Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c12.10

c12.10

Fever exists when there is simultaneous occurance of symptoms, namely absence of perspiration, heat and pain in all limbs ( Su 6.39. 13 ff. ). The general causes of fever are : improper use of fomenting and other remedies, wounds of various kinds, other diseases, the ripening ( of tumours and the like ), fatigue, infirmity, indigestion, poison, the smell of (certain) plants and flowers, grief, evil influence of stars or seasons, sorcery or malediction, clouded mind or possession and in the case of women difficult delivery or injuries during the confinement or the first milk-secretion in the breasts ( l. c. 19-22 ). The tridoṣas of the body are deranged by such causes and are led astray so that the internal heat comes out rashly and the water element is retained. Therefore, a feverish man has a hot body and no sweat ( Su l. c. 22 f. ). There are eight different kinds of fever, seven of which are due to the derangement of one or more doṣas, and the eighth due to wounds and other external causes (Car 2.1.14; Su 6.39. 15-18; AS 3.2.260 f.; AHr 3.2.3 ). The common signs of an onset of fever are : fatigue, uneasiness, discoloration, bad taste in mouth, water in the eyes, heaviness and tearing in the limbs, want of appetite, nausea, sleepiness, yawning, laziness, tardiness, neglect of work, short breathing, alternative desire and dislike for sweet food, desire for warm, sour, salt and pungent things, excessive thirst, unstableness in walking, aversion to good advice, trembling, giddiness, delirium etc.