A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c34.227

v2.c34.227

Taking the human body Charaka finds that the fœtus is composed of sixteen organic substances, viz. four, composing the Sperm-cell which comes from the male; four composing the germ-cell which comes from the female; four added by the transformation of the nutritive material, and finally, four kinds of subtile matter, which together form the vehicle of the conscious principle. As to the four organic substances which compose the sperm-cell, or the other four which compose the germ-cell, it is not clear whether in Charaka’s view they are also in their turn compounded of less complex organic substances, or whether their constituent elements are inorganic penta-Bhautic compounds.