[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956) › c36.s1 # History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c36.s1: Fixation of Mercury History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c36.s1 - **Language:** English ### Fixation of Mercury ### [c36.s1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.1) \*Rasabandha\*:—Processes for destroying the fluidity of mercury :. ### [c36.s1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.2) Take mercury and one-fourth its weight of \*killed\* gold and with the addition of sulphur make a ball. Now add an equal weight of sulphur and roast the mass in a covered crucible. 72 ### [c36.s1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.3) The mercury thus treated is afterwards killed with six times its weight of sulphur. 73 ### [c36.s1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.4) \[The shining reddish-brown crystalline sublimate of sulphide of mercury thus obtained is a favourite and frequently used remedy with the Hindu physicians It is reputed to be a panacea for a variety of ills that human flesh is heir to. In the Rasendrachintamani and Rasendrasarasamgraha and other treatises, this preparation is described as \*makaradhvaja\* and \*rasasindura\* (lit. minium like mercury). From the supposed presence of gold it is often named \*svarnasindura\* (lit gold and vermilion). During sublimation, the gold, of course, is left behind. The general belief is that by association with gold the mercury acquires the most potent efficacy. A later work, Rasapradipa, is sceptical about the part which gold plays and recommends its being left out.\] ### [c36.s1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.5) Incineration of Mercury ### [c36.s1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.6) (The chapter concludes with certain recipes for the \*killing\* of mercury, with the aid of purely vegetable products) ### [c36.s1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.7) Mercury, roasted in a covered crucible with asafoetida, which has been previously digested in the milky juice of \*Ficus oppositifolia\*, is reduced to ashes 111 ### [c36.s1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.8) \*Andropogon serratus\* and \*Clitoria ternatea\* are to be pounded in a mortar with sour gruel and with the paste thus formed, mercury is to be triturated and digested seven times and finally roasted in a covered crucible after addition of fresh quantities of the above paste. The mercury is reduced to ashes, resembling salt. 112-113 ### [c36.s1.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.9) The seeds of \*Achyranthes aspera\* and \*Ricinus communis\* are to be pounded together The mercury is to be placed inside the powder and the mass roasted as before. The mercury is reduced to ashes. 114 ### [c36.s1.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.10) Purified mercury is to be preserved in the hollow of a horn or tooth or of bamboo. 119 ### [c36.s1.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1.11) Here ends Chapter XI of Rasaratnasamuchchaya which treats of the purification, fixation and incineration of mercury. ## Cites (4) - [Rasaratnasamuccaya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.samuccaya.pramukha.rasaratnasamuccaya) — Vāgbhaṭa (alchemist), Sanskrit - [Rasendracintāmaṇi](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.samuccaya.pramukha.rasendracintamani) — Ḍhuṇḍhukanātha, Sanskrit - [Rasendrasārasaṃgraha (Gopāla Kṛṣṇā)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.cikitsa.rasendrasarasamgraha) — Gopāla Kṛṣṇā 1800, Sanskrit - [Rasapradīpa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.alamkara.rasa.rasanirupana-works.rasapradipa-2) — Prabhākara 1560, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c36.s1) · Pramāṇa