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.

How the Oyle of Philosophers is to be prepared.

TAke old Tiles or Bricks, and having broken them into small pieces of the bignesse of a Philberd, heat them glowing red in a Wind-furnace with coal, stratum super stratum, ordering it so that the first and last bed be of coals: and when they are come to the highest colour of redness, have a peuter or b••asse Basen with a cover well fitted to shut it close and put out the flame, when the pieces of brick or tile shall be thrown glowing hot in the oyle, which you may take off about the quan••tty of lb 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or vj. o•• old clear oyle; these pieces of brick or tile must be taken with pin∣cers, and one after another be put in the oyle, and the cover ap∣plyed to quench the flame which will rise, until all your oyle be spent and dried up: then grind to pouder these pieces so imbi∣bed and impregnated with oyle, and mix to them equal weight of decrepitated Salt, or as much of the caput mortuum of aqua fortis, or Colchotar; then having put the matter in a well-luted Re∣tort

in a close Reverberatory Furnace, fit it to a large Receiver also well luted; cover the Furnace, then give it fire by degrees, until the drops begin to follow one after another, and that the oyle comes into the Recipient in shapes of vapours and obscure clouds; then encrease it, and entertain it even with flame of very dry wood until the Recipient begins to grow clean of it self at which sign cease the fire and lett all cool: and the Vessels being open, you shall know that what was almost without odour and insipid has much altered its nature; for the volatile salt of the oyle is so much exalted and changed, that it is almost impossible to hold the Nose over the Recipient by reason of the subtil spirits of this Salt, which gives to this distilled oyle an unpleasant odour. The one half of the oyle may be laid aside without Rectifying, for it may be use∣ful in many occurrences were there is no necessity to have it so subtil. Take afterwards the other half and mix it with common ashes or Colchotar until it be reduced to a paste which you shall model into Pills, and put into a Glasse Retort, whose neck in∣wardly must be very well cleansed; then place it in a Sand-Fur∣nace with its Recipient, and give a gradual fire, continuing un∣til you have drawn off all the Oyle which shall be very subtil and fluid, and penetrating with a wonderfull activity.

These two oyles are good applyed outwardly: but if you intend to use it inwardly, take lb ss. of Rectified oyle, and mix it with as much salt of Tartar, and lb ij. white Wine; put all this mixture into a low Cucurbit, where you must have a Head or Still very fitly and exactly jointed, and so likewise luted; and give it a conveni∣ent fire until all the vapours begin to rise, which will be mingled with oyle, water and spirit; continue your fire until no part of the oyl more shall ascend; then separate the remaining oyle in the Cu∣curbit, and add it to that of the first distillation which has not been rectified, so shall you have the true Philisophersoyle so called: and which being brought to this height and perfection of sobtilty deserves well that appellation, by reason of its Rare Vertue and the noble effects it produces, both inwardly and outwardly.

The first Oyle drawn and not Rectified, doth dissolve, digest, mol∣lifie and bring to maturation all schirrous and hard Tumors, and chiefly such as grow without pain; Resolves potently all flatuous & cold Oedema's or waterish swellings and all other hard and cold

tumors, in whatsoever place of the body seated, peculiarly those that are about the joints, whose action they check and suspend. The second oyl which hath been rectified, is also very good to the same purpose, for it digests with much more speed: above all, it hath a wonderful operation to dissipate all Tophus's, Schir∣rosities and Nodosities, and cold gout, mixt with a little spirit of salt, and very subtile spirit of wine. This mixture is also very salutiferous to all those that have any member fallen into Atro∣phy, or benummed with Palsey; for it doth insinuate it self into the parts, and consumes and dissipates the slime, which did hinder the illustration and flowing of the spirits upon the parts by their obstruction, or rather resuscitates life, and reanimates the spirits in the members already deprived of it, and as it were half dead. But there is no comparison between the first and second, and the third sort; for it is so subtile, that even as if it were light it self, it penetrates the parts in an instant; wheresore they that shall make use of it, must proceed with judgement, and observe the true proportion; for it it be inwardly administred against Plague, or wind Colick, the Dosis must non exceed eight drops at the most: and for the Plague it must be exhibited in the distillation of Roots of Lagworth or butter-bur with white wine; and for the Colick in S••ssafras, distilled water; there must also a precaution be used, when it shall be outwardly applyed; for if it be used for the cold gout, there must be Camphire dissolved in it; and it must be ap∣plyed upon the part only with a feather, and the same not stroak'd above three times with it; But this is not yet the best use and ta∣lent of this oyl, which seems particularly to be dedicated to the Matrix: all the bad Symptoms and irritations whereof it doth allay, in case it be internally administred in Savine or matricarial mother, it removes all the obstructions thereof, drives away all impurities, if applyed to the neck of it, where it is immedi∣ately volatized, by reason of the opening of the Uterus or Womb, to expell thence whatsoever is hurtful: It may be made also to penetrate in the very body of the womb, with an instrument made for the purpose, having a channel or conduct-pipe proportioned to the neck of the Matrix; the end whereof must be very round, and perforated with many holes; and in the cavity of it, a round ball, (but opened also in the top, to contain the oyl, and exhale

it) which being exactly fitted to the pipe, may be conveigh'd by a screw, and made to ascend from the bottom by degrees, till it come to the top, where this subtile oyle will be volatiz'd by the heat of the Matrix working upon it, and thus receiving the va∣pours thereof, whereby all defects will be corrected: this discri∣ption will suffice for those that are acquainted with the mysteries of our Art; for to say more, would neither be necessary nor law∣ful. I shall end with only saying, That this Oyl matures and ripens, in a very short time, all kind of Abscesses, Botches and Boyls; but above all, the Pestilential sore, if it be outwardly applyed thereupon, at the same time that it is inwardly exhibited to the Patient, he being very carefully covered to be brought to sweat.