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.

SECTION II. Of Stones.

BEfore we deliver the definition of Stones, and describe the operations performed upon some of them, we have thought it not unfit to speak something of the essence or mineral Spirit which rules in the Earth, in whose bosome it begins and ends the generation both of stones and of all other mineral Bodies. Now this essence or Spirit is void of action, un∣less assisted by the water which is to it instead of a Vehicle, to con∣vey and carry it in its soft and fluid body into the very bowels of the Earth. This mineral essence seemes to be nothing else but the universal spirit of the Spirit of the World, impregnated by the light of all the mineral Ideas, which it doth impress and commu∣nicate to the water, that she may be capable to produce the fruits of the mineral Kingdom in the several matrixes of the earth, ac∣cording to the Genus and species of this essence, differing in no∣mination, though one and the same in essence: for according as it is metalline, petrifying, saline, bituminous and earthly, it produces the variety of substances depending of each of these subalternate genders, and according to the predominant character and Idea, the mineral substances are pure or impure, fix or volatile, and so of all the other proprieties and faculties of these Mixts.

This being so, it is not difficult to conceive that stones in gene∣ral

are nothing else but terrestrial hard bodies, not ductile, apt to crumble, and coagulated by the power and strength of the Lapi∣difick Ferment: We have hinted above the difference and variety of stones: there remains no more to do at present, but to chuse those we intend to give for an example & pattern of the operations which generally may be performed upon all others. We will then select for the subjects of such preparations as may be wrought up∣on stones, First the Emerald; secondly the Chrystal; thirdly the Coral; fourthly Lapis Judaicus; fifthly Chalk, and finally the Limestone. But as there are general observations which may be given for all stones in general, we must speak something thereof, because it will much help our Artist to facilitate and explain the meaning of all what we shall hereafter say, not only of stones, but also of all other Minerals and of Metals themselves. They that will have a very exact knowledge of stones, may have recourse to that learned Book which Boetius Van Bood, Physitian to the Emperor Rudolphus II. hath writ, and he shall fully be satisfied as touching this matter: for our intent is only to anatomize here those we have named; because they will be sufficient to instruct the Chy∣mical Apothecary how to work upon all others that have a rela∣tion or conformity to them.

First then we say, that our Artist must consider, that as the body of precious or not precious stones is harder and more fix then that of Animals and Vegetables; so must he go to work and pro∣ceed in another way in their anatomy, and use different Men∣struum's to extract and dissolve them: and moreover, that these Menstruums shall not act for the most part upon such fix and so∣lid bodies as these are, unless they be calcined beforehand, either by themselves or mixed with Salt or Brimstone, to penetrate the hardnesse and compactness of their bodies, and render them po∣rous, so as the liquors which shall be used in their extraction or dis∣solution, may more easily and usefully perform their action upon them. Calcination is one of the principal operations made upon stone, either to make them fit for Medicinal uses, or to open them and render them capable of the most exact Chymical ope∣rations. This dispositive or preparatory Calcination is threefold: for it is either meer ignition, as when common Lime is burned; secondly, ignition with an extinction of the matter in some Li∣quor,

to disunite it by this reiterated action, and so reduce it into Pouder or Calx. The third Calcination is performed with com∣mon salt, Saltpeter or Brimstone. Solution follows Calcination, and is made with several different Menstruum's, according to the greater or lesse fixity found in the dissoluble Bodies; the chief and most usually employed are Vinegar, either simply distilled, or alka∣lized, the spirit of therebinthinated Vinegar, and the vinegar of Honey, spirit of Vitriol and of Salt, and oyle of Sulphur or Brim∣stone made per Campanam; but the spirit of Venus goeth in ver∣tue and activity beyond all the foresaid Menstruum's, to extract or dissolve all manner of calcined or uncalcined stones; we will shew the preparation of it in the Section of Metals. After disso∣lution follows coagulation, which is performed two wayes: either drawing of the Menstruum by evaporation or by distillation, and then what remains is a salt; or else it is made by precipitation, and the remaining pouder is properly called a Magistery.

There is besides Edulcoration and putrification made by abluti∣ons, solutions and coagulations often repeated: and for the last operation, liquation or solution of the salts which have been ex∣tracted from the stones, in a Liquor commonly called Oleum per deliquium, or oyl of Deficiency; it is made in some moist place upom some Table or square of Marble or Glass; and the Crown and perfection of all the work, is the volatization of the liquor or salt of a stone by the help of some good Cordial Menstruum, which is not to be performed but by digestion and reiterated distil∣lation; for in every one of these operations, there ascends still a portion of salt with the Menstruum; and if the Menstruum be left impregnated with this salt, it is called the Elixir of the stone: but if it be drawn off with a soft and gentle heat, that which re∣mains in the bottom of the Vessel in the form of an oyl is called the essence of the stone.

Thus by this gradation of operations stones are converted into Salts, Magistery, Liquor, Elixir and Essence: But before we put an end to these general hints, we will give a general processe up∣on all kind of stones, to reduce them into Salt and Essence with lesse work and lesse toyl, which is performed in the following manner.

Reduce to an impalpable pouder such kind of stone as you shall

think fit to take by one of the three Calcinations we have menti∣oned above, then grind this subtil pouder on a Porphyry stone of a Sea-shell, with equal weight of Bay or Seasalt well dryed; put that mixture in a Crucible, which you shall cover and lute exactly: the Lute being dry, put it in a Potters-furnace at the same time as he begins to bake his pots, and there let it stand twenty four hours: after which take out your Vessel and open it, and the matter which you shal find in it, dissolve with warm distilled rain-water in a glased earthen pan; stir and triturate it nimbly with a Glass or wooden pestle; pour the dissolution in another pan also glased, and thus proceed grinding; stirring and dissolving in new warm water, until the Calx of the stone remains indissoluble in the bottom: then dry it and reiterate the same operation with dryed salt, until all the body of the Calx be reduced and converted into a slimy fat and glewing substance among the body of the warm water: then being setled again, separate the clear water which swims above the slimy grounds of setlement by inclination; and put all these wa∣ters in a glass Cucurbite in sand; give it a competent fire, and draw off by evaporation or distillation the half part thereof: then pour upon the liquor remaining in the Cucurbite oyle of Tartar drawn by deficiency or per deliquium, drop by drop until this li∣quor becomes as white as milk; then filter this white water, to separate the part thereof which you shall find precipitated; and thus continue to precipitate and filtrate until the water remaines clear. Then put together all the slimy parts remaining in the bottom of the Pans with that which is in the Filter, and wash it with pure lukewarm Fountain water, until the water comes our as void of taste as when it was poured on, which will be a sure token that the remaining matter is destitute of all saltishnesse; then separate the water thereof with as much exactnesse and care as you can, and put this matter in a Cucurbite, pouring upon it very good distilled Vinegar four fingers high; put all in ashes to digest, until the Vinegar hath lost its sharpness and is become sweet; then draw it off by inclination, and pour fresh Vinegar theron at the same height, and thus proceed &, go on, until the distil∣led Vinegar changes no more its taste: then joyn all these extracti∣ons and dissolutions, filtrate and evaporate in sand slowly without boyling until all be dry, and you shall have the salt of the stone

of a grayish colour, which grind and put in a Matrass, and pour upon tartarizated spirit of Wine the height of four fingers: stop your Vessel with a Blindhead and extract the Tincture thereof in B. M. and when the Spirit shall appear coloured, separate it and supply with new until it takes no more colour; then filtrate all the Tinctures, and draw off softly the spirit in a vaporous Balneo, until the essence of the stone remaines in the bot∣tom in the consistency of a clear Syrup. This is the general method of working upon stones of what vertue or quality soever: and whensoever our Artst hath made any Essence of this kind, he shall repair to such Authors as have particularly treated of that stone and of its vertues, and so shall be capable to apply them to their right use. We may only add the genetal Dosis of these no∣ble Remedies, which is from j. or ij. drops to viij. or x. in the morning fasting, in Broth, Wine, Decoction, or some distilled water specifick and appropriated to the Disease and Remedy; and let this be said in the way concerning stones in general; we come now to the particular operations which we propound for a Pattern and Model in particular.

Of the Emerald, and its Chymical preparation.

THE Emerald is a precious stone, transparent and very fair by reason of its pleasant green colour, the softest and most brickle of all others. The best Emeralds are the Oriental, both in regard their green is deeper and more pleasant to the eye, and because they are of greater vertue; the meanest are those which are brought from Peru and found in Europe. After that the frag∣ments of Emerald have been purely calcin'd by ignition and ex∣traction in water of juice of Bugloss, and then triturated or ground to an Alkohol upon the Porphyry stone with the same wa∣ter and dryed, it may be administred in Bolus or Pill, with Con∣serve of Marigold flower from iiij. gr. to x. against all manner of Lasks of the Belly and bloody Fluxes: but chiefly against Dy∣sentery, either proceeding from erosion of the Entrals, or from some malignant matter: it is also a fit Remedy against the biting of venomous Creatures, Plague, pestilential Feavers and all o∣thers

that partake of malignancy. There are many other noble vertues attributed to the Emerald being whole and unprepared: but they only respect outward application, such as to hang it on the neck against the Falling-ficknesse; Tye it to the Thigh for ad∣vancing delivery in Childbed; apply it on the belly to prevent miscarrying, stop the bleeding of the Nose with keeping it in the mouth; as likewise bloody Fluxe, and Emrods applyed up∣on the Lungs: it is also said to recreate both outward and in∣ward senses worn on the finger, and to expel fear and terrour of ill Visions. There are some Authors who deliver as an un∣doubted truth, it will oftentimes break being worn by too la∣scivious a person, and who unboundedly will abandon himself to Venery. So much have we thought fit summarily to say, that it may appear what experience hath found out towards the effi∣cacy of precious stones, which have all in themselves some por∣tion of very pure metallick Sulphur, which communicates Ver∣tues and Faculties unto them of much more extent then that of Animals and Vegetables. And what is this Sulphur else but the purest part of condensed light? which yields a continual irra∣diation of its vertue without any lessening or diminution, by reason of the magnetical vertue of the stone, which perpetually attracts its like from the uppermost Heaven; as it appears yet better by the oriental Saphire, and the efficacy is wonderful against the Plague, insomuch as if the Patient hath many boiles or sores on his body at once, none of them will break or run, but that about which a circle or ring hath been made with a Sa∣phire touching the skin: and moreover, the scarification shall never surpasse the bounds, which the vertue of the stone seems to have prescribed ann limited unto it. But let us come to the Chymical preparation, by which the salt Tincture and Elixir or Essence are extracted.

Of the Chymical Preparation of Emerald.

TAke fragments of Emerald the greenest and cleanest you can meet with, beat them to pouder in a steel-Mortar, and searce the pouder through a fine linnen Searcer fitted in a Box, which in

the French shops is called Cicotriner; or it is as good to tritu∣rate them into an impalpable pouder, which put in a Matrass, pour∣ing upon it of the volatile spirit of Urine having yet its phlegm, to draw the colour, and the spirit being sufficiently coloured, draw it off and pour on other until it takes no more colour; then filtrate the Tincture through a Cotten, and put them into a Cucurbite to draw off the Spirit, till you have the bottom in the consistency of an extract, upon which pour very good spirt of Wine; then stop∣ping the Vessel with a Blindhead, lute it, and in the vapour of Balneo put it to extract, digest and circulate untill the spirit be ting'd with a high green, after this draw back again the half or two thirds of the spirit with a slow heat, and you shall have an Elixir or essence of Emerald left, which is a soveraign Remedy against Dysentery and all other kinds of flux of the belly, red and white Courses of Women, Emrods and Hemorrhagy. It is of no less use against all affections of the brain, and passions of the heart, chiefly against swooning, weakness and palpitation; as also Me∣lancholy, Phrensie, Hebetation or weakening of the functions of the Spirits proceeding from some long and perillous disease. For besides this Centrical and luminous Sulphur whence all these noble vertues are derived, there remains besides in this Elixir a certain portion of the volatile salt of Urine, which cleaves to this Sulphur by the help of the spirit of Wine, framing together an essence capable of all these vertues which we have attributed unto it. The Dosis is from ij. drops unto x. in Liquor appropriated to the diseases of the Head, Heart and lower Ventricle.

Of Chrystal, and its Chymical preparation.

CHRYSTAL is a transparent stone, having some likeness un∣to congealed water reduced into lucid and transparent Ice; so that what the Greeks call Chrystal, we call it congealed. We shall not here insist long upon any debate to prove that Chrystal is nothing else but meer congealed water, since to discover the un∣truth of that opinion, it will suffice to say, that Chrystal doth not melt, but being calcined turns into Calx and Salt by the strength of the Spirit, by which it hath been coagulated of a very pure Earth

and a little proportion of water, which by help of the salt it had in it self, impregnared with the petrifying Idea and fer∣ment, hath dissolved the said earth. Neither shall we speak of that Hexagonal figure which the outside of the Chrystal doth ever represent, but shall only say that the circular figure is the perfectest of all others, and that Hexagonal comes the nearest to it: and that as the chrystal is one of the most pure and perfect substances, there∣fore also it comes nearer to the spherical or circular figure. Chry∣stal is found in Portugal, in the Island of Cyprus, Germany, Hun∣gary and Bohemia: it is not difficult to our Artist to make his choice thereof, by reason of the transparency of the matter; it being sufficient to chuse that which is more compacted, purest and clearest; and to prepare it a little better then usually, it must be made in a gross powder, and heated to redness in a Crucible with a wind furnace, and when it is glowing red, pour in radish water, or water of roots of Restabovis, or Restharrow, somewhat sharpned or acuated with a little spirit of salt; and this ignition and extinction continued three or four times, then grind it on a Porphyry to implacable pouder, with the same water that was used for the extinction of it; ane thus being dryed, keep it for use. Chrystal hath an astringent vertue, therefore it is good for stopping of a Lask, and against Dysentery, against Colick, Cholera Morbus, white and red c••••rses of women, Gonor∣rhea's, and V••en, runnings, it encreases milk in the breast, expells and dissolves all tartarous preternatural substance in all parts of the body: above all, it dissolves Tophus's and hardnesses in limbs proceeding from the gout. But its principal use is to expell clammy humours and sand from the kidneys and bladder: the do∣sis from ℈ j. to ℈ ij. in bolus, in some conserve of Eglantine, or Parsley-water, if it be for nephritical passions, and so in other conserves or appropriated waters, according to the prudence of the skilful and expert Physitian, and the diseases he takes in hand.

The Chymical Preparation of Chrystal.

BEfore we come to the exact and perfect preparation of the Elixir and essence of Chrystal, we must premise an instanta∣neous operation, in respect of the other, whereby our Artist

may ever be in readiness to succour and assist those that shall have need of this remedy, according to the order and prescription of Physitians: To this end, take equal parts of Parsley, Nettle, radish water, as also of Restabovis or Restharrow, acuated with spirit of Vitriol, or oyl of Sulphur per campanam; put all these waters in a well glased earthen pan, and having brought to ig∣nition in a wind furnace as many ounces of Chrystal as there are pints of these waters, let the Chrystal be only grosly beaten, and when it is glowing hot and red, extinguish it in the said waters, and so reiterate this ignition and extinction ten or twelve times, that so the waters may draw to themselves the best part of the Salt of Chrystal: then filtrate the liquor remaining, and add two ounces of white sugar-candy to pouder to each pound, and thus shall you have a quick and easie remedy at hand, to admini∣ster to those that shall find themselves persecuted with the pains of gravel. The Dosis is from half an ounce to three in broths or decoction of roots of Onions, or Restharrow, and Virga aurea or golden rod, made with equal parts of White wine and water; and note, that the Patient must be in a half bath, when he takes this remedy, and be prepared with a glyster of Turpentine taken and given back before he enters into the Bath.

The Prepar••••••on of Salt of Chrystal.

DRY the remainder of the foregoing Preparation, and grind it to a very subtile pouder upon a Porphyry, then flux it in a Crucible, equal weight of very pure Salt-Peter; and when it shall wholly flow, throw in it by degrees and small parcels, the chrystal pouder well dryed, and leave them so together by infusion five hours; this done, dissolve that which remains in the Crucible with distilled rain-water, to wash away the remaining Salt-Peter; then dry gently the Caly, and put it in a Matrass, pouring upon it very good distilled Vinegar, three times cohobated upon burning Nettles; and continue this dissolution, till the vinegar draws no more; then filtrate all the dissolutions, and evaporate untill they be dry, and you shall find in the bottom of the vessel a greyish salt, which you must dissolve again in the same Menstru∣um, filtrate and evaporate to purifie it; and thus you may keep

it, either dry as a salt, or dissolve it in liquor in a cold Cellar, and you shall have that which is improperly called the oyl of Chrystal. The dosis of the Salt is from iv. gr. to xvj. in appro∣priated liquors, and with requisite precautions; and the dosis of the liquor is somewhat stronger, by reason of the moistness which the salt hath attracted to it self, by which it is reduced ro liquor. You must turn back to what we have said of the Vertues of pre∣pared Crystal, to judge of the Salt and Liquor: Noting this ne∣vertheless, that they are principally and more properly used against Podagrical diseases, and specifical for kidney and bladder.

