This section is from the book "The Sushruta Samhita", by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna. Also available from Amazon: The Sushruta Samhita.
By the ordination of fate or necessity (unfathomable natural cause), the Pittam, located in the region between the stomach (Amashaya) and the intestines (Pakvashaya), helps the digestion of the four kinds of food such as drink and edibles etc.) partaken of by a living subject, and purges off the residue or impure morbiferous matter in the shape of urine and excreta after the completion of the process. Even thus located, it keeps up the temperature in its other distant locations (skin, etc.) in virtue of its native heat-giving attribute. Hence this Pittam is called the Pachakagni (digestive fire or heat) in an animated organism.
The function of the Pittam, which has its seats in the liver and the spleen, consists in imparting its characteristic pigment (Ragakrit) to the lymph-chyle and is hence known as Ranjakagni (lit : - dyeing fire or pigment bile.)
The Pittam seated in the heart is denominated as the Sadhakagni (performing or operating heat or fire) inasmuch as its action is to bring about the fruition or realisation of one's desires.
The Pittam, which is located in the pupils of the eyes, is called the Alocha-kagni (the Pittam or fire of sight) as its office is to catch the image of any external object presented to the eyes.
The Pittam, which has its seat in the skin, is called the Bhrajakagni (illuminating or irradiating heat) inasmuch as it absorbs the substances used in the shape of unguents, lubrications, etc. and irradiates the glow of one's natural complexion.
The Pittam is a keen, sharp and warm liquid, of a blue colour in its normal state), or yellowish (in its deranged condition). It emits a kind of fleshy smell and is possessed of a pungent taste which is transformed into an acid one when deranged or vitiated.
Now we shall describe the locations of Kapham. The stomach (Amashaya), which is the seat of Kapham, occupies the same position as regards its location to that of Pittam as the sun holds in relation to that of the moon. And since the stomach (Amashaya) is situated above the pancreas (Pittashaya), and is endowed with a property (cooling; contrary to the primary virtue (heating; of Pittam, and, since the heat emitted by the receptacle of Pittam is naturally radiated in an upward direction, the four kinds of food, brought in to the stomach (Amashaya), are boiled and transformed into a soft placid mass (chyme), like rice boiled in a bowl full of water placed over a burning oven. The food, thus brought down into the stomach, is easily moistened, disintegrated and digested by coming into contact with the oily secretions of the stomach (Amashaya).
The Kapham is originated through the sweet, slimy, watery, exudating character of the food brought into the stomach (Amashaya); and hence the Kapham becomes endued with similar attributes.
 
Continue to: