Tin, though indigenous to India, has been known from a very ancient period and is mentioned by Sushruta. The Hindus have employed tin for various purposes from very ancient times.
Processing of Tin
Tin is purified by melting it over the fire and pouring the melted fluid into the milky juice of Calotropis gigantea (arka). It is prepared for medicinal use by melting it in an iron cup, adding to it one-fourth part of its weight of yavakshara and powdered tamarind shells, and agitating with an iron rod till the mass is reduced to a fine powder. It is then washed in cold water and dried over a gentle fire. The resulting product is a greyish white powder consisting chemically of oxide of tin with some impurities.
Dose of Tin in Medicine
Tin is chiefly used in urinary disorders in a variety of forms. Thus the simple powder of purified tin may be given in 4 grain dose every morning with honey, or one of the following preparations may be used.
Trinetra Rasot: Take prepared tin, mercury and sulphur equal parts, rub them together in an iron mortar and soak 7 times respectively in the juice of Cynodon dactylon (durva) and the decoctions of liquorice root, gum of Bombax Malabaricum (Mocha rasa) and Tribulus terrestris (gokshura). Then roast in a covered crucible, again soak in the above mentioned fluid medicines and make into 4 grain pills. This medicine is given with a decoction in milk of the above named vegetable drugs in painful micturition.
Vangesvara Rasa: Take the preparation of mercury called Rasa Sindura, and of prepared tin, equal parts and mix. Dose should be about 4 grains with honey in urinary diseases and diabetes.
Vrihat Vangesvara Rasa: Take prepared tin, mercury, silver and talc, sulphur and camphor each 2 tolas, prepared gold and pearls, each half a tola, mix them together, soak the mixture in the juice of Eclipta prostrata (kesaraja), and make into 4 grain pills. This medicine is said to cure all sorts of urinary diseases and to act as an alterative tonic. It is given in diabetes with the juice of the ripe fruit of Ficus glomerata (udumbara).
Svarnavanga: Take mercury, sulphur and tin, equal parts, and rub them together, then take sal-ammoniac in quantity equal to all the above ingredients and rub together in a mortar. Introduce the mixture in a glass bottle and expose to heat in a sand-bath. The resulting powder called Svarnavanga or golden preparation of tin has a beautiful golden lustre and flaky texture. It is given in urinary complaints in doses of 5 to 10 grains with honey and the juice of emblic myrobalan.
