中国古代秋石提炼考

Study on the Extraction of "Autumn Mineral" in Ancient China

全面考证了秋石提炼史,辅以模拟实验,并借助中国科学技术大学结构成分分析中心的进口设备,采用化学方法和物理方法分别对中间产物和最终产物作了交叉检测,提出了不同的观点:中国古代秋石的炼制始于东汉,兴于北宋,盛于明代,衰于清朝;中国古人虽然发明了多种提炼秋石的方法,但这些方法还不能有效地从人尿中提取性激素,也就是说,世人注目的秋石不是一种相当纯净的性激素制剂,而仅仅是一种以难溶无机盐为主要成分,与人中白具有类似功能的药物.

This article studied the extraction of 'autumn mineral' in ancient China,which was considered by Dr.J.Needham as 'Chinese iatrochemists between the 10th and 16th centuries succeeded in preparing steroid hormones in a relatively purified form.' The author made typical simulated tests and a physico-chemical inspection of the resulting products and indicated that 'autumm mineral'is not a preparation of steroid hormones but a drug of inorganic salts with other organic compounds.