CHAPTER XLI.
Now we shall discourse on the (symptoms and) medical treatment of Phthisis (Śosha-Pratishedha). 1.
Nomenclature: — Wasting or a general emaciation of the frame marks the sequel of and comes in as a premonitory symptom of an organic disease. Any cachectic condition of the body accompanied by a low lingering fever is called Kshaya. A correct diagnosis and a radical cure of the disease under discussion has baffled many a skilful physician. The disease is nameds Śosha*[1] from the fact of its consuming or drying up (Śosha — withering) the vital principles of the body such as Rasa — serum, etc. It is called Kshaya (wasting) since a wasting process is found to accompany all the functional activities of the body during its attack. Since the Moon-god, the king of the Bráhmanas, was the first to fall a victim to its attack, it is also called Rája-yakshmá (king's disease) †[2] by some authorities. 2.
Some say that the disease is produced by the separate action of the three fundamental Doshas of the body. It being usually found to be attended with all
- ↑ * The mythological origin of Śosha (Phthisis) is: —The Moon-god married 27 daughters of Daksha of whom he was attached to Rohini in the extreme. Thereupon the personated wrath of his father-in-law, Daksha entered the Moon-god in the shape of Phthisis, whereby the body of the Moon-god began to emaciate. The Moon-god became penitent and the wrath of his father-in-law having been subdued at the intervention of the other gods, he managed to send down the personated Phthisis to earth to take possession of men indulging in any kind of excess and more particularly — sexual excess. The moon-god was then medically treated and radically cured by the celestial physicians, the twin Aświns.
- ↑ † Cf. Scrofula which is now known as the "King's disease,"
