Chapter CLXV - The Nidanam of Bodily parasites

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each with a corresponding epithet of its own, have been enumerated (in the ayurveda).

The external bodily parasites are but the offspring of the excrementitious matter of the body—vermin of the shape and colour of mustard seeds that usually infest the hairs and wearing apparels of persons of uncleanly habits. Although of extremely attenuated size, they are provided with a large number of tiny legs, Yukas and Likhyas being the representatives of these species. Two of these species should be regarded as the cause of two different diseases such as Urticaria (Kotha) and Itches (Kandu). All types of cutaneous affections (Kushtham) should be attributed to the presence of parasites in the skin. The external parasites originate from the mucous discharges or secretions of the body. The deranged Kaphah in the system, augmented through ingestions of incompatible articles of fare as treacle, sweet rice, milk, milk-curd, fish or newly harvested rice, give rise to the germination of a kind of worms, which, when fully developed, spread therefrom all through the organism. Some of them are circular in shape like the solar disc, some of them are shaped like common earth worm, some are long and transparent, while others are like newly sprouting paddy. Some of them are white and striated in shape, while others are copper-colouted. There are seven varieties of internal worms which are respectively named as the Antrada (Gnawer of the intestines), Udaravesta (encompasser of the abdomen), Hridayada (eater of the heart), Mahaguda (the great rectal one) Chyura, Darbha-Kusuma (Darbha flower) and Sugandha (Odoriferous one). The presence of any of these kinds of parasites in the human system is marked by nausea, water brash, indigestion, swoonings, vomiting, fever, tympanites with suppression of the stool, flatus and urine, emaciation of the body, purging and running at the nose. The extremely small parasites, which are found in the blood or blood-carrying vessels, are round, copper coloured, and are devoid of legs. Several varieties of these parasites are so small as to be invisible to the naked eyes. Six of these species, which have been named as Keshada (hair-eater), Roma-Vidhvansa (destroyer of bodily hairs) Udamvara (figcoloured), Roma dvipa, Saurasa, and Matri should be regarded as the primary cause of Leprosy^-and of cutaneous affections in general.

The worms, which grow out of the feces in the intestines, usually travel in a downward direction to the anus, but when fully developed they ascend into the stomach, imparting a smell like feces to breaths, and eructations. Some of these varieties are elongated in shape, some are round, some are extremely attenuated in size, some are white, some black, some yellow, and some brown. They are respectively known as Kakerukas, Makerukas, Sansuradas, Kasulakhyas and Lalehas. Travelling in contrary directions, these intestinal worms produce purging, colic, tympanites, emaciation of the body with dark rings round the eyes, palour, horripilation, impaired digestion, and an itching sensation about the anus.