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 prepare the plain Water against Gangrenes, and other symptomes and accidents thereof.

VVE must confess that this Water is one of the best Re∣medies which at this day are in the possessiion of Chirurgery to prevent the sad accidents of Gangrenes and their se∣quel; and being this Remedy is so useful to publick advantage, I would not hold it longer in silence; though it will not perhaps please too many who keep it still by them as a grand secret; but this noble Medicament owning its invention to the search of Chymistry, so is it just that by the benefit of the same and the ingenuity of this Treatise it should be communicated to all Members and Practitioners of Chirurgery which are not yet ac∣quainted with the same, that they may Charitably bestow it for the help and cure of poor sick Patients: for it is a great Gift and be∣nefit of God, to be purchased almost without charge, and easily to be found every where, wherefore also it ought to be liberally

dispensed and imparted to such poor Patients as shall be in want of it. All the secret thereof doth only consist in mixing with greater or lesser proportion, sublimate corrosive Mercury in ei∣ther of the three Waters, according as it is intended and desired to be more or less strong and violent; and so the Dosis of the mixture depends upon the judgement and skll of the Chirurgeon who intends the use of it, for preventing the accidents of Gan∣grenes or to stop it, and prevent the encrease and progress of the same, when it hath already seiz'd upon and deaded some part of the flesh: for the spirits and hidden fire which are in this Water, a∣nimate and vivify again the natural heat, call back the vanisht Spirits, already banished by the beginning of corruption and mortification, and by their subtility and quick penetration separate the dead flesh from the quick. But in the mean while it must be observed, to mix diligently in this miraculous Water ℥ ij. or iij. of excellent spirit of Wine freed and depurated of all its phlegm, which may have two very considerable and principal ends. The first is, to render this water more active and penetrating when necessity doth urge, and the danger is at hand; The second, that the spirit of Wine may unite it self to the salts and spirits of the quick-lime and the corrosive Sublimate, and so kill and temperate them, that they may in no wise be noxious and hurtfull to the nervous or sinuous and membranous parts, which remain bare during and after the action and time of using the Remedy: and it belongs only to such as are well skil'd and versed in the know∣ledge of the action and reaction of Spirits and Salts with and against each other, to give a solid and pertinent reason of those effects that are produced by this admirable Remedy, after the mixture of the Calx and quick-lime sublimate and spirit of Wine. This water thus composed is not useful only to such purposes as we have said above: but it is also singular in all Wounds and Shots where there is any breaking of bones, and a great heat with much pain, provided in the beginning you add the juice of a do∣zen River-Crawfishes pounded alive, and sprinkled with a little phlegm of Allom.

But there is another Water yet against Gangrenes, Ulcers and sores of the eyes, besides that we have already taught, the descrip∣tion whereof we will give for the sake both of Surgeons and their

Patients, though held very secret by those who daily use it with great applause and success: after which we will give the descrip∣tion of the Ophthalmick-water, and the distillation of the true Spirit of quick-lime, which is none of the least Master-piece•• of of our Art.