The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s4.27

c4.s4.27

MINERAL or inorganic medicines are generally described under five heads, namely, *Rasa* or mercury which forms a class by itself; *Uparasa* or metallic ores and earths, *Dhátu* or metals, *Lavana* or salts, and *Ratna* or precious stones. The metals used in Sanskrit medicine are mercury, gold, silver, copper, tin, zinc, lead, iron, bell-metal, and brass. The *Uparasas* used are sulphur, talc or mica, two sorts of iron pyrites called *Svarnamákshika* and *Táramákshika*, loadstone, orpiment, realgar, sulphate of copper, sulphate of iron, cinnabar, minium or red lead, sulphuret of lead, calamine (*kharpara*), *Silájatu* (a bituminous substance containing iron), alum, borax, chalk, calcined cowries and conch shells, *Gairika* a sort of red mountain earth or ochre, *Kankushṭa* a sort of mountain earth, *Sauráshṭri* a fragrant earth from Surat, sand, clay, etc.