Chapter 2 - Symptoms and treatment of Rajayakshma (Phthisis or consumption)

Causes of Rajayakshma (phthisis).

This disease (rajayakshma) is due to waste, caused by an excess of loss of semen, grief, senility, physical exercise, diseases affecting the belly, carbuncles or boils, suppression of calls of nature, rupture or wound in the lungs, and fool-hardiness. In this disease, the passages through which the chyle passes, are blocked by the three dosas, dominated by phlegm, with the result that the dhatus or the constituent parts of the body undergo waste (sometimes slowly and sometimes rapidly.)

Causes and indications of wounds or ruptures in the lungs.

These are due to much exertion caused by some of the following excessive use of bow and arrow, heavy weight lifting, wrestling with strong men, falling down from a high place, exertion to break or restrain ox, horse, or some other unbroken or running animal; slinging or hurling of stones, woods, or stone balls; exertion for killing a man; reading very loudly; running a long distance; crossing big rivers by swimming; running with a horse; long jump taken suddenly; dancing very quickly and incessantly; taking by a consumptive patient of such, medicines and diet as have the effect of increasing pitta; exertion due to some other daring movements; and excessive indulgence in sexual intercourse on the part of those who take a small quantity of food or food devoid of fatty substance.

Wounds or ruptures caused by one or more of the causes mentioned above are followed by the commencement or augmentation of the strong disease (viz. consumption). What happen next are pain in both sides of the lungs, emaciation, and shivering of the limbs, leading gradually to loss of semen, strength, colour, appetite, and power of digestion; fever; pain all over the body; mental depression and uneasiness; diarrhoea and even total loss of digestive power; constant expectoration of malignant phlegm, blackish, stinky, yellow, and full of knots, accompanied with blood, with the result that the patient sinks rapidly. This is the outcome of loss of blood due to wounds or ruptures in the lungs. Similar is the effect of waste commencing with the semen and vital essence of the body (although there may not be spitting or vomiting of blood from the lungs.)

General symptoms of phthisis.

These are:—pain in the shoulder and the sides, inflammation in the palm of the hands and feet, dullness of the digesting heat, fever, avertion to food, vomiting of blood and pus, loss of weight and weakness.

(It has already been said that the disease is due to an abnormal excess of the three dosas). Preponderance of vayu over kapha and pitta causes hoarseness, pain in, and contraction of, the shoulder and the sides. Preponderance of pitta over vayu and kapha causes fever, sensation of heat, diarrhoea, and spitting or vomiting of blood. Preponderance of kapha oyer vayu and pitta gives rise to heaviness of the head, aversion to food, cough, and tickling sensation in the throat. A combination of two or three of the dosas is followed by a combination of the symptoms, accordingly. Asthila and pratyasthila are also indications, of the disease.

Treatment of phthisis.

A phthisic patient, strong but affected with much of the dosas, should be subjected to the panchakarma (or five purifying processes, viz. vomiting, purging, douche of oil, douche of some suitable decoction mixed with oil, and snuff).^[1] but, such actions are much injurious to weak patients. The strength of a man depends upon the quantity of semen he has been able to accumulate in his system, and his life depends upon his ability to retain mala (dirt, i.e., stool and urine.) It is therefore necessary for a phthisic patient to retain carefully his stool and semen. In other words, a phthisic patient rapidly sinks from weakness due to loss of semen and looseness of the bowels, both of which should be carefully guarded against.

Specifics for stopping vomiting of blood.

Vomiting of blood may be stopped by any one of the following (drunk either alone or with some suitable medicine, as prescribed later):—

(a) pore lack-dye mixed with a few drops of honey;
(b) decoction of the leaves of bishalya-karani,
(c) juice of the leaves of kukkuradru
(d) jastimadhu and red sandal pestled with milk and dissolved with the same.
(e) juice of the leaves of kinkirata (marigold), taken at suitable intervals.
(f) lack-dye, mixed with milk.

Diet, milk with sugar, after the medicine is digested.

Specifics for stopping vomitting.

(1) Vomiting is stopped by swallowing roots of matu-lunga, fried paddy devoid of husk and powdered, rock salt, powdered pippali—all of these pestled together with water and mixed with honey; or

(2) one fourth tola of the compound made of powdered numeric, burnt conch-shell, and powdered betel-nut (each 1/12th tola in weight); or

(3) one eighth tola of borax mixed with the juice of kakamachi; or

(4) juice of leaves of sugandha (tulsi piant).

Iatromedical treatment of phthisis (rajayakshma).

Yaksmari lauha.

Equal quantities of honey, copper-pyrites, vidanga, bitumen, iron, clarified butter, and haritaki, licked in suitable doses, (say, of one fourth of a tola, a day) cures wasting disease.

One part, each, of rasna, asvagandha, camphor, manduka parni, realger, trikatu, triphala, trimada (equal quantities of vidanga, musta, and roots of chitraka, mixed together), and eight parts of iron, mixed together, cure cough, hoarseness, phthisis with cough, and waste due to some wound, if taken in suitable doses (say, of one eighth of a tola, a day).

Shilajatvadi lauha.

Equal quantities of bitumen, jastimadhu, trikatu, copper-pyrites, and iron, are to be mixed together, and taken (in doses of say, twelve raktis a day) with milk, cures wasting disease.

Sarvamaya-hara lauha.

One part, each, of trikatu, shatabari, triphala, two kinds of bala (via. white-flowered and yellow-flowered), and five parts of iron are to be mixed together, and taken with a little of honey, in suitable doses (say, one eighth of a tola, a day). This medicine cures wound or rupture in the lungs, diseases affecting the throat, wasting disease, paralysis of the hands, and facial paralysis.

Kanakashekhara rasa.

Note: The general principle in regard to phthisis is, that no pungents (such as maricha, pippali, ginger) and poisons are to be allowed to be taken by a phthisic patient. The present medicine as well as some other contain such prohibited ingredients. These are therefore to be cautiously used. I have not yet experimented such doubtful medicines.

One part of gold, and four parts, each, of mercury, realger, sulphur, copper-sulphate, copper-pyrites, orpiment, aconite, and borax are to be rubbed together with the juice of each of the following, in succession, drying the compound, each time it is so rubbed;—jayanti, bhringaraja, patha, basaka, agasti, langali, and chitraka. The compound is next to be rubbed for seven times with the juice of ginger, drying it each time it is so rubbed. Dose, two or three raktis, each, to be taken with honey and powdered pippali; or with clarified butter and powdered maricha. This medicine cures sannipatika fever, if taken with honey and ginger juice; It, cures gulma and colic, if taken with honey and powdered croton seed (not more than one fourth of a rakti in weight). Diet should be nutritious, and bidahi food (see page 7, vol. IV) is to be avoided.

Bhubmamohana rasa.

One tola, each, of mercury and sulphur (rubbed together to form a black powder), two tolas of mica, one fourth tofts of camphor, one tola of gold, one tola of copper, one tola of iron, and one fourth tola, each, of seeds of vriddha-daraka, jira, vidari, shatabari, seeds of kokilaksa, roots of bala?, seeds of banari, atibala, jatikosha, jatiphala, lavanga, seeds of bhanga, and white sarjarasa are to be rubbed together with honey till the whole thing mix together. Pills are then to be made, four raktis in weight, each, to he taken with powdered pippali and honey.

Ksayakeshari rasa.

One parti, each, of shunthi, maricha, pippali, amalaki, haritaki, bibhitaki, ela, jatiphala, and lavanga, four and half tolas of iron, and four and half tolas of rasa-sindura are to be rubbed together with goat’s milk and made into pills, three raktis in weight, each, to be taken with honey. This medicine cures phthisis.

Vyadhi-varana keshari rasa.

Equal quantities of mica, incinerated mercury, iron, copper, lead, bell-metal, mandura, bimala, tin, calamine, orpiment; incinerated conch-shell, borax, pyrites, lode-stone, garnet, gold; coral, pearls, cowri-shells, rubies, lapis-lazuli, and sulphur are to be rubbed together with the juices of chitraka and arka and subjected to heat by laghuputa. This act of rubbing and heating is to be performed three times, The compound is then to be rubbed with the juice of each of the following in succession, separately, for three times, and heated by laghuputa, each time it is rubbed:—matulunga (citrus), triphala, chitraka, amlabetasa, bhringaraja, karabira, and ginger. (Dose, one rakti, each,) to be taken with sugar and powdered-pippali, or honey and ginger juice; or any accompaniment considered suitable in the disease in which it is applied. This, medicine cures all sorts of diseases and especially, malignant fever due to the abnormal excess of the three dosas, rheumatism and paralysis affecting some or all of the limbs, eleven different kinds of phthisis, waste, anemia, worms, cough, five kinds of asthma, spermatorrhoea, obesity, mahodara (see page 342, vol IV), bright’s disease, sugar in urine, colic, enlargement of spleen, gulma, and jaundice. It increase strength, nutrition, power of retention, and does away with senile decay.

Shosanala rasa.

