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Cababchini - china root, smilax china, Ciniakapūra) for what is termed for the first time as Phirangiroga or the diseases of the Portuguese. “The use of this drug as a remedy for Syphilis, it is believed, was made known to the Portuguese at Goa by the Chinese traders about A. D. 1535."1
Both opium 2 and mineral acids 3 are prescribed for many diseases. The Ayurvedic method of treatement has been described in the Jaina alchemical MS. Suvarņa-Raupya-Siddhi-Śāstra, etc. in detail as is evidenced in ample citations as given from the Indian Ayurvedic works.5 Some portions of the Jaina alchemical works have particularly been devoted to mineral prepartion 6 but it seems that they have been borrowed chiefly from some Indian works. The Jaina alchemical treatises have dealt with the preparations of medicinal tinctures and prescribed mercury treated with some other minerals as the remedy for many diseasess' as is found in Arkaprakāģa, Bhāvaprakāsā. etc.
As regards occultism it has been claimed by the Jaina alchemists in the Suvarna-Raupya-Siddhi-Sāstra that a flowing river with' fui ftooid.. current can be crossed by walking on it with the power of some guţikās specially prepared by them. 10
One can alone conquer 1000 soldiers11 by keeping with him a guţikā prepared with mercury, put into the head of a dead brave soldier who got killed fighting on the battle field. etc., one can overpower a woman or man by Vaśıkaraṇavidya. 12 etc. The main objective of Alchemy as pointed by the Jainācāryas was to show the way for the destruction of all sins (or evils) - poverty, diseases and old age. :?
1. Hindu Chemistry, p. 162. . 2. SRSS., ch. II. 30–31, VI. X 26, etc. 3. Ibid. 4. Ibid. chs. IX: X, XIV. 5. Caraka; Susruta, Kalyāņakaraka. 6. SRSS., chs. I, X, XIV, etc. 7. Ibich, chs. I; X, XIV. Particularly, 8. Kid Chis. v. (pāro mardii saviroga jai),
Ibid. cha IX 21 (Rājā tā. 5, ... sarvajvara jai) Ibid. ch. IX. 24 (Himgalo tā 1 ... pāro tā...gatabale...) Ibid. ch. IX 25. (Hingalo sr. 1/4...saghala jvara jai).
Ible. IX. 20, 28, 29, etc. 9. Arkaprakāśa, vide Hindu Chemistry, p. 163. 10. SRSS., ch. VII. 2. 11. ekalo hajärane jite, satru hāre",
SRSS. ch. 11.5 12. SRSS. 13. SRSS; ch. II. (comm.).
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