Dr. Willis's practice of physick being the whole works of that renowned and famous physician wherein most of the diseases belonging to the body of man are treated of, with excellent methods and receipts for the cure of the same : fitted to the meanest capacity by an index for the explaining of all the hard and unusual words and terms of art derived from the Greek, Latine, or other languages for the benefit of the English reader : with forty copper plates.

6. The Hercules [or strong Medicin] prescribed first by Bovius.

This Medicine will be the better prepared, if both the Metallick Bodies are dissol∣ved in the same menstruum, which by the prescription of Thomas Bovius is thus performed:

Take of calcined Vitriol and Nitre, of each one pound, distil them in an Oven for rever∣beration, pour the Liquor distilled into one pound of Sea-salt calcined, in a Glass Retort, and let it be drawn forth by the gentle heat of Sand, for it very easily arises: Let one part of this dissolve the Mercury, and the other the Gold; after which, putting both the dis∣solutions together, draw them off, and by frequent suffusions, adding every time a little less than a third part of the same menstruum, distil them again till the matter be suffi∣ciently fixed, which being sweetened, you may keep for your use, as aforesaid. The Dose is gr. iij. to vj. or vij. Or,

Take of purged Mercury ℥ iv. of filed Gold ℥ ss. make an Amalgama [or Paste] as afore∣said, to which when it is washed and put into a Retort, pour Bovius's forementioned menstruum, draw it off in an Oven of Sand, and by frequent suffusions, adding every time somewhat less than a third part of the same menstruum, distil it again, till the matter be sufficiently fixed; then calcine it upon a red hot Iron Plate, and unsweeten it by frequent washing and burning the Spirit of Wine. The Dose is from gr. iij. to vj. It works indifferently by Vomit, and in as much as it operates, beyond the Bowels, upon the mass of Bloud, it is helpful often in great Distempers.

Now, for the reason of this Chymical procedure, I say, that whilest these two Cham∣pions struggling between themselves, get hold of, and weaken each other, a third (and * 1.1 sometimes a fourth) comes and binds them together somewhat faster, and breaks them into smaller parts. For not onely the Gold by the Mercury, but both of them are dis∣solved by the menstruums, and divided into minute particles; then when the moisture is drawn away, the saline particles of the Metals are joined with the Salts of the men∣struum, whilest in the mean time the other metallick particles are intermingled, and shut up in the pores of the Salts. But yet this combination of theirs is not so close, as when the Metals among themselves, or either of them, with its proper menstruum, is by solution and coagulation reduced into a Precipitate. For in that compound Pre∣cipitate the menstrual particles, as well metallick as saline ones, being so many and di∣verse, cannot all be throughly united: wherefore thatmatter (as I have often observed) is usually not without much difficulty fixed and reduced to a Calx fit for medicinal uses; for if the heat whereby the menstruum is drawn off be too great, the Mercury will rise, and the Gold that is left will resume its own nature; but if the fire be weaker than it ought to be, the Salts will not join so fast as they should do with the metallick particles, but may be separated by meer washing; so that common Water, if poured upon the Precipitate, will quite dissolve it, and swallow into it self the whole matter, in so much that you must go to work almost anew, if you would make this Medicin.

The foundation of this Medicin is Mercury, upon the account of which it is expe∣cted * 1.2 that the particles thereof should ferment or leaven all the juices in Mans Body, and promote the expulsion of any heterogeneous matter that is gathered either in the Bowels or in the Vessels. The Gold seems to be added to tame the Mercury, and somewhat to rebate and take off the fury of it. Besides which, the Salts break both the bodies into small parts, and thereby the more easily lead them (as it were) into the mass of Bloud, and all other more retired parts.

In the Distillation of that Epicaene or common Menstruum that Bovius hath descri∣bed * 1.3 (it being such an one as dissolves both the Metals) there are notable strugglings and contentions (as it were for Religion and Property) between the Salts: for when the Aqua fortis is poured to Sea-salt already prepared, it seizes (as it were) the Coun∣try thereof, and takes possession, as of its own Inheritance, driving the spirit of the Salt thence like a Person disfranchised, or banished his own Native Land. This is more plain, if at any time the spirit of Vitriol, being poured to Sea-salt calcined, be put to be distilled; for with the least heat of a Balneum or Bath of Sand, the spirit of the Salt will arise altogether pure, like one forced out of his Country, when the Stagma, or distilled Liquor of Vitriol invades its habitation. Indeed these Salts are too near of kin than that they should incorporate; and that is the reason that when they are put into an habitation too narrow for them, they being not able to unite, nor coha∣bit, the stronger usurps a dominion over the weaker, and turns it out of doors.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The reason of both these Pre∣parations.
• * 1.2

  The reason of the Hercules of Bo∣vius.
• * 1.3

  The reason of this Menstruum.