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 Oyl must be defecated.

MIX lb viij. of the Oyl very clear with lb ij. of salt ☿ in a glass retort; and being put in sand, distill it slowly with a gradual heat, until nothing more comes from it; then draw off the salt again from within the retort with warm water, filtrate and evapo∣rate till it be dry, then in a Crucible make it glowing; and when it shall almost be cooled again, grind it to pouder in a warm mor∣tar, and mix it again in the retort with the Oyl already dissolved, and draw off again upon sand as before, which you must reiterate to a third time, to have a very subtile oyl, and lasting to the Lamp, not easie to be put out, if you have only care of the weak, yield∣ing a less thick and black smoak, and by consequence less soot; but it is not only fit for those purposes, but moreover very good to resolve and mollifie, as the foregoing oyl, to which in a man∣ner it may be substituted, when there shall be any need of it for external applications or outward griefs, in delicate and squeamish Patients which are not capable to bear the unpleasant smell of the Philosophers oyl; but it is not so penetrating and so efficacious. It may also be used in the boyling of Plaisters and Oyntments, because it doth not partake any more of this excrementitious moisture, which doth, for the most part, cause the putrefaction and colliquation frequent in wounds and ulcers.