Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Patola (the leaves of Trichosanthes dioica ), Pichumardda (other¬ wise called Nimba, i. e., Melia Azadirachtd), Triphala (the three

* The Bengal and Bombay editions read Madhuka (liquorice) for Abhay5 which is the reading of Gangadhara.— T.

f Each of the five groups, or any two of the five or all the five together, would make a plaster that is beneficial in Erysipelas. — T.

X ‘Kshana’ is equal to a ‘danda’ which is one-thirtieth part of day and night, and is thus equivalent to 48 minutes.— T.

LESSON XXI.]

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

1 6o$ myrobolans), Madhuka (liquorice), and Utpala (the flowers of Nymphcea stellata ) ; the decoction of these is used for washing the affected part, or sprinkling.

Ghee boiled with these is a plaster that cures the sores ;

The pulv of these forms a powder, and their paste a plaster.

Applied in these forms, they dry up the sores of Erysipelas. XI9

All these cooling plasters should be used at intervals of a kshana. Before using them in this way, the plaster applied before should first be taken up.* 120

If the plaster cannot be taken up by washing the part with the decoctions, then thin plasters should be applied over it repeatedly.

If however, the plaster, in phlegm-born Erysipelas, lean be taken up, then thick plasters should be applied.]- fât

The drugs which have been directed to be used for purposes of plasters, should be reduced to paste by repeated grinding.

The thickness of a plaster should be a third of the thickness of the thumb.

It should not be very oily, nor very dry.

It should neither be solid nor liquid, but of sufficient consistence. 122

A plaster should never be made of a paste that has become stale (z. e., that has been made the day before).

Nor should a plaster be, again, applied that has been applied once before. I23

For such a plaster, in consequence of the heat it causes, generates filthy secretions and pain in the part affected by Erysipelas.

If the plasters are applied by enclosing the paste of the drugs within pieces of cloth (like to what is done in the case of poultices), the sores of Erysipelas become moist and perspire. I24

* In the second line, the correct reading is ‘purvam’ as in the Calcutta and the Bombay editions, and not ‘Sarvam’ as read by Gangadhara. — T.

The decoction of those drugs which have been directed to be used as plasters should be used for washing the part affected. — T.

f What is said here is this : If the plaster applied adheres to the part in such a way that even repeated application of the decoctions fail to remove it, then thin plasters are directed ,to be applied over the adhering plaster. If, on the other hand, the plaster can be removed, then thick plasters should be applied, one after another. This is the course of treatment in phlegm-born Erysipelas. — T.

16o6

CHIKITSASTHANA.

[VISAUPA.

In consequence of the sores perspiring, pimples appear, which cause an itching sensation.

Those faults which arise from plasters laved over previously applied plasters, arise also from applying plasters enclosed within pieces of cloth.

If plasters that are very oily or that are very liquefied be applied they do not adhere to the skin and hence the fault or faults excited are not sufficiently alleviated.

The physician should not apply plasters that are thin, for if such plasters are applied, they soon become dry and cracked. 125-127

Neither does the juice of the drugs (composing the plasters) then penetrate the disease. Indeed, it dries up.

Those faults which arise from plasters that are thin, arise also from plasters that are not oily, for these soon become dry and (instead of alleviating the disease), enhance its painfulness.*

I shall now lay down the kinds of food and drink that are beneficial in Erysipelas. 128-129

Unto one who has fasted, ‘mantha’ that is dry and that has been mixed with honey and sugar, is beneficial.!

Or, ‘mantha’ that is slightly sweet, r or that has been rendered slightly sour by adding to it the juice of pomegranates and that of Amalaka (the fruits of Phyllanthus Emblica ), is beneficial.

Or, ‘mantha’ that has been boiled with water and Parushaka (the fruits of Grewia Asiatica), Mridvika (dry grapes), and Kharjjura (Arabian dates), is beneficial.

Unto one that has fasted, linctuses made with ‘Tarpanas’ (cooling ■draughts) of barley and ‘9&H’ rice, mixed with oils and ghees , are .beneficial. 130-131

When these have been digested, old ‘9&li’ rice boiled with the .soup of seeds, may be given with beneficial results.

The soups referred to should be of such pulses as Mudga ( Pkaseo - lus Mungo\ Masura (Cicer lens), and Chanaka {Cicer arietinum). ^2

* Verses 122 to 128 have been omitted by Gangadhara. They occur in the Calcutta and the Bombay editions, and have every apperance of being genuine. Hence, they are translated here. — T.

1 t ‘Mantha’ is made by mixing the flour of barley, Sec. , with a copious measure of water. ‘Dry’ implies ‘unmixed with ghee or any oily substance.’— T.

'LESSON X'xi.] CIIARAKA-SAMIIITA. 1607

These should not be made sour ; or, if it is desirable to make them so, the juice may be mixed of pomegranates. They should be be given along with the fruits of Patola {Tficko5anth.es dioicci), and those of Amalaka {Phyllanthus Einilica). 132