For inviscid, rotational accretion flows, both isothermal and polytropic, a simple dynamical systems analysis of the critical points has given a very accurate mathematical scheme to understand the nature of these points, for {\em any} pseudo-potential by which the flow may be driven on to a Schwarzschild black hole. This allows for a complete classification of the critical points for a wide range of flow parameters, and shows that the only possible critical points for this kind of flow are saddle points and centre-type points. A restrictive upper bound on the angular momentum of critical solutions has been established. A time-dependent perturbative study reveals that the form of the perturbation equation, for both isothermal and polytropic flows, is invariant under the choice of any particular pseudo-potential. Under generically true outer boundary conditions, the inviscid flow has been shown to be stable under an adiabatic and radially propagating perturbtion. The perturbation equation has also served the dual purpose of enabling an understanding of the acoustic geometry for inviscid and rotational flows.

Final version to appear in MNRAS. 12 pages, one colour and 3 black and white figures