Half a tola of rasa-sindura (see page 105, vol I), one fonrth tala of gold, and half a tola of sulphur are to be rubbed together with the juice or decoction of chitraka and juice of kanya, for three hours, and with goats’ milk for nine hours. The compound is next to be mixed with one fourth tola, each, of pearls, corals, and tin, and made into a lump which is to be put inside an earthen vessel, the mouth of which is to be closed, as usual, and then heated by Gajaputa. When cooled of itself by radiation of heat, the medicine is to be taken out, and taken in doses of two raktis, each, with a few drops of honey. This medicine cures phthisis due to an abnormal excess of vayu and pitta. Clarified butter prepared from goats’ milk, mixed with sugar and honey, is to be drunk just after taking the medicine.

Mriganka rasa.

One part, each, of mercury and gold, two parts, each, of pearls and sulphur, and one fourth part of borax are to be rubbed together, and made into a lump which is to be dried, put inside a vessel filled with salt, and then heated for 12 hours. This medicine cures phthisis, if taken in doses of four raktis, each, with honey and powered maricha or ten in number of pippali. Diet is to be given with light meat, curd prepared from goats’ milk, butter-milk prepared from cow’s milk, goats’ meat, curries prepared with clarified butter, with a very little of alkali, with ela, jatiphala, maricha, and absolutely devoid of hingu and bidahi articles (see page 7 vol. IV), The following also are to be avoided:—brinjals, oil (for drinking), bilva fruit, karabella, etc. Women should be absolutely shunned and anger is not to be indulged in.

Mahamriganka rasa.

One part of gold, incinerated in such, a way as makes it incapable of being restored to its original condition, two parts, each, of incinerated mercury and pearls, four parts of sulphur, five parts of copper-pyrites, four parts of silver, seven parts of corals, and two parts of borax are to be rubbed together, for three days, with the juice of matulunga and made into a lump which is to be dried by an intense heat of the sun. This lump is then to be put inside a vessel filled with salt, the mouth of the vessel being closed by means of an earthen basin, mud, and rags, as usual. Heat is then to be applied to the vessel for twelve hours. When the vessel is cooled after removal of heat, the medicine is to be taken out, powdered, and mixed with either one sixty fourth its quantity of diamond or one sixteenth its quantity of vaikranta (garnet), if diamond is not available. Dose, three raktis, each, to be taken with honey and a little of powdered maricha or pippali. This medicine cures all sorts of diseases, especially phthisis, fevers, gulma, bidradhi (a kind of tumour), indigestion, hoarseness, cough, aversion to food, vomiting, hysteria, giddiness, eight great diseases (viz. leprosy, paralysis, stone disease, gonorrhoea and spermatorrhoea, fistula, udara rogas, piles, and grahani); diseases due to artificial poisons (see page 292, vol. III), anemia, jaundice, and all other diseases due to an abnormal excess of pitta.

Diet, strengthening and nutritious, as prescribed in phthisis (see close of this chapter).

Raja-mriganka rasa.

Three parts of incinerated mercury, one part, each, of gold and copper^[2], and two parts, each, of realger, orpiment, and sulphur are to be rubbed together, and put inside the vacant spaces of cowri-shells (see page 226 vol. II), the mouths of which are.to be closed by means of a paste prepared from borax pestled with goats’ milk. These cowri-shells are then to be put in an earthen vessel (the mouth of which is to be duly closed), When dried, the vessel is to be subjected to heat by Gajaputa, the shells being taken out when cooled by radiation of heat, and reduced to powder. Dose, four raktis, a day, in phthisis due to an abnormal excess of vayu and kapha. This medicine is to be taken with a few drops of clarified butter and nineteen in number of maricha, or with a few drops of honey and ten in number of pippali. (In phthisis due to an abnormal excess of pitta, indicated mainly by spitting or vomiting of blood, this medicine may be taken with the juice of the leaves of marigold, etc.).

Mahabhra rasa.

Four tolas, each, of mica, sufficiently incinerated, copper, iron, sulphur, mercury, realger, borax, and triphala, and one fourth tola of aconite are to be mixed together, and subjected to bhavana with four tolas of the juice of each of the following, in succssion:—bhanga, kesharaja, somaraja, bhringaraja, leaves of bilva, paribhadra, agnimantha, vriddha-dara, tumburu, mandukaparni, nirgundi, putikaranja, dhuttura, white aparajita, jayanti, ginger, grisma-sundara, vasaka, and betel leaves. Four tolas of powdered maricha is to be mixed with the compound, before it is completely dried. Pills are then to be made (one rakti in weight, each). This medicine cures almost all the diseases, especially asthma, consumption, cough, and sannipatika fever.

Kanchanadi rasa.

Equal quantities of gold, rasa-sindura, pearls, iron, mica, coral, haritaki, silver, musk, and realger are to be rubbed together and made into pills, two raktis in weight, each, to be taken with suitable accompaniment. This medicine cures phthisic cough due to kapha and pitta, all sorts of spermatorrea, and diseases due to an abnormal excess of vayu. It increases semen, strength, and nutrition.

