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. LIII. Of Calcination of Bodies and Spirits, with their Causes and Methods.

I. CAlcination is the bringing a thing to Dust by Fire, through an abstraction of its humidity, holding the particles of the Body together.

II. The cause of the in∣vention thereof, is, that the Adustive, corrupting and defiling sulphureity, may be abolished by Fire; and it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉, according to the diversity of the things to be calcined: for Bodies are calcined; and Spirits are calcined; as also other things foreign to these, but with a divers intention.

III. And seeing there are imperfect Bodies of two kinds, viz. Hard, as Venus and Mars; and Soft, as Sa∣turn and Jupiter; all which are calcined; there was a necessity of calcining them with a several intention, viz. General and Special.

IV. They are calcined with one general Intention, when that their corrupting and defiling Sulphureity may be abolished by Fire: for every adustive Sulphureity, which could not be remo∣ved without Calcination, is thereby abolished from e∣very thing whatsoever.

V. And because the Bo∣dy it self is solid, and by reason of that solidity, the internal Sulphureity conceal∣ed within the continuity of the substance of Argent Vive, is defended from Adustion; therefore it was necessary to separate the Continuity thereof, that the Fire com∣ing freely to every its least parts, might burn the Sul∣phureity from it, and that

the Continuity of Argent Vive might not defend it.

VI. The common inten tion also of Calcination, is Depuration of the Earthi∣ness; for it is found that Bodies are cleansed by rei∣terated Calcination and Re∣duction, as we shall here∣after shew.

VII. Special Calcination is of Soft Bodies, and with these two intentions, that through it there may be an inten∣tion of Hardning and Fix∣ing, which is accomplished by an Ignitious repition of Calcination upon them; and this is found true by Experience.

VIII. But why the Cal∣cination of Spirits was in∣vented, is, that they may the better be fixed, and the more easily dissolved in to Water; for that every kind of thing Calcined is more fixed, then the not Calcined, and of easier so∣lution: and because the Particles of the Calcinated, more subtilized by Fire, are more easily mixed with Water, and turned into Wa∣ter.

IX. The Calcination of other things, is subservient to the Exigency of the Pre∣paration of Spirits and Bo∣dies, of which Preparation we shall speak more at large in the following: but these are not of Perfection.

X. The way of Calcina∣tion is divers, by reason of the diversity of things to be Calcined: for Bodies are otherwise Calcined than Spirits, or other things. And Bodies divers from each o∣ther, are diversly Calcined. Soft Bodies have one general way, according to the in∣tention, viz. That both may be Calcined by Fire only, and by the acuity of Salt prepared or unprepa∣red.

XI. The first Calcination by Fire is thus: Have a Ves∣sel of Iron or Earth, formed like a Porringer, which let be very strong and firm, and fitted to the Fornace of Calcination, so, that under∣it, the Coles may be cast in and blowed.

XII. Then cast in your Lead or Tin (the vessel be∣ing firmly set upon a Trivet of Iron or Stone, and fast∣ned to the Walls of the Fornace, with 3 or 4 Stones being thrust in, stiff, be∣tween the Fornace sides and the Vessel, that it may not move: the form of the For∣nace, must be the same with the Form of the For∣nace of Great Ignition,) of which we have spoken, and shall speak more in the fol∣lowing.)

XIII. And the Fire be∣ing kindled sufficient for the fusion of the Body to be calcined, a skin will arise on the Top, which con tinually rake together, and take off with a Slice, or o∣ther fit Iron or Stone instu∣ment, so long till the whole body is converted into Pouder.

XIV. If it be Saturn, there must be a greater fire, till the Calx be changed in∣to a compleat whiteness.

XV. Now understand, that Saturn is easily re∣duced again into a Body from its Calx: but Jupiter with most difficulty: there∣fore be carefull that you err not in exposing Saturn after its first Pulverization to too great a Fire, and so reduce the Calx into a Body, before it is perfected: in this you must use tempe∣rance of Fire, and that lei∣surly augmented by de∣grees with Caution, till it be confirmed in its Calx, and is not so easily redu∣cible, but that a gentle fire must be given to the last compleating of the Calx.

XVI. Likewise be care∣ful that you err not in Ju∣piter, by reason of its dif∣ficult Reduction, for that intending to reduce it, you find it not reduced, but a Calx still, or turned into Glass, and so then conclude its reduction impossible.

XVII. Now we say, that if a great Fire be not given in the reduction of Jupiter, it reduceth not: and if a great Fire be given, some∣times it reduces not, but

Possibly may be converted into Glass: the reason of which is, because Jupiter in the profundity of its na∣ture has the fugitive sub∣stance of Argent Vive inclu∣ded: which if long kept in the Fire flies away; and leaves the Body deprived of humidity, so that it is found more apt to Vitrifie, than to be reduced again into a metallick Body.

XVIII. For every thing deprived of its proper Hu∣midity, gives no other than a Vitrifying fusion, whence it naturally follows, that you must hasten to reduce it with the speedy force of a Violent Fire; for other∣wise it will not be reduced.

