English
The gummata (or syphilitic nodes) are hard and ulcerate freely in the 'kapha' affection of the disease, and they cause stricture of the pharynx. The gummata ulcerate deeply and are very intractable and have all the triple complication in the 'sannipata' (acute) affection of the disease. The gummata have all the symptoms of the ‘jntta' affection of the disease, and are covered with the abscesses in the blood lesion of the 'rohini' ; it is incurable. A plum-stone like (zizyphus jujubse), rough and hard tumor that develops and causes terebrant pain, is called 'kantha-mluka' {carci¬ noma of the pharynx) ; it is curable by operation. Susruta II. 16. 49-55*^=. 142 . ^ 324 ANCIENT HINDU MEDICINE If a tumor ( syphilitic or tuberculous cancer ) appears at the root of the tongue due to the vitiation of the *hapha and the blood’ as it appears on its tip, it is called *adhi-jihvd’ {cancer of the tongue) • and if it suppurates, it is incurable. The tumescence that develops like a bracelet and causes the stricture of the esophagus, is called the ^valaya’ ( hypertrophic thickening in the phreno-cardiac portion of the gidlet) ; it is intractable and incurable. The inflammation that causes dyspnea, pain and devitalising, due to the derangement of ‘‘hapha and myu’ is the *valdsa’ ( stenosis of the trachea, caused by acute edematous inflam¬ mation from diphtheria and specific fevers, sometimes leading to perichondritis and erysipe- gsTt" t ii v- W- a n kk DISEASES 325 las spreading down the throat or spreading to the mucosa through a tracheal wound); this is hard to cure. The globular, elevated, congestive, pruritic, slightly suppurative, sweetish and heavy inflammation that is developed in the tonsils, due to the vitiation of *hapha and the hlood\ is called the *eka-vrnda’ (phlegmonous or suppura¬ tive tonsilitis). The elevated and the globular inflammation that develops with high fever and ‘hyperaemia’; is called the *x>vnda' (follicular or lacunar tonsilitis); if it be of ‘‘mta’ origin, it causes pricking pain. The hard tumor that develops causing stricture of the esophagus, due to the corruption of the humors, resembling ^^ataghnf which is a stone covered with iron pikes, and likewise the tumor that is covered with papillae, is called the ‘Maghni’ {'papilloma) ; it is an incurable disease, and it has all the complications of the three corrupt humors ( malignant papilloma of the esophagus). The hard and slightly painful tumor that develops in the esophagus, causing dysphagia, and resembles in appearance and shape the stone of ‘Emblic 'myrobalan\ is called the 326 ANCIENT HINDU MEDICINE ‘gilZiyu\ benign fibi’oma of the esophagus ). It is curable by operation. The tumescence that develops througboufe the throat, due to the corruption of the three humors, is called the ‘gala-mdradM ( paren¬ chymatous goitre in which there is a general and uniform enlargement of the thyroids and the vesicles are over-distended with colloid secretion, which however does not escape freely into the lymphatics); it causes all hinds of pain of the corrupt humors, as pricking pain, hypersemia and pruritis, and has all the complications of an acute abscess (parenchy¬ matous goitre may be provoked by septic absorption from a local septic lesion as carious tooth, an ulcer, suppurative tumor or drinking* water from a contaminated source). If such a large turner develops in the esophagus, due to the corruption of the *kapha and the hlood,' as to cause aphagia, dyspnea and high fever, it is called the- ‘galaugha' (a large epithelioma that causes the stricture of the esophagus and the trachea). The disease in which, due to the stenosis of the trachea, the patient suffers from dyspnea and falls into a swoon, the voice is broken, the throat becomes dry and the patient collapses, is* D ISBASES 327 called the 'svaraghna* (stenosis of the trachea may be caused by many diseases as : (l)enlarge- ment or neoplasm of the thyroids ; (2) enlarge¬ ment and the tumor of the thymus ; (3) media¬ stinal tumors or abscesses ; (4) pressure stenosis by aneurism; (5) tertiary syphilitic lesions ). The disease in which there is an extensive, very painful and continuous inflammation which gradually causes stenosis of the throat, is called ^mamsa-tana' {syphilitic ulceration of the throai)\. it is deadly and arises from the corruption of the three humors. The disease in wliich there is a bleeding inflammation with pricking pain and hyperaemi^ and which ulcerates with cadaverous odor, especi¬ ally on the side the patient sleeps, is called the 'oidarV ( syphilitic gangrenous ulceration of the throat ). Susruta II. 16. 56-67**®. 143. ^5^ 3 I ^ i f^gurr frTtadt T: ^f?