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. XXIX. Of the Separation of the Elements.

I. AFterwards take this precious Stone, (which the Philosophers have named, yet hidden and concealed) put it into a Cucurbit with its Alembick, and divide its Natures, viz. the four Elements, the Earth, Water, Air, and Fire.

II. These are the Body and Soul, the Spirit and Tincture: when you have divided the Water from the Earth, and the Air from the Fire, keep each of them by themselves, and take that, which descends to the bottom of the Glass, being the Faeces, and wash it with a warm fire, till its black ness be gone, and its thick∣ness be vanished.

III. Then make it very white, causing the superflu∣ous moisture to fly away, for then it shall be changed and become a white Calx, wherein there is no cloudy darkness, nor uncleanness, nor contrariety.

IV. Afterwards return it back to the first Natures which ascended from it, and purifie them likewise from uncleanness, black∣ness and contrariety.

V. And reiterate these Works upon them so often, till they be subtilized, puri∣fied,

and made thin, which when you have done, ren∣der up thanks and acknow∣ledgments to the most Gra∣cious God.

VI. Know then that this Work is but one, and it produceth one Stone, into which Garib shall not enter, i. e. any strange or foreign thing. The Philosopher works with this, and there∣from proceeds a Medicine which gives perfection.

VII. Nothing must be mingled herewith, either in part or whole: And this Stone is to be found at all times, and in every place, and about every Man; the search whereof is yet diffi∣cult to him that seeks it, wheresoever he be.

VIII. This Stone is vile, black, and stinking; it costs nothing; it must be taken alone, it is somewhat hea∣vy, and is called the Ori∣ginal of the World, because it rises up, like things that bud forth; this is the mani∣festation and appearance of it, to them that seek truly after it.

IX. Take it therefore, and work it as the Philoso∣pher has told you in the the Book, where he speaks of it after this manner. Take the Stone and no Stone, or that which is not a Stone, neither of the nature of a Stone; it is a Stone whose Mine is in the top of the Mountains.

X. By which the Philo∣sopher understands Animals, or living Creatures; where∣upon he said, Son, go to the Mountains of India, and to its Caves, and take thence precious Stones, which will melt in the water, when they are put into it.

XI. This Water is that which is taken from other Mountains and hollow pla∣ces; they are Stones and no Stones, but we call them so, for the resemblance they have to Stones.

XII. And you must know that the Roots of their Mines are in the Air, and their Tops in the Earth; and they make a noise when they are taken out of their

places, and the noise is very great. Make use of them very suddenly, for other∣wise they will quickly va∣nish away.