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. X. Of Minerals and their Chymical Preparation.

WE are at last arrived to the last Chapter of our Chymical Treatise, which will contain the man∣ner of working, which our Artist is to follow as a Model and Example in any operation he will un∣dertake upon any part of the Minerals Family, the proper part and task as some are of opinion, of Chymistry. Fow although we have shewed how many noble Remedies this Art may extract from Animals and Vegetables, yet all that seems but a play in re∣spect of the operations which must be performed, to open and disunite what Nature hath so strongly bound, and as it were fixed in the substances whereof Minerals do consist and are composed. All this will better appear when we come to speak of it particu∣larly: for though in the Theorical part of this Treatise we have al∣ready spoken of their generation, yet it is necessary that we should make a subdivision of this ample and numerous Head, and declare the Subalternate genders it contains, as also the Species whereof they consist; and that also we make a description of their original, assign their definitions, and declare their constitutive parts, that thereby the truth and noblenesse of Substances may better be con∣ceived, as also the difficulty of their Works, which must needs a∣stonish and confound those that pretend to the Name and Title of Naturalists or searchers of Nature, and yet are ignorant of the most part of her noblest and choisest actions: For what could she produce more perfect, and lesse corruptible then Gold, more white then Pearls, more resplendent and shining then Ruby and Dia∣mont, more wonderful then the Loadstone, and more capable of surprizing and puzling the Judgement and Learning of these con∣ceited and unexperienced Philosophers, then all the substances whereof this family of Minerals is composed? But that which is

no lesse strange, and yet is a particular weaknesse of ignorance, is, That these learned Ones are not contented to neglect the Anato∣my and search of Minerals, but give themselves a liberty and free∣dom to despise and calumniate both dead and living, who led by a noble desire of Knowledge have applyed, and do apply them∣selves to so necessary a work, and of so great advantage for the im∣provement of Physick, and think to have sufficiently done when they advance and declare, that all these mineral Bodies have no correspondence or analogy either with Man or the dseases which seize on him, and hinder the joy of his life: But we shall in the sequel of this Discourse, God willing, evince the contrary, and e∣vidently show, that the ignorance only of the noblest handling of Physick, and their uncapacity of undertaking the work, have been the occasion of their contradictions, which are but vain and importunate, since Physick, Pharmacy and Surgery, cannot at all be without those noble Remedies that are extracted from Minerals by the operations of Chymistry.

The Mineral Kingdom contains under it self several Families or Subalternate Genders, which are first Earths containing several kinds or Species, but chiefly those wherein from all time hath shi∣ned and been conspicuous some particular vertue; those which are properly called Mineral and Medicinal Earth's, are all the kinds of Bolus, as Armenian or oriental, and common, all the sigil∣lated Earth's, as that of Turky or of the Island Lemnos, the Sile∣sian and that of Blois in France, Chalk, Plaister, Oker, red earth and Tripoly.

Secondly, This Kingdome contains Mineral-stones, divided in∣to precious, and lesse precious: the precious are, Amethyst, Cor∣daline, Topaz, Granate, Hyacinth, oriental Ruby, Saphir, Eme∣r••uld; to which, though improperly enough is added the Pearl, Coral, oriental and occidental Bezoar; and amongst all these which we have related, Physick and Pharmacy do by excellency name the precious fragments, Granate, Hyacinth, Saphire, Emerald and Cor∣naline. The lesse precious are, Hail stone, Al baster, Alumen plumum or feather?d Alum, Lapis Armenius or the Armenian-stone, Lapis calaminaris or Bery stall, Emathite or blood-stone, Lapis Judai∣cus, Lapis Lazali, Linx stone, Loadstone, Marble, Nephritick-stone, Osteocella — Pumice-stone, Slate, Serpentine-stone, Peable,

Smiris or Emerod, Lapis specularis, Spunge and Chalk.

In the third Classis are the Metals, and those Substances which have any resemblance or affinity with them, and the natural or ar∣tificial Excrements of Metals. The Metals are, Gold, Silver, Cop∣per, Iron, ••inne and Lead. The substances of near affinity, Mercu••y or Quick-silver, Cinnabar or Vermilion and An••imony. The natu∣ral excrements of Metals are, Marcassites or middle minerals: as Zinck, Bismuthum, Cobolt, and metallick and natural ••admia. Ar∣tificial, are the two kinds of Litha••g, Pompholix, and ••utty.

The fourth place in this Mineral-Kingdom is assigned to Salts, whereof there are two sorts, Natural and Artificial: Natural are the common salt, salt Gemme and Vitriol; Artificial are, Alloms, Armoniack and Salt pe••er which may also be called Natural.

In the fifth and last place, Minerals contain under them the sul∣phureous mixts, which are Sulphur or Brimstone, Arsenick, Auri∣pigmentum, Realgar, Ambergreece, Karabe or yellow Amber, Sper∣maceti, Asphaltum, Naptha, Petroly, Sea-coal, Jet, which some would have to be black Karabe or Amber.

We will chuse in each of these Subalternate Families what is more considerable in them, and will allow to each of the Sub∣stances a particular Section by it self; in which as much as in us lies, we shall explicate the nature of it, and upon each of these declare the noblest and chiefest manner of working which our study and experience hath gained us; that both the knowledge of the thing and the operation upon it, may serve to our Artist as a Guide and a Rule, as much to help them in the internal and exter∣nal knowledge of Minerals, as a Model for all Chymical and Phy∣sical operations, which are necessary to draw from them those pre∣cious and noble Remedies that God and Nature have placed in it: For as concerning vulgar and mechanical operations which are performed upon the mines of Metals and Minerals, they that have any curiosity in this particular, may find them in such Authors as have written thereof fundamentally and ex professo. Let no body also look here or seek for Sophistications, white or red works upon Metals; for besides that they do not belong to a Discourse of Me∣dicinal and Pharmaceutick Chymistry, it sufficeth to our Artist, and serves well enough his turn if he knows enough of it, to take heed and beware himself of the ordinary Cheat of those who do pro∣fesse

it, and who are but too numerous at this day; but moreover, we should do a prejudice to the publique, in teaching that which is but too much practised by wicked and lewd idle persons, though well principled and vertuous men might make no ill use thereof.

SECTION I. Of Earths.

WE begin by the Earth, as being the principle of all Physical Generations; for it is the common Mo∣ther, not only of Animals and Vegetables, but it is also much more properly of Minerals, since her bosome is as it were their matrix, in the Center whereof they are bred and generated. We do not pretend to speak here of Earth as it is a simple and pure Element, not to be conceived but intel∣lectually; we will neither treat of it as of the Earth which is im∣pregnated with the soul of the World, and which though dead of it self lives neverthelesse with an invisible life, which the universal Spirit does continually infuse in it, to advance in her entrails the production of Minerals, in her surface the Vegetables, and supply the necessity of Animals which seem to be Masters of all the rest: for we have already treated of this noble and ample Matrix in the Theorical part of this Treatise. Wherefore we dedicate this Section to mineral Earths which are endowed with some physical Vertue, to the end to teach the Spagyrical way of the extracting of this ver∣tue, and separating it by the operations of Chymistry; and even if this vertue cannot be separated without alteration of its Subject, or its only essential Faculties, to preserve and even encrease them by an addition of what may concur with the intention and answer to the indication of the Artist that intends the use of them. These kinds of Earths have been declared by several names for three principal Reasons: the first for the place of their original: the second for the Matrix which has supplyed them and given them their colour: the third by reason of certain Characters or figures

impressed upon them. This is called the Lemniac, Maltha and Turkish Earth. This the golden Mine or Solar Earth, the silver Mine or Lunar Earth, the Venerean, Saturnine, &c. and final∣ly, the terra Sigillata or sealed Earth, according to the place from whence it comes.

We shall not speak here of the mineral Earths or mines of Me∣tals, no more then of Marcassites, middle-Minerals, or Vitriolick and Sulphurated Earths; when we come to treat of Metalls and their original in the following Sections we shall be oblig'd to speak thereof. Our Discourse then here shall only be of Bolus's and Earths so properly called, that what we shall deliver, may be as a Light and Direction to handle all other sorts of Earths that shall have some resemblance and analogy with these.

Of Terra Sigillata or sealed Earth.

BEfore we speak of the chusing of these Earths, and designe particularly the marks of their goodnesse and Vertue, we must make a small mental reflection upon the cause and reason of their chief Vertue. We have already so often said, that Light is the spring and source of all good impressions, that we need not farther insist thereon, being it is of absolute necessity that this Light should have transmitted her Rayes into the very center of these Earths, since we find in them a Cardiack, Cephalick, Hepatick, Stomachical vertue, which could not be unless this Earth were impregnated with some vitriol, or Solar, Martial or Lunary Sulphur, which are never∣thelesse only embryonated in the same, as we will make it appear in the sequel of this Discourse; For these Earths being only found in such places where perfect or imperfect Metals are extracted, so are they more or lesse pure, more or lesse efficatious and full of vertue, according as they partake of the purity or impurity of Vitriol and Sulphur, which are the principles of Metals found in the place of their birth and original.

The most excellent of all these Earths is that which is digged in the Island of Lemnos by order of the Grand Seigniour every year, and thence carried to Constantinople, to be distributed afterwards through Europe at his pleasure: The second in order and good∣nesse,

is that which is found about the Town Striga in Silesia, where they have begun to give it a Seal, viz. two Sols: some call it the fat of Gold or axungia Solis, because impregnated with a so∣lar Sulphur, and it is of a reddish colour; there is also a second or inferiour kind which is gray or whitish, called also the fat of sil∣ver or axungia Lunae, because impregnated with a Lunar Sulphur. That which is Solar is dedicated to the Heart and the diseases thereof, as the Lunar to the Brain and Liver. The third kind of Earth in goodnesse is that of Blois, and all the sorts of Earth that come nigh to it; the choice of either of them depends upon two chief notes: first, it must be apt to stick and cleave easily to the Tongue when touched by it; secondly, the wet or spittle that sticks upon, or any other moist liquor, must immediately rise in smal pustuls or bubbles, and make a kind of ebullition, or any parcell thrown in water must immediately put it to a boiling; and as we said that these earths did partake of a solar Vertue, by reason of embryonated mineral sulphur which is in them; so may we also affirm that they are Remedies purely natural, and capable to shew their vertue as they come from the hands of Nature without ne∣cessitating Art to contribute any help of its own: contrariwise, it should seem that Art here would but injure and offend Nature, since these earths have much more vertue before the common pre∣paration thereof pretended by vulgar Pharmacy, which are to wash & triturate them upon a Marble or Porphyry; which in effect doth nothing else, but take away from them that vitriolick embry∣onated portion in which doth consist their vertue and effica∣cy. But there is a Spagyrick preparation better able to draw their purest and most efficacious substance, and thus more plea∣santly and in a lesse Dosis it may be exhibited to Patients. The general and particular vertues of Earths and Bolus's are to desic∣cate and astringe, resist putrefaction and venom, resolve coagula∣ted and congealed blood, strengthen the Heart and Brain, and by sweat purifie the masse of the Blood; wherefore with great suc∣cesse and advantage they may be given in Plague, malignant Fea∣vers, Diarrhea's, Dysentery and bitings of venomous Creatures. Their external use is to apply upon festered and desperate wounds, and to stop Hemorrhages or issues of blood.

The distillation of sealed or sigilled Earth.

℞ lb v. or vj. of Silesian Earth bearing the mark of two Hil∣locks, with all the notes of goodnesse which we have assigned a∣bove: break the Cakes in three or four pieces and put them in a Glasse Retort, which you must place in a close Reverberatory, fit∣ing to it a capacious Receiver luted exactly in the Joints; co∣ver the Furnace, and give it a gradual fire during the space of xx. or xxx. hours, or until no more clouds do appear, or that the Artist shall see a Sublimatory made, not only about the neck of the Retort, but that it hath even penetrated into the body of the Re∣cipient; for it is then a sure token that the Earth hath yielded all the salt and sulphur which it did contain; and though it appears little by the bulk and quantity thereof, yet that which is extracted ought to be highly valued by reason of its great vertue and plea∣santnesse; for the liquor has a very agreeable acidity: that which is sublimated must be joined to the said liquor, put in a Glasse-Viol and so kept for use. It hath no need of Rectification, for there is nothing in it but pure and useful. It may be us'd instead of the body of the Earth in all diseases whereto we have said above that it did conduce; but this Liquor hath one quality besides, that it is ex∣traordinary good to appease the pains of running Gouts, and to correct the malignity of Itch and all other eruptions of the skin. The Dosis is from iiij. to xv. or xx. drops in Broth, Wine, or some other distilled water appropriated to the Disease. But you must note, that the Earth left in the Retort after distillation cleaves no more to the Tongue, causes no more ebullition when wetted with spittle or any other Liquor, though it keeps still its shape and colour, which is an infallible token that its radical moisture and internal fire which were causes of their astringence and ebulliti∣on, are passed into the Recipient, and that this was by consequence the chief part of its vertue.

Of Bolus.

BOLUS is a knd of reddish earth, which partakes and is im∣pregnated of the vapours of some Mines or veines of Iron, which is Mars, and participates something of the solar nature. It is vulgarly called in shops Bole-Armeniack, or oriental and fine, because it comes from the oriental parts of Armenia. The best is that which is pure, not mixt with Sand, which insensibly melts a∣way as lime after it has been wetted, or like butter in the mouth is very astringent, and easily and quickly sticks to the lips and tongue. The chief vertues of it are, strongly to desiccate and dry, to astringe and strengthen; wherefore it is very useful in stop∣ping of Fluxes, hindering colliquations and resisting putrefaction and venoms, which makes it to be employed in Diarrhea's, Lien∣tery, Dysentery, immoderate courses, whether white or red, spit∣ting of blood, bleeding of the Nose and stopping the blood in Wounds. It may also be mixt in Cataplasms, Unguents, Salves and astringent pouders for outward applications. Bolus may be distilled in the same manner as the sigilled Earth and applyed to the same uses. But because Bolus of it self is already an excel∣lent Earth, we must teach our Artist how to improve and meliorate it, not by a separation of its parts, but rather adding some Sub∣stances which shall encrease its vertue, according to the Indication which may engage him to make use thereof; for as this Earth is dry and void of all moisture, so doth it attract to its self the Spi∣rits and Salts of any Liquor mixt with much eagernesse, and keeps them to its self till the heat of the Patients stomach calls them forth by making separation thereof. We will deliver four several descriptions, that upon the model of it others may be prepared. The first shall be to make it more astringent, and capable of pro∣ducing its effect sooner and more safely in outward applications. The second, to render it more efficacious for dissolving congealed and coagulated blood in the body, whereby to corroborate Nature, and help it to expel and evacuate that blood so dissolved, either by Sweat or Urine. The third will encrease its astringency for in∣ward applications, to make it sooner stop the Fluxes and loose∣nesse

of the Belly, Dysentery and immoderate Courses. The fourth will render it more fit to produce very remarkable effects in pestilential diseases and all malignant Feavers, where strength doth fail by the sharpnesse and abundance of the venom, which of necessity must be brought to transpiration, and expelled from the center of the Patients body to the circumference and outward parts by the help of this prepared earth, which retains in it self the best, subtilest and purest of the liquor wherewith it has been im∣pregnated.

Preparation of the Bolus to make it more astringent for out∣ward applications.

THis preparation cannot be made but once in a year in the moneth of March, because you can have no spawn of Frogs but in this season only which is the beginning of the Spring. Take then about that time half a Bucket full of spawn of Frogs, which put in a linnen cloth bagg somewhat thin with half a hundred of Cray-fishes bruised in a stone or marble Mortar until they be reduced to a pap, and having hung it over an earthen panne or other Vessel receive the Liquor dropping from this bagg, and when you shall have about lb iiij. of this liquor, purifie it by percolation, and mix with it purified and chrystallized Salt-peter and roch-Allum ana ℥ j. φ. After which reduce lb j. of fine Bolus to pouder; and having moistened the same with this Li∣quor, dry it again, and thus proceed moistening and drying un∣til the Bolus hath drunk up all the liquor; and this Bolus thus prepared will be very good for outward applications, both for stopping blood and hindering inflammation and other accidents, which for the most part follow bruises and Wounds. It may also be put in Plaisters, Salves and Cataplasms.

Preparation of Bolus to resolve coagulated blood inwardly.

℞ Smallage, Sorrel and Plantain newly gathered, of each lb j. beat them in a marble Mortar and expresse the juice thereof, which you must put in a Cucirbit on sand with ℥ iiij. of mundi∣fied Roots of the same plants, and Manip. ij. of our Ladies-thistle or the Milky-thistle, Manip. iij. of Chervil, and iiij. of Pimper∣nel: cover your Vessel with a Blind-head and make it boyl the space of six hours, then percolate it as clean as you can; and with this liquor imbibe lb j. of fine Bolus in pouder, and let it dry, continuing this moistening and drying until all the liquor be spent; and keep it thus prepared to administer to such as being fallen from high, have some quantity of blood inwardly shed in the breast or lowermost belly. The Dosis must be from x. grains to ℈ iiij. mixt with as much Nutmeg-pouder in Broth or some vulnerary Deco∣ction, made with Bugle, Sanicle, Winter-green, and Consolida Sar∣racenica, or even administer it in Pills and give the Patient to drink after.

Preparation of Bolus against Dysentery and Diarrhea's.

℞ Bistorta Roots or Snakeweed, Sorrel, Cynoglosse or Dogs-tongue, Lapathum acutum, Plantain, Tormentil, ana ℥ j. φ. fresh and recent Herbs of Plaintain, Mille-solium, Pyrola or Winter-green, new-gathered leaves of the ends of Oak-branches ana Man. ij. pick all these, wash and shred, and boyl in an earthen pot in sand, with lb j. of phlegm of Vitriol, and lb iij. of water of Knotgrasse till it be reduced to a third part; then strain and per∣colate it cleanly, and with this liquor sprinkle and moisten lb ss. of Bolus; and continue moistening and desiccating until the whole Decoction be spent; and thus shall you have a wonderful Bolus to stop Dysentery and all kind of Lasks of immoderate loosnesses of the belly, without any fear of shutting (as the Proverb says) the Wolf in the sheep-fold: For this Remedy performs its action by strengthening, corrects meerly the irritation or weaknesse and

relaxation of the Maw-gut, and restores the Ventricle in a condi∣tion and sufficient strength to retain and digest the aliments and meats injected. The Dosis is from v. gr. to ℈ ij. with half as much salt of Coral made in Pills with vitriolated Conserves of Roses, or mingled with some stomachical Decoction or in Broth; but it is much better given in Bolus, that it may have so much more leisure to tang in the stomach, and impresse better there the character and irradiation of its vertue.

Preparation of Bolus against Pestilential and contagious Diseases.

℞ Scordium and Rhew, ana Man. ij. upper rind of Oranges and Lemmons ana ℥ ij. Angelica, Carline-thistle and Contra∣yerva Roots ana ℥ j. shred small the Plants and Rinds, and re∣duce to course pouder the Roots, then put in a Matrass with lb j. ss. of Spanish Wine, and applying thereon a Blindhead, put it to di∣gest in a vaporous Bath the space of three natural dayes, which expired let the Vessels grow cold; then expresse the Species and filtrate the liquor, with which imbibe lb s. of oriental Bolus re∣duced to pouder and divided in four equal parts: but because it would be damage to lose the water, which by an ordinary way of exsiccation would vapour away in the ayr, draw off the water a∣gain in B. M. till the masse remains dry in a Cucurbite fitted with its Still head, and that four times reiterated; having so many times moistened your Bolus, which afterwards keep in pouder in a bottle well stopt; You must also preserve curiously the water: for as the Bolus hath preserved the centrical vertue, and taken to him∣self the Extract of those Ingredients which encrease its Cardiack and alexiterial Vertue, so hath the water drawn what was spiri∣tuous and volatile in the same, which is not of lesser importance then the rest. This antipestilential Bolus may be given from v. gr. to xxx. with half as much Vipers flesh in a spoonfull or two of the water drawn off from the preparation in all pestilential and malignant diseases, but chiefly against the plague, and even this admirable Remedy may generally be used against all poysons.

These are the four kinds of preparations whereof we thought

our selves engaged to speak, that they may be as Models and Ex∣amples to perform others, according to those Indications which Physitians carefull of the recovery of their Patients shall take. The Chymical Artist may distil the Bolus in the same manner as we have taught above the sigillated Earth was to be distilled and ap∣propriated to the extract thereof, according to the vertues where∣of the Bolus is possessed, observing the same Rules and Dosis as in the Remedies extracted from sigillated Earth, as we have suffici∣ently declared above.

SECTION II. Of Stones.

BEfore we deliver the definition of Stones, and describe the operations performed upon some of them, we have thought it not unfit to speak something of the essence or mineral Spirit which rules in the Earth, in whose bosome it begins and ends the generation both of stones and of all other mineral Bodies. Now this essence or Spirit is void of action, un∣less assisted by the water which is to it instead of a Vehicle, to con∣vey and carry it in its soft and fluid body into the very bowels of the Earth. This mineral essence seemes to be nothing else but the universal spirit of the Spirit of the World, impregnated by the light of all the mineral Ideas, which it doth impress and commu∣nicate to the water, that she may be capable to produce the fruits of the mineral Kingdom in the several matrixes of the earth, ac∣cording to the Genus and species of this essence, differing in no∣mination, though one and the same in essence: for according as it is metalline, petrifying, saline, bituminous and earthly, it produces the variety of substances depending of each of these subalternate genders, and according to the predominant character and Idea, the mineral substances are pure or impure, fix or volatile, and so of all the other proprieties and faculties of these Mixts.

This being so, it is not difficult to conceive that stones in gene∣ral

are nothing else but terrestrial hard bodies, not ductile, apt to crumble, and coagulated by the power and strength of the Lapi∣difick Ferment: We have hinted above the difference and variety of stones: there remains no more to do at present, but to chuse those we intend to give for an example & pattern of the operations which generally may be performed upon all others. We will then select for the subjects of such preparations as may be wrought up∣on stones, First the Emerald; secondly the Chrystal; thirdly the Coral; fourthly Lapis Judaicus; fifthly Chalk, and finally the Limestone. But as there are general observations which may be given for all stones in general, we must speak something thereof, because it will much help our Artist to facilitate and explain the meaning of all what we shall hereafter say, not only of stones, but also of all other Minerals and of Metals themselves. They that will have a very exact knowledge of stones, may have recourse to that learned Book which Boetius Van Bood, Physitian to the Emperor Rudolphus II. hath writ, and he shall fully be satisfied as touching this matter: for our intent is only to anatomize here those we have named; because they will be sufficient to instruct the Chy∣mical Apothecary how to work upon all others that have a rela∣tion or conformity to them.

First then we say, that our Artist must consider, that as the body of precious or not precious stones is harder and more fix then that of Animals and Vegetables; so must he go to work and pro∣ceed in another way in their anatomy, and use different Men∣struum's to extract and dissolve them: and moreover, that these Menstruums shall not act for the most part upon such fix and so∣lid bodies as these are, unless they be calcined beforehand, either by themselves or mixed with Salt or Brimstone, to penetrate the hardnesse and compactness of their bodies, and render them po∣rous, so as the liquors which shall be used in their extraction or dis∣solution, may more easily and usefully perform their action upon them. Calcination is one of the principal operations made upon stone, either to make them fit for Medicinal uses, or to open them and render them capable of the most exact Chymical ope∣rations. This dispositive or preparatory Calcination is threefold: for it is either meer ignition, as when common Lime is burned; secondly, ignition with an extinction of the matter in some Li∣quor,

to disunite it by this reiterated action, and so reduce it into Pouder or Calx. The third Calcination is performed with com∣mon salt, Saltpeter or Brimstone. Solution follows Calcination, and is made with several different Menstruum's, according to the greater or lesse fixity found in the dissoluble Bodies; the chief and most usually employed are Vinegar, either simply distilled, or alka∣lized, the spirit of therebinthinated Vinegar, and the vinegar of Honey, spirit of Vitriol and of Salt, and oyle of Sulphur or Brim∣stone made per Campanam; but the spirit of Venus goeth in ver∣tue and activity beyond all the foresaid Menstruum's, to extract or dissolve all manner of calcined or uncalcined stones; we will shew the preparation of it in the Section of Metals. After disso∣lution follows coagulation, which is performed two wayes: either drawing of the Menstruum by evaporation or by distillation, and then what remains is a salt; or else it is made by precipitation, and the remaining pouder is properly called a Magistery.

There is besides Edulcoration and putrification made by abluti∣ons, solutions and coagulations often repeated: and for the last operation, liquation or solution of the salts which have been ex∣tracted from the stones, in a Liquor commonly called Oleum per deliquium, or oyl of Deficiency; it is made in some moist place upom some Table or square of Marble or Glass; and the Crown and perfection of all the work, is the volatization of the liquor or salt of a stone by the help of some good Cordial Menstruum, which is not to be performed but by digestion and reiterated distil∣lation; for in every one of these operations, there ascends still a portion of salt with the Menstruum; and if the Menstruum be left impregnated with this salt, it is called the Elixir of the stone: but if it be drawn off with a soft and gentle heat, that which re∣mains in the bottom of the Vessel in the form of an oyl is called the essence of the stone.

Thus by this gradation of operations stones are converted into Salts, Magistery, Liquor, Elixir and Essence: But before we put an end to these general hints, we will give a general processe up∣on all kind of stones, to reduce them into Salt and Essence with lesse work and lesse toyl, which is performed in the following manner.

Reduce to an impalpable pouder such kind of stone as you shall

think fit to take by one of the three Calcinations we have menti∣oned above, then grind this subtil pouder on a Porphyry stone of a Sea-shell, with equal weight of Bay or Seasalt well dryed; put that mixture in a Crucible, which you shall cover and lute exactly: the Lute being dry, put it in a Potters-furnace at the same time as he begins to bake his pots, and there let it stand twenty four hours: after which take out your Vessel and open it, and the matter which you shal find in it, dissolve with warm distilled rain-water in a glased earthen pan; stir and triturate it nimbly with a Glass or wooden pestle; pour the dissolution in another pan also glased, and thus proceed grinding; stirring and dissolving in new warm water, until the Calx of the stone remains indissoluble in the bottom: then dry it and reiterate the same operation with dryed salt, until all the body of the Calx be reduced and converted into a slimy fat and glewing substance among the body of the warm water: then being setled again, separate the clear water which swims above the slimy grounds of setlement by inclination; and put all these wa∣ters in a glass Cucurbite in sand; give it a competent fire, and draw off by evaporation or distillation the half part thereof: then pour upon the liquor remaining in the Cucurbite oyle of Tartar drawn by deficiency or per deliquium, drop by drop until this li∣quor becomes as white as milk; then filter this white water, to separate the part thereof which you shall find precipitated; and thus continue to precipitate and filtrate until the water remaines clear. Then put together all the slimy parts remaining in the bottom of the Pans with that which is in the Filter, and wash it with pure lukewarm Fountain water, until the water comes our as void of taste as when it was poured on, which will be a sure token that the remaining matter is destitute of all saltishnesse; then separate the water thereof with as much exactnesse and care as you can, and put this matter in a Cucurbite, pouring upon it very good distilled Vinegar four fingers high; put all in ashes to digest, until the Vinegar hath lost its sharpness and is become sweet; then draw it off by inclination, and pour fresh Vinegar theron at the same height, and thus proceed &, go on, until the distil∣led Vinegar changes no more its taste: then joyn all these extracti∣ons and dissolutions, filtrate and evaporate in sand slowly without boyling until all be dry, and you shall have the salt of the stone

of a grayish colour, which grind and put in a Matrass, and pour upon tartarizated spirit of Wine the height of four fingers: stop your Vessel with a Blindhead and extract the Tincture thereof in B. M. and when the Spirit shall appear coloured, separate it and supply with new until it takes no more colour; then filtrate all the Tinctures, and draw off softly the spirit in a vaporous Balneo, until the essence of the stone remaines in the bot∣tom in the consistency of a clear Syrup. This is the general method of working upon stones of what vertue or quality soever: and whensoever our Artst hath made any Essence of this kind, he shall repair to such Authors as have particularly treated of that stone and of its vertues, and so shall be capable to apply them to their right use. We may only add the genetal Dosis of these no∣ble Remedies, which is from j. or ij. drops to viij. or x. in the morning fasting, in Broth, Wine, Decoction, or some distilled water specifick and appropriated to the Disease and Remedy; and let this be said in the way concerning stones in general; we come now to the particular operations which we propound for a Pattern and Model in particular.

