Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna
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The translator’s English as printed (Avinash Chandra Kaviratna). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
ChakrSpani explains that cold water or warm water should be used according as it may be regarded agreeable to the babe in view of the season. If it is winter, warm water should be used. If it is summer, cold water should be used. Some texts read ‘ mukha-pariseka’ for 1 Sukhapariseka if the former reading be preferred, it would mean that cold or warm water should be used for washing the mouth of the babe. That this reading is plausible appears from the direction in the next aphorism about washing the babe. I think, however, that ‘ Sukha-pariseka’ is correct. The fact is, it is the babe’s resuscitation that is directed to be brought about Babes, abandoned as dead, have been revived by skilful physicians by resorting to the simple process of dipping them successively in cold and warm water. The direction about washing the child, in the next aphorism, therefore, does notnecessarily settle the reading.— T
p. 854
After this, using a. little ghee mixed with Saindhava salt, the child should be made to vomit.*33
We shall now lay down instructions about the cutting of the child’s placenta.
Leaving a space of eight fingers from the root of the navel, and setting a mark there, and reaching the place where the umbilical cord is to be cut, it should be cut off between two knots or nodes, with a sharp knife made of gold or silver or iron, with edge turned upwards.
Without losing any time, a string should be tied, at any point, round the uncut portion of the cord, and it should then be loosely attached to the neck of the child.!94
If the child’s navel begins to rot, it should be anointed with oil boiled with the paste of these, viz., Lodhra (a),
* ‘ Udaka-grahana’ is a technical term ; literally, it means ‘ taking of water,’ the sense being ‘ washing of the private parts ’ It corresponds with ‘ washing of hands’ in English.
This bath is a different process from the dipping of the child in cold or warm water, adverted to in the aphorism, for restoring the life-breaths. The dipping may be dispensed with, in the case of a babe which does not lie in a dormant state after birth. The bath recommended here is obligatory.
‘ Anguli,’ in the singular, may mean any finger. It is, .however, the forefinger that is intended.
‘ Suparilikhita’ implies ‘ well cut off.’ The child, after birth, is fre¬ quently seen to have its throat almost choked with phlegmonous matter. It is to cause these to be expelled that the mild emetic (ghee mixed with Saindhava salt) is prescribed. — T t What is said here is this : beginning from the root of the navel, measure the umbilical cord. In measuring small lengths, the ordinary unit of measurement is the breadth of a finger. When the breadth of eight fingers has been reached, a mark is to be set at the place. The portion of the cord beyond the mark thus set is called ‘ CchedanavakSsa,’ meaning the place where it is to be cut. When the ‘ CchedanavakSsa’ has been thus ascertained, the cord is to be cut at a point between two knots or nodes, as otherwise there may be hemorrhage. After the cord has been cut off, a string is to be tied at any point of the uncut portion between the root of the navel and the mark at the end of the length measured by the breadth of eight fingers This string should then be attached loosely to the neck of the baby, for preventing the uncut portion of the cord from being bruised or otherwise injured. 1 Urddhadharena’ implies that the knife should be placed with its edge upwards. Chakrapani reads ‘ ardhadharena,’ meaning ‘ with, the edge placed trans¬ versely, as in the case of an Indian ‘ Banti.’— T.
a. Syviplocos racemosa, Roxb.
CHARAKA BAM HIT A.
p. 855
Madhuka (b), Priyangu (c), Haridra (d), and Daruharidra (e).
These very drugs whose paste is directed to be boiled in oil may also be reduced to pulv, and such pulv may be applied to the rotten navel.
Thus has been expounded fully the ordinances on the subject of the cutting of the umbilical cord.95
If the umbilical cord be not properly cut, there may be fear of the following diseases of the navel arising, viz., Uttundita of large proportions (/), Pindalika (g), Vinamika ( h), and Vijrimbhika (Y).
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