A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c48.s16.68

v3.c48.s16.68

Chapter four is concerned with the extraction of the essence (sattvacāraṇa) of mica (abhraka). Four varieties of mica are mentioned: black, red and yellow in colour and one called vajrin (1); 158 the extraction of the sattva of abhraka is necessary because mercury does not amalgamate with mica itself (2); the essence of mica is the best substance to achieve the pakṣaccheda of mercury, a process that has to precede its bandha (4). The characteristics of pakṣacchinna mercury are described (5). The variety of abhraka called vajrin is the only one suitable to the extraction of the essence (sattva) (6–7). The products called kāca, kīṭṭa and pattarajas, resulting from sattvapātana of the unsuitable varieties of abhraka, are useless in rasāyana preparations (8). Some methods of preparing abhrakasattva (9–11) and the characteristics of this product are described (12). 159 Methods to mix the sattva with mercury follow (13–20). Mixtures of abhrasattva and other substances (copper, iron, etc.), which are employed in making mercury accept the sattva, are called śulbābhra, etc. (21).¹⁶⁰ Finally, the way to colour abhrasattva and the cāraṇā of this product are described (23–24).