How the Elixir or Essence of Chrystal is to be prepared.

℞ OF the purest rock-chrystal, reduce it to a coarse pouder, and place it in a Crucible in a wind furnace, and being red hot, quench it a glassed pan full of very good distilled vinegar, and reiterate this ignition and extinction three times, or which is bet∣ter, till the Chrystal turns of it self into a calp as small as sands, then dry this calp, and mix it with equal weight of flowers of brimstone, and calcine them together in a Crucible till all the brimstone be spent; this calcination reiterate three times, then mix the remainder in the Crucible with its double weight of very fine Salt-Peter, which must be set in a fusion and flux, and there∣fore the Crucible very good for the space of xij. hours: and if the Crucible should happen to crack, have an eye presently to sup∣ply it with another, which therefore you must have ready at hand, rebaked, and kept warm under the grate of your wind furnace, that it may out of hand be trusted to a great fire without danger of breaking; the time being expired, and the calcination over, grind the remaining matter on a porphyry stone, ℥iv. at a time, and add to it by little and little very good distilled vinegar to the quantity of ℥x. and thus continue till you have a pound of the grinded matter, which put in a new large Matrass, and pour on it of new distilled vinegar pure and strong; stop the vessel with its blind head, luted with quick lime and beaten whites of eggs; then put to digest in B. M. the space of two natural days with a moderate heat, and in the end you shall find the vine∣gar tinged with a very high blood-red colour; open the vessels, and filtrate the liquor, and put it in a Cucurbite in B. M. to draw

all the liquor till the grounds remain dry; which take afterwards, and put on a Matble-stone in a cold cellar, or some other moist place to resolve them into a red liquor, which you are to receive in a glass cup or dosis, co-operating still carefully, whether the drops as they fall be red, because the essence of the chrystal is only in them which hold forth that colour; for when the co∣lour alters, it is a manifest sign that the fixed salt of the Salt-Pe∣ter dissolves it self; wherefore you must keep apart the first li∣quor, without much heeding the other: let this red liquor settle during some days, and draw by inclination the pure part from the impure, which preserve in a strong vial; and when you will use it, take ℥j. thereof, and mix it with another ounce of good white Wine in a Vial, and shake it together; then let it settle the space of twenty four hours and there will be yet a new defeca∣tion; pour the clear and red thereof not stirred in three pound of white wine, to which this liquor will cleave without leaving or separating any impurity; this mixture must be administred three times a day to such as are tormented with the stone, gra∣vel or nephritical Fits, and those also which have already some disposition towards the gout, and find any weakness or impedi∣ment in their limbs: but chiefly to those which are troubled with Tophus's and Hardnesses, by reason of the Tartar coagulated towards the extremities. The dosis is ℥ iv. or ℥ v. in a glass, the first time in the morning fasting, the second two or three hours after twelve, and the third about bed-time: The use of it must not be intermitted during the space of a philosophical month, which is forty days, to perfect the recovery; and if during this interval the belly doth not perform its office, take no purging me∣dicine, but it will suffice if every other day the Patient takes a plain Glyster of fresh stale, or urine without any addition to it, and the next day ℈ j. of the liquor of ☿ of Sennertus in chicken or veal broth, where you have boiled Parsley and Scorzonera roots. But if any by prevention only will take some of essencified wine, a glass in the morning fasting will suffice for the space of fifteen days, twice in the year; viz. viij. days before the two Eqninoxes of March and September, and viij, days after: and in so so doing you shall doubtless reap the fruit of your hopes.

Of Coral, and its Chymical Preparation.

WEE put Coral and its peparation in the rank of stones, as much by reason of the analogy of its stony substance, as because the operations which are made upon it have a great re∣semblance with those performed upon stones, both in respect of the manner of working, and the Menstruum's which Artists do use both to dissolve and to extract it. The work we shall teach here upon Coral may be a pattern for Pearls, all kind of stones proceeding from Animals, and from shells: for it would but prove tedious to repeat so often the same thing, since both the manner of working and Menstruum's are like in the one and the other.

We shall not lose time here in frivolous debates about the opi∣nion of ancient and modern Writers concerning the generation of Coral, to know whether it was Plant-like, of a soft or hard branch before extracted out of the Sea, because all this makes little for our purpose, it will suffice if we can but in a guesse say most proba∣bly what it is, delivering the differences and teaching the choice thereof, and principally how it is best reduced into usefull Reme∣dies.

Coral is nothing else but a strong shrub found growing upon stones in the bottom of the Sea. There are several differences of it by reason of the variety of colours, and the more or lesse compactedness and hardness of its substance; but waving all other kinds, we purpose only to treat here of red Coral, which must be of a close substance compacted, dry and hard, high in colour, pure and clean, such having more vertue, and possessing in it as in a compendium all the efficacy and essential faculties, which the other kinds may be endowed with. But here some body might move a question, Why red is preferable to all the rest? to which the answer is not difficult, since this redness is an external signe of the intrinsecal vertue of the mineral Sulphur, which is one of the principles of Coral, and from which are derived the chief vertues of it being of a Solar nature; which is the cause also that all Artists have at all times sought with great study, care and dili∣gence

the way how to extract the true Tincture of Coral, being one of the chief Remedies which Chymical Physick doth afford; for if any thinks to be capable of giving a reason for this redness by the first and second qualities of substances, certainly he will fall short of his purpose, since we can assign no better reason then the Will of the Almighty Creator, who hath imparted to things such colours as he hath been pleased with, and hath so wisely implant∣ed them in their seminaries, that their internal archeus or natural and innate Architectonical spirit can never swerve from them nor forsake them but by Errour or uncapacity and unfitness of the matter, the ordinary causes of generation of Monsters, which very unjustly are attributed to an errour and blemish of Nature.

The Chymical preparation of Coral.

AS Coral possesses many singular and noble vertues, so have our Artists in all times sought the possible wayes of opening its body with great variety of Menstruum's, to extract from the center of this mixt the noble Remedies which Nature hath im∣planted in it. I can even say that there is no natural product upon which so many, either vegetable or mineral Liquors have been tryed; and to prove the truth of this Assertion I shall only here rehearse some of the principal, which are all manner of distilled Vinegars, Juices of Berberries, Lemon, Quinces, O∣range, spirit of dew and Honey, acid or sharp spirit of Turpen∣tine, the liquor or Birch-tree, the spirits of Guajacum, Box, Juniper, tops of Alder and Service-tree; spirits of Tartar, Salt, Vitriol, Sulphur or Brimstone, the tempered spirit of Wine acuated with those salts, the burning spirit of Coral it self, the vinegar or acid Spirit of the same, and finally the spirit and phlegm of Saturn; but above all, the most active and efficacious is the spirit of Venus. whereof we have already spoken somewhere else, and will give a description in the Section of Metals.

I have not thought it out of purpose to intimate the variety of these Menstruum's, to make it appear more evidently how many operations have been begun and finisht upon Coral; and that when the Chymical Apothecary shall consult any of the Authors that

have treated or it, and finding so great a difference shall doubt to which part he may best and more safely incline, he may have a guide herein and be conducted through this Labyrinth by the thred of Experience which we our selves have made thereof. Wherefore we will give examples how to extract in the best manner the salt of Coral and false Magistery; then how to make the true which ought to be dissoluble; and in the third place we will give the method of extracting the Tincture thereof, and fi∣nally how the true Syrup is to be made, and that he may have a true and full Idea of the vertues of Coral, and affix it to one of these four Remedies, according to their corporeity, spirituality and their Dosis. We have thought fit to prefix the general and particular vertues, which both Ancient and Modern Writers have attributed to Coral, which are these: The general vertues are to be astringent, cool and dry, strengthen and corroborate the heart, ventricle, liver, and purifie the masse of the blood, whence it is given against the Plague, venoms and malignant Feavers. It chears up the internal senses, as also the external; stops all kind of Fluxes of the Belly, Womb and privy parts. Paracelsus saith, That Coral of a high colour worn about the body as a preservative, frees the party from fear of Witchcraft, Incantation, Poyson, Epilepsie, Melancholy, danger of evil Spirits, or touch of Thun∣der.

How to prepare rightly the salt of Coral.

