Page:A History of Hindu Chemistry Vol 1.djvu/22

 Again, in another hymn we read: "O King Varuna! a hundred and a thousand medicinal drugs are thine."

It is in the "Atharva-veda" however, that plants and vegetable products in general are fully recognised as helpful agents in the treatment of diseases, though their use is invariably associated with the employment of charms, spells, and incantations. Thus the plant apámárga (achyranthes aspera), which still occupies a prominent place in the Hindu system of medicine as a di-uretic and laxative etc., is invoked as the "mistress of remedies" (IV. 17, 1.) and "sole ruler over all plants." In another hymn the Soma plant is thus referred to:—

"The strength of this amrita (ambrosia) do we give this man to drink. Moreover, I prepare a remedy, that he may live a hundred years!"

Again, "as many (plants), as the human physicians know to contain a remedy, so many, endowed with every healing quality, do I apply