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 Brimstone and its Chymical Preparation.

IT is not without reason that the Greeks gave to Brimstone the name of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say Divine; for we must con∣fesse that all Sulphurs have in themselves something heavenly and great, being nothing but the productions of salt, spirit and light: and as light doth easily penetrate and reach everywhere, so do likewise Sulphurs by their odour and colour extend and commu∣nicate themselves far and broad, and that with an almost uncon∣ceivable efficacy. But this is not the place to speak of the inter∣nal sulphurs of things, which do constitute to the best part of their essence and being: for we will now treat only of that Rozin and earthly fat of the earth, which is mixed with some portion of an acid and vitriolick substance, commonly called Brimstone in Shops and Chymical Laboratories. There is two kinds of it, the one Natural, the other Artificial: the natural is that which is called Sulphur vivum, or which hath not passed through fire, and the Artificial is that which is extracted from those peble stones or fire-stones, whereof we have spoken in the operations

of Vitriol; they that will know how it is made, must consult the most learned Georgius] Agricola, which hath wrote about Metal∣licks, and Minerals.

The Artist must for his Operation chuse the purest Brimstone, as that which is in small cakes of a gray colour inclining to green, easie to inflame, burning without intermission, and sending forth a more blewish then whitish flame; and if this Brimstone is not to be met with, let him have recourse to yellow Brimstone, which is in bigger cakes, and may be substituted in the place of the other: he must neverthelesse try whether it easily inflames and burns constantly; for if it doth not so, it is too much indigested, and by its easie extinction doth shew its self to participate yet too much of Vitriolick nature. The vertues and qualities of Brim∣stone are noble and efficacious before its preparation: for it is generally devoted to the Brest, and the cure of all diseases which do molest and afflict the same; it opens, outs, resists putrefaction and venom, as also the biting of venomous creatures; it pro∣vokes sweating, softens and allayes the irritations and irregular motions of the Archeus: wherefore it is used against P••hisick, Cough, Asthma, Pestilence, generally against all malignant, pu∣trid and pestilential Feavers. If it be outwardly applyed, it re∣solves mightily all hardnesse of tumors, doth cute corroding Tetters or Ringwormes, Scab, Itch, and hinders itching in the skin. But if crude Sulphur hath so noble and so great vertues and proprieties, what may not be expected from this Mineral, when according to the precepts and directions of Chymistry, which only aimes at the correction and melioration of substances upon which Artists do work, it shall be either opened or fixed, dissolved or coagulated, precipitated or sublimated! the sons of Art ought then to spend their time and care in working upon this Mixt, as upon one of the chief Instruments, put in their hands by the power of the Creator, to draw from it variety of noble and good Remedies, with which he may charitably supply the wants and necessity of many poor Patients.

The general preparations which are made upon Brimstone, are, sublimation, precipitation, distillation▪ infusion and extraction. We will according to our accustomed method give some examples

of all these operations, that the Artist may well apprehend the manner of working, and learn also the Vertues and Dosis of Re∣medies proceeding from it.