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 Antimony and its Chymical Preparation.

AS Antimony is the stumbling stone of many of those which professe Physick, and they that are not acquainted with it, will traduce it as the vain Idol of Chymists and Chymistry; so must we with all possible endeavour make it appear, that it is with very just reason and good purpose, that Artists have Anti∣mony in esteem, since it is grounded upon their knowledge of its nature, they having not, as the Traducers and Dissamators there∣of do, been contented with the Rind and superficial examination of the same; but contrariwise, having opened and anatomized it, to extract those wonderful Remedies which daily do produce such noble effects, to the great praise and exaltation of Chymistry, and the discredit of those who publiquely professe their defaming by invectives, and ridiculous calumnies against such as daily use it with skill and knowledge, order and Method, and consequently with desired success.

But to clear more this truth which we have laid, we must in few words declare the nature of Antimony, and of what substance it is made of, to make it obvious and plain, and evident to the least capacity, that those that have an aversion and hatred for it, do on∣ly condemn it for want of true knowledge, both of the substance and first preparation thereof, as we will declare in the sequel of this Discourse.

Antimony then is nothing else but a Marcassite, mean or mid∣dle Mineral, which nature had destined to a metallick production; but hath fainted in the way, want of not having in it self the neces∣sary dispositions to attain to that perfection; or because it was pre∣maturely snatcht away and torn off from its matrix, as an unripe fruit pluckt off from the tree; or finally, by reason of the terre∣strial impurity of its mixture, and the disproportion and indige∣stion of its principles.

But to let the Reader better understand, this we say, let the Artist know, that Antimony doth first of all consist of a mineral sulphur, partly very pure and answering the nature of that of Gold, whose foundation is in its rednesse and is fix; and it is in the center of this Solar sulphur that all the wonders of Antimony are placed; the other part of this sulphur is impure, dissipable by fire, and volatile as common Brimstone, and to this Sulphur are commonly referred and attributed the violent and raging opera∣tions, when it is not well and duly corrected, or ill and negligently separated. Secondly, This Mineral is compounded of a metal∣lick Mercury in abundance, which is neverthelesse indigested and suliginous; but yet more concocted and coagulated then quick∣silver, because it participates of the Saturnine nature: finally, the third constituting part or principle of our Antimony, is a gross and earthly substance which it holds from its matrix, containing very little of sensible salt, though salt was the first cause of its production: but the nature of it is chang'd by reason of the se∣veral alterations and disguises it hath suffered by the concoction and digestion of its centrical fire.

By which description of Antimony and its constituting parts is plain to be seen, that it is nothing else but a gathering and con∣junction of Vitriol, Sulphur and Mercury of the nature of Lead met together, and that by consequence it cannot be dangerous or condemnable in it self, since every day these three substances are used by themselves, and taken apart in Physick, either as they grow naturally, or prepared; and wherefore then should not crude and prepared Antimony be made use of also? But it will be objected unto me, That the most famous and celebrated Authors which have written of Antimony, call it a Poyson, and say, that it doth participate of some mixture of Realgar and Arsenick; To which we answer, that Lead, Quick-silver and Brimstone, participate also of the same mixture, and yet are not banished from the com∣merce of Physick: since even Realgar and Arsenick are made use of, after the malignancy of their salt and sulphur hath been corrected by the ministery of fire, and of the spirits that are ca∣pable of this operation, so that they may be inwardly administred, supplying us also with the best Topical Remedies against all dan∣gerous and malignant Ulcers. But it is quite otherwise of Anti∣mony,