Of the Emerald, and its Chymical preparation.

THE Emerald is a precious stone, transparent and very fair by reason of its pleasant green colour, the softest and most brickle of all others. The best Emeralds are the Oriental, both in regard their green is deeper and more pleasant to the eye, and because they are of greater vertue; the meanest are those which are brought from Peru and found in Europe. After that the frag∣ments of Emerald have been purely calcin'd by ignition and ex∣traction in water of juice of Bugloss, and then triturated or ground to an Alkohol upon the Porphyry stone with the same wa∣ter and dryed, it may be administred in Bolus or Pill, with Con∣serve of Marigold flower from iiij. gr. to x. against all manner of Lasks of the Belly and bloody Fluxes: but chiefly against Dy∣sentery, either proceeding from erosion of the Entrals, or from some malignant matter: it is also a fit Remedy against the biting of venomous Creatures, Plague, pestilential Feavers and all o∣thers

that partake of malignancy. There are many other noble vertues attributed to the Emerald being whole and unprepared: but they only respect outward application, such as to hang it on the neck against the Falling-ficknesse; Tye it to the Thigh for ad∣vancing delivery in Childbed; apply it on the belly to prevent miscarrying, stop the bleeding of the Nose with keeping it in the mouth; as likewise bloody Fluxe, and Emrods applyed up∣on the Lungs: it is also said to recreate both outward and in∣ward senses worn on the finger, and to expel fear and terrour of ill Visions. There are some Authors who deliver as an un∣doubted truth, it will oftentimes break being worn by too la∣scivious a person, and who unboundedly will abandon himself to Venery. So much have we thought fit summarily to say, that it may appear what experience hath found out towards the effi∣cacy of precious stones, which have all in themselves some por∣tion of very pure metallick Sulphur, which communicates Ver∣tues and Faculties unto them of much more extent then that of Animals and Vegetables. And what is this Sulphur else but the purest part of condensed light? which yields a continual irra∣diation of its vertue without any lessening or diminution, by reason of the magnetical vertue of the stone, which perpetually attracts its like from the uppermost Heaven; as it appears yet better by the oriental Saphire, and the efficacy is wonderful against the Plague, insomuch as if the Patient hath many boiles or sores on his body at once, none of them will break or run, but that about which a circle or ring hath been made with a Sa∣phire touching the skin: and moreover, the scarification shall never surpasse the bounds, which the vertue of the stone seems to have prescribed ann limited unto it. But let us come to the Chymical preparation, by which the salt Tincture and Elixir or Essence are extracted.

Of the Chymical Preparation of Emerald.

TAke fragments of Emerald the greenest and cleanest you can meet with, beat them to pouder in a steel-Mortar, and searce the pouder through a fine linnen Searcer fitted in a Box, which in

the French shops is called Cicotriner; or it is as good to tritu∣rate them into an impalpable pouder, which put in a Matrass, pour∣ing upon it of the volatile spirit of Urine having yet its phlegm, to draw the colour, and the spirit being sufficiently coloured, draw it off and pour on other until it takes no more colour; then filtrate the Tincture through a Cotten, and put them into a Cucurbite to draw off the Spirit, till you have the bottom in the consistency of an extract, upon which pour very good spirt of Wine; then stop∣ping the Vessel with a Blindhead, lute it, and in the vapour of Balneo put it to extract, digest and circulate untill the spirit be ting'd with a high green, after this draw back again the half or two thirds of the spirit with a slow heat, and you shall have an Elixir or essence of Emerald left, which is a soveraign Remedy against Dysentery and all other kinds of flux of the belly, red and white Courses of Women, Emrods and Hemorrhagy. It is of no less use against all affections of the brain, and passions of the heart, chiefly against swooning, weakness and palpitation; as also Me∣lancholy, Phrensie, Hebetation or weakening of the functions of the Spirits proceeding from some long and perillous disease. For besides this Centrical and luminous Sulphur whence all these noble vertues are derived, there remains besides in this Elixir a certain portion of the volatile salt of Urine, which cleaves to this Sulphur by the help of the spirit of Wine, framing together an essence capable of all these vertues which we have attributed unto it. The Dosis is from ij. drops unto x. in Liquor appropriated to the diseases of the Head, Heart and lower Ventricle.

Of Chrystal, and its Chymical preparation.

CHRYSTAL is a transparent stone, having some likeness un∣to congealed water reduced into lucid and transparent Ice; so that what the Greeks call Chrystal, we call it congealed. We shall not here insist long upon any debate to prove that Chrystal is nothing else but meer congealed water, since to discover the un∣truth of that opinion, it will suffice to say, that Chrystal doth not melt, but being calcined turns into Calx and Salt by the strength of the Spirit, by which it hath been coagulated of a very pure Earth

and a little proportion of water, which by help of the salt it had in it self, impregnared with the petrifying Idea and fer∣ment, hath dissolved the said earth. Neither shall we speak of that Hexagonal figure which the outside of the Chrystal doth ever represent, but shall only say that the circular figure is the perfectest of all others, and that Hexagonal comes the nearest to it: and that as the chrystal is one of the most pure and perfect substances, there∣fore also it comes nearer to the spherical or circular figure. Chry∣stal is found in Portugal, in the Island of Cyprus, Germany, Hun∣gary and Bohemia: it is not difficult to our Artist to make his choice thereof, by reason of the transparency of the matter; it being sufficient to chuse that which is more compacted, purest and clearest; and to prepare it a little better then usually, it must be made in a gross powder, and heated to redness in a Crucible with a wind furnace, and when it is glowing red, pour in radish water, or water of roots of Restabovis, or Restharrow, somewhat sharpned or acuated with a little spirit of salt; and this ignition and extinction continued three or four times, then grind it on a Porphyry to implacable pouder, with the same water that was used for the extinction of it; ane thus being dryed, keep it for use. Chrystal hath an astringent vertue, therefore it is good for stopping of a Lask, and against Dysentery, against Colick, Cholera Morbus, white and red c••••rses of women, Gonor∣rhea's, and V••en, runnings, it encreases milk in the breast, expells and dissolves all tartarous preternatural substance in all parts of the body: above all, it dissolves Tophus's and hardnesses in limbs proceeding from the gout. But its principal use is to expell clammy humours and sand from the kidneys and bladder: the do∣sis from ℈ j. to ℈ ij. in bolus, in some conserve of Eglantine, or Parsley-water, if it be for nephritical passions, and so in other conserves or appropriated waters, according to the prudence of the skilful and expert Physitian, and the diseases he takes in hand.

The Chymical Preparation of Chrystal.

BEfore we come to the exact and perfect preparation of the Elixir and essence of Chrystal, we must premise an instanta∣neous operation, in respect of the other, whereby our Artist

may ever be in readiness to succour and assist those that shall have need of this remedy, according to the order and prescription of Physitians: To this end, take equal parts of Parsley, Nettle, radish water, as also of Restabovis or Restharrow, acuated with spirit of Vitriol, or oyl of Sulphur per campanam; put all these waters in a well glased earthen pan, and having brought to ig∣nition in a wind furnace as many ounces of Chrystal as there are pints of these waters, let the Chrystal be only grosly beaten, and when it is glowing hot and red, extinguish it in the said waters, and so reiterate this ignition and extinction ten or twelve times, that so the waters may draw to themselves the best part of the Salt of Chrystal: then filtrate the liquor remaining, and add two ounces of white sugar-candy to pouder to each pound, and thus shall you have a quick and easie remedy at hand, to admini∣ster to those that shall find themselves persecuted with the pains of gravel. The Dosis is from half an ounce to three in broths or decoction of roots of Onions, or Restharrow, and Virga aurea or golden rod, made with equal parts of White wine and water; and note, that the Patient must be in a half bath, when he takes this remedy, and be prepared with a glyster of Turpentine taken and given back before he enters into the Bath.

The Prepar••••••on of Salt of Chrystal.

DRY the remainder of the foregoing Preparation, and grind it to a very subtile pouder upon a Porphyry, then flux it in a Crucible, equal weight of very pure Salt-Peter; and when it shall wholly flow, throw in it by degrees and small parcels, the chrystal pouder well dryed, and leave them so together by infusion five hours; this done, dissolve that which remains in the Crucible with distilled rain-water, to wash away the remaining Salt-Peter; then dry gently the Caly, and put it in a Matrass, pouring upon it very good distilled Vinegar, three times cohobated upon burning Nettles; and continue this dissolution, till the vinegar draws no more; then filtrate all the dissolutions, and evaporate untill they be dry, and you shall find in the bottom of the vessel a greyish salt, which you must dissolve again in the same Menstru∣um, filtrate and evaporate to purifie it; and thus you may keep

it, either dry as a salt, or dissolve it in liquor in a cold Cellar, and you shall have that which is improperly called the oyl of Chrystal. The dosis of the Salt is from iv. gr. to xvj. in appro∣priated liquors, and with requisite precautions; and the dosis of the liquor is somewhat stronger, by reason of the moistness which the salt hath attracted to it self, by which it is reduced ro liquor. You must turn back to what we have said of the Vertues of pre∣pared Crystal, to judge of the Salt and Liquor: Noting this ne∣vertheless, that they are principally and more properly used against Podagrical diseases, and specifical for kidney and bladder.

How the Elixir or Essence of Chrystal is to be prepared.

℞ OF the purest rock-chrystal, reduce it to a coarse pouder, and place it in a Crucible in a wind furnace, and being red hot, quench it a glassed pan full of very good distilled vinegar, and reiterate this ignition and extinction three times, or which is bet∣ter, till the Chrystal turns of it self into a calp as small as sands, then dry this calp, and mix it with equal weight of flowers of brimstone, and calcine them together in a Crucible till all the brimstone be spent; this calcination reiterate three times, then mix the remainder in the Crucible with its double weight of very fine Salt-Peter, which must be set in a fusion and flux, and there∣fore the Crucible very good for the space of xij. hours: and if the Crucible should happen to crack, have an eye presently to sup∣ply it with another, which therefore you must have ready at hand, rebaked, and kept warm under the grate of your wind furnace, that it may out of hand be trusted to a great fire without danger of breaking; the time being expired, and the calcination over, grind the remaining matter on a porphyry stone, ℥iv. at a time, and add to it by little and little very good distilled vinegar to the quantity of ℥x. and thus continue till you have a pound of the grinded matter, which put in a new large Matrass, and pour on it of new distilled vinegar pure and strong; stop the vessel with its blind head, luted with quick lime and beaten whites of eggs; then put to digest in B. M. the space of two natural days with a moderate heat, and in the end you shall find the vine∣gar tinged with a very high blood-red colour; open the vessels, and filtrate the liquor, and put it in a Cucurbite in B. M. to draw

all the liquor till the grounds remain dry; which take afterwards, and put on a Matble-stone in a cold cellar, or some other moist place to resolve them into a red liquor, which you are to receive in a glass cup or dosis, co-operating still carefully, whether the drops as they fall be red, because the essence of the chrystal is only in them which hold forth that colour; for when the co∣lour alters, it is a manifest sign that the fixed salt of the Salt-Pe∣ter dissolves it self; wherefore you must keep apart the first li∣quor, without much heeding the other: let this red liquor settle during some days, and draw by inclination the pure part from the impure, which preserve in a strong vial; and when you will use it, take ℥j. thereof, and mix it with another ounce of good white Wine in a Vial, and shake it together; then let it settle the space of twenty four hours and there will be yet a new defeca∣tion; pour the clear and red thereof not stirred in three pound of white wine, to which this liquor will cleave without leaving or separating any impurity; this mixture must be administred three times a day to such as are tormented with the stone, gra∣vel or nephritical Fits, and those also which have already some disposition towards the gout, and find any weakness or impedi∣ment in their limbs: but chiefly to those which are troubled with Tophus's and Hardnesses, by reason of the Tartar coagulated towards the extremities. The dosis is ℥ iv. or ℥ v. in a glass, the first time in the morning fasting, the second two or three hours after twelve, and the third about bed-time: The use of it must not be intermitted during the space of a philosophical month, which is forty days, to perfect the recovery; and if during this interval the belly doth not perform its office, take no purging me∣dicine, but it will suffice if every other day the Patient takes a plain Glyster of fresh stale, or urine without any addition to it, and the next day ℈ j. of the liquor of ☿ of Sennertus in chicken or veal broth, where you have boiled Parsley and Scorzonera roots. But if any by prevention only will take some of essencified wine, a glass in the morning fasting will suffice for the space of fifteen days, twice in the year; viz. viij. days before the two Eqninoxes of March and September, and viij, days after: and in so so doing you shall doubtless reap the fruit of your hopes.

Of Coral, and its Chymical Preparation.

WEE put Coral and its peparation in the rank of stones, as much by reason of the analogy of its stony substance, as because the operations which are made upon it have a great re∣semblance with those performed upon stones, both in respect of the manner of working, and the Menstruum's which Artists do use both to dissolve and to extract it. The work we shall teach here upon Coral may be a pattern for Pearls, all kind of stones proceeding from Animals, and from shells: for it would but prove tedious to repeat so often the same thing, since both the manner of working and Menstruum's are like in the one and the other.

We shall not lose time here in frivolous debates about the opi∣nion of ancient and modern Writers concerning the generation of Coral, to know whether it was Plant-like, of a soft or hard branch before extracted out of the Sea, because all this makes little for our purpose, it will suffice if we can but in a guesse say most proba∣bly what it is, delivering the differences and teaching the choice thereof, and principally how it is best reduced into usefull Reme∣dies.

Coral is nothing else but a strong shrub found growing upon stones in the bottom of the Sea. There are several differences of it by reason of the variety of colours, and the more or lesse compactedness and hardness of its substance; but waving all other kinds, we purpose only to treat here of red Coral, which must be of a close substance compacted, dry and hard, high in colour, pure and clean, such having more vertue, and possessing in it as in a compendium all the efficacy and essential faculties, which the other kinds may be endowed with. But here some body might move a question, Why red is preferable to all the rest? to which the answer is not difficult, since this redness is an external signe of the intrinsecal vertue of the mineral Sulphur, which is one of the principles of Coral, and from which are derived the chief vertues of it being of a Solar nature; which is the cause also that all Artists have at all times sought with great study, care and dili∣gence

the way how to extract the true Tincture of Coral, being one of the chief Remedies which Chymical Physick doth afford; for if any thinks to be capable of giving a reason for this redness by the first and second qualities of substances, certainly he will fall short of his purpose, since we can assign no better reason then the Will of the Almighty Creator, who hath imparted to things such colours as he hath been pleased with, and hath so wisely implant∣ed them in their seminaries, that their internal archeus or natural and innate Architectonical spirit can never swerve from them nor forsake them but by Errour or uncapacity and unfitness of the matter, the ordinary causes of generation of Monsters, which very unjustly are attributed to an errour and blemish of Nature.

The Chymical preparation of Coral.

AS Coral possesses many singular and noble vertues, so have our Artists in all times sought the possible wayes of opening its body with great variety of Menstruum's, to extract from the center of this mixt the noble Remedies which Nature hath im∣planted in it. I can even say that there is no natural product upon which so many, either vegetable or mineral Liquors have been tryed; and to prove the truth of this Assertion I shall only here rehearse some of the principal, which are all manner of distilled Vinegars, Juices of Berberries, Lemon, Quinces, O∣range, spirit of dew and Honey, acid or sharp spirit of Turpen∣tine, the liquor or Birch-tree, the spirits of Guajacum, Box, Juniper, tops of Alder and Service-tree; spirits of Tartar, Salt, Vitriol, Sulphur or Brimstone, the tempered spirit of Wine acuated with those salts, the burning spirit of Coral it self, the vinegar or acid Spirit of the same, and finally the spirit and phlegm of Saturn; but above all, the most active and efficacious is the spirit of Venus. whereof we have already spoken somewhere else, and will give a description in the Section of Metals.

I have not thought it out of purpose to intimate the variety of these Menstruum's, to make it appear more evidently how many operations have been begun and finisht upon Coral; and that when the Chymical Apothecary shall consult any of the Authors that

have treated or it, and finding so great a difference shall doubt to which part he may best and more safely incline, he may have a guide herein and be conducted through this Labyrinth by the thred of Experience which we our selves have made thereof. Wherefore we will give examples how to extract in the best manner the salt of Coral and false Magistery; then how to make the true which ought to be dissoluble; and in the third place we will give the method of extracting the Tincture thereof, and fi∣nally how the true Syrup is to be made, and that he may have a true and full Idea of the vertues of Coral, and affix it to one of these four Remedies, according to their corporeity, spirituality and their Dosis. We have thought fit to prefix the general and particular vertues, which both Ancient and Modern Writers have attributed to Coral, which are these: The general vertues are to be astringent, cool and dry, strengthen and corroborate the heart, ventricle, liver, and purifie the masse of the blood, whence it is given against the Plague, venoms and malignant Feavers. It chears up the internal senses, as also the external; stops all kind of Fluxes of the Belly, Womb and privy parts. Paracelsus saith, That Coral of a high colour worn about the body as a preservative, frees the party from fear of Witchcraft, Incantation, Poyson, Epilepsie, Melancholy, danger of evil Spirits, or touch of Thun∣der.

How to prepare rightly the salt of Coral.

TAke as much well chosen red Coral as you will, dry, hard, and of a high-coloured red; beat it in a brazen Mortar well cleansed with its Pestle to a course pouder, and thereof put ℥ iiij. in a Matrass, and gently pour upon strong and pure distilled Vi∣negar: I say gently and by degrees, because if it were poured too much at a time, there would immediatly arise a sudden ebullition by the action of the Dissolvent upon the dissoluble Body, and so part of the dissolution should run danger to be cast away; there∣fore must you act with prudence and patience until the violent action of the Spirit be allayed, then may you continue boldly your pouring of the Vinegar all at once to the height of four fin∣gers:

and having placed your Matrass in ashes or sand, stir it of∣ten until the Vinegar shows no more action or is grown altoge∣ther insipid, which is then a clear testimony that all its sharp∣nesse is lost by the action it has upon the substance of the Coral; after this draw by inclination this Spirit so impregnated of the Coralline salt, and pour on fresh to continue your extraction: and thus digest, extract, and draw off until no more of the disso∣luble substance of the Coral be left; then filtrate all the dissolu∣tions being cold, because if you did it whilst they be warm, the heat would make some small terrestrial corpuscles to penetrate through the Filtre, which would hinder the purity and Dissolubi∣lity of the salt; all these dissolutions being filtrated, put them in a Cucurbite in Sand, and draw off the moistnesse with a mode∣rate heat until a white Ring appears about the Vessel: then cease the fire, for this is a sign that the Liquor is too much loaden; touch not the Vessel till all be cold, because it would hinder the chrystallization of the salt which makes it more easie to dissolve and more pleasant to sight; the remaining Liquor separate by inclination to continue the evaporation of it in a Dish till in the bottom appears a dry salt, but it will never be so fine nor so good as the first. But it may be objected, that the evaporation of the Menstruum could sooner be performed in Dishes or an earthen Pan then in a Cucurbite covered with its Still-head; which I grant, but deny that it could be so cleanly done: for it would be impossible for the Artist to hinder the dust of the coals which must continually be stirred in a Laboratory from spoiling and defiling the Salt; and above all things cleanliness in Chymical operations is to be studied. There is neverthelesse another Chy∣mical Philosophical Reason which may oblige him to draw off the Menstruum in a Blindhead covered with its Still, viz. That he may know by this way when the spirit of Vinegar shall be alto∣gether changed, and that which drops down becomes altogether insipid and as void of salt as Rain-water; moreover, this water which he draws off is not uselesse, since it is much better then many other distilled Waters to make Juleps thereof in burning Feavers: For in this Water remains hidden a Spirit imperceptible to the taste, but very subtil and capable of doing much good to sick persons: secondly, the salt of Coral will be finer and purer,

and likewise of more vertue, because by this slow distillation it gets more subtility and refinednesse, which becomes more capable of producing its efficacy.

Here we must resolve a difficulty of great importance; which is, that almost all the Authors which have treated of the Practice of Chymistry do prescribe, that after the salt of Coral and all o∣thers have been prepared and drawn with distilled Vinegar, they should be dulcorated by several dissolutions and evaporations, least the sharpnesse remaining in those Salts be hurtful and of pre∣judice to the bodies of sick Patients, wherein to speak truth, they are much deceived and are to be blamed: for that salt which they pretend to take away is absolutely necessary; and I am bold to say, that even in case they could remove and wash it off by this way which they propound, that, what should remain, would absolutely be uselesse, not to say hurtful. For as Vinegar is but a fixed Wine by the predominancy of a Tartarous acid Salt over the sulphureous volatile spirit of the Wine, we must acknowledge that it is nothing else but a liquid Tartar, yet involved in many impurities: but the Vinegar being distil∣led, it turns to a liquid Tartar more refined and more subtilia∣ted, which can have no more of danger in it then the Cremor Tartari, unlesse it were by reason of its phlegm. Now after this Spirit has dissolved the Coral, and that the Artist draws off this phlegm, the subtil Tartar of the fixed Wine joyns and in∣corporates with the Coral, and frames that which is called Salt of Coral, whose only vertue proceeds from the union of this vola∣tiliz'd Tartar joyned with the Coral, because it is this Salt which conveys the Coral into the last digestions of the body, and drives away the sensible and insensible transpiration, and by Urines all the peccant humours and impurities against Nature harbouring in the Masse of the blood. But for a clearer proof we will set this truth before your eyes in the immediatly follow∣ing Preparation.

How to make the false Magistery of Coral.

YOU must dissolve the Coral in distilled Vinegar, in the same manner as we have prescribed for the extraction of the Salt, and filtrate the dissolution, out of which draw back again the two third parts of the menstruum by distillation, and the Vessels being cooled, set the remaining liquor in a Glass or white earthen dish, and pour upon drop by drop dissolved salt of Tartar, which impro∣perly is called Oleum ☿ per deliquium; and you shall find a white coagulation, which is nothing else but the earthly and stony sub∣stance of the Coral returned to a body which leaves and forsakes its dissolvent, which is this sharp salt of Vinegar. Now all the lixivial salts which are made by Calcination do kill the sharp ones, which causes the dissolvent to quit the Body which it had dissolved, and so it is restored to its self again and precipitated wanting that subtil Salt which did render it visible in the Liquor; after this pour what swims above this white substance, and put clear water upon to edulcorate it, and so continue doing till the water comes off as tasteless and insipid as when it was poured on; then dry gently this white substance, and you shall have that which is pretended to be Magistery of Coral, which is (to say the truth) nothing else but a fixed and astringent earth, much worse and less safe then plain Coral prepared, or purely reduced to a very subtil pow∣der. For they that shall say to commend this Magistery that it conduces to laskes of the belly, and strengthens the weak and de∣bilitated stomack, and consequently ought not to be prescribed out of the Rank and Commerce of useful Remedies, must know, that the efficient cause of Lasks or Fluxes and loosnesses of the belly, and debility of stomach, is for the most part nothing else but a harsh serosity sharp and full of malignity, which causes an ill colliquation not only of nutriment, but also of the very substance of the parts: and the pouder of Coral shall be capable sooner to ••emedy that then the pretended Magistery, because this acid a∣••ainst Nature shall act upon and destroy it, as by experience it is ••een, that Coral sweetens Vinegar, and that so the cause being re∣••oved the effect must cease. But it will be much better to make

use of the salt of Coral, wheresoever there shall be occasion of using a Remedy, because that besides it shall correct this malig∣nant acidity, it will expel and evacuate by Sweats and Urines those substances which have been altered and colliquated, and conse∣quently that effect which is intended by the Physitian shall never fail to come to passe. But this pretended Magistery can never be well used in such a case, because it is fixt, and the distilled Vinegar, or even corrosive Spirits can have no action upon it: by which it appears that it is unsufficient and uncapable to destroy or alter that sharpness agarnst Nature, by which the loosness of the belly and relaxation or weakness of stomach is wrought, and therefore it is altogether unprofitable in the use of Physick. But it will perhaps be urged again, that it may also be precipitated without spirit of Vitriol with its own oyle, or oyle of Sulphur, or spirit of Salt, and that it will thus be mended and exalted, which we deny again; for, were there any good to be expected from these Magisteries, it would be from that which is precipitated with liquor of ☿ rather then with these Spirits, because it would yet be more fixed then the other, and so consequently less capable of action. But we need not speak any more of this, since Paracelsus in his sixth Book of his Archidoxa's saith, That a true Magistery must almost in an instant penetrate our whole body by the quickness and subtili∣ty of its parts: by which it may manifestly appear to be some∣thing else then these fixed Earths uncapable of all action, much less of penetration, being destitute of all manner of salt and spi∣rit, from the activity whereof all actions and powers are depend∣ing. And this shall suffice upon this Subjectr let us come to the true manner of preparing a Magistery answerable to its name, that is to say, a Magisterial and principal Remedy.

How to prepare the true Magistery of Coral.

WE shall not use in this operation a simple distilled Vine∣gar, neither the body of any Salt to open and penetrate the body of the Coral, without imbezlingits power and seminal Fa∣culties: contrariwise we shall preserve them and rather encrease by the help of a volatile Spirit, penetrating, active, and not

working as Corrosives which cause indeed a dissolution of sub∣stances, but alter and destroy the vertues thereof; it is that won∣derful Spirit of ♀ we make use of to prepare a true penetrative and dissoluble Magistery; for this true Philosophical Vinegar shall reduce the Coral as it were to its first Being, or to a spermatick Juyce, without altering nevertheless the goodnesse of its princi∣piant Sulphur, because this noble Dissolvent is drawn off again with the same tast, vertue and dissolutive Faculty which it had be∣fore its action upon Coral, and may be afterwards yet employed for the like operation or any other whatsoever, which is none of the least Mysteries of Art and Nature; for the discovery of which we are beholding to that wonderful German Physitian Zwelferus yet living, who together with the invention of this secret, hath imparted us the manner how to use it.

