Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c12.59

c12.59

§ 61. Consumption and Tuberculosis :- The consumption—one of the chief enemies of humanity in India even at present¹ " is accompanied by many other diseases and stands prominent among many other diseases, is called the disease² of the king ( Soma ) ( rājayakṣman ), consumption ( kṣaya ), pthisis ( śoṣa ) and king of diseases " ( rogarāṭ. AS 3.5.1 = AHr 3.5.1 ). The shorter designation yakṣman also occurs. In the Vedas the compounds rājayakṣma, ajñātayakṣma, pāpayakṣma appear along with yakṣma; however, the Vedic yakṣma has, like most of the cognates ( e. g. old slavic yedza " disease " ) the meaning " disease " in general³. There is a Vedic myth that seems to attribute the consumption to the periodically waning moon⁴. Usually four kinds of causes of this disease are distinguished : excessive physical exercise, suppression of natural excretions,