1835.] Analysis of a Tibetan Medical Work. 3 



Third Chapter. 

 The theory of the human constitution is illustrated by a similitude taken from the 

 Indian fig-tree (a^'3/ T C^a T ^fr; \ Thus, there are three roots or trunks ; thence 

 arise nine stems ; thence spread 47 boughs or branches ; thence 224 leaves ; two 

 blossoms, and three fruits. The explication of the simile as applied to the states 

 of the body. The single root or basis of diseases ; the stems, branches, and leaves 

 arising thence, taken or considered in a healthy and in a diseased state. Distinc- 

 tions with respect to wind ; ditto, with respect to bile ; as also to phlegm; their re- 

 spective offices, operations or influences. 



There are seven supports of the body on which life depends ; the chyle, 

 blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, and semen. Description of the three sorts of 

 excretions or sordes of the body ; ordure, urine, and sweat. 



The three generative causes of disease are : lust or ardent desire ; passion or 

 anger ; dulness or ignorance. By the first is caused wind ; by the 2nd, bile ; by 

 the last, phlegm. The accessory causes of disease are four: 1, season with re- 

 spect to cold and heat ; 2, any evil spirit ; 3, wrong use of food ; and 4, ill conduct 

 of life. 



The parts of the body, commonly subject to diseases, are six : the skin, the 

 flesh, the veins, the bones, the viscera, and the bowels. 



The proper places of the three humours are : that of the phlegm in the upper 

 part of the body, as the proper place of dulness, in the brain or skull ; that of the 

 bile, in the middle part of the body, which is appropriate to anger ; and the wind 

 resides in the lower part of the trunk, in the waist and loins, as in its proper 

 place. 



There are 15 ways or channels through which disease spreads itself. The channels 

 of the motion of wind are, the bones, the ear, skin, heart, artery, and the guts. 

 The blood, sweat, the eye, the liver, the bowels, are the ways or vehicles of bile. 

 The chyle, flesh and fat, marrow and semen, ordure and urine, the Eose and 

 the tongue, the lungs, the spleen, and the kidneys, the stomach, and the bladder, 

 are the vehicles for the conveyance of the phlegmatic humour. 



With respect to the three humours, this farther distinction is made : wind is 

 predominant in the diseases of old people ; bile, in those of adolescents or youths ; 

 and phlegm, in children. 



With respect to place (or part of the body); wind occurs in the cold parts of the 

 body ; bile in the dry and hot parts ; phlegm abides in the moist and unctuous 



parts. < 



The several seasons, in which the diseases caused by any of these three humours 

 prevail, are thus stated : diseases, caused by wind, arise commonly during the 

 summer season, before the dawn, and about mid-day. Those caused by bile, in 

 autumn, about mid-day and mid-night. Phlegm prevails during the spring sea- 

 son, and in the morning and evening. 



There are specified nine sorts of diseases, in which there is no hope of recovery. 



On the 12 causes by which any of the diseases caused by any of the three hu- 

 mours, is changed into another, as wind into bile and phlegm, &c. 



All diseases are classed under two heads : heat and cold. Those, in which wind 

 and phlegm prevail, being of natural water, belong to cold. Blood and bile, 

 being of natural fire, belong to heat. The diseases caused by the worms and the 

 serum, belong both to cold and heat. 

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