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.

Book I. Of the proper and necessary terms to under∣stand and perform all Chymical Opera∣tions.

The PREFACE.

IN the First Part of this Treatise, we have shewed unto you the Grounds upon which doth lean all the Theory of Chymistry: But because we said in the Preface, that Chymistry was a Sensal Philosophy, which admits only what the Senses manifest and demonstrate unto us; it is time for us to come to the Practical part, and Operations de∣pending of it, and to examine, Whether all what we have said above, is grounded upon Sense. No body must admire, that a Science should

become Operative; since Operation is only to the end of perfecting Con∣templation, and Contemplation seemeth to be only to help Operation; so that these two seem to be inseparable. And if it be true, that all Doctrine and Knowledge must begin by the Senses, according to the Maxim which saith, Nihil esse in Intellectu, quod non prius fuerit in Sensu; I think it very necessary that the Senses be well informed and instructed by several Experiences, before you give your self to the Theory, or begin to contemplate upon Natural things, lest you fall into the error of those superficial Philosophers, who please them∣selves in arguing upon the Principles of some Doctrine, whereof expe∣rience discovers the untruth; as for Example: Is it not a very mani∣fest and palpable error, to imagine that the Smoak or Fume, which any Mixt doth yield by violent dissolution, should be a Fire or Elementary Air, or some unmixt Substance; since, if they are examined in a Lim∣beck, or any other Vessel or Receiver, experience will demonstrate to the sense, that that Flame or Smoak, are neither pure Elements nor imper∣fect Mixts; but that it is sometimes the Body of a most perfect Mixt, as evidently appears by subliming of Brimstone and Armoniack Salt, and the Fumes of Mercury, which is the same Quick-silver, who like unto that Proteus of the ancient Poets, takes all sorts of shapes and colours; but returns again to its first nature, being revived.

By this it appears, that it is not good to judge of things lightly; as to say that all Smoak is Air, because it hath some resemblance with Air: For though all Vapours and Exhalations are alike unto the sight, yet nevertheless are they of a very different nature; as those that examine them thoroughly, and search them narrowly, by the help of Chymical Vessels will discover; and this shall we demonstrate by the several Ope∣rations, whereof we are to treat in this last Part.

But because in the practical part of these Operations, we meet with several terms that are proper and essential to the Art of Chymistry, and seem to be of difficult understanding, it is necessary, before we enter into the discourse of Operations, to explain their meaning. We shall then in this First Book, treat of the several kindes of Solutions and Coagulations; because one of the chief ends of Chymistry is to spiri∣tualize and corporifie again, thereby to separate Purity from Impurity: after this, we will shew the several degrees of Fire; by the means of which, and the help of several Furnaces, and divers Vessels, that true exalta∣tion is attained unto, which from the mystery of each Mixt's nature,

doth extract the Arcanum, Elixit, Tincture, or some sublime Essence graduated to such a height, as one drop or grain of these miraculous Re∣medyes may without comparison be more efficacious then many pounds of the grosse and bodily Mixt, out of which these Medicaments have been extracted.

CHAP. I Of the several kindes of Solutions and Coagulations.

THough Chymistry takes for its object all natural Bodies, yet properly and particularly she confines her Opera∣tions upon Mixt Bodies, which she reacheth how to exalt by the help of Solution and Coagulation, who do contain under them several kinds of Operations, tending all either to spiritualize or corporifie, Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals: so that the exaltation of any Mixt or Compound, is nothing else but the purest part of the same, by the help of several So∣lutions and Coagulations often reiterated, brought to its highest perfection. To attain this point, Purity first must be separated from Impurity, which is performed materially or formally: Ma∣terially, by cribration or sifting, ablution or washing, edulco∣ration or sweetening, detersion or cleansing, effusion or powring, colation and philtration, or running through a bag, and despu∣mation: Formally, by distillation, sublimation, digestion, and several other reiterated Operations, whereof hereafter.

The separation of Purity and Impurity being performed, to obtain a perfect exaltation of the Mixt, the impurity of it must be rejected, and that which is pure be first put in Solution, then Coagulation; which is done either by reducing it to very small Particles, or to Liquor, or else in a solid Body, by help of the following Operations, viz. Limation or filing, rasion or scraping, pulverisation or reducing to powder, alkoholisation or reducing to atomical parts, incision or cutting, granulation or reducing into small grains by melting, lamination or converting

into thin Plates, putrefaction, fermentation, maceration, fumi∣gation, which is either dry or moyst, cohobation, precipitation, amalgamation, distillation, rectification, sublimation, calcination either actual or potential, vitrification, projection, lapidification, extinction, fusion, liquation, cementation, stratification, reverbe∣ration, fulmination or detonation, extraction, expression, ince∣ration, digestion, evaporation, desiccation, exhalation, circula∣tion, congelation, crystallization, fixation, volatilisation, spi∣ritualization, corporification, mortification and revivification; all which terms, to remove obscurities in the understanding of the Artist, we will further illustrate in this Chapter.

Cribration, is when the matter, after it hath been pounded in a Mortar, is sifted through a thin Cloth or a Sieve, the one is for the exact contusion, the other for the grosser.

Ablution or lotion is, when the matter to be cleansed from its grosser impurities, is washed in water; but when the matter by its weight is fallen in the bottom of the Vessel, and the water powred out by inclination, it is called Effusion.

Edulcoration is, when the spirituous, saline, and corrosive parts of Chymical Preparations, performed by actual or potential cal∣cination, are separated.

That matter which cannot endure water without alteration, or loss of its substance, is purged by Detersion; and if it be put in any convenient Liquor, and then afterwards grossely expressed, either through a Linnen, or some other Strainer of Cloth or Tamy, it is called Colation or Percolation: but if this Ope∣ration be performed through some more compact substance, it will be called Philtration, which is performed either by the Cloth, Paper, or Ragge; that which is performed through the Paper, is cleanlier and exacter.