To attain then to the Art of making a perfect Magistery; Chuse ℥ iiij. of the best red Coral you can meet with and reduce it to pouder, which being put in a large and Capacious Matrass, pour upon softly and by degrees for fear of violent ebullitions ℥ xx. of well rectified spirit of ♀; and all its action being ceased and allayed, put the Matrass to digest in a vaporous Bath the space of a Natural day; which being over, filtrate all the Liquor, and you shall find all the Coral to be dissolved, and that the residency re∣maining in the Filter is nothing else but a fat and muddy earth, which contains the impurities and feces of Coral; put the Filtra∣tion in a Cucurbite in B. M. cover it with its Head, and draw off again your Spirit with so proportionate a heat that the drops may but follow one another: and thus continue till the matter remains in the bottom of the Vessel half dry; then cease the fire and put up the Spirit in a Vial for it is as good as before. After this wash what is remaining in the Filter with ℥ viij. of Spanish Scorzonera water, mixt with as much of second Cinnamon water; for some part of the Magistery yet remaining behind will dissolve in these Waters; filtrate them and dissolve the substance remain∣ing in the Cucurbite; and if this proportion of water should not suffice, take lb φ. more to perfect the Solution, which filtrate very cleanly, and put all the filtrations in a Cucurbite, then cover it and place in B. M. drawing off all the waters to a dry bottom, so shall you have a Cephalick and Cordial Water, excellent against

Epilepsies and Convulsions both of young and old; and in the bot∣tom of your Vessel shall you have a true Magistery, melting pre∣sently, and suddenly in the mouth and in all manner of Liquors, endowed with almost innumerable vertues. The Dosis must be from v. gr. to xx. in Broths, Wine, or the very water extracted from it. It is one of the most soveraign of Cordials, and a Spe∣cifick against Melancholy and Madnesse; it is likewise an excellent Remedy against Scurvy, for it cleanses all the masse of the blood by all the several natural emunctories, and almost insensibly; fi∣nally it is a true preservative against malignant Diseases, because it strengthens so wonderfully the Ventricle that it hinders totally their seminary; and as the Venerean Pox hath its only original from and its seat in the corruption of the blood, which by pro∣gresse of time infects all the other parts, by reason of the veneno∣sity which serosities convey with that universal Aliment; so there is nothing that will better either stop or hinder it then this noble and admirable Magistery, because it corrects or evacuates sensibly or insensibly whatsoever does foment or entertains corruption in the masse of the blood.

Of the Tincture of Coral.

THere is nothing so common in the Mouths and Writings of Chymical Artists as Tincture of Coral, and scarce any that hath medled with the Art, but pretends to have the surest processe and way of making it, and moreover to have wrought miracles therewith; but there is a vast difference between words and deeds: for it is easie to speak boastingly, but hard to prove this truth by re∣ality. Now as all Authors, but chiefly Paracelsus, do attribute to this Remedy extraordinary Vertues, so is it very fitting to be pre∣pared against the Delusions and surprisal of those who pretend to the Art of making of it, and who keep it as a particular knowledge and select to themselves, being not willing to impart so much as the manner of their preparation and extraction, much less the matter out of which they take their Menstruum, whereof they make use in the drawing of this Tincture. The truth is, it is not without grounds we may suspect their capacity; for they that

boast themselves with the knowledge of making this Tincture, are oftentimes altogether ignorant what Tincture is, or what Men∣struum. Let then all those that will atrain to the truth of it know, that the greatest part of these pretended Tinctures, are nothing else but dissolutions of the body of Coral if it be whole and with∣out previous Calcination; or the only exaltation and rubifica∣tion of the Menstruum employed about the Coral calcined by a simple Reverberation, or with addition of some salts; for calci∣nated and Reverberated salts communicate themselves to the Li∣quors used for Extraction, and so do exalt and colour with red the volatile salt of the Menstruum, by which the most part of those which hitherto have believed to have made the true Tincture of Coral are deceived; But the truth is easily discovered by preci∣pitating or evaporating of the same; for by these two actions the salt or body of the Coral is discovered, which was before invisibly dispersed through the Menstruum. Now the Tincture of Coral must be free from all these mistakes; it must be pure, it must be simple, not loaded with any other substance or body, because the internal sulphurs of things have a great irradiation and large ex∣tent in their vertue, but scarce are comprehensible and brought un∣der the senses by their corporeity. Moreover, the first or second Menstruum's which are employ'd, must not be capable of them∣selves to contract any colour, though long kept in digestion with∣out addition of any other mixture. Our Artist being sure and well resolved in all these particulars, if with these precautions he draws any Tincture from Coral, he may be very confident it is true, and that it shall produce those effects which Authors do at∣tribute unto it. I can give no better nor more Philosophical de∣scription thereof then that which follows.

True processe of the Tincture of Coral.

TO arrive to the perfection of so noble a Medicine time and matter must not be spared, and moreover it must not be undertook by a Novice in Chymistry, nor thought to be performed by him at the first brunt; for he must be capable of Distilling, Di∣gesting, Cohobating, Rectifying, Extracting, and all with Judge∣ment

and proportion. Wherefore we will begin by the Prepara∣tion of necessary Menstruum's for the first and second Extraction, and the Chymical Artist must well consider these two Menstruum's, for they are not without a Mysterie.

The first Menstruum.

℞ lb iiij. of Tartar of Montpellier well cleansed and purified, as we have intimated in the preparation of Tartar; reduce it to a subtil pouder, and mix exactly with lb j. of green Vitriol of Martial nature: put this mixture in a large and capacious Matrass, and pour upon lb iij. of phlegm of Vitriol impregnated with its volatile sulphurous Spirit; this done, stop the Vessel with its Blindhead exactly fitted and luted, and put it in digestion in cut or shred straw in a vaporous Bath to a moderate heat during the space of seven dayes; that being ended, have a Cucurbite well luted up to the middle with a good Lute capable of resisting the fire, and well dryed, which accommodate in a Reverberatory Fur∣nace, leaving four Registers in the corners of the Furnace for the regulating of the fire; pour in this Cucurbite what hath been di∣gested, and immediatly cover it with its Limbeck-head or Still, lu∣ted as is convenient, and fit to it a Recipient with the joints also luted: then give it a gradual fire gentle and moderate untill the drops begin to follow, then entertain the fire in that degree until the Still drops no more, at which sign encrease the fire by degrees until all the vapours be over, and the Still-head begins of it self to grow clear, then cease the fire and let all cool. Separate from the distilled Liquor the oyle of Tartar by filtration, and rectifie the Spirit on ashes to a dry bottom, and so shall you have the first Men∣struum to extract Corals without any previous Calcination. But before we proceed further, we must give to our Artist warning not to lose the matter remaining in the bottom of the Cucurbite after the first distillation: contrariwise he must dissolve it in distilled Rain-water, he must filtrate and evaporate it slowly to a dry bot∣tom, and he shall have a vitriolate Tartar not to be despised: for it is a great opener & disopilative for all the obstructions of the Ven∣tricle. The Dosis from iv. gr. to ℈ ss. in Broths, white Wine, or some decoction of Scolopendra or Spleenwort & Chichory or Parfly Roots.

The second Menstruum.

THis Menstruum is ordinarily called Aqua temperata, tempe∣rate Water, as also the sweet or dulcified spirit of Salt: for it is made of equal parts of very pure Alkoholiz'd spirit of Wine and spirit of Salt very well dephlegmated, which you must mix to∣gether by degrees; then distill and bring over the Helm in ashes four or five times, or what is yet better, until they be inseparably conjoin'd and united together by reiterated distillation: this being performed, you shall have a very good preservative and curative of the Plague and all contagious diseases, because it hinders all manner of corruption, preserves the natural parts in their equal temper and necessary vigour; this also is the Menstruum which shall be us'd to keep in it self the internal sulphur of Coral, which the first Menstruum did yet hide, or the shadow of the Body.

To make the Tincture of Coral thus.

℞ As much of the fairest and reddest Coral you can meet with, and reduce it cleanly to a very subtile pouder, which put in a Matrass and pour upon of the first Menstruum about ℥ j. or ij. at once, stirring it nimbly, then begin again to pour fresh Men∣struum, and stir until your matter be covered with it the height of four inches; stop your Vessel with a Blindhead, and put to digest in a vaporous Bath in shred straw during the space of three weeks, with a heat a little more then lukewarm, after this open the Vessels, draw off the red Tincture by inclination, and keep in a Vial; then reaffund new Menstruum upon the remaining body of the Coral, and continue the digestion and extraction untill the Menstruum takes no more of the colour: then join all the Tin∣ctures and filtrate them, and having put them in a Cucurbite on sand draw off the liquor to a dry bottom in a moderate heat, and you shall find in the bottom of the Glass a red pouder, which hides in its center the internal sulphur of the Coral, which constitutes

its colour and vertue: put this pouder in a circulatory Vessel called a Pelican, and pour upon it of the second Menstruum cal∣led temperate water the height of vj. fingers; lute exactly the up∣per orifice of the Vessel; after you have stopt it with a Glass-stople, place it in Balneo and keep in digestion during the space of one Philosophical Moneth, and this sweet and pleasant Menstruum will draw to its self this wonderful Sulphur, and take a very pleasant colour. This done, cease the fire, open the vessel and filtrate the Tincture, to separate the feculency and sediment which remains in the bottom of the Pelican; put then the filtration in a Cu∣curbite, and draw off the two thirds or half of the Menstruum, and keep choicely the remainder, as one of the principal Reme∣dies of a Spagyrical shop. Let not our Artist presume to cut off any part, or shorten the space of forty dayes, though he perceives his Menstruum to be tincted: for the circulation must perform the extraction, exaltation and union, which operations do require no less time; for the Chymical Apothecary which desires to be successful in his work, ought to follow the motion of Nature which works nothing but slowly, and must ever have in his re∣membrance the saying of our great Master Paracelsus, that om∣nis praecipitatio à Diabolo; and that he that doth well, hath ever done soon enough.

But before we prescribe the Dosis and vertues of this Tincture, we must satisfie Mens minds, that it is not only good in opinion and fancy, but in reality. To this end let us make a judicious re∣flection both upon the matter and the Menstruum's. There is no body but knows and confesses that Coral hath many singular noble vertues, so that both ancient and modern Authors have all una∣nimously acknowledged, that this vertue resided in its redness, and have all stroven to finde out some liquor analogous to our Nature wherewith to extract it. This is plain in our processe; for the Ingredients we employ for the distillation of the first Menstruum, are good and harmless each of them asunder; but besides there is a mystical and philosophical union made of them by the distillation and digestion that hath been previous, so that the sharpness of the Vitriol hath been moderated and sweetened by the Tartar, and by their action and reaction each upon the o∣ther, and thus of this match doth result a Spirit friendly to Na∣ture

and free from corrosiveness, which may take away all fear that it might have altered the seminal principles of Coral: con∣trariwise, it only has freed them from the commerce of the matter whereby they were fettered, and rather exalted them to a perfection then debased their worth. As for the second Men∣struum, I believe there is no body will take upon him to say ought against it, since the spirit of Wine and that of Salt are two real conservative Balsom's, not only of living bodies but even of dead ones, while they are yet asunder: But who shall not admire the wonderful secrets of Art and Nature, capable to make an union of the subtilest and most volatile of all Spirits, with one of the most fix, and thereof make a neutral and middle compound, which hath nothing left either of the taste, or any other quality of the two taken asunder! so that I conclude that this Tincture cannot be but one of the most excellent Remedies which Chymistry can afford, and therefore hath it this prerogative to be one of the first and principal of all Remedies to purifie the masse of the blood from all the impurities by which it may be tainted: either Leprosie, Venerean Pox, or Scorbute; it strengthens the Heart, chears the Senses, drives away Melancholy, hinders sad Dreams, stops Hemorrhagies, allayes inward pains, strengthens the Sto∣mach, appeases the irritation of the Mother, corrects ••oding va∣pours of the Spleen, removes obstructions of the Liver, Mesen∣tery and Pancreas or sweet bread, provokes and stops monethly Courses, purges and cleanses the Kidnies and Bladder, and streng∣thens the Brain and all the functions of the Body and Mind: briefly, I should never have done to rehearse here all what an∣tient and modern Writers have said in praise of this Tincture; and to speak ingenuously, nothing but great matters can be ex∣pected from all the Remedies which are made by volatile Spirits animated with the strength and vertue of internal Sulphurs of things, and chiefly those that are of a Solar Nature, because these noble Medicines do in an instant as the light penetrate into our last digestions, and as they go imprint in all the parts the stamp and Character and the Idea of their Balsamick vertue, which causes them to remove and drive away all the impurities which the vice of digestions had left in them. This Tincture may be used by the way of a preservative morning and evening in old

Wine, or Hydromel or meade old and well digested in Broth, or some proper water to the end which is intended. The Dosis from j. drop to iiij. and for the cure of Diseases, it must be given to the sick in ordinary or Chronical Diseases from j. drop to x. in Menstruum analogical and proportionate to the Disease, and that during the space of forty dayes, because that interval is suf∣ficient to renew and repair the whole Body in the most obstinate Diseases, and so proportionally under that time according to the exigency of the distemper and malady; therefore we must leave it to the judgement of the Physitian; but because all are not capable of preparing this Remedy, and knowing the Genius of our Na∣tion to be too impatient to allow themselves the requisite time whereby they may possess the Tinctures and Arcana's: I have thought it fitting to join and teach here the manner of prepa∣ring a Syrup of Coral, by a quick and easie way, and which may be made use of instead of this Tincture; but with much difference of vertue; and I know not whether Apothecaries will take the pains and be at the necessary charge of the confection of this Sy∣rup, though to speak truth, it may prove the best piece of their furniture; yet I have some hopes that those that are careful and do intend the good and advantage of their Neighbour, and dis∣charge honestly the trust of their employment, shall furnish themselves with the one and the other of these two Remedies.

To prepare the true Syrup of Coral.

THis Syrup is commonly used to strengthen the vital and ani∣mal faculties, and as it is its chief scope, so will we give a description thereof which will in its contents follow the inten∣tion of the Physitian; nevertheless some other liquor may be substituted, when the Physitian intends to specifie and render it more particular to some proper use, as Cinnamon in water, juice of Pomegranate and Quinces, juice of Melissa or Balme and Co∣chlearia or Scurvy-grass, and so of many others according to the Indication which shall be taken by the Artist; this neverthelesse may be used in the room of all the others, because as it generally doth strengthen Nature and its functions, so is it capable to correct all the particular vices thereof.

To this end take some of the uppermost rind of Lemmon and Orange ana ℥iij. shred them very small and put in a Cucurbite, pour upon it lb j. s. very good Spanish Wine or some other ge∣nerous Wine; put in the nose of the Still a knot of ℈ij. of grains of Kermes wrapt in silk Tiffany, with ℈j. of the best Saffron, ℈ φ. of the best Ambergreece in pouder exactly mixt with the o∣ther two bodies, cover your Cucurbite with a Still head, and ha∣ving luted exactly the joints thereof, as also the Recipient which you shall fit thereunto, place it in Sand and give fire by de∣grees and very slowly, until you have extracted about xij. or xv. ℥. of Spirit. Then take ℥ij. of dissoluble Magistery of Co∣ral, and dissolve it in ℥x. of this distilled Spirit, adding lb j. of very fine Sugar reduced to an impalpable pouder, stir all to∣gether and place it in a circulatory Vessel well lu••ed to the slow heat of a vaporous Bath, as long as there shall be need to perfect the dissolution: then let the Vessel cool and put the Syrup in a well stopt Vial, and you shall have a soveraign Remedy against all weaknesses of stomach, all diseases of the spleen, and above all a great chearer of the Heart and Brain. To know the noble uses of this Syrup, and wherein it may be employed with suc∣cesse, you must recal to mind what we have said concerning the vertues attributed to Coral, and its Salt, true Magistery and Tincture. The Dosis shall be from ℈ j. to ℥ j. either alone or in some convenient liquor. We shall deliver here no other Example for working upon Pearls then this we have done upon Coral; For an Artist be he never so little skilful, cannot but know the difference which must be made in working upon that precious and costly matter; and if he needs some other preparation, let him consult with those who have written about it more pun∣ctually.

Of the Lapis Judaicus, and its Chymical preparation.

THe Lapis Judaicus is of the form, shape and bigness of an Olive, soft and easie to crumble, it is streakt with lines or rayes equally distant one from the other as if they had been fra∣med with a turn, it is of a white ash-colour; it is call'd Lapis

Judaicus, because found in Judea; there is some also found in Silesia in Germany. Some will make it distinguishable into male and female, and appoint the female to be us'd for the Bladder, the male for the Kidneys, but all that is nothing else but a meer Chimera: wherefore we will lose no time upon this speculation, to bestow it the better upon some useful matter, viz. the prepara∣tion thereof which will be a pattern and model for preparing also the Linx-stone and Spunges. Take then as much of Lapis Judaicus as you please, and reduce it to a gross pouder, and mix with equal weight of beaten sulphur or Brimstone, then put all in an earthen pot not glazed or in a Crucible, and calcine it by degrees with a circular fire until the Brimstone takes fire and be fully consumed, then put the calcined matter in a Matrass and pour upon spirit of vinegar of Hony four inches high, then put it to dissolve and digest in ashes, slacking often the Vessel, and when the Menstruum shall be well coloured draw it out by inclination and pour fresh upon it, reiterating this processe three times, that the salt contained in the matter may be all extracted, then fil∣trate the dissolutions, putting them in a Cucurbite, and evapo∣rate slowly in sand to a dry bottom, and thus shall you have the salt of the Lapis Judaicus, which afterwards you must purifie by several reiterated dissolutions, filtrations, evaporations and coa∣gulations until it be pure and clean: But note, that if you e∣vacuate the Menstruum with whom you make your purification with a little of spirit of Salt, your work will proceed more spee∣dily, and the salt shall be more efficacious and of a better taste; this salt may be kept for twenty uses either dry or dissolved, and this dissolution is properly that which they call the oyl of Lapis Ju∣daicus, in case it be given dry in Broths, in white Wine, or some water or diuretical Decoctions. The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to xij. and if the liquor be given dissolved in the same Menstru∣ums in a double proportion, by reason of the moistness drawn from the salt (which encreases the weight) the vertue of the Salt and Liquor is to remove all difficulties of Urin, proceeding of ob∣structions caused by tarrarous, slimy, muscilagineous, sandy & stony matters which are found in the Kidnies, Ureteries or Bladder. These Remedies also drive away the gravel and small stones from all o∣ther places where they use to grow for the most part.

Of Talk and its Chymical Preparation.

THere are many who set no difference between the specular or shining stone which the antients did call Selenite, or Lunary and Talk, but they mistake very much: for it is a stone differing from the other by its inclination to friabili∣ty, its green colour and fixednesse. There are two kinds of Talk, the white viz. and the coloured: the white differs again in its kind; for there is the Venetian Talk which is greenish and breaks in thin scales, being esteemed the best and the purest. There is also the Moscovian, not so much valued as that which comes from Venice, but it has not a despicable quality, though it seems some∣thing less pure. The second kind of Talk is coloured and is red and black, wherereof Paracelsus makes mention in his Chronicles of Carinthia; Chymical Authors use sometimes in an aenigmati∣cal Language to call Talk the Star of the Earth.

We shall give an Example of such operations as may be made upon a coloured and uncoloured Talk, that we may not be reproach∣ed, the neglect and passing by of a stone, the preparation where∣of hath tormented so much and so violently torments yet every day, the brain of those which labour in the extraction of its oyl, which hath ever been the Idol of the most famous Courtesans, for the help they pretend to receive from it in the preservation and encrease of their beauty. I am nevertheless rather of their mind who believe that the oyle of Talk of antient Philosophers is an operation upon Luna or silver; or even the great work in white, which possesses the highest lustre of white that it is possible to see in any substance, and must infallibly be capable of performing that which is hoped from this Oyle of Talk so much cryed up hitherto.

The principal operation made upon Talk is the calcination of it; for this stone being of extraordinary fixedness, it must be the scope of our Artist to open it by this first preparation: and those that have kept pretty big lumps of Venetian Talk six intire weeks in a Glasse-house fire, without finding any alteration in its weight,

colour or aptness to crumble, are capable to deter and astonish any that takes in hand this work, to reduce it in some unctuous matter, and make that noble white thereof which Ladies do with so much curiosity and at so great charges seek for; and as there is none of them which call themselves Chym••sts, and pretend any thing to the knowledge of this noble Art, who doth not boast to have some secret Receipt thereupon; we shall nevertheless in∣geniously confess, that this matter is too fixed to pretend any liquid substance from it, unless it be by the help of some salts capable to penetrate this stone: for I find no experience or Reason that can convince me to the contrary, after I have tryed the invincible fixedness of the true Talk, whensoever I went about to calcinate it without any addition. But making use of some Salts and Spi∣rits, I do not deny but that a good Losmetick may be made to change and whiten the skin: But it cannot be avoided that the sulphur of this stone should ever keep with it self some portion of the fatness of the salt or Saline spirit which returns to a Body. Therefore great discretion and heed ought to be had in making use of these things, lest the skin be worn out and ulcerated, in∣stead of smoothing and rendering it fair, delicate and white.

The Chymical preparation of Venetian Talk.

TAke of true Venetian Talk, pure, clean, and of a greenish co∣lour and reduce lb φ. in very subtil pouder in an iron Mortar, made almost glowing hot in a good fire, as also the end of the Pestle to be us'd, or which is yet the best way; file it with a soft File into a very subtil and small pouder; mix diligently this lb ss. of Talk in pouder with lb j. of very white Tartar and ve∣ry dry, then put this mixture in a great Crucible in a Wind-fur∣nace, and calcine it with a fire of the last and utmost degree du∣ring the space of xij. or xvj. hours, which time expired, beat the mass to pouder in a hot glowing Mortar, rhen put the pou∣der in a gray or white earthen pan in a Cellar, to convert the salt of Tartar into Liquor, and let it run in a small Dish by the mouth of the pan: all the salt being separated, dry the remaining sub∣stance, and with four times as much weight of very pure Salt-pe∣ter

put the whole in a new strong Crucible able to bear the vio∣lence of the fire; put this Crucible in a wind-Furnace, and give it fire by degrees until you bring it to the highest pitch, and your Talk will melt into a very white and almost transparent Masse. This Masse put in a cool and moist place, and it will dissolve in time into an unctuous and glutinous liquor. Which Liquor is to be used for taking away and blotting out of all spots, roughness and scurf and excrescences of the face and skin, in the shoul∣ders, breast, arms and hands; but this Liquor must be dextrously and discreetly applyed with a Pincel and very superficially; and above all care must be taken that it should not lye long upon the part, which must immediatly be washed with water of white Lil∣lies, Bean-flowers, or Nenuphar flowers water turned white with some few drops of Tincture of Benjuin.

But when you will use this unctuous Liquor without any fear of danger, put some part in a Matrass and pour upon alkoholized spirit of Wine, and digest together in a heat of Horse-dung or vaporous Balneo during the space of three weeks, then draw off the spirit by distillation in the same Bath, and cohobate at least twenty times, adding every time ℥ iiij. of new spirit of Wine; and so shall you kill all the corrosiveness which was remaining in the Liquor, and have a substance fitter then any other what∣soever to clear and whiten the skin, provided that the hands and face or other parts be well and duly cleansed before with some good past, before you make any application of the Li∣quor.

To prepare a cream of Talk, of lesser trouble and work then the forementioned.

TAke q. v. of Talk reduced into a very subtil pouder, which sprinkle two or three times with some excellent distilled Vinegar in a Glass Dish, and that until it be reduced to a kind of past, which stir with a Glass spatula two or three hours, en∣crease the Vinegar gently by degrees until you have poured e∣nough for the Talk ro swim in it boyling, then put the Dish in sand, and give it a gradual fire until the matter boyls, and insensi∣bly

will raise on the top thereof a fat scum, which you must very carefully gather with a Scimmer, and thus continue till no more will rise: after this evaporate gently the superfluous moistness of the Vinegar, and keep the remainder for use, as being one of the best Cosmeticks of the world. And if you will use it to wash the face or other parts, dissolve and mix some part thereof with phlegm of spirit of Salt, and immediatly apply a Pomander or Ointment made with marrow of sheeps Trotters, Sperma ceti. Virgin wax, and a little Pork suet well washt; in this Pomander mix some of the cream of Talk, and a few Benjuin flowers, and the clearnesse, whiteness and pureness of the part anointed there∣with shall last above a fortnight.

The Chymical preparation of red Talk.

IT is not sufficient to have shewed some kind of preparation upon the white Talk, which conduces only for outward beau∣tifying, but we will also deliver the manner of making a good inward Remedy with red Talk. For as this stone hath a mineral sulphur in its center which participates of the Solar Nature, so must we work its extraction by the salts which are capable to open the bodies and penetrate them, to seek therein the hidden and as it were imprisoned vertue thereof.

To this end, ℞ ℥ iiij. of red Talk, and reduce it to a subtil pou∣der in a red hot Mortar, mixing this pouder with as much well pre∣pared salt of Tartar according to Sennertus prescription, as we have taught heretofore; put this mixture in a Crucible, and cal∣cine it together in a wind-Furnace during the space of twelve hours, which done, reduce to pouder in a hot Mortar the matter you shall find in the Crucible, and put this matter in a Matrass, pouring upon it tartarized spirit of Wine four fingers high; digest them together in the vaporous Bath, until the spirit hath got a high and red Tincture, then draw it off by inclination, and pour on new spirit. Thus continuing to digest and extract until the spirit takes no more colour, then filtrate all the Tinctures and put in a Cucurbite, to draw off the three parts of the spirit in a slow heat of Balneo, and so shall you have a Tincture inwardly loaded

with the internal sulphur of red Talk, which is a preservative and curative Remedy of the Plague and of all other malignant Dis∣eases; this Tincture is given from iij. drops to xij. in Wine or Broth for preservative, and if for curative Remedy it be admi∣nistred to sick persons, the Dosis may be encreased of a just half proportion, and given in small Centaury, Scordium, Ger∣mander water: It is a soveraign Cordial, a Cephalick and won∣derful Stomachick, which leaves no impurity in the ultimate di∣gestions, but drives it away by insensible transpiration, by Urine, or by Sweat.

Of the Calk or Stare-lime-stone, and its Chymical Preparation.

THE vulgar preparation of Quick-lime made by violent cal∣cination of ordinary Quarry-stones, or great Flintstones, is so common and known by all persons, by the frequent and neces∣sary use of it in buildings, that it would be superfluous for us to say any thing thereof. It suffices us to say by the by, that it hath very little use in Pharmacy, but in some other preparations besides and after calcination: for Quick-lime hath no other vertue out∣wardly applyed, then to discover an ingenuous Caustick and cor∣rosive nature: but being prepared as we shall teach hereafter, it becomes capable of supplying Remedies altogether unknown to the vulgar, both inwardly and outwardly applyed.

