Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

(Through the action of astringents) they become paralysed and are not digested. (Thus conditioned), they bring about obstinate chronic fever.f JSS

(The administration' of) ‘KashSyas’ is prohibited ; the prohibition does not apply to the form of medicine implied by that word.

What is said here is that any thing which is astringent in taste should be rejected (z. e., regarded as forbidden).J l56

* ‘Kashayam’ qualifies both ‘Pachanam’ and ‘Qamaniyam.’ ‘Panchanas’ are medicines that cause the digestion of undigested food and humours, &c.,

Some texts incorrectly read ‘pratibhojaet’ for ‘pratibhojitam.’ Gangadhara seems to have misunderstood this verse. It does not mean, as he explains, that the physician is to give light food on the seventh day and then on the eighth day give astringent ‘pachanas’, &c. On the other hand, it means that having fed the patient on gruels, &c. , which are all light food, the physician should, on the seventh day, administer ‘pachanas’ &c. — T.

t The mischief of administering astringents in new and acute fever is pointed out here. Hence astringents should not be administered in such fevers for at least six days. — T.

t The sense of this verse is not very clear. The version given here is offered tentatively. What the Rishi says seems to be this : the word ‘Kashaya’ has two meanings: 1. decoc¬ tion or infusion in general ; and 2. things having an astringent taste. The administration of ‘kashSyos’ in acute fever is prohibited: the prohibition does not apply to the form of medicine called ‘lcashaya’, viz., decoction and infusion, &c. but to astringents as such ; i. e., anything having an astringent taste. The forms in which ‘kashayas’, meaning astringents,

CHAR A KA -SAM HIT A .

p. 1119

For the alleviation of the fever the physician should cause the patient to take, up to the tenth day, light food mixed with beneficial soups that are sour or not sour, or with the meat-juice, that is bene¬ ficial, of (the flesh of) wild animals. *57

After this (z. e., after the tenth day), when the phlegm has become mild, when wind and bile have gained forc£, and when the faults have become matured, the drinking of (medicated) ghees - operates like ‘Amrita’ (nectar), is8

If the physician, after the tenth day is over, finds that the patient has his phlegm still excited to an inordinate degree and has not derived any benefit from the observance of fasts, he should not then give him ghee to drink but treat him with ‘kashaya’ (i. e„ decoctions and infusions, &c., falling under the classes called ‘Pachana’ or digest¬ ives, ‘£amanas’ or alleviatives, See.). lS9

As long as the phlegm does not become light (or attenuated), the physician should prescribe some (light) food mixed with meatjuice, since such food is, quite capable of checking the (excited) faults and is, besides, conducive to strength.* 160

Of one who is greatly afflicted by burning (of the skin) and thirst, the fever which is characterised by predominance of wind and phlegm, as also by constipation, or, the free escape of the faults, and which is mature, should be checked by milk (boiled with proper drugs). 1 t6i When the fever is not alleviated by these methods, it should then be alleviated by (administering) purgatives, provided the patient’s strength and flesh have not diminished. 162

For a person who has been weakened by fever, neither purging nor vomiting is beneficial.

•are administered are five : I. ‘Swarasa’, or expressed juice ; 2. ‘Kalka’ or paste (produced by grinding the substance) ; 3. ‘Qrita’ or decoction (produced by boiling) ; 4. ‘Qita’ or infusion in cold water ; and 5. ‘Phanta’ or infusion in hot water. These are not referred to 'here, for these are the very forms in which sweets, &c., are also administered. — T,

* What is stated in verses 159 and 160 is this : if after the tenth day the physician finds that the patient’s phlegm has not been lightened or attenuated, he should not give him ghee but prescribe ‘kashayas’, i. e., ‘pachanas’, &c. As regards food again, the physician should prescribe some light food mixed with meat-juice, inasmuch as such food checks the phlegm (and other faults) and is, besides, conducive to strength. — T t A fever is said to be ‘vaddhadesham’ when the faults excited are all constipated. Similarly, a fever is said to be ‘pracchyutadosha’ when the excited faults all escape from the body in the form of urine and stools, or of secretions such as sweat, &c. — T.

p. 142

p. 120

CHAR A KA -SA MHITA .

Verily, the stools of such a person should be purged by the administration of milk (boiled with proper drugs) or by the use of enemata* * * § i63

If enemata be applied when the faults are matured, they very soon bring about strength, digestive fire, disappearance of the fever, cheerfulness, and relish for'food. i64