Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

CHAP. V. Of distilled Waters and Spirits.

THose things which are prepared by distillation are cal∣led distilled things, which are of divers kindes, * 1.1 yet all of them may be reduced to two formes, for either the things distilled are in the forme of waters, or Oyles; * 1.2 those that are of the same consistence with water are again two-fold, for either they come neere the nature of water, and are plainly called waters, or else they are spirituous, * 1.3 and are called Spirits, yet these names are often confounded, for oftentimes that which is spirituous is called a water.

1. First distilled waters are prepared of divers things: * 1.4 of herbs and Flowers, all for the most part are distilled by as∣cent; and principally of fragrant flowers, and other thin∣ner and colder things, whose force easily vanisheth, for the most part, waters good enough are distilled in a crooked glasse, by the Balneum Mariae.

2. Others bruise the flowers, and herbs that are to be distilled, and presse the juice out of them, and out of that juice by distillation through an Alembick they draw out wa∣ter into the Balneum Mariae.

Some cut in small peices the Plants to be distilled, or bruise them, and being bruised they they fill the Gourd ha∣ving a narrow mouth all most full, and the patelli the glasses being put on with the powder of the glasse of Copper and borax Hermeticall, they shut and afterwards they put the glasse ful of water into a Cauldron, and boyle it six or seven hours, afterwards they put the glasse when tis taken out of the water, into a warme place to cleanse it, untill the drops cease to stick to the sides of the gl••sse, and the digestion be absolute: they distill the matter digested in Balneo Roris, they seperate the Oyle from the water they power out the water with the reliques againe and repeate the distillation.

4. But the hotter, and Aromatick Herbs, and those whose strength doe not so easily vanish and lyes deeper, are not so conveniently distilled by Balneum Mariae, but in vesica, but in this distillation by a vessell of water, some diversity also is observed, for some bruise the herbs, or cut them in∣to smal peices, and fill the fourth part of the Vesica besides for them, then they poure of the pure water that three parts of the Vesica may be filled therewith, and one quarter for the most part remaines empty, and a Refrigeratory vessell, being applyed and the worme also (if you desire meerely a spirituous water) or with an Alembick with a Refrigitory, and their conjunctions or joynts shut, and a convenient fire being kindled and placed under the Vesica they distill wa∣ter gently and by drops.

5. Others having powred in hot water into a vessell close shut, first they bruise the herbs, twenty foure hours for the most part, they think it most profitable if the herbs are not only macerated in warme water a day and night space, but being bruised, or beaten, they should stand in digestion, and putrifaction in Horse dung, or Balneo Roris, or Mariae, for ten or fourteen dayes, afterwards they should be distil∣led. That water which first drops out is the best: but that which comes out last is like water it selfe; distilled water, if it be convenient, may be poured off, with new herbs to be digested, and distilled againe.

6. But since that water and spirit ascend together, they must be seperated, which is most conveniently done by the Balneum, namely all the water is to be powred into a crook∣ed glasse or Violl, and by a gentle heat only the spirituous part is to be distilled, by which distillation if the heat be rightly governed, the separation happily may be made at once, yet if it shall not so happen the first time, the distilla∣tion is to be repeated, and that rectification which was first made by a Gourd, afterwards rectification is appointed by a Phyoll. Examples may be seene in the Institutions.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Things distilled.
• * 1.2

  Water.
• * 1.3

  Spirits.
• * 1.4

  Manner of distilled waters.