How the water of quick and prepared Lime is to be made.

℞ lb iiij. of good and well calcined Quick-lime, in whole lumps as much as is possible, such being less offended by the out∣ward impression of the ayr and water, and whole in its vertue; put it in a great Bason and pour upon it Rain or River water half a foot high; let it be softly dissolved, and agitate it from time to time with a wooden Spatula or Slice, and the water being well loaded and impregnated with the salt of the Lime, filtrate it and keep it for use. And thus reiterate dissolving with new water

three times, filtrating and keeping asunder. Then put the remain∣ing Lime upon a Filter in Trochisk's to dry; it is that which in shops is called prepared Calx or Lime, which is to dry softly without any biting or mordacity: wherefore it is most excellent for the cure and cicatrizing of malignant Ulcers, and principal∣ly those that participate of venerean infection; it is also very good for the cure of burnings, and may be employed in Liniments, Ointments, Plaisters, and all Epulotick and desiccative pouders, us'd for Ulcers which are difficult to close again.

The first, second and third water of the quick-lime, which were kept each by themselves, may also be employed severally accord∣ing as need shall require: for they are the ground and chief In∣gredient of Waters us'd against Gangrenes, and for the Pin and Web and other sore diseases in the eyes. It may be so applyed even without any other addition, to wash putrid, foul and cor∣roding Ulcers; and the best guide therein may be the experience of the Chyrurgeon, whether the first, second or third is to be used, according as he shall discover by the appearing signes, the malig∣nancy of the Vlcer to be greater or less.

To prepare the plain Water against Gangrenes, and other symptomes and accidents thereof.

VVE must confess that this Water is one of the best Re∣medies which at this day are in the possessiion of Chirurgery to prevent the sad accidents of Gangrenes and their se∣quel; and being this Remedy is so useful to publick advantage, I would not hold it longer in silence; though it will not perhaps please too many who keep it still by them as a grand secret; but this noble Medicament owning its invention to the search of Chymistry, so is it just that by the benefit of the same and the ingenuity of this Treatise it should be communicated to all Members and Practitioners of Chirurgery which are not yet ac∣quainted with the same, that they may Charitably bestow it for the help and cure of poor sick Patients: for it is a great Gift and be∣nefit of God, to be purchased almost without charge, and easily to be found every where, wherefore also it ought to be liberally

dispensed and imparted to such poor Patients as shall be in want of it. All the secret thereof doth only consist in mixing with greater or lesser proportion, sublimate corrosive Mercury in ei∣ther of the three Waters, according as it is intended and desired to be more or less strong and violent; and so the Dosis of the mixture depends upon the judgement and skll of the Chirurgeon who intends the use of it, for preventing the accidents of Gan∣grenes or to stop it, and prevent the encrease and progress of the same, when it hath already seiz'd upon and deaded some part of the flesh: for the spirits and hidden fire which are in this Water, a∣nimate and vivify again the natural heat, call back the vanisht Spirits, already banished by the beginning of corruption and mortification, and by their subtility and quick penetration separate the dead flesh from the quick. But in the mean while it must be observed, to mix diligently in this miraculous Water ℥ ij. or iij. of excellent spirit of Wine freed and depurated of all its phlegm, which may have two very considerable and principal ends. The first is, to render this water more active and penetrating when necessity doth urge, and the danger is at hand; The second, that the spirit of Wine may unite it self to the salts and spirits of the quick-lime and the corrosive Sublimate, and so kill and temperate them, that they may in no wise be noxious and hurtfull to the nervous or sinuous and membranous parts, which remain bare during and after the action and time of using the Remedy: and it belongs only to such as are well skil'd and versed in the know∣ledge of the action and reaction of Spirits and Salts with and against each other, to give a solid and pertinent reason of those effects that are produced by this admirable Remedy, after the mixture of the Calx and quick-lime sublimate and spirit of Wine. This water thus composed is not useful only to such purposes as we have said above: but it is also singular in all Wounds and Shots where there is any breaking of bones, and a great heat with much pain, provided in the beginning you add the juice of a do∣zen River-Crawfishes pounded alive, and sprinkled with a little phlegm of Allom.

But there is another Water yet against Gangrenes, Ulcers and sores of the eyes, besides that we have already taught, the descrip∣tion whereof we will give for the sake both of Surgeons and their

Patients, though held very secret by those who daily use it with great applause and success: after which we will give the descrip∣tion of the Ophthalmick-water, and the distillation of the true Spirit of quick-lime, which is none of the least Master-piece•• of of our Art.

The wonderful and true Water against Gangrenes.

℞ lb xx. of Rain or River water, put them in a great pew∣ter Bason, and throw therein iiij. pound of good unmixt or unal∣ter'd quick-lime, and let it by a slow ebullition softly quench it self without agitation, and when you shall perceive the extinction to be performed; and that the boyling and working of the Lime is over, add thereto ℥ ij. of Arsenick in powder, and ℥. j. of good well chosen Mastick also in powder, stir all together and mingle it conveniently with a wooden Spatula or Slice, then let it setle until the matter be well gathered in the bottom, and the water swimming over very clear: then pour out all the clear, decant∣ing it softly without stirring the bottom, and filtrate the remain∣der to join both again in a gray earthen Pan, adding to it ℥. ij. of corrosive Sublimate in powder, ℥ vj. very good spirit of wine well dephlegmated, and ʒ ij. good spirit of Vitriol; put all this mixture being yet unsetled in Glass bottles and keep it for use. If you make use of this water for any other purpose then for sore eyes, you must shake it and mix the bottom with the clear, and so use it against the Gangrene and all its accidents, the cure of old running sores, cancerous, sinuous and malignant Ulcers; a∣gainst all preternatural and painful outward heat, and against all external inflammations; against Phlegmon's, Erysipela's, burn∣ings and even arthritical pains proceeding from hot causes, and finally against inflamed and dolorous wounds. If it seems to be too strong or violent, let it be tempered by adding a greater quantity of spirit of Wine, or phlegm of Vitriol or Allom. But if you will use it for Ophthalmies, and small sores in the corners of the eyes or in the eyelids, you may temper it with water of juice of Plantain, or of great Celandine, or even with phlegm of Allom: but above all things, take care that the water you do

use for the eyes be well filtrated, and that no part of the setling in the bottom of the Glass should be mix'd with it; the applica∣tion of this water is commonly made with fillets of linnen cloth, and I may confidently assure, that those that shall make use there∣of, will find it an infallible and sure Remedy and almost of a wonderful successe in all the particulars we have spoken of.

The manner of preparing the Ophthalmick water.

℞ One part of the first water of quick-lime, two of the second, and iij. p. of the third, mix them together and dissolve therein ʒ j, of salt Armoniack to each pound of water; put this dissolution in a brass copper or Bason, and let it stand therein the space of xij. or xv. hours, or until it be tinged with an o∣riental saphirine colour, then filtrate exactly and keep it for use in a Bottle. This water is unparalleld for all diseases and blemishes of the eyes whatsoever without reference to their original: for the salt of the Lime joined with the volatile salt of Urine, consti∣tuting the vertue of salt Armoniack, draws a subtil Vitriol from the Brass or Copper, which are found inseparably joined and uni∣ted together in the water, and do communicate unto it a refrige∣rating, cooling, cleansing and desiccative quality. I will say more yet, that these three Salts so united, are capable to blunt, kill and destroy all the malignancy of those harsh, corroding and biting Salts which are mixed in the serosity of the blood, and are the true occasional cause not only of the grief, inflammation and sores in the eyes; but moreover of all itching, eruptions and Ulcers growing outwardly, and generated in the body of man: where∣fore this water ought and may not only be used against the se∣veral griefs incident to the eyes, but against Itchings, Scabs, and Ulcers also. And in case it had drawn too much of the salts in respect of delicate and tender persons, or for the quick and nice sense of some parts of the body, it may be allayed and sweetened by adding Eyebright, Euphrase, Fennel, Rose or Plantain water.

To make the spirit or true Magistery of Quick-lime.

TAke as much as you please of the best quick-lime you can meet with, reduce it to very small powder and grind it upon a Porphyry to an Alkohol, or impalpable powder, then put it in a Cucurbite and pour upon it by degrees very gently of the subtil and purest alkohol of Wine, as much as the Calx or Lime will be capable to drink: for you must have a special care not to drown the Lime, but let there be only so much of this Spirit, that the Lime may thereby be satiated without humectation, or appearing in any wise above it; then having applyed a Still-head to the Cu∣curbite, lute the joints exactly with a triple Bladder moistened in the whites of Eggs, and strowed with quick-lime, both of it and the Recipient, then place your Vessel in B. M. and draw off again the spirit with a slow heat to a dry bottom, and having cooled the Vessels, open them, and pour again the same Spirit upon the Lime remaining in the bottom of your Cucurbite, and go on thus distilling and cohobating with the same care and pre∣cautions until the tenth time, that by these reiterated imbibitions the internal fire wherein the Spirit, Arcana or Magistery of the Lime doth reside, may be encreased and exalted: and that no body may be mistaken herein, it is absolutely necessary to observe all the things we have said, otherwise the Artist may endanger the losse of his time, vessels, and matter. These ten Cohobations being thus performed, take the Lime out from your Vessel and grind it most subtily, duly and without intermission upon the Por∣phyry, and add thereto the tenth part of its weight of very pure and dry salt of Tartar, and as much of the Caput Mortuum of the Tartar remaining after the salt hath been drawn by Elixiviation: But th Caput mortuum must be newly dryed and heated before you mix it with the rest, and the mixture being nimbly and exactly performed, put all these matters in a well luted Retort, the mat∣ter not exceeding the third part of the empty space and capaci∣ousness of it: then place it in a close Reverberatory Furnace, and to the neck thereof fit a Recipient, to which may be fitted a

Funnel or Pipe of a fingers bore, and four inches long about the middle of the neck receiving the Retort, so that the end of the Retort's neck may just meet with the upper part of the said Ca∣nal or Pipe, that the drops of phlegm falling may directly join to the small Recipient, that is to be fitted to the said Canal or Pipe. But you must note, that you must put before in the body of the great Recipient before you lute it, ℥ ij. or iij. of alko∣holiz'd spirit of Wine depriv'd of all phlegm. The Vessels being exactly luted together as much ss it may be, and the Lute dry, be∣gin to give your fire by degrees, until that little phlegm which is about the matter be driven out, and the Artist perceiving that no drops more do fall, and that a white vapour is issuing out of the neck of the Retort, and as a small cloud creeping along the chan∣nel of the great Recipient, where it is attracted by the spirit of Wine being in the bottom of the Recipient as by a Loadstone; then let him encrease and quicken the fire more and more until all the vapours be over. The Vessels then being cooled, take off the Lute and open them, pour away the phlegm as useless, and pre∣serve the spirit you shall find in the great Recipient, to rectifie it and separate from it the spirit of Wine if it be possible: but in case they be so united as to ascend together in the neck of the Still, put this spirit in a Glass dish somewhat thick, and warm∣ed a little before hand, and set it on fire with a little kindled pa∣per; the spirit of Wine will consume and burn away, and the spi∣rit of the Lime remain in the Dish; which preserve very care∣fully as one of the most wonderful Agents which Nature and Art can afford, as learnedly sayes Basilius Valentinus, speaking of the quick-lime. This Spirit is one of the best, the most present and safest Remedies that can be given against all kinds of Gout: for it insensibly dissolves and consumes all tartarous matters coagulated in any part whatsoever of the body, by the potent vertue and sud∣den penetration of the internal fire contained ie it; it is given from j. drop to v. in three fingers height of warm wine in the morning fasting; then let the Patient expect the operation thereof warm between two sheets, whether Nature determines its action by Urine or Sweat, in a condition to help and advance the Remedy; otherwise it doth act for the most part by insensible transpiration.

There is also a very efficacious Remedy prepared with this wonderful Spirit against the Stone and Gravel, with one part of stones of Crawfishes and two parts of Calx of Rock chrystal, digested and dissolved in six times their weight of spirit of quick∣lime, and so often distilled and cohobated in the heat of ashes, that all or the most part thereof be turned into liquor: of which you must give also in a small Glass of warm Wine from j. drop to v. in the morning fasting, to cure radically all those that shall find themselves toucht with those diseases: for it cleanses so well all the passages and conveyances of Urine from that ill ferment, that from that time forward no new matter can be generated or gathered there: this Spirit dissolves and turns into Liquor all stones of what hardnesse and roughnesse soever; and contrariwise by the action and vertue of its fire fixes the most volatile Spirits; so that those which shall use it either for Remedy or for a Dissolvent, may very well be cast into astonishment and wonder that Nature should have hid so high a mystery in so vile and so contemptible a subject as quicklime is: which hath caused Paracelsus to say by an act of reflection and great wonder, that some do throw away and kick with the feet such a stone or flint, as would be to him of a greater Revenue then a Cow, did he know the mysteries which God and Nature hath concealed and layed therein.

SECTION III. Of Metals.

METALS are hard bodies, ductile and malleable, pro∣ceeding from a saline and Mercurial juice, coagulated in the earth by the strength & vertue of the heat of its own sulphur. Now as we have said above, that all things had their original from light, which by its ejaculation and irradiation did imprint and stamp the Idea and Character of its vertue in water as in a general and convenient Matrix, to enable her af∣terwards

to supply both matter and Form, Body and Spirit, Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, all physical generations: so can we now more pathetically and particularly give to understand the gene∣ration of Metals, because the water being once stampt with the Character of Light, and having received the Spirit and Salt which flow from the same Spring, the internal Sulphur begins imme∣diatly to concoct, digest and ripen the Embryos by him precipita∣ted, whether animal, vegetable or mineral: and the water being furnished with this fermentative and generative principle, yet undeterminated and apt to be made any thing, is conveighed and driven into all the general and particular Matrixes, which do de∣termine and modifie it according to the Idea and Character of their natural predestination in their Creation; For as God hath once created all substances, so has he given them means of succes∣sion, and perpetuating and preserving themselves, which is no∣thing else but that which we call Nature. Now assoon as the water is received in a metallick Matrix or in a place fitted and destinated by Nature to the generating of Metals, the spirit of Salt which is in the water yet undetermined and of a general in∣clination, receives the vitriolick stamp, character and Idea, which is the first determination to Metallick nature, and the internal sulphur of this embryonated Vitriol, works without any inter∣ruption to digest, ripen, and concoct and coagulate the water by him impregnated; so that the first visible principle of Metals is a Vitriol more or lesse pure, and more or lesse mixed with metal∣lick seeds, according as the Matrix, water and salt are found to be pure or mixed. And thus the Archeus which directs metallick productions, doth lead and guide them safely and by a gradation altogether surprizing, and wonderful to the scope and end of their Natural predestination. For it alters and changes the Vitriol into sulphur of a Metallick nature, as it is proved be the examining of Marcassites, which do already by their weight appear to be me∣tallick, as also by their hardness and colour, and have nevertheless in them no more then a Vitriol altered and modified by the acti∣on of the fire of its sulphur, as it may be proved by their Anato∣my made by the help of ayr and fire, which the Artist doth make use of to decoct and bring them again to their first visible matter, which is nothing else but a Sulphur and Vitriol, though these Mar∣cassites

contain also in themselves some embryonated Metals, as it appears by the digestion and maturation of them made by fire, Salts and Spirits, after which Metals of divers kind and different nature may be extracted, and so illud quod occullum erat fi•• ma∣nifestum; in so much as plausibly and lawfully Marcassites may be called the Rudiments and imperfect seeds of Metals: which makes me wish that pure Legitimate and true Marcassites of all Metals and each in particular might be recovered, that the chymical Artist might have opportunity to open them, and anatomize with much more ease before Nature hath raised them to the last and highest point of their perfection, which is their coagulation, hardning and fixa∣tion: for it would save much charge and labour, because there would be no necessity of making the reinundation of metallick Bodies, to seek into the very center of their secondary principles, that vertue which God and Nature have planted in them.

Thus much we thought fitting to say as a preliminary Introdu∣ction to the description of each Metal in particular, and of the operations which we will teach upon every one of them, which will be enough to guide and be instead of models to Artists, towards reasoning and working more exactly upon the family of Metals. Metals are divided into three Classes, and that with much reason, partly for the disparity and conformity of their hardness, partly for the resemblance of their preparations. The first Classis con∣tains the noblest Metals, which are Gold and Silver or Sol and Luna, ☉ and ☽ by the reason of the great correspondency which is found between those two potent Luminaries and those two noble Metals: for what the Sun and Moon are in Heaven, the same are the Heart and Brain in Animals, and the Gold and Silver amongst Minerals and Metals. The second Classis contains the two inferiour and less noble Metals and the hardest, Copper and Iron, or Venus and Mars, ♀ and ♂, by reason of the analogy which is found between those two Planets and those two Metals, and the mutual and reciprocal love also which is between those two celestial Bodies; Venus commands over the parts destinated to ge∣neration, and all the functions of the Kidnies and Bladder: and Mars sends its influences upon the Liver, the Cystis Fellis or gall-Bladder, Spleen and adjacent parts of the Ventricle. The third Classis contains the two other less noble Metals, which are

softer and sweeter then the rest, viz. Lead and Tin, or Saturne and Jupiter, ♄ and ♃, by reason of the resemblance which is be∣tween these two Metals, who Command upon the Spleen and Ma∣trix of the Microcosm: But of this we will speak more fully when we treat of each Metal asunder. It is only requisite to subjoin here in general terms all the operations commonly made upon Metals, to render them useful to Physick.

The first preparation which our Artist is bound to take in hand upon the Body of Metals, is Purification. The second is their Calcination, which is performed five several wayes; The first of which is Immersion, where Menstruum's or appropriated Dis∣solvents are used. The second is that which is called vaporous or illinition, which is performed by vapour or illinition or asper∣sion of the Dissolvent. The third is Amalgama, made by the mixture of the Metal with ♉ or Quicksilver. The fourth is Ce∣mentation, performed by putting the Metals stratu super stra••um, or by stratification with Saline or sulphureous substances, either to correct their defect, or to straighten or compress, or to open the Metals. The fifth is Reverberation, performed by a flaming fire, until the Metal be reduced to a Calx capable of answering the design and intention of the Artist. The third preparation of Metals is Extraction, or to say better, the maturation and exal∣tation of the purest part, and of what is most concocted and di∣gested in the internal sulphur of Metals, from whence the Tin∣cture proceeds. The fourth is Volatilization, which is nothing else but a total alteration of the metallick nature, so as the Artist may be capable to subtiliate them in such manner as that they may ascend or fly, that is to say, be turned into a Spirit or Oyle not reducible again afterwards into Metal, which is none of the least operations of Chymistry. The fifth is Sublimation, by which Metals are meteoriz'd and reduced into vapours, which stick as flowers in the receiving Vessels: some are of opinion, that this work is capable to better and maturate or ripen ignoble Metals, and not without some ground. The sixth is the Salsification of Metals, which is the reduction of their body into Salt, a thing not of so easie performance as many Artists have imagined, because some think to have done enough, if they have dissolved the Metals with some Saline Menstruum, and after that coagulated and chry∣stalliz'd

in a dissoluble substance, which is only to speak properly, the vitriol of the Metals join'd to the saline substance of the Spi∣rit made use of for their dissolution, and returned to a body again with the Calx of the Metal. In the seventh place is Mercurifica∣tion, or the pretended reduction of the solid and compact bodies of Metals in a Qucksilver or flowing Mercury, much like unto the common or vulgar Mercury, which I am also of opinion to be but a mistake introduced amongst Artists, and crept in only by want of true understanding of the meaning of Writers: for they pre∣tend that when antient Authors have said, that the Bodies of me∣tals were to be reduced into Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, this last was to be understood of a flowing Quicksilver: But the meaning of these Philosophers to my best apprehension, when they have spoken of reducing their Bodies into Mercury, was only to bring them again as near as could be to their Universality, that is to say, reducing them to a Spirit coming near the nature of the volatile sulphureous Salts which are the last shelter and covering of the Spirit invisible in it self and of coagulated light: for as the vola∣tile salt of Vegetable seeds, contains in its self the seminal prin∣ciple and the whole vertue of the plant; so likewise the Mercury or true spirit of metallick bodies contains in it self their sperme, their ingress and Tincture, and by consequence all the vertue which it did possess, and all its power and activity since the first moment of its coagulation, to the last of its fixation: Wherefore it must be the chief scope of an Artist, to endeavour by his study and in∣dustrious working to reduce the King of Metals to that height of perfection, whereby to fit it and apply afterwards to the rooting out of the most obstinate diseases: but let him reject far from himself those pretended seekers of flowing Mercury, because be∣sides that the search and curiosity of it is useless and beyond Hu∣mane reach: it is besides an occasion of wasting both the precious Time and Estate of those that give up themselves to it, and makes them lose opportunities of discovering several other things useful to them in particular, and next to their Neighbour and Civil So∣ciety.

Of Gold and its Chymical preparation.

GOLD is the noblest, the most solid and fix of all Metals; of a yellowish colour, compacted, and of an almost indivisible union in its substance, which shews him to be compounded of salt, sulphur and mercury brought to the highest degree of di∣gestion, and for that reason most fix and intimately united toge∣ther. Chymists do give unto it the name of Sol, sunne, and at∣tribute also to it the same Character Θ, because it hath, say they, a sympathy and correspondency, both with the Sun of the great World, and of the little world which is mans Heart, and therefore do they ascribe unto it the vertue and faculty of curing all faint∣ings and weaknesses; they believe it finally to be the true and law∣ful Restorer of the Balsamick Faculties and natural hear, and the soveraign Remedy against Deliquium's and swoonings, losse of Spirits and wasting of radical moisture. But there is an abuse and mistake in vulgar Pharmacy introduced by the Arabes, which do mingle Leaf-gold in their Confections and Cordial powders, as if the digestive heat of the stomach and the moisture of imperfect Chyle were capable to alter in any wise the solidity of this noble Metal; for besides that no humour analogous to Aqua Regia can be found in the Ventricle which might be capable of dissolving Gold, yet supposing it might be performed by some ill fermen∣tation of superfluous aliments, it could not but cause mortal pains, and make such ulcerations and preternatural colliquations, that they would infallibly destroy the subject wherein they should be, rather then meliorate and restore the vital and animal Faculties as it is pretended. But some perhaps will object, That though Gold be not dissolved in the Ventricle, it is not altogether with∣out some good use, by reason of the irradiations and emanations of its vertue which it sends to the Heart in respect of their mutual sympathy; To which I answer, That it will suffice for the same reason to carry it above the body, and thus make an outward ap∣plication of it more easie and in greater quantity then what can be swallowed; and so would it prove much more beneficial then be∣ing

inwardly taken in small quantity, and moreover there would be no loss of it; which makes us conclude that unless Gold be prepared and opened in such a manner, as that our digestive heat may be capable to appropriate its vertue unto its self by the help of the volatile sulphureous Salts, which are mingled in the aliments of the body either dry or moist, or unless Art hath already so re∣duced this metal into Medicine, by the assistance of Salts and Spi∣rits which may be analogous to those of orature and free from cor∣rosiveness, that it may be rendred fit to be conveighed and driven by the Director of our natural Functions into our very last dige∣stions, thereby to correct all the defects it shall meet with, and pu∣rifie by the impression of its Cordial and Solar Vertue the whole masse of the venal and arterial blood, otherwise no good is to be hoped or expected from it; but contrariwise some ill effect, be∣ing uncapable to produce any other in case it be prepared with cor∣rosive Salts or Spirits: and being not dissolved nor opened, it is unfit to do any good.

They that will chuse well their Gold for Chymical preparations, must take it of the purest and of that which hath received the lesse allay; for to make any difference between the Indian Gold and that of Arabia, Hungary, Bohemia or Germany, is a very needlesse Nicety, since by the ordinary purifications it may be brought to the highest degree of purity and goodnesse; and those are the following.

First, There is a purification made of Gold, to take away the superficial setling or foulnesse; Secondly, That which is done to take away some portion of one or more imperfect metals, which were mingled either in the Mint or by the Goldsmiths, or finally brought from the Mine. For the first purification wash the Gold in a crude Lye, or water impregnated with Tartar and common Salt, which is called a Bullitory, or make it boyl and wash in aqua fortis something weak or mixt with phlegm of Al∣lom, Salt-peter or Vitriol, these three Lotions are sufficient for the first intention.

But when some part of imperfect metals is mixed with the Gold, the separation cannot be made but by dividing the metals asunder, which cannot be done but by their dissolution, which is called Im∣mersive calcination, or by the destruction of the imperfect metal,

as when Gold is purified by Lead or Antimony, or cemented with substances capable to corrode and destroy the imperfect metals mixed with the Gold.

As for the dissolution, which is immersive Calcination, it is performed with ij. iij. or iv. p. of Regal water, the distillation whereof we will teach when we shall Discourse of Salts: for the Regal water will only dissolve the Gold, and the other metals re∣main in the bottom of the Vessel, chiefly if silver be predomi∣nant, because the Regal water touches in no way the silver: the dissolution being made, filtrate it, and gently pour it out by decan∣tation, then precipitate with oyle of ☿ per deliquium, or spirit of volatile Armoniack Salt, or spirit of Urine, or throwing it in some proportion of quick-silver, which will gather to its self the Gold which was dispersed in the dissolution, or by evaporating the dis∣solving water: finally, which way soever you reduce the Gold to Calx, there remains no more to be done after then to melt it in a Crucible with a little Borax, and cast it into Ingots, and you shall have purified Gold.

But if you will only put it in the Capel, and drive it with Lead to separate the heterogeneous metals, you must make your Capel with Bean ashes, putting ij. or iij. p. of Lead, which with vio∣lence of fire and bellow's must be driven, as we shall more fully deduct when we treat of the purifying of Silver. But because the Capel doth not take away wholly the suspition of some remain∣ing part of silver being yet intimately mixed with the Gold: Ar∣tists have not found a better way to purifie it totally then to melt it with Antimony, because the sulphur of that mineral doth abso∣lutely corrode and destroy, not only all imperfect metals which might be mixed with the Gold, but it also destroyes totally the fi∣nest silver, be it in never so little a quantity, if the purification be reiterated three times: which being done you may confidently say that the Gold is very pure, and that there can be no finer, and it is thus performed: Take as much Gold as you will, and add thereto v. or vj. parts of crude Antimony, put them in a good Crucible to melt together in a wind-Furnace, and when the mat∣ter flowes, throw in about ℥ j. of pure Salt-peter very pure and dry mixt with ʒ j. or iij. of filings of Iron, and when all is well melted and flowing together glowing, and of a colour tending to∣wards

Partridge eyes (as they call it) throw the matter in a sharp earthen Vessel, such as is fit to make Regulus (of the figure of an inverted Pyramid) being hot and first anointed with it with a piece of wax down to the bottom, and when it is full with the melted matter, knock gently with a Hammer on the brims of your Vessel until a crust and thick skin covers over the matter, that being a great help to make the Regulus fall to the bottom and se∣parate the feces and scum from the pure part: the matter being cooled, separate the Regulus from the skum, and mix it again a second time with p. ij. of Antimony crude, reduced to powder, and melt as before, and about the end of the melting of the mat∣ter throw a little Salt-peter and filings of Iron, to separate the rest of the Regulus from the scum or feces, in the impurity where∣of some part of the Gold might remain yet hidden, and this work may be reiterated even to the third time, that no portion of Re∣gulus may remain untoucht, and by consequence the Artist may rest secure that no part of the Gold is left in it. Then reduce your solar Regulus in course powder, and place it in a good Crucible in a wind Furnace, and give it fire on all sides, above, beneath and in the sides, to drive the Antimony by smoak: you may also add to it the help of bellowes to advance the work and so give it fire, continuing to blow until all the substance of the Antimony be ex∣haled into vapours, and the Gold remaineth pure and clean in the bottom of the Crucible. They that will not be at so much trou∣ble, may make use of the Regulus of Antimony ready prepared to purifie their Gold: but the first way is the best, because the Re∣gulus is already divested of the greatest part of his external sulphur, which is the fittest for corroding the imperfect metals mixt with the Gold.

