201 - Medical treatment of horses and elephants 

Dhanvantari said: 

1-4. I shall explain the Ayurveda of horses wherein all things connected with them and their treatment are mentioned in detail. There are many types of horses fit only to be set aside They are: -Käkatundi (crow-lipped), Krishnajihva (black tongued), Rukşhasya (bear-faced), Uşhnatāluka (hot-palated), Karala (fierce looking) Hinadanta (Deficient or lacking in teeth), Shrungi, (horned), Viraladantaka (few-toothed), Ekända (single-testicled). Jätåndakañchuka (Born with Scrotal tumour), Dvikhuri-cleft hoofed). Stani (Teated), Mārjarapada (cat-footed), Vyāghrabha (resembling tigers), Kuşhthavidradhisannibha appearing as if affected by Kuşhtha and tumours), Yamaja (Twin-born), Vamana (diminutive in size), Märjára loana (cat-eyed) and Kapilochana (monkey-eyed). The first clcass horse is the Turkish (Turushkaja). The middling is five hastas tall and the lowest, three hastas tall. 

5. Those horses whose limbs are not short, whose ears are short and whose hue is of a mixture of many colours lightly shaded live long and are not afflicted. 

6-7. Ways of guarding against evil are the worship of Revanta, sacrificial offerings and feeding of brahmins. A compound of Sarala, leaves of Nimba, Guggulu, Sarshapa, Tila, Vachá, and Hingu with butter should be tied round the neck of a horse. Ulcers affecting horses are of two types (1) due to extraneous causes (2) due to derangement of humours. 

8. Vätaja type of ulcers is marked by delayed suppuration, the Kaphaja ulcers suppurate quickly, the pittaja type of ulcers gives a burning sensation at the throat and ulcers due to impure blood do not pain much. 

9-10. What we call due to extraneous causes is the wound caused by weapons, etc. In order to wash off the impurities in the wounds and ulcers the following compound is used: Roots of Eranda, two shoots of Haridra, Chitraka, Vishvabheshaja¹ and Rasona² or Saindhava well ground with butter milk and sour gruel. Tila, fried grain flour pasted with curd and salt or a paste of Nimba leaves and ball of rice applied over a wound purifies and heals it.

1. Zingiber officinale.

2. Allium sativum.  

11-13. A compound of powdered Patola, Nimba leaves, Vachă, Chitraka, Pippali Shrungavera given to the horse with water for a drink destroys worms, mucous discharges, intoxication and deranged Våyu. If there is cutaneous affection the horse must be bled and a decoction of Nimba leaves, Patola, Triphala and Khadira must be given to the horse. 

14. Application of mustard oil is effective in Kushthas with ulcers. A decoction of Lashuna, etc. administered as a drink alleviates it. 

15-17. In certain afflictions when errhines become necessary either the juice of Matulunga or that of Mamsi should be used for that purpose. The first day's dosage is two Palam weight. Every day it has to be increased by a Pala. The maximum for a first class horse is eighteen Palas. In the middling it is fourteen and for the lowest class of horse it is eight Pala weight. Errhines are not to be administered in Autumn or summer. 

18. In a Vataja type of disease the medium is oil in com- bination with sugar, butter and milk. In a Kaphaja type Vyoşha with mustard oil must be the medium. In a pittaja ailment with water Triphalā can be used as the medium. 

19. A horse regularly fed on Şhaşhtika Shäli grains and milk will never come to a state of being condemned. A golden coloured horse or one of the complexion of ripe Jambū fruit is never to be condemned. " 

20. A horse slightly injured should be given Guggulu and fed on milk pudding. It will be immediately relieved and be normal. 

21. In a Vataja ailment the diet of a horse is Shali grains and milk. In a Pittaja ailment a Karşha of gravy with Mudga soup, honey and butter shall be given. 

22. In Kaphaja diseases mudga or Kulattha can be given. If the horse is affected with deafness and deranged kapha it should be fed with pungent and bitter articles of diet. If the ailinent is of Tridosha origin Guggulu is to be administered along with its mouthfuls (of grass, etc). 

23-24. In all ailments Durvå should be given along with other grasses. On the first day a Pala weight of it is to be given. Increasing it by a Karşha every day, up to five Palas per day can be given. In drinks or diet eight Palas should be the maximum limit, in the middling it is sixty and in the lowest type it is forty. 

25-26. If the horse is affected by Kuşhtha, ulcers, or lame ness it shall be administered with the decoction of Triphala; if it is affected by impaired digestion or tumour it shall be ad ministered with cow's urine. If it is affected by Vätapitta or ulcers it is administered with cow's milk and butter; for lean horses the diet shall be supplemented by meat. 

27. In the mornings during Autumn and summer horses should be given five Palas of well powdered Gudúchi with butter. 

28. This quells ailment, nourishes, increases strength and splendour. It can be given alone or in combination with some Alkali. 

29. Along with the administration of Gudūchi, four palas (in the case of the middling) and three palas (in the case of lowest type of horse) of Shatávart and Ashvagandha also must be given. 

30. When suddenly the horses assume uniformity in colour and features or die together it must be immediately considered as an epidemic. 

31. Sacrificing Horses, giving oblations or feeding of Brahmins may cause their suppression. Or Haritakikalpa can be resorted to. 

32. Haritaki is soaked in cow's urine and Taila (oil) and salt is added. On the first day, five such Haritakis are given. Every day the dosage is increased by five Haritakis till the maximum of hundred in the case of the best horse, eighty in middling and sixty in the least one is reached. 

33. I shall now explain Gajayurveda (treatment etc. of elephants). The medical decoctions etc. mentioned before are efficacious in elephants too. The dosage is four times of that of a horse. All ailments can thus be cured. 

34. In an epidemic among elephants the alleviation is by means of a pacifying rite (Shanti Karma)¹ by the worship of gods and brahmins and the gift of a Kapilá (pale-brown or tawny) cow.

1. Observances or ceremonies calculated to remove calamities.

35. The physician must observe fast and tie a consecrated garland round the tusks of the elephant along with Vachă and Siddarthaka drugs equally consecrated. 

36. The worship of Sun, Shiva, Durgă, Shri and Vişhnu protects the elephant. Oblations must be given to Bhūtas. The elephant must be bathed with four pitcherfuls of water. 

37. The diet of the elephant must be consecrated with mantras. The elephant must be smeared with holy ashes. The pure auspicious propitiation of the Bhūtas will protect the elephant. 

38-39. A pungent decoction of Triphala, Panchakola, Daśha- mūla, Vidangaka, Shatavari, Gudúchi, Nimba, Vasaka, and Kimśhuka² is very efficacious in quelling all ailments of an elephant. Thus I have summarised what is mentioned in the two Ayurveda treatises (that of horses and that of elephants). 

2. Butea monosperma.