Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

What is stated in the concluding portion is that the causes and symptoms of Apo¬ plexy are stronger than those of Swoons, and those of Swoons are stronger than Chose of Insanity. The efficacy of the curative agents also must be stronger in the same order. — TV t ‘Chetah-sthanam’ is the ‘hridayam’ or heart. The wind, becoming excited, affects the heart, with the result that the mind becomes agitated and its perception be¬ comes clouded or stupified. The excited bile and the excited phlegm also, do the same in a slightly different way. — T.

+ In Verse 27, the words are ‘Sammohayate Samjnam’ ; in 28, ‘Samjnam akulatamnayati.’ The sense is the same, i. e. , in both cases the perception is dulled or clouded or stupified. According to the degree of stupefaction the disease is called Insanity or Swoon or Apoplexy. — T,

p. 262

CM A RA KA -SA MHITA.

and whose appearance becomes red or yellow or white, should be known as afflicted by Insanity due to the action of the (excited) bile.30

That person, who indulges in speech that is partially discon¬ nected, who becomes possessed by drowsiness and inactivity, whose appearance becomes pale, and who becomes always meditative, should be known as afflicted by Insanity due to the action of excit¬ ed phlegm.31

All these symptoms appear in Insanity that is due to the action of all the faults excited together.32

The Insanity that is due to the intoxication of alcohol appears quickly and disappears as soon.32

The Insanity due to the action of alcohol, that due to the action of poison, and that to the action of the blood, can never arise without affinity to (disorders of) wind, bile and phlegm.34

In Swoons due to the action of the (excited) wind, the patient, while beholding empty space of the. color of blue or dark or red, becomes suddenly deprived of consciousness and soon regains it, and discovers the symptoms of tremour, pain in all the limbs, agita¬ tion of heart, gradual emaciation of the body, and brownness or redness of complexion. 35-36

In Swoons due to the action of the (excited) bile, the patient, while beholding empty space of the color of red or green or yellow, suddenly loses consciousness and awakens to sense with the whole body covered with perspiration, and with thirst, burning sensation, and eyes either red or yellow and indicative of agitation, and with loose and watery motions, and a complexion that becomes yellow.3T-38t

* What is meant by beholding empty space that appears of the color of blue or dark &c.. is this : the Swoon does not come upon one all on a sudden. While looking at any particular object or scene, such object or scene gradually vanishes from the sight and instead, what the man sees is mere blue or dark or red space for a little while ; very soon this sensation disappears and one loses all consciousness. Swoons that are so induced and that last for a little while, are ascribed to action of the wind. — T.

t In Verse 38 the correct reading is ‘ raktapitakulekshanah’ and not ‘raktapittakulekshanah.’

CHA RAKA-SAMMITA.

p. 263

In Swoons due to the action of the (excited) phlegm, the patient, while beholding empty space of the color of clouds or as if it were enveloped with partial darkness, becomes suddenly de¬ prived of consciousness and regains it after some time, and feels as if all his limbs are wrapped round with a heavy cloth or a wet Skin, with watery discharges coming out of his mouth and nose, and with hiccup. 3S_40t

In Swoons brought about by a combination of all the faults, all the symptoms described above occur, and the loss of conscious¬ ness comes after the manner of the disease called Apasmara, with only this difference that the several frightful indications that ap¬ pear in Apasmara do not manifest themselves. Such Swoons quickly carry off the patients subject to them. il\

When the faults that originate them in men lose their viru¬ lence, the diseases of Insanity and Swoons lose their violence of themselves. As regards Apoplexy, it cannot be cured without medicines.4

The faults, which are attached to the abode of the lifebreaths, becoming violently excited, take away the action of speech, body, and mind, and suspend all the functions (of life) of the weakened living creature.43

The man that is thus affected with Apoplexy remains like a post of wood, apparently dead, and becomes soon divested of life-

+ ‘Tamoghana’ is ‘Tamas’ and ‘aghana’ i.e., partial darkness. After the mention of ‘meghasamkacam’ ‘tamoghanaih avritam’ cannot imply ‘Tamobhih and ‘ghanaicch-

% ‘Apasmara’ is that disease in which delusions appear. It is a kind of frightful epilepsy in which the patient sees some monstrous being and becomes immediately de¬ prived of consciousness. The several frightful symptoms are the frothing of the mouth, the gnashing of teeth, the violent throwing out of the arms and legs, and terrible con¬ vulsions of the whole body. Swoons brought about by a combination of [all the faults are like Apasmara minus its frightful symptoms. The patient quickly meets with death. ‘Patayanti’ does not mean ‘throw down on the ground.’—/' .

+J ‘Mada-murchcchayah’ is a noun plural, the word being ‘Murchechaya. T.

Cll A RA KA-SA Mil IT A.

p. 264