Kanchaneshvara rasa.

Equal quantities of gold, rasa-sindura, pearls, iron, mica, coral, vaikranta (garnet), silver, copper, tin, musk, lavanga, jatikosa, and ela-baluka are to be rubbed together with the juices of kanya, and then subjected to bhavana, for three days, each, with the juice of kanya and goats’ milk. Pills are then to be made, four raktis in weight, each, to be taken with suitable accompaniment. This medicine cures all sorts of diseases and, especially, phthisis, cough, asthma, and spermatorrea.

Kalyana-sundarabhra.

Four tolas of mica, well-incinerated by a large number of heating by puta, are to be rubbed with four tolas of the juice of each of the following separately, in succession:—amalaki, musta, brihati, shatavari, sugar-cane, bilva, agni-mantha, balaka, vasaka leaves, kantakari, shyonaka, patali, and bala. Pills are then to be made, one rakti in weight, each. This medicine cures phthisis and many other diseases,

Sureshvara rasa.

One tola of purified mercury is to be rubbed with the juices of bhanga and ginger till the mercury becomes condensed. It is then to be subjected to bhavana with the juices of jalakarua (akhukarni or karnachhid) and kakamachi, and mixed with four tolas of powdered sulphur, well-purified with the juice of bhringaraja. The compound is then to be rubbed with eight tolas of goats’ milk, and made into pills, two raktis in weight, each. This medicine cures phthisis, hemoptysis, cough and aversion to food. Diet, milk and soup of goat’s meat (not both taken at the same meal).

Vamadeva rasa.

Two tolas of mercury are to be purified, as usual, by being rubbed with the juice of kanya, powdered triphala, juice or decoction of chitraka, mustard, carbon deposited by smoke arising out of burning wood, turmeric, powder of burnt brick, juice of the leaves of vohna or varuna tree (juice of alambusa, according to another text), and ginger juice (juice of the leaves of bhringaraja, according to another text), washed each time with kanji, and sifted by means of a thick piece of cloth. Thus purified, the mercury is to be subjected to bhavana with the juice of bijaya (haritaki or bhanga), and rubbed in a stone mortar with the same juice till it is condensed. It is next to be subjected to bhavana with the juice of each of the following, in succession:—jalakarna (karnachhid or kanchhira, or akhuparni?) and kakamachi, and mixed and rubbed together with four tolas of sulphur and two tolas, each, of maricha, borax, copper pyrites, copper sulphate, orpiment, and mica, The compound is next to be subjected to bhavana with ginger juice, and made into pills, two raktis in weight, each. Diet, milk and meat-juice (not both taken at the same meal). This medicine cures cough, consumption, asthma, hemeptosis, aversion to food, anemia, worms, and fever. It is nutritious.

Lokeshvara-pottali rasa.

Four parts of incinerated mercury, one part of gold, and eight parts of sulphur are to be rubbed together with the juice or decoction of roots of chitraka. The paste, thus prepare, is to be put inside the vacant spaces in cowri-shells, the gaps being filled with a paste made of borax and goats’ milk. These shells are then to be put inside an earthen vessel, the inner Surface of which has previously been smeared with powdered lime, the mouth being duly closed and dried. The vessel is to be subjected to heat, the next day, by means of a puta in a pit, one aratni cube. When cooled of itself by radiation of heat, the vessel is to be broken open and the medicine taken out and powdered. Dose, four raktis to be taken with honey, powdered pippali, and milk. In emaciation, dullness of the digesting heat, cough, and excess of pitta, this medicine is to be taken with powdered maricha and clarified butter, for three days. Curd with clarified bntter is to be taken and salt is to be avoided these three days. There-after, the patient is to take, for twenty one days only, powdered maricha with clarified butter only (without taking the medicine). Diet, the same as in Mriganka rasa. The patient is to lie down with his feet stretched.

This medicine cures emaciation due to irregularity of the digesting heat, consumption, asthila, anemia, waste due to wrong treatment by unworthy physicians, fever of all sorts, insanity, etc.

Hemagarbha pottali rasa.

Three parts of incinerated mercury, one part of gold, one part of copper, and one part of sulphur are to be rubbed with the decoction of roots of chitraka for six hours. Chasms of cowri-shells are to be filled up with this paste, covered with a paste made of borax and goat’s milk. These cowrie-shells are then to be put inside an earthen vessel, the mouth of which is to be duly closed. It is next to be subjected to heat by Gajaputa. Dose, four raktis, as in Mriganka rasa.

Ratnagarbha-pottali rasa.

