A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c10.t25: Preparations of Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron and Lead

A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c10.t25

Language: English

Preparations of Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron and Lead

v1.c10.t25.1

Gold, copper, silver, iron or tin are to be taken with the myrobalans, rock-salt and honey, &c.

v1.c10.t25.2

Gold, silver, copper and iron are to be taken in conjunction with bitumen and milk.

v1.c10.t25.3

Take 64 parts of stibium¹ and one part each of copper, iron, silver and gold; now roast them in a closed crucible, &c.¹

v1.c10.t25.4

¹ “स्रोतञ्जन” Srotonjana is evidently stibnite or the native sulphide of antimony (See p. 53); Dutt translates it, we know not on what grounds, as calx-spar.

v1.c10.t25.5

Take 30 parts of lead, 5 parts of sulphur, 2 parts of copper and orpiment each, 1 part of tin and 3 parts of stibium. Now roast them in a closed crucible.²

[Here as well as in the preceding sloka, we have distinct mention of अन्धमूषा or a crucible with the lid on. This is one of the preparations which can be brought into line with those of the Tāntric and Iatro-chemical periods.]