a half fingers in length, is called the Gudam (lit — the channel of fecal matter), the interior of which is provided with three spiral grooves. Each of these grooves or ring-like muscles lie a finger and a half apart, and are respectively known as Pravahini, Visarjani and Samvarani, or the grooves of out-flow, defecation and closure of the anus (sphincter ani), covering a space of four fingers and having laterally an elevation of one finger's width. 4.
Metrical Texts:—These grooves are like the involuted indentures of a conch shell, situated one above the other, coloured like the palate of an elephant. A part of the channel, half a finger's width in length as it is usually measured from the outer hairy orifice of the rectum, is called the anus (Gudoushtha). 5 — 6.
The first of the aforesaid grooves or rings lies about a finger's width apart from the orifice of the anus.
Premonitory Symptoms:-A non-relish for food, a tardy and difficult digestion of food (brought into the stomach), acid eructations, a sense of weakness in the thighs, a rumbling sound in the intestines, emaciation of the body, frequent eructations, swellings around the eyes, a croaking sound in the intestines, cutting pain in the rectum (Guda), apparent indications of an attack of phthisis, jaundice, dysentery, cough, dyspnoea, vertigo, somnolence, excessive sleep, weakness of the organs (Indriya), are indications which predict the advent of this disease, and which become more marked with its progress. 7.
The Vataja Type:— Piles, due to the action of the aggravated Vayu, arc non-exuding, rose-coloured, and uneven in their surface. They resemble the Kadamba flowers in structure and are either tubular or sharp-pointed like a needle, sometimes assuming the shape of
