Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The following diseases then attack her, viz., ‘fula,’ cough and bron¬ chitis, diarrhoea, vomiting, disgust for food, indigestion, relaxation, and langour of the limbs, drowsiness and sleep, dulness and sloth (of both body and mind), stupefaction, and discharge of phlegmonous secretions.

Besides the above, the following symptoms appear :

Milk in the breasts ;

Blackness of the lips as also of the nipples of the breasts ;

•Excessive dulness of the eyes ;

Bwoons or loss of consciousness ;

Nausea or a tendency to vomit ;

Desire for diverse kinds of food and drink ;

Inflammatory swellings in the feet ;

Partial horripilation

Distension of the mons veneris ;

Foetid smell of the genital organ ; and

Discharge therefrom of watery and other secretions.* 18

The round and condensed ‘Gulma’ alone moves about in the womb.

Though the woman is not really pregnant, she is regarded so, from the above symptoms, by ignorant persons.^ *9

Before the appearance (or formation) of these five varieties of ‘Gulma,’ the following incubatory symptoms manifest themselves : They are —

Unwillingness for food (even when there is hunger) ;

Disgust for food ;

Indigestion ;

* ‘Dohada’ is the correct reading, and not ‘daha’ as given by Gangadhara. By ‘dohada’ is meant desire for various kinds of food, such as is manifested by women in a state of preg¬ nancy. Hence, the ceremony or rite Of ‘Garbhadohada,’ viz,, that in which various kinds of food are placed before a pregnant woman in the 9th month of pregnancy. This rite is other¬ wise called ‘swada,’ or ‘desire.’

The word ‘chatala,’ literally, wide or broad, shows that Charaka’s age cannot be very remote. The word belongs to colloquial Bengali. — T.

t The commentators explain that when the Gulma moves, the whole of it moves. When, however, the fcetus moves, it is only a hand or a leg that moves. Hence, there is a differ¬ ence between the movements of the Gulma and those of the fcetus. A physician of knowledge and experience can easily detect, from observation of the movements, whether it is a case of Gulma or of pregnancy. — T.

CHAR AKA -SAM HIT A.

957Inequality of the strength of the digestive fire, (that is, keenness of the digestive fire followed by weakness of the same ; hence digestion followed by indigestion) ;

Burning (both internal and external) ;

Excessive vomiting and eructations during the time the digestiontakes place of the food eaten ;

Pronounced urgings of the downward wind, the stools, and the urine ;

Non-expulsion of the wind, stools, and the urine, notwithstanding those pronounced urgings* or scanty expulsion thereof -y

‘£ula’ (or pains in the abdomen, the thorax, the sides, &c.)

Rumbling noise in the stomach ;

Similar noise in the bowels •

Horripilation all over the body ;

The formation of scybalse in the stools ;

Loss of appetite ;

Weakness or debility of the entire system ; and

Incapacity to eat and drink to the point of gratification ;

These are the incubatory symtoms of ‘Gulma.’

Among all the varieties of ‘Gulma,’ there is not one which is not generated by the (excited) wind.

Of all the varieties of this disease, that}' which is born of all the faults is incurable. Its treatment should not be taken up.

As regards ‘Gulma’ that is born of one fault, it should be treated agreeably to the methods laid down for alleviating that particular fault.

As regards that ‘Gulma’ which is due to two faults combined' together, its treatment should consist of the use of such drugs or adoption of such operations as alleviate both the faults. 21

As regards any other ‘Gulma’, even if it be not hostile, it should still be treated carefully, distinguishing the gravity or lightness of the supervening symptoms.

Those supervening symptoms which are grave should be treated without loss of time. Afterwards should the lighter ones be attended to without loss of time.

If, without being able to distinguish the ‘Gulma’ (that confronts him), the physician apprehends fatal results, he should then adopt the treatment of the wind.* 22

* I think Gangadhara has misunderstood the sense of the first portion of this aphorism. In 2i the Rishi says that there can be no Gulma without the, excited wind as its

■958

CHARAKA- SAM HIT A.

Those oils and those kinds of ‘sweda’, which are alleviative of the wind, those mild purgatives which have oils entering into their composition, such enemata as have oily substances entering into their compo¬ sition, and articles that are'sour or saline, or sweet in taste, should, with discretion, be administered or applied.

When the wind has been alleviated, the other faults, in all varieties of Gulma, may be checked with even a little exertion, 23

( Here occurs the following j :

The alleviation of the wind of persons afflicted with ‘Gulma7, should be duly brought about by all means the physician can command.

When the wind has been alleviated, any other fault which may have become excited is capable of being checked by slight or easy means,* 24

( Here is a verse containing a summary ).