A compendious body of chymistry, which will serve as a guide and introduction both for understanding the authors which have treated of the theory of this science in general: and for making the way plain and easie to perform, according to art and method, all operations, which teach the practise of this art, upon animals, vegetables, and minerals, without losing any of the essential vertues contained in them. By N. le Fèbure apothecary in ordinary, and chymical distiller to the King of France, and at present to his Majesty of Great-Britain.

Of Iron, and its Chymical Preparation.

IRON is one of the two Metals of the second Classis, which is that of the less noble and most hard of metals. It is compoun∣ded of a Mercury and Sulphur, the crudest and least fusible of all; or again, if you will, Iron is compounded of a Mercury, Sul∣phur and Salt, which are mixt with many terrestrial and crude parts; in a word, no metal abounds more in Vitriol then Iron or Mars doth, so named by reason of the analogy it hath with that Planet, as we already have said above; Iron or Mars is one of the Metals which supplies with more Remedies the shop of our Chymical Artist, and one of those that produces the most effects and most pathetical. We will deliver here the method of pre∣paring the most useful for the health of poor Patients, and the most necessary for the instruction of Artists: such as are first the Gradatory Perfectibility (if I may so speak) which purifies Iron of all its impurities, and changes it into that substance we call Steel, which to speak properly, is nothing else but a well com∣pacted and close well depurated Iron. Secondly, we will calcine it to prepare therewith the Crocus Martis both astringent and a∣peritive. Thirdly, We will dissolve it to make thereof Vitriol, Syrup and Salt. Fourthly, We will make the extraction thereof, which shall afford us the Astringent and aperitive Tincture. And in the fift and last place, we will deliver the manner of prepa∣ring the Chrystals of Mars, impregnated with the internal soul of Steel, which shall appear by; the red colour of its sulphur, where∣of these Chrystals do participate.