-JLAJATT. 95 



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speciosam (padma ) and of the flowers oE Ayanosma caryophyllata 

 [malatipuspa) . Lastly soak in an infusion of musk prepared by 

 macerating one part of musk in eight parts of warm water for 

 twelve hours. Divide this mass into four-grain pills. They are 

 given with sugar, honey and ghee in urinary diseases, impotence, 

 gleet, diabetes, consumption and general debility. This medicine 

 is regarded as a valuable alterative tonic in chronic gonorrhoea 

 and spermatorrhoea and is much prescribed in these complaints 

 in combination with an extract called Kusdvalehd (see Sugar 

 cane). 



SILAJATU. 



Stldjatu literally means stone and lac. The term is applied 

 to certain bituminous substances said to exude from rooks during 

 the hot weather. Tt is said to be produced in the Vindhya and 

 other mountains where iron abounds. Tt is a dark sticky unctuous 

 substance resembling bdellium in appearance. It has a bitter 

 taste and a strong smell resembling stale cow's urine. Over 

 platinum foil it burns with a little inflammable smoke and leaves 

 a large quantity of ashes consisting chiefly of lime, magnesia, 

 silica, and iron in a mixed state of proto and peroxide.* 



Stldjatu is prepared for medicinal use by being washed with 

 cold water and then rubbed into an emulsion with its bulk of hot 

 water or milk in an iron pot. This emulsion is exposed to the sun, 

 when a black cream-like substance collects on its surface ; and this 

 is removed. The process is continued as long as any cream rises. 

 Tf the mixture becomes too thick, hot water is added from time to 

 time as required, but too much water should not be added at once, 

 for then the cream will not rise to the surface. The stldjatu thus 

 collected is dried in the sun and preserved for use. The dregs at 

 the bottom are thrown away. The extract of stldjatu thus obtained 

 is purified by being soaked in a decoction of the following plants, 

 namely, Shoren robusta, (*dla). Buchananta laiifolia (ptdla) f Ter- 



* The "eilajit" or alum earth of Nepal is a different article from the 

 "siLijatu" of the Sanskrit Materia Medic*, The former is an article of 

 Yunaiii not Hindu Medicine- 



