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.

The manner of Preparing the compounded Syrup of Hysop accord∣ing to the method of the Ancients.

℞ Hysop not very much dryed, Roots of Smallage, Fennel, Parsley, Liquorish ana ℥ x. French-Barley ℥ ss. Gum-Dragan, Seeds

of Mallows and Quinces, ana ʒ iij. Capillaries ʒ vi. Jujubes and Sebestens ana N. xxx. Raisins of the Sun stoned ℥ i ss. Figs and Dates something fat, ana N. x. decoct all in lib. viij. water until half be consumed away; reduce the rest in a consistency of Syrup after you have expressed it with lib. ij. Sugar refined.

If in the fore going descriptions of Syrups we have noted some things improper and ill digested; this discovers yet much more the ignorance and supinity of vulgar Pharmacy. For, if we take the pains to examine throughly the ingredients wherewith it is compounded, we find nothing in it but an abyssus of mistakes and Chaos of Errors; and what I do yet find worst, is, that Chymi∣stry here is at a non-plus, not knowing where to have her recourse and repair the defects of this practice: For, the Roots and Herbs yield already from themselves a decoction sufficiently course; the Fruits render it clammy and viscous, but the Gum and Seeds shall render it altogether muscilaginous; So, that it will ever be impos∣sible to take a Syrup therewith; and, if any doth advance himself so much, as to boast that he may effect it—

—Talem vix repperit unum, Millibus è multis hominum consultus Apollo.

For, if he pretends to make his decoction superficially, without well concocting the Roots, Fruits, Seeds, and Gums, he shall fru∣strate the intention of the Authors and Compilers of this Prescri∣ption, and deprive the Syrup of the pretended vertue which is at∣tributed unto it; and, if moreover, he decocts it as it must and ought to be, he shall lose the volatile part of the Roots, and chiefly of the Hyssop and Capillaries; but, if he doth clarifie his decoction the whire of Eggs shall keep the Gums and Muscila∣gineous Substances. I know, moreover, that the vulgar of Apo∣thecaries who prepare this Syrup, do pretend to have quitted them∣selves of their duty, when they have boyled the muscilagineous Substances in the decoction in a knot, which they afterwards draw back again without expression, and so is their decoction de∣vested from the required vertue: moreover, what more ridiculous thing can there be, then to substitute the refined Sugar, or in cake, to common Sugar; for, I can satisfie my self with no reason I can

imagine, unless it be to raise the price of the Syrup, and to abuse the vulgar and ignorant people. As then, this Syrup can∣not possibly be well made according to this prescription, no more can it have the vertues which are attributed unto it, viz. to con∣tribute to the cure of cold diseases in the Brest; where it is required to cleanse and attenuate the crass and clammy matter which doth obsess it, take away Obstructions, alleviate Hypochondriacal pains, and to be soveraign against the gravel. Now there is no body, that is so little acquainted with the Ingredients of this Sy∣rup, who seeth not it is a manifest absurdity, to hope to open with viscosities and clammy glewing matters, which enter in the com∣position of this Syrup, to open Obstructions, which they would much sooner be capable to produce, then to remove. There∣fore, whosoever requires a good pectoral Syrup, let him make it in the following manner.