The sublimation of Flowers of Salt Armoniack.

℞ As much melted Salt as Armoniack, and mix them ex∣actly together; then pour this mixture into a Matrass or Cucur∣bite, and sublime it in ashes, reiterating this sublimation four times, to purifie, subtiliate and volatilize the better the Armo∣niack; some will have a like proportion of Filings of Steel mixt with the Armoniack that they may sublimate together; but they are deceived: for when the armoniack salt is mixt with Mars, it presently works upon, and the salt corrodes all the Steel, where∣of there may be made afterwards a very good Vitriol: But as the intention of those that add Steel to this sublimation, is only to make the Flowers of this Salt more incisive, aperitive, more sple∣netical and hepatical; our advice is to the sons of Art, to mix a fourth part of this opacous and greenish or blewish Vitrifica∣tion, which is found in Iron works or Furnaces, where the first fusion of the Mine is made, or as much of those scales which fall from Smith's Anvils: But let him note, that neither of these two substances must be made in very subtile powder; contrari∣wise, it will suffice to have it coursly beaten, that the Armoniack may only lick it over in the action of subliming, and so draw only the soul or a portion of the internal sulphur of it, by which it is much encreased in excellency and vertue: The Artist must consider, that as these Flowers are more subtile and penetrating then Armoniack salt meerly purified and chrystallized: so must it consequently be endowed with much more vertue, and parti∣cularly when this salt is made use of against Quartan and other intermittent Agues. These Flowers are also of singular use to correct the crudities of the Ventricle, and remove ill fermenta∣tions, if every morning the Patient takes of it fasting in a Glass of Wormwood Wine, or in infusion of Sassafras wood, made in white Wine: But the use of it must be continued the space of fifteen dayes or three whole weeks. And if this Remedy be gi∣ven against Leucophlegmacy, or the beginning of any kind of Dropsie, which ordinarily followes after long Diseases, and the Page  305various agitations of dangerous Feavers; you must take care that the Patient be in his bed when the Remedy shall be administred unto him, and that he be well covered to help the provocation of sweat, and at his coming out of it, let him take some nou∣rishment of easie digestion, and above all be carerfully rubbed and dryed, by reason of the ill impressions which these sweats do communicate to the linnen wherein the Patient is wrapt, and might easily raise some malignity upon a skin which is yet open and doth exhale some noxious vapours, and capable yet to do hurt. The Dosis of these Flowers, is from iij. graines to xv. and if the strength of the Patient can bear it, even to xx. chiefly it he hath been used to it before, encreasing the quantity by lit∣tle and little.