Doron medicum, or, A supplement to the new London dispensatory in III books : containing a supplement I. to the materia medica, II. to the internal compound medicaments, III. to the external compound medicaments : compleated with the art of compounding medicines ... / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. XI. Of LIQUORS.

1. LIquor Argenteus seu Catharticum Argen∣teum, The silver Purge.

℞ of the best native Cinna∣bar reduc'd into fine Pouder ℥v. fine silver in leaves ℥j. ss. the best copper in small filings ʒjss: dissolve each apart in double AF, or the best Sp. of Nitre make a Precipitation of the Calces, which you shall free from the Corrosive Spirits of the AF or Spirit of Niter according to Art. These Cal∣ces dissolve again a-part in Spirit of Honey o•• Spirit of Salt; precipitate again, and sweeten, as aforesaid; from which being mixed together, you shall three times burn off a sit quantity of Rect fied S.V. The Calces thus sweetned and dry'd, you shall put into a Glass Matrass, upon which you shall affuse our universal Menstruum, ℥xiiij. (which is the Menstruum of the World, and a true dissolvent) set them in a Philosophick heat, or the

fire of Nature for 24 hours, so will it radically dissolve the Calces, and bring them into their first matter: this disso∣lution decant, filter and keep for Ʋse: upon the remain∣ing Calx undissolved (if any be) affuse more of the Men∣struum, which digest, decant, and filter, as aforesaid: thus continuing the affusion of new Menstruum, so long till the whole Calx is dissolv'd, you will have, at last, an almost colour-less, smell-less tast-less Liquor, especially if it be mixt with any other Vehi∣cle.

§ 1. Here is to be noted That this Menstruum adds nothing of Vitue to the Me∣dicine simply from it self, but only by Accident, as more perfectly dissolving and open∣ing the bodies of those several Calces, whereby their Pote∣states or Powers more easily mingle themselves with the Sanguinous Mass, and there∣by fix their Caracter upon the whole habit of the Body. § 2. That this Silver purge is an admirable thing beyond most other Medicaments, and per∣forms whatever any other Purge or Vomit can do. If the Stomach be foul, it will cleanse it, and work gently both by Vomit and Stool; if the Stomach be not foul, it on∣ly works downwards: if it be given in a small Dose, it works neither upwards nor down∣wards, and yet by a constant taking it for some time, as 2, 3 or 4 months, it cures almost incurable Diseases, without any manifest alteration. § 3. That it is call'd the Silver Purge, not that THAT is the ingredient whose quantity is largest, but because it is the ingredient from whence is drawn the Cathartick force of the Medicament, for that without it, the Medicament would not Purge at all. § 4. That by means of the Men∣struum, the purging of the Medicine is not only certain, but determined to a certain time; for, whereas without this Dissolution, the particles of the Calx might closely ad∣here to the Tunicles of the Ventricles, causing, a conti∣nual working, sometimes for 2, 3 or 4 days together; now no such thing can be by reason of this liquid form,

whereby it is seldom known to work above 2, 3 or 4 hours at most. § 5. That it opens all Obstructions of the Bow∣els, as Lungs, Liver, Spleen, Reins, Womb, Mesentery, and Lacteal Veins: but here is to be noted, That it ought to be given in Obstructions of the Lungs for 12 or 16 days, in such a proportion as it may neither Vomit nor purge, and that in all the Liquor the Sick drinks 5 or 6 times a day: in the other Cases you may give it in the largest proportion that is fit for the Age and Strength of the person. It cures Agues and Feavers of all sorts at 2, 3 or 4 times taking, and I have sometimes cured an A∣gue with it at once taking. It cures almost all Diseases of the Head, as Head-achs, Me∣grims, Frenzy, Madness, Fal∣lingsickness, Apoplexics, Con∣vulsions, Palsies, Lethargies, Vertigo's, and other like Di∣stempers of the Brain. It is a Specifick Remedy for the Cure of most Chronick Di∣stempers, as Quartan Agues, Hypochondriack Melancho∣ly, pains of the Stomach, swel∣lings of the Liver and Spleen, Cachexies, Green-sickness, Stoppage of the Terms, &c. It carries off the impurities of the Stomach, cleanses the Blood, restores it to its course and circulation, cherishes the Vital Spirits, restores the functions of all the Parts, ad∣ding to the Body Strength and Vigor. It perfectly cures the Gout, given in the Pa∣roxism so as it may not work; but after the Fit is over, so that it may work strongly. It cures the Scurvy, Dropsy and and Kings. Evil, as it were to a Miracle; so also the Jaun∣dice, Sciatica, Worms, Rick∣ets in Children, Consumpti∣ons occasioned through ma∣nifold Obstruction, Fits of the Mother, and most other stub∣born Diseases, not to be cured by any other Medicine. It is also eminently good in the Cure of all runing sores, old Ulcers, Fistula's, Pox, &c. in any part of the body, pro∣ceeding from what cause so∣ever. § 6. That the way of exhibiting it, is either as a Diet, whereby the Body is only altered, or with an Inten∣tion to purge. If as a Diet, give 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 or 10 drops

