 1.
fool. He is found suddenly and listlessly to press the
joints of his fingers or to scratch the earth, to laugh and
to shiver. He will look fiightcned at the sight of others
(indifferently), and will cut (straw or hay) with his finger-
nails, and his colour changes constantly. He will scratch
his head in an agonised and confused state, and will
look this way and that, trying to slip away by a back or
side door, thus betraying his guilty conscience by his
confusion. 7.
An innocent man, unjustly arraigned before the royal
tribunal might from fear or precipation, become (confused
and) liable to make untrue statements (and thus be
unjustly convicted). Hence the king should first of all
test the sincerity and fidelity of his servants ascertaining
the non-poisonous character of the boiled rice, drink,
tooth-twigs, unguents, combs, cosmetics, infusions,
washes, anointments (with sandal pastes, etc.), garlands
(of flowers, etc.), clothes, bedding, armour, ornaments,
shoes, foot cushions, the backs of horses and elephants and
snuffs (Nasya), Dhuma (tobacco smoking\collyrium and
such other things (reserved for the use of the king). 8-9.
Indications of poisoned food and
drink, etc. : —The indications by which the
poisonous character of food, drink, etc. (to be used by
a king) may be detected are described first and the
medical treatment is dealt with secondly. A portion
of the food prepared for the royal use should be first
given to crows and flies and its poisonous character
should be presumed, if they instantaneously die on
partaking of the same. Poisoned food burns making
loud cracks, and when cast into the fire it assumes the
colour of a peacock's throat, becomes unbearable, burns
in severed and disjointed flames and emits irritating
fumes and it cannot be speedily extinguished. The