The London dispensatory, reduced to the practice of the London physicians wherein are contain'd the medicines, both Galenical and chymical, that are now in use ... / by John Pechey ...

The way of making SALTS.

The way of making Volatile, or Essential SALTS.

Take a sufficient quantity of any fresh succu∣lent Plant, beat it in a wooden or Stone Mortar; then pour a large quantity of clear fountain wa∣ter upon it, boil it till half is consumed, strain it hard, and boil it again to the consistence of Ho∣ney; put it into a glass vessel or glazed Pot, and set it in a cold place for eight days at least, and a Crystal Salt will grow together in the manner of Sal Gemma, which by pouring out the decocti∣on may be collected; it must be washt in its own water and dryed for use. This way is made the Salt of Wormwood, Carduus Benedictus, Mugwort, and of other bitter Herbs easily, but of others very difficultly.

The way of making fixed, or Elementary Salts.

The Method of preparing consists in these four things; Calcination, Solution, Filtration, and Coagulation; first the Medical matter must be reduced into ashes by Calcination, but care must be taken that the ashes be not turned into glass by too great a fire, then by pouring clear hot wa∣ter upon the ashes to extract all the Salts, make a Lie; filtrate and boil it in an earthen vessel o∣ver a gentle fire, till all the water is evaporated,

and only Salt remains, which must be dissolved, filtered, and coagulated once and again, till it is free from all its impurities, and becomes white, and so are made Salts from Plants, parts of A∣nimals calcined, and the like; of these the fol∣lowing are best; Salts of Wormwood, Thyme, Rosmary, the lesser Centaury, Mugwort, Cardu∣us Benedictus, Masterwort, Parsly, Rest-harrow, Ash, Dwarf Elder, Gujacum, Box, Cammomile, St. John's-wort, Succory, Celandine, Scurvy-grass, Betto∣ny, Hemp Agrimony, Baulm, Ceterach, and the like.