Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c13.15

c13.15

*Śvitra*—"white leprosy" is frequently mentioned along with *kuṣṭha* as minor disease which occurs in subsequent births as a punishment for minor misdeeds. Closely connected or identical with this is *kilāsa*, already coming in the Atharvaveda as a disease characterized by white and grey spots and referred as a white leprosy (*śvetakuṣṭha*) by the commentators. According to Datt (61) leucoderma is meant by *kilāsa* in medicine. Probably, however, the white (smooth or anesthetic) leprosy is at the same time meant thereby, since both the diseases are frequently met with in India and are so difficult to distinguish that at the last census special instructions had to be given on that point. According to Suśruta, *kilāsa* is differentiated from *kuṣṭha* by the fact that the former rests only in the skin and is without discharge. According to AS, AHr, MN, *śvitra* or *kilāsa* can invade blood, flesh and fat and is then worse successively. The disease is curable if the hair on the body are not white (but black), the spots are not big and are not confluent or appear like burnwounds.