A description of new philosophical furnaces, or A new art of distilling, divided into five parts. Whereunto is added a description of the tincture of gold, or the true aurum potabile; also, the first part of the mineral work. Set forth and published for the sakes of them that are studious of the truth. / By John Rudolph Glauber. Set forth in English, by J.F. D.M.

Of the sweet oyle of Vitriol.

THE Ancients make mention of a sweet and green oyle of Vitriol, which doth cure the falling sickness, killeth worms, and hath other good qualities & vertues besides: and that the Oyle is to be distilled per descensum. To attain unto this oyle the later Physitians took great paines, but all in vaine: because they did not understand at all the Ancients about the preparing of this oyle, but thought to get it by the force of fire, and so using violent distillation, they got no sweet oyle, but such as was very sowre and corrosive, which in taste, efficacy and vertue was not comparable at all to the former.

However they ascribed unto it (though falsely) the same vertues, which the ancients (according to truth) did unto theirs. But daily experience sheweth, that the oyle of vitriol as it is found ordinarily, cureth no falling sickness, nor killeth worms, whereas this Philosophical doth it very quickly. Whence it appeareth, that the other is nothing like unto the true medicinal oyle of vitriol, neither is it to be compared to it.

I must confess indeed, that per descensum out of common vitriol, by the force of the fire, there may be got a greenish oyle, which yet is not better then the other because it pro∣veth as sharpe in taste, and of as corroding a quality, as if it had been distilled through a Retort.

Those that found out this oyle, as Paracelsus, Basilius, and some few others, did alwayes highly esteem it, and counted it one of the foure maine pillars of Physick. And Paracelsus saith expresly in his writings, that its viridity or greenness must not be taken away or marred (which indeed a very little heat can do) by the fire; for (saith he) if it be deprived of its greenness, it is deprived also of its efficacy and pleasant essence. Whence it may be perceived sufficiently, that this sweet green oyle is not to be made by the force of the fire as hitherto by many hath been attempted, but in vaine.

And it is very probable, that the ancients, which did so highly praise the oyle of vitriol, happily knew nothing of this way of distilling, which is used by us now a dayes: for they only simply followed Nature, and had not so many sub∣tle and curious inventions and wayes of distilling.

But however it is certain, that such a sweet and green▪oyle cannot be made of vitrioll by the force of the fire, but rather must be done by purification, after a singular way; for the Ancients many times understood purification for distillati∣on: as it is evident, when they say, Distill through a filtre, or through filtring paper: which by us is not accounted for distillation, but by them it was.

However, this is true and very sure, that a great Treasure of health (or for the health of man) lyeth hidden in Vitriol: yet not in the common, as it is sold every where, and which hath endured the heat of the fire already; but in the Oare as it is found in the earth, or its mine. For as soon as it cometh to the day light, it may be deprived by the heat of the Sun of its subtle and penetrating spirit, and so made voyde of vertue; which spirit, if by Art it be got from thence, smelleth sweeter then musk and amber, which is much to be admired, that in such a despicable mineral and gross substance (as it is deemed to be by the ignorant) such a royal medicine is to be found.

Now this preparation doth not belong to this place, be∣cause we treat here only of spirits, which by the force of fire are driven over Likewise also, there doth not belong hither the preparation of the green oyle, because it is made without the helpe of fire. But in regard, that mention hath been made of it here, I will (though I kept it alwayes very secret) publish it for the benefit of the poor patients, hoping that it will do much good to many a sick man.

For if it be well prepared, it doth not only cure perfectly every Epilepsie or Convulsion in young and old; and like∣wise readily and without faile killeth all worms within and without the body, as the Ancients with truth ascribed unto it; but also many Chronical diseases and such as are held in∣curable, may be happily overcome and expelled thereby, as the plague, pleuresie, all sorts of feavers and agues, what ever they be called, head-ach, colick, rising of the mother; also all obstructions in the body, especially of the spleen and liver, from whence Melancholia Hypochondriaca, the scurvy, and many, other intolerable diseases do arise: Also the blood in the whole body is by the means thereof amended and renewed, so that the Pox, Leprosie and other like diseases proceeding from the infection of the blood are easily cured thereby: Also it healeth safely and admirably all open sores and stinking ul∣cers turned to fistula's in the whole body, and from what cause so ever they did proceed, if they be anoynted

therewith, and the same also be inwardly used be∣sides.

Such and other diseases more (which it is needless here to relate) may be cured successefully with this sweet oyle; espe∣cially, if without the loss of its sweetness it be brought to a red colour; for then it will do more then a man dare write of it, and it may stand very well for a Panacea in all dis∣eases.