The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c3.28

c3.28

“Soomboolkhar, ‘the white oxide of arsenic.’ There are six kinds of this, one named Sunkia, the third Godanta, the fourth Darma, the fifth Huldea. The Yunani physicians do not allow this to form a part of their prescriptions, as they believe it destroys the vital principle. The physicians of India, on the contrary, find these drugs more effectual in many disorders, than others of less power, such as the calx of metals. For this reason too I am in the habit of seldom giving these remedies internally, but I usually confine my use of them to external application and as aphrodisiacs which I prescribe to a few friends, who may have derived no benefit from Yunáni prescriptions. It is better however to use as few of them as possible.” 1