Despumation is nothing else, but separating of the skum, or other impurities which swim above the matter, with some proper Instruments to that purpose.

Limation is the solution of continuity of some mixt Body, performed with a File of Steel: it is used in all the three Fami∣lies of Bodies; for, the Bones of Animals, the Wood of Vege∣tables, and the Bodies of the most compact, hard and solid Me∣tals yield to the File.

Rasion comes very neer Limation, but is performed with a sharper Instrument, as a knife, or some of the like nature; it may also be referred in a manner to In••ision.

Pulverization or Contusion, are nothing else but the reduction of some Mixt into Powder, by means of Trituration or grinding upon a Marble or Porphyry, or pounding in a Mortar; and if the matter be reduced to an impalpable and imperceptible Powder, it is called Alkoholisation, which is also sometimes said of liquid things, as the Alkohol of Wine, or other volatile and inflamable spirits, when these spirits are so deprived of their phlegm and waterish part, that they consume and flame away with the matter wherein they were dipt, be it Linnen, Paper, or Cotton.

By Granulation, Mineral and Metallick Bodies are reduced to small grains, and by Lamination extended in small and thin Plates, as are Gold, Silver, Leaf Copper, &c.

Putrefaction is, when the Mixt by a moyst heat without any mixture tends to its corruption: and if it be performed by the mixture or addition of any Ferment, as Tartar, common Salt, Yeast of Beer, Leaven of Bread, or Lees of Wine, it is then called Fermentation.

Maceration is, when any matter is put in a Menstruum or proper liquor to infuse, that liquor being chosen according to the design or intention of the Artist, to extract the vertue of the Body upon which it works. This Operation requires a fit and competent time for compleating the Extraction, which retards or advances, according to the more or less solidity and compacted∣ness of the body wrought upon.

Fumigation is a Corrosion of the external parts of a body by a vapour, or sharp and corroding Exhalation: If it be by a vapour, as is that of Vinegar, it is a moist fumigation: if by Exhalation, as the fumes of Lead or Quick-silver, it is a dry fumigation, cal∣cining laminated Metals, or reduced in Plates, and making them so crumbling and brickle, that they may afterwards be easily reduced to powder.

Cohobation is done, by often powring again the Menstruum, extracted out of one or several Mixts upon its own feces, or the remainder of those Mixts in the Receiver, either to draw the Central Vertues enclosed in those Compounds, or to cause the

same feces, to resume and take back, what in the distillation they had suffered to flie up and volatilize by the action of heat, and in this only Operation doth Cohobation consist.

Precipitation causeth the dissolving Menstruum to quit the body which it had dissolved, which is performed by the analogy that Salts have with Spirits; for, Whatsoever is dissolved by Spirits, is precipitated by Salts; and contrarywise. This Operation requires the particular consideration of the Artist, because it gives great light, and is a great key to comprehend the generation and cor∣ruption of natural things.

Amalgamation is a particular calcination of Metals, which some Authors do call Philosophical Calcination: It is performed by the union of Mercury or Quick-silver with the least particles of Metals, which doth so separate and open them, that they be∣come unctuous and extensible upon the hand; so that evapora∣ting the Quick-silver with a convenient heat, the Metals are reduced to a very subtile Calx, which cannot be performed so well by any other means.

Distillation is, when the matter inclosed in a Vessel, drives and sends up vapours in another Vessel, by the help and activity of Fire: There are three species of it. The first, when the vapour of distilled Substances do ascend. The second, when the same vapours are driven by the side of the Vessel: And the third, when downwards: all these according to the distillable matters, and the fitness of the Vessels for Operation.

Rectification is nothing else but a reiterated Distillation, and that to subtilize the more the distilled vapours, or separate some Spirit from its Phlegm, and the more-terrestrial and gross parts, according as the Spirits are, either sharp and fixed, or volatile and inflamable.

Sublimation is an Operation, by which the action and heat of Fire, elevates a whole body, in dry Exhalations, or at least some part of it which cleaves and condenses it self in thin and subtile Flores, or sometimes thick, compacted and pressed in the top of the Vessel: this manner of Operation is opposed to Precipi∣tation.

Calcination is a violent action, which reduces the Mixt to Calx and Ashes. It is double, actual and potential: the actual is

performed by flaming Wood or kindled Coals, which are the material fire: Potential Calcination is that which is made by the secret and potential fire of strong and dissolutive Waters, or Aqua Fortis, single or compounded, and by the vapours and cor∣rosive fumes, as it is observed in Precipitation and Fumiga∣tion.

Vitrification is the change of Metals, Minerals, Vegetables or Stones in Glass, and that by projection after their fusion, or by addition of Salts, Alkali or fixt, or extracted from Lees, which do penetrate and purifie these several substances, and vitrifie them by giving them fusibility and transparency: There are many nevertheless Opacous also, which are used for enamelling, and called Amels.

Lapidification is when Metals are changed into Stones or Pasts, which in a kinde are of a middle nature, between Metallick and Transparent Glasses; and Amels, because they are susceptible of a fair polishing.

Extinction is the suffocation and cooling of a hot kindled sub∣stance in some Liquor, either to the end of extracting its vertue and communicating it to the Liquor, or to impart some adven∣titious quality to the substance immersed; as when, for Example, Tuty or Lapis Calaminaris is extinguished in Fennel water or Vinegar, to make them more efficacious for the cure of the Eyes; as also all Iron and Steel Tools are dipt, to become thereby more apt for polishing, and receive a hardness, and consequently an edge.

