The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s22.1

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