Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

It has been said that a person should be examined by the test of his pith. This has been laid down for preventing a physician from arriving at an erroneous conclusion by a sight of the body alone of the patient. Such conclusions should never be formed, viz., that this one is endued with strength because this one’s body is large ; or that this one is of little strength for this one’s body is lean j or, that this one is very strong because this one’s body is of very large proportions ; or, that this one is possessed of very little strength because this one’s body is of very small dimensions. It is, in¬ deed, seen that men whose bodies are of small dimensions or whose bodies are lean are still possessed of strength. In this connection, a proof is offered by ants (which are very diminutive creatures) btearing away large weights.139

Next, as regards (examination of the patient by observation of his) body : the words samhanana, sanghata, and samyojana are of the same import.

* It will be seen that the word '* sara” has been rendered " predominance of (constituting) element.” This long periphrasis becomes inconvenient in rendering such short compounds as ‘ Twak-sara’, ' Rakta-sara,’ &c. The fact is, if ‘sara’ be baken as equivalent to 'pith’ in the sense of ‘essence,’ the peri¬ phrasis may be abandoned with this explanation. ‘Twak-sara’ may be rendered as ‘Skin-pithed ;’ so ‘Rakta-sara’ as ‘Blood-pithed,’ &c. Hence ‘Asara’ imply¬ ing the absence of ‘SSra,’ may be rendered as ‘having no pith’ — T.

CHA RAKA -SAMH/TA

p. 603

In respect of this, that body is said to be firm or compact which consists of symetrical and well-formed bone.s, well-knit joints, and well-placed flesh and blood.

Those men who are possessed of firm and compact bodies become endued with strength.

Those men whose bodies are of an opposite kind, are poss¬ essed of little strength.

In consequence of bodies being of a middle character between the superior and the inferior, their possessors become endued with middling strength 1S0

Next, as regards (examination of the patient by his) dimensions : Instructions are now to be given as regards the dimensions of the body measured by one’s fingers. The height, the breadth (inclu¬ ding circumference) and length, in their order.181

As regards the feet : their breadth is six fingers ; and their length is fourteen fingers.

The lower part of the leg (from the ankle to the knee) is eighteen fingers, in height ; its circumference is sixteen fingers.

The knees are four fingers in height ; their circumference is sixteen fingers.

The thighs are thirty fingers in circumference, and eighteen fingers in height (or length).

The testicles are six fingers in length, and eight fingers in cir¬ cumference.

The male organ is six fingers in length, and five fingers- in cir¬ cumference.

The circumference of the female organ is twelve fingers.

The breadth of the waist is sixteen fingers.

The length of the anal canal is ten fingers.

p. 604

CH A BA KA -SA M HIT. d

The abdomen is twelve fingers in height (or length) and ten fingers in breadth.

The height (or length) of the flanks is twelve fingers, and their breadth is ten fingers.

The interval between the breasts is twelve fingers.

The length or breadth of each breast is two fingers.

The height of the chest is twelve fingers, and its width is twenty-four fingers.

The width of the heart is three fingers.

The shoulder-joints are eight fingers (in length).

The shoulders are six fingers (in length).

The upper arms are each sixteen fingers (in length).

The lower arms are each fifteen fingers (in length).

The palms (from the wrist to the end of the middle finger) are each twelve fingers (in length).

The arm-pits are each eight fingers (in length).

The lower part of the spine (from the mouth of the anal canal to the waist) is twelve fingers in length.

The back (meaning the spinal column from the waist to the lower part of the neck) is eghteen fingers (in length or height).

Of four fingers’ height and two and twenty fingers’ circumference is the neck.

The height of the face is twelve fingers, and its circumference is four and twenty fingers.

The mouth is five fingers (in length).

The chin is four fingers (in breadth).

The (upper and the lower) lip is four fingers (in length).

The ear is four fingers (in height)

The space between the two eyes is four fingers.

The nose is four fingers (in length).

The forehead is four fingers (in height).

^Professor IB. X3. 0©"Well, Cambridge : — A careful translation of this ancient work will be'very interesting and valuable. I can only hope that you may succeed in translating the entire work. It will be a great achievement when finished.

IB. G-. IBccles, IBsca. , Dean St. Brooklyn, New York ■. — The matter is certainly of great interest to me.

IE. IE5. IDavis, IBsq.., Editor of the American Journal of the Medical Sciences, Philadelphia-. — 1'nank you for tnis erudite and interesting contribution to the medical literature.

IB, jPx.. Cas.tle, IBs©!.. — Even a. superficial examination of it impresses me with its importance. • 1 shall certainly avail myself of an early opportunity for bringing it to the attention of the Librarian of the New York Academy of Medicine.