Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c10.11

c10.11

AS 2.5, AHr 2.3 also distinguish 360 bones. In Su. 3.5 there are 300 only, yet the figure 360 was known to him. The whole body is further divided into six chief parts (*aṅga*) : arms, legs, trunk and head. As sub-sections (*pratyaṅga*) are mentioned cranium, belly, back, navel, forehead, nose, ears, eyes, fingers and others. According to Caraka they are 56. There are 6 (or 7) skin-layers in which originate the various diseases like erysipelas, tumours, abscesses, leprosy etc. that go more or less deep. The five sense-organs, viz. the skin, tongue, nose, eyes and the ears correspond to the five sense-functions : feeling, taste, smell, sight and hearing. Besides there are five active organs : hands, feet, anus, genital and the tongue. There are 7 reservoirs (*āśaya, ādhāra*) or hollow entrails in which air, bile, phlegm, blood, undigested food, digested food and urine are contained. Women have besides the eighth for the foetus, called *garbhāśaya*. The internal organs (*koṣṭhāṅga*) are 15 according to Caraka (and Viṣṇu, Yājñ. ), viz. heart, lungs, liver, spleen, bladder, stomach, rectum etc. The seven basic elements (cf. § 34) are separated from each other by the 7 *kalās* which consist of a fluid extract from the basic elements (*dhātu-sāra*) which is compared with the substance of wood. The *kalās* contain or surround, according to their names, flesh, blood, fat, phlegm, faeces, bile and sperm. The second *kalā* which contains blood is found, according to Suśruta, in flesh, particularly in the arteries, spleen and liver, wherefore blood flows out in wounds of flesh just as milk-juice flows out from a tree containing such juice. The nine openings (*srotas, kha, chhidra*) are the mouth, nostrils, ears, eyes, anus and urinary canal. In the case of women there are in addition the breast and vagina. The ten chief places of life (*prāṇāyatana, jīvitadhāman*) are head, neck, heart, navel, anus, bladder, *ojas* (vitality), sperm, blood, temples and the tongue ( AS. AHr, Viṣṇu, Yājñ. ). The quantities of fluid parts are given in *añjalis* "handful"; thus the body contains 10 *añjali* water, 5 *añjali* bile etc. The seven basic elements (*dhātu*) create seven excretas (*mala*), viz. phlegm, bile, secretions of ears, nose etc., perspiration, nails and hair, eye-dirt and fatness of skin. *Mala* has another and more general meaning. Thus Manu 5.135 distinguishes 12 *malas* : fatty secretion of skin, sperm, blood, marrow ( brain ), urine, faeces, nasal phlegm, dirt in ear, phlegm, tears, eye-dirt and sweat. According to Bhāv., the *malas* are innumerable like the hair and pores ( Car 4.7; Su. 3.4 f.; AS 2.5; AHr 2.3; Bhāv 1.1. 55 f. ).