TAke as much well chosen red Coral as you will, dry, hard, and of a high-coloured red; beat it in a brazen Mortar well cleansed with its Pestle to a course pouder, and thereof put ℥ iiij. in a Matrass, and gently pour upon strong and pure distilled Vi∣negar: I say gently and by degrees, because if it were poured too much at a time, there would immediatly arise a sudden ebullition by the action of the Dissolvent upon the dissoluble Body, and so part of the dissolution should run danger to be cast away; there∣fore must you act with prudence and patience until the violent action of the Spirit be allayed, then may you continue boldly your pouring of the Vinegar all at once to the height of four fin∣gers:

and having placed your Matrass in ashes or sand, stir it of∣ten until the Vinegar shows no more action or is grown altoge∣ther insipid, which is then a clear testimony that all its sharp∣nesse is lost by the action it has upon the substance of the Coral; after this draw by inclination this Spirit so impregnated of the Coralline salt, and pour on fresh to continue your extraction: and thus digest, extract, and draw off until no more of the disso∣luble substance of the Coral be left; then filtrate all the dissolu∣tions being cold, because if you did it whilst they be warm, the heat would make some small terrestrial corpuscles to penetrate through the Filtre, which would hinder the purity and Dissolubi∣lity of the salt; all these dissolutions being filtrated, put them in a Cucurbite in Sand, and draw off the moistnesse with a mode∣rate heat until a white Ring appears about the Vessel: then cease the fire, for this is a sign that the Liquor is too much loaden; touch not the Vessel till all be cold, because it would hinder the chrystallization of the salt which makes it more easie to dissolve and more pleasant to sight; the remaining Liquor separate by inclination to continue the evaporation of it in a Dish till in the bottom appears a dry salt, but it will never be so fine nor so good as the first. But it may be objected, that the evaporation of the Menstruum could sooner be performed in Dishes or an earthen Pan then in a Cucurbite covered with its Still-head; which I grant, but deny that it could be so cleanly done: for it would be impossible for the Artist to hinder the dust of the coals which must continually be stirred in a Laboratory from spoiling and defiling the Salt; and above all things cleanliness in Chymical operations is to be studied. There is neverthelesse another Chy∣mical Philosophical Reason which may oblige him to draw off the Menstruum in a Blindhead covered with its Still, viz. That he may know by this way when the spirit of Vinegar shall be alto∣gether changed, and that which drops down becomes altogether insipid and as void of salt as Rain-water; moreover, this water which he draws off is not uselesse, since it is much better then many other distilled Waters to make Juleps thereof in burning Feavers: For in this Water remains hidden a Spirit imperceptible to the taste, but very subtil and capable of doing much good to sick persons: secondly, the salt of Coral will be finer and purer,

and likewise of more vertue, because by this slow distillation it gets more subtility and refinednesse, which becomes more capable of producing its efficacy.

Here we must resolve a difficulty of great importance; which is, that almost all the Authors which have treated of the Practice of Chymistry do prescribe, that after the salt of Coral and all o∣thers have been prepared and drawn with distilled Vinegar, they should be dulcorated by several dissolutions and evaporations, least the sharpnesse remaining in those Salts be hurtful and of pre∣judice to the bodies of sick Patients, wherein to speak truth, they are much deceived and are to be blamed: for that salt which they pretend to take away is absolutely necessary; and I am bold to say, that even in case they could remove and wash it off by this way which they propound, that, what should remain, would absolutely be uselesse, not to say hurtful. For as Vinegar is but a fixed Wine by the predominancy of a Tartarous acid Salt over the sulphureous volatile spirit of the Wine, we must acknowledge that it is nothing else but a liquid Tartar, yet involved in many impurities: but the Vinegar being distil∣led, it turns to a liquid Tartar more refined and more subtilia∣ted, which can have no more of danger in it then the Cremor Tartari, unlesse it were by reason of its phlegm. Now after this Spirit has dissolved the Coral, and that the Artist draws off this phlegm, the subtil Tartar of the fixed Wine joyns and in∣corporates with the Coral, and frames that which is called Salt of Coral, whose only vertue proceeds from the union of this vola∣tiliz'd Tartar joyned with the Coral, because it is this Salt which conveys the Coral into the last digestions of the body, and drives away the sensible and insensible transpiration, and by Urines all the peccant humours and impurities against Nature harbouring in the Masse of the blood. But for a clearer proof we will set this truth before your eyes in the immediatly follow∣ing Preparation.

How to make the false Magistery of Coral.

YOU must dissolve the Coral in distilled Vinegar, in the same manner as we have prescribed for the extraction of the Salt, and filtrate the dissolution, out of which draw back again the two third parts of the menstruum by distillation, and the Vessels being cooled, set the remaining liquor in a Glass or white earthen dish, and pour upon drop by drop dissolved salt of Tartar, which impro∣perly is called Oleum ☿ per deliquium; and you shall find a white coagulation, which is nothing else but the earthly and stony sub∣stance of the Coral returned to a body which leaves and forsakes its dissolvent, which is this sharp salt of Vinegar. Now all the lixivial salts which are made by Calcination do kill the sharp ones, which causes the dissolvent to quit the Body which it had dissolved, and so it is restored to its self again and precipitated wanting that subtil Salt which did render it visible in the Liquor; after this pour what swims above this white substance, and put clear water upon to edulcorate it, and so continue doing till the water comes off as tasteless and insipid as when it was poured on; then dry gently this white substance, and you shall have that which is pretended to be Magistery of Coral, which is (to say the truth) nothing else but a fixed and astringent earth, much worse and less safe then plain Coral prepared, or purely reduced to a very subtil pow∣der. For they that shall say to commend this Magistery that it conduces to laskes of the belly, and strengthens the weak and de∣bilitated stomack, and consequently ought not to be prescribed out of the Rank and Commerce of useful Remedies, must know, that the efficient cause of Lasks or Fluxes and loosnesses of the belly, and debility of stomach, is for the most part nothing else but a harsh serosity sharp and full of malignity, which causes an ill colliquation not only of nutriment, but also of the very substance of the parts: and the pouder of Coral shall be capable sooner to ••emedy that then the pretended Magistery, because this acid a∣••ainst Nature shall act upon and destroy it, as by experience it is ••een, that Coral sweetens Vinegar, and that so the cause being re∣••oved the effect must cease. But it will be much better to make

use of the salt of Coral, wheresoever there shall be occasion of using a Remedy, because that besides it shall correct this malig∣nant acidity, it will expel and evacuate by Sweats and Urines those substances which have been altered and colliquated, and conse∣quently that effect which is intended by the Physitian shall never fail to come to passe. But this pretended Magistery can never be well used in such a case, because it is fixt, and the distilled Vinegar, or even corrosive Spirits can have no action upon it: by which it appears that it is unsufficient and uncapable to destroy or alter that sharpness agarnst Nature, by which the loosness of the belly and relaxation or weakness of stomach is wrought, and therefore it is altogether unprofitable in the use of Physick. But it will perhaps be urged again, that it may also be precipitated without spirit of Vitriol with its own oyle, or oyle of Sulphur, or spirit of Salt, and that it will thus be mended and exalted, which we deny again; for, were there any good to be expected from these Magisteries, it would be from that which is precipitated with liquor of ☿ rather then with these Spirits, because it would yet be more fixed then the other, and so consequently less capable of action. But we need not speak any more of this, since Paracelsus in his sixth Book of his Archidoxa's saith, That a true Magistery must almost in an instant penetrate our whole body by the quickness and subtili∣ty of its parts: by which it may manifestly appear to be some∣thing else then these fixed Earths uncapable of all action, much less of penetration, being destitute of all manner of salt and spi∣rit, from the activity whereof all actions and powers are depend∣ing. And this shall suffice upon this Subjectr let us come to the true manner of preparing a Magistery answerable to its name, that is to say, a Magisterial and principal Remedy.

How to prepare the true Magistery of Coral.

WE shall not use in this operation a simple distilled Vine∣gar, neither the body of any Salt to open and penetrate the body of the Coral, without imbezlingits power and seminal Fa∣culties: contrariwise we shall preserve them and rather encrease by the help of a volatile Spirit, penetrating, active, and not

working as Corrosives which cause indeed a dissolution of sub∣stances, but alter and destroy the vertues thereof; it is that won∣derful Spirit of ♀ we make use of to prepare a true penetrative and dissoluble Magistery; for this true Philosophical Vinegar shall reduce the Coral as it were to its first Being, or to a spermatick Juyce, without altering nevertheless the goodnesse of its princi∣piant Sulphur, because this noble Dissolvent is drawn off again with the same tast, vertue and dissolutive Faculty which it had be∣fore its action upon Coral, and may be afterwards yet employed for the like operation or any other whatsoever, which is none of the least Mysteries of Art and Nature; for the discovery of which we are beholding to that wonderful German Physitian Zwelferus yet living, who together with the invention of this secret, hath imparted us the manner how to use it.

