MEDICINAL PLANTS AND DRUGS. 191 



from the others. In all of them quick-silver and Muriate of Soda are em- 

 ployed in equal parts, with the addition of either Sulphate of Alumine or 

 Sulphate of eopper. By the kindness of Dr. Hunter I have now lying 

 before me three different processes for making Rascapur; one taken from 

 a Persian, and the two others from Sanscrit pharmacopoeias. The firsts 

 which is the simplest and least uncertain of the three, is literally as fol- 

 lows : 



: " Take Ouick-silverV Armenian Bole, Allum, ( * some prefer blue 

 " vitriol, but allum is better' ) Rock Salt, of each nine parts. Rub the 

 *' whole in a mortar with water, and let the'm harden. Then put the mass 

 " into a glazed earthen vessel ; and place inverted, above it, another simi- 

 " lar vessel, plastered With ashes, and the milk of Datura. Lute them 

 ** together with Philosopher's clay, and keep them three days and three 

 ** nights in a fire made with cow dung. Then let the vessels cool, and 

 « take out what adheres to the bottom and sides of the upper vessel. This 

 *< IS ^[)^ Rascapur." 



The Quick-silver, in this preparation,, is combined with a less proportion 

 of the muriatic acid, than in corrosive sublimate, but with ^ much greater 

 proportion of it than in calomel. It is used, by the native practitioners, for 

 all the purposes fpr which the two preparations., just mentioned, are em- 

 ployed by the European. It requires, however, to be prescribed with great 

 caution ; as it is not only one of the most powerful mercurials that can be 

 ventured on for internal use, but uncertain in its strength, on account of 

 the dirterent processes by which it is made. European pra6titioners need 

 never, I think, have recourse to it; as Quick-silver may always be procured 

 from the bazars, with which, safer, and equally efficacious, remedies may 

 be prepared. 



