Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Such a person should be fed with boiled rice, and the soup of the flesh of peacocks, francoline partridges, fowl (cocks and hens'', mixed with dry, sour, and pungent juices, or with the soup of dry radishes and the seeds of Kulatttha ( Dolichos biflorus). 126

Or, he may be given the expressed, juice of ‘Matulanga’ [Citrus Medico), with honey and the pulv of the fruits of Piper longum and of black pepper, and of dry ginger.

In consequence of this (treatment) the bile of the person returns to its own place. 127

Till the alleviation of the (provoked) bile, and till also the allevi¬ ation of the (provoked) wind, treatment with things that are pungent, keen, saline, and sour, should be continued. 128

When the bile (by the course of treatment explained above) has returned to its own place, and when the stools once more take the colour of the bile (i. e., change their whiteness into yellowness), then for the person that has thus been freed from these supervening symp¬ toms, the ordinances laid down before for anaemia should apply. 129

When of a person afflicted with chlorosis the complexion becomes green, or dark, or yellow, when his strength and energy suffer dimi¬ nution, when drowsiness, and weakness of the digestive fire, mild fever, loss of pleasure in women, Iangour of the limbs, asthmatic breathing, thirst, disgust for food, and vertigo and swoons appear, then the disease should be known as ‘Halimaka’ or malignant jaun¬ dice, born of (provoked) wind and bile. 130-131

One afflicted with malignant jaundice should drink the ghee of buffalo milk, boiled with the expressed juice of Guduchi (Tinospora corifolia ), and (cow’s) milk.

Thus oilified, he should then take the pulv of Trivrit ( Convolvulus Turpethum), mixed with the expressed juice of Amalaka (the fruits of Phyllanthus Emblica). 132

• GangSdhara reads ‘K5;a’ and not ‘<Jw5sa.’ T.

p. 1475

When the patient has been purged (by the drugs mentioned above), he should take such things as are predominantly sweet inas¬ much as these are alleviative of bile and wind.

He should take the linctus of grapes as explained before, as also ghees mixed with honey. 1 33

Milky enemata of the variety called ‘Yapana’ (explained in the Division called Siddhi), should be administered, as also enemata that is oily.

For increasing the strength of his digestive fire he should drink, with discretion, such ‘arishtas’ as those of Draksha (grapes), &c. 134

The following also may be administered, agreeably to the fault or faults excited, and agreeably to the strength (or weakness) of the patient, viz., that linctus of Abhaya (Chebulic myrobalans) which has been explained in the Lesson on Cough, as also the pulv of Pippali (fruits of Piper longuni), liquorice, Bala {Si da cordifolia ), dissolved in milk. i3S

( Here are two verses containing a summary ).

The ‘Hetu’ (causes), ‘Lakshana’ (symptoms), and ‘Bhesaja’ (medi¬ cines) of the five varieties of Pandu (chlorosis) have been set forth. The two varieties of ‘Kamala’ (anaemia) have also been spoken of, as also their curability and incurability. That variety also of chlorosis and anaemia, which is called ‘Halimaka’ and which is a dreadful disease, has also been discussed. The symptoms of this disease, as also its treatment, has been spoken of in brief. 136-137

Thus ends Lesson XVI, called ‘Pandu,’ in the Division named (Treatment) of the treatise of Agnivega as revised by Charaka.

LESSON XVII.

THE TREATMENT OF HICCUP AND ASTHMA.

We shall now expound the treatment of Hiccup- and Asthma.

Thus said the illustrious one of Atri’s race. 1

Agnivega possessed of great intelligence, joining his hands, asked that foremost of ascetics, viz., him of Atri’s race, who was well conver¬ sant with all truths Vedic and profane, for the resolution of his doubts. 2

Thou hast, O illustrious one, said that the diverse diseases which afflict human beings are of two kinds ; that they are born of the three faults ; and that those three faults are provoked by three causes. I now ask thee, which amongst them are unconquerable.* 3

Hearing these words of Agnivega, that foremost of all intelligent persons, (viz., Punarvasu', being highly gratified, said these words fraught with the certainty of truth. 4

Without doubt, there are many diseases which are destructive of life, but there are no diseases which destroy life so soon as hiccup and asthma. 5

Of one afflicted with even other diseases, hiccup and asthma, fraught with great pain, arise at the end. 6

These two diseases are characterised by (provoked) phlegm and wind. They arise from the place where bile is located. They dry up the ‘dhatus’ beginning with ‘Rasa’ (juice) which have their seat in the heart. 7

Hence, both these diseases are regarded as equally incurable.

* Diseases are of two kinds ; in respect of their origin they may be either ‘Saumya’ or ‘Agneya’ ; or iri respect of their seats they may be physical or mental ; or, in respect of the character of the causes that produce them, they may be Constitutional or Accidental.