To attain then to the Art of making a perfect Magistery; Chuse ℥ iiij. of the best red Coral you can meet with and reduce it to pouder, which being put in a large and Capacious Matrass, pour upon softly and by degrees for fear of violent ebullitions ℥ xx. of well rectified spirit of ♀; and all its action being ceased and allayed, put the Matrass to digest in a vaporous Bath the space of a Natural day; which being over, filtrate all the Liquor, and you shall find all the Coral to be dissolved, and that the residency re∣maining in the Filter is nothing else but a fat and muddy earth, which contains the impurities and feces of Coral; put the Filtra∣tion in a Cucurbite in B. M. cover it with its Head, and draw off again your Spirit with so proportionate a heat that the drops may but follow one another: and thus continue till the matter remains in the bottom of the Vessel half dry; then cease the fire and put up the Spirit in a Vial for it is as good as before. After this wash what is remaining in the Filter with ℥ viij. of Spanish Scorzonera water, mixt with as much of second Cinnamon water; for some part of the Magistery yet remaining behind will dissolve in these Waters; filtrate them and dissolve the substance remain∣ing in the Cucurbite; and if this proportion of water should not suffice, take lb φ. more to perfect the Solution, which filtrate very cleanly, and put all the filtrations in a Cucurbite, then cover it and place in B. M. drawing off all the waters to a dry bottom, so shall you have a Cephalick and Cordial Water, excellent against

Epilepsies and Convulsions both of young and old; and in the bot∣tom of your Vessel shall you have a true Magistery, melting pre∣sently, and suddenly in the mouth and in all manner of Liquors, endowed with almost innumerable vertues. The Dosis must be from v. gr. to xx. in Broths, Wine, or the very water extracted from it. It is one of the most soveraign of Cordials, and a Spe∣cifick against Melancholy and Madnesse; it is likewise an excellent Remedy against Scurvy, for it cleanses all the masse of the blood by all the several natural emunctories, and almost insensibly; fi∣nally it is a true preservative against malignant Diseases, because it strengthens so wonderfully the Ventricle that it hinders totally their seminary; and as the Venerean Pox hath its only original from and its seat in the corruption of the blood, which by pro∣gresse of time infects all the other parts, by reason of the veneno∣sity which serosities convey with that universal Aliment; so there is nothing that will better either stop or hinder it then this noble and admirable Magistery, because it corrects or evacuates sensibly or insensibly whatsoever does foment or entertains corruption in the masse of the blood.

Of the Tincture of Coral.

THere is nothing so common in the Mouths and Writings of Chymical Artists as Tincture of Coral, and scarce any that hath medled with the Art, but pretends to have the surest processe and way of making it, and moreover to have wrought miracles therewith; but there is a vast difference between words and deeds: for it is easie to speak boastingly, but hard to prove this truth by re∣ality. Now as all Authors, but chiefly Paracelsus, do attribute to this Remedy extraordinary Vertues, so is it very fitting to be pre∣pared against the Delusions and surprisal of those who pretend to the Art of making of it, and who keep it as a particular knowledge and select to themselves, being not willing to impart so much as the manner of their preparation and extraction, much less the matter out of which they take their Menstruum, whereof they make use in the drawing of this Tincture. The truth is, it is not without grounds we may suspect their capacity; for they that

boast themselves with the knowledge of making this Tincture, are oftentimes altogether ignorant what Tincture is, or what Men∣struum. Let then all those that will atrain to the truth of it know, that the greatest part of these pretended Tinctures, are nothing else but dissolutions of the body of Coral if it be whole and with∣out previous Calcination; or the only exaltation and rubifica∣tion of the Menstruum employed about the Coral calcined by a simple Reverberation, or with addition of some salts; for calci∣nated and Reverberated salts communicate themselves to the Li∣quors used for Extraction, and so do exalt and colour with red the volatile salt of the Menstruum, by which the most part of those which hitherto have believed to have made the true Tincture of Coral are deceived; But the truth is easily discovered by preci∣pitating or evaporating of the same; for by these two actions the salt or body of the Coral is discovered, which was before invisibly dispersed through the Menstruum. Now the Tincture of Coral must be free from all these mistakes; it must be pure, it must be simple, not loaded with any other substance or body, because the internal sulphurs of things have a great irradiation and large ex∣tent in their vertue, but scarce are comprehensible and brought un∣der the senses by their corporeity. Moreover, the first or second Menstruum's which are employ'd, must not be capable of them∣selves to contract any colour, though long kept in digestion with∣out addition of any other mixture. Our Artist being sure and well resolved in all these particulars, if with these precautions he draws any Tincture from Coral, he may be very confident it is true, and that it shall produce those effects which Authors do at∣tribute unto it. I can give no better nor more Philosophical de∣scription thereof then that which follows.

True processe of the Tincture of Coral.

TO arrive to the perfection of so noble a Medicine time and matter must not be spared, and moreover it must not be undertook by a Novice in Chymistry, nor thought to be performed by him at the first brunt; for he must be capable of Distilling, Di∣gesting, Cohobating, Rectifying, Extracting, and all with Judge∣ment

and proportion. Wherefore we will begin by the Prepara∣tion of necessary Menstruum's for the first and second Extraction, and the Chymical Artist must well consider these two Menstruum's, for they are not without a Mysterie.

The first Menstruum.

℞ lb iiij. of Tartar of Montpellier well cleansed and purified, as we have intimated in the preparation of Tartar; reduce it to a subtil pouder, and mix exactly with lb j. of green Vitriol of Martial nature: put this mixture in a large and capacious Matrass, and pour upon lb iij. of phlegm of Vitriol impregnated with its volatile sulphurous Spirit; this done, stop the Vessel with its Blindhead exactly fitted and luted, and put it in digestion in cut or shred straw in a vaporous Bath to a moderate heat during the space of seven dayes; that being ended, have a Cucurbite well luted up to the middle with a good Lute capable of resisting the fire, and well dryed, which accommodate in a Reverberatory Fur∣nace, leaving four Registers in the corners of the Furnace for the regulating of the fire; pour in this Cucurbite what hath been di∣gested, and immediatly cover it with its Limbeck-head or Still, lu∣ted as is convenient, and fit to it a Recipient with the joints also luted: then give it a gradual fire gentle and moderate untill the drops begin to follow, then entertain the fire in that degree until the Still drops no more, at which sign encrease the fire by degrees until all the vapours be over, and the Still-head begins of it self to grow clear, then cease the fire and let all cool. Separate from the distilled Liquor the oyle of Tartar by filtration, and rectifie the Spirit on ashes to a dry bottom, and so shall you have the first Men∣struum to extract Corals without any previous Calcination. But before we proceed further, we must give to our Artist warning not to lose the matter remaining in the bottom of the Cucurbite after the first distillation: contrariwise he must dissolve it in distilled Rain-water, he must filtrate and evaporate it slowly to a dry bot∣tom, and he shall have a vitriolate Tartar not to be despised: for it is a great opener & disopilative for all the obstructions of the Ven∣tricle. The Dosis from iv. gr. to ℈ ss. in Broths, white Wine, or some decoction of Scolopendra or Spleenwort & Chichory or Parfly Roots.

The second Menstruum.

THis Menstruum is ordinarily called Aqua temperata, tempe∣rate Water, as also the sweet or dulcified spirit of Salt: for it is made of equal parts of very pure Alkoholiz'd spirit of Wine and spirit of Salt very well dephlegmated, which you must mix to∣gether by degrees; then distill and bring over the Helm in ashes four or five times, or what is yet better, until they be inseparably conjoin'd and united together by reiterated distillation: this being performed, you shall have a very good preservative and curative of the Plague and all contagious diseases, because it hinders all manner of corruption, preserves the natural parts in their equal temper and necessary vigour; this also is the Menstruum which shall be us'd to keep in it self the internal sulphur of Coral, which the first Menstruum did yet hide, or the shadow of the Body.

To make the Tincture of Coral thus.

℞ As much of the fairest and reddest Coral you can meet with, and reduce it cleanly to a very subtile pouder, which put in a Matrass and pour upon of the first Menstruum about ℥ j. or ij. at once, stirring it nimbly, then begin again to pour fresh Men∣struum, and stir until your matter be covered with it the height of four inches; stop your Vessel with a Blindhead, and put to digest in a vaporous Bath in shred straw during the space of three weeks, with a heat a little more then lukewarm, after this open the Vessels, draw off the red Tincture by inclination, and keep in a Vial; then reaffund new Menstruum upon the remaining body of the Coral, and continue the digestion and extraction untill the Menstruum takes no more of the colour: then join all the Tin∣ctures and filtrate them, and having put them in a Cucurbite on sand draw off the liquor to a dry bottom in a moderate heat, and you shall find in the bottom of the Glass a red pouder, which hides in its center the internal sulphur of the Coral, which constitutes

its colour and vertue: put this pouder in a circulatory Vessel called a Pelican, and pour upon it of the second Menstruum cal∣led temperate water the height of vj. fingers; lute exactly the up∣per orifice of the Vessel; after you have stopt it with a Glass-stople, place it in Balneo and keep in digestion during the space of one Philosophical Moneth, and this sweet and pleasant Menstruum will draw to its self this wonderful Sulphur, and take a very pleasant colour. This done, cease the fire, open the vessel and filtrate the Tincture, to separate the feculency and sediment which remains in the bottom of the Pelican; put then the filtration in a Cu∣curbite, and draw off the two thirds or half of the Menstruum, and keep choicely the remainder, as one of the principal Reme∣dies of a Spagyrical shop. Let not our Artist presume to cut off any part, or shorten the space of forty dayes, though he perceives his Menstruum to be tincted: for the circulation must perform the extraction, exaltation and union, which operations do require no less time; for the Chymical Apothecary which desires to be successful in his work, ought to follow the motion of Nature which works nothing but slowly, and must ever have in his re∣membrance the saying of our great Master Paracelsus, that om∣nis praecipitatio à Diabolo; and that he that doth well, hath ever done soon enough.

