Four books of Johannes Segerus Weidenfeld concerning the secrets of the adepts, or, of the use of Lully's spirit of wine : a practical work, with very great study collected out of the ancient as well as modern fathers of adept philosophy : reconciled together by comparing them one with another, otherwise disagreeing, and in the newest method so aptly digested, that even young practitioners may be able to discern the counterfeit or sophistical preparations of animals, vegetables and minerals, whether for medicines or metals, from true, and so avoid vagabound imposters, and imaginary processes, together with the ruine of estates.

72. The Water of Salt by another Descri∣ption of Paracelsus. Cap. 2. Tract. 3. part. 2. Chyr. major. Pag. 66.

TAke Salt without any addition of Art being most white by Nature it self (Sal Gemmoe) which must be divers times melted, then being reduced into a most fine Powder mixt with the Juice of Raphanus, stir them together; after resolution distil, distil the distillation with an equal quantity of the Juice of San∣guinea five times more: In this Water are Plates of Sol, being purged by Antimony, easily resolved into Powder; this Powder being thus prepared must be washed with sweet Water distilled, till it hath no taste of Salt, for the Salt not entring into the sub∣stance of it, is easily washed away.

In this Process Sal Gemmae being fused by the method of the Wa∣ter of Salt circulated, is dissolved in the Juice of Raphanus, evapo∣rated and resolved per deliquium, then six times distilled with an equal proportion of the Juice of Sanguinea. In the antecedent De∣scription of this Oyl of Salt, this fusion of the Salt, dissolution in the Juice of Raphanus, and resolution per deliquium is not necessary, be∣cause the Water of Salt Circulated is sufficient of it self to separate the Essence of Salt from its Phlegm: But where we use the Spirit of Philosophical Wine in making the Water of Salt circulated, without the said previous preparation of the Salt, we should have the Work too tedious: In the mean time both Processes agree in weight of Menstruum, for it is all one, whether the Salt be cohobated into an Oyl with six times as much of the dissolving Water, or distilled six times with the Juice of Sanguinea in equal weight. One thing that

mades the latter Process inexplicable, is the unknown Juice of San∣guinea, but however it is evident by what hath been said, that either the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, or the Water of Salt circulated supplies its place. Basilius indeed resolved common Salt with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine not into an Oyl; but reduced into it a Green Stone thus:

Viride Salis of Basilius. In supplemento Libri de conclusion.

TAke common Salt, calcine it well, yet without fusion, re∣duce it to a Powder, resolve per deliquium in a Cellar, or in Raphanus made hollow, then distil in Sand with a quick Fire, and a Water will ascend, the residue in the bottom pulverize, and dissolve it in its distilled Water, and distil again; this repeat till all the Salt has ascended, which will be in the fourth or fifth time: Draw off the Phlegm from the distilled Water in Balneo, the remainder put into a Cellar in cold Water, and you will have Cristals, which take out, and dissolve in the Phlegm; then draw off one half, and you will find new Cristals, repeat the Opera∣tion four times or more, for the oftner, the more fusible will be the Cristals, which being dryed and pulverized on a Marble, pour to them the rectify'd Spirit of (Philosophical) Wine, which cohobate from the Salt so oft, till you perceive the Oyl of Salt coagulated into a Green transparent Stone, which reserve.

Paracelsus in his Receipts appointed the calcination of Salt to be done by the fusion of it; but in this Process Basilius prohibits this liquefaction of Salt, wherefore we conclude it to be little essential in the said depuration of Salt, nor do we think it so necessary, for the Salt being resolved per deliquium to be distilled, thereby to be made a fusible Salt; Paracelsus having taught how to make the same Oyl out of fused Salt, which Oyl Paracelsus himself, besides Basilius, in many places affirms to be of a Green Colour. Thus we read of the Green Oyl of Salt: Libro de male curatis, Pag. 170. Chyr. Ma∣joris. Of the Greens of Salt, Libro. 4. de Gradibus, Pag. 154.