Fusion is properly said of Metals and Minerals, and is per∣formed by a great and violent Ignition. And Liquation is only said of the fat of Animals, Wax, and unctuous fat and resinous substances of Vegetables, performed by a temperate heat.

The Impurities of Metals are removed by Cementation; it serves also to examine them, whether they are true or false, as also to lessen their bulk by the compressing of their parts, which is per∣formed by stratification, making a bed or lay of Cement, ano∣ther of Metallick Plates, and so continuing stratum super stratum, or lay upon lay, till the Vessel be top full; but you are to note, that the first and the last lay must be of Cement, after which the

Pot or Crucible must be exactly luted, to give a Circular fire by degrees untill fusion.

Reverberation is an Ignition, by which Bodies are calcined with a flaming fire in a Reverberatory Furnace: Whether it be done to the end corrosive Spirits may be separated from it, or to subtilize and soften the body with that Operation.

Fulmination or Fulguration is an Operation, by which all Metals, excepting Gold and Silver, are meteorized, and driven or reduced into vapours, exhalations, and fumes; by the help of Lead in a Copell, with violence of fire kindled and animated with good and ample Bellowes.

The end of Detonation is to drive away and separate all the Sul∣phureous and Mercurial parts of a Body which are not pure, that there may remain the earthly part only, which is accom∣panyed by the internal and fixt Sulphur, in which is properly inherent the vertue of Minerals. This Operation is performed by the help of Salt-peter or Nitre, as it appears in the Precipita∣tion of Diaphoretical Antimony, made by Detonation and Fusion.

Extraction is, when the essence or tincture of a Mixt is ex∣tracted, by help of a Menstruum or convenient Liquor, which the Artist doth evaporate away, if it be unusefull and of small value; but if of any price, he draweth it again by Distillation, to use it in other Operations; that which remains in the bottom of the Vessel is called Extract.

Expression tends to separate the subtilest from the grosser parts of the body, according to the intention of the Artist, to preserve the one or the other, it is performed by a Presse which screwes, or otherwise, and Tables.

Digestion is one of the principal and most necessary Operations of Chymistry; because Mixts are made tractable by it, and ca∣pable to yield us what we desire out of them; it is performed by the means of a convenient Menstruum, and a slow and long heat: most commonly joynted Vessels meeting at the mouth, called properly Circulatory, are employed for this purpose, that nothing of the volatile spirits of the digested Substance may be lost; to this Operation are commonly made use of, the heat of a watery Bath (Balneum maris) or vaporous, or aerial, or the

heat of Horse-••ung, Ashes, or Sand. Digestion hath a great affi∣nity with Maceration, they do notwithstanding differ among themselves; in regard that there is a kinde of coction performed in the act of Digestion, which is not done in Maceration.

The Menstruum, which hath been used in Dissolution or Ex∣traction, is by evaporation reduced to vapour, and this way is Desiccation performed: but by Exhalation the drye spirits are carryed away from the substance by the vertue of the fire, and reduced to Exhalations.

Circulation is an Operation, by which the substances, contained in the bottom of a Pelican, or Circulatory Vessel, are driven upwards by the action of heat, and thence fall again upon them-themselves, either to volatilize them by the help of spirits, or to fix the spirit by the frequent and reiterated contract of the body; which is a thing very well worthy the contemplation of him that will attain the true knowledge of Nature.

Congelation is, when the solid parts of Animals are, with some convenient Menstruum, reduced to a Jelly by Elixation: Such are the Jellies of Horns, Bones, Muscles, Sinews, and Cartilages; but you are to note, that this Congelation proceeds only from the volatile Salt, which abounds in Animals: As Crystallization is properly said of Salts purified by several Solutions, Filtrations, and Crystallizations, after the Liquor in which they are con∣tained, hath been evaporated to a skin.

Things volatile are fixed by Fixation, as contrarywise Fixt are volatilized by Volatilization. That substance is called fixt, which abides and is permanent in the fire; as volatile is called that which flyes and exhaleth it self with the least heat. But note here, that as there are several degrees of heat, so there is several things fixt, and several volatile.

Spiritualization doth change the whole body into Spirit, so that it becomes no more palpable nor sensible to us: And by Corporification, the Spirit re-assumes its Body, and manifests it self again to our senses; but the body so qualified is an exalted body, very different in vertue from that from which it hath been ex∣tracted, since this body so glorified contains in it self the mystery of its own Mixt.

By Mortification, Mixts are as it were destroyed, and lose all

the qualities and vertues of their first nature; to acquire others much sublimer and more efficacious, by the help of revivifica∣tion. Paracelsus meant it of this Operation, when he said, That the power of death was efficacious, since no resurrection can be without her: And as the Apostle S. Paul saith, It is necessary, that the grain of Corn should first dye in the Earth, before it can live again, and multiply it self in the Ear which it produces.

CHAP. II. Of the several degrees of Heat and Fire.

THE most potent Agent that Nature hath furnished us withall under Heaven, to perform the Anatomy of Mixt Bodies, is Fire; which to feed and maintain it self, doth need first a com∣bustible oily and ••••phureous matter, either Mineral as Sea-coal, or Vegetable as Chark-coal, and the Oyls of Vegetables; or finally, Animals Fats, Suets and Oyls of Animals. Secondly, Fire needs a continual Air, that may by its action drive away the excrements and fuliginous emanations of the substances which are burned, and that may animate the Fire, to make it more or less act upon its subject; and from this necessity it is that some, though improperly, have affirmed, that the Air was the true food and nourishment of Fire. If we will exactly speak, it cannot be said, that Fire receives more or less by it self or in it self, or as Philosophers speak, admits of intention or remission; Though the matter upon which it doth act, may receive great variety of degrees of heat, according to its neerness or distance, or inter∣position of things which may receive the impression of heat; whence it necessarily followes, that the ordering of the heat of Fire, doth consist in a just and convenient quantity, administred by the Artist, according to the nature and condition of the matter upon which he worketh, and according to the means or instru∣ments which he uses, to whom it is required he should give a proportionate distance.

