Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Whatever regimen has been laid down for persons afflicted with phthisis, or cough, or blood-bile, should be administered to one

* l.e., the expressed juice of Madhukaparni, mixed with milk, should be administered for a month, increasing the dose from half a karsha to one pala, the patient giving up other food and drink all the while.— T.

CHAR A KA-SAMHI TA.

p. 1306

weakened by sores in the lungs, guided by considerations of the strength of the patient’s digestive fire, the violence of his disease, his capacity for assimilation, as also his. strength. 9°

If the treatment be neglected of weakness caused by gores in the lungs, the disease that is certain to be induced is phthisis. Hence, before its advent, the other disease {viz., sores in the lung!?) should be promptly cheeked.

(Here occur two verses containing a summary).

The causes that bring about the disease called ‘Kshatakshina’’ (weakness due to sores in the lungs), its general and special features, considerations about its incurability, suppressibility, and curability and the means by which success is achieved in cases that are curable, —all these have been declared unto the foremost of his disciples {viz.,. Agnivega), in this Lesson on the treatment of weakness induced by sores in the lungs, by Punarvasu conversant with the truths of all topics and freed from the qualities of Tamas (Darkness), Rajas. (Passion), and heedlessness. 1-2

Thus ends Lesson XI, called ‘Treatment of ‘Kshatakshina,’ in the Division called Chikitsita,, of the treatise of Agnivega as revised by Charaka,

■f Some editions read ‘VitlSstamajastamodoshe.’ This is incorrect. GangSdhara read* rightly — ‘VitsstSmorajomoha. ’ — T.

lesson xrr.

We shall now expound the' treatment of (dropsical) swellings*

Thus said the illustrious son of Atri.

Agnivega asked that prince of physicians, that foremost of ascetics viz., him of Atri’s race, about the exciting causes, the symp¬ toms, and the means of alleviation, of that severe disease called: ‘£wayathu’ (dropsical) swellings. 1 t Unto him, in consequence of his question, that Ocean of the Science of Medicines, that foremost of learned Brfihmans, viz., he sprung from Atri’s race, duly explained (the exciting causes, the symptoms, and the means of alleviation) of this disease which is of three kinds according to the distinctions of wind and the rest, and which is of four kinds (classified under a different principle) viz.. Constitutional, Accidental, affecting a single limb, and that affecting the whole body.* 2

Of persons rendered weak and emaciated by (improper) adminis¬ tration of correctives, by ailments, and by abstention from food and drink, the following are the causes mentioned of the constitutional variety of (dropsical) swellings, viz., indulgence in food that abounds, with alkaline ashes, that is sour, that is possessed of keen virtues, that is heating, and that is heavy ; indulgence also in curds, or in food that is raw (uncooked), in earth, in potherbs, in food that is composed of inharmonious ingredients, or that is deleterious, or that happens to be mixed with poison ; or in consequence of piles, or of absence of exertion, or abstention from the use of correctives, or of wounds in vital parts of the body, or of abortions (in the case of females) ; and improper indulgence in the (five) necessary acts (viz., the use of emetics, purgatives, errhines, and enemata dry and oily). 3-4

* What is stated here is that this disease is of three varieties agreeably to the fault that is excited, viz., wind, or bile, or phlegm. It is, again, of four varieties, if classed agreeably to another principle, viz., ‘nija’ <constitutional), ‘anija’ (accidental), ‘ekangaja’ (affecting one limb), and 'sarvaja’ (affecting the entire body). These four classes, it should be said, run into one another. — T.

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CHAR AKA -SA MHITA

Wounds, inflicted by means of pieces of wood, or fire, or weapons,, or stones, or poison, or iron, which afflict the outer covering of thebody, are the causes jof the Accidental variety of this disease.

As regards the Constitutional variety, it is of three kinds, accord¬ ing as it affects the entire body, or half the body, or a particular limb' of the body. 4-5

When the wind, possessing the internal ducts, vitiates the phlegm,, the blood, and the bile, its movement becomes obstructed by them.

Thus obstructed, it ceases to move freely and causes the disease called ‘^wayathu’ whose characteristic is swelling. 6

When the wind, thus obstructed, vitiates the above faults in the upper part of the body, the ‘^wayathu’ that is caused is called- ^wayathu’ of the upper part.

When it vitiates the said faults in its own seat, (viz., the pakkagaya’ or that portion of the stomach where digestion goes on), the- ‘£wayathu’ that is caused is called ‘£wayathu’ of the lower part of the body.

When it vitiates the said faults in the middle portion of the body,, the ‘^wayathu’ that is caused is called ‘^wayathu’ of the middleregion of the body.

When it vitiates the said faults in every part of the body, the- *£wayathu’ that is caused is called the ‘^wayathu’ of the entire body.