Memoirs for the natural history of humane blood, especially the spirit of that liquor by Robert Boyle.

Experiment III.

BEsides the fixt Alcalisate Addita∣ments, with which I distill'd the dry'd Blood of Men, I thought fit to add to it a very Acid Addita∣ment, viz. Oyl of Vitriol; and this

the rather, because I had long since found by Tryal, (and, if I misre∣member not, have elsewhere rela∣ted) that this Liquor being mix'd with some other Bodies, particular∣ly with some belonging to the Ani∣mal Kingdom, did in an odd manner mingle its own substances (for I take it not to be a simple body) with them, and notably diversify the Products of the Distillation. We put therefore upon ℥iij. of powder'd Humane Blood, an equal weight of Oyl of Vitriol, and left them for some time together, to try if by the action of this Corrosive Menstruum, tho upon a Body not of a Mineral Nature, some heat would not be ex∣cited, and accordingly we found, that after a while, tho not at the very first, the mixture grew sensibly warm. Then we removed the Re∣tort into a Sand Furnace, and distil∣ling it by degrees of Fire, we had a Spirit which was preceded by a pretty deal of Phlegmatick Liquor,

of an odd sulphureous smell, but so strong and lasting, that I could not but wonder at it. The Caput Mor∣tuum I was fain to let alone, because I had some Inducements to suppose, that it was of so compounded a na∣ture, that I should not in my present Circumstances have the opportunity to examine it throughly. But it seemed remarkable, that, notwith∣standing the great Acidity of Oyl of Vitriol, and the fixative power it exercises on many Bodies, where∣with it is committed to Distillation, our Experiment afforded us a pretty quantity of Volatile matter in the form of a white Salt. But indeed the smell and tast of it were so uncom∣mon, that I was troubled I had not then conveniency to examine it carefully; much less to try, whether it had any peculiar Vertues or Ope∣rations in Physick; tho I had then by me a Glass Instrument, that I purposely provided to obviate the great inconvenience that is usually

met with, and has been often com∣plain'd of by me as well as others, in the way Chymists are wont to imploy, when they are put to make repeated Sublimations of Volatile Salts, whether alone or with Addita∣ments of this Instrument I cannot now stay to give you an account, but if it continue to appear as use∣full as expeditious, I may hereafter do it by presenting you one ready made.