Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Pimples having their origin in vitiated blood ;

Thirst that is scarcely allayed by repeated draughts of cold water ;

Frequent retching and spitting of matter mixed with blood ;

A burning sensation all over the body ;

Redness of complexion ; and

* Each of the five varieties of fever is caused by all the three faults excited together. The degree of excitement, however, may differ. Thus the wind may be more excited than the bile and the phlegm ; the bile may be more excited than the wind and the phlegm ; or the phlegm may be more excited than the wind and the bile. That particular fault which predominates over the other two gives its name to the fever.

In ‘Vrshama7 fever, only one fault is excited and not the other two. — T. f ‘ArthavajSt’ implies ‘through the influence of wealth', that is, of the acts of previous lives, since it is these acts which determine the presence or absence of wealth.

What is stated here is this : fever attains its character in respect of time, that is, becomes remittent or intermittent, or quotidian or tertian or quartan, or ‘Vishama’, according to the strength or weakness of season, of day and night, of the faults, of mind, &c. Of the five fevers the first is more violent than the second ; the second, more violent than the third ; the third than the fourth, and so on. When the season, &c., are strong, quartan fever becomes tertian ; and so on. So when season, &c., are weak, remittent fever becomes intermittent ; intermittent fever becomes quotidian, and so on. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

no 7

A sense of inebriation, as if the patient has taken some alcoholic drink or other intoxicant, accompanied by delirious raving. 75 If fever seizes and dwells in the flesh, the following symptoms manifest themselves :

The presence of internal heat ;

Excessive thirst (that is not slaked by repeated draughts of cold water) ;

Cheerlessness of mind and pain of body ;

Constant evacuation of stools ;

The presence of a foetid smell all over the body ; and Repeated tossing of the limbs. 76

When fever seizes and dwells in the adeps, the symptoms mani¬ fested are the following :

Excessive perspiration all over the body, with thirst ;*

Delirious ravings ;

Excesive restlessness (of both body and mind) ;

A foetid smell in the mouth ;

Excessive impatience ; and Pain all over the body, and disgust for food. 77 When fever seizes and dwells in the bones, the spmptoms mani¬ fested are :

Both purging and vomiting ;

Severe pain in the bones (as if they are breaking), accompanied by groans of straining ; and

Constant tossing of limbs ; and difficulty or heaviness of breathing. 78

When fever seizes and dwells in the marrow, the symptoms are : Hiccup and difficulty of breathing as also bronchites (with cough ;

The sight of darkness all around ;

Severe pain in the vital parts of the body as if these are being torn asunder ; and

A sensation of cold in the exterior, with that of burning in the interior. 79

When the fever seizes and dwells in the semen, the symptoms manifested are these :

* 'GangSdhara reads ‘swedastivrah’, making ‘tivrah’ an adjective of ‘sweda.’ Other editions read ‘tivra pipSsS.’ There can be no doubt that GangSdhara is correct. — T.

CH A RA KA-SA MHITA.

p. 1108

The Jiva-soul, having emitted (a copious measure of) semen and having caused a suspension of the life-breaths, goes out of the body, accompanied by wind, heat, and Soma.* So

„ That fever which has its refuge in ‘Rasa’ (or the juice), as also that which has its refuge in the blood, is curable.

That also which has its refuge in the flesh, and that which has its refuge in the adeps, are equally so.

The fever which has its refuge in the bones, as also that which has its refuge in the marrow, is difficult to cure.

The fever which dwells in the semen is not amenable to treatment (/. e.y is incurable). 81

Fever, which is of eight kinds, has been spoken of (in the Division called Nidana) with reference to both its causes and symptoms.

Explained in brief before, listen now to the symptoms explained with copiousness.f 82

Of fever born of wind and bile the manifestations are, —

Horripilation, and burning sensation of the body, breaking of the joints, head-ache, dryness of the mouth and the throat, vomiting, thirst, loss of consciousness, vertigo, cheerlessness of the mind, loss of sleep, excessive loquacity, and yawning.

Of fever born of wind and phlegm the manifestations are, —

A sensation of cold, heaviness of the body, drowsiness, stupefac¬ tion of the body (accompanied by a sensation of the body being wrapped round with a piece of wet cloth or blanket), pain in the ■ joints, head-ache, catarrh or cold in nose, bronchites (with cough), exeessive perspiration, heat of body, and middling intensity of the fever. 83-84

* GangSdhara explains that ‘gukra-sthSnam’ does not mean the place of ‘guk'ra’, for, according to Hindu physiologists, the ‘gukra’ or semen has no fixed place or locality [of its own. Quoting Sugruta, Gangadhara explains that ‘gukra’ or semen resides in the whole body, as ghee in milk, or sugar in the juice of the sugarcane. Intensity of desire causes its appearance.