EAP810/1/1/4

Titles in original script:

நூல் 1: புற சிவப்பு நிதானம்நூல் 2: பிரளி நிதானம்நூல் 3: கரப்பான் நிதானம்+மருந்துகநூல் 4: எச்சி நிதானம்நூல் 5: சூலை நிதானம்நூல் 6: சிவப்பு படல சூத்திரம்;

The manuscript is composed of 6 complete texts, written on the palm leaves numbered from 1 to 80, which deal with a category of child’s diseases. The first leaf of the manuscript presents a salutation to the god Ṥiva of the temple called Tiirumalai Mahātēva kōvil which located at Muñcirai. The manuscript is in excellent state.

Text 1- The text, entitled Puracivappu Nitāṉam, has palm leaves numbered from 1 to 20. It concerns civappu, a category of child’s diseases characterised by red patches on the body. Twenty types of the nosological category are described with their clinical features and treatment. The name of the twenty types are: kontaḷa civappu, vikāri civappu, karuvalāti civappu, upana civappu, cantira civappu, akkiṉi civappu, uḷḷurōka civappu, uṇakkal civappu, karuñcāti civappu, poṇṇi civappu, cūriya civappu, tāṭakai civappu, ēru cakkara civappu, uḷ civappu, uḷnīr civappu, māṅkica civappu, rōma civappu, nākku civappu and timir civappu.

Text 2- The text, entitled Piraḷi Nitāṉam, is composed of palm leaves numbered from 22 to 32 which concern the category of diseases in children called piraḷi. It describes the sub-types of this category with the names, clinical features and treatment. The names of the types are: vāyu piraḷi, pacca piraḷi, akkiṇi piraḷi, pakka piraḷi, tuṭṭu piraḷi, muruku piraḷi, tīrai piraḷi, viṣa piraḷi, cuvāca piraḷi, atticāra piraḷi, vimalakaṇṭa piraḷi, mañcal piraḷi and mukkal piraḷi. Formulations including pills and oil preparations for treating these diseases are described.

Text 3- The text, entitled Karappāṉ Nitāṉam, is written on the palm leaves numbered from 33 to 42 (recto). It concerns the category of eczema in children. Clinical features of the disease and its treatment comprising preparation of medicine are informed. The names of the different sub-types are: māri karappāṉ, koḷḷi karappāṉ, atticāra karappāṉ, cūlai karappāṉ, veṇ karappāṉ, karṇa karappāṉ, irai karappāṉ, ceṅkarappāṉ, viṣa karappāṉ, cura karappāṉ, nīr karappāṉ, veṭi karappāṉ, kativiṣa karappāṉ, maṇṭai cūlai karappāṉ, cura vāta karappāṉ and acāttiya karappāṉ. The text further provides some formulation of medicines such as Māṭalāti kuḷikai and Nāka paṟpam, as well as a medicated ghī and a decoction for cleaning stomach, a medicated ghī for treating piles, a medicated oil (tailam) for treating vālai caṉṉi (delirium), a decoction and a ghī for treating māntam, an oil for reducing pain, a decoction for treating karappāṉ, medicated ghī for treating eighteen types of karappān and an oil specific for treating tōṭai karappāṉ.

Text 4- The text, entitled Ecci Nitāṉam, consists in fourteen verses written on the palm leaves numbered from 42 (verso) to 44. It presents the clinical features of the nosological category called ecci (growth of flesh behind uvula or in the palate). It describes three types with names and medicines for each type which are: vilā ecci, pitta ecci and cilērpaṇa ecci.

Text 5- The text, entitled Cūlai Nōy Nitāṉam, is written on the palm leaves numbered from 51 to 60. It details four types of cūlai (colic pain) and the treatment for each type: vāta cūlai, pitta cūlai, cērpa cūlai, kiranti cūlai and mēka cūlai.

Text 6- The text Civappu Paṭala Cūttiram consists of seventy six verses inscribed on the palm leaves numbered 61 to 77. It describes the clinical features of the different sub-types of the nosological category of civappu (see text 1) and the treatment of each type. The types which are mentioned are: iṭai civappu, piṅkalai civappu, cuḻimuṉai civappu, piḷḷai pirantavuṭan unṭākum civappu, neri civappu, tuṭai cikappu, vayir cikappu, toppu cikappu, vilāpura cikappu, kuyya cikappu, ciracu cikappu and muka cikappu. The text details formulations for treating cikappu, such as ointments and medicated ghī against cikappu karappāṉ. Additionally it describes the clinical features of cilērpaṇa curam and tonta curam, provides the formulation of decoctions for treating fever, among them pitta curam and other remedies for fighting fever: castor oil, gruel of rice, collyrium and a medicated oil prepared from breast milk. It recommends Karpūrāti tailam for treating troubles during pregnancy (karppa nōy).

Size of the manuscript: 30,3cm x 3,2cm. The palm leaves of the text 1 are numbered from 1 to 20; of the text 2 from 22 to 32; of the text 3 from 33 to 42; of the text 4 from 42 to 44; of the text 5 from 51 to 60 and of text 6 from 61 to 77. The maanuscript contains 1 leaf with a saluation to Civaṉ, 5 blank leaves n° 45-49 and 3 blank leaves numbered from 78 to 80. The manuscript is in excellent state.