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.

Of Terra Sigillata or sealed Earth.

BEfore we speak of the chusing of these Earths, and designe particularly the marks of their goodnesse and Vertue, we must make a small mental reflection upon the cause and reason of their chief Vertue. We have already so often said, that Light is the spring and source of all good impressions, that we need not farther insist thereon, being it is of absolute necessity that this Light should have transmitted her Rayes into the very center of these Earths, since we find in them a Cardiack, Cephalick, Hepatick, Stomachical vertue, which could not be unless this Earth were impregnated with some vitriol, or Solar, Martial or Lunary Sulphur, which are never∣thelesse only embryonated in the same, as we will make it appear in the sequel of this Discourse; For these Earths being only found in such places where perfect or imperfect Metals are extracted, so are they more or lesse pure, more or lesse efficatious and full of vertue, according as they partake of the purity or impurity of Vitriol and Sulphur, which are the principles of Metals found in the place of their birth and original.

The most excellent of all these Earths is that which is digged in the Island of Lemnos by order of the Grand Seigniour every year, and thence carried to Constantinople, to be distributed afterwards through Europe at his pleasure: The second in order and good∣nesse,

is that which is found about the Town Striga in Silesia, where they have begun to give it a Seal, viz. two Sols: some call it the fat of Gold or axungia Solis, because impregnated with a so∣lar Sulphur, and it is of a reddish colour; there is also a second or inferiour kind which is gray or whitish, called also the fat of sil∣ver or axungia Lunae, because impregnated with a Lunar Sulphur. That which is Solar is dedicated to the Heart and the diseases thereof, as the Lunar to the Brain and Liver. The third kind of Earth in goodnesse is that of Blois, and all the sorts of Earth that come nigh to it; the choice of either of them depends upon two chief notes: first, it must be apt to stick and cleave easily to the Tongue when touched by it; secondly, the wet or spittle that sticks upon, or any other moist liquor, must immediately rise in smal pustuls or bubbles, and make a kind of ebullition, or any parcell thrown in water must immediately put it to a boiling; and as we said that these earths did partake of a solar Vertue, by reason of embryonated mineral sulphur which is in them; so may we also affirm that they are Remedies purely natural, and capable to shew their vertue as they come from the hands of Nature without ne∣cessitating Art to contribute any help of its own: contrariwise, it should seem that Art here would but injure and offend Nature, since these earths have much more vertue before the common pre∣paration thereof pretended by vulgar Pharmacy, which are to wash & triturate them upon a Marble or Porphyry; which in effect doth nothing else, but take away from them that vitriolick embry∣onated portion in which doth consist their vertue and effica∣cy. But there is a Spagyrick preparation better able to draw their purest and most efficacious substance, and thus more plea∣santly and in a lesse Dosis it may be exhibited to Patients. The general and particular vertues of Earths and Bolus's are to desic∣cate and astringe, resist putrefaction and venom, resolve coagula∣ted and congealed blood, strengthen the Heart and Brain, and by sweat purifie the masse of the Blood; wherefore with great suc∣cesse and advantage they may be given in Plague, malignant Fea∣vers, Diarrhea's, Dysentery and bitings of venomous Creatures. Their external use is to apply upon festered and desperate wounds, and to stop Hemorrhages or issues of blood.