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.

CHAP. VIII. Of Animals.

TO treat of Animals, is a part of Chymical Pharmacy, containing the remedies extracted out of Animals, and the way how to prepare them: And as the object of Chymical Philosophy are all natural substances, so doth she ex∣tend her Operations upon all Animals, and Man it self, the most perfect and accomplished of all. But as the extent of a Compen∣dium, or Abbreviate Treatise, cannot reach to an exact enumera∣tion of perfect Terrestrial Animals, neither of Fouls, Fishes or Insects, which are the four Classes or Divisions of this vast, beau∣tifull, and noble family of Animals; it shall suffice for our design and purpose, to make first some observations upon the nature of Animals in general, and the choyce which an Artist is to make of them, when he intends to draw from them those wonderfull remedies which they contain, to ease the griefs and misery of mankinde; thence shall we pass upon some of the Operations made on them, to be as a Guide and an Example, whereby to work upon all others of the like nature.

We say then by the way, that as all Animals are made of a more volatile, subtile, and aerial substance, than the Vegetables on which they feed; so in their ultimate resolution, which Art doth perform, have they less of Earth, and of diversity of Sub∣stances: whence it is, that there are only three efficatious Medi∣cines may be extracted from them, viz. Spirit, Volatile Salt, and Oyl: We will not lose time in debating here, whether the forms of these Animals are spiritual or material; being a dispute more of curiosity then use. We will only say, that the Artist

must choose the soundest and healthiest Animals to extract his remedies from; that they be of a middle age, that the parts may have attained to a requisite firmness, solidity and perfection; for it is well known, that Animals do daily ••ie, as they advance in age, after they have past a certain state and period of perfection, which according to the nature of each is the limit of their duration, and their Ne plus ultra. It is also requisite the Animal should dye a violent death, chiefly by strangling and suffocating; because suffocation doth concentrate the spirits in their parts, and hinders their dissipation; and that it is in the preservation of this flame and vital light, that properly inhabits, and makes its residence, the vertue of Animals and their parts, as is manifested by the fol∣lowing history of what happened at Montpellier, as Bartholinus relates it in his Centuries: Which is, that a woman having bought in the Shambles Meat newly killed, and steeming yet with the heat internal, hung it in the Chamber wherein she did use to sleep; having some occasion to wake at night, she was surprized, to see a great light in her Chamber, though the Moon did not shine; she at first was astraid, not imagining the cause whence it did proceed; but at last she perceiv'd, that this light did proceed from the meat she had hung up; and the next morning related it to her neighbours, which de••rous to see this thing, which by relation seemed to them incredible, were confirmed in the truth and belief of it by their own eyes: A piece of this Luminous Flesh was carried to the Prince of Conde, then Governour for his Majesty in Languedock, in the year 1641. and this Flesh at last did lose its light, as it came neerer its corruption. This truth cannot be contradicted in the historical part; and curious search∣ers of Nature, may see whenever they list, that sparks of light do issue forth out of living Creatures, if they take the pains to rub a Cat-skin in the dark, against the hair, a sufficient proof to verifie more and more that light is not only the Principle of Composition in all things, but is also the Principle of their pre∣servation, and the chief cherisher of life. The foregoing relation makes me remember a complaint which some Butchers Pren∣tices did make at Sedan, that coming by night time into their Slaughter-house, they did perceive some extraordinary light, which superstitiously they did attribute to apparitions of Evill

Spirits, not without horrour and aftrightment, whereof I was an ocular witness: but when there was any Candle lighted in the place, the light did vanish away; by which it was easie to be seen, that this light proceeded from the flesh of Animals newly killed.

Of Man.

THe Chymical Artist doth extract from Man, both male and female, several Substances, which are the subject of this work, and that either during his life, or after his death; from male and female during their life, are taken Hairs, Milk, After-burthen, Urin, Bloud, and the Stone in the Bladder: After death, use is made, either of the dead body, or its parts, which are muscles or flesh, fat, bones, or skull. From these several, parts, is the Ar∣tist to take his Remedies, as we shall hereunder teach in or∣der; and that will be a sufficient example to direct him in the like operation upon other Animals and their parts. There are yet besides these above related, several other parts in Animals, very useful for Physick: But, as they are not commonly made use of in Chymical operations, we think it needless to mention them in this Chapter, lest we break the Law of our Abridgement.

Of Hair.

TO draw from Hair any serviceable Remedy, and lose none of the Vertue, they must be distilled; for by this Operation is the Spirit and Oyl extracted, and the Ashes are preserved: which is performed in this manner.

Take Hair either of male or female, as they are found in Barbers shops, or Periwick-makers, and fill therewith a Glass Retort, rather then an Earthen one, by reason of the subtilty of their Spirits, and put it in a Sand Furnace, (which for abbrevia∣tion we will call only Sand hereafter): To this, fit exactly a con∣venient and large Receiver, and lute the Joynts; the Lute being dry, begin first to give it a moderate fire; which increase by de∣grees, till the vapours begin to fill and abundantly the Recipient; and keep the Fire in this state, until, the vapours being spent, the Re∣tort

begins to grow clear of it self; then encrease the Fire more violently, that nothing of what may be driven out of the Retort do remain, and the Calcination of the remainder, may perfect∣ly be performed; then ceasing the fire, let the Vessels cool, and you shall find in the Recipient two different substances, which are the Armoniac Spirit of the Hair, and the Oyl, which is no∣thing else but the sulphurous portion of this Mixt, mingled with the grosser part of the Volatile Salt. These two Substances after separation, may be applyed to Physical uses: But it is nevertheless necessary, to rectifie them before hand, viz. the Spirit in B. M. upon other Hair, cut in very small pieces, in a small Glass-Body covered with its head, and using all requisite precautions; and the Oyl upon its own Ashes, in an Ash Furnace, giving at first but a moderate heat.

The Spirit of Hair is not inwardly given, partly by reason of its ill taste and odour, partly because Art doth extract from other parts of Man, other Spirits more pleasing, and less nauseous in their use. This Spirit then is never used, but with a mixture of Honey, to anoint the parts where Hair are thin, and grow in small quantity, or altogether fallen away: The Oyl is soverain to eradicate Tetters in what part soever of the Body they grow, making a Liniment of it with Salt of Saturn, and applying to the place, after a due Purgation given to the Patient fit for ex∣pelling serosities. The Ashes mixt with Mutton-suet in the man∣ner of a Sear-cloth, produce wonderful effects in the cure of strains, and the strengthning of dis-joynted and dislocated parts. Add to this, that Hair unwrought, are a very present remedy to stanch running of bloud, either in wounds, bleeding of the nose, or immoderate courses of women.

Of Milk.

WOmans Milk of it self is an excellent remedy for Eyes, to appease the grief and remove inflamation, whether pro∣ceeding of some hurt in the substance it self, or from small Ul∣cers which happen to breed in Eye-lids and corners of the Eye: and if Womans Milk cannot be recovered, then some other kind is to be substituted in the place. But there is a Vitriolick Wa∣ter

distilled with Womans Milk, or some other, either Cows Milk, Ass, or Goat, which may be still ready at hand, and is no less ef∣ficacious to remove any grief from the Eye; It is thus made.

℞ of Milk and white Vitriol pulverised a like quantity, put them together in a Cucurbite or Glass Body, fitted with all the care requisite to Distillation, then extract upon the Ash Furnace, a water S. A. with a graduate heat, until the white vapours or clouds do ascend, at which time cease the fire, lest the Water should become corrosive: This Water doth correct the redness of the Eyes, and removes wonderfully inflamations.

Of the After-burthen.

TO prepare any Remedy from the After-burthen, you must chuse (if possible) one of the first birth, and a male: the Woman being of a middle age, as from 18 to 35 years, sound, Black or Ches-nut hair; the Red-hair Women (as participating something of Arsenical Spirits) are to be absolutely excepted. And if the Artist cannot recover one of the first child, let him at least have it of a male child: and, unless in absolute necessity, make no use of a female, which only in such case he is allowed to do: for being both male and female are nourished in the same womb with the same menstruous bloud, there is but the difference of the strength and vigour, considerable in the choyce.

