Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Pound these together, and boil the compound in water of the measure of ten dronas (a ‘drona’ = 64 seers).

When the liquid has been boiled down to an eighth ofiits measure (*. e., 80 seers), the vessel should be taken down.

Into the liquid thus obtained should be thrown ‘Dhattri-rasa’ (expressed juice of Phyllanthus Emblica), of measure equal to that of th z ghee which should be added and which should be of the mea¬ sure of an Adhaka (8 seers).

Further, the paste should be added of each of the ingredients :that compose the ‘ghrita’ called “Mahatikta” (mentioned above, vide verses 141 to .147).

This medicine, called ‘Mahakhadira Ghrita,’ cures all varieties of leprosy, by use as drink and ointment.

This is the foremost of all medicines that cure the disease called leprosy. H9-JS3

In those varieties of leprosy in which the ‘Lasika’ .begins to ooze out and the limbs begin to be eaten away by parasites, covyr’s urine with Nimba (Melia Azadirachta ) and Vid,anga (Embelia Ribes), should form a liquid in which the patient should bathe, which he should drink, and which should be used also as a plaster. rS4

p. 1232

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

Vrisha '(otherwise called Vfisaka, i. e., Justicia Adhatoda ), Kutaja '(Holarrhena antidysenterica ), Saptaparna ( Echites scholar is), Karavira ( Nerium 0 do rum), Karanja ( Pongamia glabra), Nimba ( Melia Azadi - rachta ), and Khadira ( Acacia Catechu) :

These should be pounded together into a paste and its decoction boiled with cow’s urine.

The liquid thus prepared should be used for bath, drink, and plaster. It cures that variety of leprosy which is characterised by parasites. 155

In prescribing a diet and drink, and a liquid for sprinkling over the body, and a plaster, and the means also for fumigation, Vidanga ( Embelia Ribes), which is destructive of parasites, is the foremost of drugs.

Khadira (Acacia Catechu) also, which is curative of leprosy, Is another foremost of drugs ( for administration in the same ways). J56

The roots of Edagaja ( Cassia Tora), of Vidanga ( Embelia Ribes), and of Aragbadha (Cassia fistula), may each be used as a plaster in leprosy. These plasters cure the disease.

Dog’s teeth, as also the teeth of the cow, the horse, the boar, and the camel, may each be used for the same purpose and with the same results. iS7

Edagaja (Cassia Tora), Vidanga (Embelia Ribes), the two varieties ■of Rajani (viz., Haridra — Curcuma longa, and Dâruharidra — Berberis Asiatica), and the roots of Rajavriksha (otherwise called Aragbadha, i. e., Cassia fistula), mixed with Pippali (Piper longum), and Pskalakushtha, i, e., Aplotaxis auriculata), form the foremost of all drugs that eradicate leprosy.

As regards all varieties of £itra (white leprosy), the medicines for its cure should be administered after purifying the patient by means of correctives (i. e., emetics, purgatives, enemata, errhines, &c.) rs8

In white leprosy, purgatives called ‘Sramsana’ are the foremost remedy. The expressed juice of Malapu (otherwise called Kakadumvura, i. e., Ficus oppositifolia ), mixed with treacle proves beneficial.

Having drunk the juice in a measure that suits his digestion, and becoming thereby sufficiently oiled, the patient should expose himself to the heat of the sun.

After being sufficiently purged by this means, the patient should,

CHARAKA-SAMHITA,

p. 233

when thirsty, drink, for three days, the preparation called ‘Peyfi’ (that is laid down for the alleviation of thirst).

The boils that appear on the body of the patient (in consequence of his drinking the juice of Ficus oppositifolia as mentioned above) should be pierced by means of thorns. After tde boils have been pierced and the matter within them let out, the decoction of the following drugs should be drunk every day for the space of a fortnight.

Malapu ( Ficus oppositifolia ), Agana (. Pentaptera Tomentosa , syn. Terminalia Tomentosa ), Priyangu (Aglaia Roxburghiana ), and £atapushpi (otherwise called Micreya, i. e., Pucedanum sowa — dill seeds) :

These drugs should be boiled in water for obtaining their decoction.

Or, the patient may drink, in measure that suits his digestion, the alkaline ashes of PalSga ( Butea frondosa ), dissolved in ‘Phanita’ (inspissated juice of the sugarcane).

All other medicines that have been laid down as capable of curing leprosy are beneficial in White leprosy.

Drinks mixed with catechu water, or catechu water alone, are the foremost of remedies in this disease.

Plasters made of Manahgila (realgar), Vidanga ( Embelia Ribes ), Kagiga (sulphate of iron), Rochana (concretions found in the gall¬ bladder of the ox), and Kanakapushpi (flowers that are of a yellow hue), with ‘Saindhava’ salt, should be applied for the alleviation of White leprosy of every variety. 159-163

Even this is the composition of the plasters prescribable in White leprosy.

Burnt bones of the ass, mixed with the ashes of the plaintain plant and the blood of the cow, form a beneficial plaster for White . leprosy.