The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

CHAP. XII. Of extracting of Oyls of vegetables by Distillation.

ALmost all herbs that carry their flowers and seeds in an umble, have seeds of a hot, subtil and aiery substance, and consequently oily. Now because the oily substance that is con∣tained in simple bodies,* 1.1 is of two kindes, therefore the manner also of extracting is two-fold. For some is gross, earthy, viscous, and wholly confused and mixt with the bodies out of which they ought to be drawn, as that which we have said is usually extracted by expression; this because it most tenaciously adheres to the grosser substance and part of the body, therefore it cannot by reason of this natural grossness, be lifted up, or ascend. Othersome are of a slender and aiery substance, which is easily severed from their body, wherefore being put to distillation it easily ri••es: such is the oily substance of aromatick things, as of Juniper, Aniseeds, Cloves, Nutmegs,* 1.2 Cinnamom, Pepper, Ginger, and the like odoriferous and spicy things. This the man∣ner of extracting oyls, out of them; let your matter be well beaten and infused in water to that proportion, that for every pound of the material, there may be ten pints of water; infuse it in a copper-bottom, having a head thereto either tinned or silvered over, and furnished with a couler filled w th cold-water. Set your vessel upon a fornace having a fire in it, or else in sand, or ashes. When as the water contained in the head shall wax hot, you must draw it forth, and put in cold, that so the spirits may the better be condensed, and may not flye away: you shall put a long-neckt-receiver to the nose of the Alembick, and you shall increase the fire, until the things contained in the Alembick boil.

* 1.3There is another manner of performing this distillation; the matter preserved and infused as we have formerly declared, shall be put in a brass or copper-bottom covered with his head, to which shall be fitted or well luted, a worm of Tin; this worm shall run through a barrel filled with cold-water, that the liquor which flows forth with the oyl, may be cooled in the passage forth; at the lower end of this worm you shall set your Receiver. The fire gentle at the first, shall be increased by little and little, until the contained matter, as we formerly said, do boil; but take heed that you make not too quick or vehement a fire, for so the matter swelling up by boiling may exceed the bounds of the containing vessel, and so violently flye over.

Observ ng these things, you shall presently at the very first see an oily moisture flowing forth together with the waterish. When the oyl hath done flowing which you may know by the color of the distilled liquor, as also by the consistence and taste, then put out the fire; and you may se∣parate the oyl from the water by a little vessel made like a Thimble and tied to the end of a stick; (or, which is better, with a glass-funnel, or instrument made of glass for the same purpose.) Here you must also note that there be some oyls that swim upon the top of the water, as oyl of aniseeds; othersome on the contrary,* 1.4 which fall to the bottom; as oyl of Cinnamon, Mace, and Cloves.

Moreover you must note, that the watrish moisture, or water that is distilled with oyl of An∣niseed and Cinnamom, is whitish, and in success of time, will in some small proportion turn in∣to oyl. Also these waters must be kept several, for they are far more excellent then those that are distilled by Balneo Mariae, especially those that first come forth together with the oyl. Oyls are of the same faculties with the bodies from whence they are extracted, but much more effectu∣al; for the force which formerly was diffused in many pounds of this or that medicine, is after distillation contracted into a few drams. For example, the faculty that was dispersed over one pound of Cloves, will be contracted into two ounces of oyl at the most; and that which was in a pound of Cinnamon will be drawn into ʒiss. or ʒii. at the most of oyl. But to draw the greater quantity with the lesser charge, and without fear of breaking the vessels, whereto glasses are subject, I like that you distil them in copper-vessels; for you need not fear that the oyl which is distilled by them will contract an ill quality from the copper; for the watrish moisture that flows forth together therewith will hinder it, especially if the copper shall be tinned or silvered over. I have thought good to describe and set before your eyes, the whole manner of this operation.

[illustration]

A Fornace with set vessels to extract the Chymi∣cal oyls, or spirits of Sage, Rosemary, Tyme, La∣vander, Anniseeds, Fennel-seeds, Cloves, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Pepper, Ginger and the like; as also to distill the spirit of Wine, of Vineger and Aqua vi∣tae. In stead of the barrel and worm, you may use a head with a bucket or rowler about it.

• A. Shews the bottom, which ought to be of Copper and tinned on the in side.
• B. The head.
• C. The barrel filled with cold water to refrigerate and condensate the water and oyl that run through the pipe or worm that is put through it.
• D. A pipe of brass or lattin, or rather a worm of Tin running through the Barrel.
• E. The Alembick set in the fornace with the fire un∣der it.

Now because we have made mention of Cinnamon, Pepper,* 1.5 and other spices which grow not h••re with us I have thought good to describe there out of Thevets Cosmography, he having seen them growing. Pepper grows upon shrubs in India; these shrubs send forth little branches where∣on hang clusters of berries, like to Ivie-berries, or bunches of small black grapes, or currans; the leaves are like those of the Citron-tree, but sharpish and pricking.

The Iadians gather those berries with great diligence, and stow them up in large cellars, as soon as they come to perfect maturity. Wherefore it oft-times happens, that there are more then 200 ships upon the coast of the lesser Iava an Island of that country, to carry thence Pepper and o∣ther spices. Pepper is used in antidotes against Poysons; it provokes urine, digests, attracts, resolves, and cures the bites of Serpents. It is properly applied and taken inwardly against a cold stomach;* 1.6 in sauces it helps concoction and procures appetite; you must make choice of such as is black, heavy, and not flaccid. The trees which bear white, and those that bear black pepper, are so like each other, that the natives themselves know not which is which, unless when they have their fruit hanging upon them, as the like happens upon our Vines which bear white & black Grapes.

The tree that yeels Cinnamon grows in the mountain of India,* 1.7 and hath leaves very like to baye-leaves; branches and shoots at certain times of the year are cut from this tree, by the ap∣pointment of the K••ng of that Province, the bark of which is that we term Cinnamon. This is sold to no stranger, unless at the Kings pleasure, and he setting the price thereof, it is not lawful for others to cut thereof.

Galen writes that Cinnamon is of very subtil parts, hot in the third degree,* 1.8 and partaking of some astriction; therefore it cuts and dissolves the excrements of the body, strengthens the parts, provokes the courses when as they stop by reason of the admixture of gross humors; it sweetens the breach, and yields a fine taste and smell to medicines, hippocras, and sauces. Of Cinnamon there is made an excellent water against all cold diseases, and also against swoonings, the plague and poysons. The composition thereof is this. Take of the choicest and best cinnamon one pound,* 1.9 beat it grosly and put thereto of Rose-water four pintes, of white-wine half a pinte; being thus mixed, put them into a glass and so let them stand in infusion 24. hours, often stirring of them. Then distill them in Balneo Mariae, closely luting the receiver and vessels lest the spirit should flye a∣way.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What oyls are to be drawn by expression.
• * 1.2

  The first man∣ner of drawing oyls by distil∣lation.
• * 1.3

  Another way.
• * 1.4

  What oyls fall to the bottom.
• * 1.5

  The descripti∣on of Pepper.
• * 1.6

  The uses thereof.
• * 1.7

  The Cinna∣mon tree.
• * 1.8

  7. Simp.
• * 1.9

  An excellent Cinnamon-tree.