To encrease the Fire, it is required, either to add a greater quantity of Coals in the Fire, or if there be enough, and that the Artist doth finde it not to burn according to his expectation, there must be more Air let in, either by the dore or mouth of the Furnace which receives the Fire, or by the Ash-hole, which is better: as also by opening the Registers, which are usually made either at the upper part, or in the sides of the Furnaces, to let out exhalations and fuliginous vapours, which commonly suffocate the Fire; or lastly, by blowing large bellowes, and of a capacious body for room of winde. From this that is said may be conceived, that Fire may be decreased and weakened by the contrary wayes, as shutting the Dores and Registers, to hinder the entring of Air, and issue of fuliginous substances; or the combustible matter must be diminished, or the Fire covered with cold Ashes, or a plate of Iron, or a Brick, to hinder such disorders and accidents as usually happen in the midst of the work.

As for the distance of the Vessels containing the matter, it can only be judged according to the nature of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 matter of their composition, or the Mediums interposed between, it may never∣theless stand as a general rule, that there ought to be a distance of about eight inches, between the Grate which contains the fire▪ and the Dish or part upon which the bottom of the Vessel which is to receive the heat doth rest: For the action of Fi••e upon bodies, is mediate or immediate; Immediate, when without opposition Fire acts upon the matter, or Vessel that contains it, whether it be a Crucible, Retort, or any other thing; and this is commonly called Open Fire; Fire of Calcination and sup∣pression: Mediate is, when any thing is interposed between the Fire and the matter, which doth hinder its destructive action; whereby the Artist is enabled to govern it, not otherwise then a skilfull rider manages a Horses, and keeps him in awe, by the help of the Bridle which he holds in his hand.

We shall comprise under nine chief Classes, the several diffe∣ring degrees of Heat, and these the ingenuous Artist may yet vary in an infinite number of manners, according to his intention, and that the quality of the Mixt upon which he works, doth re∣quire it: Those differences are as followeth.

We will take the first degree of Heat from the greatest ex∣tremity of its height, which is the fire of Flame, which calcines and reverberates all things; and this is that properly, which is capable to turn the most solid and fixt Bodies into Vapours and Exhalations.

The second is that of Coals, which properly and principally serves for Cementation, for colouring and purging, as well as for contracting Metals, as also those Minerals which participate most of Metallick nature. It is sometimes called Circulatory Fire, (Ignis rotae;) sometimes Fire of suppression, according as the fire is placed above, under, or at the sides.

The third degree of Intense Fire, is that of the Iron Plate, when it is red hot at the highest; which is a kinde of heat proper to trye Metallick Tinctures, as well as the degree of Fixation of Mineral remedies.

The fourth is that which is maintained by the filings of Iron put in a Capsula or Kettle of the same Mettal; and this, because this substance being once heated, preserves its heat much longer then the other, and communicates it to the Vessel put into it, which contains the matter that is either to be distilled, digested or concocted, with a greater activity.

The fifth is the Fire of Furnace, with Sand interposed to the Vessel; it preserves, and yields a less heat then that of the filings of Iron, because it takes heat more slowly, and sooner cooleth, and is more easily kept in order, by the help of the Registers of the Furnace.

The sixth is the heat of Ashes, which in respect of the fore∣going degrees, begins to be temperate: This Fire commonly is used in the Extractions of such Mixts as are of a middle substance, either Animals or Vegetables, as also in their digestions and evaporations.

The Balneum Mariae, or (to speak more properly) Balneum Maris, maketh the seventh of our Classes or degrees; and it is the most considerable of all, as that which constitutes the most excellent and usefull part of the work of Chymistry; because an understanding Artist may manage it with that judgement and proportion, that he may with its help perform a number∣less variety of Operations, which by any other imaginable way,

are not to be attained unto: For this Bath may be boyling hot, half boyling, simpring, luke-warm, half luke-warm, and be yet so ordered as to keep the middle proportions of all these de∣grees too.

The eighth degree of well graduated Fite, is the Vaporous Bath, for the Vessels may be only put to the vapour of the water contained in the Bath: And for the ninth, there may be put about the Vessel sawings of Wood to receive the vapour, as also Oaten Chaffe, or any other, shred very small, because they are bodies which easily attract this vapour and heat, and keep it long in slow, and almost perfectly equal temper.

Besides all these degrees and kindes of Heat spoken of, there remains yet the Lamp-fire, which may be graduated according to the distance or neerness of the Lamp, which shall have one or more Weeks; these weeks shall have two, three, four, or more threds, according as you intend to give a less or greater temper of heat to your matter; this Heat is chiefly used for Coction and Fixation.

