Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Those varieties of Leprosy should be known by the name of ‘Kapala-kushtha’ which present these symptoms, viz., dryness ; red¬ ness ; roughness ; inequality in the manner of spreading over the body ; ■ sharp edgedness ; thinness ;* elevation in the middle with depression all around ; total absence of sensibility ; horripilation all over the body, excessive pain of a piercing character ; absence of intensity in respect of itching, burning, and the discharge of pus or other foetid matter, and ‘Lasika’ ; quickness in the matter of appear¬ ance and spreading ; presence of worms that pierce the skin and flesh quickly ;f and complexion that is dark, or red, or like that of baked earth. 18

Those varieties of Leprosy should be known by the name of ‘Audumvara-kushtha’ which have the following symptoms ;

They are of a coppery hue ;

The eruptions are many in number ;

They are covered with hair of a coppery hue ;

There is copious emission of blood and pus and ‘Lasika’ from them ;

They are characterised by itching, filth, slough, suppuration, and burning ;

* Meaning, probably, the absence of confluence on the part of the spots or marks, viz. , their character of standing apart from one another. — T.

t The correct reading is ‘a$ubhedajantumanti,’ and not ‘a$ubhedini’ and ‘jantumanti’. _ T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 975

They appear and spread and burst quickly.

They are hot to the touch, and full of worms ; and Their complexion is like that of the ripe fruit of Ficus glomerata. 1 9 Those varieties of Leprosy should be known by the name of ‘Mandala-kushtha’ which present the following symptoms :

They are oily, and heavy, and swollen ;

Their edges are smooth and hard and elevated ;

Of one who takes in excess medicated oils and ghees, the three faults become simultaneously excited, and the skin and the three other ingredients (viz., flesh, blood, and ‘Lasika’) become loose.*

When these lose their compactness, the faults, becoming provoked, seize particular parts of the body and remaining there, vitiate the skin and the rest, and cause the several varieties of Leprosy. 2°

The following are the incubatory symptoms of the several varie¬ ties of Leprosy :

The total absence of perspiration ; or The appearance of copious perspiration ;

Hardness of the skin ; or Excessive oiliness of the skin ;

Loss of (the usual) colour or complexion ;

An itching sensation ;

Pain like to what is produced by pricking a person with a hundred needles ;

Loss of the sense of touch (meaning the inability of the skin to receive impressions of touch) ;

Burning sensation in every part of the body ;

Tickling sensation in the body ;

Horripilation ;

Roughness of the skin ;

Heat of the body ;

Sensation of the heaviness of the body ;

Appearance of swellings on the body ;

Constant appearance of erysipelas ;

Appearance of superincumbent growths on the pores of the body

Excessive pain in any part of the body that ripens (suppurates),

* I. e., lose their compactness. — T. t ‘Upadeha,’ and not ‘upadaha,’ is the correct reading.

CHAKAKA - SAM HIT A.

or that is burnt or bitten, or that has got & sore, and similar pain when the person falls' down

Conversion' into' malignancy of even simple pimples and eruptions and the absence of elevation in these eruptions.

Those varieties of Leprosy should be known by the name of ‘Mandala’ which have the following Symptoms :

They are oily, extended, and elevated- ;

They are smoothv hard,, and of edges more elevated than the internal surface;

They are whiter with' a- sUgfet reddish- gloss ;

They are covered with white hairs

The1 discharges from them are- copious;- continuous, white;- bloody, and slimy;-

They abound' with worms and itch- constantly ;

They spread, rise, and burst slowly ;

They are circular in shape. 21

Those varieties of Leprosy should be' known by the name of ‘Hrishyajihbha’ which have the following symptoms' i

They are rough and of a red hue: as regard's their- edges As regards the portion within the exterior boundary line; they are of a dark, or blue, or yellow, or coppery gloss:

Their' spread and rise’ are: quick' f

They have not many worms and do not itch much ;

They are’ characterised by excessive burning;- and: piercing' pain also in excess, and their bursting’ is frequentThey are accompanied by pains' that- resemble what is' caused by the bristles of a ‘£uka.’

Their interior surface is elevated, the edges being depressed1 They are covered with hard pimples ;

Their surfaces being extended, their boundary lines: afe: large; 22 Those varieties of Leprosy should be known by the' name of Thindarika’ which have the following symptottis :'

They have a white and red gloss ;

Their edges1 are red ;'

They are overspread with numerous red nerves ;

They are elevated1 above the sUrface of the skin ;

The discharge of blood and pus and- ‘Lasika’ from them is copious . and continuous ;

They abound with worms ; and they itch and burn ;

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

9 77

Their rise, spread, and bursting are quick ;

Their colour is like that of the petals of the lotus. 23

Those varieties of Leprosy should be known as ‘Siddhma’ which have the following symptoms :

Their edges are rough, of a red hue, and shrunk ;