A breefe aunswere of Iosephus Quercetanus Armeniacus, Doctor of Phisick, to the exposition of Iacobus Aubertus Vindonis, concerning the original, and causes of mettalles Set foorth against chimists. Another exquisite and plaine treatise of the same Iosephus, concerning the spagericall preparations, and vse of minerall, animall, and vegitable medicines. Whereunto is added diuers rare secretes, not heeretofore knowne of many. By Iohn Hester, practicioner in the spagericall arte.

Of Leade. Chap. 5.

* 1.1 LEade is of a cooling quality (as Galen saith in his 9. booke of simples,) and therefore it is good for hollow, cancred, and rotten vlcers either by it selfe, or mixed with certaine other thinges, whereof Ceruse and red lead are made by art, which the phisitions vse against the inflāmation of the eies when they would refrigerate, drie, repell or binde: & ther∣of they make their vnguentes with colde waters. They are also put into vnguentum album rasis, citrinum, & diapompholygos, it is put also into plasters called by their names, as of ceruse and red lead.

These are destitute of all maner of byting, and the phisi∣tions vse them to close vp vlcers withall. Many do vse onely * 1.2a plate of leade to drie vp vlcers, other some vse burnt lead, which doth more effectuallie drie vp vlcers, and is more cō∣modious for those that are rebellious, according to Galén his iudgement. But by this praeperation following, which is better, it is made more excellent to dry and heale all ma∣ner of maligne woundes and inueterat vlcers, which pre∣paration is made after this maner following.

Take lead well calcined, out of the which with distilled vi∣neger Alcalisated and prepared as it ought to bee, y••e shall draw out the essence in Balneo, and this ye shall do so often times vntil all the lead be dissolued: and by these meanes let it be purged from his leprosie and all impurities: Then se∣perate the menstrue in Balneo, and that which remaineth in the bottom of the vessal dissolue againe in Alcoole vini tarta∣risato, and circulate all together certaine daies to take away the sharpnes of the menstrue: and by these meanes you shall make of lead a most sweete sugar and temperat, most friend∣ly to our nature, seruing for many infirmities. This in a

moist place is dissolued into oile a most excellent medicine to heale all maner of maligne vlc••rs in short space: Of the same is made a most precious balme against the paines and inflammations of the eies, so that it be first well dulcifyed & prepared. The like ye may make of tinne, whereof among the old phisicions there was no vse that I knowe of. Moreo∣uer you may so deale with tucia, litarge, the true cadmia, spodium, and pompholix: all which may be well prepared & made so gentle that without any byting they will take away the spottes and ouergrowinges of the eies, asswaging the in∣flamacions and great paines of the same, curing all vlcers without paine and close them vp.

Balsamum saturni.

* 1.3 TAke the aforesaid salt of lead being dulcerated with the spirit of wine, and circulat it 15. da••es, then seperat the menstrue by distillation, and put on fresh and circulate it a∣gaine putting thereto a fittewaight or quantity of the salt of tartar cristalline, and you shall haue a balme sweeter then sugar, which will meruellously preuaile against all maligne vlcers, and diseases of the eies.

The making oile of lead, told me of a learned D. of Germanie.

TAke leade calcined, and set it in a strong fier to vitrifie, then beate it to powder, and draw away his essence with distilled vineger, as is shewed afore, then vapor away that viniger vntill it come to the thicknes of hony, then while it is hot put it into a retort of glasse, and distill it with a gen∣tle fire, vntill ther appeare certaine white fumes, then chāge the receauer and augment the fier according to art, vntil all the fumes be come forth, the which is the oile of satu••ne. This ye shall rectify many times, the which is thus to be vn∣derstoode. Calcine, dissolue, vapour, and distill as ye did a∣fore: but if it happen that all the matter be not dissolued ye shall take that powder that remained in the bottome of your

matters and drye it in a crusible, then grinde it on a stone and dissolue it in fresh vineger, and distill and vapour as a∣fore is said: then if thou wilt make another oile thereof to beautify the face, and to drye vp olde vlcers, and to distroy fistulaes. Take the said powder after the oile is distilled from it, calcine it, and dissolue it with fresh vineger, and vapour it away to the thicknes of honye, then let it coole and one part will turne to salt being very white in the bottome, & the oile will be yellow and swim on the top the which yee shall power of into another glasse, for it is the sweete oile of sa∣turne, the which if one drop be put into faire water it wil be turned like milke, the which is vsed to beautify the face, and is called lac virginis. Then if yee will vse the salt that remained in the bottome to bewtify: take the quantity of a small nut, and dissolue it with the iuice of lemondes and there with annoint the face slightly. Also if yee rectify the said oile in Balneo, there will come forth an aqua vite more stronger then of wine, the which serueth to dissolue gold af∣ter it is throughly calcined: that being done there will re∣maine in the bottome of the glasse a white matter: hauing an oile swimming thereon of a yellowish coloure, the which being dronke is singular good against spasmus, and sincope: The first oile not being rectifyed is good to whiten scares, & cicatrises, against burnings and noli me tangere, and herpes: The rectifyed oile is good against cancres, and such like sores. This salt is by nature cold and drie, and is vsed with good successe in hot and moist bodies, where the liuer sen∣deth forth certaine vapours like fat scabbes, and viscous flegme, and such like: it helpeth all weeping woundes and vlcers in few dayes. Being mixed with oile of turpentine & annointed, it cureth conuulciones and resolutions, being mixed with oile of camomill, it dissolueth tumors, and sup∣presseth burnings & scaldings 3. or 4. graines being dronke helpeth the chollicke, being mixed with oile of roses, it coo∣leth and dryeth meruellously all heates, scabbes, and itch. &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  De Plumbo
• * 1.2

  Gal. 9. simp.
• * 1.3

  Balsamum saturni.