White Arsenic was obtained artificially in ancient days by roasting orpiment and probably this preparation was called Phenasma Bhasma. At a later period imported white arsenic had been used in medicine under the designations of Sambalakshara, Darumuch and Sankha Visha.

Benefits of White Arsenic
It is chiefly used in fever, for which it is now preferred to the other compounds of arsenic, and is employed alone as also in a great variety of combinations.

Dose of White Arsenic in Medicine
Jvara Brahmastra: Take white arsenic 2 tolas, soak it in cow"s urine for 3 days, and afterwards in the juice of Celsia Coromandeliana (kokasima) for 1 day, and then wash in cold water. Take a small quantity, about one-ninth of a grain and administer within a lump of sugar in intermittent fever before the paroxysm comes on. Thus taken for 3 days, it cures recent and chronic fevers, ague and remittent fever. It is called Jvara Brahmastra or the weapon which infallibly destroys fever.

Darubrahma Rasa: Take white arsenic, cinnabar, datura seeds and long pepper, equal parts and make into 4 grain pills with lemon juice. They are given with the juice of Tulsi (leaves of Ocimum sanctum) in remittent fever with shivering, incoherent speech or wandering, profuse perspiration or much heat of body, difficult breathing, etc. The dose of arsenic in this medicine is very large and may induce unpleasant symptoms.

Chandesvara Rasa: Take mercury, sulphur, aconite, prepared copper and white arsenic, equal parts, rub together with the juice of fresh ginger for 6 hours, then soak in ginger juice and dry, successively for 7 days. Afterwards soak in the juice of Vitex nigundi (nirgundi) for 7 days. Make into pills about a grain each and administer with the juice of fresh ginger. Along with this medicine, inunction with oil, cold bathing and nourishing animal food should be used.

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