Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The Rohita fish, in consequence of its feeding on moss and of its never sleeping, increases the digestive fire. It is digested soon, and greatly enhances strength.80

Fish in general are heavy, hot, and sweet. They promote strength and nutrition, and are destructive of wind. They are oily and capable of increasing the vital seed. They have been said to be provocative of various faults. 81

The flesh of the boar is Snehana. It promotes nutrition. It increases the vital seed. It is capable of making one endure fatigue. It is destructive of the wind. It increases the strength, being a tonic ; and has considerable relish. It is also a Swedana, and heavy.t82

The tortoise is said to be a tonic. It alleviates the wind. It in¬ creases the semen, improves the vision, and increases the strength. It improves both intelligence aud memory. It is a good regimen for the weak stomach. It cures consumption.83

* Some texts add the third line beginning * valavirya &c., ’ and make of this a triplet, as rendered here. Others omit it. — T.

f For ‘ Snehana ’ and 1 Swedana ’ Vide ante , p. 244.— T,

p. 344

CH A R A RA-SA M HIT A .

Beef is beneficial when the wind only has been excited. It is also a remedy in inflamations of the Schneiderian membrane, as also in cases of chronic fever. It is good also in dry consumption, in exhaustion and fatigue, when the digestive fire is keen, and in cases of loss of flesh.84

The flesh of the buffalo is oily, hot, and sweet. It is, again, heavy and promotes nutrition and corpulency. It causes hardness or firmness of the body, increases its dimensions, improves courage and perseverance, and produces sleep.85

The eggs of Dhritarashtras and Chakoras and Dakshas and peacocks and Chatakas are beneficial when the vital seed becomes scanty, as also in consumptions, in all thoracic diseases, and in wounds and sores. They are sweet, aid digestion, and immediately promote the strength.86-87

In the matter of promoting the nutrition of the body there is no food that is superior to flesh.

So is the third group or classification of food, viz., flesh, treated of.88

Of the group relating to Potherbs.

Patha ( a ), Susha ( b ), Oathi (c), Vastuka ( d ), and Sunishannaka ( e ), should be known as astringents which dry the fluids of the body. They alleviate the excitement of the three faults. As re¬ gards Vastuka, it operates as a Bhedana.*89

Kakamachi (f) is capable of allaying excitement of the three faults. It increases the vital seed. It operates as a Rasayana.f a. Cissampelos hernandifolia, Linn., syn. Stephania hernandifolia, Walp.

b. Otherwise called Kasamardda. Beng. Kalkasunda. Cassia Sophora, Linn; syn. Senna Sophora, Roxb.

c. Cricuma zerumbet, Roxb.

d. Chenopodium album, Linn.

e. Marsilea quadrifolia, Linn.

f Those medicines that set free the scybalae and other contents of the intestines, and discharge them without liquifying them at all, are called Bhedana.— T.

/, Called Gurkamai in Bengali ; Solanum nigrum, Linn.

PART XII.

- ^

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH.

PUBLISHED BY

A YIN ASH CHANDRA KAVIRATNA,

Editor of Charaka-Samhita and of Susruta-Samhita (in original) with Commentaries; Bengali and Hindi Translator of CharakaSamhita and of Susruta-Samhita ; Editor of ChikitsaSammilani (Medical Journal in Bengali) ; Prac¬ titioner of the Hindu System of Medicine* &c., &c., &c.

CALCUTTA:

Printed by Girish Chandra Chakravarti, “Dev a Press”, 6i Mirzapur Street, and

Published at

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The English translation of Charaka-Samhita will be issued in successive fascicules of four forms, Royal Octavo, each ; 1 2 fascicules will be issued eveiy year. Under favourable circumstances, the number of fascicules or the number of forms in each fascicule may be increased. For subscribers in India, paying in advance, the charge is Rs. 32 for the whole work. For subscribers in Europe and America, the charge is £$ in advance, post free. The price for each part is one Rupee. The arrear rate is Rs. 40 (in India) ] ay able (if subscribers wish) in instalments of Rs. 10 each. Remittances to be made to the Publisher, 200, Cornwallis’ Street, Calcutta, by drafts on Indian Banks or Postal money-orders.

OPINIONS.

“As we become more familliar with this work through the successive parts, we are more than ever impressed with the fact that it should be in the hands of every person interested in the subject of medicine or pharmacy. The part before us deals with a number of interesting subjects, one of them being the attribute of taste, which is divided into sweet, sour, saline, pungent, bitter and astringent. To follow the reasoning of the author as portrayed in an essay on the subject is a teal pleasure as-wvell as an oppor¬ tunity of adding to our knowledge of medicine. Another instructive as well as interesting portion is a number of succinet'y- expressed aphorisms showing that the ancient physicians fully understood many hygienic laws which we are now learning as something new.’’ — Meyer Brothers' Druggist , December, 1894.