Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

When it vitiates the said faults in a particular district of the body,, the ‘^wayathu’ that is caused is called the ‘^wayathu’ of that parti¬ cular district. 7

Heat, as also a burning (of the whole body or the particular district), and distention of the ducts, — even these constitute the incirbatory indications of this disease.

All varieties of ‘^wayathu’ are characterised by an excitement of all the three faults. When, however, a particular fault becomes more excited than the two others, the '9wayathu’ is called after that fault. The remedy also which is prescribable is that which is capable pf conquering that fault. 8

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1309

The general symptoms that have been laid down of ‘^wayathu’ ;are a sensation of heaviness of the part afflicted, instability (that is, appearance and disappearance of the disease without any ostensible cause), and elevation. 9

That swelling which arises from (excited) wind has the following characteristics :

It moves about (instead of being stationary) ;

The skin above it becomes thin or attenuated ;

It presents a rough exterior, and in colour it becomes either red or dark ;

Loss of sensation (as regards the exterior surface), erection of the hair that grows on the part afflicted, and (internal) pain. Disappearance (or alleviation) without apparent cause, ft goes down when pressed (and rises up when the pressure is withdrawn).

Its strength is manifested during the daytime.* 1°

That swelling which is connected with the bile has the following characteristics :

It is mild (*. e., soft), and has a smell of its own ;

In colour it is either dark, or yellow, or red ;

It is accompanied by vertigo, fever, perspiration, thirst, and a sense of inebriation ;

It has great heat, and produces pain if touched ;f It causes the eyes to become red ;

It is accompanied by a burning sensation, and ends in suppu¬ ration. 11

That swelling which is connected with phlegm, has the following characteristics ;

It produces a sensation of heaviness ;

* ‘Harsha’ may mean also a tickling sensation.— T.

f The correct reading is ‘spar jaruk’ or ‘sparqasaha.’ ‘Spar^asaha,’ as in some of the Calcutta editions, is evidently incorrect.— T.

I3ict

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

It is stationary 'and does not move about);

Its colour is pale, and it is accompanied by a disgust for food ;

It causes (salivary) discharges from the mouth ; it produces sleep and vomiting ;

It causes loss of appetite ;

It takes a considerable time in manifesting itself, and it takes a long time in disappearing ;

If pressure is put upon it, it goes down (and does not rise up immediately after the pressure is withdrawn) ;

It gains in strength during the night, 12

The swelling of an emaciated person, or of one who has been weakened by ailments, or the swelling that is accompanied by vomit¬ ing and other supervening symptoms of a similar kind, or the swelling that has its seat in any of the vital parts of the body, or the swelling which seems to be overspread" with lines, or the- swelling which is characterised by discharges, or the swelling which, pervades the entire body of a person who has lost all his strength, has a destructive effect on life.* J3

That swelling which manifests itself in a person possessed of flesh that swelling which appears in a particular district of the body, that swelling which is new, and that also which appears in a strong man, are easily curable.

The physician conversant with consideration of strength, faults, and time (meaning both season and age), should treat this ailment according to methods contrary to the effectsof the originating causes, the, faults; excited,, and the season of the disease;^ *4

The physician should treat swelling arising from undigested food with, fasts and pdehanas, swellings that- are characterised’ by any fault

* The correct reading, in the beginning of the second line, is ‘sa hand’ and not (as in some Calcutta editions) ‘maharti.’ Then, again, ‘hinavalasya’ and not ‘bhimavalagcha’ is correct;— T.

That is, he should apply such remedies as are hostile to, or capable of conquering, the originating, causes,, the faults excited,, and-- the season- of the disease. ‘Ekadeijaja’ and not ‘ekadoshaja,’ as also ‘valasthasya’ and not avalasthasya’ is the correct reading,— T.

CHA RAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1311

or faults largely excited should be treated with correctives (such as purgatives, emetics, and the rest) ;

Swellings arising in the head should be treated with cerebral purgatives or errhines ;

Swellings in the upper part of the body should be treated with purgatives having a downward action ;

Swellings in the lower parts of the body should be treated with emetics (which have an upward action) ;**

Swellings arising from oily food and drink should be treated with remedies that have drying effects ;

In swellings born of dry food and drink, the physician should prescribe the administration of remedies that oilify the system.

He should administer dry enemata in swellings born of (vitiated) wind and characterised by constipated bowels.

In swellings born of (vitiated) bile and wind, he should prescribe ghees cooked with bitter drugs. 15-16