The invention of ingenuous Chymists hath found out, besides this, several kindes of cheap Heats, as that of the Sun, either exposing your matter to the reflexion of the rayes of his light, received by some Body, more or less capable to reflect them; or concerning the rayes of the same Light, by the help of a Bur∣ning Glass, an Instrument whose invention may strike with amaze∣ment the best Philosophers, that are not well acquainted with the sphere of its activity, since the most obvious effects of it are, to melt Metals, according to the section and bigness of the dia∣meter of these admirable Instruments. But that which of all is more worth enquiry, and surprizes more, is, that this Fire is a Magical Fire, differing from all other; since the vulgar is de∣structive, and this to the contrary preserves and multiplyes, as experience doth verifie in the Solar Calcination of Antimony, which loses its impure Mercury and Sulphur, vapouring away in this Operation, whereby it would be thought the body should diminish; whereas it acquires a cordial and diaphoretick vertue, with a considerable addition of weight: which is thus proved. If you calcine in vulgar fire ten grains of this Mineral, it dimi∣nisheth to four, and consequently there remains but six, which

have yet a Cathartick and Emetick faculty: but if you calcine the same quantity with the Solar Fire, besides that it loses its ill qualities, by the Exhalation made of its Impurities, which no question have some weight, and seem in the Operation to have diminisht the ten grains; you shall, instead of that, the Prepa∣ration being ended, finde twelve grains of matter endowed with an admirable vertue; and this with just reason strikes into amaze∣ment the subtilest and most searching Wits; for, compare this to the other Operation, and you cannot but confess, that the augmentation is of a just full half. But it will allay something your astonishment, if you are acquainted a little more with the nature of this miraculous Fire, and can comprehend, that Light is that Promethean Fire, which gives life to all natural bodies, is their Principle, and indivisibly joyns it self to its like, whereso∣ever it meers with it in any subject.

Chymical Artists do likewise make use of Horse-dung, which yields a puttefying heat, specially recommended by Paracelsus, in the opening of the most solid and fixt Bodies, as are those of Metals and Minerals: To extract the eassier those noble remedies which he doth teach us, we may substitute to the Horse-dung, that of hot Bathes and Mineral Springs heared by Nature it self, as also that of Balneum Maris, which is Artificial, provided the requisite proportions be understood.

CHAP. III. Of the variety of Vessels.

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,

[illustration] diagram

A Vessel to alkolize the Spirit of Wyn in the very first distillation.

• 1. Vessel receaving the Aqua Vitce
• 2. pipe to put it in.
• 3. the head receaving the ascending vapour.
• 4. the first peece of the crooked pipe or worme.
• 5. the second peece.
• 6. funnel receaving and supporting the still head.
• 7. the still head.
• 8. the receaver or Recipient.
• 9. a stander support∣ing the same Recipient.
• 10. an Instrument to empty the spirit of Wyn without interrupt∣ing the distillation called Siphon.

[illustration] diagram

A Common Furnace for all operations, provided the vessels be fitted and appropriated thereunto as we have sayd in the Chapter of Furnaces

• ...a. the ashe hole.
• ...b. the focus, or fire room with its grate.
• ...c. iron barres supporting the Retort.
• ...d. the Retort.
• ...e. the cover of the Furnace.
• ...f. the holes or Registers to suppress the fire.
• ...g. the receavor or Recipiem.
• ...h. the stoole or threefoot table to support the receivor.

[illustration] diagram

Lamp Furnace

n We atherglass, Thermometer, or Engin to judge of the equality or degrees of heat.

• ...a. the Basis of the Furnace.
• ...b. a Lamp which may be raised and depressed with a screw.
• ...c. Trefoot, to set upon the Vessel.
• ...d. the Vessel, with the Philosophical egge.
• ...e. first, second and third peece of the Furnace.
• ...f. glasse Window, to looke vpon the matter.
• ...g. another Oval window opposit and answering f.
• ...h. Registers.

[illustration] diagram

Sublimating Furnace.

• ...a. the Furnace.
• ...b. the ashe hole.
• ...c. the doore of the focus.
• ...d. Registers.
• ...e. the next to the fire wherein the matter is put.
• ...f. another pot turned vpside down wards and placed vpon:e.
• ...g. the doore through which the matter is throwne in.
• ...h. the third pot.
• ...i. the fourth pot.
• ...k. the fift pot.
• ...l. button closing the pot.
• ...m. spoon to throw the matter in.

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.

CHAP. IV. Of the Diversity of all sorts of Furnaces.

IT doth not suffice, that the Artist be provided with Fire and Vessels, he must have also his Furnaces to regulate and govern his heat, and put his Vessels in that degree of Fire, which he shall judge most fitting and convenient for the matter in them contained. Furnaces are Instruments destinated to those Operations, that are performed by the help of Fire, that heat may be as it were kept in awe and bridled, to submit it self to the judgement, skill, and intention of the Artist. They have several names given them, according to the several Operations to which they are appropriated: For, they are either fixt and immovable, or moveable and to be transported. We will only

speak here of the Unmoveable, since they are the most usefull kinde for Chymical Operations; leaving the other to the in∣vention and fancy of those whom their curiosity leads to this noble Art. The matter of Furnaces is threefold; Bricks, Clay, and Iron-work; their form is according to their use.

Every Furnace must consist of four necessary parts, of what∣soever form they be, which are; First, the Hearth or Ash-room, with its hole or mouth, to take away the Ashes falling from the Coals. Secondly, the Grate which receives and keeps up the Coals. Thirdly, the Chafing-dish or Focus with its dore to throw the Coals upon the Grate; wherein are the Registers, whereby the degrees of heat of the kindled Coals are ruled and moderated. Finally, the Shop or Laboratory, which must con∣tain the Vessels and matter upon which the work is intended. These are the general heads upon which the matter and con∣struction of Furnaces is grounded; it followeth now, we should say something of their use, and the description of their parts.

