Page:A History of Hindu Chemistry Vol 1.djvu/224

74

"When the mercury assumes divers colours after having given up its fluidity, it is known as swooned; killed mercury is that which does not show signs of fluidity, mobility and lustre."

"Iron, lead, and copper are coloured by means of calamine—the whole turns into gold." (Cf. VII. 31-34.)

"Mercury is composed of the five elements and represents Siva himself."

"Take one pala of the ash of mercury and rub it with the same weight of sulphur and roast the mixture in a covered crucible: thus we get vermilion of the colour of the rising sun."

"Take the vitriol which is of the colour of the throat of the peacock, saffron, calamine, as also the excrement of a young calf, the poisons, powdered plumbago zeylanica, all in equal proportions, rub them with the acids and dry in the shade. Having added honey to the above mixture,