Page:Sushruta Samhita Vol 1.djvu/370

 CHAPTER XXVIII.

Now we shall discourse on the Chapter, which deals with the favourable or unfavourable prognosis of an ulcer. ( Viparitaviparita - Vrana - Vijnaniya - madhyayam ).

Metrical Text:—Certain fatal or unfavourable symptoms (Arishtas)* unmistakably presage the death of an ulcer-patient, as a flower, smoke and cloud respectively herald a fruit, fire and rain. In most cases, the ignorant cannot interpret aright these fatal symptoms owing to their extremely subtile nature, or out of ignorance or stupidity, or because such symptoms are very closely followed by the death of the patient.

These fatal indications serve as sure precursors of death in a patient, unless warded off by the blessings of holy Brahmanas, who are free from low desires or animal propensities, and are also accustomed to practise the Yoga and other religious penances; or death may be averted with the help of men who are initiated into the mystery of concocting life-giving elixirs (Rasayanam).