The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s7.t1: White Arsenic

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s7.t1

Language: English

White Arsenic

c4.s7.t1.1

*Sans.* शङ्खविष Sankha visha. दारुमुच Dárumuch. साम्बलक्षार Sámbala kshára.

WHITE Arsenic is sold in the bazars under the names of Sunka bish, Suffed sambul and Darumuch. It is purified by being soaked in lemon juice or the juice of the plantain tree. It is chiefly used in fever, for which it is now preferred to the other compounds of arsenic, and is employed alone as also in a great variety of combinations. The following are a few illustrations.

c4.s7.t1.3

Jvara brahmástra.¹ Take of white arsenic two tolás, soak it in cow's urine for three days, and afterwards in the juice of Celsia Coromandeliana (kokasima), for one day, and then wash in cold water. Take a small quantity, the weight of a mustard, (about one-ninth of a grain), and administer within a lump of sugar in intermittent fever before the paroxysm comes on. Thus taken for three days, it cures recent and chronic fevers, ague and remittent fever. It is called Jvara brahmástra or the weapon which infallibly destroys fever.

c4.s7.t1.4

∗ फेनाश्मभस्महरितालञ्च द्वेधातु विषे। Susruta. kalpasthána. chapter II.

c4.s7.t1.5

¹ ज्वरब्रह्मास्त्रः। विपनीञ्च समागय्य शुभवर्णं सुशोभनम्। आनीय सम्बलं

c4.s7.t1.6

Dárubrahma rasa.¹ Take of white arsenic, cinnabar, datura seeds and long pepper, equal parts, and make into four-grain pills with lemon juice. They are given with the juice of tulsi (leaves of Ocimum sanctum) in remittent fever with shivering, incoherent speech or wandering, profuse perspiration or much heat of body, difficult breathing, etc. The dose of arsenic in this medicine is very large and may induce unpleasant symptoms.

c4.s7.t1.7

¹ दारुब्रह्म वा कर्णिकरसः । रसजं शङ्खविषञ्चैव कृष्णा धुस्तूरबीजकैः । जम्बीराषां द्रवर्मैर्द्विगुञ्ज परिमाणतः । गन्धपत्रानुपानेन कर्निकाषां कुलान्तकत् ॥

c4.s7.t1.8

Chandesvara rasa.² Take of mercury, sulphur, aconite, prepared copper and white arsenic, equal parts, rub together with the juice of fresh ginger for six hours, then soak in ginger-juice and dry, successively for seven days. Afterwards soak in the juice of Vitex nigundo (nirgundi) for seven days, make into pills about a grain each, and administer with the juice of fresh ginger. Along with this medicine, inunction with oil, cold bathing and nourishing animal food should be used.

c4.s7.t1.9

² चण्डेश्वररसःरस गन्धं विषं ताम्रं सम्बलं क्षारमेवच । आर्द्रकस्य रसे नैव

c4.s7.t1.10

देवि तोलक द्वय सम्मितम् ॥ स्वच्छगोमूत्रमानीय शरावेस्थापयेद्बुधः सम्बलं तत्र संक्षिप्य दिवसत्रयमेवच ॥ तत उद्धृत्य देवेशि कुकशिम्बारसेपुच । स्थापयेद्दिनमेकन्तु ततः स्वच्छजलेनच । संशोध्य स्थापयेद्देवि निर्मलेकाचपात्रके । एकसर्षपमानं तत् ज्वरागमनपूर्व्वतः ॥ फेणोमध्यगतं लत्वा भक्षयेत्स्थिरमानसः । अथवा शर्कराद्रावैः पीत्वारोगी सुखीभवेत् । एवं दिनत्रयं भुक्त्वामुच्यतेज्वरसङ्कटात् । जीर्णज्वरे तथावाते कम्पज्वरे विशेषतः । निश्चितं ज्वरसक्ताः स्यात् सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः । तन्त्रोक्तः ॥

Linked texts (2)

Suśrutasaṃhitā — Suśruta & Nāgārjuna (siddha/alchemist), Sanskrit
Tantra — Sanskrit