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A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c33.s3: Antimony

A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c33.s3

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English

Antimony

v2.c33.s3.1

Although there is no direct recognition of antimony as a distinct metal, some sort of allusion to it as a variety of lead is not wanting. The reason why antimony was often confounded with lead is that at first sight stibnite may be mistaken for galena. The mineral sauvīrāñjana or nīlāñjana was thus indiscriminately applied both to the sulphides of antimony and of lead (cf. vol. I., pp. 93-95) That nīlāñjana contained a new metal was often suspected though its nature was not properly understood. Thus in Rasendra-chūḍāmani we have "nīlāñjana, mined with tīkshna (cast iron), and heated several times yields a superior kind of lead which is readily fusible and is of mild black colour."*

v2.c33.s3.2

(or, as we are wont to call them mines-royal) because the silver will not quit the cost of extracting it ; yet such mines though they pass but for lead mines with the metalist, may appear to be mixt mines to the naturalist, who may meet with divers experiments, wherein the little silver that is in them, may make their lead operate differently from that of those ores, which are wholly destitute of silver."—Edition of 1772, p. 323.

v2.c33.s3.3

∗ *Vide* Sans. texts, p. 52. The identical distich occurs also in R. R. S. Cf. vol. I. p. 119. Cf also ‘ But to detain you no longer on this subject, give me only leave to strengthen the paradox I have proposed, by the authority of that great and candid chymist Basilius Valentinus, who speaking of antimony, after he hath told us, that there are several kinds of it, and especially two; the one more mercurial and of a golden property, witnessed by the shining streaks or beams it abounds with; the

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