Chymical secrets and rare experiments in physick & philosophy with figures collected and experimented / by the Honourable and learned Sir Kenelm Digby ...

Snyder's Secret, as he gave it me himself the 22 of July, 1664.

TAke Nitre eight parts, Sulphur four parts, and Tartar two parts: Reduce all into a fine Powder, and mix them well. Then melt one part of pure ☉ and three parts of purified Regulus of Antimony, in a Crucible; then add to them three parts or more of the said Powder, let it stand in the fire until you see a light Skin upon it, then pour it into an Antimony-horn. Take the Regulus in the bottom of the Horn, and melt it again, and cast more of the said Powder upon it: Repeat this so often until all the Regulus be consumed; dissolve all the scums of the said Regulus, and make a laver thereof, which filter, and precipitate with an Acid, which edulcorate; edulcorate also the Feces which remained in the filter, put these things edulcorated together, with half the weight of Flowers of Sulphur, and cal∣cine them well: Then draw the Salt from it with distilled Vinegar (which will be a gol∣den Salt) draw as much of the said Salt from it as you can.

Take one part of this Salt, and two or three parts of good Butter of Antimony well rectified, mix them well in a Matrass, one

part filled, and the other two parts empty: Seal it Hermetically, and digest it with a gentle heat; it will grow black and putri∣fie in the space of three days; continue the digestion until the Powder be fixed.