Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Mons. A. Barth., Paris : — Your efforts to place within reach of the readers of ancient literature a work of so interesting a nature both to the Oriental 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 ah interest in these researches.

Mons. B. St Hailaire, Paris : — I praise you on your undertaking and wish you all success. The work is of interest to all learned men and to medical 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 you justice.

Professor H. Jacobi, Bonn UnivA-sity, Germany : — 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. Garbe, Prineenstram Konigsbureh, Germany .'—English translation of Charaka Samhita is, perhaps, at least from an historical point of view, the most important work of the medical literature of your country.

Sir Alfred Croft, M. A., C. I. E., Director of Public Instruction, Bengal .'—I 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 the precepts and such a guide 'to life,, cannot be other than, valuable.

ABSTRACT OF THE CONTENTS

OF

PART XXXVI.

The whole of this part deals with Fever and the several methods of treatment.

The observations of the Rishi are fraught with great interest.

The drugs and their combinations may be dry to the general reader. But here and there the general reader will find observa¬ tions of great wisdom.

Considering that Fever is a disease which every person may get at any time, even the general reader should peruse these pages.

To the student of the medicine and the medical practitioner, these pages are simply invaluable.

Enshrined in these aphorisms are many valuable truths bearing upon the treatment of Fever.

CH A li A K A -S' A M til T A . mi

Drowsiness, stupefaction of the mind, delirious raving, bronchites with cough, difficulty of breathing, disgust for food, and vertigo (also manifest' themselves), ioi

The tongue becomes as black as if it were charred. It becomes rough to the touch. The body becomes very slack (that is, the limbs lose their compactness). Bilious blood is vomited, phlegmonous matter being mixed with it. 102

Tossing of the head, thirst, insomnia (or loss of sleep), pain in the chest, and the appearance, at long intervals, and in small measure, of perspiration, urine, and stools. 103

Absence of emaciation, continuous cooing of the throat, the appearance on the body of circular eruptions that are either dark or red in colour, and that are like those called urticaria evanida. i°4

Dumbness (or the absence of a disposition to speak), inflammation and sores in the outlets of the bod/ (such as the mouth, the nose, &c.) enlargement and heaviness of the abdomen, delay in the digestion of the faults, — even these are the indications of fever caused by all the three faults excited equally. i°5

That fever caused by the three equally excited faults is incurable in which the faults become intensely excited, in which the digestivefire is quenched, and in which all the symptoms (as laid down above) are fully manifested.

Other varieties of this fever are curable with difficulty. 106

In the Divison called ‘Nidana’ the symptoms have been laid down of the three varieties of fever born separately (of the three faults).

In the verses above have been laid down the symptoms of those other varieties of fever which are born of two faults combined, as also of those which afe born of all the three faults. 107

Accidental Fever, which is the eighth in the enumeration, (vide verse ante 33), is of four varieties, viz., i. that born of wounds, 2. that born of lust and other passions as also of the contact of evil spirits, 3. that born of incantations, and 4. that born of curses (of Rishis and Brahmans of puissance). 108

Fever born of wounds inflicted on the body by means of weapons, brickbats or stones, whips, wooden clubs and sticks, fists, palms (slaps), teeth (and nails), and other means of a similar nature, is called ‘Abhighataja’ or wound-born fevers. 109 141

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CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

The wind, becoming excited in consequence of the wound in¬ flicted, generally vitiates the blood and generates this fever that is accompanied by pains, swelling, discoloration, and burning of the body. 110

The fever that a person gets who is afflicted by lust, or grief, or panic, or wrath, as also that which arises from the contact of evil spirits, should be known as ‘Abhisangaja’ (or contact-born). 99