Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

A sensation -of ants creeping over the body, the appearance of a dark or red colour on those districts of the body on which Erysi¬ pelos sets in, a swelling of those districts, severe pains like thosecaused by prickingrwith needles, or those like ‘£ula’, or those that arise from a breaking of the bones on those districts, as well as disten¬ tion or contraction of the places affected, 'horripilation, and throb¬ bing. The patient suffers much. 30

If left untreated, the disease becomes aggravated, with the speedymanifestation of thinly spread pimples which are coloured red or

* Gangadhara observes that as regards the third variety, it cannot be known by a com¬ bination of both the indications mentioned, for the presence and absence of those indications, cannat be .possible at the same time. Hence, 'the third variety should -be known -by its own. symptoms which are laid down in the following verses.— T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1589

dark and from which (watery), irregular, copious, or scanty discharge (of foetid matter), issues. Constipation of the (downward) wind, urine and stools also sets in. 31

The disease is not alleviated by (indulgence in) those articles (of food and drink) and practices which have been laid down in the (enumeration of the) causes from which it springs.*

It is rather alleviated by indulgence in articles and practices that are the reverse of those laid down there.

Even these are the indications of wind-bonrn Erysipelos. 32

(The causes and symptoms of bile-born Erisypelos are laid down below.]

Accumulated by (indulgence in) practices that are heating, as also by articles of food and drink that are sour and that cause a burning sensation (in the stomach or the chest), the bile vitiates the blood and the rest, and filling all the ducts, causes Erysipelos. 33

[Blood and the rest, are called, for the sake of brevity, ‘dushya,’ i, e., ingredients that are capable of being vitiated. Those which vitiate are called ‘doshas’ or vitiations or faults.]

The symptoms are fever, thirst, swoons, delusions, vomiting, dis¬ gust Tor food, a sensation of the body being broken, perspiration, intense internal burning, delirium, headache, turbidness of the eyes, insomnia, fretfulness, vertigo, an excessive desire for cool breezes and cold water, green eyes, urine, and stools, and green or yellow vision. 34

That district, in which Erysipelos appears, becomes coppery, or or green, or yellow, or blue, or dark, or red, in hue, and continues to swellf

The place in which Erysipelos appears becomes elevated.

A sensation of excessive burning and of pain likeunto what is caused by cutting wounds also appears.

* ‘NidanoktSni,’ i. c., ‘stated in the Nidana’ of this disease, that is, in verses 15—20, and in verse 28, ante, of this Lesson, — T.

t Gangadhara reads ‘pushyati,’ in the sense of grows or continues to swell, The Calcutta and the Bombay editions read ‘pasyati’ which is evidently incorrect.— T.

CHARA KASAMHITA.

p. 1590

It is, again, filled with boils which suppurates soon and front which discharges take place of colour likeunto. that of the bile. 35 .

Indulgence in the articles (of food and drink) and practices which have been laid down in the enumeration of the Nidana (or. causes) of the disease, aggravates it ; indulgence in atticles and practices that are the reverse of the same, alleviates it.*

Even these are the indications of bile-born Erysipelos. 36 . .

[The causes and the symptoms of phlegm-born Erysipelos are laid down.] -

Accumulated by indulgence in food (and drink) that are sweet, or sour, or saline, or oily, or heavy, as also by excessive sleep (at day¬ time), the phlegm, vitiating blood and the rest, causes Erysipelos to spread over the whole body. 37

The following are the symptoms of the disease :

Chillness, fever characterised by a sensation of cold, heaviness of the body, sleep, drowsiness, disgust for food, the presece of a sweet taste in the mouth, a sensation of stickiness in the mouth, indigestion, constant expectoration ; vomiting ; incapacity for exertion ; a sensa¬ tion, of the whole being covered with a wet blanket ; weakness of the digestive fire, and loss of strength. 38

In that district of the body in which Erysipelos appears, the symptoms that present themselves are swelling, paleness or reddish¬ ness of hue, oiliness of aspect, loss of sensation, stupefaction, heavi¬ ness, the presence of slight pain, delay in the suppuration of the pimples or boils, thickness of the skin or coating covering the boils, and whiteness or paleness of the colour that characterises them ; 39