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.

The distillation of Niter, and how to prepare the spirit of Niter.

℞ lb ij. of depurated Salt-peter, grind it by little and little with lb vj. of common Bolus, and being thus well mixt make a paste of it with water impregnated with as much pure Salt-peter as it is capable to dissolve in the cold, knead and work well the paste, and rowl it to make Pellets therewith fit to be put in a great earthen well lu∣ted Retort, which place in a close Reverberatory, and fit a capa∣cious Recipient to the neck of the Retort, exactly luted with a salted Lute. The Lute being dry, begin to give it your fire by de∣grees, and thus proceed the space of 20 or 24 houres, with the same gradation as we have taught in the distillation of the spirit of Salt. There is neverthelesse this difference between them, that Salt-peter alone yields red spirits, by reason of its soul and in∣ternal spirits, which are children of the Sun, for all other salts send forth only whitish vapours; this is that Spirit which ancient Philosophers have called the Salamander's blood, as if one should say, the blood and soul of Fire. This is the most ordinary way of preparing the spirit of Niter, to use in all dissolutions and other Chymical operations. But there is yet another manner of prepa∣ring it with more subtility for inward uses, to apply it as a Remedy; which is thus performed.

℞ Of the finest Salt-peter you can finde, and very dry, reduce lb ij. thereof in powder in a warm Mortar, in a very dry & fair day, pound also lb vj, of pots made with ordinary Clay, only wrought & dryed before they be baked; mingle these two substances exactly together, and pour them in a capacious glass Retort with a very broad or wide neck, and chiefly from that side which is towards the belly of the Retort, let it be luted with a very good sticking Lute, abiding in the fire and not easily falling off, neither crack∣ing; fit to the neck thereof a very large Recipient, and lute or close the Vessels together only with a wet Bladder, begin the fire very slowly at first, and thus go on encreasing by degrees until all the phlegm be come over, and the Recipient begins to grow red, then empty the Recipient, or substitute another like unto it very

dry and clean, which lute with the same Earth wherewith the Re∣tort was luted; then encrease the fire and keep it still higher, so as you perceive that the falling drops shall be of a red or yel∣low colour, or that the Recipient begins to lose something of its high red colour, even during the great height of the fire; for this is a true sign of the end of the Operation, and do not expect till the colour begins to grow cleater, for this would never happen by reason of the red vapours which this spirit continually sends forth. But the Artist must be preadmonished to take heed, when he comes to unlute the Vessels and pour out this red spirit, for it is so vaporous, subtile and volatile that it would endanger and suf∣focate him, or it may be cause him to lose all by breaking his Vessels: wherefore let him stand above the Wind and stop his Nose, not opening the mouth, and taking very great heed in the pouring out of it; and to this end let him have both his Bottle and Funnel in great readinesse, that he may meet with no stop. The Viol wherein this Spirit is put, must be very exactly closed with an earthen stople, very closely joyning on all sides that no∣thing may evaporate: this spirit is endowed with many admirable faculties, both for Physick and Metallick: but considering it is so subtile and so volatile that it cannot almost be preserved, much lesse transported or sent upon occasion abroad; there is a way found to mix and circulate it as followeth for better prser∣vation.