Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Verily, in all these diseases of the Phlegm that have been mentioned, as also in others not mentioned, skilful physicians, as¬ certaining what the unmodified nature is of the Phlegm by itself, and what the indications are of its functions when it is excited, and what the parts of the body are where it has its seat, should, freed from doubt, conclude particular diseases to be due to (dis¬ orders of) the Phlegm.33

The ascertainment is to be made as follows.

The attributes or indications of the Phlegm by itself are whiteness, cold, heaviness, oiliness, sweetness, firmness, sliminess, and softness like that of good earth or clay.33

In consequence of its being so, the indications of its excited state are as follow : —

Entering those particular parts of the body that constitute its seats, it produces whiteness of complexion, cold, itching, dulness, heaviness, oiliness, loss of sensation or paralysis, sleep, impure secretions, excrescences, sensation of tightness as if bound with cords, sense of sweetness, and procrastination in respect of work.

When diseases are endued with these symptoms, the physician should attribute them to (disorders of) the Phlegm.3*

The diseases of the Phlegm should be treated with such agents as are pungent, bitter, astringent, keen, warm, and dry.

16. Atisthaulyam is a plethoric fatness of the body.

17. Citagnita is loss of appetite and inability to take any food.

11. Udardda is a name about which physicians differ. Some think that a kind of Erysipelas is meant. Some regard it as identical with Citapitta or Urticaria. The Commentator (Gangadhara) l quotes from some authorities each of whom differs from every other.

19. Cwetatabhasata is a whiteness of complexion. The body becomes very pale when this disease appears.

so. Cweta-mutra-netra-varchchastwam is whiteness of the urine, whiteness of the eyes, and whiteness of the complexion.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 231

In treating of them, the aid should be taken of Swedana, of emetics, of errhines, of physical exercise, and similar other opera¬ tions that are destructive of Phlegm.

Among all these operations, physicians regard the application of purgatives, settling the measure and the times thereof, as the foremost in point of efficiency.8 *

The purgative, entering at first that part of the stomach which contains undigested food, destroys the root of that Phlegm which causes the disease.

The Phlegm being subjugated there, the diseases brought about by the excited Phlegm in diverse parts of the body become allayed.

As paddy and barley and other crops are dried up when the water collected in the field escapes away upon the ridges enclosing it being broken, even so diseases caused by the Phlegm are des¬ troyed upon the root of the Phlegm being thus destroyed.36

( Here occur some verses.)

The diseases should first be carefully ascertained. After this, the medicine to be applied should be carefully selected. Subse¬ quent to this, the physician should, with full knowledge of conse¬ quences commence the treatment.3 T

That physician who, without carefully ascertaining the disease, commences its treatment, seldom meets with success even if he be well conversant with medicines and their application. 38

That physician who is well conversant with the features of disease, who has a thorough acquaintance with all medicines, and who has knowledge of the considerations dependant upon time and place, achieves success without doubt.88

( Here occur some verses containing a summary ,)

A classification, in brief, of the diseases that occur, their nature, their seats, their modifications, their causes, the inducing circumstances, the dispelling of doubts (in diagnosis ), the co-existence of diseases (in consequence of their inducing and following each other), the respective of seats of the faults, enumer232 CHAR A KA-SA M H IT A.

ation of different kinds of diseases as caused by excitement of particular faults, the respective indications of the faults in them¬ selves or in their normal states, the indications of their functions when they are excited, the kind of drugs and of operations that should be resorted to for treating the diseases brought about by the different faults, have all been properly laid down in this Lesson called Maharoga by the Rishi conversant with truth.1-3*

Thus ends the Lesson called Maharoga in the treatise of Agnive9a as revised by Charaka.f