Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

ZLvXorrs. IS. St. Eiilstir©, Paris .—I praise you i *h you all success. The work is or interest to all learned i d the commentaries written on it prove its value and utility,. I r Journal) des Savants as soon as 1 can and shall be happy to c ZPro 52.33 or ZEE. TsbODTbi,’ Bonn University. Ge'rm'v dertaken will interest' Sanskritists as well as medical men eir scunce. I shall not fail to draw- the ^attention of seme snow personally, to the ancient' Work of Charaka.

ZEEsrr IEr2*. O-a^rToe, Prinzenstram Koningsburg Germ> ion or Cnaraica Saintiira is, perhaps, at least from an historica portant work of the medicinal literature of your country.

Sir Alfred. Croft, ZMZ. O. X. ZE3 Dire or all the things which a man shall not do. A dayman c d such a guide to life cannot be other than valuable.

T a,mes TTTV ZEeese, ZEsqi.., Westminister , Maryla\ dertaken a great and difficult work,. and one which, it seems 1 tion and encouragement of all who care to know what wise r d taught on a topic so important as the preservation of health

T7vrillia,rrr ZEZzrrette Cole rrra,ru ZEsqu t

NOTICE.

Parts XVII and XVIII have been issued about a month ago- Part XIX is now issuedPart XX is almost ready and will be issued within a month at the most.

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ABSTRACT OF CONTENTS.

The contents of this Part are varied and of great interest. Many of the observations occurring hear will show that Medicine with the ancient Hindus was a Science.

Instructions are continued about the manner of conducting dis¬ putations in Medical Science.

Various technical terms are explained and fallacies exposed.

The subject is important from the Rishi’s point of view in as much as disputations on Medical Science facilitate the treatment of dis¬ ease in consequence of the clearess of the intellect they bring about.

Explanations are given of the elements in connection with Action. These are Karana (cause), Karana (means), Karyya-yoni (springs of action), Karyya (action), Karyya-phala (fruits of action), Anubandha (adjuncts), De?a (place), Kala (time), Pravritti (exertion) and Upaya (instruments).

The physician should examine these ten elements of action when he takes up the treatment of a disease.

The application is explained of the ten elements of action with reference to physicians and the treatment of disease.

The physician is himself the Karana (cause). Medicine is Karana (means). The absence of harmony in the patient’s system is Karyya-yoni, and so on.

As regards these ten kinds of examinable objects, the especialities of each, as also the particular way in which each is to be examined, are then set down.

First occur the qualifications of the physician (or the Karana of the action called treatment).

Then is explained what is Medicine (or Karana). The points of examination in regard to Medicine are fully set forth.

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The topic is fraught with great interest and the'manner in which it his been treated will show that Hindu physicians were not emperics after all the quacks they are supposed to have been.

Next occur the points in connection with treatment which deserve to be carefully studied before treatment -can be pro¬ nounced to be rational or successful.

Passing over Karyya-phala! (fruits of, action) and Anubandha (adjuncts), the remarks on . De$a (place) are fraught with great practical interest. Deqa implies the habitat of the patient ; it also means the patient himself, for the patient is the field with which treatment is concerned. The points in connection with the patient that deserve to be examined are fully set out. The Observations on this head will show the care which Hindu physicians took in diagnosing disease and administering medi¬ cine. The history of even "the patient’s parentage is directed to be enquired into.

The different natures of men as dependent on the predo¬ minance of the faults, viz., Phlegm, Bile, and Wind, are then fully explained.

The different varieties of means as dependent on the predo¬ minance of the several ingredients of the body or the Dhatus, are then explained. Some have -skin, some blood, some flesh, some fat, some bones, some marrow, some vital seed, some mind, as the predominant essence in their constitutions. The characteristics of each are explained.

The dimensions of the different limbs or parts of the body are then laid down. The measurements stated are curious and are singularly correct.