Take then such an After-burthen (as is said) with all the condi∣tions requisite, put in a Glass Cucurbit, and distil in B. M. until the bottom be dry, and keep the Water in a Bottle well stopt with Cork, seasoned in melted Wax; and if what is left in the bottom of the Cucurbit, be not dry enough to be reduced to Powder, dry it in a Paper doubly or trebly folded, at a moderate heat. But you are to note, that neither in distilling nor drying of it, it must not be turned upside downwards, that the Spirit and Volatile Salt may the better concentrate themselves, because it is this Salt which properly gives vertue, to the Powder that is to be made thereof.

The Water thus extracted, is an excellent Cosmetick, smooth∣ing wonderfully the skin, both of hands and face, takes away the wrinckles, and spots; chiefly, if you add a little Salt of

Pearls and Borax. But it is moreover very useful in expelling the After-burthen, when the delivery of the Woman hath been long and difficult, and accompanyed with weakness, provided you mix with this Water the weight of ʒ ss. of the Powder of the Body whence it hath been extracted, or the same weight of an Eels Liver dryed with its Gall, which is an approved and infallible Remedy.

The Powder given from ℈. 1. to ij. or iij. is a Soverain Reme∣dy against Epilepsie, either in its own water, or that of Pyony, or Lillium Convallium, or Lime-tree, seven continual dayes fast∣ing, during the decrease of the Moon. But if you Calcine the After-burthen in an Earthen unleaded Pot well covered and luted; the Ashes will be a specifical Remedy against the Kings-Evil, and Wens, exhibited in Water of male Sour••hern-wort, the weight of ʒ ss. during the last quarter of the Moon, every morning fasting.

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.

To make the Igneous Spirit of Ʋrin, and prepare its Volatile Salt.

TAke of Urin, conditionated as we have said above, thirty or forty pints, and evaporate it with gentle heat, to a consistency of Syrup; put the remainder in a Glass-Body of about a cubit high, cover it with its Head or Limbeck well luted; and in a B. M. or Ashes, extract the Spirit and Volatile Salt by Distillation:

if you work in Balneo, let it be boyling; if in Ashes, give your de∣grees of fire with precaution. Your Spirit will be found coagulated in the Limbeck in a Volatile Salt.

But you are to observe, not to Evaporate your Urin, but when it is recent and new; for, if you did, after Fermentation or Digestion the best Substance would Evaporate away and be lost.

The Spirit of Urin may also be distilled with a Limbeck in B▪ M. hot boyling, withont Evaporation; but then it must be rectified.

The same Spirit may likewise be distilled without apparent fire, which is a wonderful operation, and thus performed; Evaporate the Urin with a gentle fire about a third part away, then having filled the bottom of a Glass Body with three fingers high of good unslackt Lime, pour your Urin thereupon being thus evaporated, then cover it quickly with its head, and fit a Receiver; and thus without the help of any fire, shall you obtain in a short time, the Spirit of Urin so Subtile and Volatile, as not to be any way inferiour to any drawn by another method: They that will make use of the open Retort of Glauber, shall more easily distil it, and in greater quantity; it is very difficult to preserve the Vo∣latile Salt of Urin, by reason of its subtile nature, and the pene∣trability of its parts, therefore is it necessary to digest it with its own Spirit, and unite them both together, preserving them in a Glass Viol of a narrow neck, and fenced with a double bladder wetted above all.

This Vol••til soline Spirit, or spiritual Salt is endowed with al∣most innumerable Vertues: for it is first, of a soverain efficacy in allaying the pain of all the parts of the body, and chiesly of joynts, when mixt with some convenient liquor. It opens more then any other remedy, all tartarous obstructions of the Mizentery and Bowels; whence it is used with wonderful success in Scor∣butick and Hypochondryacal Diseases, to correct evil Fermen∣tations of the Stomack, and cure the two kinds of Jaundies: it is of no less vertue to dissolve and attenuate the gravel and slimy substance generated in the Reins or Bladder. It may also be made a very excellent remedy against Epileptical, Apoplectical, Maniacal-Diseases, and all other of the like nature, which are

said to have their root and first original in the Brain: but it must be prepared as followeth.

Take Vitriol purified by several Solutions, Filtrations, and Cry∣stallizations made with distilled Rain, or which were yet better, Dew-water: Imbibe it with Spirit of Urine, until it only covers the matter; stop your Vessel very close, and put in digestion for eight or ten dayes, after which, put your matter thus digested in a high Glass Body, and distil it in Ashes till dry: you shall have an excellent Cephalick Remedy, to cure the Megrum and all other pains in the head, even by the only smell; and to provoke sleep, if it be only held a little space of time under the nose. That which remains in the bottom of your Glass Body or Cucurbit, must afterwards be put in a Retort in Sand, with its Recipient well luted, to draw the Volatile Salt thereof, and a kind of brown Oyl, not to be despised both in Medicinal and Metallick Operati∣ons; you may also make a Dissolution of the remainder, and by Filtration, Evaporation, and Crystallization bring it to a Salt, which is one of the truest Stomachal Remedies to expel those vi∣scosities and hurtful superfluities which most commonly stick to the sides of crude and ill-disposed Stomacks: it must be given in Broth or warm Beer. The dosis must be from viij grains to xx. and even to ℥ ss. The dosis of the Spirit of Urine, is from xi. drops to xij. or xv. in Emulsions, Broths or other appropriated Liquors; that of Volatile Salt from ii. grains to x. in the same manner as the Spirit.

To make the Water, Oyl, Spirit, volatile and fixed Salt, of Humane Bloud.

TAke in the month of May, a good quantity of some young mens bloud, which they ordinarily cause in that season to be let out for prevention of diseases, and distil it in Ashes in a large Glass Body; but to prevent the raising of it in the Head or Lim∣beck, put upon it two or three handful of Hemp, luting all ex∣actly, and fitting a convenient Receiver; rule your fire accurately by proportionate degrees, and take care above all things, that the remaining Mass after distillation in the bottom may not burn, but be only dryed sufficiently. So shall you have Water

and Spirit, which rectifie in Balneo: with the Water you may ex∣tract the Salt remaining in the Caput mortuum, after due calcina∣tion; the Spirit may be preserved as it is, to be used against the Falling-sickness, and Convulsion fits of children. The dosis from ℥ ss. to ℥ i. It is also a specifick Remedy for the same diseases, if you mix with it the Flower of Lilly-convally and Lavender, to extract the Tincture thereof. It will nevertheless be better, if you co∣hobate it in a Retort upon what did remain in the bottom of your Cucurbit, or Glass Body nine several times, or so long till it hath got a ruby colour, and that the Oyl cometh at last with its volatile Salt, sticking to the Neck of the Glass or the sides of your Recipient; then mix it with the Spirit, and joyn them to∣gether by distillation in Balneo. This is that Spirit impregnated with its volatile Salt, so much cryed up for the cure of Palsie, be∣ing inwardly taken from six drops to ten, in Broths, or decoction of Squina-root, or in white generous Wine.

What did remain in the bottom of the Glass Body, must be calcinated with a circular fire to extract the Salt thereof, with the water that came first in the distillation, filtring, evaporating, and crystallizing, to preserve for the following use.

Take the distilled Oyl, and rectifie it upon Colcothar in Sand in a Retort, until you find it subtile and penetrative; mix the fixed Salt with your Oyl, and digest it together, until they be perfectly united; and thus shall you have a wonderful Balsom, to allay the grief of Gout in hands, and feet, and remove the swel∣ling and redness thereof: But, that which is more considerable, is, that this remedy softens, dissipates, and dissolves the Chalk ga∣thered by the Gouty humor in the Joynts, as also coagulations in the Joynts of Pocky Bodies, being purged before with the ordi∣nary preparations of Mercury and Antimony.

But you must not stick still at the Spring season of the year, whereby to get your blood; for if necessity doth require it, you may take it also in the other seasons of the year; you may also make use of Goat, Swine, Near, or Sheeps bloud, and distil it with the same Art, and in the same manner as humane bloud; for in perfect Animals, the natural digestions are performed in the same manner, and their bloud is endowed with the same vertues; only that of Man is of a subtiler nature, by reason of the delicacy of his food.

To make the Salt and Elixir of the Stone and Bladder.