Equal quantities of incinerated mercury, diamond, gold, silver, lead, iron, copper, pearls, copper-pyrites, corals, conch-shells, and copper-sulphate are to be rubbed together for seven days with the juice or decoction of roots of chitraka, dried, and then powdered. Chasms in cowri-shells are to be filled in with this powder, covered with a paste made of borax pestled with the milk of arka. These cowri-shells are then to be put inside an earthen vessel, the month of which is to be duly closed, and the vessel is to be heated by Gajaputa. The medicine is then to be taken out, powdered, and subjected to bhavana, for seven times with the juice of nirgundi, for seven times with the juice of ginger, and for twenty one times with the juice or decoction of chitraka. Dose, four raktis a day. This medicine cures phthisis. In vata-byadhi (paralysis, etc.), stone disease, leprosy, spermatorrea, udara-roga, piles, fistula, grahani, cough, fever, asthma, and diarrhoea, this medicine is to be given with honey mixed with powdered pippali or clarified butter mixed with powdered maricha. This medicine cures all sorts of diseases.

Sarvangasundara rasa.

One part, each, of mercury, sulphur, pearls, coral, and burnt conch-shell, two parts of borax, and half a part of gold are to be rubbed together with lemon juice and made into a lump which is to be heated by means of Gajaputa. When cooled, the compound is to be taken out, powdered, and mixed with half a part of steel and one fourth part of cinnabar, all being rubbed into a fine powder. This medicine cures phthisis, fever due to an abnormal excess of the three dosas, piles, chronic diarrhoea, spermatorrhea, gulma, fistula, and all sorts of diseases due to an abnormal excess of vayu and pitta. The medicine is to be kept on a piece of betel leaf, and mixed with honey and powdered pippali, or with clarified butter only, or with sugar, or with honey and ginger juice, and licked by the patient.

Hema-manohara rasa.

Equal quantities of gold, orpiment, sulphur, copper-sulphate, copper-pyrites, calamine, and realger are to be rubbed together, for one day, each, in succession, with the following:—milk of arka, juices of jayanti, bhringaraja, vasaka, patha, chitraka roots, agasti, and langali. The lump, thus prepared, is to be dried and heated by Gajaputa. When cooled, the compound is to be taken out, powdered, and subjected to bhavana for seven times, each, with the juices of ginger and trikatu. Dose, two or three raktis, each, to be taken in phthisis with honey and powdered pippali or clarified butter and powdered maricha. In colic or gulma, this medicine is to be taken with powdered croton seeds or with powdered shunthi mixed with clarified butter. In sannipata (fever due to an abnormal exdess of the three dosas), this medicine is to be applied with ginger juice. Diet, wholesome and agreeable. All articles of food-stuff beginning with ‘K’ (see page 204, vol. 1) are to be avoided.

Shankhadhisha rasa.

One fourth of a tola of shankhanabhi, one tola of cowri-shells, one eighth tola of copper-sulphate, and sulphur, equal to all the above named, combined (i.e., l 6/16th tola); and lead, incinerated mercury, and borax, each equal to sulphur, are to be rubbed together into a very fine powder with which are to be filled up the hollows of as many cowri-shells as necessary. The hollows are then to be covered with a paste made of borax pestled with, goat’s milk. When dried, these cowri-shells are to be put inside an earthen vessel, the mouth of which is to be duly covered with an earthen basin. The vessel is then to be dried and heated by means of Gajaputa. When cooled, the medicine is to be taken oat, powdered, and taken in doses of four raktis a day. This medicine cures phthisis.

Mriganka-pottali rasa.

Four tolas of shankhanabhi are to be pestled with cow’s milk, and made into a crucible into which is to be put three fourths of a tola of sulphur and one eighth tola of incinerated mercury, the mouth of the crucible being duly closed. It is then to be wrapped up in a piece of cloth, and coated all over with mud. When dried, it is to be burnt by Gajaputa. When cooled, the crucible as well as its contents are to be powdered. One rakti of this medicine, taken daily, in the same way as Mriganka rasa, cures phthisis.

Svarnagarbha-pottali rasa.

Half a tola of incinerated mercury, one fourth tola of gold, and half a tola of sulphur are to be rubbed for six: hours with the juice or decoction of chitraka roots, and dried. With this powder are to be filled up the hollows in as many eowri-shells, as necessary. (These hollows are then to be covered with a paste made of borax rubbed with goat’s milk or milk of arka). When dried, these shells are to be put inside an earthen vessel the mouth of which is to be duly closed and dried, The vessel is then to be heated by Gajaputa. When cooled, the contents of the vessel are to be taken out and powdered. This medicine-cures phthisis, if taken in doses of four raktis, a day.

Panchasudha rasa.

Equal quantities of incinerated mercury, mica, iron, bitumen, aconite, guggulu (purified with the decoction of guruchi and triphala), and copper are to be rubbed together and made into pills, two raktis in weight, each. This medicine cures phthisis, if taken with honey and powdered pippali, or with clarified butter and powdered maricha, or with milk mixed with the juices of leaves of barbari tulasi and jayanti.