But before we prescribe the Dosis and vertues of this Tincture, we must satisfie Mens minds, that it is not only good in opinion and fancy, but in reality. To this end let us make a judicious re∣flection both upon the matter and the Menstruum's. There is no body but knows and confesses that Coral hath many singular noble vertues, so that both ancient and modern Authors have all una∣nimously acknowledged, that this vertue resided in its redness, and have all stroven to finde out some liquor analogous to our Nature wherewith to extract it. This is plain in our processe; for the Ingredients we employ for the distillation of the first Menstruum, are good and harmless each of them asunder; but besides there is a mystical and philosophical union made of them by the distillation and digestion that hath been previous, so that the sharpness of the Vitriol hath been moderated and sweetened by the Tartar, and by their action and reaction each upon the o∣ther, and thus of this match doth result a Spirit friendly to Na∣ture

and free from corrosiveness, which may take away all fear that it might have altered the seminal principles of Coral: con∣trariwise, it only has freed them from the commerce of the matter whereby they were fettered, and rather exalted them to a perfection then debased their worth. As for the second Men∣struum, I believe there is no body will take upon him to say ought against it, since the spirit of Wine and that of Salt are two real conservative Balsom's, not only of living bodies but even of dead ones, while they are yet asunder: But who shall not admire the wonderful secrets of Art and Nature, capable to make an union of the subtilest and most volatile of all Spirits, with one of the most fix, and thereof make a neutral and middle compound, which hath nothing left either of the taste, or any other quality of the two taken asunder! so that I conclude that this Tincture cannot be but one of the most excellent Remedies which Chymistry can afford, and therefore hath it this prerogative to be one of the first and principal of all Remedies to purifie the masse of the blood from all the impurities by which it may be tainted: either Leprosie, Venerean Pox, or Scorbute; it strengthens the Heart, chears the Senses, drives away Melancholy, hinders sad Dreams, stops Hemorrhagies, allayes inward pains, strengthens the Sto∣mach, appeases the irritation of the Mother, corrects ••oding va∣pours of the Spleen, removes obstructions of the Liver, Mesen∣tery and Pancreas or sweet bread, provokes and stops monethly Courses, purges and cleanses the Kidnies and Bladder, and streng∣thens the Brain and all the functions of the Body and Mind: briefly, I should never have done to rehearse here all what an∣tient and modern Writers have said in praise of this Tincture; and to speak ingenuously, nothing but great matters can be ex∣pected from all the Remedies which are made by volatile Spirits animated with the strength and vertue of internal Sulphurs of things, and chiefly those that are of a Solar Nature, because these noble Medicines do in an instant as the light penetrate into our last digestions, and as they go imprint in all the parts the stamp and Character and the Idea of their Balsamick vertue, which causes them to remove and drive away all the impurities which the vice of digestions had left in them. This Tincture may be used by the way of a preservative morning and evening in old

Wine, or Hydromel or meade old and well digested in Broth, or some proper water to the end which is intended. The Dosis from j. drop to iiij. and for the cure of Diseases, it must be given to the sick in ordinary or Chronical Diseases from j. drop to x. in Menstruum analogical and proportionate to the Disease, and that during the space of forty dayes, because that interval is suf∣ficient to renew and repair the whole Body in the most obstinate Diseases, and so proportionally under that time according to the exigency of the distemper and malady; therefore we must leave it to the judgement of the Physitian; but because all are not capable of preparing this Remedy, and knowing the Genius of our Na∣tion to be too impatient to allow themselves the requisite time whereby they may possess the Tinctures and Arcana's: I have thought it fitting to join and teach here the manner of prepa∣ring a Syrup of Coral, by a quick and easie way, and which may be made use of instead of this Tincture; but with much difference of vertue; and I know not whether Apothecaries will take the pains and be at the necessary charge of the confection of this Sy∣rup, though to speak truth, it may prove the best piece of their furniture; yet I have some hopes that those that are careful and do intend the good and advantage of their Neighbour, and dis∣charge honestly the trust of their employment, shall furnish themselves with the one and the other of these two Remedies.

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.

Of the Lapis Judaicus, and its Chymical preparation.

THe Lapis Judaicus is of the form, shape and bigness of an Olive, soft and easie to crumble, it is streakt with lines or rayes equally distant one from the other as if they had been fra∣med with a turn, it is of a white ash-colour; it is call'd Lapis

Judaicus, because found in Judea; there is some also found in Silesia in Germany. Some will make it distinguishable into male and female, and appoint the female to be us'd for the Bladder, the male for the Kidneys, but all that is nothing else but a meer Chimera: wherefore we will lose no time upon this speculation, to bestow it the better upon some useful matter, viz. the prepara∣tion thereof which will be a pattern and model for preparing also the Linx-stone and Spunges. Take then as much of Lapis Judaicus as you please, and reduce it to a gross pouder, and mix with equal weight of beaten sulphur or Brimstone, then put all in an earthen pot not glazed or in a Crucible, and calcine it by degrees with a circular fire until the Brimstone takes fire and be fully consumed, then put the calcined matter in a Matrass and pour upon spirit of vinegar of Hony four inches high, then put it to dissolve and digest in ashes, slacking often the Vessel, and when the Menstruum shall be well coloured draw it out by inclination and pour fresh upon it, reiterating this processe three times, that the salt contained in the matter may be all extracted, then fil∣trate the dissolutions, putting them in a Cucurbite, and evapo∣rate slowly in sand to a dry bottom, and thus shall you have the salt of the Lapis Judaicus, which afterwards you must purifie by several reiterated dissolutions, filtrations, evaporations and coa∣gulations until it be pure and clean: But note, that if you e∣vacuate the Menstruum with whom you make your purification with a little of spirit of Salt, your work will proceed more spee∣dily, and the salt shall be more efficacious and of a better taste; this salt may be kept for twenty uses either dry or dissolved, and this dissolution is properly that which they call the oyl of Lapis Ju∣daicus, in case it be given dry in Broths, in white Wine, or some water or diuretical Decoctions. The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to xij. and if the liquor be given dissolved in the same Menstru∣ums in a double proportion, by reason of the moistness drawn from the salt (which encreases the weight) the vertue of the Salt and Liquor is to remove all difficulties of Urin, proceeding of ob∣structions caused by tarrarous, slimy, muscilagineous, sandy & stony matters which are found in the Kidnies, Ureteries or Bladder. These Remedies also drive away the gravel and small stones from all o∣ther places where they use to grow for the most part.

Of Talk and its Chymical Preparation.

THere are many who set no difference between the specular or shining stone which the antients did call Selenite, or Lunary and Talk, but they mistake very much: for it is a stone differing from the other by its inclination to friabili∣ty, its green colour and fixednesse. There are two kinds of Talk, the white viz. and the coloured: the white differs again in its kind; for there is the Venetian Talk which is greenish and breaks in thin scales, being esteemed the best and the purest. There is also the Moscovian, not so much valued as that which comes from Venice, but it has not a despicable quality, though it seems some∣thing less pure. The second kind of Talk is coloured and is red and black, wherereof Paracelsus makes mention in his Chronicles of Carinthia; Chymical Authors use sometimes in an aenigmati∣cal Language to call Talk the Star of the Earth.

We shall give an Example of such operations as may be made upon a coloured and uncoloured Talk, that we may not be reproach∣ed, the neglect and passing by of a stone, the preparation where∣of hath tormented so much and so violently torments yet every day, the brain of those which labour in the extraction of its oyl, which hath ever been the Idol of the most famous Courtesans, for the help they pretend to receive from it in the preservation and encrease of their beauty. I am nevertheless rather of their mind who believe that the oyle of Talk of antient Philosophers is an operation upon Luna or silver; or even the great work in white, which possesses the highest lustre of white that it is possible to see in any substance, and must infallibly be capable of performing that which is hoped from this Oyle of Talk so much cryed up hitherto.

