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.

Amalgamation of Gold and Mercury.

BEat in very thin plates Gold three times refined by Antimony, and being cut very small with sheeres or scissars, put some part of the Gold in a small Crucible, and heat it red hot, and at the same time put in another Crucible ℥ vj. of crude Mercury, and place it also to the fire until it begins to smoak, then pour it upon the Gold thus red, and stir them both nimbly together with a small stick of wood, and when all is reduced to a convenient smooth∣ness, throw it in a Dish half full of water; this done throw away the first water and pour new fresh water upon the Amalgam. and stir and wash it therein to separate and cleanse away all the black∣ness and fuliginosity thereof, and thus proceed until the water comes off from it as clean as it was poured on; this done, put this Amalgama which is tractable and unctuous in a small Retort, to the neck whereof fit a Recipient with water; place this Retort between four bricks, & give it an open fire by degrees, until all the Mercury be come over the Helm into the Recipient, and the Gold remains pure and open in the bottom of the Retort; but that cannot be done neither at the first nor second time; contrariwise, the amal∣gamation and distillation must be reiterated successively at least xx. or xxx. times, even until the Gold remains open, spongious, and capable of being reduced to powder of it self. Now as that re∣quires a toylsome and tedious operation; Artists have found a way to separate and discontinue in a less time and with much more speed the parts of Gold after amalgamation, which is performed by cementing it with common salt desiccated, or powder of Brim∣stone; for the Amalgam being grounded with double its weight of salt and brimstone, it discontinues or separates its parts into par∣ticles or atomes so small, that it enables the fire afterwards joined to those matters to calcine it with much more ease, and thus it is much sooner reduced into subtil powder and so well opened, that it is capable afterwards of being reverberated, and brought by the sole action of fire to a fitting state of Rarity, and requisite spun∣geousness, which is thus performed.