Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Then, again, classified according to the particular ‘dh£tu’ it affects, Fever is of seven varieties, (viz., 1. that which affects the ‘Rasa’, 2. that which affects the blood, 3. that which affects the flesh, 4. that which affects the adeps, 5. that which affects the bones, 6. that which affects the marrow, and 7. that which affects the vital seed).

Fever is, again, classed under eight heads according, to the

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CHARAKA-SAMH1TA

(immediate) cause which generates it ; (viz., i. that born of wind, 2. that born of bile, 3. that born of phlegm, 4. that born of wind and bile, 5. that born of wind and phlegm, 6. that born of bile and phlegm, 7. that born of all the three excited together, and 8. that which is accidental, i. e., born of wounds and other accidents). 33

Bodily fever appears first in the body ; Mental fever appears first in the mind.

The indications of Mental fever are cheerlessness, absence of satisfaction, and grief or pain.

The indications of bodily fever are a derangement of the functions of the senses. 34

One afflicted with fever characterised by excitement of wind and bile craves for things that are cooling.

One afflicted with fever characterised by excitement of wind and phlegm craves for things that are hot.

One afflicted with fever characterised by excitement of the faults in a mixed state craves for both kinds of things (i. e., those that are cooling as also those that are hot. 35

Wind is highly a co-operative agent (i. e., it assumes or adds to the virtues of that fault with which it is associated for the time being). In consequence of association, it generates a craving for both cold and heat. When associated with fire (bile), it causes burning ; when associated with ‘Soma’ (phlegm), it causes a sensation of cold. 36

Of fever characterised by internal excitement the symptoms noticeable are excessive inward burning, thirst, delirium, hard breath¬ ing, vertigo, pains in the joints and bones, the absence of perspiration, constipation of the faults and of the stools. 37

The symptoms of fever characterised by external excitement are more excessive external burning, and mildness of thirst and the other symptoms. This variety of fever is easily curable. 38

That Normal fever which appears in spring or autumn is easily curable.

Fever is said to be Normal according to its correspondence with the varieties of the season in which it appears.* 39

* Spring is the season when the phlegm is generally excited. In autumn it is the bile that is excited. In the season of rains, the wind is excited. If fever characterised by excite¬ ment of phlegm appears in spring, it is regarded as Normal to the season. Similarly*.

CHAR A KA - SAM HIT A .

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The bile, which is hot, increases in intensity when it is combined with heat. It is, therefore, provoked in autumn.

The phlegm, accumulating in winter, becomes greatly excited in the season of spring (coming after winter). 40

In the season of rains, plants and herbs and water become charac¬ terised by acidity in course of digestion. These lead to the accumu¬ lation of the bile.

The accumulated bile becomes provoked in the season of autumn through the heat of the sun, and quickly generates fever (that is characterised by excited bile).

In such fever the phlegm becomes a concommitant, being excited in a lesser degree.

In consequence of the very nature of the bile and the phlegm (both of which are liquid), and owing, again, to the very nature of autumn which is the season of Giving, no evil results can arise from fasting (in such fever).* 41-42

In autumn the phlegm is accumulated in consequence of both the water and plants and herbs becoming sweet in taste as also in digestion.

The sun being weak in spring, it is not dried up. Hence in the season of spring, it becomes provoked.

Hence, the fever that appears in spring is characterised by excited phlegm. 43

Spring falls within the season of Taking. Of fever characterised byexcited phlegm that appears in spring, wind and bile are concommitants (excited in a lesser degree).

Noting when the fever has appeared, that is, whether it is the end, or the middle, or the beginning of autumn and spring, and ascertain¬ ing the strength and weakness of the faults excited, the physician possessed of learning should treat the disease. 44

Fever is regarded as Normal when it is correspondent with the virtues of the season in which it appears.

if fever characterised by excited bile appears in autumn, it is regarded as Normal. Similarly, fever characterised by excited wind, appearing in the rainy season, is regarded as Normal to that season. — T.

* What is said here is this : the ‘prakriti’ or nature of both the bile and the phlegm is liquidity. The autumn, again, is the season of Giving, and not of Taking. (Vide Lesson VI, SutrasthSna, in which the characteristics of the seasons of Taking and Giving have been fully ro2

CHARAKA-SAMH1TA.

That fever which is born of excited wind is generally difficult of cure.

Fever is regarded as Abnormal when it is not correspondent with the virtues of the season in which it appears. Such fever is also difficult of cure, 45