Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

‘ Qirshada’ worms are those that eat the substance of the brain. They are not mentioned in the place where the other worms and parasites are named in this Lesson. — T.

a. Called also Indurkani. Salvinia Cucullata, Roxb.

b. Sour gruel of rice.

c. Butter-milk mixed with an equal proportion of water.

d. Piper longum, Linn, syn Chavica Roxburghii. The article referred to is the decoction of Piper longum, its root, Piper chava, Plumbago Xeylanica, and dry ginger. — T.

e. Otherwise called Bhringaraja / Wedelia Calendulacea ; syn. Verbesina CaLenauvaoeu, Willd.

f. Calatropis gigantea or procera ; syn. Asclepias gigantea, Willd.

g. Otherwise called Jhinti ; Barleria cristata, Linn.

h. Nauclea Cadamba., Roxb. syn. Anthocephalus Cadamba, Benth and Hook.

CHA RA KA-SA M HIT A.

p. 539

Nirgundi ( a ), Sumukha ( b ), Surasa ( c ), Kutheraka ( d ), Gandira ( e ), Kalamalaka ( f ), Parnasa (g), Kshavaka ( h ), Phanijjhaka ( t), Vakula (/ ), Kutaja ( k ), and Suvarnakshiri ( /).

Similarly cakes should be made with the help of the juice of these, viz., Kinihi ( m ), Kiratatiktaka (»), Suvaha ( o ), Amalaka (/> ), Haritaki ( q ), and Vibhitaka ( r ) as*

The juice of any one, or any two, or all these, mixed with honey, should be given to the patient in the morning to drink while his stomach is empty .Z8f

Then, bringing a quantity of horse-dung, and spreading it over a large mat, and drying it in the sun, and pounding it in a mortar, and causing it, again, to be reduced to finer powder on a flat a. Vitex Nigundo, Linn.

b. Gangadhara says it is. a kind of potherb. So also Wilson.

c. A variety of Ocimum sanctum.

d. A variety of ditto.

e. A kind of potherb, described as growing in aquatic regions. Wilson.

f. Otherwise called Kasamardda, Cassia Sophora, Linn ; syn. Senna Sophora, Roxb.

g. A variety of Ocimum sanctum.

h. A variety of ditto.

i. A variety of ditto.

j. Mimusops Elengi, Linn.

k. Holarrhena antidysenterica, Wall ; syn. Echites antidysenterica, Roxb.

l. Mimusops Indica, D. C., syn. Mimusops hexandra, Roxb.

m. Gangadhara takes it as Apamarga ; Achyranthes aspera, Linn, also Achyranthes bidcntata.

n. Agathotes cherayta.

o. Otherwise called Sephalika. Nyctanthes arbor-tristes, Linn.

p. Phyllanthus Emblica, Linn ; Emblica officinalis, Gaert.

q. Chebulic myrobalan.

r. Terminalia Bellerica, Roxb.

* The cakes, thus made, should be given to the person having worms in his stomach. The juice referred to is called ' Swarasa.’ This is prepared by pounding fresh vegetables in a mortar, and then pressing out the juice and straining it through a piece of cloth. — T.

t The correct reading is ‘ madhu-vilikhitan,’ as noticed by Chakrapani, and not ‘ madhu-vilulitan ' as given by Gangadhara. ' Vilikhitan ’ is ‘ aloritan ’ as explained by Chakrapani.— T.

54°

CH A RA KA - SA M HI T A .

stone ( with a muller ), and then macerting it for eight or ten times, in either the juice of Embelia Ribes or of the triple fruit ( Chebulic myrobalan, Terminalia Bellerica) and Phyllantlius Emblica ), it should be dried in the sun.

It should, again, be reduced to finer powder on a flat stone ( with a muller ), and then put into a new earthen jar with its mouth hermetically sealed.

Taking, then, a quantity of such powder measured by a Panitala ( a ), or as much as may be deemed proper, and mixing it with honey, it should be given to the patient who has worms in his stomach, for licking.80*

Also causing a quantity of Bhallataka seedsf to be collected of the measure of a kalasa, it should be pounded, and put into a well-baked earthen jar that has sucked a good quantity of oil, and that has got many minute holes at the bottom. This jar should then be plastered over with soft earth. Its mouth should be covered by means of an earthen platter.

Taking another well-baked earthen jar that has sucked a good quantity of oil, it should be embedded in the earth up to its neck.

The jar ( containing the Bhallataka seeds) should be placed upon the embedded jar. It should then be covered with ( dry ) cow-dung cakes and burnt.

* A * kilinja ’ is a mat prepared by weaving blades or stems of certain kinds of grass or reeds.

* Drishad ’ is a flat stone or a curry-stone.

The process of maceration, called Bhabana, is a very important one in Hindu pharmacy. “ Powders, and especially mineral substances, are often soaked in various fluids, such as expressed juice of herbs, decoctions, &c., and then dried (by exposure to the sun). For this process, the quantity of of fluid added to the powder should be sufficient to cover it. The mixture is then allowed to dry in the sun. A single operation of this sort is completed in twentyfour hours, but the process is generally repeated from three to seven times ( or more ), and often with a variety of fluids, so that the resulting mass combines in it the active principles of various drugs.” — U. C. Butt’s Mat. Med. of the Hindus.

f The seeds, that is, of the fruits of Semecarpus Anacardium, Linn.—T.

OPINIONS,

( From Raja Peary Mohan Maker ji, M.A., B.L., C.S.I., &c.)

Uttarpara :

25th August, i8g6.