Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

In acute (or immature) fever, the expulsion (by emetics) of faults that have no tendency to come out, verily causes heart-disease, asthma, epistasis, and loss of consciousness. 140

Faults, when they pervade the entire body, when they are imma¬ ture, and when they have their seat in the ‘dhatu’ (called ‘Rasa’) are exceedingly difficult of being expelled and the attempt to do it is fraught with diseases, even as it is exceedingly difficult to press out the juice of an unripe fruit, j- Hl

A person that has been purged and made to vomit should be treated with gruels in time, boiled with medicines suitable to the particular fever under which he may be suffering. It should be noted that ‘manda’ should be given ; (then ‘peya’ ; then ‘vilepi.’)4 142

The experienced physician should do this till the fever becomes mild, or till the sixth day.

The digestive fire of such a patient becomes enkindled by such food ( viz ., gruels, in the forms of ‘manda’, ‘peya’, and ‘vilepi’), like fire by fuel. 143

Gruels, in consequence of being mixed with (proper) medicines, as also of their lightness, enkindle the digestive fire, and help the escape of the obstructed wind, urine, and stools. 144

In consequence of their being liquid and hot, they produce perspi¬ ration. In consequence of their liquidity, they assuage thirst. In

* Vide foot-note to verse 136 of this Lesson, ante. ‘Ushira’ means ‘Benamula.’ ‘Chandana’ in such connection means ‘Rakta-chandana.’ ‘Udichya’ means ‘Bala’, and ‘Nagara’, dry ginger. — T.

t ‘Samah’, that is, existing with immaturities. ‘Dhatustha’ implies ‘Rasadhatustha.’— T.

+ Gruels are of three kinds, viz., ‘manda,’ ‘peya,’ and

The second is thicker

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

consequence of their quality as food, they uphold strength. In conse¬ quence of their mobility, they are light.* r45

In consequence of their being congenial to fever, gruels are alleviative of fever. Hence, the physician possessed of knowledge should treat fever with gruels at the outset. Those fevers, however, which arise from alcohol should not be so treated. 146

In fever that manifests itself with diseases brought about by excessive use of alcohol, or that manifests itself in a person who is addicted to alcohol, or that arises in the summer season, or that is characterised by excess of bile or excess of phlegm, or that assails a person who is suffering from blood-bile with an upward course, gruels are not beneficialf W

In the fevers enumerated above, only ‘Tarpana’ (liquids that are cooling and nourishing^, mixed with the flour (puiv) of fried paddy, as also with the juice of such fruits as are alleviative of fever, as also honey and sugar, should be given at the outset.J J48

Unto persons, who deserve the administration of ‘Tarpanas’, the ‘Tarpana’ that should be given for the alleviation of fever should be mixed with (the juice of) these fruits, viz., grapes, pomegranates,

■ dates, those of Buchanania latifolia, and of Grewia Asiatica. H9

The physician, carefully noting his capacity to assimilate as also his strength, should then feed the patient who is able to digest the ‘Tarpanas’ administered, with the thiiTsoup of the pulse called ‘Mudga’ (. Phaseolus Mungo), or with meat-juice made of the flesh of wild animals. 15°

* ‘Pranaya’ means sustaining the life-breaths. The sense, of course, is that of upholding strength.

‘PrSna’ is very often used for ‘strength’. — T.

f ‘Madatyaya’, literally, means disease brought about by alcohol. It includes such ailments as delirium tremens, &c.

‘Madyanitya’ is one who takes alcohol daily. Such a person may not be suffering from ‘Madatyaya.’

‘Raktapitta’ is blood-bile ; the name given to that disease which is characterised by a flow, upward or downward, of blood owing to the vitiated state of the bile.

‘Urddhaga’ implies that variety of the disease in which the blood flows upwards or is vomited. — T.

t ‘Tarpana’ is a liquid that is cooling and nourishing. The particle ‘eva’ implies that only such liquids should be given, and not any other kind of food. ‘Laja’ is fried paddy. ‘Qaktu’ of ‘15ja’ means ‘laja’ reduced to pulv. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

When the time comes for giving food to such a patient, it is proper that he should cleanse his teeth.

The material to be used should be of a taste that is the reverse of the taste he feels in his mouth. It should also be agreeable. rSi

Such material restores the relish of the mouth, as also a keen desire for food and drink.

It also enables the patient to appreciate particular tastes. 152

Having caused the mouth to be cleansed and its relish res¬ tored by the use of twigs of (proper) trees, the physician should give the patient food mixed with the cream of curds, the juice of sugarcanes, wines, & c. 1 S3

The physician should, after six days have elapsed, and after the fever-stricken patient has been fed with light food, cause him to drink astringent ‘pSchanas’ and astringent alleviatives.* J54

In (new-born) fever (*. e., in the acute stage of fever), the faults, in consequence of the administration of astringents, become paralysed and obstructed.