Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

(in the case of the liver) being similar (to those in the case of the spleen), the disease of the stomach caused by enlargement of the liver is regarded as falling within the disease of the stomach caused by enlargement of the spleen.

Even these are the causes and symptoms of diseases of the stomach caused by enlargement of the spleen and that of the liver. 36

In consequence of feathers and hairs devoured with the food one eats, the anal canal becomes obstructed.

The same result is produced by epistasis, or piles, or the imflammation of the intestines.

Through such obstruction, the passage of the ‘Apfina’ or down¬ ward wind becomes obstructed.

Provoked by this, the wind destroys the digestive fire and caus¬ ing the suppression of stools, the bile, and the phlegm, then produces disease of the stomach. 37-38

The symptoms of this disease are as follow :

Thirst, burning of the skin, fever, dryness of the mouth and the palate, stupefaction of the thigh, cough, asthmatic breath, weakness, disgust for food, indigestion, suppression of stools and urine, flatu¬ lence, vomiting, sneezing, and severe pains in the head, the chest, the navel, and anus.

The stomach becomes constipated (so that no wind escapes from it). It becomes also immobile. Its outer surface becomes red and overspread with blue lines and veins. Sometimes these lines do not appear.

Generally, in this disease, an elevation appears of the region of the navel like a cow’s tail.

This disease should be known as ‘Vaddhagudodara’ (disease of the stomach characterised by obstructed anus).

In consequence of gravels, or grass, or wood, or bones, or thorns, devoured with food one takes, one’s intestines become pierced there¬ with. Wounds (and sores) sometimes, again, occur in the intestines owing to yawns and gorging the stomach with food.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1341

These wounds ripen and suppurate, and the juicy matter escapes out of the holes caused (in consequence of the ripening and suppuration).

The juicy matter fills up the intestines and the anal canal, and produces a disease of the stomach. 4°-4i

The symptoms of this disease are as follow :

Generally, in this disease, the abdomen swells below the navel, and terminates in ‘Jalodara’ (abdominal dropsy), and manifests the indications of the several faults in the proportion in which they are excited.

The person afflicted with this disease passes stools that are red or blue or yellow in colour, slimy, having the smell of corpses, and consisting of undigested matter.

The patient is also afflicted with hiccup, asthmatic breathing, cough and bronchitis, thirst, gonnorrhcea, disgust for food, indigestion, and weakness.

The disease, characterised by these symptoms, should be known as ’Cchidrodara.’ 4 2

Of a person whose appetite has been weakened after taking medi¬ cated oils, or of one who has become weak or very emaciated, when his digestive fire has been destroyed in consequence of a large mea¬ sure of water drunk by him, the wind, located in the bladder, its passage being obstructed through the ducts, and the phlegm also, enhanced by the water, coming into the stomach, increase that very water. 44

The symptoms manifested are these :

Absence for desire of food, thirst, discharges from the anus, severe pains in the stomach and abdomen, asthmatic breathing, bron¬ chitis and cough, and weakness. On outer surface of the abdomen, lines and veins appear of various hues.

The stomach becomes like a (water-carrier’s) bag filled with water, and sensitive to the touch.

The disease, which puts forth these symptoms, should be known as ‘Udakodara’ (abdominal dropsy). 45

!342

CHAR AKA -SAM HIT A ,

The treatment of this disease should be commenced when it has just appeared, when supervening indications of an afflicting nature have not begun to accumulate, and when all the symptoms have not become manifest If treatment be neglected, the faults (excited in all these diseases), leaving their respective places, (travel to other parts of the body).

Through indigestion of the food taken, those faults become liquefied and drench the several joints and the ducts of the body. , Perspiration, its passage through the outward ducts becoming obs¬ tructed, remains transversely and enhances the very water (that has ■caused these diseases). 46

Under these circumstances, slimy matter is generated, and the abdomen assumes a round shape and becomes heavy, and stupefied, and overspread with the eruptions called ‘Kotta’ (urticaria evanida).

Noises also cease within it.

It becomes soft to the touch. The usual lines do not make their appearance. If pressed (with the fingers), the accumulated matter (in the abdomen) moves away towards the navel.

After this (that is, in the next stage), there is appearance and increase of water.

The symptoms which then manifest themselves are, —

Excessive swelling of the abdomen ;

The disappearance of veins on the abdomen ; and