The principal operation made upon Talk is the calcination of it; for this stone being of extraordinary fixedness, it must be the scope of our Artist to open it by this first preparation: and those that have kept pretty big lumps of Venetian Talk six intire weeks in a Glasse-house fire, without finding any alteration in its weight,

colour or aptness to crumble, are capable to deter and astonish any that takes in hand this work, to reduce it in some unctuous matter, and make that noble white thereof which Ladies do with so much curiosity and at so great charges seek for; and as there is none of them which call themselves Chym••sts, and pretend any thing to the knowledge of this noble Art, who doth not boast to have some secret Receipt thereupon; we shall nevertheless in∣geniously confess, that this matter is too fixed to pretend any liquid substance from it, unless it be by the help of some salts capable to penetrate this stone: for I find no experience or Reason that can convince me to the contrary, after I have tryed the invincible fixedness of the true Talk, whensoever I went about to calcinate it without any addition. But making use of some Salts and Spi∣rits, I do not deny but that a good Losmetick may be made to change and whiten the skin: But it cannot be avoided that the sulphur of this stone should ever keep with it self some portion of the fatness of the salt or Saline spirit which returns to a Body. Therefore great discretion and heed ought to be had in making use of these things, lest the skin be worn out and ulcerated, in∣stead of smoothing and rendering it fair, delicate and white.

The Chymical preparation of Venetian Talk.

TAke of true Venetian Talk, pure, clean, and of a greenish co∣lour and reduce lb φ. in very subtil pouder in an iron Mortar, made almost glowing hot in a good fire, as also the end of the Pestle to be us'd, or which is yet the best way; file it with a soft File into a very subtil and small pouder; mix diligently this lb ss. of Talk in pouder with lb j. of very white Tartar and ve∣ry dry, then put this mixture in a great Crucible in a Wind-fur∣nace, and calcine it with a fire of the last and utmost degree du∣ring the space of xij. or xvj. hours, which time expired, beat the mass to pouder in a hot glowing Mortar, rhen put the pou∣der in a gray or white earthen pan in a Cellar, to convert the salt of Tartar into Liquor, and let it run in a small Dish by the mouth of the pan: all the salt being separated, dry the remaining sub∣stance, and with four times as much weight of very pure Salt-pe∣ter

put the whole in a new strong Crucible able to bear the vio∣lence of the fire; put this Crucible in a wind-Furnace, and give it fire by degrees until you bring it to the highest pitch, and your Talk will melt into a very white and almost transparent Masse. This Masse put in a cool and moist place, and it will dissolve in time into an unctuous and glutinous liquor. Which Liquor is to be used for taking away and blotting out of all spots, roughness and scurf and excrescences of the face and skin, in the shoul∣ders, breast, arms and hands; but this Liquor must be dextrously and discreetly applyed with a Pincel and very superficially; and above all care must be taken that it should not lye long upon the part, which must immediatly be washed with water of white Lil∣lies, Bean-flowers, or Nenuphar flowers water turned white with some few drops of Tincture of Benjuin.

But when you will use this unctuous Liquor without any fear of danger, put some part in a Matrass and pour upon alkoholized spirit of Wine, and digest together in a heat of Horse-dung or vaporous Balneo during the space of three weeks, then draw off the spirit by distillation in the same Bath, and cohobate at least twenty times, adding every time ℥ iiij. of new spirit of Wine; and so shall you kill all the corrosiveness which was remaining in the Liquor, and have a substance fitter then any other what∣soever to clear and whiten the skin, provided that the hands and face or other parts be well and duly cleansed before with some good past, before you make any application of the Li∣quor.

To prepare a cream of Talk, of lesser trouble and work then the forementioned.

TAke q. v. of Talk reduced into a very subtil pouder, which sprinkle two or three times with some excellent distilled Vinegar in a Glass Dish, and that until it be reduced to a kind of past, which stir with a Glass spatula two or three hours, en∣crease the Vinegar gently by degrees until you have poured e∣nough for the Talk ro swim in it boyling, then put the Dish in sand, and give it a gradual fire until the matter boyls, and insensi∣bly

will raise on the top thereof a fat scum, which you must very carefully gather with a Scimmer, and thus continue till no more will rise: after this evaporate gently the superfluous moistness of the Vinegar, and keep the remainder for use, as being one of the best Cosmeticks of the world. And if you will use it to wash the face or other parts, dissolve and mix some part thereof with phlegm of spirit of Salt, and immediatly apply a Pomander or Ointment made with marrow of sheeps Trotters, Sperma ceti. Virgin wax, and a little Pork suet well washt; in this Pomander mix some of the cream of Talk, and a few Benjuin flowers, and the clearnesse, whiteness and pureness of the part anointed there∣with shall last above a fortnight.

The Chymical preparation of red Talk.

IT is not sufficient to have shewed some kind of preparation upon the white Talk, which conduces only for outward beau∣tifying, but we will also deliver the manner of making a good inward Remedy with red Talk. For as this stone hath a mineral sulphur in its center which participates of the Solar Nature, so must we work its extraction by the salts which are capable to open the bodies and penetrate them, to seek therein the hidden and as it were imprisoned vertue thereof.

To this end, ℞ ℥ iiij. of red Talk, and reduce it to a subtil pou∣der in a red hot Mortar, mixing this pouder with as much well pre∣pared salt of Tartar according to Sennertus prescription, as we have taught heretofore; put this mixture in a Crucible, and cal∣cine it together in a wind-Furnace during the space of twelve hours, which done, reduce to pouder in a hot Mortar the matter you shall find in the Crucible, and put this matter in a Matrass, pouring upon it tartarized spirit of Wine four fingers high; digest them together in the vaporous Bath, until the spirit hath got a high and red Tincture, then draw it off by inclination, and pour on new spirit. Thus continuing to digest and extract until the spirit takes no more colour, then filtrate all the Tinctures and put in a Cucurbite, to draw off the three parts of the spirit in a slow heat of Balneo, and so shall you have a Tincture inwardly loaded

with the internal sulphur of red Talk, which is a preservative and curative Remedy of the Plague and of all other malignant Dis∣eases; this Tincture is given from iij. drops to xij. in Wine or Broth for preservative, and if for curative Remedy it be admi∣nistred to sick persons, the Dosis may be encreased of a just half proportion, and given in small Centaury, Scordium, Ger∣mander water: It is a soveraign Cordial, a Cephalick and won∣derful Stomachick, which leaves no impurity in the ultimate di∣gestions, but drives it away by insensible transpiration, by Urine, or by Sweat.

Of the Calk or Stare-lime-stone, and its Chymical Preparation.

THE vulgar preparation of Quick-lime made by violent cal∣cination of ordinary Quarry-stones, or great Flintstones, is so common and known by all persons, by the frequent and neces∣sary use of it in buildings, that it would be superfluous for us to say any thing thereof. It suffices us to say by the by, that it hath very little use in Pharmacy, but in some other preparations besides and after calcination: for Quick-lime hath no other vertue out∣wardly applyed, then to discover an ingenuous Caustick and cor∣rosive nature: but being prepared as we shall teach hereafter, it becomes capable of supplying Remedies altogether unknown to the vulgar, both inwardly and outwardly applyed.

How the water of quick and prepared Lime is to be made.

℞ lb iiij. of good and well calcined Quick-lime, in whole lumps as much as is possible, such being less offended by the out∣ward impression of the ayr and water, and whole in its vertue; put it in a great Bason and pour upon it Rain or River water half a foot high; let it be softly dissolved, and agitate it from time to time with a wooden Spatula or Slice, and the water being well loaded and impregnated with the salt of the Lime, filtrate it and keep it for use. And thus reiterate dissolving with new water

three times, filtrating and keeping asunder. Then put the remain∣ing Lime upon a Filter in Trochisk's to dry; it is that which in shops is called prepared Calx or Lime, which is to dry softly without any biting or mordacity: wherefore it is most excellent for the cure and cicatrizing of malignant Ulcers, and principal∣ly those that participate of venerean infection; it is also very good for the cure of burnings, and may be employed in Liniments, Ointments, Plaisters, and all Epulotick and desiccative pouders, us'd for Ulcers which are difficult to close again.

The first, second and third water of the quick-lime, which were kept each by themselves, may also be employed severally accord∣ing as need shall require: for they are the ground and chief In∣gredient of Waters us'd against Gangrenes, and for the Pin and Web and other sore diseases in the eyes. It may be so applyed even without any other addition, to wash putrid, foul and cor∣roding Ulcers; and the best guide therein may be the experience of the Chyrurgeon, whether the first, second or third is to be used, according as he shall discover by the appearing signes, the malig∣nancy of the Vlcer to be greater or less.

