History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c17.s2.4

c17.s2.4

I shall now describe the *garbha yantram* for reducing *pistika* (a cake of mercury and sulphur) to ashes. Make a clay crucible, 4 digits in length and 3 digits in width, with the mouth rounded. Take 20 parts of salt and one of bdellium and pound them finely, adding water frequently; smear the crucible with this mixture. Make a fire of paddy husks and apply gentle heat.