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

To make the red and Diaphoretical spirit of Mercury.

THis Spirit being of more toyl in the preparation then the former, so hath it also much more of vertue; and I say, that in case there should be any danger in the use of these Re∣medies, there should be much less even however in this whereof we are about now to teach the preparation, because the ♂. or Iron which is made use of doth abate and slacken very much the acrimo∣ny and sharpnesse of the spirits of the Sublimate: but there is no doubt at all to be made for the safe use and goodnesse of these excellent Medicines, which are corrected by fire and given in so small a Dosis, by reason of their subtile and quick penetration, so as no body ought to fear the effects thereof, which can be but useful and commendable. It is thus performed.

℞ lb j. of good corrosive Sublimate, and as much of Fi∣lings of Needles very pure, clean and small; grind the Subli∣mate very well, then add the Filings to it, and this mixture put in a Cellar or some other cool place upon a glass Table, that hath an edge and a small Conduit in it, under which a Dish is to be placed, that shall receive a yellow Liquor proceeding from the dissolution of these two substances, which you are to preserve care∣fully; and when it is all done, take the remainder, and having put it in a glass Cucurbite, pour upon it distilled Rain-water half a foot high to draw the salt thereof; digest it in ashes, and stir often the matter, and after three dayes filtrate the dissolution and evaporate into salt, which dissolve; again filtrate, evapo∣rate and chrystallize until it be very pure, then dry it and make it into powder, which mingle with the yellow Liquor kept before, and it will grow as red as Saffron; pour it all into a low glass Cu∣curbite, upon which fit a still-Head with a short and big Nose, to which having fitted a proportionate Recipient, and luted the joints, make the distillation in sand, giving fire by degrees; there will come forth first a phlegm, and when you see that yelow va∣pours begin to appear, change your Recipient and encrease the fire, and this yellow vapour will condensate it self into a red Li∣quor,

which will partly fall into the Recipient, and the remainder which will be too thick, shall stick to the body and Nose of the Limbeck; this done, let the Vessels cool, and take away the still-Head, to which with the phlegm that came forth at first from the sides and brims of the Cucurbite, where some part of this red substance is stuck fast, pour again upon its own Caput Mor∣tuum in the bottom of the Cucurbite, in case it be not broken, if so, then take another: but leave what is in the Limbeck and its Nose, because after you shall have luted the Vessels and be∣gun your fire to reiterate the distillation, as soon as the Limbeck feels the hear, and that the vapours begin to ascend, that which is in the still-Head will resolve itself into Liquor, and flow in the Recipient; as soon as all the red Liquor is ascended and come over the Helm, change your Recipient to encrease the phlegm, after which more red Liquor will yet ascend, which receive by it self and join to the other; reiterate these distillations and coho∣bations until no more of red Liquor will ascend. Then put it all in a double or circulatory Vessel, and pour upon it alkohol of Wine three fingers high; digest and circulate it in a vaporous Bal∣neo the space of three weeks; after which take away the Blind∣head, and put a still in lieu of it, and draw off the spirit of Wine in the gentle heat of B. M. keeping the red Spirit remaining in a strong Viol well stopt, as one of the best Remedies prepared from Mercury. Both these Spirits are of a very great and com∣mendable use in Physick; but that which is red, is yet much more to be esteemed, and above any of the other. All of them do e∣qually expel and drive away by sweat whatsoever may be hurtful or offensive to the body, and disturb the oeconomy of life and health; they cure also several Diseases, upon which other Reme∣dies could have no power. It may be truly said that these Spi∣rits, but chiefly the red, are the true Specificks against invete∣rate Pocks, which may be tryed by their use: for the pustles or pim∣ples vanish away of themselves, the Nodus's and hardnesses in∣sensibly decay; night-pains and aches do cease, and the putrid, noisome and open Ulcers are cleansed and consolidated without application of any external Remedy. The Dosis must be from j. drop to iv. at the most in Theriacal water, or Camphyr'd The∣riacal Spirit, spirit of Life of Paracelsus, spirit of Guajacum,

spirit of Diatrion, or mixtum simplex of the same Paracelsus, or even in Tincture of Sassafras and China Root made with white Wine. I doubt not but most who shall read this, may be of a different sentiment from mine; believing that I produce impos∣sibilities upon the Stage of Chymistry, and follow the tract of all the rest, by attributing so many vertues to the preparations of Mercury turn'd into Spirit; but I am not at all amazed at it; for those who passe this Censure and Judgement cannot certainly be acquainted with the subtile and fermentaive action of Mercury, and with those Remedies it yields. What change and alteration doth it not produce in mans body being only applyed outwardly in Frictions, Perfumes and Plaisters? What doth it not perform in Baths? What strange effects doth it not produce in Pills? and all this whilest yet cloyed with a Body, or only altered by the intervention of salts and spirits; What then may not be hoped from it, when it is brought to a further digestion, and turned to a liquid spirituous substance which may be mixed with potable Li∣quors! for then it is capable to be volatiliz'd by natural heat, and its vertue brought from the Center to the Circumference, and so penetrates all parts and carries along with it by sweat, whatsoe∣ver impurities and evil humours it meets with, whether a matter ripe for Diseases, or only a superfluity of digestions. But to stop the mouths of the Detractors and obstinate unbelievers, I finde my self obliged to relate here the History of a Person eminent both in condition and place, who is yet living; having been actually blind in former time, and now cured by a Mercurial Remedy, yet in powder, and not brought to the perfection of a Spirit; and that which is more to be considered in this cure, is, that there was no other Remedy us'd but of one grain and half of this prepa∣red Mercury blown with a Quill in the Nostrils, which in a very short time did produce surprising effects! for his Head swell'd in an extraordinary manner; then did he spit, drivel, shed tears, blow his Nose, sneeze, vomit, pisse, had copious and large stools, & sweated likewise, and all this in lesse then eight hours; after which those violent symptomes did cease, and relent by degrees. But that which is more wonderful, is, that the very next day he began to see, though somewhat confusedly, and from day to day after that, began to distinguish objects, and finally was totally cured, and en∣joyes

joyes now one of the best and steadiest eye-sights a man can have, and since that hath performed many remarkable services to the Crown of France. The same Person which cured him, did also cure the most desperate Pocks with the fame Remedy, given in the same quantity, and blown in the Nostrils. Where is now (I beseech you) that Medicine that shall produce the like effects, even at a great distance? This Relation is so true, that to justifie it, I can produce many a witnesse of Credit and Repute; where∣fore I think no body shall judge it more strange, that I should at∣tribute to the foregoing preparations, vertues and effects of far in∣feriour difficulty and worth; which makes me conclude here in a profound admiration of the supream Wisdome, and with scorn of humane ignorance, saying, That the age of Man is too short to go through the exact Anatomy of Mercury, and draw all the noble Remedies which God and Nature have placed in this Hete∣roclit and neutral Mixt, which hath not its like in all created sub∣stances or sublunary Beings.