Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

is called ‘ Bhith-matsya ’ or 1 wall-fish.’ Of course, it is the small house-lizard', called in Bengal ‘ Tiktiki ’ from the sound ‘it makes, viz., ‘ tik,’ ‘tik,’ ‘'tik.’ Although women do much for getting a male child, yet it is difficult to believe that anyone will be found willing to swallow a house-lizard, even if small, with a quantity of water.

One of the Bengali translators remarks that the practice is actually observed’ to this day by the lower classes as also some of the wild tribes in India. — T.

* In order to enable the woman to swallow it, the likeness of a man must be made very small. The adjective used is 1 anupram2nltm,’ that is, of propor¬ tions as small' as possible.— T.

f ‘ Pishta ’ or ‘ pishtaka ’ is a cake.

Of cakes there is, of course, a very large variety. What particular kind of cake is meant is not clear.

Probably, the ordinary kind, made of ppwdered rice and cocoanut mixed together and then dissolved in a little v/ater.

' ' A small cupful of this mixture is thrown into an earthen vessel placed upon the hearth-fire. Two or three minutes suffice to bake or cook the cake. A savoury steam curls upwards, from the cake white the process of cookingcontinues;

It is this steam that is- directed to be inhaled.

* Dehali 1 is an old Sanskiit word, meaning the word that forms the bottom of a door-frame. It corresponds exactly with the English word ‘ threshold’ which, etymologically, signifies the wood that is threshed (or, thrashed) by the feet of persons going in and coming out. In Bengali, ‘ Dehali ’ is called ‘■Gobrat,’ probably a contraction of ‘ Gobar kat,’ meaning the wood on which (dissolved) cow-dung is daily sprinked for purification. This etymology of

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Sir Alfred Croft, M. A., C. I. E. Director of Public Instruction , Bengal : — I have been greatly entertained as well as edified by the examination in part iv of all the things which a man shall not do. A layman can understand the precepts and such a guide to life cannot be other than valuable.

James W. Reese, Esq., Westminister , Maryland, U. S. A. . — You have undertaken a great and difficult work, and one which, it seems to me, deserves the aprobation and encouragement of all who care to know what wise men of the past ages thought and tought on a topic so important as the preservation of health and the cure of disease.

William Emette Coleman Esq. San Francisco California.—

As each successive part is issued the greater intrinsic value of the work is apparent. There is much in it both of interest aud value to the Western mind. Occidental medical science, therapeutic. American and European medical science has much to learn.

Cbas. E. Sajons, Esq., Philadelphia, U. S. A. : — You are entitled to the greatest praise. Next May or June the Satellite— a journal under my editori¬ al management — will begin to review books etc. and one of the first to be taken up will be yours.

Chas, 0. Courtman, Esq., St. Louis, Ohio U. S. A. :— The work interests me very highly, and I have already, on last night, taken it to the meeting of one of our medical societies, and read extracts from it which excited a lively curiosity and expression of interest. I will send selections from it to a medical journal and also to a pharmaceutical monthly.

Professor E. B. Cowell, 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.

R. G. Eccless, Esq., Dean St. Brooklyn, New York :...The matter is certain¬ ly of great interest to me.

E. P- Davis, Esq., Editor of the American Journal of the Medical Sciences, Philadelphia : Thank you for this erudite and interesting contribution to the Medical literature.

P. A. Castle, Esq , •••Even a superficial examination of it impresses me with ifs importance. I shall certainly avail myself of an early oportunity for bring¬ ing it to the attention of the Librarian of the New York Academy of medicine.

Dr. H. C- Wood, Philadelphia...I have found it exceegingly interesting and sincerely hope that you will carry on the work to completion and that I will be one of the happy ones who have a copy in my library. I have written quite a long notice of it which I expect will appear in the University Medi¬ cal Magazine, the demi-official organ of the greatest Medical University in America.

Dr. A. Mittra, Chief Medical Officer of Cashmere :... No medical man’s library should be without Charaka ; for his education cannot be completed unless he has nut studied this great work of practical and philosophical medicine.

Dr. Oscar, Oldsberg. Professor of Pharmacy and Dean of the Faculty, NorthWestern University ; Secretary to the Congress] of the World’s Columbian Exhi¬ bition .-...I am already deeply interested in the work, which is a revelation. I shall take occasion to speak of it in the Apothecary.

Professor L. E. Sayer, Dean, University of Kansas, Lawrence, U. S, A. ... Be assured I shall be happy to aid you in any way possible in your noble un¬ dertaking. I regard it as very important.

Abbot H. Buck, Esq., 19 East 38fh Street, New York:. ..Wish you a success in your praiseworthy undertaking.