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.

To distil the spirit and oyle of Lead and Tin.

TAke the filings of Lead and Tin, and boyle them with the water or solution of Tartar in a leaden or tin-vessel, untill the Tartar be sweetned by the water, so that it will dis∣solve no more, to which pass it will be brought within twen∣ty four hours, for both these metals will be dissolved but slowly, but if you would perform this solution sooner, then you must reduce the metals first into a soluble calx, and then they may be dissolved in less time then an houre. The solution being done, you must filtre it, and in B. abstract all the moy∣sture to the thickness or consistency of honey, and there will remaine a pleasant sweet liquor, which of it self without any further preparation may safely be used inwardly for all such diseases, for which other medicaments, made of these metals are useful. Especially the sweet liquor of lead and tin doeth

much good in the plague, not only by driving the poyson from the heart by sweating, but also by breaking or allaying the intolerable heat, so that a happy cure doth follow upon it: but externally the liquor of lead may be used succesfully in all inflammations, and it healeth very suddenly, not only fresh wounds, but also old ulcers turned to fistulaes; for the Tartar cleanseth and lead consolidates.

The liquor of tin is better for inward use then for outward whose operation is not so fully known yet, as that of lead. But if you will distill a spirit thereof, then cast it in with a ladle by little and little, as above in other distillations often∣times was mentioned, and there will come over a subtle spi∣rit of Tartar, carrying along the vertue and best essence of the metals and therefore doth also prove much more effectual, then the common spirit of Tartar, which is made alone by it selfe, and this spirit as well that which is made of tin, as that of lead, if it be well dephlegmed first, may be used and held for a great treasure in all obstructions, especially of the spleen; and few other medicins will go beyond them; but besides there must not be neglected the use of good purging medicines, if need require them. With the spirit there cometh over also an oyle, which is of a quick operation, especially in wounds and sores of the eye, where other oyntments and plasters may not so fitly be used, for it doth not only allay the heat and inflammation, a common symptome of the eye wounds, but also doth hinder and keep back all other symptomes, which few other medicaments are able to do; and for the residue, if it be driven further by the strongest fire, then there will come over a sublimate, which in the aire dissolveth into oyle, which is also of a powerful operation, not only in physick, but also in Alchymie.

And the Lead runeth together in a fair white Regulus, which is much whiter, purer and fairer then other common lead: but the Tartar retaines the blackness, and raiseth it self to the top as a fusible dross, which is impregnated with the sulphur of lead, wherewith you may colour haire, bones, feathers and the like, and make them to be and remaine brown and black▪

I made tryal once of such a distillation in an iron vessel, whereby the same in the inside was so whitened by the purifi∣ed lead, that it was like unto fine silver in brightness: which afterwards trying againe, it would not fall so faire as at first; whereat none ought to wonder, for I could write something more (if it were fit) of Tartar, knowing well what may be effected with it, if I did not stand in fear of scoffers, which do vilifie all what they do not understand. I durst presume to call Tartar the sope of the Philosophers; for in the clean∣sing of some metals by long experience I found it of admi∣rable vertue; though I would not be understood thus, as if I did count it to be the true Azoth universalis Philosophorum, whereby they wash their Laton: but I cannot deny, but that it is of particular use for the washing and cleansing of several metals: for it is endued with admirable vertues for the use of metals, whereof in other places more shall be said here∣after.