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 prepare the Astrum Mercurij, or star of Mercury.

℞ lb j. s. of quick Mercury, seven times sublimated with salt, Salt-peter and Vitriol, and as many times revivified with quick∣lime, put it in a Cucurbite, and pour upon it ℥ xij. of very good spirit of Niter; cover the Cucurbite with its Blindhead, and let them dissolve in the slow heat of ashes, if need be, or place the Cucurbite in sand after the total dissolution of the Mercury, and

draw the spirit from it to a dry bottom: then reduce to powder the remaining lump on a Marble mortar; this powder put in a new Cucurbite, pour upon it very good Vinegar four inches high, co∣ver the Cucurbite with its Blindhead, and put it in sand, let the matter digest and boyl the space of 24 houres, then taking off the Blindhead, put a still in the place, and draw off the Vinegar to a dry bottom, and thus draw it three times; Beat the lump to powder, and distil seven times upon it distilled Rain-water, or so long till the lump hath no taste of the vinegar left at all; then beat it again to powder, and put it to digest, for the last time in a double Vessel, with its equal weight of true alkohol of Wine; cover it with the Blindhead, and being well luted, place it in a vaporous Balneo with shred straw, and so digest it during six weeks in an equal and continued heat. This done, pour all the matter into a Retort, and distil it in ashes mingled with sand in a graduate heat, until even by encreasing of the fire nothing more will come forth; open the Vessels after they are cooled, and pour what you finde in the Recipient into a Cucurbite; draw off the spirit of Wine in a slow heat of B. M. and you shall finde in the bottom of the Vessel an Oyle or precious Liquor of a very good smell, which is called Astrum Mercurij, or the star of Mercury, not to be given to sick persons but from j. drop to iij. in appropri∣ated Liquors. We shall relate the vertues of it after we have taught the extraction of salt of Mercury, because it hath the same proprieties and efficacy.