Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Professor Maxmuller S— I have no doubt you ought to publish an English translation of Charaka. The book is of great importance. I shall be very glad to help you in any way you may wish — Writing again in November

1893, he says — . I am surprised that your excellent and most useful translation has not attracted more attention . Our Regius Professor of Medicine, Sir Henry Edward, was much interested in it.

Sir Monier Williams, K. C. I. E. : — I have received your kind gift of the successive parts of the Charaka and Susrata Samhitas. I regard them as a valuable addition to my library. No doubt, an Euglish translation would be very interesting.

Dr. Reinhold Rost, K-C-I.E- late Librarian to the India Office — * * * your excellent translation . a most valuable and praiseworthy works which will not fail to make ancient Hindu Medicine better understood and appreciated in the West * * * I shall draw the attention of Oriental scholars to your difficult and meritorious work * * 0 Many important additions to our Sanskrit dictionaries will be gleaned from your translation.

Austin Flint, Esq., New York U. S. A. : — I have read with much pleasure the first fasciculus of your translation of Charaka Samhita and shall be very glad to receive the rest of the work. It cannot fail to be of great interest to the medical profession, which will be under great obligation to you.

A. H. Edgren Esq-, Gothenburgh , Sweden : — I am deeply interested in anything Indian, and I need not say that I shall consider it as a gain to obtain whatever insight I may into the subject treated of in your valuable translation.

Professor A. V- Williams Jackson., Colutnbia College , New York , U. S. A. — I must congratulate you, with true appreciation of your efforts. I should very much like to make a little note, in one of our papers, of the praiseworthy work you are doing. Be assured, Sir, of my hearty thanks and appreciation and of my deep interest in India and antique lore.

Mons A. Birth.. Paris : — Your efforts to place within reach of the readers of ancient literature a work of so interesting a nature both to the Oriental and scholars and to the men of medicine, are very praiseworthy, and I shall be happy to bring the work to the notice of the French public, or, at least, of those who take an interest in these researches.

Mons. B- St. Hilaire, Paris -. — I praise you on your undertaking and wish you all success. The work of interest to all learned man and tomedical men and the commentaries written on it prove its value and utility.

I will put in a notice in the Journal des Savants as soon as I can and shall be happy to do your justice.

Professor H. Jacobi, Bonn University Gertnany The work you have undertaken will interest Sanskritists as well as medical men who care for the History of their science. I shall not fail to draw the attention of some eminent physicians whom I know personally, to the ancient work of Charaka.

Herr. R. G-arbe, Prinzenstram Keningburgh, Germany 1 The English translation of Charaka Samhita is perhaps, at least from an historical paint of view, the most important work of the medicinal literature of your country.

Sir Alfred Croft, M- A., C- 1- E- Director of Public Instruction, Bengal-.— 4l have been greatly entertained as well as edified by the examination in part IV of all the things which a man shall not do. A layman can understand he precepts and such a guide to life cannot be other than valuable.

ABSTRACT OF CONTENTS.

The contents of this Part are highly interesting.

The practices are first explained which ensure the preservation of the Conception from injuries of every kind which tend to destroy it. (pp. 827 — 828.)

Those incidents which are injurious to Conception are then laid down. (pp. 828—829).

Next occur those indulgences and habits, on the part of the mother, which lead to vitiated offspring, (pp. 829 — 830).

The Rishi then explains the manner in which a woman should be treated, when subject to disease, during the period of gestation, (pp. 831 — 841).

What should a woman do during the successive months of her pregnancy is then laid down. (pp. 841 — 844).

How should the lying-in-room be constructed and what its equipments should be are then explained, (pp. 844 — 847).

The symptoms that manifest themselves at the time of delivery are then laid down. (p. 848).

What should the woman do when labour-pains set in, and how she should be treated, are then explained, (pp. 848 — 850).

What should be done when delivery has taken place, and how the placenta should be extracted if it has not come out, have next been laid down. (pp. 850 — 853).

How the new-born child should be treated, is then explained, (pp. 853 — 854).

Then occur directions as to how the umbilical cord should be cut. The ailments that may arise if the umbilical cord be not properly cut are laid down. (pp. 854 — 55).