Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

In the eighth month the foetus draws from the mother, and the mother draws from the foetus, through the juice-bearing ducts, again and again, that ingredient ( dhatu ) which is called ojas. Indeed, each takes it from the other (at successive moments of time).

This takes place in consequence of the fulness of the child in the womb.

Hence is it that the mother, at this stage of her pregnancy, frequently becomes filled with joy and as frequently with grief. The same becomes the condition of the child in the womb. Hence, at this stage of pregnancy, the life of the child in the womb becomes fraught with danger in consequence of the inconstancy - of the ojas.

Beholding this, the eighth month is not counted by those who are skilled (in the science of obstetrics).31*

When the eighth month has elapsed by even one day,— when,, indeed, the ninth month has been attained, they say that from this to the tenth month is the time for delivery.

This is the time for delivery.

* Many errors occur in this passage, as printed in most editions. GangSdhara reproduces it correctly. After 1 Rasavahinibhih ’ in the first clause, some texts read ‘ samvahinibhih. 1 This is scarcely necessary. After the Word ‘glana 1 in the third clause, occur the words ‘ tatha cha garbhah. ’ These are wrongiy omitted in many editions. Again, for ‘ Janmavyapattimat ’ some editions read ‘ Janmavyapat. ’ The sense remains unaltered what¬ ever reading is preferred, although the former seems to assist the cause of perspicacity.

What the Rishi says here is this : in the eighth month, the mother sucks the ojas of the child, and the child also sucks the ojas of the mother. They go on doing this at successive moments of time. As the. ojas is the most substantial of all the dhatus or ingredients of the body, when the mother draws the ojas of the child, she becomes cheerful in consequence of an accession to her body of this material. The child, at such a time, losing '.his ojas, becomes languid, and drooping. Similarly, when the child sucks in :the ojas of the mother, the effects are reversed .

The eighth month is “ not counted : ” this means that in consequence of the very great danger there is to both mother and childj physicians do .not hope for. the birth of the child unless and until the eighth month is past.— T,

CHARAKA SAMHITA

p. 750

After this, delivery would be regarded abnormal.*84

The womb is the place of the foetus.

It is in this way (viz., as described above) that it grows suc¬ cessively in the womb.88

. Through the worth of the several entities and incidents, beginning with mother, which cause conception, as also through the faultlessness of (the mother’s conduct), through ripeness of time and the development which Nature brings, the foetus grows in the Womb, aided by the oily substances secreted by the mother’s internal organism and the vapours generated therefrom by heat

♦The rending ‘adacamanmasat ’ is preferable to * 5dwadacamas5t. ’ The first means — ‘ till the tenth month the second, — ‘ till the twelfth month. 1 Gangadhara adheres to the second reading and quotes Sucruta in support. The fact, however, is that by accepting the first reading one makes Charaka agree with the judgment of the House of Lords in what is known as the Gardiner Peerage case. That judgment has been accepted throughout the civilised world It . should be known that in the Gardiner Peerage case medical experts from almost evey European country were examined by both parties. As might be expected, there was considerable difference of opinion. Each witness spoke from his own experience. Some set down the limit of gestation as even 48 weeks. These cases, however, were admitted to be exceptional. The result of the medical testimony, as analysed by the aid of legal acumen, was though 40 weeks were generally said to be the period of gestation, yet 44 weeks were declared to be the longest limit. The infant having been born more than 44 weeks after the date on which its parents had separated, was declared illegitimate. Conception is generally counted from the last appearance of the menses. As a matter of fact, conception may arise from insemination immediately before the date of the next menstrual flow, viz., that whose nonappearance first leads to the supposition that there has been conception. Hence, to 40, weeks calculated from the last menses, 4 weeks fairly admit' of being added, as pointed out by the attorney-general and as admitted by all the medical witnesses in the Gardiner Peerage case.