149 - Diseases 

Dhanvantari said:

1. Since cough runs its course quickly I shall explain it now. There are five types of cough (1) due to Vayu (2) due to Pitta (3) due to Kapha (4) due to internal wounds (5) due to Consumption. 

2. All these coughs are more and more powerful in the order enumerated above. If neglected, they will end in consumption. A sure sign of their onset is irritation in the throat and allergy to food. 

3-6. The cough generated due to the derangement of Vayu exhibits the symptoms of dryness in the ear cavity and parchedness of throat and mouth. The wind coursing through the lower parts of the body suddenly rushes up, reaches the chest and then presses against the larynx. The agitated wind fills the ducts and vessels and the limbs are as though thrown up. It seems to uproot the eyes from their sockets. With a subdued sound it affects the sides and is passed out of the throat with a sound of a broken bell-metal vessel. It produces pain in the chest, sides, thighs and head. Agitation and fainting may be seen. Aphonia (inability to speak) and dry cough also will be observed. While coughing, shooting pain is felt and loud sound is heard and the patient's body has horripilation too. By spitting out a lump of dry kapha with great deal of difficulty he feels a bit relieved. 

7-9. The cough generated by the derangement of pitta humour exhibits the following symptoms: --Yellow colour in the eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, rise in temperature, vertigo, vomiting of bilious blood, thirst, loss of speech, clouded vision, inebriety and appearance of fiery rings at the time of coughing. 

The cough generated by the derangement of Kapha produces a light pain in the chest, and head as well as numbness and heaviness in the cardiac region: The throat appears to be choked with a sticky lump of Kapha. There is cold in the nostrils as well as vomiting sensation with distaste for food. Horripilation is also observed. 

10-12. Fights, exercises, etc, carelessly indulged in, beyond one's capacity may cause internal wounds in the chest cavity and aggravate the Vayu humour which accompanied by the aggravated Pitta humour makes the kapha also aggravated. The kapha gets mixed with blood and then knotted. It may be yellow or dark in colour. The patient coughs and spits out the dry Kapha lump with an excruciating pain as if the chest is breaking asunder. He feels as if he is being pierced with a number of needles. 

13-14. He feels as if he is being speared through. Pain is felt-in the joints with fever, thirst, gasping for breathing, loss of voice and shivering. Attempting to speak he simply coos like a dove feeling pain at the sides. He spits or vomits Kapha. His digestion is impaired, strength decreases and pallor sets in. 

15. In the debilitated state he passes urine with blood. There is dyspnea (difficulty to breathe) lumbago and back pain. The deranged Vayu then upsets all the Dhatus and makes a Kshatakasa patient a patient of Rajayakshma (Phthisis). 

16. He coughs and spits out kapha a fetid pus like yellow and greenish red mucous matter. 

17. When he tries to sleep he feels as if he is being afflicted with pain. The heart seems to be roasted. Suddenly he evinces a liking for a hot or cold thing by turns. Insatiety in meals and debility also follow. 

18. The face suddenly becomes bright and glossy with eyes shining brilliantly. With this all, the symptoms of the wasting disease are manifested. 

19. This is the nature of cough born of consumption that destroys the bodies of already debilitated persons. In strong men this as well as the cough due to wounds can be cured if they are in the preliminary stage. 

20-21. By careful treatment these ailments and others in the case of old men too can be eradicated. Cough, dyspnea, phthisis, nausea, aphonia and other ailments if neglected are aggravated and so they must be eradicated quickly.