Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

t The following extract Irom Li. C. Dutt's Materia Medico, of the Hindus, p. 85, may be read with interest. "Souvarchala called Souchala or Ka.lanim.dk in Hindu¬ stan is said to be aromatic, agreeable and digestive, and useful in the same sort of cases as Vit-lavana. It is described in the report on the Punjab Products as a darkcolored salt said to be made by dissolving common salt in a solution of ‘SSjimati’ (crude soda) and evaporating it ; this salt contains Chloride of sodium, sulphate of soda, caustic soda, and a little sulphate of sodium, but no carbonate of soda.’ Sonchal salt is not available in the drug shops of Calcutta. Some Bengali physicians give this name to a crystalline form of rock salt, but Up-country physicians always translate Sauvarchala as Sonchal or Kalanimak." — 7'.

t "Vit-lavan occurs in dark-red shining granules somewhat resembling coarsely powdered lac in appearance. It has a mild, saline and somewhat nauseous taste. Dr. Fleming says that ‘the following process for making this salt was communicated by a native druggist to Mr. Turnbull at Mirzapore and was actually performed in his presence. Fifty-six pounds of Sambar salt are mixed with twenty ounces of dried aonlas (Emblic myrobalans). One fourth of these materials is put into a round earthen pot with a narrow mouth, which is put in a fire-place made of clay. The fire-place has a hole at the bottom for introducing the fire-wood. After the fire has been lighted about an hour, and the materials, in the pot, appear to be heated, the rest of the materials is added by degrees. The whole is then exposed to a strong red heat for about six hours. The fire is then allowed ty die away, and the pot to cool, which, upon being broken, is found to contain about forty-eight pounds of cala-nimak or hit-lavan.' ’’ — U. C. Dutt's Mat. Med. of the Hindus, p.p. 84-85.

£ “ Audbhid , that is, produced of itself from the earth, is the name applied to a salt produced as an efflorescence on reh lands. The salt is called reh or kalar in the vernacular. It consists principally of sulphate of soda with a little choride of sodium, and is described as alkaline, bitter, pungent, and nauseating. It is said to

p. 383

Kala salt has no smell. Its qualities are exactly those that belong to Sauvarchala.805

Samudraka salt is sweet.* Panfuja is bitter and pungent: t306

All varieties of salt add relish to food, aid in digestion, cause secretions, and alleviate the wind.807

Yava9uka (alkaline ashes of the stalks of barley) cures diseases of the thorax, anaemia and jaundice, disorders of the Grahani, enlargement of the spleen, epistasis or suppression of urine, inflam¬ mation of the throat leading to hoarseness or suspension of the voice, and consumption due to excitement of phlegm, and piles.808

All varieties of alkaline ashes are keen, hot, light, dry, produc¬ tive of secretions, capable of aiding digestion, boring, and caustic. They are, besides, capable of provoking the appetite, and of separating by force all kinds of adherent matter and bad humours. They are like fire in energy.809

Karavi>), Kunchika(£), Ajaji(c), Kavari(^), Dhanya(^), and Tumvuru(y), add relish to food, excite the appetite, and destroy wind, phlegm, and bad odours.

Nothing can be laid down regarding the measure in which articles that are regarded fit for eating should be mixed.310

Thus ends the twelfth Group of objects used as food.

be so abundant in some parts of the Punjab as to render the soil quite barren. Some physicians or rather writers substitute this article for Sambar salt in the composition of Pancha-lavana or the five salts.” — U. C. Dutl’s Mat. Med. of the Hindus, p. 84.

* “Samudra literally means produced from the sea. The term is applied to sun-dried sea-salt, manufactured in the Madras Presidency. It is called Karkach in the vernacular. Orthodox natives who consfder common salt as impure from the circumstance of its having undergone the process of boiling, and who take only rock salt, substitute Karkach for rock salt, if the latter is not available.” — U. C. Dutt’s Mat. Med. of the Hindus, p. 84: