Page:A Short History of Aryan Medical Science.djvu/55

IV.] female foetus, the opposite are the signs, and the form of the uterus is ovoid. Twins are diagnosed by a median depression along the abdomen. When the sides of the woman become full, and the belly protuberant, and when the form of the uterus is hemispherical, the womb is supposed to contain an impotent.

Impotents are of five kinds, namely, Asekya, Sugandhi, Kumbhika, Irshyaka and Shanda. The last is absolutely impotent, possessing no virile power whatever. The rest are relatively so, more or less.

Barren women are divided into five classes, and are known by the names of Kaka vandhya (crow-barren), who bears only once in a lifetime like the crows, which are supposed to lay eggs only once ; Anapatya, who is incapable of conceiving at all ; Garbha sravi, who can conceive but always miscarries ; Mrita vatsa, whose offspring do not survive their birth ; and Balakshaya, who is sterile on account of physical weakness. All these, except the first, are capable of being cured by appropriate medical treatment.

It is particularly desirable to gratify a woman during pregnancy with everything she may conceive a wish for. For in case her wishes are not granted there is a probability of the child