Part 5 - Extraction of essence from haritala

(note: this essence is no other than a substance containing much of arsenic.)

First process.

Haritala is to be rubbed with the decoction of kulattha, tankana, she-buffalo’s ghee, and honey and put into a vessel, covered well with a basin containing a few holes. The vessel is to be heated by fire increasing gradually. The holes in the basin being stopped all this time by means of cow dung. After three hours of heating the holes are to be opened, and on a pale smoke coming out of these holes, the heating is to be put a stop to. When perfectly cooled, the vessel is to be broken open, and the essence of haritala collected carefully.

Second process.

One pala of haritala is to be rubbed for one day with the milk of arka and mixed with sixteen times its weight of oil. It is then to be heated in an open space for 21 hours. When cooled of itself, the essence deposited at the bottom, should be taken out.

Third process.

Haritala is to be rubbed for two days with the fur of a goat’s tail, sulphur, and the dravana-varga (see page 305, Vol I), and then put into a glass bottle, which is to be coated all over with mud and rag, for three times, and dried in the sun. The lower half of this bottle is then to be put inside an earthen vessel which is to be heated for 36 hours. When cooled, the pure essence of haritala deposited at the neck of the glass bottle is to be collected carefully.

Fourth process.

Two tolas of haritala are to be lightly confined within a white piece of strong cloth and made into a bundle, which is to be coated all over with sulphur (rubbed with a vegetable acid) for three times, and dried each time. This bundle is to be thrown into 12 tolas of melted copper, and the whole thing is to be covered quickly with ashes. When cooled, soft white essence of haritala, adhering to the surface of the copper, will have to be collected carefully. This is the essence which is required in mercurial operations and medicines.

Fifth process.

If haritala is incinerated by means of a Tirjak-patana-yantra (see page 253, vol I), a kind of white essence is obtained. This is to be used in doses of one sarshapa a day. It cures obstinate fevers and gives rise to beauty, nutrition, and strength.

Sixth process.

Haritala, mixed with half its quantity of laksha, raji, tila, shigru, tankana, labana, and molasses, all combined, is to be put into a crucible provided with a hole at the bottom and heated by Patala-yantra, leading to the extraction of the essence.

Seventh process.

Haritala is to be powdered, and subjected to bhavana with goat’s milk for three times. It is then to be rubbed with the root of patha, made into a lump, dried, and then heated by a Patala-yantra, leading to the emission of its essence.

Eighth process.

Haritala, roasted with linseed oil, and contained in a glass bottle, is to be kept inside an earthen vessel, almost filled with rock salt. This is then to be heated for six hours leading to the emission of a pure essence of haritala.

Ninth process.

Two prasthas of saltpetre and one prastha of haritala are to be rubbed together with cow’s urine for three days. These are again to be rubbed with one fourth their combined weight of tankana, an equal quantity of the juice of hasti-karna-palasha, and tila oil, double in quantity of the tankana. All these are to be kept in a glass bottle, and heated for 12 hours, and then, as soon as white and pale smoke will be found to come out of the bottle, the mouth of the same will have to be stopped tightly and the apparatus heated for 24 hours more. Then the apparatus will have to be cooled, and the pure essence of haritala taken out of the bottle.

This essence will have to be boiled with about one prastha of cow’s urine until the whole of it evaporates. The essence is then to be rubbed with one thirtieth part of its weight of sulphur and a little of tankana; and then heated by a strong heat which changes it into a lump of a compound substance, absolutely free from injurious matters. This compound, with eleven times its weight of brass and a little of pure silver, may be heated in a crucible with the result that the whole thing turns into pure silver.

Tenth process.

Haritala emits its essence, if rubbed with seeds of eranda and jayapala, and heated in a glass bottle, by means of a Baluka-yantra.

Eleventh process.

Pure lime and one fourth its quantity of nava sara are to be rubbed with water, double in quantity of the lime, and to be boiled in that water, exactly in the way salt is prepared by boiling salt water, so that dirty matters found afloat on the surface is thrown away over and over again. Excellent and purified haritala with an equal quantity of mercury, tankana, and half the quantity of tankana of the compound prepared from lime and navasara, are to be rubbed together with the juices of kanya and sharapunkha. All these are to be dried, put into a glass bottle, and heated for 24 hours, resulting in the emission of essence from the haritala.

Twelfth process.

One pala of purified haritala and an equal quantity of tankana are to be rubbed together with each of the following, separately;—ram’s milk, juice of kushmanda, juice of kanya, juice of nimboo, milk of bajra, that of arka, castor oil, honey, and ghee.

These are then to be made into small balls and put into a glass bottle, previously wrapped up with mud and rag for several times. The bottle is then to be heated by means of a Baluka-yantra for four days with the result that essence of haritala, appearing like diamond, will be found deposited at the upper part of the bottle.

Thirteenth process.

Haritala, rubbed with decoction of kulattha, tankana, ghee of she-buffalo, and honey, and subjected to bhavana with ghee is to be put into an earthen vessel covered by means of an earthen basin containing a few holes, the joint being closed tightly. The apparatus is then to be heated for 12 hours, after which pale white smoke is expected to come out through the holes. The fire is then to be extinguished, and when the apparatus gets cooled of ifself, the pure essence of haritala is to be taken out.