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A Physician must learn to Anatomize all things in Nature, as well as Humane Body, to know what they contain within and without, to separate the Poyson from the Medicinal quality: he must know how to dissolve, sepa∣rate, exalt and prepare fully Metals, Minerals, Vegetables and Animals: for Receipts found in other Mens Writings, cannot sufficiently instruct a Man to the Practice or Im∣provement of Physick.
The Field of Nature is very large, 'tis round and endless, affords room enough for eve∣ry industrious Man, so wisely has the great Creator contriv'd us all imployment, that none need envy or assault anothers labours, but may go out and provide for himself; and did he know the Treasures that lye undiscover'd, 'twould make him of a busie mind.
Minerals as they yield the noblest and choicest Medicines, so they are of greater difficul∣ty, and require greater skill in their preparation than ei∣ther Vegetables or Animals. I have therefore (out of a de∣sire of useful rarities) apply'd
my self of late to hard labour in the Mines; from whence I hope to produce great benefit to others, and a little to my self, which shall suffice.
And having now exactly compleated by the necessary Laws of Alchymy my Mineral healing Waters, I judge it nei∣ther Empirical, covetuous, or any ways base to permit 'em (on such easie terms as I do, for general good) to break up like a publick Fountain, to which every one may resort: Yet I do not impose 'em on any, let 'em fare according to the success they obtain.
I have made 'em exactly resembling the Ultramarine
Spaws; by selecting those Mi∣nerals and Marcasites which give 'em their excellent Medi∣cinal qualities; and I think the Artificial Preparation of 'em in selecting the useful parts, and rejecting those more un∣wholsome with the dregs, can∣not but be of great advantage to the rendring these Waters more effectual and certain in their Operation, than the Na∣tural.
For instance in Antimony, how churlish and unsafe is it, if given without any Artificial Preparation: but if dissected, separated, defecated, and by the rules of Alchymy pre∣pared, what useful, safe,
and noble Medicines does it yield?
There is as great reason to except against White Bread, because 'tis the Flowers of the Wheat separated from the grosser matter of the Corn, and by the Baker's skill made Chymical Bread; as there is against Medicinal Preparati∣ons, because discharg'd of their feces and useless or hurt∣ful parts.
If then the Natural Medici∣nal Waters receive their Vir∣tues from Minerals and Mar∣casites unprepar'd, only by washing on 'em as they pass through the Caverns and Veins of the Earth, and are esteem∣ed
of so great use: of how much more certainty then in their operation and usefulness must the Artificial Waters be, which have their Minerals purg'd and cleans'd from all their foul and noxious parts, and those that are Medicinal exalted and made ripe for the service of Nature.
There is much in the World yet to be discover'd, which time and industry may bring to light.
The Circulation of the Blood, how long lay that hid from Wise Men and great Phy∣sicians, though those Streams were always flowing about 'em; which when discover'd,
it seem'd strange they could be so long ignorant.
The late great improvement of making Salt Water Fresh, brought to that perfection that it serves all the intentions of Natural sweet Fountains, has greatly encouraged me in the prosecution of this design, which is brought too to that perfection, that it bears all the tests of those Natural Medici∣nal Waters it imitates, as the German Spaw, &c. and its operations are of greater cer∣tainty and more manageable.
For our Minerals, &c. are selected from all other, whe∣ther unwholsome, or not ser∣ving a Medicinal intention,
and are open'd, separated, purify'd, &c. hereby we know exactly the Doses, especially being freed from all the gleet∣ings of other Springs and Rain∣water.
And the advantages of ha∣ving 'em daily made fresh are not inconsiderable, nor the conveniencies of contracting the entire Medicinal Dose to what quantity of Water or other Vehicle you please, by the help of our Tincture; be∣sides many more, which 'tis not necessary to enumerate.