We begin by the Furnace commonly called an ATHANOR, which signifies a Furnace in Arabick, and hath this name given it by excellency, (the figure called by Orators Antonomasia) because this Furnace is not only the most usefull of all others, to perform at the same time several Operations; but also because it saves Coals, easeth the care and assiduity of the Artist, and yields a heat easie to be regulated. The Athanor is consisting of four parts: The first is the Turret, containing the Coals: The second, a Balneum Maris: The third, an Ash: The fourth, a Sand-fur∣nace. The Turret is to have four or five foot in height, 1 ½ foot square in the outside, and ten inches of empty space or diameter in the inside. It requires an Ash room, with its dore for com∣municating the Air, and taking away the Ashes, and a dore above the Grate, to cleanse it, and take away the earth and little stones which are sometimes mingled with the Coals, and would stop the Grate, and hinder the passage of Air, and consequently ex∣tinguish the Fire. This Turret also must have three open places, each half a foot high, and three inches broad in the three other sides of the Furnace above the Grate, that the heat may by that passage be communicated to the Balneum Maris, Ash and Sand-Furnaces, which must be Contiguous to this Turret, and each

of these must also have their Ash-hole, Grate, and Dore, to be (if occasion requires) employed severally by themselves with∣out the Turret: These holes must be shut up, with Iron Plates, that are to rise and fall, according to the degrees of fire to be given, to either of these Furnaces. To stop the top of the Turret, there may be fitted a round or square brass Kettle, which may be usefull for several Operations, but specially digestions: This Kettle or Cauldron shall be fitted, and joyn between two Iron bands, the one of which shall be even with the inside of the Turret-top, and the other with the outside, the space between these two being filled with Ashes to hinder the expiration of heat by the said top; and thus the fire shall be forced to drive its heat to the sides, drawn in by the Registers fitted to each of the three Furnaces. And so much shall suffice to give a short explanation of the structure and use of the Athanor: for as con∣cerning the form and figure of it, the ingenuous Artist is left to his own liberty.

There is also a Distillatory Furnace requisite in Chymical Ope∣rations, to which the Copper body, or Vesica, is fastened for the distilling of Aqua Vitae or Spirits of Wine, and for other hot Spirits, which are extracted by the help of fermentation; also for the extraction of distilled Oyls, improperly called Essen∣ces, and after you have covered the said body with its head, you must joyn to it a Fat or Barrell, with a strait or crooked Pipe (called commonly a Worm) passing through the same, and receiving the vapours droven by the Fire, which are con∣densed into Liquor in the Pipe, by the cold of Water where∣with the Fat is to be filled.

For those that will operate upon Minerals and Metals, a Furnace of Cementation or trying-Furnace is required, which is no∣thing else but a Round of bricks of one foot diameter in the in∣side, and eight or nine inches high; wherein, after the first row of bricks is set, which by a good Lute and fire-proof, must exact∣ly be joyned and fastened together, a hole must be left for the bellowes: This Furnace may also serve for Copell and Calci∣nation.

A Laboratory cannot be accounted compleat, without a Rever∣beratory Furnace, which is either close or open; the close is that

in which, Aqua Fortis, and spirits of Salts, as Nitre, Vitriol, common Salt, and other things of like nature, may be distilled; the Open, is that which is used for Reverberation and Calcina∣tion, by the help of the flame refracted from the backside to the mouth of the Furnace, drawn in by a gap of half an Inch broad, and of the length of the whole Furnace, left behinde the Iron Plate, which contains the matter to be reverberated; and the same flame so reflected, goes out by another gap of the same dimension, left in the fore-front of the Furnace at the top, im∣mediately under its Cover, which ought to be made flat without any Register, except the same gap left open before.

Finally, to compleat all, the Artist must have his Winde-Fur∣nace, for Mineral and Metallick fusions, Vitrifications, and pre∣paring of Regula's; the Grate thereof must be placed upon a Square born by four Pi••lars only, that the winde and air may have a free admission, and so may be instead of bellowes; the opening between each Pillar of about a foot; and upon this basis, a round Turret of about fifteen inches high, and eight inches diameter in the inside, shall be built; the dore for passage of the Crucibles that are to be put in, must be seven or eight inches broad, and ten inches high: upon this Turret must be ap∣plyed a Cover of an Elliptical figure, or Arch-wise, with a Chan∣nel above bored with a hole of about three inches diameter, upon which another shall be adapted, three or four foot high, that the action of fire may better concentrate about the Crucible, or other Vessels containing the matter to be melted; the mouth of the dore, by which Crucibles are put in, Crucibles must also be stopt, with a dore of good Clay, made of three pieces.

But because Chymical Artists are not still sedentary, and so cannot be furnished, where they have occasion to work, with all sort of Furnaces, I will he••e impart a w••y how to erect one, which may successively be employed in all Operations requisite to this Art; provided the Artist may be furnished with necessary Vessels, and of suitable dimensions to the Furnace, which I will now describe.

Build a Furnace of 1 ½ foot square, make the bottom of the Ash-room with a brick layd flat, and continue to raise the wall with two bricks, and leave the empty place in the middle, with

the dore before of four inches height, which are two bricks; then cover the dore with a brick, and compleat the square with the same height: after this set a Grate consisting of seven Iron barres, of the thicknesse of the thumb, squarely wrought: these barres must be laid upon their edge, that the ashes may the easlier fall thorough, and not suffocate the fire; the distance between each must be of the fore-fingers breadth: and having thus placed them, and fitted their equal distance with Tyles broken, or stones of the same dimension and thickness, and luted all very well together; you must begin to build in a falling wall, leaving only six inches of your Grate open, and lessening every lay of bricks of about three lines, which work is to be continued till you have brought it to be about ten inches high, which space is necessary, as much to contain the Coals, as to leave a play sufficient for the fire; you must leave here a dore also of the same dimension as the Ash-room; this ended, place two Iron∣barres of an inch thick, distant half a foot one from the other, and then eeven the wall either with stone, or some other matter of a fit thicknesse, and then build round three bricks edge wise, that you may have the more room, to put the necessary Vessels for the following Operations.

