Pharmacopœia Bateana, or, Bate's dispensatory translated from the second edition of the Latin copy, published by Mr. James Shipton : containing his choice and select recipe's, their names, compositions, preparations, vertues, uses, and doses, as they are applicable to the whole practice of physick and chyrurgery : the Arcana Goddardiana, and their recipe's intersperst in their proper places, which are almost all wanting in the Latin copy : compleated with above five hundred chymical processes, and their explications at large, various observations thereon, and a rationale upon each process : to which are added in this English edition, Goddard's drops, Russel's pouder [sic], and the Emplastrum febrifugum, those so much fam'd in the world : as also several other preparations from the Collectanea chymica, and other good authors / by William Salmon ...

LXXXIV. Mercurius Vitae purgans, Mercurius Vite, Or Laxative Mineral.

Bate.] If you often grind Mercurius Vitae with common Salt, and afterwards wash it away again with Water, it will have only a purging Property, and work downwards or by Stool. Dose, à gr. vj. ad xij.

Salmon.] § 1. Notwith∣standing all this, it will work upwards in some Constituti∣ons, and where there is a foulness of the Stomach; in such habits of Body, a good quantity of Posset drink ought to be given with it, to make its Operation the more easie.

§ 2. Schroder corrects it after this manner. ℞ Sal-Nitre melted at the Fire, and Mercurius Vitae, cast them in by degrees and stir them; af∣ter they are cold, you will find the corrected Matter at the bottom like a Regulus, which sweeten by washing or deflagra∣tion of S. V.

§ 3. Or thus. ℞ Mercu∣rius Vitae ℥ss. Sal-Nitre melted at the Fire ℥ij. cast them in by degrees, then wash off the Salt: to this Pouder dryed add twice as much common Salt: grind them together twelve hours, then wash it again; this is Mineral Laxative, and is given à gr. vj. ad xij.

§ 4. In this Operation, you ought to cast in but ʒj. at a time, and cover the Crucible presently, and so keep it till it leaves smoak∣ing,

then cast in the rest by degrees, &c.

§ 5. Ʋntzer in his Anato∣my of Mercury, has an excel∣lent Mercurius Vitae made of Gold, which purges down∣wards; it is made with Sal-Nitre, cast upon the Calx of Sol, till it draws a Tincture, and then precipitated with Sal-Armoniack, or Oil of Tar∣tar.

§ 6. Or thus. ℞ Oil of Mercurius Vitae, and Spirit of Nitre which prudently mix together; digest them for some time, and afterwards distil, so as to make a Homagene Menstruum: Cohobate, digest, and distil so long till you find the Mercurius Vitae gathered together about the bottom: the Menstruum thus prepared, put into it Calx, or Leaves of Gold, so much as the Menstruum may over-top it three Inches; digest till it is dissolved, or be∣comes a kind of Tincture or Magistral Solution, and till the Gold appears like Clouds in the bottom of the Glass: ab∣stract the Menstruum by distil∣lation, till the remainder is like Oil: into which affuse a good quantity of Water, and the Mercurial Calx of Gold, or Solar Mercurius Vitae will fall down: Or otherwise pre∣cipitate with a Solution of Sal-Armoniack, or Oil of Tartar per deliq. and edulcorate by washing. Untzer. Anat. Merc. Lib. 2. Cap. 14. Sect. 3.

§ 7. It has the Virtues of the former, but is more cor∣dial, and works mostly by Stool, carrying off all noxi∣ous and peccant Humors without any disturbance: It is also given by Infusion, six or seven grains being digest∣ed in Wine or other Liquor ℥iss. and so given in the Morning fasting: But Experi∣ence tells us you may make the Infusion à gr. x. ad xx. with∣out any danger.

§ 8. It cures Dropsies, Gouts, Rheumatisms, Scurveys, Ca∣chexea's, and other ill Dis∣positions and Habits of Bo∣dy, especially such as pro∣ceed from repletion or ful∣ness of Humors, &c.

§ 9. But as to the common Mercurius Vitae, that it might be made more gentle, and purge only by Stool, Maëts has this Correction which is none of the worst. ℞ Mer∣curius Vitae ℥j. Sal-Mirabile of Glawber ℥ij. or iij. put the Sal-Mirabile into a Crucible, and when it flows, mix with it the Mercurius Vitae, stirring them well with a wooden Stick, which done, pour all out, and with Rain-water abstract all the Salt; so will you have a corrected Mercurius Vitae, di∣vested

of the greatest part of its emetick force.

§ 10. This is given in sub∣stance à gr. iij. ad vj. or viij. which extract of Juice of Roses, Extractum Catholicum, or some such like Purge, in an inveterate Lues Venerea, and in the most contumaci∣ous Obstructions, in which cases it is given with good success.

§ 11. Le Mort corrects it thus. ℞ Common Salt decri∣pitated ℥j. pure Nitre ℥iss. melt them together in a Cru∣cible; then by degrees cast in Mercurius Vitae ℥iss. make them flow together for a quar∣ter of an hour, then edulcorate by washing. Dose, à gr. ij. ad x. in the Cases aforemen∣tioned, made up into the form of a Pill with extract of Juice of Roses.

§ 12. It purges gently without pain or trouble, cuts and attenuates tough Flegm, powerfully opens the most obdurate Obstructions, and is a famous thing against Sur∣feits given in the beginning. If it purges not downwards, it many times becomes dia∣phoretick, and causes Sweat∣ing.

§ 13. An Infusion of Mer∣curius Vitae uncorrected. ℞ Mercurius Vitae ʒij. White∣wine ℥xx. let them stand in a warm digestion for twelve hours, often shaking the Glass; then decant the clear Wine from the Feces, for the greater se∣curity sake. Dose, à ℥ss. ad ℥iss. in the Morning fasting.