Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c13.3

c13.3

The pustules itch, but tolerate the scratching with hand and dry after seven days. 5. *sarṣapikā*—"mustard corn": the pustules have the colour like that of a yellow mustard. 6. *rājikākṛti*—"having the form of *rājikā*, a kind of mustard" (*Sinapis ramosa*). This variety is caused by heat, occurs only in children and dries up easily by itself. 7. The pustules are red, elevated and round, like a red spot, there is pain, fever precedes them and lasts for three days. 8. *carmajā*—"originated in the skin": the pustules become blended together. Vernacular names are also mentioned along with the Sanskrit names. The cure of *śītalā* results in many cases easily and without treatment; other cases are incurable in spite of all remedies. The remedies, particularly for the first variety, consist of sprinkling the split up or unripe pustules with ash of cowdung, applying cold (*śītala*) water which need not be boiled even during the fever, removing the patient to a cold (*śītala*) distant place where nobody is permitted to meet him, driving out the flies with twigs of *nimba* and yellow candock leaves, giving a decantation (*phāṇṭa*) of cold water with sandal-wood and other fever remedies for pacifying the fever. It is, however, said that "many physicians generally give no medicine". In the whole house *nimba* leaves should also be spread over. Principally, however, the goddess *śītalā* who governs all forms of appearance of this disease should be worshipped with sacrificial gifts, ceremonies and a hymn from the *Skandapurāṇa* which a pious Brāhman should recite. The hymn is denoted as *śītalaṣṭakam stotram*, and the goddess *śītalā* riding on an ass is invoked therein as the life-elixir for a patient who has got fever, is affected with bad smelling (pus) and is deprived of eyesight (*Bhāv* 2.4.59-63).