It remains we should speak of the third way of purifying Gold, which is Cementation, being nothing else but putting the Gold beaten into thin plates stratified in a Crucible, or ungla∣zed earthen pot of a convenient bigness with common or Regal Cement, and the plates thus well fitted, giving a circular fire by de∣grees the space of three or four hours, then encreasing it during the space of six hours more, in such a manner as the Pot or Cru∣cible may become glowing red at the end of the operation of the fire. And thus shall you find the plates of Gold purged of all

that imperfect metal which might have been lurking in them, the matter of the Cement having destroyed, burned and calcined the metal; then grind the masse found in the Crucible, and wash the plates, to purifie them afterwards by melting with a little of Salt-peter and Borax, or with corrosive Sublimate.

To make the vulgar or common Cement.

℞ of Brick dust ℥ iiij. dryed salt ℥ ij. and of dryed and pure Salt-peter ℈ ij, and as much Verdegrease, reduch all to powder each by its self, and mix together to make the vulgar Cementation. But note, that you must ever begin by the powder of Cement to lay the first bed of your stratification, then lay over it a plate of the metal, and thus proceed by alternative beds, until the pot, box or Crucible be full, and order it so that the uppermost lay be also Cement; then cover the Vessel with a very close and exactly well fitted Cover, and lute it with a good Lute not subject to crack, and well dryed before you put it in the fire.

To make the Regal Cement, unto which only Gold doth resist.

℞ ℥ iiij. of Brick dust, Armoniack Gem, and common salt dryed, ana ℥ j. mix them together being reduced to powder and make a past thereof with Urine, and with this make your Cementation, stratifying it with the plates of Metal. There are yet several kinds of Cements more or lesse corroding the Artists intention; there are also some that are only straightening and fixa∣tive, but as they do not belong to our present purpose, nor con∣cern any wayes the preparation of Gold for Physick, we think it unnecessary to mention them here, leaving to the Curiosity of those that will enquire after, to search for them in such Authors as have purposely treated of Metallurgy.

Of the Calcination of Gold whereby to open it.

IT is not enough for an Artist to have purified his Gold, and se∣vered from it all kind of heterogeneous substance; For as Gold is a solid, compact, close and fixed Body, it must be open, that his endeavours in dissolving the same to extract the substance he seeks for, may not be frustrated; and this he cannot attain but by Amal∣gamatory, Cementatory and dissolutive Calcination, all which do prepare and reduce to powder and Calx, which afterwards may be put to a Reverberatory calcination; we shall treat of each as briefly as may be that the Artist may be instructed without con∣fusion.

That Calcination which is performed by Amalgamation of the Gold with Mercury or quick silver is free from suspition of any violent Corrosion, which may impart to the Gold any kind of hidden corrosivenesse, as it is generally feared all salts and corro∣sive spirits will do: though we must confess however, that nei∣ther spirits nor salts can be capable to communicate any ill qua∣lity to Gold; neither divest him of the character of being a metal∣lick body, unless they be extraordinary salts and spirits, and to the knowledge of whom those Authors which have left us any thing by writing have not attained, or in case they have said any thing of it, it hath been in so obscure and aenigmatical terms as it is plain to be seen, that either they would not be understood by others, or could not understand themselves: for there is not one Artist but knows that water and fire can purge the calx of Gold from those impres∣sions of corrosive salts and spirits, either by Lotion or Reverbera∣tion: wherefore it must remove all occasion of fear from such as would entertain any scruple in this particular. For all what in past-time Artists have done, or do at the present, is to no other end and design then to open the body of Gold, and render it capable of being dissolved and extracted without any Corrosive. We will de∣liver in the following Discourse, the surest way and method which practice and study hath brought to our knowledge, leaving the rest to the disquisition of such as will make a further progress in this Work.

Amalgamation of Gold and Mercury.

BEat in very thin plates Gold three times refined by Antimony, and being cut very small with sheeres or scissars, put some part of the Gold in a small Crucible, and heat it red hot, and at the same time put in another Crucible ℥ vj. of crude Mercury, and place it also to the fire until it begins to smoak, then pour it upon the Gold thus red, and stir them both nimbly together with a small stick of wood, and when all is reduced to a convenient smooth∣ness, throw it in a Dish half full of water; this done throw away the first water and pour new fresh water upon the Amalgam. and stir and wash it therein to separate and cleanse away all the black∣ness and fuliginosity thereof, and thus proceed until the water comes off from it as clean as it was poured on; this done, put this Amalgama which is tractable and unctuous in a small Retort, to the neck whereof fit a Recipient with water; place this Retort between four bricks, & give it an open fire by degrees, until all the Mercury be come over the Helm into the Recipient, and the Gold remains pure and open in the bottom of the Retort; but that cannot be done neither at the first nor second time; contrariwise, the amal∣gamation and distillation must be reiterated successively at least xx. or xxx. times, even until the Gold remains open, spongious, and capable of being reduced to powder of it self. Now as that re∣quires a toylsome and tedious operation; Artists have found a way to separate and discontinue in a less time and with much more speed the parts of Gold after amalgamation, which is performed by cementing it with common salt desiccated, or powder of Brim∣stone; for the Amalgam being grounded with double its weight of salt and brimstone, it discontinues or separates its parts into par∣ticles or atomes so small, that it enables the fire afterwards joined to those matters to calcine it with much more ease, and thus it is much sooner reduced into subtil powder and so well opened, that it is capable afterwards of being reverberated, and brought by the sole action of fire to a fitting state of Rarity, and requisite spun∣geousness, which is thus performed.

The Calcinatory cementation of Gold.

THough we have spoken above of the cementation of Gold, our Artist shall remember that it was only to teach how to try and purifie the same: but what we are now about to teach, is to the end of Calcining and opening its Body as we have already said; the Artist then shall thus proceed therein. Let him take the Amalgam after it is well washt and dried with a clean linnen cloth, so that all moisture be taken off, and press and wring it as much as he can through a piece of chamoy skin, to separate from it the superfluous Mercury, then let him weigh the remainder, and grind it on a Porphyry stone with double its weight of sulphurvivium or quick-brimstone powdered, and that until the Brimstone and A∣malgam be so exactly united and commixed that you may distin∣guish neither of the substances, then put this powder in a Crucible of an indifferent bigness, that none of the Gold may be lost by the cracking and working of the Brimstone; cover also exactly the Crucible with a cover having a hole in the top, of the bigness of a writing Qui••; then lute the cover of the Crucible and give it a cir∣cular fire by degrees until it begins to grow red hot, and the Brim∣stone taking fire evaporate by the hole in the Cover; this done, which you shall know by the cessation of the flame, draw the Cru∣cible from the fire and open it, and you shall find the Gold swelled up, and so discontinued and dis-jointed in its parts, that it seems to be a Spunge: this grind afterwards with three times its weight of common Salt well desiccated, or stratifie it only in a Crucible, to which put a cover without hole, and having luted it, put it in a circulatory fire, which encrease by degrees until the Crucible be∣comes red, then cease the fire, and the Crucible being grown cold, take the matter and grind it, or work on a Marble morter to dis∣solve the salt, and thus shall you have your Gold in very subtil powder or Calx. Then reiterate this Amalgamation and both Ce∣mentations with Brimstone and Salt, each of them seven times, which are in all 21 operations, and so shall you have a powder or Calx of Gold capable of being exposed to Reverberation, as we shall now declare.

The Reverberation of Gold.

TAke the prepared calx of Gold as it is taught above, and put it upon a flat Tile of some stone of sufficient hardness to en∣dure well the fire, cover the Gold with a Muffel, which is an In∣strument us'd by Goldsmiths to perfect the melting of their work when loaden with enamel; cover the Muffel with good, dry and well season'd Charcoal all about except towards the forepart, where it will suffice to have only a small Iron-plate, which may be re∣moved at will that the Gold may be stirred sometimes with a small clean and well polished Iron rod, then kindle the fire and continue it until the calx of Gold be very much subtilitated and open, and exalted to a red purple colour: then may you say confidently you have a true calx of Gold which is in a fit capacity and condition to be extracted and dissolved, when you have compassed the know∣ledge of those sweet and gentle Menstruum's (capable to effect it) who may have some analogy and sympathy with our natural spirits and radical moisture: for until this true dissolution and radical ex∣traction of Gold be thus attained unto, I give no heed or belief to the pretended Remedies which are prepared for Gold by any o∣ther way, and commonly are call'd potable Gold, Tincture &c. For I could not yet have the fortune to see any of the liquor or sub∣stance which was not again reducible to a metallick Body, which condition doth absolutely contradict the sense and opinion of an∣cient Writers concerning this matter; not that I deny it absolute∣ly possible to dissolve and extract the Tincture of Gold: but I ra∣ther chuse to make use of other strengthening and cordial Reme∣dies, until by my own experience, or the communication of some other more fortunate then my self and more knowing, ei∣ther by his own study or the manuduction of some friend, I may be perswaded of the truth of this matter. But because there are some very noble and curious preparations for the dissolution, precipitation and extraction of Gold, which are capable to bring our Artist to much knowledge, and raise his thoughts to the me∣ditation and disquisition of some better matters, and that these preparations are part of Remedies not to be despised and under∣valued;

I have thought it necessary to deliver here the process thereof, as also of a Solar Sublimation which is admired by some, and pretended to be a very good Tincture.

To prepare the Crocus and Tincture of Gold.

TAke ℥ φ. of Gold refined by Antimony and beat it into very thin plates or leaves, then put it in a Cucurbite with ℥ x. of very good well refined Salt-peter, ℥ viij. Roch Allom and ℥ v. of very pure common salt, pour upon this ℥ iiij. or v. of distilled Rain-water, then put the Cucurbite in sand and give it a fire to cause the whole to boyl, and thus continue till all the Gold be dissolved, which will be perceived in the colour of the water remaining tinged with a very fair yellow, and when no more dissoluble substance shall appear in the bottom of the Vessel, then continue the fire something more slowly and evaporate the water to a dry bottom, and in it will remain a high coloured Masse containing in it self the dissolved Gold, and diffused before through the whole substance of those salts. Take half of this Masse, reduce it to powder which pour in a Matrass, and put up∣on alkoholizate spirit of Wine three fingers high, put a Blindhead upon the Vessel containing your matter, and place in sand, giving it a fire of digestion and extraction, and in a short time the Spirit will be ting'd with a very pleasant yellow colour; this Spirit ha∣ving laid in digestion the space of three dayes, you must filtrate it and pour on fresh at the same height, and continue the dige∣stion of it, till it hath attained the same colour of the first spirit already drawn off, and so proceed in this digestion and extracti∣on until the third or fourth time, or rather until the Spirit takes no more Tincture; then join all these Tinctures together, and be∣ing filtrated put them in a very clean and dry Cucurbite, which place in B. M. to draw off with a slow heat by distillation the three parts of the Spirit, and you shall have in the bottom a yel∣low Tincture containing the best part of the Gold dissolved and extracted in and by the salts, so open and united to this Spirit that it forsakes it in no wise, unless it be to coagulate it self in the form of a yellowish salt when the spirit is too much loaded with it; for

this coagulation doth not hinder it from having still its colour, and a bitter harshness, which shews the Gold to have divested its Body so far as to become an analogous substance to its vitriolick prin∣ciple, whereof it hath the cast and rellish. I do not deny but that this Gold may be in a manner reduced to a body again; but I deny that it may be altogether brought to it: and that since the most pure spirit of Wine hath been capable to extract it from the salts that had dissolved it by the only help of Rain-water, part of this Gold must of necessity be so altered, as to have been brought some part of the way towards its first matter. Wherefore I do not altogether reject the inward use of this Tincture of Gold, though it hath not yet attained all the perfection which the true Tincture or true potable Gold ought to have: for as I am con∣vinc'd by the experience of many of my Friends, and my own in particular, I cannot contradict it, since we make use every day with very good success of the dissolutions and salts of other me∣tals, though yet reducible to a metallick Body, as it appears in the Remedies taken from Mars and Saturn, which have also in them this sweet vitriolick and Pontick Salt according to their respective propriety and Nature, as Gold also hath its bitterness; And nevertheless, the taste of these preparations which are made upon Mars and Saturn, are commonly taken by us for concluding To∣kens of their vertue and of those good effects we hope from them, which makes me not to be averse to recommend the use of this Tincture, provided it be administred in a convenient time in a proper Menstruum, and the Dosis be exactly observed according to age, strength and the exigency of the Disease; The Dosis must be from gutt. ss. to iij. or iv. in Wine, Broth, Scorzonera Root-water, Buck-horn or Balm-water. The Diseases for which it is most proper, are all those that have some virulent quality or some malignancy; all those wherein strength or spirits does fail or is impaired; the Patient must be covered after he hath taken it, and so expect the most calmly and patiently he can the effects which this Remedy will produce, which most commonly happen by Sweat, sometimes also by Urines and Stools; for as it naturally doth strengthen all the natural Functions, so doth it drive away all the evil and heterogeneous matter which it meets with in the body, by those Emunctories which Nature

hath prepared for that end, when the impurities are too grosse and cannot penetrate from the Center to the circumference by sensible or insensible transpiration.

To prepare the Crocus of Gold.

TAke the remainder of the Masse left after the evaporation of the dissolution of the Gold with salts above mentioned, and dissolve it in a slow heat, with as much distilled Rain-water as will be necessary to dissolve it; filtrate this dissolution through paper, and precipitate it with a sufficient quantity of oyle of ☿ per deliquium, poured upon it drop by drop, unless the Gold be pre∣cipitated to the bottom, then let it settle, and separate by decan∣tation the liquor swimming above it, and edulcorate the solar Cro∣cus with distilled Rain-water, then dry it gently and slowly. You must also precipitate again the liquor separated from above the Crocus with spirit of Urine, that in case there should remain yet any portion of Gold, it may be drawn off: after this, edulcorate what hath been precipitated and dry it, to join to the first Crocus, and reverberate in a Crucible with a moderate heat the space of about a quarter of an houre, and so shall you have a solar Cro∣cus very open, and of a fair purple Violet colour, which is an ex∣cellent Diaphoretick and a Cordial not to be despised. The Dosis must be from gr. φ. to v. or vj. in some Conserve or Cordial gelly. There may also a very excellent Diaphoretick and com∣fortative Powder be made out of it.

Solar Diaphoretick, Cordial Powder.

TAke of solar Crocus ʒ j. of very good Saffron ℈ ij. Bezoar mineral ℈ iiij. Vipers flesh ʒ iij. dissoluble Magistery of Pearls and Coral ana ʒ ij. Ambergreece allayed with a little oyl of Cin∣namon and of the outward rind of Lemon, and ground with ʒ j. sug. ℈ j. of oriental Musk dissolved with spirit of Roses gr. x. grind each of these substances and triturate them severally; then mingle together and keep in a silver Box, shutting it very close with

a screw, or in a Glass Viol well stopt, to use it when occasion doth require, as a soveraign high Cordial and wonderful Sudorifick. The Dosis of which is from vj. gr. to xxiiij. in Conserves, gel∣leys, Cordial waters, Wine, or finally Broth, as it will suit best with the nature of the Disease, and agree with the constitution of the Patient. It is an unparallel'd Remedy in all pestilential maladies, malignant Feavers, Measels, Small pox; and more∣over, it is generally good where there is any necessity or occasion of repairing strength.

To make the sublimation of Sol.

TO attain to the perfection of this work, take good Regal wa∣ter, such as we shall teach hereunder how to make when we shall treat of Salt-peter, ℥ iij. and being put in a Matrass of a sufficient capacity, dissolve in this Menstruum ℥ ss. of laminated or Leaf-gold very thin, refined by Antimony and cut very small, then place it in ashes to make the dissolution perfect, which done, pour your dissolution in a small Retort and place it in sand, fitting to it a Recipient, and draw off softly about the fifth part of the Menstruum again, or a little more, then cease the fire, and pour upon the matter remaining in the bottom of your Retort ℥ iij. of new Regal water, and go on in drawing it off by distillation as before, and thus proceed with new water to the fourth time: but at the fourth time let the bottom of your Retort be somewhat near the bottom of the Vessel wherein the sand is held, that there be no more then a finger thick of sand interposed, wherein to give it a more intense fire towards the latter end of your operati∣on, that some part of the Sol may be sublimated with the Armo∣niack salt of the Regal water: for all the liquid Menstruum be∣ing ascended and past through the neck of the Retort, the vio∣lence of the fire dexterously given by the Artist towards the end doth raise the salts of the Regal water which the Gold had kept, and reincorporated to its self in the bottom of the Retort, which sublimate themselves towards the neck of the same, and carry a∣long with them that portion of Gold that was most open, which some think to be the sulphur or soul of the Gold, though in this

mistaken, because some may be yet brought again to a metallick Body, though not all: wherefore some vertue is also to be expect∣ed from these Chrystals or Flowers as red as Saffron, which are found in the upper part of the Retort and in its neck, in case the Artist hath well observed the requsite circumstances, in this most curious operation and pleasant to behold. Now the Armoniack salt which sublimates and elevates its self in this operation, is of a volatile sulphureous nature, and consequently carries up a∣long with its self the most subtil parts of the sulphur of Gold, which the high and intense colour of the sublimation testifies, and the diminished weight of the Gold remaining in the bottom. Take then all this sublimated matter and put it in a small Matrass, and pour upon an inch high of Tartarizated spirit of Wine, which will immediatly be tinged with a very fair yellow colour, then put this Matrass stopt with a fitting Blindhead in a vaporous Bal∣neo to digest, that the purest part of the sublimated matter may be extracted, which may be performed in the space of three na∣tural dayes, then filtrate this Tincture and keep it for use. As for the Body remaining in the bottom of the Matrass or the Filter, it must be joined again with the Gold left in the Retort after sub∣limation, and melted together in a Crucible with a little Borax or salt ☿, then by the weight of it you may judge of the decrease of the Gold, which may also be kept for other uses by reason of its purity. As for this Tincture it may very lawfully be used in Physick, having nothing in it self that may render it unacceptable: for if you narrowly consider what ascended in the sublimation, you shall know it to be only the purest part of the Armoniack salt, which was one of the Ingredients of the Regal water, being of it self a volatile sulphureous Salt friendly to Nature, Diuretical, Disopilative and Sudorifick or Diophoretical; and moreover, enobled and animated, and loaden with the solar Sulphur, which it hath carried up along with it self. Moreover, the Menstruum used in the dissolution and extraction is a true preservative Balsom, and the purest of all Spirits, powerful enough to stir the action of the other two substances, and render the penetrative into our very last digestions, to correct the defects and viciousness thereof, and drive away all impure superfluities from the habit of the body, which for the most part are the occasional causes of our Diseases;

wherefore it may be administred from j. drop to vj. in all ma∣lignant diseases, and chiefly in those that require speedy help by insensible transpiration, Sweats or Urines; it is a very special Re∣medy in all Leptosies, venereous Diseases, Scorbute & all its depen∣dences: and if you will use it for a preventive Remedy, when you find the body heavy and untoward, itching by fits, full of re∣pletion, and troubled with spontaneous weariness, you may take a Dosis thereof answerable to the age and yeares of the Patient, to the sex and strength of the Person, either in Broth, white Wine, or some Cordial water; then being well covered expect patiently the sweating fit, which will not miss coming, or if you cannot conveniently expect, endure this Remedy; it will not fail to ex∣pel superfluous humours by Urine, for it is only this superfluity and abundance of serosities which filleth up the veines and Arte∣ries, causing a pricking in the ends of the fingers and exciting head-ach, and grief in the other lower parts of the body, irrita∣ting and stretching beyond measure the membranous and Ner∣vous parts thereof.

Of Silver and its Chymical Preparation.

SILVER is the second of Metals in Rank and Di••nity, less fix then Gold, because its principal Vitriol (if I may so say) is not digested and united by a perfect union and fixation with i••s sulphur, which causes it to yield more easily and quickly then Gold in nitrous, vitriolick and aluminous Menstruums, by reason of this indigest Vitriol remaining in it. Chymists do call it Lune or Braine, because it hath some sympathy with the Celestial Moon or Luna, and with the brain in Man; for which cause the Reme∣dies extracted from the same, are dedicated to strengthen the head and animal Spirits: so that it is said to be a Specifick Remedy for the cure of the chief affections and diseases of the Head; such as are Apoplexy, Epilepsey, Maniack-passion, and other distempers whose original and spring is in the Brain.

The choice of Silver for Chymical operations is not very im∣portant, because very little is found with an original purity, which renders it the more beholding to Chymistry, without which it can∣not

even be separated from its impurities contracted in the matrix of the Earth, or accidentally by allay; for it is not sufficiently de∣purated either in the hands of Goldsmiths or Mint-masters: for as to cleanse it from its outward soil and impurities, it is easily per∣formed by boiling the same in water impregnated with Tartar and common Salt; after it hath been neal'd or made glowing red in the fire, and thence cast into Urine and then Water, thus shall it be very pure in what concerns the outside: but if you will fur∣ther purifie it from its alloy, or allowance in the Mint, you must make use of dissolution which is the immersive Calcination, and melt it by drying in a Cupel with Lead purposely made for this o∣peration of purifying Silver, and that before you expose it to other Calcinations which must be previous to the preparations of this Metal, that it may thereby be made fitting for dissolution and ex∣traction of its Tincture, the three principal whereof are, immer∣sive Calcination, Amalgation, and Cementation; for very seldom reverberating Calcination is made use of, because Silver having less fixity then Gold, it needs not consequently any long and powerful action of the fire to become sufficiently opened. As for the first separation of such impurities and Metals as are mixt in Silver, you must dissolve it in three or four parts of aqua fortis, made with Vitriol and Salt-peter as we shall teach hereafter; then precipitate it in a Calx or powder with salt, water, viz. water in which you have dissolved common salt, as much as the water can bear, which is also called amongst the Artists Pontick or Marine water; or put small Copper plates in the said dissolution, and weaken the aqua fortis with common water, and the Copper will draw and gather to it self all the Silver in form of a white pow∣der; but which way soever you make this precipitation of Silver, you must afterwards by several reiterated Lotions edulcorate the powder or calx of Silver with common water, and then dry the same. But because this Calx is not yet free from some mixture, it is necessary to Cupell it, and drive it with three or four times as much of Lead upon the said Cupel, being covered with a piece of wood dry, and adapted to the proportion of the hollow, with good coals fitted about, and blown with a great quickness and vio∣lence of fire, till the Lead vanishing hath carried away in its va∣pouring all the impurities and heterogeneous metallick mixture of

the Silver, or that the Lead be all drunk up by the Cupel, or con∣verted on the top of it in a skum or excrement of calcinated Lead, which is commonly called Litharg, more or less red and high in colour, according as it hath more or less participated of the heat of the fire. The most remarkable thing in this operation is, that the Silver being once refined and purified, it growes hard in the midst of the most violent fire, though a little before it did run like water, whilst the Lead was yet Master over it, and some mixture of impurity did remain.

The Silver thus left upon the Cupel is very pure, and cannot be suspected to be guilty of any bad mixture; this is that which Artists call highly Refined, and silver of Cupel: Take then of this q. s. and having made it into very thin plates or small filings, put in a Matrass, and pour it upon three times its weight of good aq. fortis, or what would yet be better, of good spirit of Niter, put it in sand or ashes to digest and accelerate the dissolution, and being ended, decant it in a small Cucurbite, to separate what impurities might remain in the bottom of the Matrass; after this draw off half of the Menstruum again in ashes and let the Vessel cool, and the next morning shall you find your Silver reduced into Crystals, which ac∣cording to some are called the vitriol of Silver; these dry gently and keep in a well stopt viol, to administer to such as are sick with some Cephalick disease, to purge them: The Dosis must be from ij. gr. to x. in Broth, or some opening Cephalick Decoction; they purge very gently, and do powerfully disburthen the Head of all bad and noxious humours.

After this precipitate the liquor which swam above the Chry∣stals with salt water, to have the calx of Lune or Silver, which e∣dulcorate and dry, to make therewith the following preparations: and this is that which Writers call calcined Silver, or calx of Lune. We will give three Examples of the Extraction of Tincture of Sil∣ver, which is called potable Lune or Silver, to make the Artist the better to apprehend the manner of working, because the Menstru∣um's, as also the manner of the work, are differing one from the other.

The first preparation of the Tincture of Lune.

TO attain to the perfection of this Tincture, there must first a Menstruum be prepared for its Extraction, which is to be made in this following manner. Take j. p. of very pure Ar∣moniack salt, and ij. p. of Minium, which is nothing else but calcinated Lead, and turn'd to rednesse by Reverberation; having mixt these two substances together put them in a Retort in sand, and having fitted to it and luted exactly a Recipient, give it fire by degrees, which continue until the drops and vapours be over: But take care that the neck of your Retort be above an inch Dia∣meter in breadth, that in case any sublimation happens, the matter may have a free passage into the Recipient, and not stop the neck of the Retort to the danger of its breaking: the Vessel being cooled, pour the distilled liquor into a Cucurbite, and rectifie this spirit in ashes, to reduce it to a greater purity; After this, take some part of the calx of Lime made with spirit of Niter precipita∣ted with salt-water, edulcorated and dryed; put it in a circulatory or digesting Vessel, pouring upon it vj. p. of the above said Spirit, and digest it in a vaporous Balneo with a slow heat, and you shall see in a short time this Spirit to become tinged with a fair blew, which being somewhat high in colour, decant it, and put new in the place, and so continue until the Menstruum takes no more co∣lour, then put all the Tinctures together and filtrate them, and draw off the said Menstruum again to a dry bottom; and you shall have in the bottom of the Vessel a powder of the smell of U∣rine, upon which pour distilled Rain water three fingers high, and draw it off again by distillation, and thus proceed with new distilled Rain water, until the Lunar powder hath totally lost her ill smell, and the ill-savouring taste of Urine which the Armo∣niack salt had raised in it; and the powder being thus prepared and well dryed, put it in a circulatory Vessel, and pour upon it very well alkoholizate spirit of Wine three inches high; stop the Vessel very exactly and place in in a vaporous Balneo to extract and circulate, until it hath got a very high blew colour; then cease

the fire, filtrate the Tincture, and draw off half of the Menstruum in Balneo, keeping the remainder very choicely: for it is the true essence of Silver, very excellent against all affections of the Brain, particularly against madness or maniacal passion, Apoplexy, Epi∣lepsey and Palsie, given from j. drop to vj. vij. or viij. in convenient Liquors, as are the spirit of black Cherries, or of El∣der-berries.

