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There is a decompound Oyl, which is de∣scribed by Boetius. lib. 11. de Gemm. & La∣pid. cap. 43. Impostures (saith he) joyn the Flowers of Camomil, and the white Oyl or Spirit of Turpentine, and a very large propor∣tion of Artificial Sal Armoniack, They put
this mixture into a Copper Body, and to this they add common Water, from whence they distil Water and Oyl after the com∣mon way. The distilled Water contains on the Superficies or top of it Oyl of a Co∣lour like a Saphire; this is Oyl of Turpentine joyned with the Oyl of Camomil: for this Herb, or the Flowers of this Herb, do yield some of the Oyl: But the Colour is pro∣duced by the Sal Armoniack, which it ex∣tracts from the Copper, and communicates it to the Oyl. If the Oyl be kept long it will be spoyled with age, and then you will manifestly discover the Scent of Tur∣pentine. This is an usual cheat with com∣mon Chymists or Preparers of Chymical Medicines for the Shops here in London, because many are deceived by this means, and many Chymists are so simple to think the Colour proceedeth from the Camomil. I thought fit hereto discover the Imposture, Cheat and Error of Chymists.
Thus far Boetius, who in vain suspects a fraud in this matter: For, as we have shewed before in the first and second Ex∣periment, that also without any manner of Salt, either common, or Armoniack a Sk••-coloured Oyl may be drawn fron the Flow∣ers of common Camomil; wherefore the Co∣lour
doth not result from the Copper Body: for otherways the same thing would hap∣pen in distilling other Plants in a Copper Body, which nevertheless is very far from being true. It remains therefore in these operations, that the blewishness is produced altogether from the Flowers. But what is affirmed by Boetius concerning the blew Co∣lour being drawn out of the Copper by the Sal Armoniack, signifies nothing in this case, That being an Artifice, commonly known to Barbers.