I 



1 



ARSENIC. 



39 



China and the Persian galf. It is not mentioned in the more 

 ancient Sanskrit works, in the list of metallic ores, where 

 orpiment, realgar etc. are described, nor in any prescription for 

 the treatment of diseases. In compilations of a later date, how- 

 ever, sach as the Bhavaprakasa, and the Tantras, it is recom- 

 mended as a powerful medicine for fever, and is now much used 

 as such. 



In these later works white arsenic is called by several names, 

 such as ^wf^^T Sankha visha, ^n^^T^TC Sdmbala Jcshdra, wuum^ 

 Phendsma bhasma, and <Hi*J^ x Ddrumuch. None of these terms, 

 however, is to be found in standard lexicons, such as Wilson's 



Sanskrit-English Dictionary, or Sir Raja Radhakanta Deva's 

 Sabdakalpadruma. Phendsma bhasma is mentioned by Susruta in 

 his chapter on poisons, where he says, it and haritdla (orpiment) 

 are the two mineral poisons,* but it is very doubtful if Susruta 

 meant any native white arsenic by it. The derivation of the 

 term implies that it was obtained by roasting some sort of stone 

 or ore. White arsenic was obtained artificially in ancient days 

 by roasting orpiment (see orpiment), and probably this prepara- 

 tion was called Phendsma bhasma. At a later period imported 

 white arsenic had been used in medicine under the designations 

 of sdmbalakshdra 9 ddrumuch, and sankha visha. 



WHITE ARSENIC. 



San$. JRffw Sankha visk. <l**i^f N Darumuch. 



W^TWTT Sambala kshara. 



White Arsenic is sold in the bazars under the names of 

 Sankha vish. Stiffed sambul and Darumuch. It is purified by being 

 soaked in lemon juice or the juice of the plantain tree. It is 

 chiefly used in fever, for which it is now preferred to the other 

 compounds of arsenic, and is employed alone as also in a great 

 variety of combinations. The following are a few illustrations. 



Jvara brahmdstra. 1 Take of white arsenic two tolas, soak it 

 in cow's urine for three days, and afterwards in the juice of 



* ^farajwST ^fw^rat ^T<jf%$ I Susruta. kalpasthana, chapter II. 



