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 preparation of the sweet Chrystals of Common salt, or the coagulated spirit of Salt.

YOU must chuse first a capacious and large Retort, made of good Earth, capable to resist fire and not porous, the neck of the Retort must be three fingers broad in diameter, that the spirits issuing forth in abundance may have a free passage, let it also have a channel or Conduit in the upper part made Funnel-like, only five inches high, with a very close and well fitted stop∣ple, easie both to be shut and drawn off again with the same ease, and without stirring the Retort; moreover, this Retort must be walled in a close Reverberatory, having four Registers in the four corners, the channel or Conduit-pipe of the Retort being just in the middle; all this being so fitted and prepared, throw into the Retort lb iiij. of Bay salt well purified and well dryed; put a large round glass Body, or Ballon to the neck of the Retort with lb j. of distilled Rain-water in it; lute exactly the joints, and let the Lute dry very well, that no crack may be in it; then begin to give it a gradual fire, which encrease to that height that it may leave the salt in fusion in the Retort; this done, throw into it j. or ij. drops of cold water with a Feather by the upper pipe or channel, and stop it immediately; it will yield great store of va∣pours which will come over into the Recipient, and the Reci∣pient being cleared, begin again to throw j. or ij. drops more of water at the most; for otherwise the Vessel might flye up and the Artist run hazard to be hurt; keep up the fire in this height for preserving the salt in fusion, and proceed in throwing of wa∣ter by drops until it be turned all into spirits and vapour, which done, let the fire cease and the Vessels cool. Put whatsoever is found in the Recipient in a Cucurbite in B. M. if so be you finde it pure and clear; if not, filtrate it before you draw off the phlegm, and distilled Rain-water which was added, then try in a cool place if any Chrystals will shute, which if you finde; sepa∣rate the Chrystals which are sweet and of a pleasant taste, and pro∣ceed in the extraction of superfluous moisture and chrystalliza∣tion

until it yields no more Chrystals: keep some part of these Chrystals in a Viol very-exactly stopt; because they may so be more ready and easie for transportation, and put the rest in a Cel∣lar to dissolve into a Liquor which will be of the same vertue and efficacy, but the Dosis must be a little bigger. Both Chry∣stals and Liquor are two good Diaphoretick's or Sudorificks, allay∣ing altogether the thirst of hydropical persons, and restoring to their languishing bodies that essential moisture which is daily con∣sumed and preyed upon by that undermining Disease, strengthen∣ing their digestion, and restablishing all the intrals which suf∣fer by it and are altered; briefly, it is a true vital Balsom in all other Diseases, and chiefly in the Plague and all malignant and burning Feavers. They are also good Topical Remedies to mun∣difie evil Ulcers, and resolve Tumors and swellings.