History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c36.s7.20

c36.s7.20

The chlorides of mercury are found to be medicinally used from the 12th century downwards, and various recipes are given for their preparation. The earliest account seems to occur in Rasarnava (Ch. XI, 24), where we find a mixture, among other drugs, of green vitriol, alum and salt, described as capable of *killing* mercury in an instant (p. 139) A more detailed description is found in Rasendrachintamani, a work which may safely be placed in the 13th-14th century. There the author Dhundhukanatha says: "I am now going to explain the process of preparing *rasakarpura*, which is a remedy for all diseases. Take a strong earthen pot and fill one-fourth of it with common salt and place over it a mixture of brick-dust, alum and rock-salt. Rub mercury with the juice of Indian aloe and an equal weight of the above mixture into a paste, deposit it in the earthen pot and cover it with the same ingredients The pot is to be firmly closed with a well-fitting lid. Now apply heat for three days together."