This section is from the book "The Sushruta Samhita", by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna. Also available from Amazon: The Sushruta Samhita.
Emesis or the exhibition of emetics is forbidden in cases of Timira (cataract', upward determination of the Váyu in the body (Urdhva-váta), Gulma, Udávarta, abdominal dropsy, enlargement of the spleen, worms (in the intestines) and urinary complaints, as well as in respect of fatigued, corpulent, thirsty, hungry, emaciated and too old persons and of infants, Kshata-kshina patients and those suffering from a loss of voice and in respect of those also who are of studious habits or are capable of being treated with a strong emetic and that only with the greatest difficulty. It should be never resorted to in cases of Haemoptysis and obstinate constipation of the bowels and in the case of an enciente and after the application of a Niruha-vasti. It should not be applied in an extremely dry or parched condition of the organism † as well as in simple diseases due to the Váyu. 11.
* The diet of the patient who has taken an emetic should be very carefully prescribed inasmuch as his digestive capacity is liable to become very weak in such cases.
† Persons afflicted with cataract or blindness, Gulma, facial paralysis, convulsion (Akshepaka), jaundice, ascites, haemorrhoids and corpulency
To induce vomiting with an emetic medicine in the (aforesaid) diseases in which it ought not to have been resorted to is likely to give an irrecoverable turn to those diseases. Emetics should not, therefore, be applied in such cases. To induce vomiting, however, with the help of the decoction of Madhuka (Yashti-madhu) * is not forbidden even in these cases, if the patient be suffering from indigestion or from an extremely aggravated condition of the deranged Kapha as well as from poisoning symptoms, 11-12.
On the other hand, vomiting or the exhibition of an emetic is recommended in cases of poisoning, in wasting diseases (Sosha), in the derangements of the breast-milk, in precarious or sluggish (Vishama) appetite, in insanity, in Apasmára (hysteric convulsions), in Elephantiasis (S'lipada), in Vidáriká, in tumours (Arvu-da), in obesity, in Meha (urinary complaints), in cases of slow chemical poisoning (Gara-dosha) in the system, in fever, in aversion to food, in scropfula (Apachi), in mucous dysentery, in heart-disease, in distraction of the mind, in erysipelas, in inflammatory abscesses (Vidradhi), in indigestion, in water-brash, in nausea, in asthma, in cough, in Pinasa (catarrh), in fetid smell of the nostrils (Puti-nása), in inflammations of the lips, throat and mouth. † in (fetid) discharges from the ears, in Adhi-jihviká, Upa-jihviká and Gala-s'undiká as well as extremely old men and Kshata-kshina patients should not be treated with emetics (lit. should not be caused to vomit). - D. R.
* Jejjata explains Madhuka to mean honey. He means to say that vomiting should be induced with honey and water.
† Some read here "Kushtha, Galaganda, Prameha and S'opha (swelling)" but as Meha is mentioned above separately it seems to us that that reading is not a good one. - Ed.
(affections of the glottis and the thorax), in haermorrhage from the lower channels, in the derangements due to the bodily Kapha and in all affections of the location of Kapha *. 13.
 
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