Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Having ascertained the strength or weakness (of the fault or faults excited), the physician conversant with considerations of

* Gangadhara reads 'snehaprSyam;’ and explains that ‘prayam’ is connected with each set of virtues following. The Calcutta and the Bombay editions read ‘sneha-bhuishtam.’ 'Pray a’ means ‘bhuishta’ or ‘vahula,’ and not ‘generally.’ — T.

p. 186

[472

CHAR A KA- SA M Hi TA , propriety or otherwise should, by correctives possessed of keen virtues, •expel from the body the earth that has been eaten (in the case of patients afflicted with chlorosis caused by the eating of earth). “5

After the person’s body has been corrected (by the above means), such ghees as impart strength should be administered.

Vyosha (the three acrids), Vilwa (dried fruits of AEgle mannelos , the two Haridras ( Curcuma longa and. Berberis Asiatica ), Triphala (the three myrobalans), the two Punamaviâs (i. e., Boerhavia diffusa of the white and the red variety', Musta (tubers of Cyperus rotundus), the pulv of 'iron, Patha ( Cissampelos hernandifolia), Vidanga ( Embelia Rites), Devadiru ( Pinus deodara), Vrighikali ( Tragia involucrata ), Bhargi ( Siphonanthus Indica ) and Kshara (the ashes of green barley shoots) :

Take equal measures of the above [i. e., Vyosha and the rest), adding ‘Kshara’ the measure of which should be equal to the united measure of the former.

Add ghee. All these are boiled together.

One afflicted with earth in the stomach should drink this ghee in judicious measure.*

Ghee, similarly boiled with Kegara (the flowers of Mesua ferrea\ liquorice, the fruits of Piper tongum, Kshara (the ashes of green shoots of barley), and Sâdvala (earth obtained from a place overgrown with green grass of the variety called ‘Durva’ or Panicum Dactylon), may also be administered (unto one afflicted with chlorosis born of eating earth). u6.n8

If one afflicted with chlorosis be incapable of resisting the tempt¬ ation of eating earth, then, for causing in him an aversion for the

* ‘Ksharaistaih samaih’ implies'that the measure of ‘Kshara’ or the ashes of green shoots of barley should be equal to the united measure of Vyosha and the rest. Gangadhara takes It as implying that the measure should be equal to that of each of the drugs named

According to him, the measure of ‘Vyosha’ and the rest, including ‘kshara,’ should be i seer ; that of ghee should be 4 seers ; and that of the water (to be added) should be 16 seers. These should be boiled down to 4 seers. _ T.

CHARAKA-SA MHI7 A.

*473 substance, earth macerated in the decoction of Vidanga ( Embelia Ribes), or that of Ela (seeds of Elettaria cardamomum), or that of Ativisha {A coni turn heterophyllum) , or that of the leaves of Nimba ( Melia Azadirachta ), or that of Patha ( Cissampelos hernandifolia', or that of Vartfika ( Solatium Melongond, or that of Katurohini (Picrorrhiza Kurroa ), or that of the seeds of Kutaja ( Holarrhena antidysenterica ), or that of Murva ( Sansviera Z.eylanica) may be given in as large a measure as he may desire. All these decoctions, are alleviative. of the faults of earth.

For those afflicted with chlorosis born of eating earth, the physi"- cian should select that particular decoction which would alleviate the: particular fault or faults that may have been excited.

That particular course of treatment should, it is said, be adopted" which is suited to the particular cause that has produced thedisease.*

That person afflicted with anaemia who evacuates stools resembling sesame paste, should be known to have his ducts obstructed by phlegm.

This disease should be conquered by the aid of drugs that are alleviative of (excited) phlegm and bile. 122

• The wind, mixing with the phlegm, in consequence of indulgence in food and .drink that are dry and cold or heavy or sweet, or in consequence of physical exercises, or the suppression of the urgings of nature, becomes strong and expels the bile from its own place.f 123,

The person’s eyes, urine, and skin become yellow. His stoolsalso become white. Flatulence comes in with rumbling noise in the stomach and intestines. A sensation of heaviness is felt in the chest.

* If the object be only to excite the aversion of the person to earth, the most ordinary means may accomplish this. Earth may, for example, be mixed with some thing that is of fetid smell, or that is of repulsive taste. What is stated here, however, is that such drugs should be mixed with the earth given to the person as neutralise its faults, so that by continuing to take earth he may not aggravate his disease. The creation of a feeling of repulsion is, no doubt, the object, but it should be brought about gradually and not all at once violently. — T.

f ‘Sanmurcchita’ imphes ‘mixing or uniting for acquiring force.’— T.

H 74

CHAR A KA-SAMHIT A.

Weakness, a weak digestive fire, pains in the flanks, hiccup, asthmatic breathing,* disgust for food, and fever, gradually make their appear¬ ance, when bile takes possession of the ducts. 124-125