Treatment for fever (1): Shiva-durga rasa

Take equal quantities of mercury and sulphur, and rub them till they are reduced to black sulphuret of mercury, which is to be pestled in a stone mortar with water and made into a lump. Put it into a new earthen vessel, covering the lump with a copper pot, (and closing the vessel by means of an earthen basis). The vessel is then to be subjected to a strong heat for 67 minutes which would melt the lump and let it accumulate in the bottom. It is a very good medicine for nava-jvara. This medicine (pestled with honey) is to be given to a patient, in doses of three raktis at a time (twice a day, if necessary), after smearing his tongue and palate with rock-salt, jira (cumin seed), and ginger juice. After the medicine is given to the patient, his body is to be covered with a piece of cloth which is to be removed after perspiration. The patient is then to be allowed to eat boiled rice with butter-milk. This way of treatment, if followed for three days, would cure the fever and prevent a relapse.