Thesaurus & armamentarium medico-chymicum, or, A treasury of physick with the most secret way of preparing remedies against all diseases : obtained by labour, confirmed by practice, and published out of good will to mankind : being a work of great use for the publick / written originally in Latine by ... Hadrianus à Mynsicht ...; and faithfully rendred into English by John Partridge ...

Anima Vitrioli, or the Soul of Vitriol.

TAke several great and large earthen Vessels, by how much the larger they are, by so much the better; fill those Vessels full with Rain-water, and into every Vessel put two, three, or more handfuls

of common Vitriol, yet measure the Vitriol, and either increase it or diminish it according to the big∣ness of the Vessels, and let this Vitriol dissolve in the water, let the Vessels stand where they may not be moved, and sometimes exposed to the Sun or the Air, yet so, that it may not rain into them, nor any filth be cast therein: Then you shall see the Soul of Vitriol swim on the top of the water in colour like the Rain-bow or a Peacocks tail; this being thin, you shall take it off with a Spoon divers times in the day: This being done, stir the water about, and by and by when it is setled again, there will appear fresh Soul, which take also, and so by little and little you shall gather as much as you shall think sufficient. Note, When there will no more colours rise in the water, the Soul is all extracted, and the water is to be reple∣nished with fresh Vitriol. The Soul being all abstract∣ed, it will at first appear like mud, which lay upon a Tile or other earthen Vessel, and put it into a strong fire till it be red-hot, and then it will be of the colour of blood, and endure the flame; which being done, though it should lye in the fire many days, it will not waste a grain.

Virtue, Use, and Dose. This Soul of Vitriol (Phi∣losophically extracted, and Spagyrically prepared) is given in many Diseases, especially all fluxes of the Head and Belly, the flux of Blood and Terms, &c. in the Epilepsie, Dropsie, Gonorrhoea, prickings of the Sides, Gout, Feavers, Phrensie, &c. in all which it is of admirable use. The Dose from five grains to six or eight in appropriate Vehicles and Medicines respecting the Disease.