Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c44.s5.2

v2.c44.s5.2

We may recall that at the turn of the Christian era, the Roman traders and writers like Pliny, Ptolemy, the author of The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea noted the diversity of gems, non-gem minerals and metals processed and used in India. The Indians were ‘the first nation who employed minerals internally’. Since the first century AD. cinnabar was used for fumigations which produced speedy and safe salivations. Arsenic and arsenious acids were remedies to intermittants. Mention of stibnite, ochre, realgar in the preparation of medicines is found in Bower manuscript (second half of the fourth century AD). The Bower manuscript (Hoernle, 1893,1907) mentioned the uses of yavakṣāra and sarjikākṣāra (K and Na carbonates), copper and iron sulphates, srotaja añjana, Co/Sb sulphide, calx of brass, etc. in medicine.