The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s19.7

c4.s19.7

सौवर्चल *Sauvarchala* called *sonchal* or *kálánimak* in Hindustani is said to be aromatic, agreeable and digestive, and useful in the same sort of cases as *vitlavana*. It is described in the Report on Punjab Products as “a dark colored salt said to be made by dissolving common salt in a solution of “*sajimáti*” (crude soda) and evaporating it; this salt contains chloride of sodium, sulphate of soda, caustic soda and a little sulphate of sodium, but no carbonate of soda.” *Sonchal* salt is not available in the drug shops of Calcutta. Some Bengali physicians give this name to a crystalline form of rock salt, but up-country physicians always translate *sauvarchala* as *sonchal* or *kálánimak*. The latter interpretation appears also to obtain in the Punjab where a specimen of *sonchal* salt from Ram Sing, a noted druggist, is said in the Report on Punjab Products, “to be a salt of the same kind as *kálánimak*.”