IT is a wonder of Nature, that the very same thing which causes in Man such extremities of torture, ••••ould become to the same disease so good and certain a remedy: this is experimented in the Stone of the Bladder, which without any other preparation than being reduced to small Powder, may be administred from ℈ i. to ʒ i. in white Wine, or decoction of Burredock Roots and red Nettles, to dissolve the Stone in the Bladder, and expel gra∣vel and slime from it and from the Kidneys: but those Re∣medies being heightened by Chymical preparation, are much more efficacious, and do act with a much greater quickness.

Take then a parcel of these Stones, reduce them to powder, and joyn with 2. pintes of Beach Goal pulverised, and thus be∣ing put in a well luted Crucible, calcine it with a circular or rever∣beratory fire, the space of five or six hours; and being cooled, grind your matter upon a Marble, and, with some diuretical Wa∣ter make a Lye thereof; o••, with Phlegm of Salt-Peter, or Al∣lom, filtrate and evaporate till it skins; then in a cold place draw your Crystals, and so continue to do, till you have extracted all the Salt; which if you find not yet sufficiently cleansed, put it again in a Crucible, and let it grow red-hot in the fire without fusion, then purifie by reiterated solutions, filtrations, evapora∣tions and crystallizations, until you like it. You must keep this Salt well dryed, in a Glass Viol well stopt, lest by the attra∣ction of Air, it should contract moisture. The dosis is from iv. grains to viij. in appropriated Liquors, to facilitate the excreti∣on of Urin, dissolve and expel the gravel and slimy matter in the Reins and Bladder, which most commonly are the occasional cause of generating the Stone.

But if you will have an Essence or Elixir out of it much more efficatious then this Salt, calcine the Stone with equal weight of well purified Salt-Peter in a Crucible with a circular fire, the space of six hours; then extract the Salt from the matter calcinated, with Spirit of Wine, filtrate, evaporate, and draw your Crystals, and when they are well desiccated, put them to digest in a double Vessel in Baelnei vapore, with rectified Spirit of Wine: then co∣ver

it with a head, and draw the Spirit of Wine in a gentle Bal∣neo, and cohobate so often, till the Salt be reduced to a very sub∣tile and clear Liquor, which you are choysely to preserve; it must be given from five drops to ten, for the same Diseases, and in the same Liquors before mentioned.

The Artist must not scruple to make use of Nitre in the Calci∣nation of the Stone of the Bladder, lest its Salt should joyn with the other••: for, besides that all, what is volatile, sharp and corrosive in the Nitre, flyes away in the calcination, that sub∣stance of it which remains after the Stone is calcined, can but augment the efficacy of the Remedy, then lessen or obstruct it, being reduced by the action of the fire to the universal nature.

Having thus ended to treat of those things, which are ex∣tracted from Man's body during its life; we will end this Chapter by examining those Sustances which his Body may afford after death; beginning with the Flesh, which doth furnish us with several con∣siderable preparations, as in the sequel will appear.

Of Humane Flesh and its Preparations.

THe Mummy which is prepared out of the Flesh of Man, is one of the noblest Remedies which all the parts of his Body can afford: But, because it is abhorred by some natures, and is nei∣ther known, nor well apprehended by others, it will not be unfit to say something of its differences, before we come to the descri∣ption of its true Preparation.

Those that have more learnedly writ of Mummy among the Ancients, make only four kinds of it: the first is the Arabiack, which is nothing else but a Liquor flowing from Bodies embalmed with Myrrha, Aloes, and natural Balsom mixed and acorporated, with the fleshy substance of embalmed bodies, contaming the Spirit and volatile Salt, from which doth result the Mummial part, which composes with Myrrha, Aloes, and Balsom this first kind of Mum∣my of the Ancients, which were not to be despised, if recoverable; but none such is to be found at this day.

The second kind, is the Aegyptian Mummy, which is a Liquor thickned and dryed, proceeding from the Bodies which have been sea••oned and filled with a Balsom, ordinarily called Asphaltum,

or Pissasphaltum (a kind of Bitumen). Now as Sulphur in natural bodies is incorruptible, so is it by his means and Balsamick facul∣ty also, that dead bodies are preserved against corruption: This second kind is much inferiour to the first, and is only fit for out∣ward uses, being not capable to draw from the dead body, the vertues of the median life, which was hidden and concealed in the parts, by reason of the compactedness and closeness of parts of these Bituminous Sulphureous Substances, which are dry, crumb∣ling, brikle.

The third kind is altogether to be laught at and rejected, being nothing else but an Artificial Pissasphaltum, viz. black Pitch mix∣ed with Bitumen, and boyled with a Liquor issuing from the dead Bodies of Slaves, to give it the cadaverous smell; and this third sort is usually found in Druggers shops, which furnish Apotheca∣ries; deceived by the odour of this D••ugg sophisticated and falsi∣fied. This that I say, have I learned from a Jew of Alexandria in Aegypt, laughing himself at the credulity and ignorance of Chri∣stians.

The fourth, and best, and less so phisticated kind, is that of Hu∣mane Bodies, dryed up in the hot Sands of Lybia; for it happens often, that whole Caravans are swallowed up in the Sands, when any contrary wind doth in an instant arise, and whirling the Sand, doth in an instant cover and overwhelm them unawares. I have said, that this fourth kind is the best, because it is uncompounded, and that this sudden suffocation doth concentrate the Spirits in all the parts, by reason of the fear and sudden surprisal, which seizes on Travellers, according to that saying of Virgil,

Membra quatit, gelidusque coit formidine sanguis.

And because moreover the sudden exsiccation caused by the heat of the Sand, or the irradiation of the Sun, communicates unto it some astral vertue, which by any other way whatsoever can∣not be performed.

They that can recover this last kind of Mummy, shall make use of it towards the following preparations: But, because these dead bodies so dryed, are not still to be recovered, and that the Remedies thereof extracted are very useful and necessary;

the ingenious Artist may substitute a fifth kinde of Mummy, viz. that which Paracelsus calleth Mumiam Patibuli; and which may lawfully be also called the Modern Mummy, which you may pre∣pare in the following manner.

Preparation of the Modern Mummy.

TAke some young lusty mans body, of about 25 or 30 years of age, dead by suffocation or hanging, and dissect the Muscles without loss of their common Membrane, and being thus sepa∣rated, dip in Sp. of Wine, and suspend in a place where the air may be drye and pass freely to and fro, that they may be soon desiccated, and the volatile Salt and Spirit contained therein, may be concentrated in the fibres, the serous and unserviceable part only vapouring away; and if so be the weather proves moyst and rainy, these Muscles must be hung in a Chimney, and every day aired with a small fire of Juniper wood, having all its leass and berries, untill they become as dry and well seasoned as the pow∣dered Beef, which Mariners use for long Sea-voyages. Thus will you have a Mummy not inferiour to that of the fourth kind before described; yea in some regard to be more valued, because we are assured of her preparation, and we can upon any occasion more easily come by it, and that it seemeth that the Spirits, Volatile Salt, and the Mumial and Balsamick Substance, must by this Preparation be better preserved, the flesh thereof not being dryed with so intense and great a heat.

To make the modern Mumial Balsom.

TAke lb 1. of the fifth kinde of Mummy, and bray it with a wooden Pestle in a Mortar, untill it be reduced to very thin fibres; which cut afterwards very small with Cizzers, and put in a long-neckt Matrass, pouring thereon Oyl of Olives impregna∣ted with spirit of Turpentine, which is properly her Aethereal Oyl, untill it swims above the matter three or four fingers high, seal your Glass Hermetically, and digest it in Fimo, or at the vapour of a hot Bath or B. M. in dust of Wood, during the space of a Philosophical Moneth, which is a space of forty dayes,

without interruption of the heat: Then opening the Vessel, pour your matter into a Cucurbite, and without covering put it in Balneo M. and so let all the nauseous smell which it had con∣tracted, exhale away, and all the Mummy be dissolved; then strain it through a Cotton, and let this dissolution digest in Balneo in a couble Glass, with equal portion of rectified Spirit of Wine, wherein you shall have dissolved ℥ ii. of old Triacle, and mixed ℥ i. of Vipers flesh in powder, during the space of three weeks, at the end whereof, you shall take away the blinde head of the double Glass, and cover the remaining body with a Lim∣beck-head, drawing away the Sp. V. with a very gentle heat of Balneo; and thus shall you have a most efficacious Balsom, usefull both inwardly and out wardly applyed.

