The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s6.5

c4.s6.5

* There is a passage in Charaka in the chapter on *Kushtha* or skin diseases which some physicians construe into a recommendation for the use of mercury. It is this सर्व्व व्याधिविनाशन मद्रात कुष्ठो रसञ्चनिग्टहीतम. It may be translated as follows. Reduced mercury which cures all diseases should be taken by those affected with skin diseases. The term *rasa*, however, signifies mercury as well as many other things, such as myrrh, sulphur, gold etc., and since Charaka does not mention *párada*, the principal name for mercury, it is doubtful if he really meant mercury by the term *rasa*. Supposing, however, he did mean mercury, its use was at all events, in his time, confined to skin diseases only.