Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c8.48

c8.48

§ 11. Medical Glossaries :— The pharmaceutical collections form an important part of medical literature, but are already dealt with by Zachariae as a part of lexicography¹. Here, therefore, only a small supplement from the pharmaceutical point of view may be given. Even though Dhanvantarinighantu² is the oldest work of this kind, it cannot be very old, for it seems to be familiar with the pharmacological working and therapeutical use of quicksilver and other metals as well as with the philosopher's stone. Thus seven other names are given to quicksilver (Pārada) (p. 213); it cures worms and leprosy, prolongs life, strengthens the eyes and so on in torpid condition (Mūrcchita), while in its natural form it brings death (p. 214). There are five kinds of Ferromagnets, the Roman (Romakānta, p. 211) being one among them. In the Suvarṇādivarga the following metals and minerals are classified according to their good and bad effect: Gold, silver, copper, zinc, brass, lead, white brass, iron, damasked steel (?), iron filings (?), quicksilver, cinnabar, artificial diamond, emerald diamond. Among the plant substances, the opium (Aphūka, Ahiphena, Aphenaka) and poppy seed (Khastīla) are mentioned (p. 232). Compare § 26. In the Madanavinoda of Madanapāla³ composed in 1374 A. D. and also in the later Rājanighaṇṭu of Narahari⁴ a large group of other minerals is likewise mentioned along with the abovementioned minerals. For some later medical Glossaries, see above §§ 1 f., 4 f. One may well suppose that the enumeration of articles of food and therapeutic substances, their grouping in Vargas and the statement of their Guṇas in Car, Su, AS, and AHr originated from the medical glossaries, but the preserved works of this kind appear throughout to be of a later date than the old medical Samhitās. To these Glossaries may also be added the dietetic works like Pathyāpathyanighaṇṭu of Trimalla (printed in Banaras 1869), Pathyāpathyavinicaya of Viśvanāthasena (16th century ?) and the medical cooking books like Kṣemakutūhala, Bhojanakutūhala⁵.