A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c25.605

v1.c25.605

Chapter three (garbhopakaraṇīya), which corresponds to part of chapter one of the Śārīrasthāna of the Hṛdaya, discusses the following subjects: dietary and other rules for a pregnant woman during the first month (3.2) and second to seventh months;⁸⁷ women say that vidāha arises in the mother during the seventh month, caused by the appearance of the hair of the head in the foetus; this view is rejected by Ātreya, who says that, due to the pressure of the foetus, the doṣas reach the region of the mother's heart and cause vidāha, which, in its turn, results in itching (kaṇḍū) and, later, the appearance of striae (kikkisa)⁸⁸ (3.3); the treatment of itching and skin disorders caused by the striae (3. 4);⁸⁹ the diet during the eighth month; Khaṇḍakāpya disagrees withthe rule, asserting that the articles of diet mentioned may lead to paiṅgalya in the child; Ātreya defends the rule regarding diet, saying that the advantages prevail on this risk (3.5);⁹⁰ clysters which are useful during the eighth month (3.6);⁹¹ these clysters should be applied in a bent position (nyubja) (3.7); the diet up to the time of delivery according to Dhanvantari (3.8);⁹² useful measures from the ninth month onwards (3.9);⁹³ prescriptions for the daily bath (3.10); the construction of the maternity home (sūtikāgāra) (3.11);⁹⁴ rules for its entry (3.12);⁹⁵ signs indicating the approach of delivery (3.13);⁹⁶ the management of this stage by experienced women (3.14);⁹⁷ additional measures to be taken (3.15);⁹⁸ the spontaneous turning (parivartana) of the foetus and the measures necessary when this fails to occur (3.16);⁹⁹ others advise the woman to pound the grain with which a mortar has been filled; this method is rejected;¹⁰⁰ the reasons for this rejection are given (3.17);¹⁰¹ the parturient woman should lie down now; an experienced woman sitting at her feet should put oil on her yoni, press her buttocks with her feet, and urge her to push gently (3.18);¹⁰² at the same time, another woman should mutter two mantras in her left ear;¹⁰³ the second mantra refers to Soma, Citrabhānu, and the horse Uccaiḥśravas ¹⁰⁴ (3.19–23); the management of the expulsion of the placenta (3.24–25);¹⁰⁵ the treatment of protracted labour (garbhasaṅga) (3.26);¹⁰⁶ the management of retention of the placenta (23.27–28);¹⁰⁷ other measures useful in this condition (3.29–33);¹⁰⁸ the symptoms and treatment of makkalla (3.34–35);¹⁰⁹ the treatment of a prolapsed uterus (yonibhramśa) (3.36); the treatment during the first few days after delivery (3.37–38);¹¹⁰ the treatment in the later stages of the lying-in period (3.39); the rules should be observed very carefully because diseases occurring in the puerperium are difficult to cure or incurable;¹¹¹ the restrictions valid for the puerperium after six weeks; the new mother is then called vigatasūtikā; others hold that the period is longer and continues until menstruation sets in again (3.40–41).¹¹²