Take of the purest Salt of Tartar ℥ vj. melt it and let it remain in the crucible till it gain a blew, or almost a green colour; then, having pulverized it whilest it grows hot, and put it into a strong Matrace or Glass Still with a long neck, pour to it rectified spirit of Wine the depth of three or four fingers, and let it digest in an Oven of Sand upon a quick fire for several days, till the tincture be extracted. For by long digestion the spirit of Wine gains a ruddy colour, in as much as the particles of fixed Salt, being in some measure exalted, are united to the vinous sulphur. In the mean while the remain∣ing salt of Tartar, which is diluted with the phlegm of the Wine, sinking down into Deliquium or Oil, and floating by it self will separate below; which is much better than the common Oil of Tartar, in that it participates of the vinous sulphur; and in some cases, where there is a necessity for a lixivial Diuretick, it is a very good Medicin. The Dose is ℈ j. to ℈ ij. or ʒ j. The Tincture is given from ʒ j. to ʒ j. ss. or ʒ ij.
The tincture of Salt of Tartar, by reason of the union of the vinous salt and sulphur, hath a very grateful smell and taste. If you distil the liquor to an half, the remaining part will retain in it more salt and sulphur, but little of the vinous spirit; and the spi∣rit which is drawn off and poured to fresh salt of Tartar, if it be digested, will hardly gain a Tincture, in as much as it is void of sulphur to unite with the salt.
Now indeed, that in the spirit of Wine, the sulphureous part is distinct from the pirituous, I learned from this Experiment.
Take of the sharpest spirit of Vitriol half a pint, of spirit of Wine rectified, one pint; mingle them in a glassen Retort and distil them in an Oven of sand, till the liquor (which at first seems homogeneous or of one nature) being drawn off, a deal of thick sediment remains in the bottom: pour this spirit again to the caput mortuum, and so repeat the distillation with fresh matter two or three times; at last you shall have two distinct, unmingleable liquors; to wit, one acid-spiritous that sinks downward, and the other very clear and oily that swims on the top; which, without doubt is the pure and mere sul∣phureous part of the Wine, separated by it self, whilest the spirituo•…•…s part joins with the acid salt.