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 Ʋrine.

THough Urine be an excrement voyded, and cast away dayly, it contains nevertheless a mysterious Salt, full of Vertues, known but to very few. The ingenious Artist which is ac∣quainted with its proprieties, shall not easily be scared or di∣stasted by the name or noysomeness of it: it belongs only to such as boast of an eminent knowledge in Pharmacy and its Pre∣parations, and dare not nevertheless fowl and sully their hands in the disquisition and separating of the different parts where∣with bodies are compounded. And to prove in general, the divers Medicinal Vertues of Urine, we shall only hint, that the washing with it, when newly voided, doth dry and heal itches and scab, dissolve tumors being applyed warm, mundifies and clenseth wounds and venemous ulcers, prevents gangreen; opens gently the body without gripings, being administed in Glysters lukewarm; for, it it be suffered to cool, it loses that Volatile Spirit wherein the chief Vertue of it doth consist; hindereth, or at least, lesseneth the fits of certain Agues, if it be applyed warm to the wrist, and in frontals: healeth the ulcerous Ears, being poured in; taketh away the redness and the itching of the Eyes,

if be distilled in the corners of them: Being mixt with Spirit of Wine, cureth the shaking of Limbs; and taken in the way of a Gargal, dissipates the swelling and tumour of the Ʋvula: and to be short, appeaseth all the pains caused by vapours rising from the Spleen, applyed in a Plaister-wise made with Ashes. And if thus, Urin seemeth to be a treasure against outward Diseases: it is of no less efficacy against inward ones, being soverain in re∣moving all obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Bladder and Gall, preserving against the Plague, and curing Dropsie in its beginning, and removing Yellow-Jaundies: And it hath been observed, by some curious searchers of Nature, that the Husband's Urin in difficulty of birth is a specifick remedy, to cause speedy delivery: and experience hath taught it to be no less wonderful and effectual in the cure of Tertians; a good glass full of recently voyded Urin being given in the very beginning of the Fit.

All what we have said hitherto, is only to make it plain, how much more excellent and capable of producing its Effects, well prepared Urin, and separated from its gross impurity shall be, than when it is yet corporeal; and to prove more and more, that the chief, nay almost all the Vertues of mixt Bodies, do proceed from their Spirits, and Salts.

They that will make use of Urin in Pharmacy, or Chymical operations, must chuse (if they can) that of wholesom Bodies of young men, or children, from the age of 10. until 15. years, drinking Wine, if it may be had so, if not, such as they can meet with; for all Urin is never without its Spirit and Salt: But in Urin of this latter sort, they will be fewer and grosser. Though experience hath made it manifest, that the same Remedies are sound in it either to be outwardly or inwardly applyed, or to pre∣pare the following operations.