Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

They are cheerlessness, swellings, uneasiness (of both body and mind), paleness of complexion, disrelish for food, small pimples accompanied by itching sensation, circular eruptions called Impetigo, pimples and boils, and boils that suppurate and burst, and weakness of the digestive fire. 342

Other ailments also (than fever), come back after their first disap¬ pearance, in consequence of acts of even slight indiscretion, if the faults causing them have not been thoroughly eradicated.! 343

Hence, even when fever has departed, the faults (that have caused it) should be sought to be removed or alleviated by such operations as are suited to the strength, the condition, and the constitution of the patient. 344

When fever returns (after disappearance), a correction of the con¬ stitution by means of mild correctives is beneficial.

The administration of those enemata which are called ‘yapanS,’ is also beneficial.

. Light soups (of Pkaseolus Mungo and other pulses of the kind), and meat-juice prepared with the flesh of wild animals, are beneficial. 345-346

* What is said here is this : the excited faults should be alleviated gradually and not by administering violent remedies. Time is an important factor in effecting cures. The evil effects of finesettin administered indiscretely, may be marked by even a layman. — T.

t What is said here is this : it is not fever alone that returns owing to acts of indiscretion but other diseases also do the same, if the faults causing them have not been removed by the reota. Mere suppression of the faults by violent remedies is condemned. — T.

CM A RA KA-SA MHl T A .

11 49

Rubbing the patient’s body with (medicated) oils, kneading, baths, fumigation, and collyria, and bitter ghees , are also beneficial. 345-34®

In fever that has returned in consequence of one’s having taken food that is heavy, that prevents the secretions from escaping out of the body, or that is incapable of assimilation, the treatment that should be observed is fasts, and such operations as are heating, even as in the case of fever that is new. 347

By drinking, for days together, the decoction of Kiratatiktaka (Agathotes Cherayta ), Tikta ( Picrorrhiza Kurroa), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Parpataka ( Oldenlandia biflora ), and Amritfi ( Tinospora cordifolia ), recurring fevers are cured. 348

A physician of intelligence should adopt that treatment which is best suited to the fever that returns, taking note of the different conditions of that fever.» 349

Fever is regarded as the king of all diseases. It is exceed¬ ingly fierce, and is the destroyer of all creatures. Hence, the physician should, by every means in his power, strive to alleviate or subdue it. 35°

( Here occurs a verse.)

Impelled by the desire of benefiting all creatures, the son of Atri communicated to Agniveca (a knowledge of) the treatment of fevers, in due order and agreeably to the questions‘(asked by the disciple). 351

Thus ends Lesson Third, named Treatment of Fever, in the Division called Chikitsa, of the treatise of Agniveja as revised by Charaka.

* Even if the case be one of fever that has returned after cure, it may have three states, vie., ‘5ma’ («'. «., raw or immature), ‘pachyamana’ («. e., that in which the excited faults* have begun to mature), and ‘pakka’ (». e., that in which the faults have been digested). The physician should not, therefore, follow one method of treatment, but should be guided by the sonditfoa in Which the fever is, evnn if the fever be one tnat has returned. — T.

LESSON IV.

TREATMENT OF RAKTA-PITTA

(or, HEMORRHAGE CAUSED BY EXCESS OF BILE.)

We shall now expound the Lesson on the Treatment of Hemor¬ rhage caused by excess of Bile.

Thus said the illustrious son of Atri.

Bowing with reverence, Agnive^a questioned Punarvasu who had his soul under complete control, who was free from heedlessness, and who was endued with the effulgence of fire, while that sage was enjoying the delights of a ramble in the region known by the name of ‘Pancha-Ganga’, saying, 1

O illustrious one, the cause, with the symptoms, of ‘Raktapitta’ (blood-bile) has (already) been expounded (by thee) ! O revered preceptor, it behoves thee (now) to say that which should be said after that !*2-3

The preceptor said :

The physician conversant with causes and symptoms should promptly take up the treatment of ‘Rakta-pitta’ which is a highly virulent disease, possessed of great strength, and which acts as quickly as fire. 4

The causes of this disease, as shown previously, are food and drink that are heating, keen, sour, pungent, and saline, and that produce a burning sensation, as also exposure to external heat. S

Afflicted by these causes, the bile possesses (overtakes) the blood. In consequence, again, of the blood being its habitat, it increases, after having overtaken the blood, vitiating it (at the same time).f 6

* ‘Pancha-Ganga’, literally, means ‘the five Gangas’ ; hence the region of the five rivers. Probably, the Panjab is meant. It will be remembered that the Lesson on the destruction of cities and inhabited areas is a discourse delivered by the Rishi on the banks of the Ganges at a place not distant from Kampillaka. The last was probably a city in the Panjab. — T.