Page:Sushruta Samhita Vol 1.djvu/187

Chap.XI.] taken not to make it of too thin nor of too thick a consistency. Then the basin or the caldron should be taken down from the oven, and its contents poured into an iron pitcher, carefully covering its mouth after filling it. The alkali thus prepared is called the Kshara (alkali of middling potency, which, if prepared without the subsequent addition (lit: throw-over) of the ashes of Katasharkara, etc., goes by the name of mild alkali Mridu Kshara). Similarly, alkali prepared with the addition of the powders of the drugs known as Danti, Dravanti, Chitraka, Langulaki, Putika-Pravala Talpatri, Vidha, Suvarchika, Kanaka-Kshiri, Hingu, Vacha, and Visha, or with as many of them as are available, each weighing four tolas, is called the strong Kshara (extremely irritating alkali). These alkaline preparations of different potencies, should be severally used in cases where their administrations would be clearly indicated. An alkaline preparation, any way weakened, should be strengthened by adding to it alkaline water (water saturated with an alkali) as before described.

Authoritative verses on the subject:-The commendable features in an alkali are based on its whiteness, on its being neither too mild nor too strong, on its gloss and sliminess, on its sticking to the place of application, and on its power of secreting (Abhisyandi) the morbid fluid, and on its rapid effect. On the other hand, its defective traits consist in its being