Page:A Short History of Aryan Medical Science.djvu/150

142 cess seven times, iron can easily be reduced to bhasma, and is then prescribed for hectic fever, anaemia, dropsy and brain diseases.

Precious stones, like metals, must be subjected to the processes of purification and calcination before they can be used therapeutically. Diamond bhasma is credited with many wonderful properties. To purify a diamond it is placed in the hollow of a Vyaghri (Solanum indicum) root covered over with buffalo's dung. This is kept over a fire during the whole night, and quenched in horse's urine in the morning. The operation is repeated for seven days. Thus purified it is heated and cooled in a decoction made of asafcetida, bay salt and gruel. Go the same round for twenty-one days, and diamond bhasma is prepared. It is said to improve the colour of the body and cure many diseases. It will be interesting; to note here that the Hindoos distinguish four kinds of diamonds, differing from each other in appearance and property, called Brahma, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra, names derived from the castes into which the Hindoos are arranged. The Brahma diamond is clear white, the Kshatriya of reddish colour, the Vaishya is yellowish and the Shudra diamond