The second preparation of the Tincture of Lune.

THE process of the Tincture is much more philosophical then the foregoing, which must oblige the Artist to stick close to his work and proceed in it judiciously; and as we have spoken a∣bove of the Cementatory Calcination of Silver, so have we def∣ferred to teach here the best method of that Operation, as we will keep the Amalgamatory for the subsequent.

℞ Silver of Cupel, and having beaten it into very thin plates, put them in a Crucible or Cementing Box, stratified with very dry vitriolated Tarrar, prepared with very pure salt of Tartars and well rectified oyle of Vitriol, beginning your stratification by the Salt, and ending so the last bed or lay; lute the Crucible or Box, and let the Lute dry, then place the Vessel in a circular fire, begun slowly, and thus continued during the space of four hours, which being over, let the Crucible grow cold, then open it to take the Silver which you shall find calcinated and brickle, of a Glass colour; reduce it to powder, and if any remains which is not yet sufficiently calcin'd, reiterate the Cementation, with new, and join all together. Put this green powder in a Cucur∣bite, pouring upon it good distilled vinegar the height of three fin∣gers; then place the Vessel in ashes to a moderate heat, and so leave it viij. or x. dayes in this tenor of heat continually, that it may dissolve and extract the Tincture of Silver; and when the spi∣rit of Vinegar shall be tinged with a fine Emerald green, separate it and pour on new, until this Spirit takes no more of the green colour; then put all the Tinctures together and filtrate them. You shall find in the bottom of the Vessel a yellowish sediment, which is the remainde•• of the Silver, and its earth divested of sulphur.

But all the Extractions filtrated in a Cucurbite in B. M. and draw off the Menstruum thereof by Distillation in a graduate heat till it comes to a pretty thick consistency of Syrup, upon which pour spirit of Wine twice rectified upon salt of Tartar four fin∣gers high; cover the Cucurbite with its Blindhead, and put the mat∣ters to circulate in a vaporous Balneo in saw-dust, regulating the heat thereof as near as it is possible to the proportion of the humane Body, or mans stomach, during the space of forty natural dayes, which is the Philosophical Month, then take out the Ves∣sel, and if you find any defecation made in the bottom, decant or separate the impurity by inclination, or filtrate the spirit of Wine loaden and impregnated with the centrical sulphur of Lune, which is of a very pleasant green colour; put the filtration in a Cucurbite in Balneo, and draw off back again the two thirds or three parts of the spirit, and you shall have the true Elixir of Lune in a green liquor, which keep in a well stopt Viol for use. The vertues of it are alike, or rather more excellent and more in num∣ber then those of the foregoing essence: for it is a Rare Remedy to evacuate insensibly dropsical swellings: The Dosis is from j. drop to viij. in Broth, Cephalick and operative Waters, or even in white Wine.

The third preparation of Lunar Tincture.

WEE have received in this third Tincture to give a place to the description of the Amalgamatory calcination of Silver, for avoiding of unnecessary repetitions, and that also the Artist may better conceive under one Tenor the operation of this last processe upon Lune. Take then very fine Silver in leaves, and heat it moderately in a Crucible on burning or kindled coals, ha∣ving at the same time as much weight as the Silver is of running Mercury in another Crucible, which heat also until it begins to smoak, then join both these together, and stir them well until they be reduced to a well incorporated Amalgame and something unctuous; to which add a fourth part of its weight of well de∣siccated common salt, and having put it in the Crucible again, give it a gradual circulatory fire, encreasing it by little and little until

all the Mercury be vapoured away; then the Crucible being cold, grind the matter remaining in it on a Marble stone, and wash it with distilled Rain-water to separate the saltness thereof, and dry the calx remaining after Lotion; weigh and put it in a Matrass, and pour on it three times its weight of spirit of Niter, digesting them together to a full dissolution, then pour this liquor into a small Cucurbite, and draw off the Menstruum again in ashes to a dry bottom: then pour on it distilled Rain-water, and draw it off again by distillation, and thus reiterate with new water, until the calx of Lune hath altogether lost that acrimony which it had con∣tracted by its Dissolvent: that done, and the calx being very dry, put it in a Matrass, and pour upon it spirit of ♀. Venus or Copper four fingers high, and put it to digest and extract in ashes in a slow heat; and note, that your Matrass must be stopt with a Blindhead, and well luted by reason of the nimbleness and subtility of the Spi∣rit; let it thus remain in digestion during the space of 15 dayes without discontinuing the heat, then filtrate the Tincture which will be blew; and go on in this digestion and extraction until the Menstruum takes no more of the colour, and all the Tinctures be∣ing drawn and filtrated, put them in B.M. in a Cucurbite, to draw off again the Menstruum to the consistency of a thick Syrup, upon which pour of the spirit of Wine acuated with the sixteenth part of its weight of volatile salt of Urine, and put a Blindhead upon your Cucurbite, and having luted it very exactly place it in a vapo∣rous Bath, & give it a very slow and moderate heat during the space of three weeks; and the spirit will take a very pleasant blew colour, by the extraction it makes of the centrinal sulphur of Lune; this done, filtrate the Tincture, in case any impurity hath gathered to a head, then draw off again the two thirds of the Menstruum in B.M. in a very gentle heat, and there will remain a true Antiepileptical Essence, and the true Specifick against all maladies of the Brain, by us already related: The Dosis must be from j. drop to viij. and x. in the Flower of Lime-tree-water, or an Emulsion made with the same water, and Piony seeds or some other Vehicle appropriated to the Disease, and taste of the Patient.

Of Iron, and its Chymical Preparation.

IRON is one of the two Metals of the second Classis, which is that of the less noble and most hard of metals. It is compoun∣ded of a Mercury and Sulphur, the crudest and least fusible of all; or again, if you will, Iron is compounded of a Mercury, Sul∣phur and Salt, which are mixt with many terrestrial and crude parts; in a word, no metal abounds more in Vitriol then Iron or Mars doth, so named by reason of the analogy it hath with that Planet, as we already have said above; Iron or Mars is one of the Metals which supplies with more Remedies the shop of our Chymical Artist, and one of those that produces the most effects and most pathetical. We will deliver here the method of pre∣paring the most useful for the health of poor Patients, and the most necessary for the instruction of Artists: such as are first the Gradatory Perfectibility (if I may so speak) which purifies Iron of all its impurities, and changes it into that substance we call Steel, which to speak properly, is nothing else but a well com∣pacted and close well depurated Iron. Secondly, we will calcine it to prepare therewith the Crocus Martis both astringent and a∣peritive. Thirdly, We will dissolve it to make thereof Vitriol, Syrup and Salt. Fourthly, We will make the extraction thereof, which shall afford us the Astringent and aperitive Tincture. And in the fift and last place, we will deliver the manner of prepa∣ring the Chrystals of Mars, impregnated with the internal soul of Steel, which shall appear by; the red colour of its sulphur, where∣of these Chrystals do participate.

How Iron ought to be purg'd, and made closer, to be turned into Steel.

TAke barres or rods of Iron Hammered and reduced to the bignesse of the middle finger, and stratifie them in a fit∣ting Vessel with a course powder made with 1. b. of Beech or Willow coals, and ij. p. of Oxehorn scrap'd, the joints of the cover of the Vessel being well luted, and the Vessel put in a wind-Furnace made for the purpose, wherein you shall give a circular fire with good coals the space of five or six hours, and all being cooled, take off your Iron which you shall find purer, closer and more compacted, the volatile salt and oylinesse of the Horn having penetrated the barres of Iron, and very much corrected and sweetened it: insomuch as it is lesse porous and earthy, it is also more ductile and malleable before the water be given unto it, and much harder, and fit to cut after it has re∣ceived the water; but as it doth not conduce to our present pur∣pose, it will suffice us to say, that since Steel is puter and more refined then plain Iron, that it is consequently Steel must be taken by our Artist to serve his Chymical Operations there∣with. They that will use Filings, let them take of those which are found ready to hand at the Needle-makers, in case they be in a place where they can conveniently get it, otherwise let them take of the purest and best Steel they shall meet with, and File it into very small dust. We have brought here this operation to no other end then to shew our Artist, that the volatile Salts ever exalt and advance to a better quality the subjects on which they are employed, that he may the more entertain a due e∣steem of them, and repose in them his chief trust and confidence rather then in any other Remedies.

To prepare the astringent Crocus Martis.

WEE will deliver two wayes of preparing this Crocus, the one by Reverberation for the inward parts; and the other by dissolution for outward applications. For the first, Take e∣qual parts of Filings of Steel and common Salt, and grind them on a Marble stone together until they be well mingled and incor∣porated, then spread this matter on a Tile to dry, having some edge in the sides to hinder the matter falling, and place it in a Re∣verberatory Furnace, and give it a flaming fire which may gently touch, and as it were only lick over the matter during the space of xxx. houres: which being over, wash the so reverberated matter with distilled Rain-water and dry it, to put it a second time to the Reverberatory, that it may be more subtilitated and open, un∣til the Filing or Steel dust be changed into a high and red astrin∣gent powder, which is that Chym••sts do call Crocus or Saffron of Mars, having given this name to such preparations of Metals and Minerals that are reduced into a red powder, by Distillation or Reverberation. This Crocus being well opened by the action of fire, grind it on a Porphyry stone with water of Plantain juice or Ladies mantle water, until it be reduced to an Alkohol, and then put it in smal Trochisks on paper to dry cleanly, and so keep for use. This Crocus Martis is inwardly used where there is need of an astringent desiccative Remedy: as in Dysentery, Lientery, heat of Urine, Gonorrhaea and spitting of blood; The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to ʒ s. in Conserve of Roses in Bolus, or preserved Comfrey Root or Decoction of Plantain, Golden-Rod, or La∣dies-mantle, a little of syrup of dryed Roses, or a little of that of Berberries.

As for the second kind of Crocus which is astringent, and to be employed to outward uses, it is made with any kind of acid or corrosive Liquor, as the common aqua fortis, spirit of Nitre, Salt, Vitriol, Allom and Armoniack salt; we will only take for our model here aqua fortis made with equal parts of Allom and Vi∣triol, in which the Filings of Steel must be dissolved, of which take ℥ iiij. and pour it by ʒ s. at once in lb j. of this aqua

fortis: for if the Menstruum was poured upon the Filings, there would such an ebullition be made, and so sudden a calefaction of the matter and Vessel, that either the one would be wasted, or the other break; and if also too much Filings were put at once in the Menstruum, it would send up sudden and noxious vapours, which would cause a suffocation of breast, or stopping of breath to the Artist; wherefore the Menstruum must be put into a Cucurbite somewhat high that nothing may be lost by ebullition, which it is altogether impossible to hinder or prevent by any other means, then pouring a little of Filings at once; ℥ iiij. of Filings be∣ing all spent and put in by the Artist, if the Menstruum be not altogether spent and drunk up, he may put as much Filings more as it can bear and he thinks fitring; for it must be made so thick as that the Menstruum and Filings make but one past of an indif∣ferent consistency, which put in a Matrass having something a broad and large neck; and being placed on a round plate of earth or a piece of brick with a little Lute, you shall give it a circular fire by degrees to exhale the Menstruum: then encrease it until the Matrass becomes red on all sides, and being cooled, you shall find in it an astringent Crocus of Mars, of a high red, very useful and excellent for outward applications, viz. to dry Wounds and Ul∣cers, and stop Hemorrhagy; it is of this Crocus that Chyrurgeons must alwayes make use in Salves and Liniments. We have this more neverthelesse to say of it, that if the Artist puts only ℥ j. of Filings of Steel upon ℥ vj. of aqua fortis, and evaporate it in a Matrass in sand to a dry bottom, he will have a Crocus easily disso∣luble of it self, being put in a Cellar or some other moist and cold place, into a red Liquor, which is a soveraign Remedy to mundifie rotten, corroding and running Ulcers: as also those which have contracted a Callus or sorenesse in the brim, and a∣bound with superfluities of spongious and corrupted flesh: for it consumes all preternatural exerescencies by the activity of the spi∣rits and salts which are dissolved, and renders the Ulcer capable of cicatrization by the astringent Faculty of its vitriolick Earth.

How the Crocus Martis aperitive is to be prepared.

VVEE will deliver two manners of preparing this aperi∣tive Crocus of Mars, as we have shewed two for the astringent Crocus. The first manner is by taking lb j. of Filings or dust of Needles very clean, which put in a stone earthen Pan very flat, then by degrees and gently moisten it with Dew-water, if your work falls in May, else Rain-water of the vernal Equinox, until the Filings begin to crumble, at which sign proceed no fur∣ther lest you should drown your matter; for when it is only moi∣stened in the form of a past or crums, it ferments and grows hot of it self with water, as by the touch and smell it may easily be noted: for there is a certain saline Spirit hidden in these waters which penetrates the Steel, and insensibly dissolves it: wherefore it must immediately be dryed in the Sun, and being dry, grinded on a Marble, and so moistened again without drowning, and in lesse then three or four dayes all the Filings will be converted into a black powder, which will begin to draw to a Violet purple colour in the superficies, and by a small taste of ink, or somewhat vitrio∣lick, sheweth, that the water begins to make the reincrudation of the metal into his seminal principles, which are Sulphur and Vi∣triol; for when the water is put upon it, it sends forth a sulphureous odour, and the taste doth manifestly declare and discover the Vi∣triol. Note, that your matter must be grinded on the Marble as often as you dry it, and if you will discharge the parr of a care∣ful Artist, you may make three exsiccations every day, and end the operation in three weeks, otherwise you must bestow at least a moneth or six weeks, before the body of this metal may be reduced to an impalpable powder, which is coloured with a brown purple Violet, which having got, put it in a crude Iron Pot or Caldron, and upon open fire Reverberate, stirring it still with a Rod or slice of Iron, and as soon as it begins to grow red, take it away, and you shall have the aperitive Reverberated Crocus of Mars in a fair red brown colour. But it is much better not to reverberate it, be∣cause this heat may cause the Vitriol that begun to be fram'd in the Crocus, to exhale away, and this vitriolick salt only constitutes its

aperitive vertue. The Dosis of this Crocus must be from iij. gr. to xx. and xxx. provided it be given by degrees, and the stomach used to it by little an little; it is administred in Opiats and Conserves or mixt amongst aromatical Powders; it must be taken fasting,, or the stomach being empty three or four houres before meales, and the Patient must walk after in some smooth and pleasant place; after the walk take a Btoth of Veal and Chicken made with Parsly and Spanish Scorzonera Roors. This Remedy is use∣full for all Chronical Diseases, Cachexy, Leucophlegmacy, and all other Diseases proceeding from splenetical obstructions, or ob∣structions of the Liver, Mesentery and Pancreas; but there are al∣some other Martial Remedies more quick and efficacious in their operation, as we will shew hereafter.

The second manner of preparing the opening Crocus Martis is this. Take a bar of good Steel and make it glowing in a Smiths Forge, in that degree of heat which they call so ering heat, which is a kind of half-fusion, and being thus, have a great Pan full of water, over which you shall hold your Steel, and apply close to it a cake of Brimstone, which will melt the Steel, and drop by drop precipitate it in the water in small graines; continue this work until you have a sufficient quantity of the Steel in graine, which must be separated from the Brimstone that fell dropping a∣long with the Steel in the water, then beat it in an Iron morter to powder, which must be run through a delicate sieve or Tamy, then prepared on a Porphyry stone, or Sea-shel with some opening water, until it be reduced to an Alkohol, the half whereof must be framed into Trochisks, when dryed and so kept; this is called pre∣pared Steel. Then take the other half and reverberate it in an I∣ron Cauldron with naked fire, as we have said above, until it hath attained a red purple colour, without fear of consuming the vitrio∣lick faculty; but contrariwise it will open more and more, this preparation being different from that of the foregoing Crocus; the Dosis is the same with the other, the precautions the same, and the use of it for the same Diseases; some there are that even do pre∣fer it to the other preparations, but I am of a contrary mind.

How the Vitriol of Mars is to be prepared.

TAke Filings or dust of Needles very clean, and put it in a Glass Cucurbite, pouring by degrees upon it acid or sharp spirit of Vitriol, not altogether deprived of its phlegm; stir both together with an Iron slice, pouring as much of it as that the mat∣ter may be well imbid'd and satiated therewith, and have a spe∣cial care not to break the Cucurbite, and immediately pour up∣on distilled Rain-water, or Rain-water taken up in the Equinox without distilling, which may be almost boyling hot, to the height of four fingers, place the Cucurbite in sand already heated, and there leave it in digestion and dissolution the space of xij. hours; which done, filtrate the warm Liquor and put it to evaporate gent∣ly to the consumption of one half in the vapour of a boyling Balneo, and then place it in a cold Room to shute Chrystals, which you shall finde the next morning bright and green round about the Vessel, which put between two papers, and dry in a slow and gentle heat; and if you desire a greater quantity, purse the same work upon the remaining dust or Filings with the spirit of Vitriol; then with warm water filtrate, evaporate and chrystallize until the whole body of the metal be converted into Vitriol, or a litle of earthly sediment remains if the Filings were pure: But the quantity of your Vitriol will go much beyond the weight of the Filings, exceeding sometimes even to a third part: by which the Artist may be taught that it is but a Recorporification of Vitriol, having resumed his vitriolick Idea and Character by the help of Mars, as being a body which was once vitriol: but we must con∣fesse, that this Vitriol surpasses much in excellency the common Vitriol, out of which the spirit used in this Work hath been di∣stilled: for the recorporified Spirits have a great sphere of activi∣ty, and do much more powerfully work, then the matters purely and meerly naturally. This Vitriol hath more efficacy and acts with much more quicknesse then the aperitive Crocus, in all the Diseases which we have before mentioned, but the Dosis is much lesse: for it is given beginning with one gr. and so continuing by

degrees till you come to viij. x. and xij. gr. either in Bolus in some Preserve, or in Broth. But you must note, that the use of Remedies extracted from the Mars, must be long continued and taken still, encreasing from j. gr. to ij. until at last it begins to raise and provoke the stomach and cause a nauseousnesse; then go back from ij. gr. or somewhat more, because it appears that Na∣ture is then in the right time of bringing the Remedy to a de∣sired successe without much violence, if it be not encreased: You must note besides, that those that use Steel-Remedies, ought to be purged every fourth day, in case the Remedy it self doth not provoke Nature, and every other day the belly must be opened by a Glyster of pure new made stale: for as the Steel hath a dissopilating and opening Vitriol, so hath it likewise a constipating and drying earth; wherefore every fourth or fifth day infuse ʒ ij. Sennae with ℈ j. vitriolated Tartar in Veal or Chicken Broth, to carry away and drive out of the body those matters which the Remedy hath made fit for evacuation. Those that desire to have a very fine and useful Crocus Martis, must cal∣cine ℥ iiij. of this vitriol of Mars in a Crucible with open fire, until it be converted into a fair subtile red powder, having no ill or unsavory taste, and fit to be given to the most delicate Palats, in Bolus, Lozenges; or Opiates from v. gr. to xxx. with the same observations and precautions as are hinted above.

To make the Extract or Syrup of Mars.

℞ lb s. of Filings of Needles very prue and clena, mix it with lb of good white Tartar of Montpellier reduced to sub∣tile powder; then fill up the third part of some Iron Cauldron of reasonable bignesse with water, and put it on the bare fire, but your water must be Dew-water; or water taken up in the vernal E∣quinox, or distilled Rain-water, make it boyl, and when it is thus ready, pour into it gently and by degrees the Steel and Tartar mixt together, not above ℥ j. at once, by reason of the ebulli∣tion and working up which happens in the dissolution of the mat∣ter at first; then all being put in the Vessel, stir it continually in the bottom with an Iron Ladle, to raise up in the uppermost

part of the water amongst the walmes, that which would otherwise settle in the bottom, and by this means hasten and ease the disso∣lution thereof: you must also keep in a pot by it self upon the fire, some of the water, like unto that wherewith the dissolution is made, that it may be restored warm in the place of the other, that the action of the fire causes to evaporate away, which must be repaired from time to time, lest the Tartar should too much coagulate, by want of moisture, or burn in the bottom or about the Vessel; and moreover, have a care that the Menstruum may be in sufficient quantity to dissolve well the Tartar, which by its a∣cidity doth work upon the Mars and dissolves it; keep the fire go∣ing still, stirring and renewing with new water, until the Artist sees that the Liquor contained in the Pot or Cauldron be quite altered, and become thick and of the colour of a whitish gray, having brown and blackish veines about it; and moreover, the matter gathers a smell and odour as of sulphur of Mars, which is something unpleasant and nauseous; but the last and most con∣cluding sign of the end and perfection of the operation and the dissolution of the Steels is the taste: for filtrating some small quantity of the Liquor, when the above mentioned begin to appear, if the Liquor be of a brown red colour, and hath a taste of Ink, and Vitriol between acid and bitter; then must you fill up wholly the Vessel with boyling water, and filtrate it being yet warm, putting the same as it is filtred in another Iron Vessel, wherein you cause it gently and without boyling to evaporate away; and thus go on filtrating and evaporating, until the Liquor be reduced to the consistency of a Syrup or half Extract, which you may know when a thin skin shall rise above the evaporating Liquor; then draw the Vessel off from the fire, and your matter being cooled, put it In a white earthen Pot to keep for the time of use. It will not be very difficult to perswade the lesse knowing, that Exttact or Syrup, is one of the best Remedies produced by the Art of Chymistry; for it is known to all, that Tartar is a friendly Salt to our Nature, and of it self a great opener and disopila∣tive Remedy; there are also very few but know, that Physitians have in all Ages made use both of crude and prepared Steel, or its Crocus to open obstructions, and for the cure of chronical and obstinate Diseases, which have seated in the Region of the

Ventricle, Liver, Spleen and other adjacent parts: But I can very sincerely say, that all what we have delivered above, must give way to this Martial Extract; for after that Tartar is once inti∣mately united to the Mars, and that both have acted and reacted one upon another in such a manner, that the one hath lost its great a cidity, and the other its metallick corporeity as it hath happened in this operation, a third substance results from thence endowed with all necessary qualifications, to act accord∣ing to the intent of the Physitian, Citò tutò, jucundè: for this admirable Remedy can never be hurtful, but alwayes profitable and good, as we our selves have found it by experience, in the cure of many great and dangerous maladies made by the due administration of this noble Medicine; which is given very for∣tunately and with a surprizing and unconceivable successe, in the beginning of the swellings of Dropsies, against the schirrous Tu∣mors of the Spleen, against all obstructions of the parts of the inferiour Ventricle, against the pains of the Reines and Bladder, against the evil fermentations of the stomach, against Wormes in young and old, the seminary whereof it doth radically extir∣pate; against intermittent Feavers, chiefly those which Physitians call Stomach Feavers; and to be short, generally against all coa∣gulations of tartarous matters in whatsoever part of the body seated. The Dosis is from v. drops to Lx. in Broth, aperitive Decoctions, or specifick Waters appropriated to the most apparent and predominanting Disease.

To prepare the Salt of Mars.

℞ lb s. of Filings of Steel very small and clean, and being put in a stone Dish or Pan, sprinkle them with very good distil∣led Vinegat until it is become a Paste, which dry after to the steam or vapour of B. M. and when it shall be sufficiently dry, grind it upon Marble, and moisten it again with the same Vinegar; then dry, grind and moisten again so often, as you may at last discern by the taste in your matter a sweetish taste, predominating in the body of your Mars; then put this powder in a Cucurbite, and pour upon it phlegm of Vinegar half a foot high, and place the

Cucurbite in sand, and cause the liquor therein to boyl, that the extraction of your salt of Mars may be the better perfected; but have a care to put still new warm phlegm of vinegar in the place of that which in the boyling vapours away; and when you see your Menstruum sufficiently impregnated, filtrate it being cold that it may come away the purer; the filtrated Liquor put in B. M. and draw off ij. or iij. p. of the Liquor in the heat thereof; then place your Cucurbite in a cold place or Cellar to make the salt shute into Chrystals; separate the Liquor swimming over the Chrystals, then evaporate again and turn to chrystallize; and this work continue till it will yield no more Chrystals; then dry them all, and being dry put in a double or circulatory Vessel, and pour upon alkohol of Wine three fingers high, stopping and shutting closely the joints of the Vessel; and so putting it in a vaporous Balneo to digest with a slow heat during the space of seven natural dayes; which being past, unstop the Vessel and put a Still-head upon it to draw off the spirit of Wine in the same heat, and in the bottom you will find a salt of Mars very pleasant, and without compare to remove obstructions, chiefly for weak and tender bodies; it is good in general against all melancholick af∣fections, and griefs of the Reines and Bladder, but it is particu∣larly dedicated to the relief of dropsical Bodies, and fits or ob∣structions of the Mother. The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to xx. in Broth or Decoctions, or appropriated waters according to the Disease.

To make the astringent Tincture of Mars.

℞ ℥ iiij. of Filings of Needles very pure and clean, and ha∣ving put them in a glasse Cucurbite, pour upon spirit of ♀ or Copper until they be sufficiedtly moistened and begin to cleave together; then cover the Cucurbite with a Still-head, and draw off the spirit in a slow heat in ashes to a dry bottom; and if what you have drawn hath any taste, cohobate it again; if not, moisten it again with new spirit of Venus, and dry as before, and go on thus doing three times, or until your Mars. be changed into a very subtil and red Crocus; then grind it on a Porphyry stone

and put again in a Cucurbite, and pour upon of the same spirit of ♀ four fingers high, and having adapted to it the double Pan or Blindhead, place it in B. M. to extract, until the Spirit be turn'd very red; then separate the Tincture, and pour again new Menstruum, and go on thus doing so long as it will take colour; this done, put all the Tinctures together and filtrate them, draw off the spirit of Venus in B. M. until it hath got the consistency of a thick Syrup, upon which pour spirit of Wine three fingers high, which digest in the vapour of Balneo and let extract; then filtrate and extract with the same Menstruum until no more will come▪ and having filtrated all the Tinctures, draw off three parts of the Liquor, and you shall have an astringent Tincture of Mars remaining, which is none of the least secrets in Physick, and worthy the Closet of a curious Artist. This Tincture is admini∣stred by drops, from iiij. to xv. and xx. in Decoction of Plan∣tain, or water of the juice thereof; it may also be given in wa∣ter sharpened with juice of a Pomegranate. It hath the vertue to stop all immoderate fluxes of the Belly, to correct and allay the griefs and irritations of the Pylorus or Blind-gut, cure Dy∣sentery and Lientery, as alse red and white fluxes of Women, and the hemorrhoidal also; finally it dryes Gonorrhea and cures heat of Urine, and stops all manner of Hemorrhagy.

