A History of Indian Medical Literature v2.c33.377

v2.c33.377

Bhaviṣyapurāṇa (Brāhmaparvan 9.18–20) has a series of six vegas, but the same chapter also describes a series of seven stages. 122 See Su.Śā.4.8–21. 123 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.21cd–23. 124 See on this subject: T.L. Brunton and J. Fayrer (1909): 39–40; S.A. Minton and M.R. Minton (1969): 88–89. 125 See on snake-bites in India: M.L. Ahuja and G. Singh (1954); G. Majno (1975): 283; S.A. Minton and M.R. Minton (1969): 68–74; Ch. Morehead (1860): 716–719; N.M. Penzer (1952): 68–69; F. Wall (1917): 67–126. See on the treatment of snake-bites in Pali literature: Jyotir Mitra (1985): 217–220; K.G. Zysk (1991): 101–103. 126 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.35, 38, 44. 127 This is the earliest reference to the application of a tourniquet in medical literature; the Hippocratic Corpus contains a passing reference to the principle of the haemostatic tourniquet, but never describes its application for either bleeding or snake-bite (G.Majno, 1975: 283 and 515). See on the use of the tourniquet in cases of snake-bite in other cultures: G. Majno (1975): 283 and 285. 128 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.44. 129 Daḷhaṇa adds other materials. 130 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.251ab. 131 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.35. Compare on mantras against poison and snake-bite: I. Stubbe-Diarra (1995): 44–46, 48–54. A goddess often invoked in cases of snake-bite, but not mentioned in the classical āyurvedic saṃhitās, is Manasā; see on her and her cult, for example: E.C. Dimock (1962), (1964), (1969); Dowson; J. Gonda (1963): 20–21; P.K. Maity (1966); W.L. Smith (1980); I. Stubbe-Diarra (1995): 53–54; M. and J. Stutley (1977): 177–178. The literature on serpent worship in India is extensive; see, for example, J. Fergusson (1971), J.Ph. Vogel (1972). 132 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.35, 39cd–40, 45ab. 133 The Bhaviṣyapurāṇa (Brāhmaparvan 9.22–59) describes the symptoms and treatment of poisoning when the poison has reached the skin (the first stage), the seat of blood (the second stage), the seat of pitta, the seat of kapha, the seat of vāta, the seat of majjā, and the marmans; it is not clear whether this corresponds to the seven stages called vega. 134 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.28–30. 135 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.65–72ab. 136 See on arrow poisons in ancient India: N.G. Bisset and G. Mazars (1984). 137 Compare on agadas: I. Stubbe-Diarra (1995): 42–44. 138 Su.Ka.5.61cd–63ab = Gadanigraha, viṣatantra 3.14–15. 139 Su.Ka.5.63cd–65ab = Gadanigraha, viṣatantra 3.16–17. 140 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.54–60 (mṛtasamjīvanāgada). 141 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.195cd–196ab; 197cd–198ab. 142 Cf. Ca.Ci.23.196cd–197ab. 143 One of these drugs is sarpagandhā (also mentioned at Su.Ka.7.29 and U.60.47), identified as Rauvolfia serpentina Benth. ex Kurz. Synonyms of sarpagandhā are nākulī (mentioned in the Carakasaṃhitā and at Su.Ka.8.102) and sarpasugandhā. See on Rauvolfia serpentina: R.N. Chopra et al. (1958): 397–401; DWH II, 414–417; J. Monachino (1954); F.W. Rieppel (1956); G. Watt VI, Part I, 398–399; WIRM VIII, 376–390.