Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c11.13

Language: English

c11.13.1

The approach of delivery is known by the following symptoms : relaxation of limbs, fatigue in the eyesight and in the eyes, looseness and feeling of loosening of the bonds of the breasts, sinking of the belly and a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, stinging in the breasts, bladder, hips, sides and back, pain and twitching in the genitals, loss of appetite, expectoration, evacuation and passing of urine and mucus discharge from the vagina. Then begin the birth-pains and discharge of uterine liquid. As soon as the birth-pains begin, an amulet is tied to her (AS, AHr), blessings are given to her, fruits with names of male race are given in her hand, male children are kept around her, she is anointed and bathed with warm water and is given to drink a large quantity of rice-gruel. She should lie on a low and soft bed, with bent thighs and curved back, with the face turned upwards. The bed should be covered with cushion and a red bull-hide (AS). There should be four experienced and courageous women of advanced age and with clean clothes before whom she may not feel shy, who have cut their nails and who cheer her with friendly words. Then fragrant powder should be given her repeatedly to smell; she should be perfumed and anointed with lukewarm oil particularly on the genitals, whereby the coming out of the foetus with head below is expedited.

c11.13.2

That the turning of the foetus has resulted, is known from the fact that it is loosened from the heart of the woman, comes in the belly and reaches the neck of the bladder, whereby pains become more frequent ( Car, AS, AHr ). According to Car, AS, AHr she should then be placed on her bed and should try to press out the foetus while one of the women encourages her. Different views are held on the point whether, in case the delivery does not take place even after the pains, she should get up and pound corn in a mortar with a pestle, evidently in order to intensify the pains by these severe movements. Car and AS express their opinions against it, because the pregnant woman must always avoid severe physical exertions and because she is particularly sensitive at the time of delivery and her life is in danger. Instead of that Car, AS, AHr recommend going around and yawning. The untimely pressure without preceding pains is bad and injures the mother as well as the child, which thereby comes in the world crippled or sickly. The woman should first press gradually, then rather forcibly and at last when the foetus comes out very strongly, until the delivery is effected. While she presses, the women around should gladden her by saying: "born, born a good son".

c11.13.3

If the foetus remains stuck (Su, AS, AHr), the vagina should be smoked with the skin of black serpent or with the piṇḍita plant, or a root of hiraṇyapuṣpī should be tied around her hands and feet, or she should hold certain plants in her hand (Car 4.8.36; Su 3.10.11; AS 2.3; AHr 2.1.83). Similar procedure takes place if the placenta does not come out³. Thus a woman should examine the confined woman in order to ascertain if the placenta has come out or not (Car). If it has not come out, one of the women should press her forcibly above the navel with the right hand, should seize her back with the left hand and should shake her thoroughly. Then she should press her on the hips with her heels, should clasp her buttocks and should press them together with all strength. Then she should put into her throat a braid of hair or a finger with hair⁴ twisted around. The vomiting effected hereby can also be caused by giving certain vomiting and other substances causing nausea, such as urine. Smoking of the vagina and douches in the same, rubbing the genitals with pungent substances, oil-clysters, smearing the forehead with the milk of wolf, or rubbing the heels and hand-palms with lāṅgalī root, eating certain medicines like e. g. a decoction of various plants in which the detached right ear of a living male donkey is dipped, pulling out of the placenta with the hand after oiling the same and cutting the nails, and other remedies are also prescribed (Car 4.8.40; Su 3.10.21; 17;

c11.13.4

AS 2.3.209-12; AHr 2.1.74-91).