Sal Febrile.
Take Sal Armoniack divers times sublimed, Nitre prepared, Salt of Carduus benedictus, of Wormwood, and the lesser Centaury, of each an ounce. Dissolve them all in Succory-water, and make of all a most white Salt according to Art.
Virtue, Use, and Dose. It is a most excellent Alexi∣pyretick in Feavers of all kinds, whether Quotidians, Tertians, Semitertians or Quartans, &c. without danger. It is given from half a dram to a dram two or three hours before the Fit in Centaury-water or any other Specifick, expecting Sweat toward the end of the Fit: And the same dose is to be repeated, if the first or second dose doth not perform it.
Annotation. If any one proceeds so ingeniously, that from the forementioned specifick Compositions, he desires to prepare with the safe and secret Spagi∣••ists the Essential Salts, as they call them, let him ••ake the simple Herbs, or mixt with other Ingredi∣••nts, and being well dryed by a temperate heat, boil ••hem in common Water (according to Art) till all ••heir strength and native Salt is well excocted, (for otherwise his labour is in vain) then pour off the De∣••oction, and again boil that to the consistence of Ho∣••ey, or to the thickness of a Syrup; put that into a ••ery cool place, till it shoots into Crystals, which ••ake off, and purifie well by divers Solutions, Filtra∣••••ons and Coagulations, until it be fit for Physical ••se. This excellent Salt is also extracted from the ••uyce of Herbs made thick, concerning which see ••eguinus, Lib. 2. cap. 17. And do thou know, Rea∣••er, that three grains of these Essential Salts will be ••ore effectual than a scruple of the vulgar made by ••alcinations.