The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-06-26
MAKING GOLD.
Follow the Indian Alchemists' Methods
and, Presto! You Are Rich.

FOLLOW tht lSluInn NlchemIStS' methOun
and, Presto! You Are Rich.
For long time i'll India the appar-
mt demonstration of tin, zinc, copper
and mercury into precious metals has
been Practiccd We have seen there
with our own eyes Il metal like gold is
suing from the crucible of the Indian
alchCmists-a metal that could not be
told from real gold by means of the
tCuChstOne. We may say, however, that
i'll old India, as well as i'll young Amer
lea, they have not yet succeeded in Civ
ing to the metal thus obtained the chem
zeal properties of gold. On this point
they are not more advanced III the one
country than i'll the other, and the prob
lem seems to US not to be near solution.
The metal obtained can, in fact be de-
composed into its constituent elements.
Nevertheless, it may be interesting to
present to public notice the Indian al
chemists and to describe their methods.
Around these pelsOnageS many legends
have sprung up. The people assert that
they never come into city except by
divine inspiration in order to cure ill
ness and to enrich certain persons.
There is u belief among the Hindoos,
very widespread, but purely fabulous,
that they disappear at certain hours
to rejOin the cittars-divine naturalists
of the early ages of India, who, accord
ing to Hindoo tradition, meet with
their divinity, H&ri Ishari, ON the sum-
mits of the lIimalayas, to learn the Sc
crcts of nature.
The following is tho method employ
ed by these Indian alchemists to make
their gold. We give literally, conform
ing to the weights and measures in use
i'll India, the list Of substances necessary
for this delicate operation. These are,
according to our documents:
Sulphur of Nelli-Kai (Phylanthus
lemblica), "a rupees weight G. ounces).
White seeds of Abra precatorius, III.
pees weight (21a ounces).
One whole garlic.
Cinnabar, rupees weight GO ounccs).
English orpiment, 6 rupees weight.
Sal ammoniac, 6 rupees weight
These are powdered separately, and
then a paste is made of the whole, with
three quarts Of "pAddy" made Of Tie
milky juice Of Asclepias gigantea. The
whole is ground up with this milk.
THEN little hard balls are made of the
mixture, and finally two sattis arc taken
of fine, hard carthcnwarc, of such size
that the material to be distilled occu-
pies only onc-t third or one-fourth of the
vessel. On the lower vessel another sat
ii is soldered with potter's earth, after
an opening has been made in the end Ct
this second vase. Over this hole is fit
ted bottle whose end is pierced, and
it is carefully sealed to the vase. Into
tho lower vase are put the little balls
described above, and the whole is then
sealed up.
The powder, when vaporized, rises
along the sides of the bottle and con-
denses around the hole 1t is collected
with feather. Then zinc is taken. For
each rupees weight of zinc is allowed
quantity of the powder as large as
two or three rice grains. The zinc and
the powder are wrapped up together in
bit of paper or linen or leaf. The
whole is put into a crucible, which is
then sealed with paste composed of
one part of COW dung, one of charcoal
and one of potter's earth. This is
placed on fire of wood charcoal and
heated white hot, after which it is al
lowed to COOL Open the crucible-vou
are a rich man.-Paris Cosmos.