which daily is administred by the mouth wholly raw, and without any accident even to sucking Children: and moreover, made to boyl in the weight of lb ss. in Decoctions against the Pocks, and also put in cold infusion of water to open the body and remove obstructions in the Entrails. Let then our Artist know, that when ever Ancient or Modern Authors which have treated concerning Antimony, have said it was a Poyson, it is to be un∣derstood only comparatively between the common preparations of Antimony not yet sufficiently corrected, and so consequently causing violent Vomits and Stools, with those they describe that are harmlesse and of no danger, but which only do strengthen Na∣ture, and help it to expel insensibly whatever is noxious and hurt∣ful to it. Wherefore let us conclude this small preliminary Dis∣course of Antimony, by the words which Zwelferus hath to this purpose in the Appendix inserted to the end of his Notes upon the Pharmacopea of Aufburg, in praise of this noble Mine∣ral, and against the unlearned and ignorant Despisers thereof. Cum stibij vel antimonij nomen apud aliquos artis pulcherrima o∣sores, praesertim ignorantes, tam malè audiat, ut qui solummodò ore illud excidere permittit, mox ex medentium coetu proscriptus ad veneficos amandetur; quia tamen hoc de antimonio judicium, non in alia officina, quam cerebri ad Lunae crescentis & de crescentis mutabilitatem tornati excuditur; & vix alius de eo magis perversè & perfricta fronte loquitur, quàm qui minimam ejus habet cognitionem; Idoirco nullo canum similium hoc sidus allatrantium, con∣vitio à veri tramite dimotus, hoc in praesens asserere non erubesco: antimonium verè unam & principalem esse columnam universae Me∣dicinae; Quipè ex eo tanquam Proteo, diversis duntaxat praepara∣tionibus, dioersa••um operationum medicamenta saluberrima, utpotè antiloimica, antivenerea, diaphoretica, purgantia & vomitoria blanda, sanguinem uiversum mundificantia, vulnera••ia, pectoralia, imo universale medicamem seu Panacea ipsa, erui possunt. Nec con∣stat ex vegetabilibus unicum emeticum, quod minore cum periculo exhiberi possit, quam antimonium dext••è & debitè praparatum; nunquam enim tormina ventr••••, Hypercatharsin, fluxumque nimium colliquantium causabit, etiamsi aqua frigida superbibatur. We should think it superfluous to say any more of it: wherefore we will come now to the choice of Antimony, and the several de∣nominations

gven unto it, by those that would keep secret the mysteries, and hide the preparation thereof, that it may be a Key to the Artist for understanding other aenigma's and dark Ridles, and explicating of their mysterious Hieroglyphicks.

Chymical Philosophers do characterize this Mineral with a Fi∣gure representing the round World, and a cross on the top there∣of thus {antimony} to denote, that as the mysterie of the Cross doth pu∣rifie, and heal the soul from all spiritual filth and leprosie; so Antimony and its Remedies well and duly prepared, do cleanse and free the body from all impurities, which breed and entertain the Diseases whereby it is tormented and afflicted. They call it by several aenigmatical names, as the Wolf, because it consumes and devours all metals, Gold excepted; Others name it the P••o∣teus, because it turns it self into all Forms, and takes all manner of colours, by the assistance of Vulcan, which is the fire, Others call it the Root of Metals, both because it is found often near their Mines, and that many are of opinion it is the rudiment and prin∣ciple of Metals: it is moreover denominated the sacred Lead, the Lead of the Philosophers and of the Wise, because so it hath some analogy and affinity to the nature of Saturn, which devoured his children as he devoures Metals, and because also some do take it for the subject matter of the great Work of Philosophers, and of their Quintessence: Basilius Valentinus calls it the Eastern Lion, Paracelsus the Red Lion, and Glauber describes it as the first Being of Gold.

All Authors are agreed that the Hungarian Antimony, or Tran∣silvanian is to be chosen for the noblest and highest operations, because it is the purest, and participates more of the Solar nature, and so its internal sulphur is much more exalted. It is found ne∣vertheless in many other places, and chiefly in Germany, and France hath some which is not altogether despicable. So that those which cannot come at that Antimony which is digged a∣bout golden Mines, must take and chuse in lieu of it to supply their work, a clear, pure and shining Antimony, with clear and bright faces or glittering flawes: if it be mineral, mixt with a kind of changing and playing colour, as that in Doves necks, or the chan∣ges of the Opal or the Rainbow, which are all signes of the pre∣dominancy and abundance of its sulphur: but if it be common

Antimony that hath beem melted already, that which has the longest streakes or shining and sparkling lines, or flawes with the sames notes of colour, which we have recommended in the o∣ther, is to be preferred. They that will try it further to be surer of it, must take ʒ j. of Antimony made into very small powder, and temper or sprinkle it with very good spirit of Vinegar; then let it dry or evaporate in the fire upon a small Iron plate, or some small piece of an earthen pot, with this caution neverthe∣lesse, neither to flow, or melt in the fire: and if the powder remaines of a red colour, it is an assured sign of the goodnesse and abundance of its sulphur. But we hold the best tryal of An∣timony to be its reduction into Regulus by the help of Mars and Niter, without any mixture of Tartar, by reason of its Alkali which dissolves sulphurs: for that which yields the greatest quan∣tity of Regulus and the purest, is the best, since the Regulus is nothing else but a well purified Antimony.