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.

Laudanum, or the specifick Anodine of Paracelsus.

℞ Of corrected Opium ℥ j. Juyce of sharp Orange and Quinces well depurated ana ℥ vj. Cinnament and Cloves ana ℥ φ. Beat all to pouder and mix it in a double Vessel, and digest either in the Sun or Horse-dung the space of a moneth; this done, expresse the Species, and put the Liquor again in your double or circulary Vessel, with addition of ℈ ss Musk, ℈ iij. Ambergrease, ℥ ss. Saffron, ℈ ss. Salt of Coral and as much of Pearls; put all this again to disgest in the manner aforesaid during one month; then opening the Vessel expresse the Liquor and re∣duce it into a liquid Extract, to which you shall add towards the end ℈ j. ss. of Quintessence of Gold; then evaporate your mat∣ter til it comes to a fit consistency to make Pills: The Dosis where∣of of from gr. φ. to iij. or iiij. gr. Which is (saies he) the true Specifick Anodine, taking away and appeasing all inward and outward pains, so that none of the members is sensible thereof. You see that Paracelsus doth make use of acid Liquors for the dissolution and digestion of Opium, which is the Basis & Ground of this admirable Remedy, to which he had recourse in the most urgent and difficult Diseases. I cannot but add here yet what he saies in praise of Anodins and Soporiferous Remedies in Ge∣neral, when he speaks of the Embryonated Sulphur in the first Book of his Physick, or Treatise of natural things: What Arca∣num ought the Physitian more earnestly wish for, then that which

may asswage all griefs, and allay all heats: for he that shall enjoy it shall be possessor of no lesse knowledge then Apollo himself, Machaon or Podalyrius, which is an Hyperbolical way of expres∣sion he has to extol the Somniferous Remedies or Anodins.

And though the foregoing Laudanum be indifferently fit to be used by either Sex: it is necessary neverthelesse we should give a description of an Hysterical Anodine for such Women as are trou∣bled with fits of the Mother, and wherein no Must must be mixt; for Ambergrease is not so hurtful and contrary to them, unlesse joined with Musk or Civet, though many are of a contrary perswasion. This kind of Laudanum is prepared as followeth.