Kάsisa.

Native sulphate of iron is indigenous to India, and has been used in medicine from a very ancient age. Two sorts of sulphate of iron are mentioned, namely, Dhάtakάsis or green variety and Phushpa kάsis or yellowish variety. The latter is evidently sulphate of iron, covered with the basic sulphate of the sesquioxide from absorption of oxygen. It would seem that the ancient Hindus did not know sulphate of iron, as an iron compound. It is neither described as a tonic nor used in combination with iron like iron pyrites and iron rust. It is seldom used internally. I have met with only one prescription by Chakradatta, who recommends a linctus composed of sulphate of iron and pulp of wood apple, in hiccup.1

Externally, it is used in skin diseases along with other medicines. Thus take of sulphate of iron, gall-stone of cows (gorochana). rusot and orpiment, equal parts and beat into to a paste with kάnjika. It is useful in intertrigo, pruritis etc.2

Kάsisάdyataila.3 Take of sesamum oil four seers, water sixteen seers, sulphate of iron, wood of Withania somnifera (asvagandhά), bark of Symplocos racemosa (lodhra), root of Pothos officinalis (gajapippali) each sixteen tolas. Beat the solid ingredients into a paste and boil it with the oil and water in the usual way. This oil is recommended to be applied to the genitals and the breasts with the view of strengthening these parts.