Kshemendra rasa.

One part, each, of mercury and sulphur, two parts of trikatu, four parts of incinerated conch-shells, eight parts of incinerated cowri-shells, one fourth part of borax, and powdered marietta, equal in quantity to all the above-named combined, are to be mixed together. This medicine cures phthisis, if licked with clarified butter, in suitable doses rising gradually to one fourth of a tola, a day.

Lokeshvara rasa.

One part of incinerated mercury, one fourth part of gold, and two parts of sulphur are to be rubbed together with the decoction of roots of chitraka and dried. This powder is to fill up the hollows of some cowri-shells, the openings of which are to be covered with a paste made of borax. These shells are then to be put inside an earthen vessel, the inner surface of which has previously been smeared with lime, the mouth being duly closed, and dried. The vessel is then to be heated the next day by means of puta in a pit, one aratni cube. When cooled, the cowris are to be taken out and powdered. This medicine increases strength and nutrition. Dose, four raktis, a day, to be taken with powdered maricha and clarified butter. In thinness, indigestion, cough, and hiccough, this medicine is to be given, with maricha and clarified butter, for three days only. Salt is to be avoided altogether. Diet to be taken with curd and clarified butter. Maricha with clarified butter is to be taken for 21 days. Diet, as in Mriganka rasa. The patient is to lie down on his bed with his feet stretched.

If vomiting occurs, the patient is to drink decoction or juice of guruchi, mixed with honey and to take roasted brinjals. He is also to bathe in cold water which may also be poured over his head in torrents.

If there is an excess of phlegm, green banana fruit, fried with clarified butter, and mixed with powdered maricha, or ginger mixed with honey or molasses may be taken by the patient. Powdered ela mixed with powdered maricha may also be taken by the patient, so long as vomiting is not stopped. In case of aversion to food, dhanya and masa-grams, bereft of husks, fried, powdered, and mixed with spgar and clarified butter, may be taken by the patient. In case of troubles caused by worms, ajamoda and viranga are to be pestled with butter milk and drunk by the patient. He may also drink the decoction of roots of eranda and musta. In case of diarrhoea, the patient may take the juice of dugdhika after heating it a little or he may take, at night, bhanga fried a little with clarified butter and mixed with honey. In case of pricking sensation on the skin, the patient is to take a bath in hot water after his body is anointed with clarified butter.

Prananatha rasa.

Five tolas of iron, subjected to bhavana with four prasthas (4 x 64 tolas) of the juice of bhringaraja; five tolas of copper pyrites, reduced to ashes by being burnt by puta after being rubbed with the juices of dhattura, bhargi, and triphala; one fourth of a tola of mercury; one fourth of a tola of copper sulphate; half a tola of sulphur; one tola of cowri shell—all of these are to be mixed together, rubbed with the juices mentioned above (i.e. bhringaraja, dhutura, bhargi, and triphala), and reduced to ashes by being burnt by puta. When cooled, the product is to be taken out, powdered, and mixed with If tola of powdered maricha, and tolas, each, of copper-sulphate, and borax. Dose, twelve raktis, a day. This medicine is to be applied only in phthisis attended with waste, diseases affecting the belly, piles, chronic diarrhoea, fever and gulma.

Vaidya-raja rasa.

One fourth tola of conch-shell, one tola, each, of cowri-shell, -copper-sulphate, orpiment, sulphur, and borax, and one eighth tola, each, of silver, lead, and mercury are to be confined in a puta, as in the preceding case (i.e. These materials are to be rubbed together with the decoctim of roots of chitraka and fill in a few cowri-shells, the openings of which are to be covered with a paste made of borax pestled with goats’ milk or milk of arka). These cowris are then to be put inside an earthen vessel, the inner surface of which has been coated with a paste made of powdered cowri-shells and mandura, the month of the vessel being duly closed. The vessel is then to be heated by means of Laghu puta. Three raktis of this medicine mixed with three raktis of powdered maricha, subjected to bhavana with the juice of betel leaves, is to be taken every morning with a few drops of honey or fresh clarified butter, kept on a piece of betel leaf. This medicine cures phthisis. Salutary diet as prescribed elsewhere in this chapter should be taken in small quantities at an interval of every three hours, after the medicine is digested i.e. about an hour after taking the medicine). These directions are to be observed for 48 days.

Lokapala rasa.