It is an excellent internal remedy against all venemous Disea∣ses, but particularly against Pestilential, and all those that come neer their nature. It is also singular for inward bruises, and con∣gealed blood by a fall, for Palsie, contracted Limbs, and weakened by Atrophy, Plurisie, and all other Diseases which are help'd by sweating: Therefore great heed must be had to cover well the Patients to whom it shall be exhibited. The Dosis is from ʒ i. to ʒ iii. in Broths, or Tincture of Sassafras, or Juniper-berries.

But the vertues of it outwardly applyed, cannot enough be commended, for it is a Balsom to be preferred even to the Natu∣ral, which appeases all external griefs or aches proceeding from cold, or any winde or vapour shut up in the spaces that are be∣tween the Muscles, as also caused by bruises and crushings; you may also anoint therewith Limbs struck with Palsie, shrunk and contracted parts of the body, or weakened for want of nourish∣ment; you may also rub therewith all places of the body where a pain is felt, and no swelling or redness seen: but you must observe, that it will be good at the same time, to give some in∣wardly to the patient, that the internal heat may co-operate with the external; to this end he must be well covered, and left to his rest for some hours, to provoke sweating, or to cause that which occasioneth the grief and vice of the parts, insensibly to transpire.

How the Fat of Mans Body is to be prepared and distilled.

THe Fat of Mans Body, without other preparation, is of it self an outward remedy very considerable; for it strengthens the feeble parts, and dissipates the external dryness, appeases griefs, dissolves contractions, and restores to sinewous parts their action and motion lost, softens the hardness of Cicatrices or Skars, fills up holes and cavities, and smooths the hollow places whi••h the Small-pox leaves usually in the skin.

The first preparation is common and simple: for it prescribes only to cut it and boyl it in White-wine, untill the pieces are well crisped, and the moysture of the Wine evaporated; then crush it between two Tin-plates warmed before: and so keep it for use.

The second preparation is, when you intend an Anodine Oynt∣ment, cooling, and resolving, which may very successefully be applyed in swellings, inflamations, hardnesses, and other acci∣dents usually happening to Wounds and Ulcers, either by the Patients own distemper and ill diet, or the Chirurgeons neglect and unskilfulness: You must thus prepare it. Take Phlegm of Vitriol, or Allum, impregnated with their sharp, sowre spirit, about lb ss. put therein to digest in Sand ℥ ii. of washed and dryed Litharge or white Lead, stirring it often; and when your Liquor is well impregnated, filtrate it, and thereof make a Lini∣ment in the form of a Nutritum: and if you desire to make it more specifick, add to it in the stirring some proportion of the Tincture of Myrrhe and Aloes, drawn with good Spirit of Wine.

The third and last preparation is the exactest and best, and is performed by distillation in this manner. Take 1 p. of Fat, and 2 or 3 p. of decrepitated Salt, and being well mixed and incor∣porated together, put it in a glass Retort, joyned to its Recipi∣ent, both well luted S. A. in a Sand-furnace, then give it a graduate fire, untill the bottom of the Retort groweth red, which may be performed in the space of eight hours; and thus shall you have an Oyl of a subtile and penetrative nature, a soveraign remedy to re-animate, and take away the benumming of Para∣lytick

Limbs, which for the most part are cooled and deprived of nourishment: better by much then the substance from whence it was extracted, to all the uses and purposes which we have assign∣ed it hereabove. And if you will make this Oyl yet more subtle and penetrating, circulate it in Balneo with equal p. of Sp. of Wine, for the space of some dayes; then rectifie and distill in Ashes, in a low Glass body; by this means it shall become so penetrating, that scarce it can be preserved in Glass, and becomes imperceptible as soon as applyed, by reason of its quick pene∣tration.

These Preparations already described, may be a pattern for all other kinds of Oyls, Butters, Fats, and such like, which by this method may be made more efficacious and penetrating.

To make the Spirit, Oyl, and Volatile Salt of Mans Bones and Skull.

THe preparation of the Skull, shall not differ from that of the Bones; wherefore we will not lose time in making two several descriptions, the one and the other being thus wrought.

Take the Bones of a Man extingnished by violent death, which neither have been buryed under ground, nor boyled, nor put in Quick-lime, and saw them in pieces of a convenient size to be put in a Retort well luted, and being filled not above the two third part: put it in a close Reverberatory Furnace with open fire; and having exactly luted and fitted a Recipient to it, cover the Re∣verberatory, leaving only a hole of about the bigness of an inch and a half diameter, to be as a Register for ruling the fire, which ought to be moderately graduated, untill all the white steams be over; then change your Recipient, or empty the matter con∣tained in the first, and lute it again exactly, continuing and in∣creasing the fire, untill you drive out the Oyl with a Volatile Salt and the remainder of the Spirit, which work must be thus pursued, untill the Recipient begins to clear of it self, which will happen in the space of twelve hours, from the beginning of your Operation. But you must note, that the dust coming out of the sawing of the Bones, must be preserved, or some other provided by scraping or filing, to be used in rectifying of the Spirit, Oyl, or Volatile Salt. You must also calcine and reverberate with open

fire to whiteness, between bricks, the pieces or lump remain∣ing in your Retort, that they may serve in a manner to stay and fix the Volatile Salt, which otherwise, by reason of its subtile nature, cannot be preserved: as we shall declare, when we come to speak of the distillation and rectification of the Extract of Harts-horn.

I cannot here bury under silence an experiment wherein I was an Eye-witness, in the person of a Cornet, who had received a Musket-shot in the thigh, neer unto the knee, and who after the wound healed, had both his leg and knee so strangely put out of their natural posture and situation, that his heel did almost stick unto the buttock, which made him uncapable of the function of his employment. But their Surgeon major, who was a High Ger∣man, did undertake the restoring of his knee to its natural motion; which to effect, he administred unto him every day, for the space of six weeks, ʒ i. of the powder of a thigh or leg-bone of a man, who some yeers before had been dissected, in his ordinary Broths; by which he did recover not only the bending of his knee, but made him capable, before the six weeks ended, to Fence, play at Tennis, ride on Horse back, and perform all other exercises. Whence you may note, that so rare a Cure could not proceed but from the volatile, spiritual and penetrating Salt, which this reme∣dy did contain, since the material part of the bone could never pass so far as the last digestions. I have quoted this history, to no other purpose then to perswade the better, and lay more open to the understanding, the effects of those remedies which are ex∣tracted from the skull and bones of Man, by distillation, sepa∣rating artificially the pure parts from impurity. The Spirit and Volatile Salt of Mans skull is given against Epilepsie, in water of Lime-tree flowers, Lilly-Convally, or Piony: that of bones is also successefully administred, to restore contracted and dryed Limbs; provided you rub them also with Balsom of Modern Mummy: The Oyl of skull and bones is only applyable out∣wardly, to cleanse and heal filthy and corroding Ulcers, provided you mix a little powder of Colchotar, and every other day plye the patient with vulnerary and purgative potions. The Dosis of the Spirit is from three drops to ten, and of the Volatile Salt fixed from four grains to eight.

The manner of preparing Remedies out of Harts-horn.