To make the aperitive Tincture of Mars.

℞ ℥ ij. of Vitriol of Mars prepared in the manner we have taught here above, reduce it to powder, and mix with it equal weight of salt ☿ of Sennertus, made in powder also in a Marble Mortar, and you shall wonder that on a sudden this wonderful Salt shall draw the soul of Mars or his sulphur out of the Center of its vitriol; for although this salt be white and the vitriol like∣wise, it is no unpleasant surprisal to behold in an instant a red to predominate higher in colour then that of the Saffron; this Masse must be stirred and agitated, and it will soon be reduced to a Pap, then expose it to the moist ayr that the whole may be resolved into a Liquor, which is already of it self an aperitive and disopilai ve Remedy, which may be given against all manner

of obstructions, and against the coagulation of Tartar in mans body, from vj. drups to xv. in Broth or aperitive Decoctions. But this substance is yet too course, and will shew that our Art is capable to bring substances to the highest pitch of their perfection, and the last degree of their subtilty. To this end weigh the red matter, after it hath been mixed in a Marble mortar; and note the weight, weigh it also after its dissolution in the ayr, to draw off by distillation in B. M. the weight of the moisture it hath at∣tracted from the ayr, and to pour upon it as much of the spirit of ♀ as this moisture doth weigh, then digest them in the vaporous Bath together, in a digesting or double Vessel the space 24 hours, af∣ter which draw off the spirit with a Still-head to a consistency of Syrup somewhat thick, upon which pout tartarized spirit of Wine four fingers high, then close up the Vessel with a Blindhead and di∣gest it three natural dayes; at the end whereof filtrate the Tincture cold, and draw off the half or two parts of the Menstruum in Bal∣neo in a slow heat, and so shall you have one of the noblest Re∣medies which the matter helpt by Art can ever bring to passe, as much for his vertue as for his pleasantnesse of taste. This noble Tincture doth eat up and resolve all manner of tartarousnesse in mans body, which wheresover it coagulates, is the spring and cause of all obstructions: wherefore it may securely be admi∣nistred in all the maladies, where it is necessary to open and ex∣pel superfluities. But the most wonderful thing of all is, that it hath or beares no weight upon the stomach, as for the most part are all the Remedies taken from Mars; contrariwise, it streng∣thens the Ventricle, and purifies it from the coagulated clammy humours and viscosities, which for the most part cause the losse of appetite; it is moreover a great Antiscorbutick, because it dis∣burthens the Spleen, purifies the masse of the blood of those gross and earthly impurities, whereby all the evil accidents of this per∣nicious Disease are occasioned. The Dosis must be from v. drops to xx, and xxx. in appropriated Liquors, so many times mentio∣ned by us above.

How the red Chrystals of Mars are to be prepared.

MAke first a very good aqua fortis with equal parts of Vi∣triol and Salt-peter; the description whereof we shall give in the Chapter of Salts. Of this ℞ lb j. and therein dissolve ℥ iii!. of very pure and dry Salt-peter; then put ℥ vj. of Steel in whole pieces, as big as the finger, and two inches long, in the bot∣tom of a Cucurbite plac'd in ashes, and having poured the aqua fortis let it act and work thereupon; But note, that the Cucurbite must be big and capacious, and that it is not without reason we prescribe to put Steel in whole pieces, and not Filings; for the Vessel would too suddenly contract a heat, and cause too sudden an ebullition, what care and precaution soever could be taken by the Artist; but when it is in body, the Menstruum or dissolving spirit cannot penetrate it, neither work upon it but gently and by measure. We thus alter the manner of our work and Processes, the better to prepare the judgement of the Artist against such accidents which may happen in the working; to hasten the dissolution, give a slow heat to the ashes; and when all the action of the Dissolvent or Menstruum is past over, pour in the Cucurbite lb ij. φ. of good distilled vinegar something warm: but you must pour it in gently, and softly stir the matter in the bot∣tom; but if by chance some small piece of the Steel was found left there, take it away before you pour the vinegar; then digest this Solution three continual dayes in B. M. and it will become very red, then filtrate through a paper and evaporate in B. M. to draw off the two parts of the Menstruum by distillation, and placing the Cucurbite in a cold place, it will shute into red Chry∣stals, having yet in them some kind of impurity; put them toge∣ther aside and evaporate the remaining Liquor, to draw off from it what may turn again into Chrystals; then put all the Chrystals together, and dissolve them in a sufficient quantity of distilled vi∣negar; filtrate the Solution, and draw half of the Menstruum in the flow heat of B. M. then put it in a cold place to shute into Chrystals; and so go on in dissolving, filtrating, distilling and

chrystallizing until your Chrystals be very fair, red and transparent, and that no more feces or separation of impurities will settle in the bottom of the Vessel where the chrystallization is made; dry the Chrystals in a slow heat between two papers, and put them in a glass Viol to keep for use. This Salt is a very subtil and pleasant Aperitive, which is administred in Broths or Apozema's, or even may be given as a true Martial Tartar, without any danger of the aqua fortis used in the dissolution; for it is to be known, that all the corrosion of the spirit of aqua fortis is blunted and deaded by its own action upon the Steel, as it may be perceived by the pleasing taste of the Chrystals resulting thereof. The Dosis must be from vj. gr. to xx. and xxx. and if the Artist be curious, he may take ℥ ij. of the Chrystals, and as much of very fair Armo∣moniack salt, and grind and mix them together, and being put in a luted Matrass, place it in sand, so as it may lye but a fingers breadth from the Iron vessel containing the sand; then by a gra∣dual fire, drive it so high that the Armoniack salt may sublimate and carry along with it self the sulphur of Mars, and so shall he have Flowers very red and efficacious for a Diaphoretick and Diu∣retical Remedy against intermittent Agues, and chiefly against Ter∣tians and Quartains; and if you have sublimated of these Flowers in any considerable quantity, you may dissolve one part thereof in warm water, to separate the salt from it by edulcoration and lo∣tion, and you shall have the true sulphur or Mars in its perfe∣ction, which you may use as a soveraign Diaphoretick. The Dosis of the Flowers is from ij. gr. to x. or xij. and of the Sulphur from j. gr. to vj. in Bolus or convenient Liquors.

Of Copper and its Chymical Preparation.

COppet is the second of the lesse noble of the hard metals of the second Classis; it is according to Paracelsus compound∣ed of a purple Sulphur, red Salt, and yellow Mercury. But as we have said of Iron, so may we of Copper, that it hath much vi∣triol in it self, and lesse of earth then Iron, and by consequence lesse impurity. It is amongst Chymists called Venus ♀, because it receives the influences of that Planet, and relates to the parts

in Man dedicated to generation. The general vertues of Copper are, to strengthen the spermatical and generative parts, both in male and female, insomuch as that the Antients and Hippocrates himself and his successors after him have had it in great esteem, and made very frequent use of it though in a rude and course way, being not yet assisted with the light of Chymistry, which doth from this metal draw admirable Remedies, and particularly that wonderful Spirit of ♀ Venus, whereof we have spoken above, and whereto we are already come.

We could very well lay down and deliver here all the manners of calcining Copper, either by Dissolution, Illinition or Cemen∣tation; but as all these operations do rather relate to the metal∣lick then Physical part, we will not insist on it to pursue inces∣santly and with lesse intermission, our purpose of discovering the noble Remedies which metals do afford us; we will then first speak of the preparation of green Copper or Verdegrease, which is more full of mysterie then is commonly imagined, though this operation be common, and performed only by the Women and Maids at Montpellier.

The preparation of green Copper, or Verdegrease.

GReen Copper to speak properly, is nothing else but the vo∣latilization of Copper in very subtil Vitriol, by the help of Tartar contained in the husks and recrements of the Grape after the Wine is expressed and squeezed out of it. But this operation cannot be performed in all places where Wine doth grow, which must give a Chymical Artist occasion to reason thereupon, and seek after the cause, in examining the matter which produces this green, which are the copper and the cakes of the husks of Wine. Now all kind of Grape hath its recrement after expression, and yet all expression of Grapes is not capable to reduce the copper in green, as this is that comes from Montpell••er and the adjacent parts, and therefore consequently there must be something in that Grape of Montpellier capable to work upon and extract sooner then others, the vitriol of Copper without corrosion, which can∣not be done but by the help of a subtil and active Tartar, which

penetrates the copper and changes it into green, and yet this Tar∣tar is undiscernable and imperceptible in the recrements of the Grape; but after the copper is stratified with this expression, and put in a convenient place, the inward fire and fermentative spirit of these cakes of Grapes excites and stirs up a heat, which brings it from power to act, and doth volatilize the Tartar con∣tained thereunder, changing it into a subtil spirit not altoge∣ther Wine or vinous, neither yet become vinegar, so that it doth possesse volatile sulphureous qualities, and yet hath in its self a Saline, Mercurial and acid Spirit, which acts upon the Cop∣per, and turns it into that substance we call green Copper, be∣ing the ground and Basis of our spirit of V••nus. It is not with∣out reason we have made this digressive Discourse upon green Copper, made with the Recrements or expression of Wine about Montpellier, for it altogether differs from that which is made with Vinegar and Copper shut up in Barrels; for we know that Lanquadock and Provence Wine, and chiefly that which growes a∣bout Montpellier doth yield great store of Tartar very pure, and very excellent both for Physical Remedies and Chymical Opera∣tions: Now it is only the subtilest part of that matter which Na∣ture intends for Tartar, that volatilizes it self, and without any violent corrosion works upon the Copper; for it is rather per∣formed by an amicable and friendly kind of dissolution: But Vi∣negar doth operate more violently, and doth not join nor unite it self to the substance of the Copper, as this middle Spirit doth; which truth will be made manifest by the extraction thereof, which we will teach, its chrystallization and distillation, by the Dis∣course we shall annex unto it for the greater instruction and satis∣faction of curious Artists and searchers of Nature.

To make the volatile Vitriol of ♀.

WEE have shewed above, that green Copper was nothing else but an open Copper dissolved, and as it were volati∣liz'd by the tartarous fermentative spirit of the recrements of the expression of Wine; and we have said somewhere else, when we spoke of Vinegar and its distillation, that its spirit was also

nothing else but a kind of subtiliated Tartar, spiritualiz'd and made volatile. This granted, we shall easily make our Artist con∣ceive that the extraction of green Copper, which we now are a∣bout to teach, is but a sequel and dependance to bring this Agent and Patient to a more subtil volatilization; that after we have con∣verted the green Copper into a clear, blew, subtil, and as it were already volatile vitriol, we may afterwards by distillation bring it to one of the most quick and wonderful Spirits hitherto us'd, either in Physick for the cure of Maladies, or in Chymistry for the dissolution of Bodies, and being a mean of uniting and joyning together several substances which seem altogether to be heterogeneous, and uncapable of being brought together without the help of this wonderful Spirit, which proceeds from the vo∣latile vitriol of green Copper, which is thus prepared.

Take lb iiij. of good green copper or Verdegrease of Mont∣pellier, and being made into a very subtil Powder, put it in a glasse Cucurbite, and pour upon it good distilled Vinegar six inches high, stir it often with a wooden Slice, the Cucurbite being plac'd in s••nd, and the Menstruum being ting'd with a very high green; decant it clear of the matter, & pour on again fresh vinegar, which digest and stir as before, and decant when it is sufficiently colour∣ed; this repeat four times, and if the Menstruum be not much tinged the fourth time, boyl all together in a copper Cauldron, until it hath extracted and dissolved what it can get from the re∣mainder of the green Copper: finally, you shall thus continue to proceed with new distilled vinegar until all your matter be dissolved, the utmost remainder of which will not extend to a∣bove ℥ iiij. or v. of feces and earthly sediment, which hath no metallick quality at all, except you finde it in some smal pieces of Copper Plates, which by the negligence of those who scrape the substance dissolved by fermentation do remain in it, but all the re∣mainders is but meer earth.

All these Tinctures then must be joined together, and filtrated cold through Paper, and the filtration put to evaporate in an earthen stone Pan, in a slow beat in the vapour of B. M. then di∣gest again that which after filtration is left in new distilled vine∣gar, filtrate it and join to the other Tincture, and thus go on until all be run cold through the Filter to a clear Liquor, and as

green as Emerald; and when you shall see the evaporating Li∣quor to begin to contract a skin in the upper part, put the Pan wherein it is in a cold place, and let it rest there until the next day, and you shall find in the bottom and sides of the Vessel Chrystals of fair blew Vitriol, which having put between two Pa∣pers, dry in a very slow and moderate heat; for the Sun is even capable to deprive this Vitriol from its best spirit, so volatile it is; wherefore the Artist must be very circumspect and wary in this particular, lest otherwise he be taught to become so at his own charge and by his own experience. And if the last Chrystals, or even the first extracted, were not very fair, blew and transparent, let them be dissolved in new distilled vinegar, and let there be no more then the just or fitting quantity to dissolve them cold; let the dissolution rest without stirring 24 houres, that in case there be any atoms of feculent matter separated and rais'd in the first evaporation, they may settle again. The clear Tincture shall be very softly drawn off by decantation without stirring the bot∣tom; and when you come near unto it, filtrate the remainder through Paper; and if there be any considerable substance re∣maining in the Filter, dissolve it in new distilled vinegar, then fil∣trate the Tincture, which join with the remainder, and evaporate to half consumption as gently and slowly as you can, then put it to shute into Chrystals, and you shall have them in great perfe∣ction; dry them with the precaution and care we have already hinted above, and end the rest of your operation in the same man∣ner likewise: all being dry, you shall find as much Vitriol as you have dissolved of green Copper, if you have proceeded exactly and even, you shall find more; for all the saline, acid, tartarous substance of the vinegar, is joined to the Vitriol, and causes even its chrystallization; for all the evaporating steem though it hath the smell of vinegar, is neverthelesse altogether insipid, and hath no more of taste then Rain-water when distilled it drops out of the nose of the Limbeck. So that they which desire to be yet more accurate and successeful in their operation, must proceed in the dissolution of their Chrystals in new distilled vinegar, until they can discover by trying a distillation in B. M. or at the most in ashes, whether the vinegar ascending be yet insipid, which if he finde to be so, let him go on in the Dissolution, Filtration, E∣vaporation

and Chrystallization, until the vinegar come out with the same strength and acidity as it was poured in. This being so, you have attained the true Point of requisite perfection which this noble Vitriol must be brought unto; then dry it very slowly and gently between two Papers, to make the spirit thereof as we shall immediately teach, after it hath beed digested three se∣veral times with very good alkaholiz'd spirit of Wine, three fin∣gers high above it, in a double or digesting Vessel the space of 24 houres, and after that this spirit hath been drawn off every time in B. M. to open it more and more, that it may be endow'd with those Vertues and Perfections, which do shine and are required in the Spirit drawn from it.

The Distillation of the Spirit of ♀.

THis is the Operation wherein a Chymical Artist hath need of all his Patience and Judgement, if he will successfully perform this intended Distillation, which will be to him a guide and a Pattern whereupon to proceed in all others, by reason of the great volatility of the matter he works upon. Let him then take his Vitriol when it is very dry, and reduce it to powder in a Marble Morter, then put it in a Retort with a long neck and wide mouth, and all that matter being put in, let him be carefull to cleanse the uppermost part of the Retort, and the whole neck with a Feather tyed to a small stick, that he may not be deceived in believing that the greenesse he shall perceive in the distilling drops should have contracted their colour of Vitriol which might have been left there when it was poured in the Retort. After this he shall place his Retort in a close Reverberatory Furnace, leaving four Registers on the corners of the roof of the Furnace, and another in the middle, to be able to govern the fire with more command and better moderation; wherefore these Regi∣sters must be stopt with close and well-fitted stoples. Then let him fit a very capacious and large Glass Recipient very clean and dry to the neck of the Retort, and stop the joyning parts with a wet Bladder, and lute them moreover with Quick-lime and whites of Eggs, as we have often repeated in this Treatise; and when

the Lute is dry, let him begin to give his fire judiciously and slow∣ly, forbearing all hastinesse; and rather expecting with an exem∣plary Patience that the matter should by degrees drive and send up its vapours, which shall thicken and condense themselves in the neck of the Retort, and fall by clear and limpid drops into the Recipient: for the nose or mouth of the Retort must at least advance four fingers deep in the body of the Recipient, that he may discern the diversity of colour of the distilling drops; not so much to feed and satisfie his own curiosity, though it be a very pleasant diversion, as to regulate the better his fire, which in this Operation is one of the most important considerations; because if he never so little encreases the fire without necessity, it may occasion the losse of the whole substance, and the break∣ing of the Vessels; wherefore he must be here vety vigilant to do nothing whereby he may receive a prejudice, a thing general∣ly to be observed in all other distillations of Salts, whereof our Artist intends to draw the Spirits. We thought fitting to describe this circumstance of the Work with all imaginable punctuality, that in case any by too much haste and precipitancy comes to miscarry, he may not lay the fault upon us. This tenor and state of heat is he to keep so long as the drops shall fall clear, and not to urge his fire by any means: for the drops will fall fast enough, if slowly you reckon six between the interval of every falling drop. But when the drops begin to turn green, and the white vapours to appear in the Recipient, and condense themselves into Spirit and in a subtil Liquor which frames in the glasse Filaments and winding veines about the said Recipient, it is a token that the volatile Spirit begins to manifest it self abundantly, and that you must then go on slowly and avoid all precipitancy and over∣haste, for the Recipient grows hot by the heat of the vapours and the afflux of the Spirits. The clear drops last about four or five hours, the green and first volatile vapours as much. That be∣ing over, you must begin to encrease and urge the fire, and the Re∣cipient will totally fill it self with very white vapors, which will continue increasing still the fire more and more the space of five or six houres, and towards the end by the intense and vehement action of the fire, yellow drops will fall, which by little and little will turn to a rednesse, which is an absolute token of the end of

the operation, lasting for the most part twelve or fifteen houres, according to the greater or lesser quantity of matter in the Re∣tort. The vessels being grown cold, take off the Lute, joyning the Recipient to the Retort, and pour the yellowish Spirit, which hath a strong sulphureous smell in a Cucurbite; which having placed in B. M. and luted exactly a Still-head to it, as also the Matrass, which is to be applyed to the nose of the Limbeck, give a fire proportionable to the volatility of the matter; for this Spirit ri∣seth as easily and nimbly as spirit of Wine; but the fire about the end must be a little more urg'd, and the whole substance will ascend leaving a dry bottom into a volatile and very penetrating Spirit, possessing more vertues then can be expressed, whether us'd as a bare Remedy, or as a preparation to other Medicaments; this noble Spirit opening and dissolving bodies without corrosion or alteration of their seminal powers and faculties, and that which is more surprizing and above all to be admired is, that this Noble and Wonderful Spirit keeps the same vertue in Physick, and the same dissolutive faculty, after it hath served to the dissolution and preparation of many different substances, either Stones or Metals. We will not affirm nevertheless, or contend that this Spirit remains unalterable: But this we can, that the experience we have had hitherto, has never discovered unto us that he can lose any part of his acting faculty: contrariwise having drawn it off by distillation, it hath ever kept in our hands the same strength and vigor it had done before, either us'd upon the same matter or upon another, as those will most certainly finde that shall employ it in their operations. It is a soveraign Remedy against Epi∣lepsies of what kind soever, Apoplexy, all irritations of the Mo∣ther, all Hypocondriack and melancholy Diseases, inveterated griefs and pains in the head, and all scorbutick maladies; It is admirable fron j. drop to x. in appropriated Liquors; but the most judicious Dosis in all Liquors is to a pleasant acidity. We cannot forbear to insert here the very same words which Doctor Zwelfer, Physitian to his Imperial Majesty, hath in that Ap∣pendix, which discovered this Treasure unto us; where he con∣cludes the praises he hath given to this Spirit by these words: Et ut summatim dicam, tanquam expertus in multis affectibus, qui Herculea etiam remedia rident, & contemnunt, ad hunc sp. tan∣quam

asylum si quis accurrerit, medicamentum reperiet qu••vis precio redimendum; Hoc fruere lector amice secreto, & favore mei pro fideli communicatione benevole persevera. This is in few words the sense and testimony of this expert Physitian; wherefore I do yet insist after him, and advise earnestly all Physitians and Artists not to neglect the practice of the Remedy and Dissolvent, both concentred and joined in one substance.

But though we have herein taught the noblest Remedy that can be extracted from Copper, it is neverthelesse necessary to teach the workings of some usefull Operations in Physick and Chy∣rurgery, that when the Chymical Apothecary shall meet with them in any Author, he may be able to prepare them, that the Physi∣tian, when he shall find a fit and convenient way, may make use thereof, for the preservation and recovery of Patients.

To prepare the vitriol of ♀, with the Narcotick Sulphur, and Crocus thereof.

A Mongst the several preparations made upon Copper, none requires or contains so many operations for the manner of the Work, nor so many useful Remedies at once as this we are now about to teach; for which reason we have chosen it to inform the better our Artist by the same, what he may be able to perform upon Metals, to reduce them to their Principles by a gradation of operations: For as we have said that Metals were once Vitriol, so have they been also Sulphur before they were altogether coagulated and hardened into a metallick Body, which is the cause that Art is necessitated to make use of Sulphur as a middle substance to divest Metals from their Body, and reduce them into Vitriol, which is thus prepared.

Take Copper in Plates and cut it in small pieces, which may conveniently be stratified in a great Crucible with Brimstone re∣duced to powder, beginning to stratifie by a lay of Brimstone, and then putting one of Copper, and thus continuing to stra∣tifie till the last lay be also of Brimstone; the Crucible being full, which must be covered with a Cover, having a hole in the middle of a bignesse to run through it a Goose-quill, lute both

Crucible and Cover with a good Lute not apt to crack, and let it dry gently; when it is well dryed, place it in a Circular fire, and for the space of an hour give it a graduate fire by little and little, that the Brimstone may softly melt and penetrate the plates of Copper before it takes flame, because it will calcine it much better in this manner; then bring the fire nearer from the Cru∣cible, and encrease it by degrees until the Brimstone takes flame, and begins to send it out under the form of a Pyramid by the hole of the Cover; then bring the fire close by, and without adding any more, encompass and cover with it the Crucible, for the ad∣dition of more fire would be unnecessary, since the flame of the Brimstone coming to cease, the first calcination which is the scope of your operation is performed; therefore nothing more remains to be done, then to let the Crucible cool to draw your Copper out of it, which is raised and become spongious and brickle as Glass, and red when grounded to powder; they that will have but a course Crocus of ♀, may take this calcin'd Copper, which in the shops is called as ustum, grind it to powder and Rever∣berate it three times 24 hours, and they will have a red powder very open, and a fit Ingredient for Salves and Plaisters; as for the true proportion of the said Crocus, we will teach it hereafter. But there is one thing to be noted here, and not to be past by, which is, that the plates of Copper must three times be made red hot in a Crucible in a wind-Furnace, and as many times quench't in Urine, because this opens them and prepares to Calcination, insomuch as all the rest of the Operation is performed with much more ease.

Take then this Copper thus calcin'd, reduce it to Powder, and for ever lb▪ add ℥ j. φ. or ℥ ij. of pulveriz'd Brimstone, which must be exactly mixt: and having fitted an earthen Pot not glazed upon the Furnace, so as to be fast and stable, and fit to be heated by the bottom with moderation and encreasing of the fire, put the said Powder in, and give it a graduate fire, continually stirring with a Scraper of Copper or Iron, that the Powder may not stick to the Pot, having a special care to burn away all the Brimstone, and if the matter crumbles, cease the fire, and after it is grown cold grind it with the same weight of Brimstone, and thus seven time a together repeat this Calcination, or, which may be a surer

and better way, as much as there will be need, and until the Artist perceives trying by the taste that the powder of the calcined Copper is altogether vitriolick, and that being tryed with distilled Rain-water, the water takes both the colour and taste of Vitriol; that being so, put all the said powder in an earthen stone Pan, and softly by degrees pour upon it scalding distilled Rain-water, and nimbly stir it, and that a great while before you put it in digesti∣on in sand, to extract all the vitriol from it; otherwise the Powder would harden and crumble so, as it were impossible to mix it well with the water, and the extraction or dissolution of the Vitriol would not follow, and so should you be put to begin your opera∣tion again. The water being tinged with a fair blew colour, fil∣trate and evaporate it till it begins to skin; then put the Vessel in a cold place, to stand there until the Chrystals of ♀ are fram'd; then separate the liquor swimming above, and evaporate again, and chrystallize, proceeding and reiterating this Work until no Chrystals more will rise; then dry them gently, and keep for the following preparations. This Vitriol may neverthelesse without further preparation be employed in a small Dosis against Vices and Diseases of the Stomach and Brain; it kills Wormes, and strengthens the Brain against Convulsions, and the assaules of growing Epilepsies, it is also specifical to cleanse the Ma∣trix; some hold it as a grand secret to dissolve a little of it in water against the burning and intemperate heat of the sperma∣tical and other adjacent parts, and so use it for injections, where∣in they are much in the right; but for all that, they ought no to deprive the Publique and all Practitioners of Physick and Chyrur∣gery of this Remedy (by concealing it to themselves) which pro∣duces so Rare Effects, because this Vitriol possesses in it self a very good portion of that sulphur of ♀, which is capable to appease the irritation of those parts; and the salt of it is a great detersive and present Refrigerative. The Dosis inwards is from iiij. gr. to xv. and for Injections the weight of ʒ j. in lb j. of Plantain water mixt with a little of the clarified juice of Housleek, or the great Sempervivum.

Preparation of the Narcotick Sulphur of the Vitriol of ♀.

℞ lb φ. of Vitriol of ♀. ℥ iiij. of Filings of Steel, mix them together by long trituration in an Iron Mortar, then put the powder in a Matrass of smooth Glasse and very strong; moi∣sten this matter by degrees with very good distilled Vinegar, un∣til the whole masse be well saturated, yet without overflowing of the moisture; the Matrass must be somewhat broad in the neck, that the evaporation of the moisture may the better be performed; then place the Matrass in sand, leaving but half a fingers space between the bottom of the Vessel containing the sand in the bottom of the Matrass, give fire and gently evapo∣rate the Menstruum, then encrease the fire so much as the bot∣tom of the Matrass may grow red, if it be possible; then cease the fire and let the Vessel cool, and break it to take away the masse remaining in the bottom, which will be of a red brownish colour, make it in very subtile powder, and put it in a larger Matrass, sprinkle upon it good distilled vinegar, stirring the mat∣ter still, until it swims above the matter the height of four fin∣gers; then put it to digest and extract in sand, and stir it often; it will become red and fair, and the vinegar being well tinged, separate it and put new, and thus go on till your powder yields no more colour; then filtrate all the Tinctures, and slowly e∣vaporate to the gentle vapour of Balneo, until your Liquor be reduced to a third part; which precipitate with oyle of ☿ made per deliquium, until all the sulphur be separated from it; For the salt of ☿ attracts to it self, and unites it self in the Liquor to the salt of Vitriol, and the sulphur being no more mixt with its salt, precipitates and separates it self from the moisture, and falls in the bottom of the Vessel; let the sulphur settle, and de∣cant and draw off what shall remain swimming above, and pour upon the sulphur, lukewarm distilled Rain-water to edulco∣ration, and thus continue it till the water coming from it be in∣sipid, then dry this sulphur very slowly, and keep it in a Glasse Viol for use. This Sulphur may be given in Bolus or dissoluti∣on,

in some Hysterical or Antiepileptical Water, from gr j. to vj. against all the affections of the Uterus or Mother, Sympa∣thetick and Idiopathetick Epilepsie. This Sulphur is an Ingre∣dient of the Laudanum without Opium of Hanrmannus. But the Tincture of this Sulphur hath quite another efficacy, then when it is yet in Body, and is thus prepared.

