[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877) › c4.s10 # The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s10: Silver The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s10 - **Language:** English ### Silver ### [c4.s10.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s10.1) \*Sans.\* रूप्य, \*Rupya\*. तार, \*Tára\*. ### [c4.s10.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s10.2) PURE silver, according to Sanskrit writers, should be soft, white, brilliant and ductile. It should not be discoloured by fire. Impure silver, that is, silver mixed with other metals, is discoloured by fire, of a reddish or yellowish colour, and not ductile. Silver is purified in the same way as gold. It is converted into a black oxide by thin silver leaves being mixed with twice their weight of cinnabar, and heated in the subliming apparatus, called \*Urddhapátana yantra\*. This process is repeated fourteen times. The resulting compound is a fine greyish black powder with minute shining white particles intermixed with it. On chemical analysis it is found to consist of the black oxide of silver. The properties of silver thus prepared are said to be allied to those of gold but somewhat inferior. It is generally used in combination with other metals, such as gold, iron, etc. Dose, grains one to two. The following is an example of a complex prescription containing silver. ### [c4.s10.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s10.3) ∗ \*Makaradhvaja\* is regarded as a preparation of gold, which is supposed to be the active principle of the medicine. The gold used in its preparation however remains below, and the mercury and sulphur only are sublimed in the form of red sulphide. as in the preparation of mercury called \*Rasasindura\*. Properly speaking, therefore, it is but a preparation of mercury, although the gold may possibly exercise some catalytic influence during the process of sublimation. some physicians use the preparation called \*Sadgunabalijarita rasasindura\* (see page 36) under the name of \*Makaradhvaja\*. ### [c4.s10.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s10.4) Vrihat váta gajánkusa.¹ Take of mercury, prepared talc, iron, gold, copper and silver, orpiment, sulphur, ginger, coriander, root of \*Sida cordifolia\* (balá), bark of \*Myrica sapida\* (katphala), \*Rhus succedanea\* (sringi), aconite, long pepper, black pepper, and borax, each one part, chebulic myrobalans, two parts, powder, mix and rub with the juice of \*Sphæranthus mollis\* (mundi) and \*Vitex Negundo\* (nirgundi) for one day. Divide the mass into four grain-pills. They are said to be useful in various nervous diseases. Silver enters into the composition of several other remedies in common use, such as the \*Yogarája\* (see \*silájatu\*), \*Jayamangala rasa\* (see gold) etc. ### [c4.s10.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s10.5) ¹ बृहद्वातगजाङ्कुशः। सूताभ्रतीक्ष्णताम्रायुतारतालकगन्धकम्। स्वर्णं शुण्ठी बलाधान्यं कट्फलञ्चाभयाविषम्॥ पथ्याशृङ्गी पिप्पली च मरिचं टङ्कणस्तथा। तुल्यं खल्वे दिनं मद्यं मुण्डीनिर्गुण्डीद्रवैः॥ द्विगुञ्जां वटिकां खादेत् सर्ववातप्रशान्तये। साध्यासाध्यं निहन्याशु रसोवातगजाङ्कुशः॥ --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s10) · Pramāṇa