If you will work with the Balneum Maris, take a Kettle or round Cauldron of an equal diameter with the inside of your Furnace, and of one foot height only, that it may the better be adapted to the Furnace, and the space remaining at the cor∣nes of the square, will be instead of Registers to draw, and enliven or remit the heat, according as there shall be occasion. You must also have another Cauldron, with a good strong bottom of Iron plate, but thinner in the sides, made fit to be adapted to the same Furnace; and this will serve for distillations, and for works that require a heat either of Ashes, Sand, or filings of Iron; and if this Iron Vessel was made of Mettle of a Brest-armour Plate, and forged all of one piece, it would also serve for a Balneum Maris.

And if you will work with a Retort, you may put an Earthen Pot Cover, turned upsidewards, upon the Grate; and fill the hol∣low of it with sand, to be instead of a Lute, and hinder the breaking of the Vessel, and the too quick action of the fire,

upon it and the contained matter; after which you have no more to do, then to cover the top of the Furnace with an Earthen Pan not leaded, and bored with a hole in the middle, that this hole with the other four angles may be instead of a Register to direct the fire.

If the Artist desires to make use of this Furnace; towards Fusion, Calcination, Cementation, or Reverberation, he may do it also, having taken away the bricks, builded edge-wise on the side-top of the Furnace, as the barres also, to put in his matter more easily and readily.

Thus much we had to say of Furnaces built with Lute and Bricks: there remains only now, to speak something of the Lamp-Furnace, used by the most curious Artists for many Chy∣mical Operations. This Furnace must be made of a good Bolus and well compacted Clay, kneaded and well allayed together, and then well baked, that the heat of the Lamp may not transpire; and to hinder it the better, the Furnace may after baking be rubb'd and anointed within and without, with white of Eggs re∣duced to Liquor by a continual agitation.

This Furnace is to consist of three pieces, making in all 21 inches in height, of an inch thickness, and eight inches diame∣ter in the inside. The first piece, which is the basis of the Furnace, must be eight inches high, with a hole of 4½ diameter below, that by this opening the Lamp may be put in, whose diameter is to consist of three inches, and the depth or con∣cavity of two: it must be round, and covered with an Iron plate, bored in the middle with a sufficient hole to contain a link of 12 threds or more, and with six other holes round about, pro∣portioned in an equal distance from that of the middle. The second piece is to be of seven inches height, and fitted and ad∣apted to the first, having four earthen jets or handles of about an inch long, springing out of the Wall-work, to hold up an Earthen or Brass Vessel of six inches diameter, and four high, to make a Balneum Maris, or a Capsula for ashes or sand, as occasion requires. There must also be in this second piece or part of the Furnace two holes opposite the one to the other, of 1½ inch diameter, fitted with two Glasses of Venice Crystal: these two holes must be made between the height of the fourth

and last inch of the height, to be instead of windows, to disco∣ver thereby the better the various colours, in the Operations and Dissolutions made by the Artist, opposing a lighted Candle to the side you are to look in the Vessel in which the matter is contained, lying interposed. The third piece or part of the Furnace must be six inches high to compleat the total height of 21. made arch∣wise, or hemispherical, and bored on the top with a hole of an inch diameter, receiving several pieces of three lines apiece, growing still narrower till they end in a pyramidal knob which shall close up the last: There must also be four other like holes made between the height of three or four inches, equally distant one from the other: these holes are instead of Registers to the Lamp-Furnace, whose heat is also partly governed by the en∣creasing or relenting, which the approach or removal of the flame in the Lamp doth cause, (whose support must be made with a round piece of Wood, fastened or applyed to a skrew, where∣by it shall be raised or depressed at the will of the Artist,) as also by putting more or less wieks to burn in the Lamps; and augmenting or lessening the number of threds in the wieks, the heat is multiplyed or lessened, according to the nature of the Operations. But he that will proceed with more nicety in obser∣ving the exact degrees of heat, must have recourse to the Ther∣mometer (commonly called A Weather-glasse) wherein the wa∣ter inclosed, doth by its raising and depressing, exactly shew the degrees of heat. The Oyl which is to be imployed for the feeding of this Lamp, may be rectified upon fixt Salts made by Calcination, that they may yield less Soot, and display their action more vigorously, since that rectification takes away their excrementitious humour and superfluity. The wieks must be made of Gold, Alumen plumae, or Amiantho's, which is a Mine∣ral found in the Island of Elba: to which in case of necessity may be substituted the Marrow or soft Cotton found in the middle of Elder, or Reed, very well dried; and this must be changed fresh every 24 hours: for which cause it is necessary to be provided with two Lamps, to succeed one the other, that no intermission may interrupt the action of heat. If you make use of the marrow or heart of Elder, there must be a little sharp piece of Iron, or a Wyer sharpened, fixt and fodded in the bottom of the Lamp,

that may answer the middle hole of the Cover which is to con∣tain the wiek.

The figures of all these several Furnaces are exhibited in the Cut, following this Chapter. We add only two words concer∣ning the Instruments necessary to the managing of the Furnaces, as Pincers and Tongs to take away the Crucibles, a crooked Scraper to cleanse the Grates, an Iron Shovel to take the ashes away: There must also be an Iron Conical and hollow Vessel, well sodded and staunch, for projecting the Regula's, the Model whereof may be taken in the figures of Glass Vessels.

CHAP. V. Of Lutations.

HAving described the variety of Vessels, and their use, as also the diversity of Furnaces, it followeth we should speak of all the kindes of Lutations, both of Lutes be∣longing to the fabrication of Furnaces, as of that which is used for the preservation of Vessels, and to repair their cracks and fractures, as also to joyn them again together.

