Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The wind and phlegm being partiallly excited, and the bile being excessively excited, cause a kind of swelling called ‘Jalakagardabha’ (cutaneous erysipelas). It is accompanied by severe pains. Its eleva¬ tion is slight, and colour red. It ripens and suppurates. It moves about, and is accompanied by fever and thirst. 95

The application of plasters, letting out of blood, the adoption of such processes as make the system dry, correction of body by admi¬ nistration of purgatives and emetics, the administration of the expressed juice and paste of Dhatri (the fruits of, Phyllanthus Emblicd ), and the application of the morning dew, should be resorted to in treating cutaneous erysipelas. 96

As regards other varieties of swellings (abscesses and erruptions),. examining them by the symptoms they manifest in respect of the faults excited, viz., wind and the rest, they should be alleviated by means of plasters, operations with the lancet or strings steeped in alkaline ashes, or cauterisation. The selection of the particular means should depend upon a consideration of the fault or faults excited. 97

It generally happens that from wounds the wind and the blood become provoked and cause swellings (abscesses) that are red in colour.

In such cases that course of treatment should be adopted which is alleviative of erysipelas and leprosy.

In swellings (abscesses) caused by the action of poisons, that treatment should be adopted which is alleviative of poisons. 98

* The first line of this verse is incorrectly read in the Calcutta and the Bombay editions. ‘Supachitena’ should be ‘Supachitasya’.

As regards the second line, the reading ‘prapadoparishtat’ in the Calcutta and the Bombay editions is better than ‘padoparishtat’ in Gangadhara’s text.— T.

p. 1332

CHAR A KA - SAM HIT A.

( Here occurs a verse containing a summary ).

The symptoms and treatment of swellings, which are of three kinds according to distinctions in respect of the faults excited, and which are of various kinds according to distinctions in respect of the parts of the body where they appear, viz., the whole body, or half the body, or particular districts, have been spoken of in this Lesson.

Thus ends Lesson XII, called “The treatment of swellings,” ins the Division called “Chikitsita,” of the treatise of Agnivega, as revised by Charaka.

LESSON XIII.

We shall now expound the treatment of diseases of the stomach.

Thus said the illustrious son of Atri :

Unto Punarvasu, of soul under perfect control, who was the fore¬ most of all persons conversant with the Science of Life, who was the promulgator of the knowledge of medicines, who was seated, like the deity Dharma himself, engaged in the performance of severe penances on the Kailasa mountains peopled with ‘Siddhas’ and ‘Vidyadharas,’ and which resemble the gardens of Nandana, Agnivega said these words :*

O holy one, verily, men are seen to be afflicted with ailments of the stomach. Their faces are dried up. Their limbs are emaciated. The cells of their stomachs produce noises. Their digestive fire, strength, and capacity for taking food, are gone. They are incapable of every kind of exertion. They are cheerless. For want of treat¬ ment they lay down their lives helplessly. 3-4

I desire to know accurately the causes, the varieties, the premoni¬ tory indications, (the developed) symptoms, and the remedies of those diseases, fully expounded by my preceptor. 5

Then the Rishi, thus questioned by his disciple, for the well being of all creatures, addressed himself to utter the following words fraught with benefit to all living beings. 6

From vitiation of the digestive fire, and increase of faecal matter, diverse kinds of ailments, especially those of the stomach, break out in human beings. 7

When the digestive fire becomes weakened, in consequence of the filthy food one takes at that time, indigestion sets in owing to which the faults become accumulated.

* Dharma is the great deity of Righteousness. He is sometimes represented as the great Judge of all creatures. He is Vishnu’s self. Sometimes he is supposed to be Yama, the ruler of the regions where the dead go and meet with punishments for their evil acts.

‘Siddhas’ are beings crowned with the success of penances.

‘Vidyadharas’ are an inferior order of celestials. Like Gandharvas,’ they devote them¬ selves to the study of music both instrumental and vocal.

p. 334

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

The accumulated faults vibrate the digestive fire as also the lifebreaths called ‘Prana’ and ‘Apfina.’ They obstruct all the ducts also of the lower and the upper regions. Repairing then to the space between the skin and the flesh, they cause loud sounds in the intes¬ tines, and produce diseases of the stomach.

Listen now to the originating circumstances and the symptoms of those diseases. 8-6

From eating food that is exceedingly hot, or saline, or consisting of alkaline ashes, or productive of a burning sensation, or sour, or poisonous ; or

From improper food and drink after administration of correctives,*

From taking food that is dry, or consisting, of inharmonious ingredients, or impure ; or