Page:A Short History of Aryan Medical Science.djvu/144

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INDIAN MATERIA MEDICA.
[Chap. VII.

Vaidurya (cat's eye), Mauktika (pearl) and Pravala (coral). The last two belong to the Animal Kingdom, but are referred to here as being included in the " nine gems." Among the secondary stones may be mentioned Suryakanta (sun-stone), Chandra-kanta (moon-stone — a gem supposed to be formed of the congealed rays of the moon), Sphatika (crystal), Haritshyama (turquoise), Kacha (glass), and some others.

Certain kinds of sand and clay are in common use as healing agents, such as Khatika (carbonate of calcium), Kardama (hydrous silicate of alumina), Gopichandana (silicate of alumina), Sikata (silica), etc.

The principal salts included in the Hindoo Pharmacopoeia are Navasadara (chloride of ammonium), Sindhava (chloride of sodium), Pamshujakshara (carbonate of potassium), Yavakshara (carbonate of soda), and Suryakshara (nitrate of potash).

Besides the compounds already enumerated, the Hindoos have for ages past employed Jangala (subacetate of copper), Mandura (hydrated oxide of iron), Pashanabheda (carbonate of iron and lime), Yashadapushpa (oxide of zinc), Rasasindura (sulphide of mercury), Rasakarpura (corrosive