Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Or, plasters may be applied of Bala (Si da cordifolia), of Nagabala (Sida alba ), of Pathya (chebulic myrobalans), of the knotty portions of the bark of Bhurjja (Betula Bhojpattra ), of Vibhitaka ( Terminalia Bellerica ), of Vansa-pattra (leaves of Bamboo), or of Agnimantha (Premna integrifolia ). ^6

Plaster, made of the root-bark of Danti (Baliospermum monianum), the same of Chitraka ( Plumbago Zeylanica), the milk of Sudha (otherwise called Snuhi, i. e., Euphorbia nerriifolia), the same of Arka ( Calatropis gigantea ), treacle, the seeds of Bhallataka ( Semecarpus Anacardiuni) and Kacisa (sulphate of iron), would burst even stone.

Why would they not, therefore, burst the knotty boils of Erysi¬ pelas of “the ‘Grantin' variety, that is born of (excited) phlegm and that affects the outer skin ? J47

Even knotty boils, that are old or of long duration, are capable of being burst by the following drugs.

The soup of Mulaka (radishes) and Kulattha (the seeds of Dolichos biflorus ), mixed with the ashes of green barley shoots and the juice of pomegranates ; 148

Boiled wheat or boiled barley, mixed with the wine called ‘Sidhu,’ honey, and sugar ;

The ‘manda’ of the wine called ‘Varuni,’ mixed with honey and that variety of Citrus acida which is called ‘Matulunga’ (Citrus medico) ; J49

The paste of the three myrobalans, mixed with the pulv of the fruits of Pippali (Piper longum), and honey. H9

That of Devadaru (Pinus deodara ), Pangu salt and Vyosha (the three acrids) ;*

* The Bengal and Bombay editions read ‘Devadaru Guduchyogh Prayogaih’ for ‘Devadarupanguvyoshaprayogaih’ which is the reading of Gangadhara.

The meaning of the former is the application of Devadaru and Guduchi {Tines for a cordifolia ),

CHI KITS A ST H AHA.

[yrsARFA.

p. 1610

The pulv of Gairika (red' earth brought from mountains) ;

The paste of Musta (the tubers of Cyperus rotundus \ Bhallataka (the seeds of Semecarpus Anacardium ), and. the flour of fried barley ;

and Makshika.* iSo-*S®

Besides the above there are other methods by which the boils of Erysipelas may be caused to burst. They are those sorts of fumi¬ gation which have been kid down as possessed of errhine virtues ; those means by which abdominal tumours are caused to burst ; and pessure caused by (heated) iron, salts, stones, gold, and copper. JS2:

If the knotty bolls of Erysipelas, which happen to be strong and durable, and as hard as stone, are not removed by these {viz., those mentioned above) diverse courses of treatment whose success has been well-tested in various cases, then the methods laid down below should be adopted : *5?

For one afflicted with such boils, cautery by means of alkaline ashes, or by (heated) probes or hot iron, is beneficial.

Or, by causing them first to suppurate by means of applying such drugs as mature all kinds of boils, the physician should remove them by incision. *54

The physician should then repeatedly let out the blood which has an outcoming tendency, and when the blood has been completely let out, the administration of such medicines as conquer wind and phlegm is beneficial. t55

The different varieties of smoke that are regarded as cerebral purgatives, fomentations for inducing perspiration, and pressure on part affected, are beneficial.

If by those means faults cannot he alleviated, the administra¬ tion of ‘pachanas,’ is commendable. 15&

When the boils (of Erysipelas, of the ‘Granthi’ variety) have become softened and wet by means of cautery and medicines that ripen them, the physician should then treat them like ordinary boils by administering both external and internal correctives andi emollients. *5/

Reducing to paste these drugs, viz., Kampillaka {Mallotus phiMppensis, syn. Rottiera . tinctoria), the seeds of Vidanga {Embelia

* What is. meant ljy ‘Makshika’ here is difficult to make out. It means honey as well as ‘Swarnamakshika’ or iron-pyrites.— T.

LESSON XXL]

CHARAKA-SAMHITA

i6ij

Rides), and the bark of Darbi ( Berberis Asiaticd), oil should be boiled with them.

This oil is used in the treatment of Erysipelas of the ‘Granthi’ type. !58

The learned physician, conversant with the distinctions of place and time, should also treat the boils of Erysipelas according to the method laid down in the Lesson called ‘Dvivraniya.’* J59

Thus ends the treatment of Erysipelas of the ‘Granthi’ type.

The course of treatment that has been laid down for the allevia¬ tion of Erysipelas of the 'Granthi’ type is capable of alleviating Bronchocele born of (excited) phlegm. 160

Those varieties of Bronchocele which are born of wind and in which the phlegm is subsidiary, are cured by taking ghee, milk, and astringent decoctions.]- 161

All those courses of treatment which have been laid down for the alleviation of Erysipelas are together equal (in efficacy) to the letting out of blood. 162

[The construction of this verse is peculiar to Sanskrit. Literally rendered, it comes to this : all the courses of treatment are one side, and blood-letting is on the other side.]