Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

This, the oldest medical work known, was written in Sanskrit, and translations of it into several of the Eestern idioms have been published heretofore, among others by the physician who is now engaged with its translation into English, and the publication of this English version, with explanatory comments. Some twelve years ago an attempt was made by Dr. Mahendra Lai Sircar, to issue such a translations, and a portion of the work was pub¬ lished in a medical journal in Calcutta ; but the effort was finally abandoned owing to impaired health. We believe that no translation into any Europeon language is in existence, and the one now under way will, there¬ fore, be the first to make that ancient work accessible to those not conversant with the language of India.

Aside from the philological value, which a correct translation will undoubtedly possess, its attractiveness to the physician and the student of natural history lies in its historical character, by showing the principles upon which hygienic measures were based at that remote period, and the means then employed for preserving health and com¬ batting disease. That many of the important remedial a»ents of the present day are derived from India, is well known they have, as a rule, been employed there from a very remote period.

CHARAKA-SaMHITA.

p. 153

Here is a Verse containing a Summary.

The different kinds of oils, the rules about their administra- * tion, the evil consequences of the improper administration ef Oils, with the medicines that should be used on such occasions, have all been expounded (in this Lesson) by the illustrious son of Chandrabhaga {viz., Punarvasu ) unto Aginvefa agreeably to the questions he asked.

Thus ends the Thirteenth Lesson on Oils in Agniveja’s treatise as revised by Charaka.

LESSON XIV.

We shall now expound the Lesson on Sweda. Thus said the illustrious son of Atri *1

I shall now explain the different kinds of Sweda. By duly administering them, diverse diseases generated by disorders of wind and phlegm that admit of being removed by such pro¬ cesses, are alleviated and cured.2

If the wind be subjugated by administering Sweda after the proper use of Oils, stools and urine and vital seed are easily passed or discharged without any kind of obstruction.3 Even wood that is dry, can, by the proper application of oil and heat, be made to bend. What then need be said of human beings having life ?4

When consistent with the diseases ( in which it is applied), the season (of its application), and the constitution of the person treated, Swedana, consisting of the proper materials properly selected, and applied to the proper parts of the body, is regarded beneficial. Only it should not be very hot nor very mild.ffi

* To render the word ‘ Sweda ’ into ‘ diaphoretic,’ would be incorrect. It should be explained that Sweda is often used to signify the application of heat or fomentation even when the causing of perspiration is not the end proposed. It includes also warm water baths, vapour baths, and hot cataplasms of medicinal plants. I shall, there¬ fore, use the word sweda or swedana in the original, for diaphoretics would not be a good substitute. — T, t The word ‘ apekshah ’ is grammatically connected with all the three words preceding it. ‘ Dravyavan ’ is consisting of the proper materials or articles. ‘ Mridu’ is literally mild, i.e., cool. — T.

p. 20

p. 154

CHRA HA-S A M HIT A.

In diseases generated by cold, and when the body becomes cold ( in certain diseases ), Sweda should be resorted to. If the patient happens to be endued with great strength, the Swedana to be applied should be strong ; if the patient be of middling strength, the Swedana to be applied should of be middling force ; and, lastly, if the patient be weak, the Swedana to be applied should be mild.6

In disease;? of wind and phlegm, of wind only, and of phlegm only, the Swedana that should be resorted to should respectively be both cool and dry, cool, and dry.*7

If the wind in the Ama§aya be excited, the Sweda that is bene¬ ficial in the first instance is the dry one. S° if the phlegm in the Pakka5aya be excited, the Sweda that is beneficial in the firs^ instance is the cool one.f8

Sweda should never be applied to the testicles, the region about the heart, and the eyes. If at all necessary, the mildest Sweda should be used with regard to those parts. As regards the pubic and iliac region, Sweda of middling force should be applied. With respect to the rest of the regions of the body, Sweda of the desirable force may be used.9

If Sweda is ever to be applied to the eyes, the eyes should be first shut and then pure cotton cloth, or soft balls made of the flour of wheat, or the petals of the lotus or other flowers, should be used for the purpose.!10

If Sweda is ever to be applied to the region of the. heart, it should be with cool strings of pearls, with cool vessels (made of metals), with lotus-petals, and with hands cooled in water.11

When the body has become cool or the pain has been allevia¬ ted, when the stiffness and heaviness of the body or limbs have.