at a time, 4, 5 or 6 times a day in Beer, Ale or Wine, according as the Sick is in Age and Strength, If with an intention to purge, give to Infants (quoad capax) from 5 to 20 drops. To Children of 4, 6, 8 10 or 12 years of Age, from 20 to 40 or 50 drops. To Youth from 10 to 16 years, from 50 to 80 drops: From 16 or 18 to 40, 50 or 60 years of Age, from 120 drops, to 160 or 200 drops, which is from about ℈ iij. ad ʒiss. or ʒij; always observing this, to encrease the Dose every time till it works enough. Give it in Broth, Beer, Ale or Wine, and that every 4, 5, or 6th day in the morning fasting; having some Broth, Mace Ale or Pos∣set Drink to take after it; be∣ing mixt with its Vehicle, no Stomach can refuse it. One Oance will make 4, 6, 8, or 10 several Doses, according to the Age and Strength of the Patient. § 7. Now this is specially to be noted, That in all Chronick Diseases it ought to be used (as well as for purging) a Dietetick way; constantly giving it in a few Drops, as aforesaid 5 or 6 times aday, by which means it insensibly alters the whole habet of the body, and may indeed serve instead of many other Diets in those very Cases. For this is very cer∣tain, unless the whole habit be absolutely altered, no cure can be expected: for the cure in such Diseases always fol∣lows the alteration of the Ha∣bit; as every man experienc∣ed in Physick does sufficiently know. 8. Lastly, That in Ex∣ternal Diseases, you may bath the part or parts afflict∣ed therewith, for that it has both a digestive and resolu∣tive Power: giving it also in∣wardly in a proper Vehicle (as aforesaid) either as Diet or purge, or both, as you see occasion requires: this being observ'd, the Alteration and Cure of the Disease will the more spedily succeed, to the satisfaction of thesick: But this you must note, That it be with Caution used to raw places, least it cause much smarting: in this case let it be first di∣luted with a little Rose- or Plantane-Water, Price 5 s. an ounce.

2. Liquor Aureus, Liquor (called by some Oyl) of Gold.

℞ Sol p.j. Spanish or ra∣ther Hungarian Mercury, p. vj. mix both together, and then distil the Mercury from the Sol: after mix the same Mercury again with the Gold, which Amalgamation continue till the Sol will not mix with your Mercury. Then take the Sol, grind it, and put it into a clean cruci∣ble, and calcine it, till it be almost red hot, after which extinguish your Sol, in the best rectified Spirit of Vine∣gar, pour the Vinegar from the Sol, and dry the Sol well, then make it hot again, ex∣tinguish it in your former Vi∣negar, which do 5 or 6 times: This done, take your Sol, drie it, and Amalgama it again with the Mercury, and distil it agin as at first: this do so long, till your Sol will not mix with your Mercury; then calcine your Sol again, and extinguish it in the former Vinegar 5 or 6 times: if your Vinegar wasts, you may add to it some fresh spirit: thus continue till you think there is no strength left in your Mercury: Afterwards you must take fresh Mercury, and go to work, as before, and so continue till you have e∣nough from the Gold. Then take the Vinegar which is im∣pregnated with the whole Es∣sence of Sol, evaporate it, or distil it very softly off, and it will lie at the bottom like a yellow Salt, which you shall dissolve in distilled Rain-wa∣ter: filter it, and evaporate it again softly, put it into a little Retort, and place it in sand, with an indifferent large Receiver; give fire by de∣grees, and it will come over in a white spirit-like smoak, and then it will ascend and come over like red Saffron, which will resolve into a red liquor, then let the fire go out; and keep the distilled matter for use.

