Page:A History of Hindu Chemistry Vol 1.djvu/66

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latter^[1] (see ante p. xxxiii).

The treatise of Vágbhata may be regarded as an epitome of the Charaka and the Susruta with some gleanings from the works of Bhela and Hárita, and contains little or nothing that is original.^[2] In Surgery alone the author introduces certain modifications and additions. Mineral and natural salts chiefly figure in the prescriptions along with vegetable drugs; mercury is incidentally mentioned, but in such a perfunctory manner that it would not be safe to conclude that any compounds thereof are referred to. There are, however, a few metallic preparations recommended in it, which would presuppose an advanced knowledge of chemical processes.^[3]

The opening salutation of Ashtáñga, which is addressed either to Buddha or some

1. "An die Stelle des seines Vorrange beraubten Susruta würde ich unbedenklich das Ashtângahridaya setzen."—Hippokrates und die indische Medizin des Mittelalters. Z.D.M.G., Vol 31, p. 649.
2. See, however, ante p. xxix, foot note.
3. Preface to Vaidyakasabdasindhu. p. 6.