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 draw the acid Water of Vitriol.

AS the Artist must work with method and study, if he intends to make any progresse; so likewise must he be a good Hus∣band of his time, fire and Vessels. Wherefore let him have a Fur∣nace in readinesse with a sand Vessel or Capsula, and the sand warm in it; when he perceives that the B. M. drawes no more of the substance of the Vitriol, because it is a token to him that the matter hath need of a stronger degree of heat to be driven to yield any thing more, let him then draw the Cucurbite from the Bal∣neo, and wipe it to take off the moisture from it, and place it all warm and luted upon one inch and a half thick of warm sand, and let him put of the same equally warm round about as high as the matter goes; then the Recipient being fitted again, let him en∣crease the fire by degrees until the head of the Limbeck be filled with white vapours, and that no more drops of the liquor shall fall from the nose of it; then let him remove the fire from the mat∣ters

and Furnace. Put also the liquor which is in the Reci∣pient in a bottle, and stop it as the other: for it is not an use∣lesse Phlegm as many have conceited, which did despise it and throw it away, not well versed with the anatomy of Vitriol and the knowledge of those Liquors which it yields by distillation. This water stath but very little acidity in it self, but participates already of the aperitive and anodyne vertue of Vitriol; which make it to be very successfully used for the cleansing of the Reines, and softening and allaying of all inward corrosions. It quenches the thirst of feaverish persons, and provokes Urine abundantly. This Liquor is also very good for washing of the eyes, if you add a little salt of Saturn with it; it takes away also inflammations, and allayes the grief of corroding and malignant Ulcers, if they be washt with it warm; and having a little of salt of Tartar mix∣ed with it, it takes away itching in the skin and drives away scabs.