Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

That 'swelling which appears in the gum of the teeth, which is born of blood-bile, and which ends in suppuration, has been named ‘Upakuga.’

That, again, which appears in the gums born of (excited) phlegm, and accumulated blood, is called ‘Danta-Vidradhi.’j- 75

A single swelling on the joining line of the neck with the body, is called ‘Galaganda’ (Bronchocele). Many such Swellings around the neck are called ‘Gandamala’ (Goitre).

Both these varieties of swellings are regarded as curable.

Those, however, that are accompanied with inflammation of the schneiderian membrane, or pains in the flanks, or cough, or fever, or nausea and vomiting, are said to be incurable. 76

For persons afflicted with swellings like those described above, the treatment is the purging of the veins, the stomach, and the head, inhalation of smoke, and drinking of old ghee in the case of swellings appearing in the mouth, the treatment consists of fasts, rubbing of the parts swollen with proper powders, and administration of gargles. 77

In particular parts of the body, large swellings (boils) appear, born of wind and the other faults. These put forth the symptoms of the faults which beget them.

does not seem to me to be either consistent or correct. He omits the name ‘TSluvidradhi’, althoughJie gives the symptoms. — T.

* ‘Upajihvika’ is called Ranula in English. The fleshy growth, which is here regarded as falling within ‘£otha’ or swellings, and which appears below the tongue, has no special name in Engilsh. — T.

t ‘Upakusa’ is inflammation of the gum, and ‘Danta-vidradhi’ is gum-boil. — T.

+ ‘Purging of the veins’ means letting out of blood ; ‘purging of the head’ is the use of snuffs.— T.

CHA RA KA-SAMHITA.

32 7

Those swellings which are caused by (inflamed) veins, are charac¬ terised by throbbing (pains).

Those which are born of flesh are,characterised by absence of pain.

Those which are born of the adeps, are soft and oily, and mobile.* 78

When a boil is about to make its appearance, the person should first be treated with correctives and then some processes of foment¬ ation (for inducing perspiration) should be restored to. After this, using a piece of stone, or of wood, or the thumb alone, the rising boil should be pressed for making it disappear in the immature state (that is, before it suppurates).

(If this fails to cure the boil), the physician should then, opening it by means of the lancet, and taking out the fleshy core, and cau¬ terizing the part (with a heated metal or stone caustic), treat it as he treats abcesses and sores. 79

If it is not properly cauterized, and if (without being quickly cured) there remains a residue that is uncured, this gradually termi¬ nates in a recrudescence of the boil.

Hence, physicians well conversant with treatment, considering the particular district of the body in which the swelling (or boil) has appeared, should open it. by several incisions over it and root it out totally. 80

When the operation has been completely effected, such drugs should be applied as would cause the feculent matter entirely fall off and disappear.

If, notwithstanding this, erysipelas (sets in and) spreads in consequeuce of the (uncured) sore, the physician, conversant with this disease, should carefully consider this supervening symptom and allay it by means of those drugs which are applicable to it and which have been mentioned before. 81

* Four kinds of swellings seem to be spoken of in this verse : 1. ‘Aniladibhava’,

2. ‘Qir5bhava’, 3. ‘Mangsabhava’, and 4. ‘Medobhava. The mention of swellings caused by the veins, of those born o/the flesh, and of those born of the adeps, after that of those begot by wind and the rest, seems to be a confusion of classification. — T,

p. 167

CHAR A KA-SAMHTTA.

*1328

Having allayed the supervening symptom, the physician 'ac¬ quainted with the treatment of abscesses and sores should then undertake to treat the opened swelling itself without loss of time.*

Glandular sweellings that appear on the abdomen, or on the stomach, or on the throat, or on what are regarded as vital parts of ithe body, should be avoided (by the physician).f 82

That glandular swelling which is large and fixed (that is, not mobile), should be avoided.

That also which appears in infants, old persons, and those who ■are exceedingly weak, should also be avoided.

As there is no difference between glandular swellings and tumours in respect of seat, cause, form, fault, and the ‘dhatu’ affected, the physician conversant with the ordinances of the medical scriptures should treat tumours according to the method of treatment laid down for glandular swellings.J ,

Those pimples which are of a coppery colour and which are accompanied with severe pains are called ‘Alaji.’ Secretions take place from their mouths. 83-84

Swellings that appear between the flesh and the nails, that vitiate both the flesh and the blood, and that suppurate very quickly, are called ‘Kshata,’

That swelling which appears on the groins or the axilla, which is accompanied by fever, which takes a cylindrical size, which is without pain, and whose surface is hard and wide, is called ‘VidarikS/

It is caused by (excited) phlegm, (excited) wind, or both.