⅛th tola, each, of mercury and copper sulphate, one tola, each, of sulphur, borax, and conch-shell; two tolas of copper, and nine tolas of cowri-shells are to he rubbed together and burnt by puta. When cooled, the compound is to be rubbed with the juice of the leaves of arka plant, and again heated by half a bhara (i.e. 4000 tolas) of cowdung cakes (in a suitable pit). One eighth tola of this medicine, mixed with six raktis of powdered maricha and one fourth tola of powdered sulphur, taken once a day, for 21 days only, cures phthisis. Diet as in the medicine just preceding.

Vajra rasa.

Each of the following seven things is to be rubbed for nine hours with the juice of changeri, and reduced to ashes separately by being burnt by puta:—

(1) one tola of essence of calamine (i.e., zinc) melted and thrown upon ⅜ tola of molten gold, both being thus mixed together;
(2) one and half tola of mercury mixed with two tolas of sulphur, both being rubbed together;
(3) ⅜ tola of powdered coral;
(4) ⅜th tola of powdered pearl;
(5) half a tola of incinerated iron;
(6) ¾ tola of incinerated lead;
(7) and one tola of incinerated copper.

These seven different materials are to be mixed with

(8) half a tola of condensed indigo,
(9) half a tola of incinerated mica,
(10) half a tola of incinerated load-stone,
(11) half a tola of purified orpiment,
(12) one tola of seeds of ankolla,
(13) one tola of seeds of kanguni,
(14) one tola of copper sulphate,
(15) two tolas of borax,
and (16) five tolas of incinerated cowri-shell.

All these sixteen materials are then to be rubbed together with 128 tolas of the juice of the big lime fruit. When dried, the compound is to be put inside eight earthen basins. (In other words, it is, first of all, to be put inside two earthen basins, the joint of which is to be closed by mud and rags, and usual. The puta, thus prepared, is then to be put inside two other earthen basins, the joint being closed, as before. Four more earthen basins are to be made use of in the same way, making the total number of earthen basins eight). The puta, thus prepared, is to be put inside a deep pit filled with (256 x 64) tolas of husk of paddy and 8000 tolas of cow-dung cakes, and the whole thing is to be set fire to. The puta, thus burnt, is to be taken out only when the fire is completely extinguished and the asses are perfectly cooled by a natural radiation of heat. Twelve raktis of this medicine is to be mixed with the same quantity of purified sulphur, previously subjected to bhavana with the decoction of one fourth its weight of maricha. This compound is then to be kept on a piece of betel leaf, smeared with honey, and then licked by the patient. Diet is to be given every three hours commencing from the expiry of one hour after taking the medicine; otherwise, enkindled hunger may at once consume the dhatus or constituent parts of the body. The patient is to avoid all injurious deeds and articles of food stuff for 48 days after taking one dose of the medicine, after, which he may have his own way as regards deeds and diet. If he takes one dose of this medicine at the commencement of every year, he may protect himself from senile decay for twelve years. This is a very good medicine for consumption.

Mahavira-pottali rasa.

Half a tola of copper sulphate, one tola of mercury, cue fourth tola of aconite, half a tola of steel, and one tola, each, of sulphur and pearls are to be rubbed together with the juices of agniparni (chitraka?), harilata’ (shariba?), bhringaraja, ginger, and tulasi, made into a lump, and dried. This is then to be put inside two earthen basins the liner surface of which has been smeared with a paste made of the tuber of langali and heated, as usual, by puta. When cooled by a natural radiation of heat, the contents of the puta are to be taken out and powdered. Twelve raktis of this medicine, mixed with two raktis of purified and powdered aconite, twelve raktis of powdered maricha, are to be taken every day with a little of honey. This medicine cures phthisis, diarrhora, both acute and chronic, indigestion, cough, anemia, gulma. Both milk and meat juice are not to be given to the patient on the same day, on the ground of their being incongenial by combination.

Bhuvaneshvara parpati.

One tola of gold, two tolas of silver, three tolas of copper, four tolas of essence of mica, five tolas of load stone, and one-fourth tola, each, of lead and tin (each of these only purified and not incinerated) are to be melted together, cooled, and then reduced to fine powder by filing. This powder is to be mixed with four tolas, each, of sulphur, manas-shila (realger), and haritala (orpiment), and rubbed together with the amlavargas (see page 301 Vol. I). This compound is to be reduced to ashes by being heated by puta, for twenty times, after having been mixed, each time, with a little of the powder of each of the following:—copper-pyrites, blue anjana, orpiment, realger, and sulphur.

In a separate stone mortar are to be kept purified mercury, double in weight of the ashes referred to above, and sulphur, double in weight of the mercury. These two things, viz. sulphur and mercury, are to be rubbed together and made into a fine kajjali or black powder, with which is to be mixed the ashes of gold, etc., referred to above. The whole of the powder is then to be reduced to parpati, as usual, by being put on an iron pot, and heated by a mild heat of fire made of charcoal prepared from badara wood (see page 262, Vol. IY).

