Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

After this, boluses should be made of the ghee thus prepared. These (taken in proper measure) cure cough, hiccup, fever, phthisis, that violent form of asthma which is called ‘Tamaka-fwasa’, bloodbile, malignant jaundice, loss of semen, loss of sleep, thirst, leanness, and anaemia, 59-62

Even this is the composition and the method of preparation of another kind of ‘Swarpirgudaka’ or boluses of ghee .

Take equal measures of DrSksha (grapes), new Amalaka (fruits of Phyllanthus Emblica ), Atmagupta (. Mucuna pnitiens), Punarnava {Boerhavia diffusa ), ^atavari (. Asparagus racemosus), Vidari ( Batatus

I3°2

CH A RAKA-SA M HIT A.

paniculatus ), and Pippali (fruits of Piper longuni ), aggregating ten palas in all.

Add eight palas of ginger, two palas of liquorice, two palas of ‘Sauvarchala’ salt, and two palas of Maricha (black pepper).

Take also three Sdhakas of (cow’s) milk, (sesame) oil, and ghee (obtained from cow’s milk). Boil a hundred palas of sugar in the mixed liquid. When the boiling is over, throw into it the pulv of the (eleven) drugs mentioned above.

Make boluses of the measure of a ‘Vilwa’.* These boluses should be taken by one that has been weakened by sores in the chest ; as also by one that has been dried up.

Through the action of this medicine the juices increase and the patient speedily regains nourishment. 63-66

Even this is the composition and method of preparation of a third variety of ‘Swarpirgudaka’ (boluses oi ghee).

Two adhakas of cow’s milk, one prastha of ghee, one adhaka of the expressed juice of the sugarcane, one prastha of the expressed juice of Vidari {Batatus paniculatus), and one prastha of the meatjuice of francolirie partridges, should be taken.

After these have beeen boiled together, the following drugs pounded with the expressed juice of the sugarcane should be thrown into the boiled product : a kudava of the flowers of Madhuka (Bassia latifolia ), a kudava of Piyala ( Buchanania latifoha), half a kudava of Tugakshiri (bambu manna), twenty fruits of the date, twenty fruits of Vibhitaka (Terminalia Belief ica),\ a chaturthika (i. e., a pala) of the fruit oi Piper longum, thirty palas of Khanda (a variety of treacle), a karsha of Madhuka (liquorice), also half a pala of each of the drugs included in the group called ‘Jivaniya.’

All these should, again, be boiled together. When the boiling is over and the product becomes cooled, a khudava of honey should

* A ‘vilwa’ (literally, a fruit of Mgle marmelos) is taken to be a pala, that is, one-eighth of a seer. — T.

■f The correct reading, as given by Gangadhara, is ‘Vibhitakanancha’ and not Vibhi tSkSnakshah’. If the latter reading be accepted, it would mean ‘an aksha (*'. e., 2 tolas) of vibhitaka fruits’.— T. '

James W. Reese, Esq., Westminister Maryland , U. S. A. : — You have undertaken a great and difficult work, and one which, it seems to me, deserves the approbation and encouragement of all who care to know what wise men of the past ages thought and taught on a topic so important as the preservation of health and cure of disease.

William Emmette Coleman, Esq., San Francisco, California: — . As each successive part is issued, the greater intrinsic value of the work is apparent .

there is much in it both of interest and value to the Western mind, occidental medical science, therapeutic. American and European medical science has much to learn .

Chas. E. Sajons, Esq., Philadelphia, U. S. A. : — You are entitled to the greatest praise. Next May or June the Satellite — a journal under my editorial management — will begin to review books, &c., and one of the first to be taken up will be yours.

Chas. O. Curtman, Esq., St. Louis , Ohio, U. S. A. : — The work interests me very highly, and I have already, on last night taken it to the meeting of one of our medical .societies,' and read extracts from it which excited a lively curiosity and expressions of interest. I will send selections from it to a medical journal and also to a pharmaceutical monthly.

Professor E. B. Cowel, Cambridge : — A careful translation of this ancient work will be very interesting and valuable. I can only hope that you may succeed in translat¬ ing the entire work. It will be a great achievement when finished.

R. G. Eccles, Esq., Dean St. Brooklyn, New York : — Matter is certainly of great interest to me.

E. P. Davis Esq., Editor of the American four nal of the Medical Sciences, Phila¬ delphia-. — Thank you for this erudite and interesting contribution to the Medical literature.

F. A. Castle, Esq., — Even a superficial examination of it impresses me with its importance. I shall certainly avail myself of an early opportunity for bringing it to the attention of the Librarian of the New York Academy of Medicine.

H. C. Wood, Esq., Philadelphia : — I have found it exceedingly interesting and sin¬ cerely hope that you will carry on the work to completion and that I will be one of the happy ones who have a copy in my library. I have written a long notice of it which I expect will appear in the University Medical Magazine, the demi-official organ of the greatest Medical University in America.