Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

f The grammar of the first line is difficult to understand. All the editions have the: same reading.— T.

[586

In consequence of excessive indulgence iii articles that are saline or sour, or pungent, or warm, or in £uktSs ’ (acid preparations) made with sour curds and the cream of curds, or in wines called ‘Sura,’ or ‘Sauviraka,’ *5 or in consequence of indulgence in copious measures of vitiated wines, or warm ‘Ragas’, or ‘Shadavas,’ or in consequence of indulgence in pot-herbs, green vegetables, or articles that cause a burning sensation, 16 or, in consequence of indulgence in ‘Kurchikas’ (inspissated milk), and ‘Kilatas’ (inspissated whey) and ‘Mastuka’, (cream of curds), or, in consequence of eating Alu (2. e., Pindfilu or Dioscorea globosa ) after having drunk ‘Sandaki’ of curds {i. e., a preparation of curds with sugar and spices), r7 or, in consequence of eating cakes made of the paste either of the sesame seeds, or of those of Masha (Phaseolus radiatus ) or those of Kulattha (. Dolichos biflorus), fried in oil, or, in consequence of indulgence in meat of domestic animals or of those that live in watery regions or those that are aquatic, or in Laguna (garlics), 18 or, in consequence of indulgence in rotten articles, or in those that are inharmonious and pernicious, or in consequence of indulgence in excessive eating, or in sleep at day-time, or, in consequence of eating undigestible food, or of eating before the food last taken has been digested, 19 or, in consequence of wounds, or of strokes or of the tight-binding (of particular parts of the body) or of fall from high places, or, in consequence of excessive exposure to the heat of the sun, or, in consequence of contact with poisons or exposure to wind and fire, 2the disease called Visharpa (Erysipelos) arises.* 20 t Differences of reading are observable in sc the text of Gang5dhara has been followed _ T.

of the verses. In the above version, the

The wind and the rest, provoked by these causes separately or in combination, and vitiating blood and the other ‘dhatus’ which are ‘dushyas’ (so called in consequence of their capacity to be vitiated), spread over the bodies of those who indulge in baneful food and drink. 21

There are three varieties of Erysipelos : one spreads outwardly ; another, inwardly ; and a third variety, both outwardly and inwardly.

The strength of each succeeding variety is greater than that of the preceding one. 22 --

[Thus that which is inward is stronger than that which is out¬ ward ; and that which is both outward and inward is stronger than that which is inward.']

That variety of Erysipelos which spreads outwardly is curable ; that which spreads inwardly is cured with difficulty ; that variety which spreads both inwardly and outwardly should be known to be dreadful and incurable. 23

When the faults are provoked inwards, they cause Erysipelos affecting the body inwardly.

When the faults are provoked outwards, they cause Erysipelos affecting the body outwardly.

When the faults are provoked both inwardly and outwardly, they cause Erysipelos affecting the body both inwardly and outwardly. *4

In consequence of wounds (shocks) on the vital parts of the body (such as the chest, &c.), or, of the obstruction of the outlets (through which stools, urine &c., pass out) or of shocks received by them, or, of excessive thirst, or the manifestation of irregular urgings (in respect of stools, and urine), 25 or, of the sudden loss of (or weakening) of the digestive fire, 3the Erysipelos that sets in should be known of the inward variety.

In the absence of these, the Erysipelos that sets in should be known to be of the outward variety.

The other (i e., the third) variety of the disease should be known, by its own symptoms.* 26

That variety in which all the symptoms manifest themselves (*'. e., in which the symptoms of both the first and second varieties appear), and which arises from puissant causes, in which painful ailments supervene, and which affects the vital parts of the body, brings about the dissolution of the patient. 27

[The ‘NidSna’ of wind-born Erysipelos is now laid down.]

The vitiated wind, provoked by stuffing the stomach with dry and heating food, as also by the presence of those causes which have the effect of provoking it, acquires force. It then vitiates the blood and the rest, and originates Erysipelos. Such Erysipelos is regarded to be of the wind-born variety. Its intensity depends upon the measure of the provocation of the wind. 28

[The following are the symptoms of Erysipelos.]

Swoons, distress, thirst, pain like that -caused by pricking the body with needles, ‘^ula’ pains, langour of the body, pain like that: caused by striking the body with heavy sticks or clubs, tremors,, fever, that variety of asthma which is called ‘Tamaka’, cough, sensa¬ tion of the breaking or dislocation of the bone-joints, discolouration of the body, vomiting, disgust for food, turbidness of the eyes with, the appearance of tears : 29