A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c20.1

v1.c20.1

From the time of the Charaka and the Susruta we find metallic preparations in the shape of oxides, sulphides and sometimes chlorides recommended for internal administration. The various formulas, which will be found scatttered throughout above, give us methods for killing the metals.³ But a *killed* metal is not necessarily a compound; it sometimes means a metal deprived of its well characterised physical properties, *e.g.* colour, lustre &c. Thus the Ayurvedic killed gold and silver often represent the respective metals in a fine state of division. Take for instance the following recipe from "Rasaratnākara" by Nityanātha :— "Rub gold leaf with 4 times its weight of *killed*