Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c13.20

c13.20

§ 69. Inflammations and Tumours:—By *śotha*, *śvayathu*, *śopha*, "swelling" every marked swelling of the skin on any place is to be understood. According to Car 1.18 there are three or seven varieties of *śotha* resulting from the *dosas* or their combination, or two varieties according as they are originated from internal or external (*āgantu*) causes. External or accidental causes are: wounds of every kind, contact with leaves, fruit or juice of Bhallataka (*Semecarpus anacardium*)¹, stinging insects (*śūka*)², poisonous plants, the sweat, skin or urine of poisonous animals, the biting and wound by the horns or claws of poisonous or non-poisonous animals, sea-water, poisonous wind and burning wounds. Internal causes of *śotha* are: improper use of medicines, severe form of vomiting, cholera, leprosy, abortion and other diseases, injurious food and drink etc. *Śotha* is dangerous if it appears in the middle of the body, or is spread all over the body, fatal if it appears on half of the body or spreads upwards. The case is also hopeless if there is breathlessness, thirst, vomiting, fever, weakness, loss of appetite, hiccup, diarrhoea and cough, if the *śotha* spreads from the feet in men and from the mouth in women, or from the anus in both the sexes, if it is old, has its place in belly, throat or in a vital place, is extensive or hard, or attacks children, old people or the weak. According to Caraka local inflammations and swellings on the tongue (*upajihvikā*, *adhijihvikā*), on throat and larynx (*galaśuṇḍi*, *galagaṇḍa*, *galagraha*), on gums (*upakuśa*), on stomach (*udara*, *gulma*), St. Anthony's fire (*visarpa*), red ulcers or boils (*piḍakā*), copper-red and painful boils (*alajī*, also Vedic) and others also belong to *śotha*. The treatment is more internal than external. The diet is also to be regulated carefully (Car 1.18; 6.12; Su 4.23; AS 3.13; 4.19; AHr 3.13; 4.17; MN 243-8; Bhāv 2.3; Vr 39; Vāng 561-74).