History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c18.s1.t4.27

v1.c18.s1.t4.27

In minerals, mostly the Iron and Copper containing compounds and also Arsenic containing compounds find frequent uses in therapeutics. The use of lead and zinc containing compounds is less common. In other minerals the use of ‘Silājatu’ is more frequent. The use of Copper powder, in case of poisoning produced by the use of poisons mixed with food materials, for inducing vomitting and doing Hṛdviśodhana is worth mentioning. Here the use of Copper was followed by the internal use of Gold powder to neutralise the toxic effects of copper and also of the other poisons. Both these uses of Copper and Gold by ‘Caraka’ are worth mentioning.