The parpati, thus prepared, is to be powdered very fine, and mixed with an equal quantity of a powder made of orpiment, realger, and sulphur, taken in equal quantities (i, e, each, one third in quantity of the parpati), and two tolas of purified aconite. The powder, thus prepared, is to be melted, in small quantities on a palika (a small ladle-like iron pot used for drawing oil from an oil pot), subjected to a mild heat of fire made of charcoal, prepared from badara wood. In the act of melting in this case, care should be taken to see that the heat applied for melting should not be so strong as to burn the powder which is to be cooled by being thrown upon a piece of plantain leaf, as soon as it is melted. The product, thus prepared, is to be again powdered very fine. It is then to be dissolved with a decoction prepared from five tolas, each, of puti-karanja,^[3] satkola (i.e., pippali, roots of pippali, chabya, roots of chitraka, shunthi, and maricha, combined in equal quantities), kantakari, and roots of shobhanjana, to be boiled in 320 tolas of water, reducible by heating to twenty tolas only. The product, thus dissolved, is to be dried by a mild heat. The process of dissolving the powder with the decoction and then drying it by mild heat is to be performed for seven times only. The product is then to be subjected to bhavana, separately, with the decoctions of each of the following;—fruits of nux vomica and nirgundi. It is then to be put, in small quantities, on a palika, and heated a little, by a mild heat of fire made of charcoal prepared from badara wood. Dose, one rakti, to be taken once a day with a little of honey and powdered trikatu. This medicine cures phthisis (rajayakshma) with all its, symptoms, asthma, cough, cholera, spermatorrhoea, diseases of the belly, aversion to food, discharge of phlegm through the nostrils, vomiting, heart disease, diseases affecting the rectum, colic, leprosy, fever due to vayu. constipation, grahani, diseases due to the drinking of liquor in excess and indicating an abnormal excess of phlegm, rand especially dullness of the digesting heat. While taking the medicine, the patient should avoid, as usual, the following:—oil prepared from sesamum and mustard seeds, bilva fruit, sours, karbella, kusumbha seeds and flower, meat of pigeon and fowl, and brinjals.

Deit and deeds beneficial in phthisis.

In the case of the patient being strong and the dosas (i.e. vayu, pitta, and kapha) being excessively abnormal, mild purification of the body (by a mild purgation, vomiting, etc.) may be resorted to; wheat, mudga, chanaka, rice prepared from rakta-shali paddy; meat, butter, milk, and clarified butter of goat, meat of those animals which live mainly on meat (such as tiger)^[4] and those which are termed jangala, (preferably soup prepared from those meats, especially when the power of digestion of the patient is very weak), ripe and sweet papita, sita or atripya, and mango, amalaki, dates, seeds and roots of lotus, parusaka, water and tender kernel of cocoanut, shobhanjana, patola, tender palm fruit, grapes, madhurika, rock-salt, leaves of vasaka, clarified butter prepared from the milk of cow and buffalo; association with healthy goat, smearing the body with the urine and stool of goats: matsyandika (hardened sugar ball), shikharini (see Bhavaprakasha), sugar-candy, camphor, musk, white sandal, rubbing the body with oil and scented unguents, baths, putting on clear clothes, taking dips in good water, living in houses built of bricks or stones, wearing garlands, hearing of sweet and agreeable words, soft wind, hearing of songs, seeing of dances, exposure to the rays of the moon, hearing of playing on harps: wearing of pearls, rubies, and other ornaments, offering of clarified butter on fire, gifts made to the deserving, worship of gods and the twice born, and articles of food stuff, both salutary and agreeable.

Articles of food-stuff and deeds considered injurious in phthisis.

Purgation, suppression of calls of nature, mental and physical labour, association with wife, fomenting the body, using collyrium, keeping late hours at night, performance of daring acts, exposure to the rays of the sun (except in the frizid climate), taking of food or drink, not mixed with clarified butter or animal fat, taking meals at irregular times and in excessive quantities; betel leaves, water melon, kulattha grams, masa grams, garlics, sprouts of bamboos, hingu, sours, bitters, astringents, pungents, all sorts of pot herbs, alkalis, articles of food-stuff incongenial by combination (see page 9, Vol. 17), beans, karkota, all bidahi articles (see page 7, Vol. IV), betel nuts, pippali, brinjals, taking of oil, sleeping in day time, bilva fruit, anger, sexual intercourse, grief, vexation, envy, and jealousy.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

For details see Bhava prakaska, etc.

[2]:

Some texts have got silver and not copper.

[3]:

Visa karanja or dahara karanja.

[4]:

In hemeptosis and phthisis attended with bleeding, meat of ram which increases pitta should be avoided.