[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.s14 # The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s14: Bell Metal and Brass The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s14 - **Language:** English ### Bell Metal and Brass ### [c4.s14.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s14.1) BELL metal, (कांस्य, Kánsa), as used in medicine, is an alloy of copper and tin. Brass, (पित्तल, Pittala) is an alloy of copper and zinc. They are sometimes used in combination with other metals, and are regarded as tonic and alterative. They are purified and reduced to powder in the same way as copper. The following is an example of a preparation containing bell metal. ### [c4.s14.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s14.2) Nityánanda rasa.³ Take of mercury, prepared copper, iron, bell-metal and tin, purified orpiment, sulphate of copper and calcined conch-shell and couries, sulphur, ginger, long pepper and black pepper, the three myrobalans, baberung seeds, the five salts, namely, rock, sun-dried sea, black, sonchál and Sambar Lake salts, \*Chavica officinarum\* (\*chavika\*), long pepper root, \*havusa\* (an aromatic substance), \*Acorus Calamus\* (\*vacha\*), \*Curcuma zedoaria\* (\*sati\*), \*Stephania hernandifolia\* (\*páthá\*), \*Pinus deodara\*, cardamoms, seeds of \*Argyreia speciosa\* (\*vridhya dáraka\*) each two tolás, rub together with the juice or decoction of chebulic myrobalans and make into ten-grain pills. They are given in hydrocele and elephantiasis of the scrotum. The remark that, when a disease has a long list of drugs for curing it, one may take it for an incurable one, is well exemplified in this medicine for elephantiasis of the scrotum. ### [c4.s14.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s14.3) ³ नित्यानन्दरसः। हिङ्गुलात् सम्भवं सूतं गन्धकं मृतताम्रकम्। कांस्यं वङ्गं हरितालं तुल्यं शङ्खं वराटकम। विकट त्रिफलालोहं विडङ्गं पटु-पञ्चकम्। चविकापिप्पलीमूलं हवुषाच वचातथा। शटीपाठादेवदारु एलाच --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s14) · Pramāṇa