A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c32.t1.71

v2.c32.t1.71

Some idea of the date of Rasasára may be formed from the fact that there is mention of opium in it. But our author was evidently quite in the dark as to its origin; for, says he: "There are 4 different kinds of poisonous sea-fish, and it is from their foam that 4 different kinds of opium are derived, namely, white, red, black and yellow; while others maintain that it is derived from the foam of the snake and it is very properly used for chemical operations," * e. g.,—killing and fixation of mercury. From the context it is, however, doubtful if the narcotic drug is really alluded to here. But independently of the use of this term we may safely place this work in the 13th century A. D.