The Suśruta-Saṃhitā (works of Sushruta) is one of the most important surviving ancient treatises on medicine and is considered a foundational text of Medicine.
The Suśruta-saṃhitā, in its 184 chapters contains descriptions of
◆ 1,120 illnesses
◆ 700 medicinal plants,
◆ 64 preparations from mineral sources
◆ 57 preparations based on animal sources.
The text discusses surgical techniques of
● making incisions,
● probing,
● extraction of foreign bodies,
● alkali and thermal cauterization,
● tooth extraction,
● excisions, and
● trocars for draining abscess,
● draining hydrocele and ascitic fluid,
● removal of the prostate gland,
● urethral stricture dilatation,
● vesicolithotomy,
● hernia surgery,
● caesarian section,
● management of haemorrhoids,
● fistulae,
● laparotomy and
● management of intestinal obstruction,
● perforated intestines
● accidental perforation of the abdomen with protrusion of omentum and
● the principles of fracture management, viz., traction, manipulation, apposition and stabilization including some measures of rehabilitation
● fitting of prosthetic.
It enumerates six types of dislocations, twelve varieties of fractures, and classification of the bones and their reaction to the injuries, and gives a classification of eye diseases including cataract surgery.
How many Indians knew him??
India has a lot to be proud of, but the fear of being called communal makes us forget our own heritage.