^sqT5Pn3|n'‘^ I i: II k5: 328 ANCIENT HINDU MEDICINE Diseases of the Buccal Cavity. The buccal cavity is covered with ulcers with pricking pain in the *vata sarvva-sara* ( ulcera¬ tive stomatitis or putrid sore of the mouth occurs in oral sepsis, especially associated with carious tooth or pyorrhea ). The buccal cavity is covered with small reddish or dark-yellowish vesicles ( small, slight¬ ly raised whitish plaques starting as vesicles, surrounded by a red areola) in 'pitta sarvva-sara' {aphthous or follicular stomatitis, which is very IT^ S!lw^J q: DISEASES 329 common in infants and young cliildren associat¬ ed chiefly with indigestion, but also prevails in adults when the general health is impaired ). The buccal cavity (especially on the tongue and the inner margins of the lips) is covered with pruritic, slightly painful and skin-colored ^ ■ - _^ , cTrsn^Tf \ tHt: >a^RTl 5^: 11 iRTprawt ir: VD irnippjrg fgqnR: ii fqu J qr^ g ^ ^ ii I® s^gwfeiT, f^FresTWJs^, U 330 ANCIEKT HINDU MEDICINE patches in ‘kapha sarvva-sara' ( mycotic or para¬ sitic stomatitis in which small, slightly elevated, pearly white spots are developed through *saccharoniyces (p'idinm) albicans' in debilitated children and old people ). All the symptoms of aphthous stomatitis appears in stomatitis from blood vitiation, and by many authorities, it is called the ‘muhha- ;pdka’ ( acute or catarrhal stomatitis in w'hich the mucosa membrane of the mouth is more or less extensively reddened, dry and hot, with associated salivation and swelling of the tongue, due to gastro-intestinal disturbances or due to irritants as alcohol or tobacco )” Susruta II. 16. 69 - 72 ^**. 144. Pl-e+iMig, ii so h t u fwrr^ <5^ Ifsigrt ii DISEASES 331 VI. Tumors. '‘Tumor {granlhi)y abscess (vidradhi), neoplasm {alaji perhaps means edema, as arvvuda has been definitely defined as neoplasm), all develop from hiflammation ( Sotha ). They have all their own individual charateristics, and tumors are of various kinds. The swelling that is extensive,, slightly elevated, of even or uneven surface, in the skin ( including mucous membrane ) and the tissues, confined to a part of the body due to a lesion, is called the ‘sotha’ (inflammation ).” Susruta 1. 17. 2***. "‘Sotha’ is of three varieties, 'vayu, pitta and hapha'. Either they originate from internal causes ( in the process of . eliminating toxins produced as a metabolic reaction, or, introduced into the economy) or external lesions (as trauma¬ tism, microbic invasion or local irritants ). Cutting, penetrating, crushing, lacerating, press¬ ing, beating, binding and all kinds of wound and oppression of the tissue cause inflammation; as well as the contact of the (toxic or irritant sub- qv 332 ANCIENT HINDU MEDICINE stances) flower, fruit or juice of ‘Semecarptis anaGardium\ sting of insects ( mucuna pruritus ) and ( penetration ) of microbes ( hrimi ), at the contact of injurious leaves, vines and bulb ( as that of the poison ivy, Ithtis radicans ), the per¬ spiration, or exci'eta of a poisonous creature, a wound of a poisonous or non-poisonous creature by tooth, born or nail, poisonous gas (visa vdta) and fire—all these cause inflammation.” Charaka I. 18. 1>"*. “Vomiting, tympanites, cholera, dyspnea, asthma, diarrhoea, tuberculosis, anemia, gastro¬ intestinal troubles, menorrhagia, flstula-in-ano, and piles by osmosis (aii-X'r5aa=excessive pres¬ sure ) cause (edematous) inflammation.” Charaka 1. is! 4*"". When the tissues are injured by mechanical I DISEASES 333 agents, or, by chemical, thermic or bacterial irritants or their toxins, inflammation sets in as a restorative process of the tissue repair. When a mechanical agent has produced a cut, the edges of the wound are slightly separated, and the open vessels are bleeding. The first reactions will arrest the hemorrhage. On the one hand, the calibre of - the vessels will contract in consequence of the direct excitation of the nonstriated muscular fibers entering into the structures of their walls, and on the other hand as the result of reflex constriction. The blood flowing with less force, will coagulate j fibrine will be formed, and its effect will be to occlude the vessel, to assure hemostasis and to unite the edges of the wound, and then serve as a nutri¬ tion and as a guide to cells which will insure reparation. This commences when the cellular elements lining the wound begin to proliferate and form a cicatrix. To facilitate the work, the leucocytes rush in, some to take part in the formation of the tissues and others to carry away the dead cells. This causes inflammation. The same phenomenon occurs, with a chemi¬ cal irritant or toxin ; if it be weak and diluted,^ it might be absorbed and neutralized without any perceptible local reaction.