Ars chirurgica a compendium of the theory and practice of chirurgery in seven books ... shewing the names, causes, signs, differences, prognosticks, and various intentions of curing all kinds of chirurgick diseases ... : to which is added Pharmacopoeia chirurgica, or, The medical store, Latin and English ... / by William Salmon ...

4. Mercury sublimed sweet.

℞ Mercury sublimate corrosive in fine pouder ℥ x. Quick-silver ℥ vij ss. mix them well in a glass Mortar, till the Quick-silver wholly disappears, and looks of the colour of Lead: put this mix∣ture into a small Cucurbit-subli∣matory, having a long neck; place it in Sand in an earthen Pan, and make a gentle Fire for half an hour; afterwards gradually in∣crease the Fire to a red-hot heat, (not of the Subliming-vessel, but) of the earthen Pan, to wit, to the third degree of heat: so the Mercury will rise sometimes to the top of the Glass, sometimes to the middle, having the resemblance of pure white Sugar, and sticking to the Vessel, the faeces remaining at bottom. The Glass being cooled, cut it in the middle with a red∣hot Iron, and let the white and pure Mercury be separated from the faeces. Beat the matter again

very well in a glass Mortar, which put again by it self without any addition, into a new Phial, and sublime as before; which done, the Mercury sublimate, (free from all manner of acrimony, and there∣fore called dulcis, or sweet) ga∣ther and keep for use. The Ope∣ration otherwise done, thus. Take Quick-silver ℥ viij. common Salt ℥ xvj. Colcothar of Vitriol q.s. mix, and put it into a Sub∣liming-vial, making a very good Fire of a sufficient heat; the Mercury will rise sweet, which may be sublimed alone by it self again. Where note, 1. By how much longer it is levigated, by so much will the pouder be more white, and by so much the sooner will the Mercury be sweetned. 2. By how much the oftner the Mercury is sublimed, by so much the more will it lose its purgative faculty.

It is given with other Purgers, as with Extractum Catholicum, Scammony, Troches Alhandal, in the form of Pills, à gr. viij, ad ℈ j, vel ʒ ss. it is a gentle Purge, cutting and expelling tough Phlegm; also, in a Gonorrhoea it is a very excellent Medicine: if it be given alone, or by it self, to a Dose of ℈ ij. it usually ex∣cites a Salivation or Spitting, and is frequently given in the French Pox. It attracts forth all the la∣tent Humors in the whole Body, and causes a very great fermen∣tation and precipitation of the same; and therefore serves as an Attractive and Quickner in other Purges; it is also of great use in malign and fixt Diseases, such as the Leprosy, Kings-Evil,

Gout, French Disease, Scurvy, &c. it is given in a Bolus, à gr. iij, ad vj. for the Worms in Children; and it purges serous Humors gently by Stool; for which reason, with other proper Purgers, it is a most excellent Hydragogue, cor∣recting the vices of the Lympha. Outwardly it cures Ulcers, Her∣pes, Ringworms, Struma, and parts Excoriated, chiefly from a Venereal cause.