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THE matters which the Artist works upon, are not often put on the open bear fire: But that it is necessarily required they should be enclosed in fit and convenient Vessels, according to the intention of the work; which Vessels are to be set artificially and with great judgement upon the fire, whose action is mediate or immediate; to the end that the ex∣tracted substances vanish not, and be lost without proof, but
rather carefully and curiously preserved: We shall treat in this Chapter of the variety of those Vessels, and the several uses unto which they are serviceable.
Now these Vessels are to be considered either according to their matter, or their form; because they are the two essential parts, which make them to be used in the Operations of Chy∣mistry, and their differences is as great, as the fancies and in∣ventions are various in the mindes of Artists. And as they are since many Ages in quest of the perfection of the Operations of this Art, so shall we only trace, in more general tearms, the greatest part of the more necessary Instruments, to leave a lati∣tude of liberty to the invention of those which will addict them∣selves to this Noble Art, after they are once introduced to attain to the most secret and abstruse knowledges of it, by the rare Preparations which are made by the means and assistance of the same.
There must ever be a care had to choose the cleanliest matter for the fabrick of Vessels, which must also be pressed and com∣pacted, that the subtilest portions of matter may not transpire, and that the substance of the Vessels may not communicate any forain quality to the matter, whether single or compounded, upon which the Chymist doth operate. Glass is the body, which exclu∣ding all others, would be the fittest to be employed, both by rea∣son of its compactedness, and cleanly nature, were it capable to endure all the actions of Fire; but its fusibility, and the several accidents which may cause it to break, notwithstanding all the care and foresight of Artists, make it necessary to have a recourse to some other matters which may be capable of resisting Fire, and may not break so easily: As, for one, to Potters Clay, which furnishes several Vessels to the service and use of Chymistry, ac∣cording to the several kindes of Clay, and their porosity; for if it be said, that it may be glased within with some Mineral or Metallick substances (as Leaden oar. &c.) which will hinder transpiration, it is as soon answered, that this Preparation makes them not differing from the nature of Glass, and so consequently subject to the same inconveniencies, as Glass is: For, besides their ordinary brickleness, there must also a great regard be had, not to expose them too soon from heat to cold, nor from cold to
heat, because compression or rarefaction of the parts, and the air in them, would soon cause them to fly in pieces.
There is also some use of Metallick Vessels for many Opera∣tions in this Art, which without their help would prove very difficult, yea almost impossible; as much by reason of the activity of Fire, destroying and consuming whatsoever comes neer it, as for the several m••tters upon which the Artist doth use to work: for, to contain sharp, acid, saline, nitrous, vitriolick and alumi∣nous substances, Glass, or leaded or glased Pots, are necessary; as contrariwise when you intend to distill spirit of Wine in abun∣dance, Metallick Vessels that may long abide an open Fire, and contain much matter, are requisite. Distilled Oyls of Vegetables cannot also be drawn without these Vessel••, because these Ope∣rations require a violent and long fire to disunite the Balsamick and Aethereal parts from the other, which are terrestial and saline, which cannot be separated without much ebullition, and store of water. But you are to note, that when you intend to work upon Mercury (which you are to understand henceforth to be Quick∣silver) you must never make use of any Metallick Vessel, because this Metallick Body will easily amalgam and mix it self with the greatest part of Metals, though with greater ease with some then others. Thus much in short concerning the matter of Chymical Vessels.
As for the diversity of their form, it is distinguished according to the requisite or intended Operations. For when the distilla∣tion is intended, we use Cucurbites with their head — or Lim∣beck, as also the brass Body, or Vesica, covered with the Moors head, made of the same Metal or Tin, lest the Spirits or distilled Oyls should draw any vitriolick substance from the Copper; And to prevent the same inconveniency, it will be very requisite, that all the Copper Vessels which are to be used by the Artist, be tinned within: For the distillation of new Fruits, juicy Plants, or Flowers, are to be used great and large Basons, on the top whereof a Tin Bell or distilling head is to be applyed: And these three kindes of Vessels, are sufficient for the distillation of all vapours extracted by ascension. But for performing the distilla∣tion of such vapours as are droven by the sides, Re••orts and great Receivers are necessary, as Artists have found by experience,
because such vapours cannot ascend by reason of their heaviness; it is also sometimes requisite to have earthen Retorts, or of Metal opened above, as also Receivers with three necks or channels, to change and fit others to the first, with more ease and dispatch when occasion requires, and to condense more easi∣ly and speedily the Exhalations and vapours which the matter urged by the Fire's action doth yield; for were it not for that, either of necessity the Vessel containing the matter must break, or the Recipient fly into pieces, if not changed, because it would not be capacious enough to contain the vapour or spirits droven in by the Fire.
For digestion long neck'd Matrasses and narrow mouth'd, are ne∣cessary: double Vessels may also be used to this purpose, which are two Vessels whose mouths are placed one in the other, that nothing of what is fitting to be kept in, may evaporate.
Pelicans are used for Circulation, as also twins, which are two Cucurbites with their heads, whose noses are reciprocally inserted in the body of the opposite Cucurbite. The double Vessels may also be made use of for this Operation, but they are not so com∣modious. For sublimation Aludels are employed, or some analo∣gous Vessels, as several earthen Pots put one in another; as also distillatory heads, or blinde Limbecks without nose: strong and well glued blew Paper shaped in a Conick Figure is also used, to receive the Exhalations of the sublimed matters, as we shall teach more particularly in the sublimation of Benjimin here∣after.
For Fusion or melting, as also Cementation and Calcination, it is requisite to be provided with Crucibles made with a good Earth, and well abiding the Fire, and capable to keep the Salts in fusion, and hinder the vaporation of their spirits, as also to keep Metals in fusion: There must also be coverings for the Cru∣cibles, that may easily be put on or removed with the Pincers, that no Coals or any other Mixture, may fall into the matter whilest it is upon the fire, or that they may exactly be luted to the Crucibles, as it is practised in Cementations.
Finally, the Artist must be provided with Pans, Dishes, Spoons, and Spatula's of Glass, white Earth, Jugg-metal, or some other good Earth glased, or not glased or leaded, to use in Dissolutions,
n We atherglass, Thermometer, or Engin to judge of the equality or degrees of heat.
Exhalations, Evaporations, Crystalizations, and particularly for Dissolutions in the cold Cellar or open Air.
Those that will employ themselves about true Fixations, shall need the Philosophers Egge, or another Instrument of my own invention, which I cannot call otherwise, then the Egge in the Egge, or Ovum in Ovo: It doth something participate of the na∣ture of a Pelican for the Circulation, and of that Instrument which is called a Hell, because whatsoever is put in it can never go out again: This Vessel is proper for the fixing of Mercury, and hath the figure of an Egge enclosed in another; so that it is as the Abridgement and Compendium of these three Vessels, usually employed by Artists in their work of fixation.
But as the exact description of all these Vessels cannot be so well performed by writing; and that ocular demonstration doth much more advantage the understanding, than reading can do: we have thought fitting in this regard to satisfie the Readers cu∣riosity, by exhibiting in a draught, in the beginning of this Chapter, the delineation and models of the several Vessels spo∣ken of.