CHAP. XV. Of extracting of oyles out of the harder sorts of Gummes, as myrrhe, mastich, frankincense and the like.
SOme there be who extract these kinds of oyles with the Retort set in ashes or sand, as we mentioned in the former Chapter of oyles of more liquid gums, adding for every pound of gumme two pints of Aqua vitae, and two or three ounces of oyle of Turpentine, then let them infuse for eight or ten dayes in Balneo Mariae, or else in horse dung; then they set it to distill in a Retort. Now this is the true manner of making of oyles of Myrrhe; Take Myrrhe made into fine * 1.1 pouder, and therewith fill hard Egges in stead of their yoalkes being taken out; then place the Egges upon a gridiron, or such like grate in some moist place as a cellar, and set under them a Leaden earthen panne; the Myrrhe will dissolve into an oilely water, which being presently put into a glasse and well stopped, with an equall quantitie of rectified aqua vitae, and so set for three or foure monthes in hot horse dung, which past the vessell shall be taken forth, and so stopped that the contei∣ned liquor may be poured into an Alembecke, for there will certaine grosse setling by this meanes remaine in the bottome, then set your Alembecke in Balneo and so * 1.2 draw off the aqua vitae & phlegmaticke liquor, and there will remaine in the bottome a pure & cleare oile, whereto you may give a curious colour by mixing therewith some Alkanet, and a smell by droping thereinto a little oyle of Sage, Cinnamon or cloves
Now let us shew the composition and manner of making of balsames by giving you one or two examples; the first of which is taken out of Vesalius his Chirurgery; and is this.
℞. terebinth. opt. lb. j. ol. laurini ℥iiij. galbani, ℥iij. gum. elem. ℥iiij ss. thuris, Myrrhae, * 1.3 gum. hederae, centaur. majoris, ligni aloës, an. ℥iij. galangae, caryophyll. consolidae majoris, Cinamoni, nucis moschat. zedoaniae, zinzib. dictamni albi, an. ℥j. olei vermium terrestrium, ℥ij. aq. vitae lb. vj.
The manner of making it is this, let all these things be beaten and made small, and so i••fused for three dayes space in aqua vitae, then distilled in a Retort just as wee said, you must distill oyle of Turpentine and waxe. There will flow hence three sorts of liquors, the first watrish and cleare, the other thinne, and of pure golden colour; the third of the colour of a Carbuncle, which is the true Balsame. The first liquor is effectuall against the weakenesse of the stomacke comming of a cold cause, for that it cuts flegme and discusses ••••atulencies; the second helpes fresh and hot bleeeing wounds, as also the palsie. The third is chiefly effectuall against these same effects. The composition of the following Balsamum is out of Fallo∣pius; and is this. ℞. terebinth. clarae, lb. ij. olei de semine lini lb. j. resinae pini, ℥vj, thuris, myrrhae, aloes, mastiches, sarcocollae, an. ℥iij. macis, ligni Aloes, an. ℥ij. * 1.4