Dear Jonathan and Charles,
the Nepalese (Mulukī )Ain of 1854 has some mention of poison and their treatment. I especially like this section, which might be also useful for some Western doctors:
“If an experienced doctor gives to someone a poisonous substance such as
ajaipāla, yellow orpiment, somala, or saṃkhyā[1]
without [previously] purifying and cooking it, or administers any other herb by following the [prescribed] procedure (kṛyā pugnu), [but] without purifying it and without mixing it [with other substances], and if that person dies, that doctor shall be
made to consume the same medicine in the same dosage as he had ordered the deceased to consume; if that doctor also dies, it has then been ascertained that the doctor did it out of malice. His life has gone for the life [being taken]. If nothing happens to
him, it has then been ascertained that [the patient] died of a natural cause. No accusation shall be made against [the doctor] who has ordered the consumption. If a Brahmin doctor orders the consumption [of the medicine] and [the patient] dies, the same dose
shall be prepared and fed to a dog or goat and if it dies, it has then been ascertained that he did it out of malice, and thus the Brahmin doctor shall be branded.” ( Ain of 1854, § 54.2)
- ajaipāla
might refer to
baliospermum montanum or jatropha glandulifera, saṃkhyā (=saṅkhiyā) to
oxidum arsenicum and somala to the soma plant (whatever is meant by this).
All best wishes to both of you,
Axel
p.s. Charly, I’m happy to send you the Nepālī text, but you also find it easily in Fezas’ edition.
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Prof. Dr. Axel Michaels Senior Professor | Vice President Heidelberger Academy of Science and Humanities | Founding Director of CATS |
Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies (CATS)
Südasien-Institut / South Asia Institute
Universität Heidelberg
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D-69115 Heidelberg
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+49-6221-5415209
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Latest book publication:
Kultur und Geschichte Nepals. Stuttgart: Kröner-Verlag, 2018
From: INDOLOGY <indology-bounces@list.indology.info> on behalf of "indology@list.indology.info" <indology@list.indology.info>
Reply-To: Jonathan Silk <kauzeya@gmail.com>
Date: Friday, 5. June 2020 at 19:42
To: "indology@list.indology.info" <indology@list.indology.info>
Subject: [INDOLOGY] poison
Dear Friends
My friend Charles Ramble is working on a Tibetan text on poison. It mentions for instance 32 types. I am aware that (no doubt among others)
Suśrutasaṁhitā in its Kalpasthāna has much to say about poison, but understandably, not how to make it. There seems to exist a term
viṣaśāstra, but more I have not been able to discover. I feel I may have overlooked something rather well known.
I would be delighted both to learn more myself (no, I'm not looking to poison anyone!) and to pass along the information to Charles.
Very best,
Jonathan
--
J. Silk
Leiden University
Leiden University Institute for Area Studies, LIAS
Matthias de Vrieshof 3, Room 0.05b
2311 BZ Leiden
The Netherlands
copies of my publications may be found at