68
HINDU CHEMISTRY
resembles the nipple of a cow and is fitted with a lid, which has a raised head.
"For the purification of silver, the crucible is best made of two parts of the ashes of schrebera swietenoides, and one part each of brick dust and earth."[1]
Colour of Flames
"Copper yields a blue flame.........that of the tin is pigeon-coloured; that of the lead is pale-tinted[2]......that of the iron is tawny; ...that of the "peacock" ore (sasyaka) is red."[3]
Test of a pure Metal
"A pure metal is that which, when melted in a crucible, does not give off sparks nor bubbles, nor spurts, nor emits any sound, nor shows any lines on the surface, but is tranquil like a gem.[4]