A compendious body of chymistry, which will serve as a guide and introduction both for understanding the authors which have treated of the theory of this science in general: and for making the way plain and easie to perform, according to art and method, all operations, which teach the practise of this art, upon animals, vegetables, and minerals, without losing any of the essential vertues contained in them. By N. le Fèbure apothecary in ordinary, and chymical distiller to the King of France, and at present to his Majesty of Great-Britain.

The common preparation of Opium.

I Do not question, but some carping Critick will say, that I have omitted in the foregoing Discourse, the Dispute of Controversie ordinarily rais'd in the Schooles, between those that maintain O∣pium to be cold, because it was the opinion of ancient Physi∣tians, and others, who affirm it to be hot: because their sense, and the experience of its effects, seem to force us to entertain this this opinion, and to assent unto Truth. We would have handled Question pro and con, had it not been that we profess Chy∣mical Philosophy; whose prescription it is, we should attend the things and not the words, and not judge of the truth thereof by the several imaginary degrees of their qualities; but rather dive into the knowledge of the internal essence of mixts by their Anatomy, which gives a true light, and discovers unto us what Principle it is which predominates in natural bodies, that from thence we may fetch the true Indication of their peculiar proprieties, and the uses whereunto they ought to be applyed.

To perform this Creditably, we must begin in the choyce of Opium or Meconium; for it were pity the Artist should ill bestow his time and his materials: Therefore, he must have the capacity to judge betwixt good and bad ones, and the ability to discern between the sophisticated, adulterated, and that which is not legi∣timate and skilfully prepared; Nam bonum à malo, falsum à vero discernere periti est Artificis. But as the true and right Maslak of the Turks can but difficultly and rarely be met with, whose qua∣lities are a very strong and unpleasant smell, of a yellow colour, inclining somewhat to the redness of Lions hair, very bitter, biting and fiery in the palate, and upon the Tongue, so that it seems to set it on a flame, being compacted and well united in a heap, as a small Cake consisting of many small grains of several colours, because in gathering the drops flowing from the Incision made in the Poppy-heads, there will ever some corn of the seed be mixed with the flowing Liquor: It it necessary we should give some notes of Direction to chuse the best and purest of that which is

called Meconium, drawn by Expression from the juyce of Poppy-heads bruised, or by the mixtue of the juyce of the leaves: it were to be wisht, that those from whom we have it, would be contented with this coarse preparation without super-adding other Juyces to encrease the Mass: for the Cakes of Opium which are brought from Natolia, are ordinarily of the weight of ℥ iiij. or lb φ. at the most, whereas those that come from Alexandria, Aegypt, Venice and Marsilia, are for the most part of a pound weight, whereby it is easie to discover that those who drive a trade of it, do encrease the weight thereof at least of one half part.

The Sophistication of it is performed three several wayes: The first is, with juyce of Glaucium or Apple of Love; but this Cheat is easily discovered with dissolving it in a little water, which imme∣diatly turns yellow as if Saffron had been in it. The second is done with juice of Endive and wild-Lettice, but this also is known, in that when you cut the Cakes of Opium or Meconium, the inside is ruffer and less smooth, and has a more mixt odour, obscurer and more difficult to be discerned. The third and last way of dis∣guise is done with Gum, which also is very easie to be discovered, for the Cake is more brickle and more shining; and moreover, this is the worst sort of all having much lesse strength and vertue. By which it may be evident, that the true notes of Opium can be no other then those we have already assigned, except that the Me∣conium which is the most common sort amongst us, is more com∣pact and united, more black and strong in smell: but it is not so bitter, harsh and biting in the mouth, by reason of the other parts of the Poppy mixt with it, which are not yet exalted, nor their volatile salt concocted, as is the juice proceeding from the head alone, either by incisions or Expressions. The Artist then having chosen his Opium such as he ought to have, must cut it in very slender slices, which he shall sprinkle in an Iron-pan with good Rose-vinegar until the Opium be reduced to pap with the Vine∣gar, by agitating and stirring of it with an Iron-slice; then put the pan on a very small fire, and so by degrees dry the Opium without encreasing the fire to prevent burning, until it be wholly dry and be crumbled from its lump, and reduced to a pouder and making no more smoaks. This pure and single operation produces two considerable effects: The first, that by its slow and mode∣rate

exhalation and the continual agitation of its external sulphur, it drives away the impure and undigested Opium, by which all those disorders which commonly happen and are feared, be pro∣duced. The second is, that it corrects and fires in a manner the volatile salt of the same by the acid spirit of the Vinegar: and that moreover, it changes also the bitterness and the ill taste there∣of: The Chymical Apothecary shall keep this Opium thus cor∣rected in his shop, to use in the composition of all such ordinary Remedies when that Ingredient is required; as also to make there∣with the most exact and Philosophical preparations, according to the prescription which we will give hereunder.