The curious distillatory, or, The art of distilling coloured liquors, spirits, oyls, &c. from vegitables, animals, minerals and metals ... containing many experiments ... relating to the production of colours, consistence and heat ... : together with several experiments upon the blood (and its serum) of diseased persons, with divers other collateral experiments / written originally in Latin by Jo. Sigis. Elsholt ; put into English by T.S. ...

CHAP. VIII.

Of Camomil.

BOtanists, or Herbarists, are wont to reckon ten sorts of this Plant, amongst which the most eminent are the common Camomil with the Noble Flower Single, and with the full, or double Flower Camomil without scent, and stinking Camomil or May∣weed; but I shall chiefly have to do in this place with the first sort or common Ca∣momil.

The distilled Water of this is to be had in Apothecaries Shops after the manner of other waters limpid and colourless. There is also to be sold its Oyl, made by infusion from the Yellow Flowers. But that which is made by distillation from the same Flow∣ers is very different from this, for it is deep∣ly saturated and fill'd with a Saphire Colour, very pleasing to the sight.

Experiment 1.

Take the fresh Flowers of common Ca∣momil,

sprinkle them with fair Water, and bruise them together; after they have stood some dayes cast them into a Copper distilling Vessel, well covered with Tin, and apply∣ing a Head to it, distill it. The Water being drawn forth, you shall perceive the Oyl to swim at the top of it, which though it be but little in quantity, will be of a true Sky Colour.

Experiment 2.

We have with the same success tryed the same, with the dryed Flowers; but the infusion of them stood for fourteen days to procure the greater extraction.

Experiment 3.

If you mix with them a handful or two of common Salt, or the like quantity of Tartar, the Blew Oyl will come over in greater plenty.

Experiment 4.

We substituted in the place of these the Flowers of Roman Camomil, but we had then a Yellowish Oyl, not a Saphire coloured

one: what there is to be found in the rest of the sorts of Camomil we have not yet tryed.

Experiment 5.

This innate Blewishness of the Camomil is of that contagious, or communicative Nature, that it is able to infect other things, and render them like it self. For Example: Take the tender tops of a Pine, or Firr-tree, and being cut into pieces, cast them in∣to a Copper Body, adding a good quantity of Camomil Flowers, distill them by them∣selves, and there will come over a com∣pound Oyl, which may be named Oleum Pini Caeruleum, or the Sky-coloured Oyl of Pines.

Experiment 6.

After the same way you may prepare the Saphirine Oyl of Iuniper, by mixing with a fit proportion of the Camomil Flowers, some Iuniper Berries; and this not with∣out a communication and exaltation of the Medicinal Vertues, with which the Iuni∣per it self doth abound.

Experiment 7.

The same way the shavings of Lignum vitae, being mixed with the Flowers of Ca∣momil, you may make a blewish Oyl; which though it be well scented of it self, yet adding Oyl of Rhodium to it, it will be ren∣dred more odoriferous.

Experiment 8.

Nay these Flowers seem to be of such a disposition, that whatsoever Rosiny matter they are mixed with, they yeild a Saphirine Oyl. An Argument worthy a further spe∣culation, whether or no by this Method many more Oyls may not be prepared a∣gainst particular Diseases, by the mixture of peculiar and specifick rosinous Simples.

Experiment 9.

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.

Experiment 10.

As to what concerns the duration, or lastingness of the Oyl, we have an Oyl which was extracted from Camomil Flowers above three years since, without the addition of Salt or Tartar, whose Saphire Colour ap∣pears so constant, that if it continue not for ever, yet it seems to promise to last many years. Nevertheless I do not deny what Boetius alledgeth, of his false Saphire Oyl, that the Blew Colour doth perish with Age, and that the whitishness of the ad∣ded Oyl of Turpentine will emerge or be ap∣parent.