Specific Causes

Worms which have their origin in the feces (accumulated in the bowels) are the results of the (excessive) use of such articles of fare as Masha-pulse, cakes, salt, treacle and pot-herbs. The Kaphaja worms germinate in the system in consequence of eating flesh, Masha-pulse (D. R. fish), treacle, milk, curd and Sukta (a kind of fermented rice-gruel). Worms which originate from the contaminated blood of the body, are intimately connected with the use of pot-herbs and other indigestible and incompatible articles of fare. 9.

General Symptoms

Fever, paleness of complexion, Sula, cardiac troubles (Hrid-roga), lassitude, vertigo, aversion to food and diarrhoea (Atisara) are the complaints which mark the presence of worms in the system. 10.

Prognosis

Of these the first thirteen kinds of worms may be seen with the naked eyes, while those beginning with Kes'ada (vis., the Raktaja worms) are not so visible and (of these latter ) the first two (vis., Kesada and Romada) kinds should be given up (as incurable), II.

A physician should first ascertain the nature of the worms and, with a view to destroy their colony in the body, should treat the patient with a Sneha (clarified butter or oil) and then administer an emetic with clarified butter duly cooked with the drugs of the Surasadi group. He should then purge the patient with any strong purgative and treat him with an Asthapana-vasti prepared with the decoction of Yava, Kola, Ku/attha-pulse, and the drugs of the Surasadi group, charged with salt and with a Sneha (clarified butter or oil) duly cooked with Vidanga. Just after the flowing out of the injected solution (through his anus) the patient should be bathed with lukewarm water and a meal prepared with vermifugal articles should be given to him. Anuvasana-vasti should then be applied with the preceding Sneha (prepared with Vidanga). He should take a potion composed of the expressed juice of S'irisha and Kinihi (Apamarga) mixed together aud sweetened with honey. The expressed juice of Kevuka may be similarly (mixed with and) administered with a meal prepared with the articles of strong (Tikshna) property. 12.

* See Chapter xxiv (Rules Of Hygiene And The Prophilactic Measures In General (AtiáGatá- VáDha-Prati-Shedhaniya))., - Sutra Sthana.

A paste (or powder) of Palas'a-seeds or the expressed juice thereof should be taken with the washings of rice. The expressed juice of Paribhadra-leaves should be taken with honey. The juice extracted from Pattura * or the drugs of the Surasddi group should (similarly) be taken, or the powders of dried horse-dung or of Vidanga should be licked with honey. Pupulika-cakes prepared with (pasted Yava and) the pasted leaves of Mushika-parni (a kind of Danti) should be taken by the patient followed by draughts of Dhanya-mla (fermented paddy-gruels). 13 - 14.

Oil duly cooked with (the paste and decoction of) the drugs of the Surasadi group should be given to be drunk. Different kinds of cakes should be prepared for him with (Yava mixed with) powdered Vidanga. Sesamum-seeds should be duly soaked in the decoction of Vidanga (after the manner of Bhavana saturation) and oil should be then pressed out thereform (for his use). 15 A.

* Dallana explains "Paltura" as S'ephalika, but S'ivadasa takes it to be S'alincha.

Powdered excreta of a Svavidh (porcupine) similarly soaked seven times in ( each of) the decoctions of Tri-phala and of Vidanga should be licked with honey, followed by draughts of the expressed juice of Amalaka, Haritaki, and Aksha (Vibhitaka). Powders of any (dead) metal (Ayas) * may also be prepared and taken in the preceding manner. In the alternative, the expressed juice of Putika should be taken with honey, or Pippali-roots should be administered through the vehicle of the urine of a she-goat. Trapu (killed lead) should be rubbed in the upper liquid part of curd (Mastu) and should be taken for a week. Worms which have their origin in the accumulated feces or aggravated Kapha in the body should be destroyed with the help of the aforesaid medicinal remedies. 15.

Medicinal Anjanas, Nasyas and Avapidas should be particularly employed in destroying the different classes of vermins which infest the regions of head, heart and mouth and the nostrils. The liquid expressed out of horse-dung should be dried and then successively soaked several times in the decoction of Vidanga. The preperation should be blown into the nostrils (Pradhamana). Powders of killed metal (Ayas, etc.†) may also be applied in the same manner. Oil duly cooked with the drugs of the Surasadi Gana should be used in snuffing with the blue part ‡ of Indian bell-metal. 17 A.

Measures and remedies mentioned in connection with the treatment of alopecia (Indra-lupta) should be employed in cases of Romada worms (via. where the worms would be found to have invaded the hairs of the body). Medicines enumerated in connection with the treatment of the diseases of the mouth should be prescribed in cases of Dantada worms (viz. where the vermins would be found to have taken lodgment in the teeth). Cases where the worms would be found to have their origin in the vitiated condition of the blood should be treated as cases of Kushtha to all intents and purposes. The drugs of the Surasadi Gana, however, may be used in any shape * in any case (of Krimi). 17.

* Ayas - lit- iron, is also used for all the metals generally.

† Ayas - as in para 15 may mean any metal.

‡ Oil duly cooked with the drugs of the Surasadi Gana should be placed in a pot of Indian bell-metal. When the inner surface of the pot would become blue by being oxidised, the oil should be well stirred and mixed With that blue part and used as an errhine.

Diet: - Meals composed of the articles of bitter and pungent tastes as well as draughts of milk mixed with the soup of Kulattka-puhe are recommended. A person suffering from any complaint due to the presence of worms (Krimi of whatever kind) and seeking their destruction, should refrain from using milk, cooked meat, clarified butter, curd, pot-herb (edible leaves), things of acid or sweet tastes as well as cold things in general. 18.

Thus ends the fifty-fourth chapter in the Uttara-Tantra of the Sus'ruta Samhita which deals with the (symptoms and) treatment of Krimi-Roga.

* Both internally and externally e. g. as a drink or bath.