ALthough we have given a method whereby to perform all Chymical Operations, in extracting remedies from the parts of Animals; yet because there may be many that will be shie ••o work upon the parts or substance of Man, and that some Ani∣mals parts do differ from that of Man, and contain in themselves a greater share of the usefull substance, to encounter and cure disea∣ses: I thought it necessary, exactly to describe such good reme∣dies, as may be extracted out of Harts-horn, and lawfully substi∣tured to those which are extracted from the body of Man. For we must confess, that there is something very noble, and worthy of our consideration, in the annual production of the Stags head, which every Spring he doth renew by a kinde of Vegetation: And to prove and clear this truth, it is to be noted, that the head of this noble Creature, becomes then only useless and troublesome to him when he is grown decayed and lean; which the French Huntsman expresses by a very significan: Physical notion, Tomber enpauvretè, Grown poor; for their meaning is, that the Deer hath want of good and sufficient food during the Winter season, when the earth being long covered with snow, these poor Creatures are exhausted of natural spirits, and want sufficiency of radical moystu••e, to fill up and shoot into their heads, having scarce enough to prop up and maintain their life, which makes them in that season prove lean and languishing. But when the Spring, repairer of Nature, restores again the fresh Grass to Valleys, and tender buds to the Copses, they are so plentifully re-animated with a new fire, that the sublimated Spirits shooting into the head, do provoke them by a violent itching to cast their old head, which at that time is become spongious and hollow, and spoiled of its best and prin∣cipal part, which is a volatile spiritual Salt, in which doth con∣sist all its Medicinal vertue; after which they recover a new Vel∣vet head, soft in the beginning, and filled with a very subtile Salt; which hardens by degrees, till it hath attained to its full per∣fection: From whence we may gather, that it is very necessary to have a regard in the choyce of the heads of this noble Crea∣ture; for, you must not take for Operations, any of the cast

heads, neither before they have attained their full and requisite firm∣ness; or when they are too neer the Winter-season: but the fittest time to have it in its true perfection, is between the two Feasts of our Lady in September; for at this time it is sufficiently fur∣nished with Spirit, Volatile Salt, and Oyl, to prepare those Me∣dicines with it, which we shall hereunder describe: The Stag or Deer must be killed by the Dogs. But before we goe fur∣ther, it will not be from our purpose, to shew, How the Wa∣ter of Stags head is to be distilled, whilest it is yet tender, and cove∣red with its hair, being a Water of very great vertue, and much less heating then the other remedies which we shall describe; her Spirits being but yet in their Embryo, not sufficiently concocted and digested, to attain their last perfection.

How the Velvet head of a Stag is to be distilled, to have thereby the Water of the Stags-head.

TAke the said Velvet-head from the 15 of May to the end of June; cut it in pieces of the thickness of a half-fingers breadth, and place them checker-wise one upon another, in the bottom of a Class Retort, which put in Balneo, and when all is ready, give fire till the Water begins to drop down, continuing that de∣gree of heat untill no more water comes out: you may after∣wards put your Cucurbite in Ashes, to extract the remaining moysture, that the pieces being more dry, may the more easily be preserved. Some do add Wine, Cinament, Mace, a little Saffron in the distilling, to make the Water more efficacious, chiefly to ease women in hard Labours, help to expell the after∣burthen when they are grown weak, as also to cleanse the womb from such serosities, as during the Childe-bearing have crept in between the Membranes, causing with the remaining blood, those gripings wherewith women newly brought to bed are for the most part tormented. The industrious and curious Apothe∣cary, may make it simple and compounded, the better to answer those Physicians intentions which will be willing to employ him. The Dosis of the simple-water is from half a spoonfull to two, and even to more, considering it is a water that strengthens without altering and heating; and besides its singular use in Childe∣beds,

it is of no less efficacy in all diseases where there is a touch of venom. They that will preserve it long, must add to each pound weight of this water ʒ i. ss. of Borax in powder, by which it will increase the more its vertues for Childe-births, since Bo∣rax it self is a specifick remedy to help and facilitate Delivery. The Dosis of Compounded Water must be less, for it must not be administred above ʒ ii. in quantity, in all malignant, and spot∣ted or purpureous Feavers, but chiefly in Measles and Small-pox it is a most soveraign Antidote.

The pieces which did remain in the bottom of the Glass, are not to be cast away, but rather to be preserved, and being beaten into very small powder, used from ℈ ss. to ʒ ss. for killing Worms in Children, and to hinder their breeding, giving it in de∣coction of Scraping of Harts-horn and Ivory; this powder hath not lost its vertue, because the heat of B. M. is not strong enough to elevate the Volatile Salt, which was inclosed in the most solid parts of these pieces.

A Philosophical Preparation of Harts-horn.

MAny are of opinion that Harts-horn cannot be made tender and crumbling enough to be easily afterwards reduced to powder, without previous Calcination; but as this way of Cal∣cination deprives it from its Spirits and Salt, the Sons of Art have found a way of a Philosophical Calcination, which preserves its vertue: whereby may easily appear how much ancient Pharmacy doth come short from that which in our dayes hath received the light of Chymistry.

Take then well-chosen Harts-horn, and gathered in its true season; saw it in pieces of the length of a Pan about the ends, then putting two sticks crosse-wayes towards the top of such a Glass Body as usually serves for distillation of Spirits and Waters, there suspend with a pack-thred pieces of the branches of the Deers head cut as before, when you are to distill any Cordial Waters, such as of Carduus Benedictus, Ʋlmaria, or small Centaury; or, which would yet be better, when you goe about to distill any fermented matters, which send forth more penetrative and subtile vapours, you must cover the glass body with a Limbeck, and give

the same degree of fire as for the distilling of Aqua Vitae; so shall these vapours penetrate into the very center of your Harts-horn, and make it as easie to crumble and be reduced to powder, as if calcined with open fire, and grinded upon the Porphyry: but you must prosecute the work of your distillation, four or five dayes, without intermission or opening the Vessel; for which reason, the Glass Body must have a hole towards the upper part, placed side-wise, whereby to recruit it with warm Water pro∣portionably as it diminishes by distillation, taking care also that the Liquor should not come neer the suspended matter by half a foot. And if it be objected, that the vapours may carry along with them the most subtile Spirits of the Harts-horn: We answer, that it may be so, and that these cordial and sudorifick Waters, whether distilled Spirits of fermented Juniper, or Elder-berries, do thereby contract a greater vertue: but that this vaporous heat is not sufficient to carry along with it the Volatile Salt, inclosed up in the matter by the strict bond and union it hath with the Oyl or Sulphur, which cannot be disunited but by a much more violent heat. Harts-horn thus prepared, is much better then that which did remain in the foregoing distillation, as much to strengthen and provoke sweat, as to give to Children against Worms, and hinders all those corruptions which breed for the most part in their tender stomacks. The Dosis is from ℈ ss. to ʒ ss;. and ℈ ii. in cordial and sudorifick Waters, or in some spe∣cifick Conserve, against all Pestilential and Venemous Disea∣ses.

How to prepare the Spirit, Oyl, and Volatile Salt of Harts-horn.

TAke of Harts-horn with its requisite conditions, as much as you think fit, saw it by round pieces of the thick∣ness of two Crowns, fill with it a Glass Cucurbit or Retort well Luted, and put it in a close Reverberatory to open fire, which graduate untill the drops begin to follow one another in the Recipient well Luted with a wet Bladder, and fall no faster then you may reckon Four between the interval of each drop falling; then continue and direct the fire upon the same equality and rule, untill the drops begin to cease; then remove your

Receiver, and empty it, then put it again, and lute it with good salted Lute S. A. and encrease the fire by a degree, untill the Oyl doth begin to distill, with some little remainder of the Spirit, and the Volatile Salt will gather it self by degrees, and stick to the neck of the Retort, and thence pass in the form of a Vapour in the body of the Recipient, where it shall stick to the side in the figure and form of Stags-horns, and branches of Trees, when they are loaden with hoar-frost or snow; which is an Operation very pleasing to the sight; for, of this Volatile Salt some part also under the shape of snow, doth fall into the bot∣tom of the Recipient, and joyns it self to the Spirit which is under the Oyl. Then continue the last degree of fire, untill nothing more cometh out, and the Recipient begins to appear without vapours.

But it is not enough to have extracted out of Harts-horn these several Substances, but the Artist must be taught besides how to rectifie them, both to take away as much as is possible the Empy∣reuma thereof, as to separate its grosseness; And to begin with the first extracted Substance, which is the Spirit, it must be rectified in Ashes, with gentle and soft fire, in a Glass Retort, wherein you have put sawings or scrapings of Harts-horn three or four fingers high, and so shall the Spirit come forth fair, clear, depurated and deprived of the greatest part of its ill odour: The first drawn is to be preferred to the last; because it is a Volatile Spirit, whose nature it is to ascend first still; the remainder must be cast away, as unusefull and unserviceable, but the rectified Spirit is to be choysely kept in a Glass Viol of a narrow neck, very well stopt.

