Part 3 - Extraction of the best essence of earthworms

Eour prasthas (4 x 64 tolas) of earthworms are to be collected from the vicinity of mines of gold, silver, copper, or load-stone, and are to be washed by means of turmeric juice and cold water. These are then to be gradually made to be eaten by a hungry peacock, boar, or cock, and its stool collected. This stool is to be rubbed with ksharas and amlas, dried by the intense rays of the sun, and then fried in an earthen pot till it turns as black as ink. This black powder is to be rubbed with the ingredients which facilitate the melting of hard metal (see page 305, Vol. I.), and then heated for forty eight minutes by means of a bellows. When the crucible is cooled, the contents are to be powdered and washed off, and the metalic dust to be collected carefully. This dust is to be mellted like gold dust, and then used as necessary.

Use of the aforesaid essence.

Essence of earthworms, as extracted in the aforesaid manner, is the best of all such essences. The present process was described by Soma-deva (author of Rasendra Churamani). One eighth tola of this essence, combined with half a tola of gold, is to be made into a finger-ring. The water into which this ring is kept immersed for some time can, by external application only, do away with poisons, both organic and inorganic, eye diseases, colic, piles, diseases affecting the ears, and troubles attending child-birth.