English
(8) A central nervous mechanism produces sleep, not* as a result of asphyxiation, toxins or neuro-toxins {Boiicliard), but to prevent them and to protect the brain- cells from the evil effect of their further accumulation, so that during enforced involun¬ tary rest, the obnoxious products can be elimina¬ ted and the brain-cells can be refreshed and revitalized through the anabolic process (the income of energy being more than its expendi¬ ture)—as an economic accommodation to self- preservation. If the sleep is deep, profound and undisturbed, it will take less time than other¬ wise to oxygenate, tonicize, recuperate and vitalize the brain-cells for the resumption of their activities of sensory-motor co-ordination and reaction. Su 7 iger and tlw'st [hsiit-pipasa) sensations are mediated, probably through the nerve endings PHYSIOLOGY 91 in the stomach and pharynx. Normal hunger is known as the appetite and it is not yet definitely determined whether this impression is conveyed by sensory fibres, distributed to the mucous membrane of the stomach or of the muscular coat. When the stomach is empty, these peri¬ pheral nerve-endings are excited. That it has nothing to do with nutritive needs of the orga¬ nism, is evidenced by the fact that when water or indigestible substances are taken in to fill the stomach, the hunger sense is allayed. From this, it can be concluded that hunger is agastric sense. Of course, when there is a general tissue hunger for lack of nutrition, a general nervousness and discomfort are experienced, due to the resultant nervous excitation. The water needs of the body are experienced through the fibres of the glosso¬ pharyngeal nerve as an end organ of thirst, for we know, that if the pharynx is dried up either by salty or saccharine food, dried air or dust, at once there is a sensation of thirst, though there may be no bodily need for it and it can be ap¬ peased by removing the irritant substances and moistening, the spot. It is . possible that when the tissues give up their storage of reserve-water to compensate the loss of tlve blood, it constantly incurs through respiration, perspiration and 92 ANCIENT HINDU MEDICINE urination, there is a general call for supply of water, and it first expresses the demand through the excitability of the glossopharyngeal nerve,, and if it is extreme through general nerve excita* tion and irritation, as in tissue hunger. Sioeat ( sveda ) is the secretion of the sudori- pareous glands, of which, there are nearly two- millions ( K7'ause ), distributed all over the cuta¬ neous surface, except the glans penis, prepauce and the deeper portion of the external auditory meatus. It is known that with vaso-dilation, their secretion is increased. But it can be also produced, independently, directly through the excitation of the nervous mechanism, as is seen in strong- emotion, cold-sweat of phthisis and other diseases,, when the skin is in anemic state. The stimula¬ tion of the sciatic nerve in cat, has been demon¬ strated to produce profuse sweating on the hairless balls of the feet. Butwhen ananimal with sciatic nerve divided on one side, is made dyspenic„ no sweat appears on the hind limb of that side,, though there is abundance in the other, thus- clearly proving a central nervous mechanism, regulating sweat-glands as vaso-dilation. It seems that picrotoxin and strychnia induce sweating action by influencing the central nervous system while nicotin induces perspira- PHYSIOLOGY tion by acting both centrally and peripherally. As histologically and anatomically the nerve-fibers of the sweat glands and the yaso-constrictors yesemble very closely, it is reasonable to presume, that like the latter, the central nervous regulator of the sweat glands is in the medulla. Sehim (msa) a semiliquid oily material, that is secreted by the sebaceous glands, distributed all over the cutaneous surface, chiefly associated with the hair follicle, but also without it as in the glans penis, lips and the deeper portions of the external auditory meatus, is meant possibly to protect the skin from bacterial invasion, and to prevent the hair from being brittle. Sebum on exposure to air forms a waxy cheesy mass as is seen in the comedones from the occlusion of the ducts, or in the glans penis ( Smegma preputti) or in the auditory meatus {^cerumen— ear-wax ) and it contains fats, soaps, cholesterin, albuminous material ( casein like ), remnants of epithelial cells and inorganic salts. As the sebaceous secretive activites are associated with vaso-dilation, it is presumed that their nei’vous mechanism is the same, although sebum by its oil coating over the skin prevents the undue loss of heat as well as prevents the undue absorption of moisture. Vaso-dilation and