Ashtangasamgraha 22.11

22.11

There, from authoritative tradition, [one should examine] the disease: having such-and-such an aggravating cause, such-and-such an origin, such-and-such a seat, such-and-such a nature, such-and-such pain, such-and-such appearance, sound, smell, taste, and touch, such-and-such a premonitory symptom, such-and-such a complication, accompanied by such-and-such increase, steady state, or decrease, having such-and-such a sequel, and having such-and-such a name;

in that [disease] this is the application of remedy, or otherwise its withdrawal.

By direct perception, however, [one should examine] the patient through the respective senses: color, shape, measurement, complexion, luster, feces, urine, excessive vomiting, rumbling of the bowels, cracking in the joints of the fingers and so forth, smell of the body, feces, and color, and touch that is numb, cold, hot, rigid, throbbing, smooth, or rough;

and by interrogation [one should ascertain] the taste in the mouth as normal or abnormal, likewise whether vomiting is easy or difficult, softness or hardness of the bowels, dreams, intentions, birth, onset of disease, constellation, dislikes, likes, pleasure, and pain;

likewise age by direct perception;

and by inference: body distastefulness through lice creeping away;

body sweetness through flies gathering;

likewise digestive fire through digestive capacity;

strength through capacity for exercise;

a disease of hidden symptoms through therapeutic exploratory tests and adverse responses;

the measure of doṣas through the specifics of indiscretion;

exhaustion of lifespan through prognostic signs;

and constitution, mental strength, bodily essence, habituation, and strength through continual observation.

And here it is said:

When the blisters have erupted, he should drink [it] every morning for a fortnight.