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.

The wonderful and true Water against Gangrenes.

℞ lb xx. of Rain or River water, put them in a great pew∣ter Bason, and throw therein iiij. pound of good unmixt or unal∣ter'd quick-lime, and let it by a slow ebullition softly quench it self without agitation, and when you shall perceive the extinction to be performed; and that the boyling and working of the Lime is over, add thereto ℥ ij. of Arsenick in powder, and ℥. j. of good well chosen Mastick also in powder, stir all together and mingle it conveniently with a wooden Spatula or Slice, then let it setle until the matter be well gathered in the bottom, and the water swimming over very clear: then pour out all the clear, decant∣ing it softly without stirring the bottom, and filtrate the remain∣der to join both again in a gray earthen Pan, adding to it ℥. ij. of corrosive Sublimate in powder, ℥ vj. very good spirit of wine well dephlegmated, and ʒ ij. good spirit of Vitriol; put all this mixture being yet unsetled in Glass bottles and keep it for use. If you make use of this water for any other purpose then for sore eyes, you must shake it and mix the bottom with the clear, and so use it against the Gangrene and all its accidents, the cure of old running sores, cancerous, sinuous and malignant Ulcers; a∣gainst all preternatural and painful outward heat, and against all external inflammations; against Phlegmon's, Erysipela's, burn∣ings and even arthritical pains proceeding from hot causes, and finally against inflamed and dolorous wounds. If it seems to be too strong or violent, let it be tempered by adding a greater quantity of spirit of Wine, or phlegm of Vitriol or Allom. But if you will use it for Ophthalmies, and small sores in the corners of the eyes or in the eyelids, you may temper it with water of juice of Plantain, or of great Celandine, or even with phlegm of Allom: but above all things, take care that the water you do

use for the eyes be well filtrated, and that no part of the setling in the bottom of the Glass should be mix'd with it; the applica∣tion of this water is commonly made with fillets of linnen cloth, and I may confidently assure, that those that shall make use there∣of, will find it an infallible and sure Remedy and almost of a wonderful successe in all the particulars we have spoken of.

The manner of preparing the Ophthalmick water.

℞ One part of the first water of quick-lime, two of the second, and iij. p. of the third, mix them together and dissolve therein ʒ j, of salt Armoniack to each pound of water; put this dissolution in a brass copper or Bason, and let it stand therein the space of xij. or xv. hours, or until it be tinged with an o∣riental saphirine colour, then filtrate exactly and keep it for use in a Bottle. This water is unparalleld for all diseases and blemishes of the eyes whatsoever without reference to their original: for the salt of the Lime joined with the volatile salt of Urine, consti∣tuting the vertue of salt Armoniack, draws a subtil Vitriol from the Brass or Copper, which are found inseparably joined and uni∣ted together in the water, and do communicate unto it a refrige∣rating, cooling, cleansing and desiccative quality. I will say more yet, that these three Salts so united, are capable to blunt, kill and destroy all the malignancy of those harsh, corroding and biting Salts which are mixed in the serosity of the blood, and are the true occasional cause not only of the grief, inflammation and sores in the eyes; but moreover of all itching, eruptions and Ulcers growing outwardly, and generated in the body of man: where∣fore this water ought and may not only be used against the se∣veral griefs incident to the eyes, but against Itchings, Scabs, and Ulcers also. And in case it had drawn too much of the salts in respect of delicate and tender persons, or for the quick and nice sense of some parts of the body, it may be allayed and sweetened by adding Eyebright, Euphrase, Fennel, Rose or Plantain water.

To make the spirit or true Magistery of Quick-lime.

TAke as much as you please of the best quick-lime you can meet with, reduce it to very small powder and grind it upon a Porphyry to an Alkohol, or impalpable powder, then put it in a Cucurbite and pour upon it by degrees very gently of the subtil and purest alkohol of Wine, as much as the Calx or Lime will be capable to drink: for you must have a special care not to drown the Lime, but let there be only so much of this Spirit, that the Lime may thereby be satiated without humectation, or appearing in any wise above it; then having applyed a Still-head to the Cu∣curbite, lute the joints exactly with a triple Bladder moistened in the whites of Eggs, and strowed with quick-lime, both of it and the Recipient, then place your Vessel in B. M. and draw off again the spirit with a slow heat to a dry bottom, and having cooled the Vessels, open them, and pour again the same Spirit upon the Lime remaining in the bottom of your Cucurbite, and go on thus distilling and cohobating with the same care and pre∣cautions until the tenth time, that by these reiterated imbibitions the internal fire wherein the Spirit, Arcana or Magistery of the Lime doth reside, may be encreased and exalted: and that no body may be mistaken herein, it is absolutely necessary to observe all the things we have said, otherwise the Artist may endanger the losse of his time, vessels, and matter. These ten Cohobations being thus performed, take the Lime out from your Vessel and grind it most subtily, duly and without intermission upon the Por∣phyry, and add thereto the tenth part of its weight of very pure and dry salt of Tartar, and as much of the Caput Mortuum of the Tartar remaining after the salt hath been drawn by Elixiviation: But th Caput mortuum must be newly dryed and heated before you mix it with the rest, and the mixture being nimbly and exactly performed, put all these matters in a well luted Retort, the mat∣ter not exceeding the third part of the empty space and capaci∣ousness of it: then place it in a close Reverberatory Furnace, and to the neck thereof fit a Recipient, to which may be fitted a

Funnel or Pipe of a fingers bore, and four inches long about the middle of the neck receiving the Retort, so that the end of the Retort's neck may just meet with the upper part of the said Ca∣nal or Pipe, that the drops of phlegm falling may directly join to the small Recipient, that is to be fitted to the said Canal or Pipe. But you must note, that you must put before in the body of the great Recipient before you lute it, ℥ ij. or iij. of alko∣holiz'd spirit of Wine depriv'd of all phlegm. The Vessels being exactly luted together as much ss it may be, and the Lute dry, be∣gin to give your fire by degrees, until that little phlegm which is about the matter be driven out, and the Artist perceiving that no drops more do fall, and that a white vapour is issuing out of the neck of the Retort, and as a small cloud creeping along the chan∣nel of the great Recipient, where it is attracted by the spirit of Wine being in the bottom of the Recipient as by a Loadstone; then let him encrease and quicken the fire more and more until all the vapours be over. The Vessels then being cooled, take off the Lute and open them, pour away the phlegm as useless, and pre∣serve the spirit you shall find in the great Recipient, to rectifie it and separate from it the spirit of Wine if it be possible: but in case they be so united as to ascend together in the neck of the Still, put this spirit in a Glass dish somewhat thick, and warm∣ed a little before hand, and set it on fire with a little kindled pa∣per; the spirit of Wine will consume and burn away, and the spi∣rit of the Lime remain in the Dish; which preserve very care∣fully as one of the most wonderful Agents which Nature and Art can afford, as learnedly sayes Basilius Valentinus, speaking of the quick-lime. This Spirit is one of the best, the most present and safest Remedies that can be given against all kinds of Gout: for it insensibly dissolves and consumes all tartarous matters coagulated in any part whatsoever of the body, by the potent vertue and sud∣den penetration of the internal fire contained ie it; it is given from j. drop to v. in three fingers height of warm wine in the morning fasting; then let the Patient expect the operation thereof warm between two sheets, whether Nature determines its action by Urine or Sweat, in a condition to help and advance the Remedy; otherwise it doth act for the most part by insensible transpiration.

There is also a very efficacious Remedy prepared with this wonderful Spirit against the Stone and Gravel, with one part of stones of Crawfishes and two parts of Calx of Rock chrystal, digested and dissolved in six times their weight of spirit of quick∣lime, and so often distilled and cohobated in the heat of ashes, that all or the most part thereof be turned into liquor: of which you must give also in a small Glass of warm Wine from j. drop to v. in the morning fasting, to cure radically all those that shall find themselves toucht with those diseases: for it cleanses so well all the passages and conveyances of Urine from that ill ferment, that from that time forward no new matter can be generated or gathered there: this Spirit dissolves and turns into Liquor all stones of what hardnesse and roughnesse soever; and contrariwise by the action and vertue of its fire fixes the most volatile Spirits; so that those which shall use it either for Remedy or for a Dissolvent, may very well be cast into astonishment and wonder that Nature should have hid so high a mystery in so vile and so contemptible a subject as quicklime is: which hath caused Paracelsus to say by an act of reflection and great wonder, that some do throw away and kick with the feet such a stone or flint, as would be to him of a greater Revenue then a Cow, did he know the mysteries which God and Nature hath concealed and layed therein.

Notes

• It may Crabs eyes, so called in the shops.