Susruta Samhita - Mandhata Global

698 THE SUSHKUTA SAMHITA. tC ap- III.
according to the indications of each case. As an alter-
native, drums and other musical instruments smeared
with plasters of anti-poisonous compounds (Agadasj*
should be beaten and sounded (round them). Equal parts
of silver (7^«Vrt), mercury ySutdra) and Indra-Gopa insects
with Kuril- Vindaf equal in weight to that of the
entire preceding compound, pasted with the bile of a
Kapila (brown) cow, should be used as a paste over the
musical instruments (in such cases). The sounds of
such drums, etc. (pasted with such anti-poisonous drugs)
are said to destroy the effects of even the most dreadful
poison. 12-D.
Poisons of the Atmosphere and its
purification :— The dropping of birds from the
skies to the earth below in a tired condition is a
distinct indication of the wind and the smoke
(of the atmosphere) being charged with poison. It is
further attended with an attack of cough, catarrh,
head ache, and of severe eye-diseases among persons in-
haling the same wind and smoke. In such cases the
(poisoned) atmosphere should be purified by burning
quantities of Ldkshd, Haridrd, Ati-vishd, Ahhayd,
Abda (Musta), Renuka, Eld, Dala (Teja-Patra), Valka
(cinnamon), Kushtha and Priangu in the open ground.
The fumes of these drugs would purify the Anila (air)
and the Dhuma (smoke) from the poison they had been
charged with 12.
IVIythoIogical origin of poison (Visha):
— It is stated in the Scriptures that a demon named
Kaitabha obstructed in various ways, the work of
the self-origined Brahmd when he was engaged in
creating this world. At this the omnipotent god grew
* See Chapter VII, Kalpa-Sthina.
t 'Sarivi' according to Dallana. 'Bhadra-musta' according to others.