Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

* The two fingers generally inserted are the second and the third. Regarding those that are to attend upon the patient, the physician should always select such persons as are agreeable to the patient. — T.

f /. e., over-administration, insufficient administration, or proper administration of the drug. Henceforth, when the terms Atiyoga, Ayoga, and Yoga occur, I shall render them as over-administration, insufficient administration, and proper or judicious administration. — T.

1-7 4*

CHRA KA-SA MH IT A .

A disinclination to vomit arising from whatever cause, a throw¬ ing out of the medicine unaccompanied by the faults or impurities ,whose ejection is desired, the entire absence of ejection of either the medicine or the faults or both, are symptoms indicative of an insufficient administration of emetics.

An inclination to vomit, arising at the proper time (i. e., neither too soon after the administration of the medicine nor too long after i.t), the existence of mild pains when the urging to vomit {becomes pronounced, the throwing out of the anticipated impurities in due order ( i.e., at first phlegm, then bile, and lastly wind), and .disappearance of the action of the medicine of itself (i.e., without the necessity of administration of antidotes), are symptoms of a judicious or proper administration of emetics.

When the administration has been proper or judicious, the physician should, by observing the quantity of the matter ejected, ascertain whether the vomiting has been violent, or middling, or mild.

When there has been an over-administration of emetics, the .ejected matter becomes frothy and mixed with blood, and its hue becomes as variegated as that of the peacock’s plumes. These are the indications of over-administration.16

The disorders or afflictions brought about by over dose and insufficient dose are flatulence in the stomach, cutting pains in the anal canal or lower duct, secretions from both the mouth and the anal duct,? and a sensation of pressure against the heart ; pains in the body, discharge of living blood, stiffness or rigidity of the body, and a sense of weariness or fatigue.16

When by a judicious administration of emetics the patient is seen to have vomited copiously, the physician should cause his hands, feet, and mouth to be washed, and should give him rest for a short space of time (comforting him the while with words of assu¬ rance). He should next cause the patient to drink (inhale), accord¬ ing tq the extent he can, the smoke of any of these three kinds, viz.,

* In the case of emetics, the secretion issues from the mouth ; while in that of purgatives, it issues out of the anus, — T,

CHA RA KA -SAM HIT A.

p. 175

smoke that serves the purpose of oilifying the body, or smoke that acts as a purgative, or smoke that has the virtue of destroying- the faults of wind, bile, and phlegm. After this, the patient should once more undergo the operation of washing his hands, feet, and mouth. When he has undergone this operation, he should then' be introduced into a chamber that is not exposed to the Wind. Thither he should be made to occupy a bed and lie down at his' ease. The physician should then give him the following instruc¬ tions :■ —

Thou shouldst refrain fiom sneaking in a loud voice. Thou must abstain from eating too much. Thou must not sit idly for a long time. Thou must abstain from excessive walking. ThoU must not give way to wrath and grief, and thou must not expose thyself to cold and heat and the night dew, and thou must avoid such' plates as are exposed to the wind. Thou must avoid riding animals and vehicles as also sexual congress, night-keeping, and sleep during day time. Thou- must avoid eating such food as is prepared with ingre¬ dients that do not agree with one another, or food that is not easily digestible, or food that does not agree with thy constitution, or unseasonable food, or excessive food, or food that is not nutritive, or food that is heavy, or food that is irregular iii respect of quan¬ tity. Thou must not seek to suppress urgings that have become' pronounced, or excite urgings by pressing the diaphragm. Thou shouldst not indulge in any of these in even thy mind. As regards thy diet, there need not be any restriction (in respect of kind or quantity, besides those hereinbefore indicated.) — The' patient should follow all these injunctions strictly.*17