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.
( Here is a verse containing a summary.)
The foremost of physicians ( viz., Punarvasu of Atri’s race) has explained in this Lesson the causes, the symptoms, and the treatment of Insanity that is born of vitiated faults as also that is Accidental.
Thus ends Lesson IX, called the Treatment of Insanity, in the Division called Chikitsita, of the treatise of Agnivega as revised by Charaka.
p. 162
LESSON X.
We shall now expound the Lesson on the treatment of Epilepsy, Thus said the illustrious son of Atri. 1
Physicians conversant with medicine say that loss of memory is called ‘ApasmSra’ (epilepsy).*
In consequence of the disappearance of the mind and understand¬ ing, the patient enters into darkness and his movements also become horrid If
Of persons whose tranquillity has been disturbed by the faults being excited in a large measure, and who take baneful and impure food and drink, epilepsy sets in, when their quality of Goodness is destroyed by Passion and Darkness, when their heart is over¬ whelmed by faults, and when their minds are afflicted by anxiety, lust, fear, wrath, grief, care and the rest.j 2 3
Accumulated faults afflict the heart by means of the ducts (that have their roots in the heart).
The person thus afflicted is then tortured by his wandering mind, In consequence of which he loses consciousness. 4
Such a person sees forms that are unreal. He falls down and trembles (from head to foot).
His eyes and eyebrows become displaced ; he secretes saliva ; and tosses his arms and legs. 5 t ‘Samplava’ is, literally, immersion or plunge. Hence, the idea is that of disappearance. •Vibhatsa’ is, literally, pitiable. Here it may be taken as equivalent to horrid. — T.
* ‘Apa’ is ‘apagamanam’ or loss ; and ‘smara’ is ‘smriti’ or memory. Hence, ‘Apasmarar Kterally means loss of memory. This disease agrees in its symptoms with what is called Epilepsy in Western Medical Science. — T.
J ‘Vahudosha,’ as explained by Gangadhara, refers to measure and not number, for of faults there are only three.
‘Sattwa’ here means the quality of Goodness, as ‘Rajas’ and ‘Tamas’ imply the qualities of Passion and Darkness.
‘Of men who are &c., epilepsy sets in’ does not certainly agree with the English idiom ; but X retain the exact form of the original.— T.
CHARAKA-SAMHITA.
I28t
When the strength of the faults is spent, he awakes like one from sleep.
In consequence of the faults being excited separately or unitedly, this disease is of four kinds ( viz ., I. that born of excited wind ; 2. that born of bile, 3. that born of excited phlegm ; and 4. that born of all the three faults excited together), 6
In epilepsy born of excitement of the wind, the patient trembles, clashes his teeth, vomits froth, breathes hard, and sees dark and hideous forms.* 7
One that is afflicted with epilepsy born of excited bile, shows the following symptoms :
The froth on his mouth, his body, his face, his eyes, all become yellow. He sees forms that are yellow and red.
He feels thirsty, and sees everything covered with flames. 8
One that is afflicted with epilepsy born of excited phlegm shows the following symptoms :
The froth on his mouth, his body, his face, his eyes, all become white.
His body becomes cold and heavy, and his hair stands on end. He sees also forms that are white.
His attack does not last long. 9
When all these symptoms appear unitedly, the epilepsy should be regarded as born of all the three faults.
That epilepsy is incurable which appears in a person that is weak, or which is old. 10
The excited faults put forth their strength at intervals of twelve days, or a fortnight, or a month, or slightly sooner or later, for inducing epilepsy. “
The physician should, at the outset, seek to affect the awakening of the heart, the ducts, and the mind, overwhelmed by those faults,
* Gangadhara reads ‘parusharuna krishnani. ’This seems to be incorrect. ‘Parushant cba krishnani,’ is undoubtedly better, — T.
p. 1282
CHARAKA-SAMHITA.
(of the patient), by means of violent operations as the administration of emetics and the rest. 12
Epilepsy born of excited wind should be treated with the aid of enemata largely ; that born of excited bile should generally be treated with purgatives ; and that born of excited phlegm should generally be treated with the aid of emetics. *3
Listen now to those combinations of drugs which are used as medicines for the cure of epilepsy of a person who has been well puri¬ fied in all directions (by the administration of emetics, purgatives, and the rest), and who has been properly consoled (with hopes of cure).* 14
Take the expressed juice of cow-dung, sour curds, milk, and urine, in equal measures.
Ghee boiled with these cures epilepsy, anaemia, and fever.
One afflicted with these diseases should take this ghee which is called ‘Panchagavya Ghrita.’ 15
Even this is the composition of “Panchagavya Ghrita.”
The two groups of five roots, the three myrobalans, the two Rajanis [viz., Curcuma longa and Berberis Asiaticd ), the bark of Holarrhena antidysenterica , Echites sckolaris, Achyranthes aspera, Indigofera tinctoria , Picrorrhiza Kurroa , Cassia fistula, the roots of Ficus glomerata, Aplotaxis auriculata, and Hedysarum Alhagi:
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