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.

To make the Flowers of Benjuin.

As Benjuin Flowers are excellent in their Vertue, so must an Artist be careful to bestow upon them a good preparation: for which reason, we shall demonstrate two ways thereof: The first more plain, because it may be done at all times, as necessity shall require. The second to be reserv'd, when we shall treat of the Distillation of Benjuin. As for this first manner, take only a good Germane Crucible, round and something high, wherein put ℥ij. of Bnjuin reduced to pouder, place it in sand upon a Capsula, and cover it with a long sharp cap of a good double blew paper, strong and well stiffened, the said cap being proportionated in its basis to the orifice or mouth of the Crucible: After this, give your fire by degree, and when you perceive the vapours of the Benjuin beginning to rise, take away the said cap, and put a new one of the same matter and proportion in the room, that you may have time to take away with a feather the flowers sublimated in the first, and lose not those which shall rise while the Crucible shall remain uncovered; and this work continue till all the volatile sulphureous salt of the Benjuin be sublimated in flowers; they are to be given from three grains to half a scruple in the same man∣ner, and for the same diseases, as the tincture and magistery: it is by this operation that our Artist shall clearly know, that Benjuin possesses a volatile sulphureous Salt, very subtile and penetrating: for as soon as there is heat enough to drive it out from its body, it invades the nose, eyes and brest, which it irritates in such a wise, as to provoke sneesing, tears and coughing, by reason of that spiritu∣ous and subtile quickness of the salt, wherein lies all the power and activity of the Benjuin.