vaso-constriction 94 ANCIENT HINDU MEDICINE are regulated by the nerve-fibres belonging to the sympathetic or automatic nervous system. Meat (zisma ) is produced as a reaction of the intracellular oxidation or vital process and absorbed in the blood, it is conveyed to every part of the body to preserve the temperature equilibrium of the hot-blooded animab For heat is being constantly lost from the body through radiation (conduction), evaporation (perspiration fx’om the skin), respiration ( vaporization of water through lungs ), and with urine and feces. If there is excess of heat, it is conducted to the periphery and is radiated with sweat by vaso¬ dilation. If on the other hand, the surrounding air is cold and the body needs to conserve its heat, there is vaso-constriction so that the escape of heat is reduced, as well as the production of heat is stimulated by increased oxidation. In cold¬ blooded creatures as fish, amphibia, reptiles or in the hibernating animals ('poikilothermos ), either the oxidizing process is not yet intense as in the former, or the heat-regulating mechanism is absent or poorly developed as in the latter, and the consequence is that their body tempera¬ ture fluctuates with that of the surroundings. While the hot blooded animal (homoiothermons ) keeps relatively a constant temperature PHYSIOLOGY 95 independent of the surroundings. There is every reason to believe that the heat-regulating mechanism (tissue-oxidation for the prduction of heat, conservation of heat through vaso¬ constriction, and radiation of heat through vaso-dilation ) is controlled by a nervous center, which perhaps is situated either in the pons or medulla. III. PATHOLOGY “Whatever causes pain, is a disease {vyadhi). Diseases are of four kinds : accidental or mechanical {agantit), physical {sarira ), mental (mdnasa), and natural (svabhdvika). Diseases caused by injuries are ^dgcmhd ; of alimentary origin and by the derangement of the nervous, venous, lymphatic and arterial systems, 'sdfira^ ; through anger, sorrow, fedr, joyousness, sadness, jealousy, concentration of mind, misery, haughtiness, greed, envy, desires and longings, 'mdnasa' ; hunger, thirst, senility, sleep and death, are ‘natural’ diseases”. Susvutal.l. 20*‘* . “Again, the diseases originate from seven sources as follows: hereditary (ddivala), maternal (janmavala), alimentrry (dosavala), meehanical (samghatavala), physical ( hcdavala = seasonal ), 44(a). I ^ snflu ■g((rqqi€l5i?;pjgPj5i!T^ cm; i gjci, i ^ PATHOLOGY 97 contagious (dtaicauaZa), and natural {svahhavavala) Susruta I, 24. 4*'. “The diseases that are transmitted through the lesion in the sperm or the ovum of the parents, are hereditary, as ‘kiistha’ (leprosy—there is every reason to belive that the syphilic eruption of the skin and ulceration were regarded as varieties of leprosy) and‘am^’ (hemorrhoids). The hereditary diseases are of two kinds and might come either from father or mother’s side. “The diseases that are produced through the improper regimen (dpachara = wrong food and injurious exercise ) of the mother ( during the intra-uterine life of the fetus) are called maternal as born—lame, blind, deaf, mute, ''minmina' (one who speaks with a hissing nasal accent, due to overgrowth of adenoid tissue in the rhino- pharynx) and the dwarf. These diseases (acquired during the intra-uterine life) are caused by either) mother’s (defective) circulation {rasahrta) or miserable living. “The diseases that are produced through improper food and living, or (reacting through 45, g hhPiv i t — t^gsifTn: i gvcm'fvfir, =<8, i 7 98 ANCIEKT HINDU MEDICINE digestion) anxiety, are 'aUm€ntary\ Alimentary diseases are of two kinds—gastric and intestinal occasioned by physical causes (as improper food and living) or mental causes (as anxiety, fear or nervous excitement). “(The diseases occasioned by) the injuries struck with force on the weak, are ^mechanical' whether by instruments or by ferocious animals. “The diseases that are producd by cold, heat, wind and rain, are ‘physical', whether (they) are natural or unnatural. “The diseases that are produced by the tyranny of the gods (through thunder and lightning), through curses (phobia ), sorceries of the Atharva-veda (infectious diseases ), and through contagion ( syphilis) are ddtva-vala (god-sent, i. e. beyond human control ). These diseases are of two kinds as occasioned by thunder-lightning or by demons (infectious diseases as cholera or small-pox ). And again they are of two kinds—through accident ( as thunder-lightning) or through contact (as syphilis ). “Hunger, thirst, senility ( old-age ), sleep and death etc. are natural diseases. They are of two kinds—timely or untimely. They can be cured PATHOLOGY 99 when they are untimely (i.