It is an excellent remedy either inwardly or outwardly apply∣ed: for it purifies and cleanses the whole mass of the Blood, of its serous superfluities by Urines and by Sweat, as also by insensible Transpiration; therefore it is a true Specifick against Scurvey, the Pox, and all other Diseases proceeding from alteration of blood. Finally, this Volatile Spirit may worthily be substituted to that which is or may be extracted from all the parts of other Animals, and to be an excellent remedy to all the same purposes as the others formerly mentioned. But outwardly applyed, it is also of a marvailous use; for it cleanses wonderfully all malignant,

corrosive, cancerous, or fistulous Ulcers, if they be washed with it, or if it be injected with a Springe. It serves also for fresh wounds, caused either by fire, sword, or otherwise, preventing all dangerous accidents; it is friendly to Nature, and helps her to the re-union of separated parts, whose intention being not to cause suppuration, or a colliquation of the flesh and adjacent parts, so doth this Spirit hinder the same: But note also, that you must give it inwardly at the same time, from six drops to twelve, in vulnerary potions, or the Patients ordinary drink. To be short, this Spirit is nothing else but a Volatile Salt turned to Liquor, as the Volatile Salt reciprocally a Spirit compacted and condensated; whence it comes to pass, that they may indiffe∣rently be administred to the same purpose, except that the Dosis of the Volatile Salt, must be something less then that of the Spirit; so that the vertues attributed to the one, may be said also to be proper to the other.

We have no other observation to impart, for the rectifying of the Volatile Salt and Oyl, but that the Operation must be per∣formed in a Retort, upon scrapings of Harts-horn, and with the fame circumstances for regulating the fire. So shall you have a fair, clear, and Ruby-red Oyl, swimming over the Volatile Salt passed into the Recipient, or sublimated to the neck of the Glass, the Salt must be dissolved with its proper rectified Spirit, by a dissolution made in the vaporous heat of lukewarm water, to se∣parate it from the Oyl: This dissolution is to be filtrated through Paper, which must be moystened by the Spirit before you pour any thing into it, and you shall have the Oyl by it self, and the Salt in its proper Spirit, which thereby is so much bettered, and keeps thus better then alone, unless it be stayed and fixed, as we shall direct to do hereafter. To this end put the dissolution of the Salt and Spirit in a Cucurbit in Balneo to distill again the Spirit, and sublimate the Salt in the head, or if you please in a Retort: It is almost impossible to preserve this Salt, so penetra∣tive and subtile it is, therefore it must be stayed in the following manner. Take the round pieces which were left in the bottom, after the distillation performed, being very black, calcine them in open fire to whiteness, reduce one part to powder, which mix with equal weight of its Volatile Salt, and sublime together,

and so begin afresh with new Harts-horn calcined to whiteness re-iterating four or five times, and thus shall you have a volatile Salt fixed, which you may keep, transport or send with less dan∣ger then the Spirit: nevertheless, it is my counsel to use rather Spirit, filled, and as it were saturated with volatile Salt, to all the ends and purposes to be declared hereafter.

This Remedy might truly be called a Panacea, or Ʋniversal Me∣dicine, considering the wonderful effects it is apt to produce; for it is soverain against Epilepsie, Apoplexy, Lethargy, & generally against all Diseases, whose spring and original is ascribed unto the Brain: It takes away all obstructions of Liver, Spleen, Mesentery, and Pancreas; resists all Venoms, Pestilence, and all kinds of Fevers, or aguish distempers, none excepted. It clenses the Kidneys and Bladder from all slimy substances, which are the cause and original of Stones; corrects all defects of the Ventricle, and pe∣culiarly indigestions, which occasions an ill breath: it is a speci∣fical remedy for the Lungs, if it be digested with the Milk of Sul∣phur. It allayes the immoderate loosness of the Belly, and the womans purgations, because it evacuates superfluous serosities, which are the cause thereof: but, that which seemeth more in∣conceivable and wonderful, is, that it opens also the Belly when bound, and provokes Monthly Purgations, restoring all the fun∣ctions of Nature in their former estate, and removes all gross and terrestrious matters, which did hinder their effect. I make no doubt, but I shall appear ridiculous to all them which do not understand the sphere of activity of Volatile Salts: but I know likewise, that those who know with me, that this Salt is the last cover, and cloak as it were, of Spirit and Light, shall not find it strange, that I should attribute so many noble effects, to this ad∣mirable Remedy. But I will yet unfold and open more this Mystery, as much as lies in me, by a description of what dayly is done in our Kitchings, in the preparation of meats, both for healthy and sick people. Is it not unknown to all, that no Cook can make either a Bisk or good Bagon, without making use of the Broth, gravy, and juyces of the best kinds of meat; now it is only by their Volatile Salt, variously disposed and mixt, that the pleasure and tickling which affects our taste, is communicated to the Palate. Are there not also Jelleys, strong Broths, and Juyces

of boyled Meats prepared for the sick, whereof the material and earthly dregs and superfluities are thrown away, being deprived of that Salt, which remains in the Jelleys; and is the only prin∣ciple of congelation: they are exhibited to weak and crasie bo∣dies, that their Stomack might sooner turn these aliments to the substance of the parts by the easiness of digestion. The same doth our Artist in the preparation of the Volatile Salts, which are capable to show suddenly their Vertues, in that they soon penetrate all the parts of our bodies, and carry along with them that wonderful efficacy which we have attributed them. And do we not see, that both the ancient and modern Physick, hath ever prescribed Harts-horn as a necessary ingredient amongst her Cordials, hath in very great esteem the bone of a Stags-heart, and that the shops dayly prepare Harts-horn Jelley, rather to streng∣then the Patient, then to nourish him. But we leave all this to the Touch-stone of Experience, which is the true ground of all our fore-going Ratiocinations.

To make the Tincture of the Volatile Salt of Harts-horn.

TAke the Volatile Salt rectified, and put it in a double Glass, or Blind-head, which would yet be better in a Pelican; pour on twice the weight of it of Alkool of Wine, and so let it stand twelve or fifteen days, in extraction and digestion together, in the gentle heat of a vaporous Bath; and if all the Salt was not dissolved, draw off what is already tincted by inclination, and pour on new Alkool to perfect the extraction and dissolution. So shall you have a Tincture much more exalted then the preceding Reme∣dies, fit for all the uses we have already mentioned; and more∣over, a most rare Remedy, and of very present help and efficacy in Apoplexies; by reason of its subtilty which is so great, that it can scarse be preserved in the best stopt and closest Vials.

The same may be done with the Volatile Salt stayed, and as it were fixed, but it will not all dissolve, neither shall its tin∣cture be of that penetration and efficacy; but it will be much more pleasing, and deprived of the nauseous smell: The dosis of the first is from iij. drops to viij. or ix; and of the second from vi. drops to xij.

Of the Preparations made out of Vipers.

WE shall close this Chapter of the Chymical Preparations of Animals, by examining the several Remedies which Vipers do afford by the help of Chymistry: for this Reptile is endowed with a very subtile and efficacious Volatile Salt for the cure of several obstinate diseases. Galen doth make several relations of leprous bodies cured by the only drinking of Wine wherein Vi∣pers had been suffocated. Cardan doth also prove the same truth, in a consultation which he sent to John Archbishop of S. Andrews in Scotland containing this sense. I will declare you a very great se∣cret for the cure of consumptive bodies, leprous, and cor∣roded with Pox, &c. which fattens and restores them against all hope. Take a well chosen Viper, cut off the head and tayl, pull off the skin, throw away the entrails, and pre∣serve the Fat by it self: cut it in bits as you would do an Eel, and sod it in a sufficient quantity of Water, with Benjeethin and Salt, adding towards the end some few Parsley leafs: being well sodden, strain the Broth, and in that Broth boyl a Pullet, and give every morning to the Patient Bread that hath been dipt in that Broth, and let him eat the Pullet: Continue thus seven dayes to∣gether; but keep the Patient either in a Stove, or a very warm Room during the time, and anoint him with the Vipers fat all along the back-bone and other joynts of the body, as also the arteries of the feet, hands, and brest. This way are the Ulcers of the Lungs cured, for they are driven to the surface of the skin in the form of Pustula's and other eruptions. Quercetan doth also speak very advantagiously of Vipers in his Dogmatical Pharmacy. Several other Authors have followed these two: but we must ac∣knowledge here, that they have all stumbled against the same rock, holding the Viper to be venemous either wholly in it self, or at least in some parts.

