Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Entering then the hollow spaces in the head (*. e., the mouth, the nostrils, the ears, the eyes, &c.) and filling them up, it bends and contracts the whole body, (especially) the cheeks, the jaws, and the the eyes. 6

It then bends the eyes, the back, the chest, and the sides, and stupefies them.

* ‘Paraya’ qualifies ‘tapasS,’ and the rest, and not ‘dhiya only. — T. f ‘Bhojyanam avarodha’ is, literally, ‘obstruction in swallowing food, ’ This is due, as explained by the commentators, to the throat being dry. — T.

CHARAKA-SA MHI7A.

150;

Remaining alone or uniting with the phlegm, it escapes with a sound and is, therefore, calle^ ‘Kasa’ (cough .* 7

In consequence of some especial obstruction of that wind which becomes endued with great force, the pain and the sound, that are both especial, arise of the disease called Cough.f 8

Indulgence in food and drink that are dr}' or cold or of astringent taste, insufficient or scanty food or total abstention from food, excessive indulgence in sexual congress, suppression of the (pro¬ nounced) urgings of nature, and undue physical exertion —these are inducers of that cough which is born of (excited) wind. 9

This variety of cough causes excessive pains in the heart, the sides, the chest, and the head.

It also causes excessive hoarseness of voice.

Of one whose chest, throat, and mouth have become dry, and the hair on whose body stands erect, and who feels depressed and lan¬ guid, this variety of cough is characterised by loud sound, cheerless¬ ness (of both body and mind), haggardness of face, and causes weakness, anxiety, and stupefaction.

This cough is dry. The dry phlegm (that manifests itself in it) being expelled with difficulty, the cough shows signs of diminution.

This cough becomes alleviated by eating and drinking what is oily, or sour, or saline, or of heating virtues.

Of one whose wind has an upward course, the wind, when the food taken has been digested, becomes endued with great force.J 1Q-12

* Kasa’ (cough) is an onomatopoetic word. In coughing, the sound emitted is that of .‘kah,’ ‘kah,’ ‘kah.’

The explanation of the origin of cough is scarcely intelligible. The life-breath called ‘Prana,’ obstructed, rises upwards and takes the nature of ‘Udana.’" It then enters the parts of the body mentioned. — T.

•j" Here an explanation is offered of the pain and the sound of Cough.— T.

J In these three verses, the characteristics of cough born of excited wind are set forth. The language of the text is not very perspicuous. Continuity of construction is not main¬ tained. The genetive forms, viz-, ‘of one whose chest, &c.’ and ‘of one whose wind has an upward course,’ really embody the symptoms of wind-born cough. They might have been avoided. — T.

p. 502

CHAR A KA-SA MHITA.

Excessive indulgence in things tb@t are pungent, hot, burning, sour, and alkaline, as also wrath, and tjie heat of both fire and the sun, are inducers of that variety of Cough which is characterised by (excited) bile.* r3

Yellow expectorations, yellowness of eyes, the presence of a bitter taste in the mouth, hoarseness of voice (literally, disease of voice), the sensation of vapours exhaling from the chest, thirst, burning sensation all over the body, stupefaction, disgust for food, giddiness of the head, sight of luminous particles while coughing violently, and expectoration of phlegmonous matter mixed with bile, — these are the manifestations of Cough characterised by bile.f 14-15

The phlegm, enhanced by food and drink that are heavy, that cause the secretions to be retained, and "that are sweet and oily, as also by sleep and absence of exertion, obstructs the wind, and causes that variety of Cough which is characterised by phlegm. 16

Afflicted with loss of appetite, disgust for food, vomiting, inflam¬ mation of the Schneiderian membrane, nausea, and heaviness of the limbs, as also with horripilation, sweetness of the mouth, accumu¬ lation of filth within the body, and langour of limbs, one having such a cough expectorates, without difficulty, a copious measure of phlegm that is sweet in taste, oily, and thick, while coughing. He feels his chest to be full (that is, oppressed with a sense of fulness).

Through excessive indulgence in sexual congress, bearing heavy burdens, walking long distances, exertions in battle, curbing of steeds and elephants, of one whose body has -become dry, sores are generated in the lungs. The wind seizes the sores and causes cough. 19

One afflicted with such a cough at first coughs dryly (that is, without expectorating any phlegmonous matter). After this, he expectorates phlegm mixed with blood.

* By ‘Vidahi’ is meant food or drink that causes a burning sensation in the stomach or the chest.— T.

+ ‘Urodhum5yanam’ is literally, ‘the appearance of vapours exhaled by the chest. This is not intelligible. — T.

p. 1503

His throat becomes very painful.

His chest seems to him to have become broken.

‘£ula’ pains afflict him greatly as if he were pierced by sharp needles.

He becomes afflicted with such severe pain as is felt by one who is pierced by a dart whose touch (or stroke) is agonising.