Medicina practica, or, Practical physick shewing the method of curing the most usual diseases happening to humane bodies ... : to which is added, the philosophick works of Hermes Trismegistus, Kalid Persicus, Geber Arabs, Artesius Longævus, Nicholas Flammel, Roger Bachon and George Ripley : all translated out of the best Latin editions into English ... : together with a singular comment upon the first book of Hermes, the most ancient of philosophers : the whole compleated in three books / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. XXI. The remaining Operations, and conclusion of this whole Work.

I. BUT leading you to the knowledge of Phy∣losophy, and exposing the Demonstrations thereof, in a Philosophick manner, we should make it the dirision and mockery of Women, and the play of Children.

II. Take also the fresh Bark or Rind, in the same moment; in which you shall after another manner, ex∣tract the matter or thing it self, in the place where it is generated; and put it in∣to a Cucurbit, and sublime it.

III. And that which is or shall be sublimed, separate it, for it is the Vinegar of the Philosophers, and their Sapience [i. e. their Salt.]

IV. Then take this Vine∣gar, and melt or pour it forth upon another Cortex, Bark, or Superfices of the Sea, and put it into a Glass Vesica, in which put so much of your Vinegar, as may over top it the heighth of Four Inches; this bury in warm Horse dung, for Thirty One [or Forty] Daies.

V. This time being past, take the Vessel forth, and you will find it now dis∣solved, and turned into a black and stinking Water; more black and stinking than any thing in the whole World.

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VI. Take then this very thing it self, and very gent¦ly elevate it in its taberna∣cle, till all the moisture is consumed, so as no more will ascend, this sublimed Matter keep carefully for your use.

VII. Then take the Foe∣ces, which remain in the bottom of the Cucurbit, and keep them, for they are the crown [and rejoycing] of the Heart: Die then the same and grind them, and add there to fresh or new Cortex of the Sea, that is say, Mercury, and grind them together, drying them in a warm Sun.

VIII. And the Waters from the same first sublimed, sink down to the bottom, which diligently grind and dry, and put them in the Crucible or Test of Ethel, and sublime: and the Mat∣ter being sublimed purely White, as fine Salt, keep it safely, for it is the Auripig∣ment, and Sulphur and Mag¦nesia of the Philosopers.

IX Understand now, and see that you govern your Work with Wisdom and Prudence, and make not too much haste.

X. Then take the Cucurbit, put half way into lute, and put into the same, your dissolved black Water, which you have sublimed; that is to say, nine parts, and of this whitned Auripigmen∣tum, which you sublimed from the Ethel two parts.

XI. I say, that this o∣pened or decocted Auripig∣ment, is immediately dis∣solved in the Water, and made like to Water; that nothing can be seen by mankind, of a more in∣tense, fixt, and perfect Whiteness, nor any thing more beautiful to the Eye, which the Philosopers call their Sal Virginis, or Virgin Salt.

XII. Put this into a little Vessel, called a Cucurbit, close well the Joynts, which put upon a gentle Fire, making it, as it were, but

with two Coals at first, and then adding two others: and look into it, to see how the Water ascends and descends.

XIII. When you see the Vapour is consumed, and nothing more will ascend, of that which is elevated, nor descend, know that the Matter it self is now co∣agulated: make therefore a more intense and vehe∣ment Fire, for the space of three hours of the day.

XIV. Then lastly, take away the Fire, or let it go out, and the next day (all things being cold) open the mouth of your 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and take forth the Matter, which is of a substance, white, sincere, and melted or dissolved.

XV. This is your Sub∣stance sought after; and now you have comethrough to the end of your Work; manage it according to your Reason and Prudence, for (God assisting) you may make of it what you please.

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