To prepare the true Syrup of Coral.

THis Syrup is commonly used to strengthen the vital and ani∣mal faculties, and as it is its chief scope, so will we give a description thereof which will in its contents follow the inten∣tion of the Physitian; nevertheless some other liquor may be substituted, when the Physitian intends to specifie and render it more particular to some proper use, as Cinnamon in water, juice of Pomegranate and Quinces, juice of Melissa or Balme and Co∣chlearia or Scurvy-grass, and so of many others according to the Indication which shall be taken by the Artist; this neverthelesse may be used in the room of all the others, because as it generally doth strengthen Nature and its functions, so is it capable to correct all the particular vices thereof.

To this end take some of the uppermost rind of Lemmon and Orange ana ℥iij. shred them very small and put in a Cucurbite, pour upon it lb j. s. very good Spanish Wine or some other ge∣nerous Wine; put in the nose of the Still a knot of ℈ij. of grains of Kermes wrapt in silk Tiffany, with ℈j. of the best Saffron, ℈ φ. of the best Ambergreece in pouder exactly mixt with the o∣ther two bodies, cover your Cucurbite with a Still head, and ha∣ving luted exactly the joints thereof, as also the Recipient which you shall fit thereunto, place it in Sand and give fire by de∣grees and very slowly, until you have extracted about xij. or xv. ℥. of Spirit. Then take ℥ij. of dissoluble Magistery of Co∣ral, and dissolve it in ℥x. of this distilled Spirit, adding lb j. of very fine Sugar reduced to an impalpable pouder, stir all to∣gether and place it in a circulatory Vessel well lu•ed to the slow heat of a vaporous Bath, as long as there shall be need to perfect the dissolution: then let the Vessel cool and put the Syrup in a well stopt Vial, and you shall have a soveraign Remedy against all weaknesses of stomach, all diseases of the spleen, and above all a great chearer of the Heart and Brain. To know the noble uses of this Syrup, and wherein it may be employed with suc∣cesse, you must recal to mind what we have said concerning the vertues attributed to Coral, and its Salt, true Magistery and Tincture. The Dosis shall be from ℈ j. to ℥ j. either alone or in some convenient liquor. We shall deliver here no other Example for working upon Pearls then this we have done upon Coral; For an Artist be he never so little skilful, cannot but know the difference which must be made in working upon that precious and costly matter; and if he needs some other preparation, let him consult with those who have written about it more pun∣ctually.