Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c14.1

c14.1

§ 82. Eye-diseases¹:— The diseases of the part of the body above the collar-bone (*ūrdhvāṅga*, *ūrdhvajatru*) form a special group the treatment of which is gathered together under the name *śālākya* i. e. finer surgery, especially ophthalmology, from *śalākā*—probe, particularly for piercing the eye-skins. The Bower MS 2.848-90 and 1.68 ff. mentions cataract (*kāca*, *timira*) and many other eye-diseases. According to Su 6.1.29 f. there are 76 eye-diseases : 10 from *vāta*, 10 from *pitta*, 13 from *kapha*, 16 from blood, 25 from all *doṣas*, 2 external. The same number is given by Car 6.26.72 f. where reference is made to ophthalmological works (*śālākyatantra*) for details. According to Bhāv 2.4.87 there are 78 eye-diseases. cf. § 35. Causes of origination of eye-diseases (*netra-*, *akṣi-roga*) are : cold bath after hot exposure, looking at a distance, irregularity of sleep, dust or smoke, suppression of excretions or excessive vomiting, too much crying, grief or anger, wounds, sexual extravagance, defective diet etc. (Su 6.1.26-28; MN 366 ff.). The most important individual diseases according to Mādhava are :