This is one of the greatest Arcanums under the Sun, scarcely inferiour to any o∣ther: iij or jv drops are a∣ble to extinguish any sick∣ness or disease: in this Oyl of Gold is one of the greatest Secrets of Nature. It is

said to tinge Luna into per∣fect Sol: and with this Li∣quor Raimund Lully figu∣reth Mercury in Exenterata Natura.

3. Liquor Aureus, seu Au∣rum potabile, Francisci An∣tonij. The Golden Liquor or Potable Gold of Dr. Antho∣ny.

℞ Block Tin, calcine it in an iron Pan (made red hot before you put the Tin in) keep a continual fire under it, stirring it alwaies till it be like unto Ashes; of which some part will look red; the Calcination will be half a day at least, all which time it must be stirred with a little iron Cole-rake, with a handle a∣bout 2 feet long. These A∣shes keep in a Glass close co∣vered: of these Ashes take ℥jv. spirit of the strongest red Wine Vinegar lbiij: put them into an Ʋrinab like glass, the Ashes being put in first: lute the Vessels, and di∣gest in a hot Balneum ten days, after which take it forth and set it to cool, and lot it stand 2 or 3 whole days, that the faeces may sink to the bot∣tom, shaking the glass 6 or 7 times every day. That which is clear, decant, or filter it by 2 or 3 threads into a glass∣bason; and destil it in a glass Still, till the Liquor be all drawn off. This distilled wa∣ter put upon fresh Ashes ℥jv. Ʋpon the Ashes from which the first Liquor was distil∣led, put also spirit of strong red Wine-Vinegar, lute the glasses as before, and put them into the Balneum, and digest it 10 dayes, filter and distil as aforesand: Pour on the A∣shes again fresh spirit lbj: di∣gest in Balreo 10 dayes: fil∣ter again, and distil, as afore∣said: after the third Infu∣sion cast away the Ashes: distil all the Infusions apart, till the Liquor be wholly drawn forth. Take this di∣stilled Liquor, as often as it is distilled, and pour it upon new Ashes, (keeping the Weight and Order) these In∣fusions, filtrations and distil∣lations reiterate 7 times: and you shall have of this water the Menstruum sought for. This spirit must be from the strongest Vinegar, and from red Wine, otherwise the Men∣struum

will not perform its work. Take of the most pure refined Gold ℥ j: file it into fine dust with a fine file, cal∣cine it, and put to it so much white Salt, as will near fill the Pot it is calcined in, set it among Charcoal, where it may stand continually hot for jv hours (if it stand too hot the Sal will melt) then put it on a Painters Stone, and grind it very small with a Muller: put it into the Pot and cal∣cine it, and grind it again, till you have done it 4 or 5 times: if it lookred and blew when you take it forth, it is perfect and good. After this calcining and grinding, put it into a glass-Bason, which fill with Scalding hot water; stir it a good while, let the thick part settle to the bottom, then aecant the water: put more water, stir it, and let it settle, and de∣cant it, as before: thus do so long till the water, after setling has no taste of Salt, which will be 2 or 3 dayes in doing. Of this ounce of Gold, there will scarcely be above gr, xvj or xvij. brought into fine white Calx: but to sepa∣rate it from the Gold, leave a little of the last fresh water in the Bason, and stir it well to∣gether, the Calx will swim at the top, which softly pour off from the Gold, into ano∣ther Bason: if all the white Calx go not forth, put to a little more water, and stir it again, and pour it off in to the Bason to the other Calx: then let it settle, and decant almost all the water; what remains evaporate away, over a gentle heat, till it is throughly dry, which keep in a glass close stopt: The Gold which is not yet in Calx, put to the Salt, as aforesaid, which calcine and grind four times again; and then wash it, and separate the Calx from it, as before: what Gold remains again calcine and wash again, repeating this work till the whole ounce is brought into a white Calx. Take of this Calx ℥j; which put it into an Ʋrinal-like glass contain∣ing about a pint, put to it half a pint of the Menstruum: set the Glass in a hot B.M. for six dayes (being close luted) shake it often every day; when the six dayes are ended,

