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. IX.

Of Lignum Nephriticum, or the wood against the Stone.

CAsper Bauhinus in pinnace Botanic. calls this Wood, Lignum peregrinum, sive Mexicanum, Aquam caeruleam reddens, i. e. The strange, or Mexican wood, colouring Water Blew. And places it among the Species or Kinds of Ash trees. Franciscus Hernandes in his Book Intituled Thesaurus Rerum Medicarum Novae Hispaniae, which afterwards was published by Nardus An∣tonius Recchus in the 4th Book, chap. 25. says thus: 'Tis called Coatlis, by others Tlapalezpatl, or the Medicine of the Scarlet or Crimson coloured Blood. It is a great Trees-Shrub, with a body thick and without knobs, like the Pear-tree wood, the Leaves like Sheep Pease, or Rue, with a Yellow Flower growing among Prickles. It is also excellently described by Nicol. Monades in his History of Simples, chap. 27. in these words; Mittit Nova Hispania Ligni quoddam genus crassum & erode, Materiae piri,

cujus usus jamdiu receptus fuit in his Regioni∣bus, ad Renum vitia, urinaeque difficultates & incommoda. Postea experimento comproba∣tum est, ejus Aquam in Iecoris & Leinis ob∣structionibus utilem esse. Illa autem hac rati∣one paratur, Lignum assutatim, & minutim, concisum in optima & lympidissima aqua fonta∣na maceratur, atque in ea relinquitur donec a∣qua à bibentibus absumpta sit. Dimidia Hora post injectum lignum aqua caeruleum dilutio∣rem colorem contrahit, qui sensun intenditur pro temporis diuturnitate, tametsi lignum can∣didum (potius ruffum) sit, caeruleum ideo dico quoniam adulteratur alio ligno simili, quod aquam croceo colore inficit, ne quis falla∣tur.

That is, there is sent from New-Spain a certain kind of thick Wood, without Knotts, like the substance of a Pear-Tree, it hath been long made use of in these parts, against the distempers of the Kidnies, and the difficulties, and inconveniences of making Urine. After∣wards it was found by experience that its Water was beneficial in the Obstructions of the Liver, and Spleen. It is prepared after this manner; The Wood being shaved and smal cut, let it be steeped in the best and clearest Fountain Water, and left in it till it be consumed by those that

drink it: Half an hour after the Wood is put into the Water, the Water will con∣tract a pale Blew, which is heightned by degrees according to the time it remains in it, and yet the Wood is White (or rather Brown.) I therefore mention this Blew∣ness, because it is counterfeited with another Wood like it, (which gives the Water a Saffron Colour) lest any body should be deceived.

This 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or knack, is now a daies commonly known, and certainly except it were so well known, it w••uld be more esteemed. Of which Fire is an Example: which although there be no∣thing more admirable then the nature of it, yet we despise it as a common thing; which were it brought from the remotest parts of the Indies, and sudden∣ly and unthought-of shewed to us, I doubt not with how much amazement we should contemplate it.

Experiment 1.

Being about therefore to search, if that Golden Blewish Colour, would remain with the same constancy in passing over the Alimbeck, I cast into a Glass Body,

the infusion, together with the rasped shavings of Lignum Nephriticum, and drew it off. The Distilling Water, al∣though it lost both the Colours, and was become clear: yet for all that I observed that it breathed forth a grateful rosinous Odour. But the Scent of the Shavings themselves might be observed to be much more pleasing, although the crude Wood of it self was almost 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, without Scent.

Experiment 2.

We substituted in the place of Foun∣tain Water Spirit of Wine, which being poured upon the shavings, in like manner became of a double Colour: But being drawn over by the Alimbeck; it became White like common Water. And be∣cause I easily foresaw, that I could do nothing further with this Wood, by distillation with an Alimbeck, I desisted: yet nevertheless I tryed other ways, and the Experiment which follows was pro∣duced thereby.

Experiment 3.

We distilled some drops of Oyl of Tartar per deliquium into the Golden Blewish Co∣loured Infusion, made with common Water, and we perceived both the Colours re∣mained constant.

Experiment 4.

We poured into the same Infusion Spirit of Vitriol drop by drop, and the aforesaid blewish Colour vanished, the Yel∣low one only remaining.

Experiment 5.

We tryed the same with Spirit of Salt, Sulphur, Nitre, &c. and the Golden Co∣lour continued, the Blew one disappearing, as it did happen in Experiment the 4th. A clear sign that the acid Salt by its pene∣trative power did infringe, and other∣ways dispose those Particles, which the Vrinous, and as it were blunt Salt of Tartar could not infringe or otherwise dispose.

Experiment 6.

Many considerable Remarks are pro∣duced concerning this Nephritick Wood, by that careful and industrious searcher after Nature, Mr. Boyle in his Book of Colours, Experiment the 10. and in those which fol∣low, which worthily deserve to be read. But I may repeat one of them here, which concerns the redintegration of the once lost Blew Colour. But because the Au∣thors Relation is a little too long, I will repeat it with more brevity. Drop into the double coloured Infusion of the Wood, a few drops of the Spirit of Wine Vinegar, so the Blew Colour will vanish, the Saffron one remaining. Upon this pour a little Oyl of Tartar per deliquium, and immedi∣ately the Blew Colour will return, and the Infusion will appear as before of two Colours, perhaps by the acidity of the Salt the Particles are broke, and returned to their former position, which were kept under by the heavy Oyl of Tartar.