XIX. The Calcination of these Bodies by the Acu∣ity of Salt, is, the quantity after quantity of Salt be ve∣ry often cast upon them in their fusion, and permixed by much agitation with an Iron Rod, while in fusion, till by the mixtion of the Salt, they be turned into Ashes: and afterwards by the same way of perfection the Calces of them are per∣fected, with their conside∣rations.

XX. But herein also is a difference in the Calces of these two Bodies: for Lead in the first work of Calcination is more easily converted into Pouder or Ashes than Tin; and yet the Calx is not more easily perfected than that of Tin. The cause of which diversi∣ty is, that Saturn has a more fixed humidity than Jupi∣ter.

XXI. The Calcination of Venus and Mars is one, yet divers from the former, by reason of the dificulty of their Liquefaction. Make either of these Bodies into thin Plates, heat them red hot, but not to Melting: for by reason of their great Earthiness, and large quan∣tity of Adustive flying Sul∣phur, they are easily thus reduced into Calx: for the much Earthiness being mix∣ed with the substance of Ar∣gent Vive, the due Continu∣ity of the said Argent Vive is frustrated.

XXII. And thence comes their porosity, through which the flying Sulphur passes away, and the Fire by that means having access to it, Burns and Elevates the same; whence it comes to pass, that the parts are made more rare, and through discontinuity con∣verted into Ashes.

XXIII. This is manifest, for that plates of Copper exposed to Ignition, yeild a Sulphurous Flame, and make pulverizable Scales in their Superfices; which is done, because from the parts more nigh, a more easy combustion of the Sul∣phur must be made.

XXIV. The form of this Calcinatory Fornace, is the same with the form of the Distillatory Fornace, save only, that this must have one great hole in the Crown of it to free it self from Fu∣mosities: and the place of the things to be Calcined, must be in the midst of the Fornace, that the Fire may have free access to them round about, but the Ves∣sel must be of Earth, such as are Crucibles.

XXV. The Calcination of Spirits You must give Fire to them gradually, and leisurly increase it, that they may not fly, till they be able to sustain the grea∣test Fire, and approach to Fixation: their Vessel must be round, every way closed, and the Fornace the same with the last mentioned. But you need not use grea∣ter Labour than what is to prevent their flight.

XXVI. Or thus, As to the form of the Fornace. Let it be made square in length four Feet, and in breadth three Feet: Luna, Venus, and Mars, or other things must be Calcined in strong Dishes or Pans made of Clay, such as that of which Crucibles are made, that they may en∣dure the strongest force of the Fire, to the total com∣bustion of the matter to be Calcined.

XXVII. Calcination is

the Treasure of the thing, Be not weary therefore, for imperfect Bodies are clean∣sed by it, and by reduction of the Calcinate into a so∣lid Body or Mass of Metal again: then is our Medi∣cine projected upon them, which is matter of Joy and Rejoycing.

XXVIII. The Ablutions of the Calces. Have a large Earthen Vessel, full of pure hot fresh Water, with this wash the Calx, stirring it often, that all the Salt and Allom may be dissolved (with which they have been Calcined) then being set∣led, decant the Water gent∣ly: put the Calx again into hot Water and do as before, till it be perfectly washed, then dry and keep it for in∣ceration.

XXIX. The Inceration of Calces washed. Take the former Calx, dissolve it in Spirit of Vinegar, 2 pounds of Common Salt, Roch Allom, Sal gem, ana 2 Ounces, in this water imbibe 4 Ounces of of the aforesaid dryed Calx, till it has drank in all the said Water, then dry it and keep it for use.

XXX. The Reduction of Calces into a solid Mass. Take the former incerated Calx, wash it with distilled Urine, till you have extracted all the Salts and Alums, with the filth of the Calcined Body, which being dryed imbibe 4 pounds of this Calx, with Oyl of Tarter 1 pound, in 1 pound of which dissolve Sal armoni∣ack 2 Ounces, Salt-Peter 1 Ounce: This Imbibition do at several times, drying and im∣bibing. Lastly dry it, and make it descend through a great descensory, and reduce it into a solid Mass, being purged from its Combustible Sulphureity by Calcination; and from its Terrestreity by its Reduction, so have you it purified from all accidental Impirities and defements, which happned to it in its Mi∣nera.

XXXI. But its innate foulness, which dwels in the Root of its Generation, must be obliterated or done away, with our Medicine, the greater part of which,

contains in it self the sub∣stance of Argent Vive, ac∣cording as the necessity of the Art requires.

XXXII. Again you must note, that Bodies are found to be of Perfection, if in the reiteration of their Cal cination and Reduction, they loose nothing of their Goodness, in respect of Co∣lor, Weight, Quantity, or Lustre, (of which great care is to be taken in the manifold reiterations of these Operations) if there∣fore by repeating the Cal∣cination and Reduction of altered Metals, they loose any thing in their dif∣ferences of Goodness, it is to be supposed you have not rightly persued the Art.