let it stand 2 or 3 dayes, then decant that which is clear, very gently, for fear of trou∣bling the Faeces. To the fae∣ces, put fresh Menstru∣um, but not fully so much as at first, and so the third time, but not fully so much as at the second, then take the dry faeces which is the Calx and keep it, lest some Tincture remain in it. These colored Liquors put into a glass Stil, and distill in B.M. with a very gentle fire, till all that which is clear is come over, and that which remains be as thick as honey: then take it forth and let it cool: put the glass into an earthen pot, and put ashes about the glass into the Pot, and fix the pot fast into a little Furnace, and make a fire under, so that the glass may stand very warm, till the Faeces be black and very dry: (you may look with a Candle through the glass, and see when it is risen with Bunches and dry:) then take away the fire, let the glass be very cold, and take out the black earth: this black earth put into a glass bason, grind it with the bot∣tom of another round Glass to pounder, put it into an Ʋrinal∣like glass containing about a pint: to which affuse above half a pint of the spirit of Wine: set this Glass in a cold place, till it be red, which will be in about ten days time; shake it often every day, till within three dayes you pour it forth: Then gently decant the clear Liquor, which put into a glass alembeck (or other Glass, till you have more of it:) to the faeces put more S. V. which digest, shake and de∣cant, as before: if that be much colored, put S. V. to it the third time, as at first: put all these colored liquors together, and distill till the feces (called the Tincture) is as thick as a Syrrup or new Honey: take one ounce of this Tincture, and put it into a pint of choice Canary wine: and when it is clear, whichwill be in about a day and half, or two dayes time, it will be fit for use.

§ 1. This is the true pre∣paration of that famous Me∣dicine, the Aurum potabi∣le of that most Famous and learned English man Doctor

Francis Anthony; taken from his own hand writing, which he sent in a Letter to Bishop Bilson; the Bishop made it according to this Recipe: and Mr. John Goodyer a Phy∣sician (sometime the Bishops servant) coppied it from the Doctor's Original aforesaid, sent to the Bishop: this Goody∣er dying left it to Mr. Ed∣mund Yalden a Minister of the Church of England at Compton night Godliman in Surry, who communicated it to me, with the Original letter to the Bishop under Dr Anthoney's hand, which I have now by me. § 2. There are many pretended Prepa∣rations of this Medicine ex∣tant, as that in Schroder (mentioned in our Pharma∣copoeia) and those published by Horstius; which Dr. John French has published in his Art of Distillation, lib. 6. pag. 198. But we being sa∣tisfied That this true Coppy was taken from an Original under Dr. Anthonies own hand, could do no less, but faithfully communicate it to the World, as we received it. § 3. How the Spirit of Vi∣negar to form the Menstru∣um is made, We shall here shew you from the same Au∣thograph. Get 3 or 4 Glass∣stills, which will hold a Gal∣lon or two apiece, and about 6 Gallons of the strongest red Wine Vinegar (Vinegar of Claret or Whitewine are too weak) made of red Wine, Sack, or Muscadine: put the Vinegar into the Stills, and set as many a going as the Balneum will hold (which Balneum ought to be twofoot and a half square, to hold many Glasses:) Take a pint of that which runs first, and put it away as weak, and not fit for this use: thus, Distil the rest to dryness: Wash the Still with a little of the flegm or first running: De∣still again, and put away the first pint; thus do four times, so of a Gallon you will have three pints of the Spirit of Vinegar; and of your six Gallons only two Gallons, and two pints: if your spirit be yet too weak, you must di∣still it oftner: keep it close stopped in a Glass to make your Menstruum with, you may stop it with Cork and

Leacher: for a Quart of this Menstruum Bishop Bilson gave Dr. Anthony 30 shill. § 4 To make the Menstru∣um with, you may provide 3 strong great Glasses con∣taining 2 quarts a piece, with little mats round the bot∣tom: In luting, first stop the mouth of the Glass with a Wooden stopple of dry wood, first boyled, then dry∣ed in an Oven, and dipt in wax: then melt hard Wax o∣ver all, and paste brown Pa∣per next over that, over which apply lute made of Clay, horse-dung and ashes. Let also the Closings of the head of the Still, as also the joyning of the Beak of the Alembeck and Receiver be pasted together, and made firm with brown paper, so that no strength may go forth. § 5. The Virtues hereof are the same with o∣ther Aurum Potabile's, and it has almost done Miracles, as the Author thereof re∣lates: It fortifies the Heart, revives the Spirits, strength∣ens Nature and restores it: and is a most admirablething in fainting and swooning fits, palpitation and other defects of the Vital spirits: it is good against poyson, bitings and stingings of venomous beasts, the Plague or Pestilence, and all other malign and conta∣gious Diseases. We have here giv'n you the true, that from Horstius follows.

