The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c9.28

c9.28

Other *Dhamanîs* serving as chyle-ducts and as (venous) blood-vessels.—Besides the special functions performed by the three groups, there are two characteristic functions common to certain classes of *Dhamanîs* which are found in all the three groups, viz. the conduction of chyle and of (venous) blood, *i.e.* of impure blood before it gets its red pigment from the liver. It may also be added that the three principal elements of the body—*Vâyu* (vital current), *Pitta* (bile, or rather the fluid animal heat which produces metabolism, पाक, and flows to all the parts of the body by means of connective passages), and *Kapha* (lymph)—make use of the *Dhamanîs* as well as the *Śirâs* and *Śrotas*, *i.e.* of all manner of conductors in the organism (*cf.* Charaka, **वातपित्तश्लेष्मणां पुनः सर्व्वशरीरचराणां सर्वाणि स्रोतांसि अयनभूतानि—** *Vimânasthâna*, Chapter V.).