Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

James W. Reese, Esq., Westminister, Maryland, U. S. A. : — You have undertaken a great and difficult work, and one which, it seems to me, deserves the approbation and encouragement of all who care to know what wise men of the past ages thought and taught on a togic so important as the preservation of health and cure of disease.

William Emmette Coleman, Esq., San Francisco, California: — . As each successive part is issued, the greater intrinsic value of the work is apparent . 7. ...

There is much in it both of interest and value to the Western mind, occidental medical science, therapeutic. American and European medical science has much to learn .

Chas. E. Sajons, Esq., Philadelphia, U. S. A. You are entitled to the greatest praise. Next May or June the Satellite — a journal under my editorial management — will begin to review books, See., and one of the first to be taken up will be yours.

Chas. O. Curtman, Esq., St. Louis, Ohio, U. S, A. : — The work interests me very highly, and I have already, on last night taken it to the meeting of one of our medical societies, and read extracts from it which excited a lively curiosity and expressions of interest. I will send selections from it to a medical journal and also to a pharmaceutical monthly. ■

Professor E. B. Cowel, Cambridge : — A careful translation of this ancient work will be very interesting and valuable. I can only hope that you may succeed in translat¬ ing the entire work. It will be a great achievement when finished.

R. G. Eccless, Esq., Dean St. Brooklyn, New York: — Matter is certainly of great interest to me.

E. P. Davis, Esq., Editor of the America7i Journal of the Medical Sciences, Philade’phia: — Thank you for this erudite and interesting contribution to the Medical literature.

ABSTRACT OF CONTENTS

OF

PART XXX.

In this part, the Division on Indriyas is concluded and that on Nidanam commences.

In the concluding portion of the 12th Lesson, which is the last in the Division on Indriyas, some more premonitory signs of death are mentioned.

The physician, even when he sees that death is near, should not say so unasked ; nor should he say so if it be productive of immediate injury.

Some symptoms of recovery are mentioned, under the. headings of (1) messengers sent to fetch the physician, (2) the incidents he observes on his way to the patient’s house, (3) incidents connected with the patient’s family, and (4) the conduct and disposition of the patient himself.

The whole subject is exceedingly curious and deserves to be studied. Experience seems to confirm many of the observations of Punarvasu.

The Division called ‘Nidanam’ commences at page 928.

The first Lesson of this Division treats of the ‘Nidanam’ or the causes of Fever.

The several synonyms of ‘Nidanam’ are given.

‘Nidanam’ or the causes of disease, is stated to be of three kinds : (1) union with such objects of the senses as are unassimilable ; (2) faults of judgments ; and (3) the development of evil acts of both this and previous lives.

Explanations are then given of various technical terms in con¬ nection with disease. It is highly important to understand these terms as they frequently occur in medical treatises.

The first disease taken up is Fever.

It is of eight kinds. The symptoms of the several kinds of fever are then fully set forth. .

( 2 )

Lesson II also commences in this Part.

It treats of Blood-bile. The causes and the symptoms of this disease are set forth elaborately.

Then occurs Lesson III, which treats of ‘Gulma’ or abdominal tumours, the causes and symptoms whereof are explained fully.

These three Lessons, particularly the first, deserve tQ be care¬ fully studied. The observations of the Rishi upon the causes, &c., of Fever, are fraught with great wisdom. These will prove that Hindu medicine, instead of being quackery, is a sciencp that, is as much based upon observation and thought as any other system.

THE AYURVEDIC INSTITUTE.