To make the Solar or Lunar Precipitate.

THere is no need here to repeat any thing of the manner of the Vessel: we only advise our Artist to note that he may make this operation, as also the foregoing in a plain Matrass, without making use of a Hell: for that kind of Vessel being rare, it would put a needless difficulty and rub upon the Work; Yet let the Matrass however be flat and plain in the bottom, and stopt in the mouth only with a wooden pin which may easily be taken away, to throw down again the Mercury which may have raised its self by sublimating into the neck of the Vessel. We have no more to do here then to add the Doses of the Metals which are intended to be added to the Mercury, to communicate unto it some other vertue then that it hath already from it self: for as we have said, there may be gold or silver added, or both together▪ If it be gold alone, after it hath been three times purg'd by An∣timony, it must be made into an Amalgam with viij. p. of Mer∣cury purified, and this Amalgam put in the Vessel and there con∣cocted, Page  202as hath been said above. If it be silver, it may be mix∣ed ij. p. upon viij. but let it be very pure silver of Capel made in leaves or very subtile calx, that it may be the better amalga∣med and incorporated with the Mercury, and then concoct it in the Vessel, as hath been said; and if the Artist hath any desire to communicate to the Mercury the properties of both Luminaries, he shall make his Amalgam with i. p. of gold, and ij. p. of silver, melted with vj. p. of very pure and clean Regulus of An∣timony, with vij. p. of purified Meerury, to be concocted ac∣cording to Art. The Solar Precipirate is given from j. gr. to vj. in the same Vehicles and Ingredients we have already said, and for the same Diseases; except that it hath this vertue more, to be specificated for strengthening and corroborating the Heart, and to drive away all weaknesses and griefs from it. The Lunar Precipitate is also as it were specificated, and destinated to the Head, besides the general vertues it hath of it self; But neither of them are to be compared in strength or vertue to the last, which receives a mixture of Gold, Silver, Antomony and Mercury; for it is an universal Remedy and a kind of true Panacea: insomuch, that one of the most learned and most renowned amongst Chy∣mical Authors, doth not think amisse to give it the name of Phy∣sical Gold, or Medicorum aurum, and the comfort of Patients. The Dosis of the Lunar Precipitate is from j. gr. to xij. They that will make use of it also for a Preventive of Diseases, when they finde themselves loaded and filled with impure serosities, pro∣ceeding from superfluities of digestion, may take vj. gr. there∣of fasting, and keep themselves well covered to expect sweat; and then after having taken a good Broth or Bisket dipt in Wine, shall cause their sweat to be well wiped off, keeping their Cham∣ber for that whole day; after which they will finde themselves so altered and so much lighter, that they may be half better disposed for all functions. This much we had to say concerning these Precipitates without addition of Salts and Spirits: but as their preparation is long and tedious, and that all Artists are not ca∣pable or fitted for these high Operations, it is necessary we should give a description of some other Precipitates of Mercury, which may be made in lesse time, and never fail. It is true, that their vertue is neither so great, nor so extensive; they may Page  203in a manner be substituted to the foregoing, provided their Dosis be regulated with more circumspection, and the use thereof du∣plicated and more often reiterated.