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 old process or manner of making Syrup of Orange Flowers.

℞. lb ss. of new Flowers of Orange: infuse them in lb ij. of clear and clean warm Water, during 24 hours: after which make the expression thereof, then reiterate the same infusion twice, with lb ss. of new Flowers at each time; the expression and co∣lature being done, boyl ℥ xx. of this infusion in Syrup with lb i. of very white Sugar. Nota here once for all, that the weight I understand here, is not the Physitians weight, but the ordinary one of Merchants of ℥ vi. to the lb. Before we show the defi∣ciency of this prescription, we will relate the vertues attributed to the Syrup proceeding from the same, that we may the bet∣ter make it plain who is in the wrong, who in the right. It is then attributed to this Syrup, marvellously to recreate the Heart and Brain, to restore Spirits, provoke Sweating; and to be con∣sequently very soveraign against malignant and pestilent diseases, because it drives the infection of this venom from the center of the parts, where it lurketh to the circumference, and makes the

spots to appear. All which may be true, if the Syrup be made according to due process. But the Physitian is frustrated of these noble Effects, by the evil and wrong preparation which we have just now quoted; since nothing is left to the Syrup so prepared but an ungrateful bitterness, which proceeds from its material and gross Salt, instead of that pleasant quickness to the taste it ought to have; and that subtile and delicate steem which is discerned by the Smell: which is properly a token, that this Syrup is not deprived of its volatile sulphureous Salt, in which are placed all the vertues required and hoped from it. But the coction of this Syrup which cannot be performed without boyl∣ing, carries away all that subtile vertue which occasions it, not to answer the indications of the learned and experimented Phy∣sitian, and much less the hope of the Patient.