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.

To prepare the Elixir of Juniper-berries.

℞ Juniper-berries very ripe and very smooth, and choose the biggest and smoothest, till you have got lb i. which coursely bruise in a Marble Mortar with a woodden Pestle; put them in a Glass-body double (or Blind-head) and pour upon it the juyce of Parietary and Golden-rod, or Virga Aurea, ana lb ij. cover the Vessel with its Blind-head, and digest all in B. M. during three dayes; then having uncovered it, percolate and strain, and distil the Expression in Balneo with a soft and slow fire, until there re∣mains an Extract of middle consistency, which put in a Pellican, or some other circulatory Vessel, with lb i. of the best Spirit of Juniper-berries; then lute it, and put it to digest and circulate for the space of 8 dayes in the heat of a vaporous Bath: that time over, let the Vessels cool, then filtrate the liquor very pure, and you shall have the Elixir or true Tincture of Juniper-berries; which is a very Soveraign Remedy either to preserve, or to cure, in Plague and other pestilential and malignant diseases: but this Elixir is peculiarly dedicated to the Kidneys and Bladder, not only to evacuate what is viscous and sandy in them: but more∣over also to remove the seminary thereof, and hinder by a con∣stant use of this noble remedy, that there should be no further spreading nor generation of them. It is also a Stomachical and Hysterical Specifick, which by its heat and Alexiterial Balsami∣cal and Cordial vertue doth dissipate, whatsoever may cause evil alterations in the Ventricle or Womb. The dosis is from ½ spoon∣ful to 1. or 2.

We have no more to speak of Juniper, but concerning its Gum or Rosin, which is a very good Perfume against all defluxi∣ons of the Brain, if you receive the smoke in your hair and round about the Neck, as in the stopping of the Nose, or impediment

in the motion of the Neck, or when the Almonds are swell'd, and the free swallowing hindred; you must also perfume with it the Linnen which are put about the Neck, and the Head. But the best of all, is, that this Rosin, which commonly is called Varnish, or Juniper-Gum, yields an Oyl by distillation, which is wonderful in external use for all affections of Sinews, against the cold, and the in potency of parts which are fallen into some Resolution or Palsey, against all shrinking of Limbs, and generally, all cold Aches in all parts of the Body, whereof no evident cause can be given, and no swelling nor redness appears outwardly. It is also very efficacious to dissipate all cold cedema's, or cold swellings. And is thus done:

℞ Gum of Juniper Coals and decrepited Salt, ana equal parts; reduce them to a gross Powder, and being well mixt to∣gether, put it in a Glass Retort, and place it in a close Rever∣beratory: fit a Receiver to it, which being well luted, cover the Furnace, and give it a gradual fire, which encrease till nothing more comes forth, and the Recipient grows clear, which for the most part happens within the space 12. or 15. hours. Sepa∣rate the two substances which are in the Recipient; for the one is aqueous and acid, which proceeds from the Salt, and the vo∣latile part of the Gum of Juniper, with a small portion of its Mercurial Spirit which also are acid: the other substance is ole∣agineous, inflamable and sulphureous in some part, yet crass and viscous: therefore must this Oyl be rectified in Sand in a Glass Retort with Salt of Tartar, and so shall you have a clear, subtile, and penetrative Oyl, capable of all the noble effects we have attributed unto it.