4. Liquor Aureus Fran∣cisci Antonii, ex Horstio, the Aurum Potabile of Dr. An∣thony, as it is in Horstius.

℞ Of the finest Gold, dissolve it in AR. according to Art (the AR. being made of AR. lbj. and Sal Armoniack ℥jv. distiled together by a Retort in Sand:) this clear Solution put into a large Glass having a a wide neck; and upon it put drop by drop Oleum Tartari per deliquium, until the AR. which before was yellow, be∣comes clear and white; for that is a sign that all the So∣lar Calx is fallen to the bot∣tom: let it stand all night, and in the morning pour off the clear liquor: wash the Calx 4 or 5 times with Common spring-water being warmed; then dry it with a very gentle heat, for if the heat be too

great, the Calx will take fire presently like Gun-pouder, and fly away, which may be as well dangerous, as a great loss; for which cause it will be best to dry it in she Sun upon a stone, stirring it well with a wooden spatula: to this Calx add half as much pouder of Sulphur, mix them together, and in an open Crucible let the Sulphur consume in the fire, putting a gentle fire to it at first, and towards the end a most strong fire for the space of an hour, that the Calx may be a little reverberated, and become most subtil, which keep in a Vial close stopt for Ʋse. This done, Take Ʋrine of a sound, he althy man who mode rately drinks wine, put it in, to a Cucurbit, which stop close and set in Horse-dung for 40 daies; after distill it by an Alembeck in sand with a large Recipient, untill all the humidity is drawn off; recti∣fy this spirit by Cohobation three times, that you may ob∣tain the spirit only, then di∣still it in sand by a bolt head with a long neck, having a large Receiver affixed to it, and the joynts well luted, so will the spirit ascend into the top of the Vessel like Crystal, without any aquosity at all, which distillation you must continue till all the spirit is ascended. These Crystals dis∣solve in distilled rain-Water, and distill as befone, which work repeat six times, every time taking fresh distilled rain-water. Then put these Crystals into a Glass bolt∣head, which close hermetical∣ly; put it into Balneo with a moderate heat, for 15 dayes, that they may be reduced into a most clear Liquor, to which add S.V. rectified, an equal quantity: digest again in Bal∣neo the space of 12 dayes, in what time they will be uni∣ted. Take the Calx of Gold abovesaid, put upon it these united spirits, so much as will cover it 3 Inches, digest in a gentle heat, till the liquor is tinged red as blood. 'Decant the Tincture, and put on more of the aforesaid spirits, doing as before, till all the Tincture is extracted: Put all these tinged spirits together, digest them 10 or 12 dayes, then abstract the spirit with a gen∣tle heat, and cohobate once:

then the Calx will remain in the bottom like an oyl, as red as blood, and of a pleasant odour, dissoluble in any Li∣quor. If you distil the same by a Retort in sand, there will come over (after the first part of the Menstruum) the Tincture, with the other part thereof as red as blood, the Earth which is left in the bot∣tom of the Vessel being dry, black, spongy and light. The Menstruum being evaporat∣ed away, the Oyl of Gold will remain by it self, which keep as the most excellent Arca∣num.

The Virtues are the same with the former, being giv'n à gr. jv ad viij, it wonderful∣ly refreshes the Spirits, and works several wayes chiefly by Sweat.

5. Liquor Hydropicum; Liquor against the Dropsy.

℞ White or Rhenish wine lbviij: Salt of Broom ℥ ij: Wormwood Mj. inspissate juyce of dwarf Elder ℥ij: Horse-radish ℥j: digest 40 dayes in a warm B. M. then filter the Liquor and keep it for use.

It powerfully evacuates watery humours, and cures the Dropsy: Dose a quarter of a pint or more morning and evening.