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 ...

9. Spirit of Sal Armoniack.

℞ Sal Armoniack lbj. Sal Alcali, or of Pot-ashes lbij. mix them well together by beating them in a Mor∣tar, put them into a Cucurbit, and affuse thereon fair Water lbiij. distil with a gentle Fire, into a very large Receiver, which may fit very well to the neck of the Stillatory: distil till about ℥xij. or more may be come forth, then give over. If in the place of the Pot-ashes, you use Quick∣lime, you will have a Spirit much more subtil and volatil. Let them be distilled by a Retort in Sand, with a very gentle Fire. So will you have, first, a volatil Salt in a dry form, then a liquid Spirit mixed with the Phlegm, in which some volatil Salt is dissolved: the di∣stilled Spirit keep in a Glass close stopped.

It quickens all the Senses, by increasing and comforting the Animal Spirits. It is good in all the Dissaffections of the Brain, Heart, Stomach, Liver, Spleen, Womb, and Nerves. All Diseases of the Womb it safely removes, and is good against Barrenness: it facilitates the Circulation of the Blood, opens Obstructions, and cures Quotidian, Tertian, and Quartan Agues. It is preva∣lent against the Plague, Palsey, Apoplexy, Falling-sickness, and Passions of the Womb; it pro∣vokes Sweat, Urine, and the Courses: it is indeed a power∣ful Medicine, and like a Panacaeae or All-heal, serving for all kinds of Diseases. Dose, à gut. x, ad xl.