A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c9.s3.19

v1.c9.s3.19

The knowledge in practical chemistry, prevalent in India in the 12th and 13th centuries A. D., and perhaps earlier, such as we are enabled to glean from Rasārnava and similar works, is distinctly in advance of that of the same period in Europe. It was known for instance that blue vitriol and a variety of the pyrites (see p. 70) yielded an essence in the shape of copper; and calamine, zinc. The colour of flames as a diagnostic test of metals was well understood (p. 68). The metallurgical processes, described under the latter, leave little to improve upon (p. 88), and, indeed, they may be transferred bodily to any treatise on modern chemistry. Even Paracelsus, who flourished some three centuries later, leaves us in the dark as to the nature of his ‘zinken,’ which he designates a ‘semi’ or ‘bastard’ metal. And Libavius (d. 1616) “who stood up manfully against the excesses of Paracelsus, and who vigourously combated the defects in his doctrines, * * * and the employment of “secret remedies,” believed in the transmutation of the metals and the efficacy of potable gold.¹ It is not necessary to pursue this subject further here, as details will be found in the chapter on metallurgy (pp. 152-169).