Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c11.35

c11.35

§ 47. Obstructed Delivery¹ :— The designation of abnormal position of the foetus as mūḍhagarbha—“the foetus gone astray (entangled) or coming by improper direction” is based on the theory that the retroperistaltic movements of the wind are considered as the cause of the same. After the enumeration of the symptoms of death of the foetus in the womb mentioned in § 45, it is said in AS 2.4.217 : a foetus pressed and entangled in various places by the retroperistaltic movements of the wind entering the yoni somehow or the other, not in the proper manner, is called the mūḍhagarbha. The positions are innumerable, as the pressure due to the retroperistaltic movements of the wind is of manifold nature. Yet there are three chief directions : upward direction, downward direction and oblique direction. Further there are eight positions which will be described later. AHr 2.2.36 lays down in brief the variety of the positions caused by the