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.

3. Flower of Sal Armoniack.

Take of Sal Armoniack pulverized lb j. of filings of Iron ℥ xij. which having pounded * 1.1 and mingled, distil them in a Retort with a large neck, increasing the fire of the Rever∣berator by degrees: an yellowish liquor, which is the Spirit of Salt, will drop out into the Receiver, and the Flower will be sublimed partly into the sides thereof, and partly into the neck of the Retort, which being gathered together, may be kept in a Glass for your use. The Dose is from gr. v. to xv.

This operation is performed by mingling Sal Armoniack with washed Colcothar, * 1.2 as also with the Calx or Salt of Tartar. The reason of which mixture is this; first, to keep the Sal Armoniack from fusion or running. Secondly, That when the Par∣ticles of the more fixed Salt adhere or stick to the Iron, Colcothar, or Calx of Tar∣tar, the volatile parts of them being free from restraint, may easily ascend. And thirdly that the Flower, whilest it ascends, may carry along with it something of ano∣ther body, to wit, of Mars, Venus, or Salt of Tartar, and be impregnated with the virtue of it. When the sublimation is performed with Iron or Calx of Tartar, there are Tinctures drawn out of each Caput mortuum, (with Spirit of Wine) which are of no small use.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Flower of Sal Armoniack.
• * 1.2

  The variation of this method.