That Lute which is fittest for the construction of Furnaces, is to be made with red Clay: not too fat, lest it be subject to chinks; nor too lean or sandy, lest it binde not enough. This Clay must be wrought in Water, wherein store of Horse-dung and Chim∣ney-soot hath been steept and well mingled, by which a Salt is communicated to the water, binding the Clay, and making it fit to abide the Fire. But if you will make use of this kinde of Lute or Clay, to arm, or spread about the Glass or Earthen Vessels, which are exposed to the open Fire, you must add com∣mon Salt, or the Caput mortuum of Aqua Fortis, beaten or grinded Glass, and scales of Iron falling from the Anvil in Smiths Forges; and you shall have a Lute so resisting to the action of Fire, that it will be impenetrable to vapours, insomuch as it will serve instead of the Retorts when the length and vio∣lence

of flaming Fire, which is usually given at the end of Mine∣ral Operations, hath melted the Glasten ones.

When we have spoken of Vessels, we have mentioned some that ought to be joyned together for one Operation, and said that it is necessary, when the substances wrought upon are subtile, penetrating and aethereal, that their meeting may be very exactly luted. There are then three kindes of Lute observable, for the joyning of Vessels together, when they are not exposed to open fire. The first is, that Lute which is made with white of Eggs, beaten and reduced to water by a long agitation: therein dip Fillets of Linnen, and spread the powder of unslackt Lime subtily beaten, then add another fillet of dipt Linnen, and spread pow∣der again, and so continue and re-iterate this three times; but note, that the Lime powder must never be mingled with the water of Eggs, because the secret fire of the Lime would burn and harden it, though many Artists do fall into this error; you may also dip in the same Whites of Eggs, Swine or Ox Bladder, without making use of the Lime, principally in the rectification and alkoholisation of fiery Spirits, extracted out of fermented substances. The second kinde of Lute is made with white Starch or baked Flower, and made into Pappe with common water: this kinde of Lute suffices for luting Vessels which contain less subtile and penetrating substances. The third, is nothing else but Paper cut in Fillets, folded and dipt in water, applyed to the top of Cucurbites, both to hinder that the head may not offend it, and prevent the exhaling of vapours. This manner of Lute is only used in evaporating and drawing of some inconside∣rable Menstruum or of small worth, and which may not serve again for another Operation.

There must also be another kinde of strong Lute, made to remedy the cracking of Vessels, and joyn them together, when they are to suffer a violent heat; of this there is two sorts. The first made with Glass reduced to very subtile powder, Karabe or yellow Amber and Borax, allayed with the Mucilage or water wherein Gum Arabick hath been steept, and so applyed to the joynts or meeting of the Vessels or their Cracks: and after it is well dryed, you must run with a red hot Iron gently over it, and it will give it a fast so dering and almost perfect union of the

chinks or cracks of the Vessels together: But if you will spare so much trouble, make your Lute only with soft Cheese, Lime and Rye flower; and you shall finde it no less successefull for this purpose by experience. But if you will close the neck of a Retort, and fit it to its Recipient, for the distilling of Aqua Fortis and Spirits of Salts, use only common Clay, and the Ca∣put Mortuum of Vitriol or Aqua Fortis, and common Salt, dis∣solving the Salt in water, and mixing well your Lute, then ap∣plying to the place, give it time to drye with a slow heat, to avoyd chinks; which if any happen, your care must be to stop them leasurely as they are made, and hinder thereby the exhaling of volatile Spirits.

To all these kinde of Lutations may very well be added the Hermetical Seal, which is nothing else but the melting of the Glass in the neck of the Vessel, to which end the Artist is to give by degrees the heat of Fusion; and when you see the neck begin to yield and encline by the force of fire melting the Glass, with strong Cizzers ready for the purpose, you must cut the neck of the Vessel where it is most melted; and thus the parts compressed, do as it were unite the edges of the Glass inseparably: But if you would rather close or seal the Vessel in a sharp end, twisting by degrees the neck of the Vessel, you must after expose the small end to the flame of a Candle or Lamp, to frame thereby a little knob, wherewith that small hole may be stopt, which most commonly remains at the end of the twisting, and is almost imperceptible.

Now as the Vessels are not still framed according to our desire, and that some parts are often to be taken away, which may hinder the Operations; we must also declare, how this, without endangering the Vessel may be done, viz. by breaking or slitting the Glass equally by a thwart line: This is performed three several wayes; as either by applying a red hot Iron to begin the slit, or twisting about the neck of the Vessel three rowes of thred dipt in Brimstone, if it be strong and thick; or else turning the Vessels part you would slit to the flame of a Lamp or Candle, if it be a thin and small Glass; and when it is well heated by any of these three ways, wipe it off, and throw upon it some drops of cold water, which will cause a Crack; the which begun,

mony, or any other: Aqua Fortis, the Ostridge's stomack: Armo∣niack Salt sublimated, the spread Eagle: The Tincture of Gold, the red Lion: That of Vitriol, the Green Lion: The Mercury subli∣mated, corrosive, and Antimony, are their two Dragons; the But∣ter of Antimony, the poysonous Foam of the two Dragons: The Tincture of Antimony, the Dragons Blood; and when this Tincture is coagulated, they have called it, the Wolfs Jelley. They also name that redness, which in the distillation of Nitre appears in the Receiver, the Blood of Salamander. The Vine is called by them, the Great Vegetable; Tartar, the Excrement of the Juice of Ja∣nus's Plant: And so have they several other names, more or less Enigmatical, which we will not gather up here; partly because it might prove both tedious and needless; as also that by assiduous reading and practice, (which are the two best Clues to lead us out of this labyrinth) they may easily be conceived and understood. Thus shall we with this Chapter put a conclusion to this Book, to enter into the second of our Second Part, wherein we shall give a free and ingenuous description of the manner of working, and preparing remedies, as also of the excellent uses, to which they may be applyed.