Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

t The measures are thus set forth : 8 palas of Khadira pith, and 8 palas of Devad5ru pith, should be boiled in water of the measure of 16 seers down to 4 seers. Into this water or decoction, honey, 4 seers, should be thrown. Iron dust, of the measure of 8 palas, should be added. Of each of the other drugs, a karsha or 2 tolas should be added. Of sugarcandy, the measure should be 4 seers. A kind of ‘Asava’ or vinous liquor will be the result. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMH1TA.

p. 1219

It cures other diseases also, such as piles, fistula-in-ano, cough, leucoderma, ‘Prameha,’ and consumption.

By drinking this vinous liquor which is called ‘Kanakavindu,’ a person’s complexion becomes like that of gold. 74-76

Thus is explained the method of preparation of the medicine called ‘Kanakavindu-Arishta.’

In cases of leprosy which are caused by excitement of wind and phlegm, the above medicine should be drunk.

The same treatment is prescribed for cases of leprosy which are caused by excited bile.

In cases caused by excited phlegm, the distinctive treatment is the administration of the decoction of Kritamala ( Cassia fistula).* 77

The vinous liquor of Triphala (the three myrobalans), with treacle, Chitraka (. Plumbago Zeylanica \ Kramuka (betel nuts), Dagamula (the ten roots), Danti ( Baliospermum montanum ), Varanga (bark of Cinnamomum Zeylanicum ), and honey, is capable of curing white and other varieties of leprosy. 78

In cases of leprosy, all varieties of light food, and bitter pot-herbs,, should be known to be beneficial. Food and ghee, mixed with Bhallfctaka {Semecarpus Anacardiuni), Triphala (the three myrobalans), and Nimba ( [Melia Azadirachta ), are beneficial. f 79

Old rice (boiled\ the flesh of animals residing in forests, and soup of Mudga (. Phaseolus Mungo), and Patola ( Trichosanthes dioicci), are beneficial (in leprosy).

All kinds of heavy food, milk, and curds are baneful.

Fish living in marshes is also baneful.

Raw sugar and sesame seeds also are so.|

ElS ( Eleitaria cardamomum ), Kushtha (Aplotaxis auriculata ), Darbi

* It should be noted that ‘Kritamala’ {Cassia pstula ) enters into the composition of the medicine named above, viz., ‘Kanakavindu Arishta.’ It would seem that what is said here is that the decoction of Kritamala is especially beneficial in phlegm-born cases of leprosy. — T.

t The expressed juice of Bhall5taka and the other drugs mentioned is required to be added to the food which the patient should take. — T.

J The mention of ‘Anupamatsyah’, meaning fish taken from marshy regions, would seem to imply that other kinds of fish, viz., those taken from rivers and seas or from tanks and lakes, is not forbidden. — T.

p. 220

CHAR A KA-SAMHITA.

{Berber is Asiatica) , £atapushpa (otherwise called Salupha, i. e., DiU seeds), Chitraka ( Plumbago Zeylanica), Vidanga ( Embelia Rides), Rasanjana (Galena, according to the Bengal physicians), extract of the wood of Berberis Asiatica , according to the physicians of the N. W. Provinces), and Abhay& (chebulic myrobalans), — these, reduced to paste, form a beneficial plaster for leprosy. 81

Chitraka ( Plumbago Zeylanicd), Ela {Elettaria cardamomum), Vimbi ( Moinordica monodelphd), Vrishaka (otherwise called Vasaka, i. e. Justicia Adhatodd), Trivrit ( Convolvulus Turpethuni), Arka ( Cala - tropis gigantea ), and Nagaraka (dry ginger), reduced to powder, should be macerated for eight days in the urine of the cow in which has been dissolved the ashes of Palaja {Butea frondosa).

Applied as plasters to leprosy characterised by circular patches,, it quickly causes those patches to burst and then disappear, if the patient be exposed, with the plasters on him, to the sun. 82-83

Mangsi (. Nurdostachys Jatamansi ), Maricha (black pepper', Lavana (‘Saindhava’ salt), Rajani (otherwise called HaridrS, i. e., Curcuma longa ), Tagara ( Taberncemotitana coronaria ), SudhS (otherwise called ‘Snuhi’ or ‘Manasasija,’ i. e., the milk of Euphorbia neriifolia ) domestic soot, urine (of the cow), bile (of the cow), ashes of Palana {Butea frondosa ), form a plaster that cures leprosy. 84

Trapu (otherwise called Vanga, i. e., tin), lead, and pulv of iron, (mixed together and used as a drink) are curative of leprosy.

Phalgu {Ficus kispida, Linn, fil., syn. Ficus oppositifolia, Roxbi), Chitraka {Plumbago Zeylanicd, Vrihati {Solanum Indicum), Godhfirasa (meat-juice of iguana flesh), ‘Saindhava’ salt, Daru {Finns deodara ), and cow’s urine, are curative of leprosy characterised by circular patches. 8S

Take the ashes of Kadali (plantain plants), Palaga {Butea frondosd), Patali {Bignonia Suave-olens ), and Nichula {Eugenia acutangula ).

Dissolve them in water, and purify that water. Taking those kinds of meat that are destructive of the particular fault that hasbeen excited, cook them with the aid of the water thus prepared (and not with ordinary water).