But the Experiment related by Galen, must confound this opini∣on of the Ancient and Modern Authors, since that Viper was whole and alive, when suffocated in the Wine which did cure his Le∣prousy. The English Ladies herein shame the vulgar of Physiti∣ans themselves, making no scruple to drink of that Wine, where∣in

living and intire Vipers have been suffocated, to keep them∣selves in their plumpness. Sound disposition of Body, and quick∣ness of Spirits, hinder the injury of wrinckles, and preserve their flying beauty. But that which is yet more remarkable in this parti∣cular, is, that the Italian Curtesana's preseve themselves against the Venerian disease, and its sad accidents, taking every Spring and fall, Broths, made of Pullets, Vipers flesh, and China root. None amongst our Modern Physitians, but the famous Poterius, and the most learned and subtil Philosopher Van Helmont, have well explained wherein the poyson of Vipers doth consist; which is only placed in the sting of choler, which prints in the imagination of that Ani∣mal an envenomed Idea.

Fabritius Hildanus, and many other grave and renowned Au∣thors, do by their observations authorise the truth of the effects; but the two quoted only have taught us the true seat of poy∣son, which cannot be but in the Spirit of the Animals life; as the Italian Proverb hints very well; which faith, that Morta la Bestia, morto il veleno, since Man it self, Dogs, Horses, Wolfs, Cats, Pole-cats, &c. leave no venemous impression by their bitings, but when they are angered, and their Imagination poysoned with a desire of rage and vengeance.

And let this hint suffice by the by, to prove more and more, that all the Vertue of things is placed in the Spirits and Life, which are nothing else but a portion of the Universal Spirit, and corporified light. We come now to the Preparations made of Vi∣pers, and of their parts.

The manner of desiccating Vipers, to make the Powder and Trochisks thereof.

THe election of Vipers doth only consist in taking them af∣ter they have forsaken their holes, and are more full and fed; the regard of their sex is indifferent, provided the female is not big with young ones: they are to be chosen in high elevated and dry places, leaving them that breed about Ponds, or Morish and watery places.

Take of these Vipers as much as you please, pull off the skin and the entrails, keeping the Heart and Liver; then put them in

a large Glass Body or Cucurbit, where you may have sufficient room to place and order them upon small sticks, that they may not touch one the other: place your Glass with a Head in Balneo, and so desiccate your Vipers; having first strewed over a little Ni∣tre very pure, or Flowers of Salt Armoniack; preserve the Wa∣ter which shall issue forth from it, for such uses as we shall hint hereafter. Nota, that every 12. hours your Vipers must be turned in the Glass, that they may dry equally.

Thus shall you have a matter to make the true Powder of Vi∣pers, not full of thrids or filaments, which may be administred in its own Water, or in Wine, or Cinamon, or Sassafras Water from ℈ i. to ʒ i. in all Fevers, but particularly in pestilential and con∣tagious ones, and in the Plague it self, as also against Epilepsie and Apoplexy: but the other following Preparations are preferrable to this Powder.

But if you will prepare Trochisks, take other Vipers, and pulling off their skins and entrails, cut them in pieces, and boyl them in the water, which you did preserve in the preceding distillation, in a hot boyling Balneo, in a Glass Body covered with its Head, until this Broth comes to be of the consistency of a Jelley: with this Jelley beat in a Marble Mortar the Vipers Powder, and re∣duce it to Paste, which you shall frame in Trochisks or small rolls, having anointed your hands with Peruvian Balsom, Oyl of Cloves and Nutmegs made by expression: Those that will rightly pre∣pare Triacle, may make use of these Trochisks instead of them which the ancient Dispensatories do prescribe, which are only crumbs of Bread, and Vipers Flesh destituted of all the faculties, which reside in their Volatile Salt. The Powder of these Trochisks is preferrable to the single Powder, because they are impregnated with the proper substance and vertue of the Animal, besides that they are less apt to corrupt then the Powder. The dosis is from ℈ ss to ℈ ij. in the Waters above-mentioned.

How the Spirit, Oyl, volatile Salt, volatile fixed Salt, sublimation of that Salt, and the fixed Salt of Vipers, is to be prepared.

I Should be unjust to attribute unto my self the manner and invention of all these Operations, since the glory is lawfully due to the learned Zwelpherus, Physitian to his Imperial Ma∣jesty, yet living, who by his accurate learned and judicious Notes, upon the Auspurgian Pharmacy, hath purchased to him∣self an Immortal name; having corrected the defects of the an∣cient and modern Pharmacy, with so clear a judgement and so uncontrollable and confirmed an experience, that all those which will follow the operations of the noblest Pharmacy, must ever acknowledge themselves his debtors.

I will only hint, in the way, that the invention of Vola∣tilising again the volatile Salt of Vipers is mine, after it hath been as it were fixed by an acid substance. And as this gallant man hath been pleased to make his Experiments become publick, thereby to oblige Posterity; so would I not conceal the secret of this operation, since thereby a great benefit may accrew to poor diseased bodies, although the invention of it be not vulgar, and does particularly belong to my discovery.

Take well fed Vipers without distinction of sex, pull out the Entrails, and separate the Heart and Liver, dry them in a Stove or Oven, moderately heated, and being thus very well dryed, beat into gross Powder, and fill therewith a Glass Retort, which put in a close Reverberatory, upon the cover of an Earthen Pot turned up-side down, upon which put two handful of Ashes or Sand, to fence the Retort instead of lute, and hinder the first brunt and violence of fire; then cover your Reverberatory, and fit a capaci∣ous Receiver to the Neck of the Retort, and give a graduate fire, until the Retort grows red, and the Recipient cleareth during the violence of the fire, which is an evident token that all the vapours are disperst, that is done in less then 12 hours. When all is cooled again, you shall find three different Substances in your Receiver, which are the Phlegm and Spirit mixt together; the Oyl black and stinking, and the volatile Salt sticking to the sides of it. The volatile Salt which is about the sides, must be

dissolved with the spirituous Liquor in the bottom, then must this Liquor be separated from its Oyl by filtration, put afterwards the Liquor impregnated with Volatile Salt, in a high Cucurbit or Glass Body covered with its Head, and exactly luted in the Joynts, and adapt to it a small matrasse for Recipient, then put your Glass in a Sand or Ash Furnace, and regulate well the fire, lest the bitter and stinking Water, which hath dissolved the volatile Salt ascend within: the sublimation being ended, separate the Salt curiously, and preserve it in a Viol stopt with Cork dipt in melted Wax, upon which pour a little of melted Brimstone, if you will preserve this Salt, otherwise it will vanish in a short time, by reason of the subtile and penetrating nature of its vo∣latile and ••erial substance. It is this volatile Salt that possesseth so many rare vertues and wonderful effects; for it hinders all cor∣ruptions which use to breed in us, opens all obstructions of the humane body, dissolves and carries away all aguish distempers, and particularly the Quartane, being exhibited from 6. to 10 grains in Sassafras, Juniper, or Elder Water, one or two hours before the Fit: it is moreover given in the Plague, and all other conta∣gious Diseases, in Emulsions made of Columbine, Radish, Car∣duus Benedictus seed, to which are joyned Amands, Kernels of Pine-Aples, Sugar, and a little Rose or Cinamon Water. It is also singular against Epilepsie and Apoplexy: for it searches into the deepest parts of the bones and marrows; it is to be exhibited in Emulsions made of Water of Lilly Convally, Piony Flowers, Lime-tree, Piony-seeds, Almonds, Kernels of Cherries, Peaches or Ab••icots. The dosis is ever from vi. to xij. grains.

But because this Salt is of a very unpleasant smell, and un∣savoury taste, Artists have been long about seeking the means how to despoil it of these two qualities, as also the Salt of Urine. yellow Amber, Harts-horn, and of the parts of man: but hitherto, none hath attained to this skill and perfection, without depriving these volatile Salts of their subtility, and by consequence, their penetrating and diaphoretick vertue. The learned and experienced Zwelferus alone, hath well attained the Art of this useful and curious operation, after he had tryed first without success several other different wayes. But the do∣sis of this Salt given in a larger proportion, shows enough,

that this purification doth fix it in a manner; and that although it be fixed, and more pleasant to the tast, it is notwithstanding of less efficacy. And as this great and charitable Physitian provokes the sons of Art, to impart their Inventions, to ren∣der it again more volatile, and take away that acidity that fixes it: I shall add to that Preparation, which we owe to his free com∣munication, that which my own Industry and the study of natural things have taught me.

