Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

In consequence of their being endued with these qualities, persons in whose constitutions the wind predominates, generally become possessed of little strength, and short-lived, and infecund as regards offspring ; they are not capable of much exertion ; and they are of little wealth (incapable as they are of much exertion for earning).114

* Motions and exertions may be light (in the sense of not being heavy or elephantine) and quick. As applicable to practices even, the adjectives are not unnitelligible. But light and quick in food is scarcely intelligible.— T.

f I. e. twitches and jerking motions are observable in these limbs. Over these motions the man has no control. They are all involuntary.— T.

XI.e. they are quick in apprehending and as quick in forgetting what they bear or learn. — T.

$ 'Sandhi-Qavda-Gaminah' as explained by Gangâdhara is ‘Satatam gamane Sandhayah Qavdayante yesham,’ i, e. they whose joints creak at the time they walk or move.— T.

p. 76

59&

CH A RAKA-SA M Hi TA .

In consequence of a union of the faults, the indications become united.*

They in whom the three faults exist in a state of harmony become endued with a harmonious mixture of all the qualities. By these indications should the physician examine a patient about his normal state (as dependant on the predominance or otherwise of this or that fault or faults in his constitution).115

Next, as to abnormal conditions : an abnormal condition has been said to be a deviation from what is normal,

In this connection, the physician should examine the abnormal condition, by observing the particulars, as regards strength, of cause, constituent elements (of the body, such as juice, blood, flesh, fat, bones, marrow, and vital seed) faults (i. e., wind, bile, and phlegm), nature or normal condition, and place (meaning seat or habitat of the disease), time (*. e., season of the year as also age of the patient). He should examine.it by observing the symptoms of the patient as well.

Without observing the particulars, as regards strength, of cause and the rest, there can be no knowledge of the degree of strength of the disease..

That disease is strong (or violent) in which the constituent ele¬ ments (of the body, the faults, nature or normal condition), place (or seat of disease), and time (that is, season or age), draw an agreement with one another, but whose cause or causes and symp¬ toms are possessed of strength.t t An illustration occurs in the following ; the patient is a child of phlegmatic temperament. He is afflicted by bronchitis, (caused by excitement of phlegm). The place is a marshy region. The season is winter. The seat of the disease is the chest. Here the fault, the normal condition, place, and time are all in agreement. If the cause (exposure for many hours to cold blasts of wind) and symptoms (violent coughing, accompanied by an inflamed appearance,) are possessed of strength, the disease is regarded strong. — T.

*/.«. if a person happens to have both’ phlegm and wind in a larger measure than bile, the qualities which phlegm and wind generate become united in him. So in the case of one in whom bile and phlegm, or bile and wind predominate, a mingling is observed of the attributes of each.--T.

p. 599

When the reverse of this happens, the disease is regarded as of little strength.

That disease is regarded as of middle strength in which among the constituent elements, faults, &c., there is agreement between some only, and whose cause or causes, and symptoms, are possessed of middle strength.*115

Next, as to examination according to Sara (predominating essence or element) : there are eight Saras of human beings.

We shall lay down instructions about them for exact knowledge of the measure of one's strength.

They are i. skin, 2. blood, 3. flesh, 4. fat, 5. bones, 6. marrow, 7. vital seed, and 8. mind,

They that have the skin for their predominating essence or element, have their skin endued with the following qualites : oili¬ ness, smoothness, softness, agreeable colour, and possession of hair that is fine, thin or scanty, deep-rooted, and delicate ; their skin, again seems to be possessed of splendour.

The predominance of this element (via. skin) indicates the possession of happiness, good luck, prosperty, diverse objects of enjoyment, understanding, learning, health, objects of diversion and joy, and longevity of life.

Of men that have the blood as the predominating element in their constitutions, the symptoms are these : viz., the ears, the eyes, the mouth, the tongue, the nose, the lips, the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, the nails, the forehead, and the virile organ, are all oily and red in colour, of a handsome make, and possessed of splendour.f

The predominance of this element indicates the possession of happiness, eminence, intelligence, strength of mind, delicacy (of features), middling strength (of body) and an incapacity to bear pain.11'

* The correct reading is 'hetulinga-valam’ and not (as in some Bengal editions) 1 hetuvalalingam.’ — T.