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.

Preparation of the Narcotick Sulphur of the Vitriol of ♀.

℞ lb φ. of Vitriol of ♀. ℥ iiij. of Filings of Steel, mix them together by long trituration in an Iron Mortar, then put the powder in a Matrass of smooth Glasse and very strong; moi∣sten this matter by degrees with very good distilled Vinegar, un∣til the whole masse be well saturated, yet without overflowing of the moisture; the Matrass must be somewhat broad in the neck, that the evaporation of the moisture may the better be performed; then place the Matrass in sand, leaving but half a fingers space between the bottom of the Vessel containing the sand in the bottom of the Matrass, give fire and gently evapo∣rate the Menstruum, then encrease the fire so much as the bot∣tom of the Matrass may grow red, if it be possible; then cease the fire and let the Vessel cool, and break it to take away the masse remaining in the bottom, which will be of a red brownish colour, make it in very subtile powder, and put it in a larger Matrass, sprinkle upon it good distilled vinegar, stirring the mat∣ter still, until it swims above the matter the height of four fin∣gers; then put it to digest and extract in sand, and stir it often; it will become red and fair, and the vinegar being well tinged, separate it and put new, and thus go on till your powder yields no more colour; then filtrate all the Tinctures, and slowly e∣vaporate to the gentle vapour of Balneo, until your Liquor be reduced to a third part; which precipitate with oyle of ☿ made per deliquium, until all the sulphur be separated from it; For the salt of ☿ attracts to it self, and unites it self in the Liquor to the salt of Vitriol, and the sulphur being no more mixt with its salt, precipitates and separates it self from the moisture, and falls in the bottom of the Vessel; let the sulphur settle, and de∣cant and draw off what shall remain swimming above, and pour upon the sulphur, lukewarm distilled Rain-water to edulco∣ration, and thus continue it till the water coming from it be in∣sipid, then dry this sulphur very slowly, and keep it in a Glasse Viol for use. This Sulphur may be given in Bolus or dissoluti∣on,

in some Hysterical or Antiepileptical Water, from gr j. to vj. against all the affections of the Uterus or Mother, Sympa∣thetick and Idiopathetick Epilepsie. This Sulphur is an Ingre∣dient of the Laudanum without Opium of Hanrmannus. But the Tincture of this Sulphur hath quite another efficacy, then when it is yet in Body, and is thus prepared.