A course of chemistry containing an easie method of preparing those chymical medicins which are used in physick : with curious remarks and useful discourses upon each preparation, for the benefit of such who desire to be instructed in the knowledge of this art / by Nicholas Lemery, M.D.

CHAP. XIII. Oil of Bricks.

THis preparation is Bricks impregnated with Oil of Olives, and afterwards distilled.

Heat red-hot among burning Coals pieces of Brick, and quench them in a pan filled half full with Oil of Olives, but take care to cover it im∣mediately, for the Oil will else take fire. Leave them in Infusion ten or twelve hours, or until the Oil hath sufficiently penetrated the Bricks, after that separate them, and when you have grosly powdered the Bricks imbibed with the Oil, put it into an earthen Retort, or glass one luted, large enough for a third part to remain empty; place it in a Reverberatory furnace, and fit to it a large capacious Receiver, lute well the conjunctions, and give a little fire at first to warm the Retort, then

encrease it by degrees, until you see vapours come forth; then continue it in this condition till there comes no more: unlute the conjunctions, and take away the Receiver, there remains in the Retort all the Brick, which you must fling away as use∣less.

Mix the Oil that remains in the Receiver with a sufficient quantity of other Brick dried and powdered, and make a paste of it, form several little pellets, and put them into a glass Retort; set the Retort in Sand, and fitting to it a large Receiver, and luting them together, give a fire by degrees to rectifie all the Oil, pour it into a Viol, and keep it for use; it is called the Oil of Philosophers.

It is a good Remedy applyed outwardly to dis∣cuss the Tumours of the Spleen, for the Palsie, Phthisick, and suffocations of the mother. It may be given inwardly from two to four drops, in wine, or some appropriate liquor. Some drops of it are instilled into the Ear to dissipate the flatulent hu∣mours that are there inclosed.

Remarks.

This operation serves only to exalt the Oil of Olives, that being more opened by the fire, it may rarefie and dissolve humours more easily; for you must not imagine that the Brick doth communi∣cate any great virtue, it is a dry body, and want∣ing all active principles.

You must make a very moderate fire in this distillation, that the Oil may come forth in va∣pours;

for if it should come out drop by drop, it would not be so open, nor would it produce so good effects.

Some do rectifie the Oil of Bricks with Colco∣thar instead of Bricks, or else with the mass that remains after the distillation of Aqua fortis.

Antient Chymists have given the epithete Phi∣losophick to all preparations wherein they have used Brick. The reason that can be given for it is, that because they call themselves the only True Philosophers, or Philosophers by way of excel∣lence, they thought they were obliged to confer some influences of this mighty name upon Bricks, because they are the materials wherewith they build their Furnaces, to work at the high and mighty operation, or the Philosophers stone; for they pretend it is by this Operation alone that True Philosophy can be obtained.