The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s22: Nitrate of Potash
The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s22
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Nitrate of Potash
c4.s22.1
NITRE was unknown to the ancient Hindus. There is no recognized name for it in Sanskrit. The *Bhávaprakása* mentions *Suvarchiká* as a variety of *sarjiká* or barilla, and gives *sorá* as its vernacular equivalent. But *suvarchiká*, according to standard lexicons, is a synonym of *sarjiká* and not a separate article. Some recent Sanskrit formulæ for the preparation of mineral acids containing nitre, mention this salt under the name of *Soraka*. This word
c4.s22.2
1 सज्जिकाद्यचूर्णम्। सज्जिका च यवक्षारः सिन्धुसौर्व्वलं विड़म्।
साम्बुद्रकं रोमञ्चं कोलमात्रंण कारयेत्। एकीकृताखिलं चूर्णं भावयेन्मातुलुङ्गजैः।
रसैर्वा दाड़िमैर्वापि शोषयेदातमेन वा। तच्चूर्णं नाशयेद्गुल्मं ग्रहणीमामजां रुजम्।
अग्निञ्च कुरुते दीप्तं रुचिकृत् कफनाशनम्।
शार्ङ्गधरः।
c4.s22.3
however is not met with in any Sanskrit dictionary and is evidently Sanskritized from the vernacular sorá, a term of foreign origin. The manufacture of nitre was therefore most probably introduced into India after the adoption of gunpowder as an implement of warfare. It is necessary to observe here that many writers have erroneously translated nitre into the Sanskrit term yavakshára. This last however is not a nitrate but an impure carbonate of potash obtained by reduciug to ashes the spikes of the barley.
c4.s22.4
Chloride of ammonium is not mentioned by Susruta and the older writers. In recent Sanskrit works it is called narasára, a term apparently derived from the vernacular nausadar of Persian oirgin. Another salt mentioned in recent Sanskrit compilations is the impure sulphate of soda called Khárinoon in the vernacular. It is called Kshári lavana in Sanskrit, and is used in combination with other saline medicines.
Linked texts (1)
- Śārṅgadharasaṃhitā — Śārṅgadhara (physician), Sanskrit