A History of Hindu Chemistry, vol. 1

about the contributions of the Hindus, and even went the length of making a personal appeal to me to help him with information on the subject. In response to his sacred call, I submitted to him, in 1898, a short monograph on Indian alchemy; it was based chiefly on Rasendrasara Samgraha, a work which I have since then found to be of minor importance and not calculated to throw much light on the vexed question as to the origin of Hindu chemistry. M. Berthelot not only did me the honor of reviewing it at length See footnote below for original context. but very kindly presented me with a complete set of his monumental work, in three volumes, on the chemistry of the

original: "Cependant il serait nécessaire d'examiner certains documents qui m'ont été récemment signalés par une lettre de Rây, professeur à Presidency College (Calcutta). D’après ce savant, il existe des traités d’alchimie, écrits en sanscrit, remontant au XIIIe siècle, et qui renferment des préceptes pour préparer les sulfures de mercure noir et rouge et le calomel employés comme médicaments. Ces indications s’accordent avec celles des alchimistes arabes signalées plus haut. Il est à désirer que ces traités soient soumis à une étude approfondie, pour en déterminer l’origine, probablement attribuable à une tradition persane ou nestorienne." — JOURNAL DES SAVANTS, Oct., 1897.
Translation: "However, it would be necessary to examine certain documents that were recently pointed out to me by a letter from Ray, professor at Presidency College (Calcutta). According to this scholar, there exist treatises on alchemy, written in Sanskrit, dating back to the 13th century, which contain instructions for preparing black and red mercury sulfides and calomel used as medicine. These indications agree with those of the Arab alchemists mentioned above. It is to be desired that these treatises be subjected to an in-depth study to determine their origin, which is probably attributable to a Persian or Nestorian tradition."

original: "Matériaux pour un chapitre négligé de l’histoire de la Chimie ou contributions à l’Alchimie indienne (Mémorie manuscrit de 43 pages), par Prafulla Chandra Rây, professeur à Presidency College, Calcutta,"—Vide JOURNAL DES SAVANTS, April’ 1898
Translation: "Materials for a neglected chapter in the history of Chemistry or contributions to Indian Alchemy (43-page manuscript memory), by Prafulla Chandra Ray, professor at Presidency College, Calcutta"—See JOURNAL DES SAVANTS, April 1898.