A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c21.3

v1.c21.3

The chlorides of mercury are found to be medicinally used from the 12th century downwards and various recipes are given for their preparation. The earliest account seems to occur in Rasārnava (ch. XI. 24), where we find a mixture among other drugs of green vitriol, alum and salt, described as capable of "killing mercury in an instant" (see p. 73). A more detailed description is found in "Rasendrachintāmani" a work which may safely be placed in the 13th-14th century. Says the author Dhundhukanātha : "I am now going to explain the process of preparing rasakarpūra, which is a remedy for all diseases: take a strong earthen pot and fill one-fourth of it with common salt and place over it a mixture of brick-dust, alum and rock-salt. Rub mercury with the juice of Indian aloe and an equal weight of the above mixture into a paste; deposit it in the earthen pot and cover it with the same ingredients. The pot is to be firmly closed with a well-fitting lid. Now apply heat for three days together." ¹