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.

Of yellow Amber or Karabe.

THe opinions of Authors who have writ about yellow Amber are very various, but principally those of the former age, because they wanted the light of Chymistry, to give them a deeper im∣pression of knowledge in the things of Nature: but in this latter age where we are enlightened by that noble Torch, and where it hath been so successefully used to advance Anatomy of mixt bodies, without any other prevention of mind then to discover truth for our own advantage, and leave it to improve to others; Chymical examination hath taught us, that yellow Amber or Ka∣rabe, is nothing else but a bituminous juyce or Pitch and Rozin of the Earth well digested, flowing from the subterraneous veines of it into the Sea, where it gathers, coagulates its self and har∣dens finally more and more. There are three principal kinds thereof; The first which is more esteemed and sought for, is white and opaco us, the most digested and ripened of all, which is known by its purity, pleasant smell and great quantity of vo∣latile salt, which is the most infallible token of its goodnesse and vertue. The second is yellow, which is lucid and transparent, a∣bounding more in oyle then in salt, and by consequence more digested and lesse valuable. The third is that, which between both is mixt of white and yellow, but with some touch of earthli∣nesse and impurity, which makes it inferiour in worth to the two former. All three are endowed with no common vertues: but if any will make use of yellow Amber for Physical purposes without any other preparation then triturating it upon a Porphyrie stone the whitest must ever be taken and preferred, having a Balsa∣mick smell almost like flower of Rosemary, when it is a little stirred by friction. It is the white also that must be chosen to make the Tincture or essence thereof, as we shall teach hereafter. But the

second and third sort may be used for distillation, because the pure part thereof is severed from the impure, and that rectifi∣cation may correct the defects of the first distillation, by which the vitiousnesse of the natural digestion of Karabe is already cor∣rected, and the action of fire hath separated the heterogeneous and grosse substance lurking in it. Karabe in the Persian tongue signifies attractive of straw, which is one of the proper qualities of Amber.

The general vertues of Amber are, to warm, desiccate, streng∣then and bind moderately; it is principally dedicated to the head, spleen and Matrix. Wherefore it is very successefully made use of in Catarrhs and Fluxions, Epilepsy, Apoplexy, Lethargy and Vertigo, as also to allay all irritations and risings of the Spleen. It is also a wonderful Specifick against all fits of the Mother, and chiefly against the rising of it and suffocations which it causes. It is also a true coagulated Balsom, used against bloody-flux and Gonorrhae••, and above all against the Whites; briefly it may law∣fully be said of Amber, that it is the life and soul of Remedies dedicated to the cleansing of the Mother, and redresse all the de∣fects thereof. Some believe▪ that they that wear Amber Collars are not subject to eye sores, or diseases in the throat, whereof they say, it hinders the swelling: The Dosis of prepared Amber is from ℈ φ. to ʒ j. in new laid Egges, some Syrup, Lozenges, or Conserve.

The Chymical preparations of Amber are Dissolution or Extra∣ction, to make the Tincture, Essence or Magistery thereof: and Distillation, by the help of which its Mercurial Spirit is extract∣ed, as also the subtile Oyle, Balsamick Oyle, volatile Salt, and Colophony or Rosin.