Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Mix the powders together, taking equal quantities of each. Add to the product flour of barley (that is nine times the measure of each pulv). Add also honey and ghee.

This medicine is a very superior alleviative of leprosy. It should be taken every day (till cure is affected). Dropsical swellings, chlo¬ rosis, white leprosy, diseases of the ‘Grahani’, piles, syphilis, fistulain-ano, pimples and other eruptions of the kind, itching, and urticaria evanida, are cured by it. 63-65

Triphala (the three myrobalans), AtivishS {Aconitum heterophyllum ), KatukS ( Picrorrhiza Kurrod), Nimba {Melia Azadirachta ), Kalingaka (otherwise called lndrayava, i. e., seeds of Holarrhena antidysentrica ), VachS {Acorus calamus ), Patola {Trichosanthes dioica ), Magadhika {Piper longmn), the two varieties of Rajani (otherwise called HaridrS, i. e., Curcuma longa, and Berberis Asiatica), Padmaka (a fragrant wood known by that name), Murva {Sanseviera Zeylanicd), Vigâla (otherwise called ‘Râkhâl-sashS,’ i. e., Cucumis Colocynthis ),

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

121;

Bhummba ( Ophelia Cherayta ), and Palaga ( Butea frondosd) should be pounded, each separately.

Of each powder take 2 palas, (and mix them together). Add powdered Trivrit ( Convolvulus Turpethum ), of measure that is twice that of the total compound. Then add powdered Brâhmi ( Gratiola Monnieria ), of a measure twice that of Trivrit.

The powder thus made is a highly efficacious remedy for curing that variety of leprosy which is characterised by loss of touch. 66-67

The administration of Navanitaka (sulphur of a particular variety), with the (expressed) juice of Jati (otherwise called Amalaka, i. e., fruits of Phyllanthus Emblica ) and honey, is highly efficacious in curing the seven and ten varieties of leprosy.

This may be said also of iron pyrites and administered with cow’s urine.* 68

One afflicted with leprosy should take mercury corrected by means of sulphur as also iron pyrites. Such mercury is capable of curing all diseases. 69

One afflicted with leprosy should take, every day, for the allevia¬ tion of all his ailments, diamond corrected by ‘^ilajatu,’ or mercury that is properly corrected and that is mixed with that foremost of combinations (called ‘Yogarâja’).f 7°

Boil the' pith of Khadira ( Acacia Catechu) and that of Devadaru {Cedrus deodara ), and mix with the decoction two ‘prasthas’ of honey :

* Leprosy has eighteen varieties. The medicine here mentioned cures seventeen of them. The eighteenth, called ‘Iiakanaka,’ is incurable.

‘Makshika dhatu’ is iron pyrites. The following from U. C. Dutt’s Materia Medica of the Hindtis may be interesting :

“Iron pyrites is met with in many parts of India, and has been used in medicine from a very remote period. It occurs in two forms, viz., in. dark yellow nodules with a golden lustre, and in silvery radiated crystals. The former is called ‘Suvarna-makshika’ and the latter ‘Tara-makshika’. The ancients supposed that they contained gold and silver respect¬ ively, in combination with other ingredients, and possessed in part the properties of those precious metals. Chemically iron pyrites consists of bisulphide of iron.”

t ‘Vajra’ is a common name applied to diamonds. It enters into the composition of many medicines. ‘Qilajatu,’ literally, stone-lac, is a name applied to certain bitumenous substances said to be exuded by rocks. It is a dark, sticky, unctuous substance.

Yogaraja’ is, literally, a combination that is regarded as the very best. The comment¬ ators do not explain what the combination was. — T.

.1218

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

This should be done for obtaining the liquid (wherewith other drugs should be compounded).

The measure of Khadira pith and of Devadaru pith, should be 8 palas each.

Into the liquid- should be cast 8 palas of powdered iron : also' these : viz.,

TriphalS (the three myrobalans\ Ela (Elettaria cardamomum ), Twach (bark of Cinamomum Z eylanicuwi), Maricha (black pepper),. Patra (leaves of Cinamomum Tamala ), Kanaka (otherwise called NSgakegara, i. e., Mesua f erred, each of the measure of 2 ‘karshas.’

Further, sugar-candy, of the measure of Honey, should be added,- All these should be kept in an iron vessel for a month.

This preparation is called ‘Madhwasava’ (wine of honey).

Of one who takes this medicine, both leprosy and leucoderma are alleviated..* 71-73Placing in a jar, which has sucked' ghee sufficiently, a drona; (64 seers) of the decoction of the pith of Khadira ( Acacia Catechu), 6 palas of the powder of the following drugs should be added, viz.,. Triphala (the three myrobalans\. Vyosha (the three pungents, that is, dry ginger, black pepper, and- Piper longum), Vidanga ( Embelia Ribes ), Rajani ( Curcuma longd),. M-usta (tubers of Cyperus rotundus ),. Atarushaka (Justicia Adhatoda \ Indrayava (seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica ), and- Sauvarni (otherwise called Sondalu, i. e., Cassia fistula) :

Also Twach (bark of Cinnamomum Zeylanicum), and Cchinnaruha; (otherwise called Golancha, i. e., Tinospora cordifolia) :

These should be added (after reducing each to pulv).

The jar should be kept for a month within a paddy-heap:

The medicine, thus prepared, should be taken in judicious mea¬ sure, every morning.

It cures the severer forms of leprosy in a month ; the milder formsin a fortnight.