OLD. 



57 



beat thetn together with water and divide into pills about four 

 grains each, One pill to be taken twice daily. 



*• 



GOLD. 



Sans, ^pw, Sit irno. 



Gold enters into the composition of a large number of 

 medicines for various diseases! Pure leaf-gold is used. It should 

 ba free from admixture of copper and silver, of a red colour when 

 exposed to heat, and of saffron colour when rubbed on touchstone. 

 It is purified by heating its leaves and cooling them alternately 

 with kdnjika, oil, cow's urine, butter-milk and a decoction of 

 horse^gram. Gold is reduced to powder by being rubbed with 

 mercury and exposed to heat in a covered crucible with the 

 addition of sulphur. Two parts of mercury and one of leaf -gold 

 are rubbed together into a mass with lemon juice and placed in a 

 crucible with three parts of sulphur. The crucible is then covered 

 and exposed to heat. This process of mixing the gold with 

 mercury and exposing to heat is repeated fourteen times, when 

 the gold completely loses its metallic character. In books it is 

 stated that the gold should be rubbed with mercury only the first 

 time, and that in roasting it afterwards sulphur alone should be 



gold 



• / 



tells me that he reduces gold to powder by mixing it with mercury 

 every time it is roasted, and that he repeats the process till the 

 gold is reduced to a dark brown impalpable powder. This powder 

 of gold appears to undergo little change from its metallic state, 

 for on being rubbed on an agate mortar it produces a brilliant 

 yellow stain like that of massive gold, when it is rubbed on 

 touchstone for ascertaining its purity. 



Gold thus prepared for medicinal use is considered a valuable 

 tonic and alterative. It is said to increase strength and beauty, 

 to improve the intellect and memory, to clear the voice and to 

 increase the sexual powers. It is used in fever, consumption, 

 insanity, diseases of the nervous system and urinary organs, 

 impotence, etc. Dose, one to two grains, 



S 





