Part 1 - Appearance of blemished and purified Mercury

Natural blemishes of Mercury:

The following are the natural defects of mercury:—(1) evil properties of lead, (2) evil properties of tin, (3) impurities due to the existence of foreign matters, (4) evil properties of fire (5) subtleness, (6) evil properties of poison, (7) evil properties of stone, and (8) inability to stand the heat of fire.

These blemishes give rise to the following ailments in one who takes impure mercury:—(1) carbuncles, (2) leprosy, (3) swoon, (4) inflammation, (5) loss of vigour, (6) death, (7) inertness, and (8) eruptions, respectively.

Blemishes of Mercury due to its environment:

Mercury acquires three kinds of blemishes by coming in contact with soil, rock, and water. They are therefore due to its environment. They are seven in number, and are called the seven coverings of mercury, viz., (1) parpati (causing roughness of the skin), (2) patali (causing ruptures in the flesh), (3) bhedi (causing holes in the body), (4) dravi (causing decomposition of the body), (5) malakari (causing an increase in the three doshas, viz. air, heat, and phlegm), (6) andhakari (causing blindness), and (7) dhvankshi (causing darkness of the skin).

To sum up, the blemish due to contact with soil gives rise to inertness, and that due to contact with water gives rise to a derangement of air in the system, heightened by all the consequences of the first two natural blemishes, viz., those characteristic of lead and tin.

The expert physician should therefore arrange for the purification of mercury, which, when purified, becomes nectar itself. Whereas in its impure condition, it is no better than poison.

Appearance of purified Mercury:

The mercury which is deep blue inside, and is as bright as the mid-day sun outside, is to be considered commendable, (on account of its having been duly purified), whereas that which is smoky, yellowish, and multi-coloured is not to be made use of in the preparation of medicines (unless, of course, it is properly purified).