How Volatile Salts are to be stayed, fixed, and purified.

TAke such volatile Salt as you think fitting, put ℥ iiij. thereof in a high Cucurbit, which cover with its Head, on the top whereof let there be a hole of the bigness of a Goose-quill, lute exactly the Joynts, and put in the said hole a fitting Quill, stopt with Spanish Wax, or Gum-lack; then fit a small Recipient to the Limbeck, and softly pour by drops of very well rectified Spi∣rit of Salt, upon your volatile Salt which is to be wrought upon, and continue thus, until the noise and strife between the sharp Spirit and volatile sulphureous Salt be over, then shall you per∣ceive an union made of these two several Substances converted into Liquor; which if it appears to be impure, must be filtrated, if not, stop only the hole in the Limbecks Head with a Glass stopple, covered with a Bladder dipt in white of Egges: then fit your Vessel again in Balneo, and draw off the moisture, till but two parts remain, if so be you would have your Salt crystal∣lized; if not, draw all the moisture from it, and you shall find ℥ iiij. of Salt, fixed in a manner in the bottom of the Cucurbit or Glass Body, and if you have noted the weight of your Spirit of Salt, you shall find as much of tastless Liquor, and full of Em∣pyreuma in the Recipient. The Salt hath a fragrancy and very good smell, a sharp savour, and a Saline tast: The dosis of which is to be from ℈ ss. to ℈ i. It hath a vertue that penetrates to the remotest parts from the first digestion, without any altera∣tion, purifies the blond, and dissolves all excrementitious mat∣ters, which seem already to have incorporated themselves ••••••h our parts, but chiefly in gouty Bodies: it expels' Urine, Sand, Gravel and viscous humours from the Kidneys and Bladder, eva∣cuates

all matters by which melancholick affections are gene∣rated, resists better then any other Remedy to Putrefaction, opens all manner of Obstructions, cures all kinds of Agues, is the true preservative and curer of the Plague; and, to end in a word, the remainder of its vertues, blots out and takes away all the ill Ideas and Impressions, which have imparted their character to the Spirit of Life, the true seat of Health and Sickness: The dosis may also be augmented or diminished, according to the age, strength, and nature of the diseased and disease. But as Zwelphe∣rus hath been acquainted with the way of fixing the volatile Salt, by the help of an acid to take away its evil tast and smell, we will now declare the manner to draw off again this acid, and sublime the volatile Salt, restoring it to its first subtile nature, and encreasing by consequence its penetrating vertue, without contracting any evil savour or smell.

The manner of subliming again the Volatile fixed Salt.

TAke ℥ iv. of volatile fixed, and mix it with ℥ i. of Salt of Tartar, made by calcination, and well purified; put them in a small Glass-body in Ashes; cover the same with a fitting Head, and fit to it a Recipient, if the Head hath a Limbeck, (for if it be a blind Head, there is no need of it): lute exactly the Joynts, and give a graduate fire, until the sublimation be ended: so shall you have the most subtile volatile Salt that may be found in Nature, and which hath a perfect analogy and peculiar sympa∣thy with our spirits, which are the subject of our natural heat, and radical moisture. But note by the by, that all Alkalies have this propriety to kill acids, and never to prejudice volatile substances. The dosis of this Salt can be but from ij. grains to viij. by reason of its great subtility, which is so penetrating, as it cannot be preserved, unless mixed with it own Liquor, or be∣ing reduced into Essence, which preparation shall be taught here∣after. It is good for all the diseases above related, but principally, that of Harts-horn and Vipers, which ought to be considered as one of the Keyes of Physick.

How the Essence of Vipers, with their true volatile Salt is to be prepared.

TAke abovt 50. or 60. Hearts and Livers of Vipers, dryed in the manner above related; beat them to Powder, and put in a double Glass, pouring upon Alkool of Wine, until it swims six inches above the matter; then having covered your Glass, and lu∣ted it exactly, put it in a moist vaporous Bath, to digest with a fitting heat three or four dayes, to extract all the vertue thereof: that done, put all in a Glass-body in Balneo M. and with a slow heat distil the Spirit, cohobating three times, and at the fourth di∣stil all off to the dry bottom; put in every pound of this Spirit ℥ i ss. of the true volatile Salt of Vipers, ʒ i. Amber-grice essen∣sified, as we shall describe it hereafter, ʒ ss. of Oyl of Cinament, and as much of the true Essence of the external and fresh rind of Limon; put all these substances together in a Pelican, to circulate the space of 8. dayes; after which, put it up carefully in Glass Vials, as it becomes so precious a Remedy, and stop it with all requisite care. All the vertues which we have attributed to the vo∣latile Salt alone, may lawfully be attributed to this noble Reme∣dy; it hath even this advantage over and above, that it may easier be preserved then the volatile Salt; and moreover, it is one of the best and securest Antidotes in the world, worthy of the closets of greatest Princes. The dosis is from ℈ ss. to ℈ i. in Wine, Broth, or other convenient Liquors.

The manner how to make the simple Theriacal Salt, impregnated with the Alexiterial and Confortative Vertue of Vipers.

THe Ancients, and Quercetanus after them, have spoken of these Salts, and made a particular account thereof: but the ancient way of preparation, and the correction of it made by this famous Physitian, are rather to be pitied then imitated, though he ought not to pass without praise and commendation, for having excelled in his age, and endeavoured to find the truth with all his power; but as we have got upon his shoulders, and the discoveries of modern Physitians, industrious about the search of the secrets of

Nature, and our own experience having now better informed us, it is but justice and reason we should impart it to others.

Take then lb ij. of Bay-salt, white and depurated, or as much Sal∣gemme; dissolve it in lb x. of River-water well setled, then add 2 dozens of Vipers, with the Hearts and Livers, their skins and entrails pulled away: boyl all together in Sand, until the Vipers do easily get off from the bones, squeese all, clarifie and filtrate, then evaporate in a hot Balneo's vapour to the dry bottom, and keep it for use in a well stopt Bottle. Of this Salt, you may give to eat to healthful and sick bodies; to the one, as a Preservative; to the other, as Restorative. It is chiefly of great use in Chroni∣cal Diseases, where the mass of the bloud is to be purified, and the vice of digestion rectified. Those that will have it yet more spe∣cifical and stomachal, must add the distilled Oyls of Cinament, Cloves, and Nutmeg-flower or Mace, with a little Sugar in Pow∣der, which will be as an uniting mean to mix it perfectly with the Salt. ʒ i. of āā of these Oyls, with ʒ i. of essensified Amber∣grice is required to each lb of Salt, for in this manner the Salt will be much more efficacious. Its dosis shall be from x. grains to ʒ ss. in Broths, fasting in the morning, to cleanse the stomach from all preceding superfluities, which are for the most part the occa∣sional causes of diseases.

Another Preparation of a Theriacal Salt much more specifical then the fore-going.

TAke Scordium and small Centaury fresh pluckt, āa. lb. i. Roots of Angelica, Zedoary, Contrayerva, Asclepias āā. ℥ ij. shred the Herbs, and pound grosly the Roots, then boyl them in Balneo in a double Glass, in lb x. of distilled Water of Carduus Benedictus, and juyce of Borage and Bugloss: being cooled, strain the decoction, and put it again in the Vessel; then add a dozen and a half of fresh prepared and cleansed Vipers, with their Hearts and Livers, as also the Salts alkalized of Wormwood. Carduus B. small Centaury, and Scordium. āā ℥ viij. shut up the Vessel and lute it, and let it boyl the space of half a day, and all being cooled, clarifie it, filtrate, and evaporate in the vapour of a Bath in a Glass-body with its head to a dry bottom; so shall

you have a most rare and pretious Salt, and a water endowed with many singular vertues; for it is a sufficient Remedy to eradicate all manner of Agues and Feavers; it is a specifick in all epidemi∣cal Contagions, and malignant Diseases. The dosis is from ℈ i. and ʒ ss. to ʒ i. you may also add to this Salt the same distilled Oyls and essencified Amber-grice, as we have declared in the precedent Preparation of Theriacal Silt, and here with this Ope∣ation shall we conclude this Chapter of the Chymical Prepata∣tion of Animals.