The Tincture of Sulphur of ♀.

℞ ℥ j. of the above mentioned Sulphur of vitriol of ♀ four fingers high: put up the Matrass with its B••indhead, and put the digestion in B. M. with a slow heat, until it be well tinged with the Tincture of the Sulphur, separate the Tincture and go on in your extraction until the Spirit takes no more, then filtrate the whole matter, and draw off the Menstruum to the consistency of a liquid Extract, upon which pour of the alkoholiz'd spirit of Elder-berries three inches high; then cover or lute your double Vessel or Pelican, and place it in the flow heat of a vaporous Bal∣neo, and let it circulate, digest and extract seven dayes together without interrupting the heat, and all the Tincture of this Sul∣phur shall communicate it self to this Spirit, which already of it self is an Hysterical Specifick. This essence must be filtrated in cold, and the half of its Menstruum drawn off in Balneo, and so shall you have the true volatiliz'd sulphur of Venus, useful against diseases of the Brain and affections of the Mother. The Dosis is from one drop to 8. 10. or 12. in Broth or appropriated Li∣quors.

To prepare the Crocus of Vitriol of Venus.

℞ lb j. of this Vitriol, and being put in a Cucurbite, place it in a close Reverberatory, and fit to it a large Recipient, which being exactly luted, give to it a gradual fire, and keep it 48 hours with coals: then after this use very dry wood to give it the last degree of flaming sire the space of 12 whole hours, and thus shall you be sure to have extracted the phlegm, volatile spirit, acid and

corrosive Spirit, or Oyle so improperly called of the vitriol of Venus, and to finde in the bottom of the Retort an astringent Crocus, high and subtile, which some do call the Caput mortuum of this Vitriol. There are some who prescribe to put this Vi∣triol in a Crucible, to calcine and reduce it to a Crocus, but I am of a contrary opinion, and cannot endure that an Artist should lose what is the best and most full of vertue in his substances up∣on which he doth work; for Calcination being performed in a Crucible, it must of necessity follow, that all what is found con∣densed in the Recipient after distillation, doth exhale and vapour away to nothing; but it must not be so, since the Crocus found in the Retort after this distillation, is not inferiour, but rather purer and better then that made in the Crucible; if all the Liquor be rectified in ashes or sand to a dry bottom without any distinction or separation of substances, it is a specifical Spirit against Ce∣phalick and Uterine Diseases; being mixt in Julaps or Apozem's to a pleasant acidity, or us'd in the ordinary drink of the Pa∣tient. As concerning the Crocus, it is an infallible Remedy to stop the Blood, and to dry and cicatrize Wounds and Ulcers. It is moreover a Specifick internally applyed in Opiates, and ex∣ternally by Injection, for the cure of Gonorrhaea's and heat of Urine. It is also an excellent Remedy against immoderate loos∣nesse of the belly, Dysentery, Lientery, spitting of blood, if it be exhibited from gr. iiij. to xv. or xx. in Conserve of Roses, the Patient being purg'd beforehand with a good Tincture of Rhu∣barb, prepared with water of juice of Chicory or Endive; it is also with this Vitriol that the true sympathetical Powder is pre∣pared, which is capable to cure sundry Wounds without apply∣ing any other apparel then a meer Filter dipt in common water; provided, the dresser hath some of the blood or goare of the Pa∣tient, and that the Linnen into which it is received be put in a very close Box, where some of this Vitriol be put also, gently dryed in warm ayr, or in a place which is fit insensibly to de∣prive it of its phlegm, and reduce it of it self into powder; It stops also all kinds of Hemorrhagy's, if the same order and me∣thod is observed with them as in the cure of Wounds.

Some Authors are also of opinion that this Vitriol may be sub∣limated with Armoniack salt, to reduce it in fluid Mercury,

and then concocted and precipitated without addition, to prepare a Specifick and altogether extraordinary Remedy therewith for the Pox or Neapolitan Disease and all its dependencies. They that will make tryal thereof shall finde the Processes and method of working in Authors which have treated of it; it sufficeth us to have insinuated the manner of the best operation upon Cop∣per, being certain that he that can perform what we have taught, shall never fail to bring to passe such other operations as he shall undertake upon this Metal.

Of Lead and its Chymical Preparation.

WEE are now come to the third and last Classis or form of Metals, containing the less noble and softer, which are Lead or ♄ Saturn, and Tin or ♃ Jupiter. We will speak first of the Lead, because all the operations performed upon Lead may be a Rule for those upon Tin; for the same Menstruum is made use of, and the same manner of operation is required in both.

Lead is the vilest and most abject of all Metals, consisting of an indigested Sulphur, an aluminous salt more then vitriolick, and a Mercury coming very near the nature of Antimony. It is cal∣led Saturn, by reason of the sympathy it hath with that Celestial Planet, as also its relation to the Spleen, which is called the Sa∣turn of the Microcosm, to which it is dedicated. Lead is generally astringent, cooling and thickening, &c. It restores flesh about Wounds and Ulcers, and cicatrizeth them; it cools the Venerean heats, and quenches amorous fires, appeases the pains and heat of Ulcers, and dissolves Tumors occasioned by serosities lurking between the skin and the body. But all this is nothing in respect of the vertues it is endowed with, when it is well and artificially opened and prepared by the operations of Chymistry, as it will ap∣pear hereunder.

General preparations to open Lead.

AS we have still begun by the purification of Mixts upon which our work was intended, so must we more particularly take care of the purgation of Lead, since it is the courfest and impu∣rest of Metals; wherefore, when Artists will employ it in any O∣perations, they must before all things melt it in an Iron pot, and when it is in full fusion, throw upon it by intervals small pieces of Wax, which insensibly will waste away, and when he seeth the Lead bright and with a fair aspect, and to be very clear under the uppermost or specifical skim, let him remove the said skim, and throw it in clean water, to put afterwards to such uses as he intends.

This Lead so purified must be reduced into calx, if you intend to extract the vertue of it; for though this Metal be soft and of easie fusion, yet must it be calcined to be opened, not only to advance the operation of such Menstruums as shall be made use of, but also that the extracted substance may be so much more efficacious and full of vertue. This Calcination is perform'd se∣veral wayes: for there is an incineration, which reduces Lead to gray ashes or calx, which is brought to passe only by stirring melt∣ed Lead in an earthen pot made red hot in the fire. There is moreover a Reverberatory Calcination, when this first Calx is re∣verberated in a Reverberatory Furnace with flaming fire, so or∣dered neverthelesse that it should not melt; and when the Calx hath chang'd colour and begins to grow yellow, it becomes a fit colour for Painters, which they call Macicot; but if it goes to the height of an Orange red, it is called Minium in the shops. The third Calcination is that which is performed in the purifica∣tion of Gold and Silver by the Cupel, where the Lead which re∣mains and flyes not away in vapours, is calcin'd and changed as in∣to a yellow, red or white skin or froth, which is called Lytharg. The fourth is the Cementatory Calcination, which is performed by cutting pieees of sheet or tally Lead, and stratifying them with Brimstone, and calcining it afterwards, as we have shewed of Cop∣per,

and when the calcined Lead is washed, dryed and reduced to powder, it is that which in shops is called Plumbum ustum, or burn'd and calcin'd Lead. The fifth and last calcination of Lead, is that which they call Vaporous Calcination, which is per∣formed by suspending plates of Lead upon a Spirit or sharp Li∣quor, the vapour whereof doth by degrees calcine the Lead, and reduces it into that substance which is called white Lead or Ce∣russ. The Artist must chuse of all these Calx's of Lead which he likes best to prepare the following Remedies: but he must not deliberate or stick at taking those which by the action of fire are more open, such as are Minium and Lytharg, since he shall much better therewith attain his desired ends. We will first teach to prepare well the Liquor and salt of Saturn, which is also called its Sugar, by reason of its aluminous sweetnesse, as also the false and true Magistery, the Cremor, butter, or nutri∣tum of Saturn, the Balsam of Saturn, the spirit, yellow and red oyle of Saturn; all which processes and manner of working we will deliver one after the other.

To prepare the Sugar or Salt of ♄.

℞ lb ss. of Minium; and as much of Lytharg, reduce it to a subtile powder, and put it in a Cucurbite of stone or glasse Me∣tal, and pour thereon very good distilled vinegar, four or five inches high, then place the Cucurbite in sand, and give a suffi∣cient fire to cause the vinegar to boyl; but note, that you must continually stir the matter with a wooden Slice as soon as you have put in the vinegar, or otherwise it will too soon settle in the bottom of the Vessel, and grow into a hard stony and com∣pacted masse, which cannot be well distempered afterwards, and will stop the pores of the bottom of the Vessel, which will occa∣sion the breaking of it by the action of the heat finding the free passage stopt. These Calx's of Saturn must be kept boyling 8 or 10 houres, renewing still distilled warm vinegar, as the first does vapour away; then filtrate all the dissoved matter warm, and lay aside a fourth part of the filtrated liquor, which is called liquor of ♄. But pour the remainer in a Tin Scillet or Bason, and put in a

cold place the space of 24 houres, and you shall finde all this li∣quor almost changed into a white chrystalline Salt, which at first is sweet in taste, and of a vitriolick sharpnesse at last; the super∣fluous liquor decant by inclination, and evaporate to half the con∣sumption, and put it also in Tin to shute into Chrystals, thus con∣tinuing until it yields no more Chrystals; mix the remainder with the liquor set apart before, if it be clean; if nor, run it through a linnen, and mix and digest together to unite them the better; dry afterwards between a double paper the salt of ♄ in a temperate heat, and keep it for use. If the reason be asked, why we cause the dissolution of Lead to be put in a Tin Bason; We answer, because this Metal hath in it self a sharp coagulating, Spirit, which causes all the matter which is fit to shute into Chry∣stals in this liquor, to turn sooner, and take body better then it would do in another Vessel, as experience will teach those that shall make proof thereof.

It is a very strange thing that all Antient Authors, and even the most part of Modern, have so much equivocated upon the vertue of this Salt of Saturn; for they will have it to be cold inwardly taken, and to hinder the act of generation, and yet do attribute to the Spirit which is drawn from this salt by distil∣lation, an active, subtile and penetrative vertue, which drives a∣way by sweats the malignancy of pestilential and venomous Dis∣eases; and affirm moreover, that it is a specifick against the Nea∣politan Disease, which are things repugnant and dissonant to Rea∣son; but all this mistake and confusion proceeds only from that Antient Authors have unn••nimoufly delivered, that Lead was very terrestrious and consequently cold; moreover, Vinegar is an Ingredient of its preparation, which is also cold according to their saying; but, both they and Modern Artists should have con∣sidered that Lead is a metal that hath much Sulphur, and is called Aurum Leprosum leprous gold, and though very unripe and earthly, yet it is never without some portion in it self of the two noblest Metals, indivisibly mixt in the Chaotical (if I may so say) and undigested matter of Lead, which gives and communicates unto it much vertue; it must also be remembred, that the external fire imployed in the calcination of ♄, doth potently stir up its internal fire, which concocts and digests all the unripenesse or

pretended immaturities, driving away what is there of impu∣rity, and exalting and perfecting more and more the seeds of that purity which are enclosed in it: which makes me to pro∣nounce boldly, that the salt of Saturn is a very good Medicine against all Agues, either continual or intermittent; it is also a specifick in diseases of the Spleen, and all vapours arising from it; it may also be given against diseases of the Breast, dissolved in juice of Scabious water with equal weight of purified Niter; the Chrystals are very good against Asthma's or short breath. The Dosis of salt of ♄ is from ij. to xx. gr. in appropriated Liquors, or in Bolus in some Conserve or Jelly. The Nitrous salt of ♄ is from iiij. gr. to ʒ s. but if the said salt is so efficacious for internal Diseases, it is no less for external; for this wonderful metallick Mummy cannot enough be esteemed, this Balsam and sweet Salt which kills all corrosive, harsh and biting salts, which cause the pains of Wounds and Ulcers, whereby the grief and in∣flammation of the parts is excited, and from which flow all other accidents; it resolves and mollifies hard and schirrous Tumours, takes away the ill-favour'd colour and lividity of bruises and con∣tusions, and hinders extravasated blood from turning to corrup∣tion, and coming to suppuration; it is an imparalleld Remedy to take away the itching and inflammation of the eyes, it is mixt in all Salves, Liniments, Plaisters and Collyries, by reason of the noble effects it uses to produce.

The use of the Liquor of ♄, and how to make with it the false Magistery, Cremor, Butter and Nutritum.

WEE have said here above, that the Artist was to lay aside some part of the dissolution of the calx of Lead for his use, which is very considerable; for this Liquor may be made use of being mixt with common water, to make a Saturnine Ex∣tract, which is endowed with wonderful Vertues to resolve, dry, temper and refresh all the external parts any wise offended, dip∣ping Fillets in it, and wrapping about the members after they have been dressed and fitted by the Chyrurgeon; it hinders all inflammations, and asswages all swellings; so that I advise the

careful Surgeon which minds the good of his wounded Patients, and his Reputation, never to be without this Liquor.

Put of this Liquor in a Dish, and pour upon it oyle of ☿ made per deliquium, and immediately a salt of ♄ will precipitate it self into a very white powder, which is that improperly called the Mag••stery of Saturn, being to speak properly, nothing else but a very subtile Ceruss; for when the salt of the vinegar which is acid, and holds the Lead in dissolution, comes to lose this acidity wherein consists it dissolutive strength, by the action of the salt of ☿ which is lixi∣vial, the Lead must of all necessity fall down, having nothing more to uphold it. This Precipitate must be washt to a sweetness in com∣mon water; and the last time with very good Rose water, and dryed afterwards gently; it is a very fair white for Pomatums, which may also be us'd in Salves and Collyrie's, for it is an excellent desicca∣tive, acting gently and inoffensively.

To make the Cremor, Butter or Nutritum of Saturn, grind only in a Brass morter liquor of ♄ with oyle of Olives, or Roses, putting a little of each of the substances one after the other, and stirring them nimbly and strongly together, until all be united and form'd into a substance like unto Cream or butter, called Nutritum in the shops; if you make use of oyle of Olives, this Liniment will be very white; but if whey or oyle of Roses, it will become yellow, the acid of the liquor having in some kind resuscitated and revived the colour of the Rose, which was hidden, and as it were buried under the greeness of the oyle. It is a soveraign Remedy against breaking of the skin by bruises or otherwise, Itch, Scab, inflamma∣tions of Boils, Botches, Erisipela's; for besides that it doth dry powerfully, it deads also and mortifies the ill Ferment which is in the part, and causes all the irritations and accidents thereof; it doth wonders against burnings, and to allay the grief of hot Gouts, with∣out giving any occasion to fear it should strike the humour in by the pretended coldness which is attributed unto it; contrariwise it may be used with confidence, since all the Remedies taken out of Lead do work by the subtilty of their parts, and resolve all super∣fluities; as also kill and mortifie all the acidity, malignant and preternatural acrimony which causes the tension, inflammation and grief of the parts.

To prepare the Right Magistery of ♄

℞ ℥ ij. of Ceruss, and having made it into very small pow∣der, put the same in a Matrass, pouring upon it ℥ vj. of the spi∣rit of ♂ by little and little, and stir them together that the spirit may reach to the bottom; place the Matrass in B. M. and keep it there warm in digestion the space of 12 hours, then filtrate softly the dissolution, and let the filtration rest one night in a cold place, after which you will finde it coagulated into white Chry∣stals; separate the superfluous liquor, and draw the spirit in Bal∣neo by distillation to a dry bottom, and you shall have in the bot∣tom of your Vessel the Magistery of ♄ dissoluble in all kinds of Liquors, like unto the first which was in Chrystals in respect of its vertue, which you must dry in a slow heat between two papers. This Magistery may be administred in all Diseases, wherein we have said the salt of ♄ to be good and conducible, and we shall finde from it much better and quicker effects, then those we have attributed to the Salt made with vinegar; but the Dosis of it is less: for it sufficeth to give of this Magistery from ij. gr. to xij. Note, that the spirit of Venus which you have made use of in this Ope∣ration, drawn off again by distillation, is good yet for the same ope∣ration, and any other to which it might be employ'd, for it doth not lose of its action or vertue for Physical uses, nor power and efficacy for distillation and extraction of Tinctures.

To make the Balsam of ♄

℞ ℥ ij. of good salt of ♄, in subtile and light Chrystals, and being reduced to powder, put it in a Matrass, pouring upon it ℥ iiij. of aetherial oyle of Turpentine, well distilled, which com∣monly is call'd Essence; the preparation whereof we have taught above, but not of that spurious oyle of Tar sold in Grocers shops: digest these two matters in ashes in a moderate heat, and stir them five or six times a day, untill the oyle hath contracted a very fine red colour; then add ℥ s. of Camphire, and leave them toge∣ther

in digestion 24 hours, until the Camphire be dissolved and united to this excellent Balsam, which must be filtrated in a glass Funnel through a little Cotten and kept in a Viol for use. This Balsam is endowed with very great vertues, which makes it worthy of the Closet of Chymical Artists, and the practice of the most skilful Surgeons; for it cures the most inveterate Ulcers, dissolves and resolves all swellings, revives and animates again starved members, cures green and new Wounds, and hinders bad accidents thereof, doth wonders in the cure of Fistula's, grow∣ing Cancer or Morphew; finally, it is one of the best and safest Remedies us'd at this Day by the skilfullest German Practi∣tioners.

To prepare the Spirit, yellow and red oyle of the salt of ♄

℞ lb j. of salt of ♄, very subtile and chrystalline, dissolve it seven times consecutively with the best distilled vinegar, and e∣vaporate as many times; then put it in the Canicular or hottest dayes of the year, in a very cold Cellar to dissolve in liquor; this Liquor put in a Retort placed in a Reverberatory Furnace upon an earthen pot, cover turned upside down, having about one inch thick of sand or ashes between the bottom and Retort; fit to the neck a very capacious Recipient, the joints whereof must be luted with all possible care, and the Lute being well dryed, give fire to it with the same care, circumspection and Rules of fire, as we prescribed in the distillation of the spirit of ☿, and when you shall see heavy and red drops to fall down, and that the Reci∣pient grows clear of it self, cease the fire; there is ordinarily 20 or 24 houres required for this operation. That which after di∣stillation is found in the Recipient, contains four several Liquors, viz. a volatile and subtile Spirit, a yellow Oyle, a Phlegm, and a red Oyle; make the rectification and separation thereof in a Retort very clean, in B. M. or ashes; then change the Recipient to separate the said Liquors, according to the following Notes and Direction. The volatile and aetherial spirit passeth through the neck of the Retort, without framing any veines therein; the yellow oyle follows after, which frames oblique and winding

veines; wherefore as soon as this sign doth appear, the Recipient must be changed. The phlegm follows after the yellow oyle, in straight and direct veines, and the red and slow oyle remaines in the bottom of the Retort.

The volatile spirit of ♄ is a wonderful Sudorifick; wherefore it is excellent against the Plague, Madness, Palsie, Epilepsie and remainders of Apoplexy, afflicting the body or mind, and some∣times both, as also in malignant and burning Feavers and Pox; the Dosis must be from iiij. drops to xx. in Decoctions, or wa∣ters appropriated to the nature of the Disease.

Digest the yellow oyle upon calx of Gold well opened, or upon Crocus of Θ in a slow heat of the vaporous Balneo, in a circulatory Vessel Hermetically sealed, and it will become as red as blood. It is a great Arcanum or secret Remedy against all griefs of the Heart and Brain, being administred from j. drop to iv. in spirit of Lillyconvally, or good Sack.

The red Oyle is a miraculous Balsam, being circulated with equal parts of oyle of Camphire and tartariz'd spirit of Wine, the space of 15 dayes, after which the spirit of Wine must be drawn again in a slow heat of Balneo, and there remains a Balsamick Es∣sence, which cures plain Wounds from one day to another, be∣ing only slightly rub'd with a Feather dipt therein, It may be made use of in the cure of all the same Diseases, to which we have said that the Balsam of ♄ did conduce; for it is the true Balsam and Mummy impregnated with the sulphur of ♄.

Of Tin and its Chymical Preparation.

TIN is the second Metal of the last form, and one of the less noble, though it hath many good qualities, both for Physick and Metallick. It is a white and soft Metal shining with a bright∣ness mixt with some blackish gloominess, consisting of a more pure Mercury then that of the hard Metals, but softer and more volatile; it is nevertheless more fixt then that of Lead, and hath a white undigested and unripe sulphur; this Metal hath very little of salt, which is for the most part the bond and union between the Mercury and Sulphur of Bodies, whence proceeds its porosity

and harshness. Hermetical Philosophers call it ♃ Jupiter, by reason of its congruity with that Plant, in the great World, and the virtual sympathy it hath by the Remedies extracted from it with the Liver and Womb, to whom it is particularly dedicated in Man the little World.

It is not necessary for us here to repeat unnecessarily the manner of extracting the salt, and making the false and true Magistery of ♃ Jupiter, since it is the same way we have taught upon ♄. We are only to give notice, that the calx of ♃ must be Reverberated, taking it as it is already prepared for Potters to use, and that the space of two dayes, whereby to o∣pen it as it is fitting; otherwise very little salt will come of it. The Salt and true Magistery are specifical Remedies and singu∣lar against suffocations and fits of the Mother, which are won∣derfully allayd by it, whether administred inwardly, or outward∣ly applyed. They are also admirable Topicals for the cure of putrid, stinking, hollow, fistulous and cancerous Ulcers, and a∣gainst Wolves. The Dosis inwardly taken is from j. gr. to vj. in Bolus, in some Conserve of Balme, or Flowers of Peny-Royal, the spirit of Elder-berries, or spirit of Karabe or yellow Amber. But let the Artist be very wary, in purging those Wo∣men that have made use of this Remedy, with some gentle and convenient Purgation which irritates not the Womb; otherwise he must begin a new. Wherefore let him have a special care, not to stir the serosity of this dangerous Animal, after it is once quieted and laid asleep by the eradiating vertue of the metal∣lick or mineral Sulphurs; and as he knows and is sufficiently in∣structed, that the Anodyne vertue proceeds from this (Mineral) Family, let him make use of purgative Remedies, and those Diuretical, &c. Diaphoretical preparations which it doth so plen∣tifully yield, and that have neither smell nor taste, that can irri∣tate and provoke afresh this delicate and ticklish part.

The distillation of Tin, yielding several noble Remedies, both against internal and external Diseases.

WEE are engaged to give here the manner of an operation upon ♃ which contains several very useful Remedies, and very considerable observations, whether in respect of the work, or of the matters which are made use of, and whereby the Artist may be taught to penetrate further into the knowledge of seve∣ral other and better things, whilest he is in the way towards this.

℞ ℥ iiij. of very small filed Tin, and being mixt in a Marble mortar with ʒ xij. of corrosive sublimate Mercury, put this powder in a Retort with a very large neck, and having placed it in sand, about half an inch thick upon the bottom of the Dish that contains it, give it a convenient fire, and you shall first draw a Spirit continually smoaking; then afterwards it will yield a Butter, or a kind of corrosive Icy Oyle. And in the third place, the Mercury will be revivifyed or quickened again abundantly, being no longer stayd or coagulated by the spirits of those salts which have forsaken it, to work upon the body of the Tin; this done, encrease the fire downwards, and give it a fire of suppression, and all the substance of ♃ will ascend in the neck of the Retort, under the form of a gray Gum very hard, so that in the bottom will remain very few red feces; reduce immediately this Gum into powder, otherwise it would quickly grow moist in the ayr, and put it in a Cellar upon a sheet of white Lattin, being edged about, and a small gutter or mouth, by which the moistnesse and coolnesse of the Cellar having reduced it into a yellow Oyle, it may run and be received in a Dish of glass or stone metal, fitted under the same to be as a Recipient. This Oyle in Chyrurgery is an admirable Medicine to eat up proud flesh, and the hard or thick skin of Ulcers; but the Surgeon must handle it with dexterity and judgement; for it must only be applyed with a Pencil very gent∣ly, by reason of its penetrating subtility, though it be not so corrosive as the Butter which comes forth after the Spirit; and is a true Caustick that must also be us'd with discretion, when ap∣plyed

to hinder the progress of some dangerous gangrening, and to make Issues or sudden Cauteries; as likewise to accelerate the exsoliation of Bones, and the separation of rotten parts and the Exostoses caused by Nodus's in the Pox. But there may be an excellent jovial Diaphoretical made out of this oyle or Butter, dissolving it with distilled Rain-water; for as you shall be stirring, and the water shall dissolve the Salts of the corrosive Sublimate which kept the Tin in dissolution, it will immediately fall and precipitate it self in a white powder in the bottom of the Ves∣sel, which must be dryed and edulcorated, and you shall have in it no despicable Diaphoretick; which may be administred from ij. gr. to viij in Conserves, Confections or Preserves, or in appropriated Waters or Spirits, for such as are troubled with superfluous serosities, and chiefly in accidents and cases of the great Pox; as likewise most specially for Women troubled with slackness or too much moistness of the Womb. And as we have often said, that the Chymical Artist must be cautious not to lose or waste any of the substances he prepares; but contrariwise, must know them throughly as much as it is possible, to be capable to employ them usefully according to the vertue which is in them; he must take that red matter, which after distillation is found in the bottom of the Retort, and join it with what remains after the re∣solution of the Gum in a Cellar upon a leaf or plate of white Latin, which are nothing else but the sulphur and salt of the Mer∣cury and Tin; the separation whereof he is to make by the help of distilled Rain-water, which dissolving the salt, the sulphur sinks downward, the liquor whereof is to be separated, filtrated and evaporated in salt, which dissolve again, filtrate and coagulate, and thus continue until it be clear, fair and green as an Eme∣rald; as for the Sulphur, it must be edulcorated, dryed gently, and kept for use. The Salt is diuretical and aperitive, and is ad∣ministred from j. gr. to iiij. in Broth or white Wine, to cleanse the Womb and those parts which have any relation to it. The Sulphur is a good Sudorifick and Anodyne. The Do∣sis from j. gr. or φ to gr. iij. in Emulsions made with the seeds of Lemon, Carduus Benedictus or holy Thistle, and white Poppy with Cordial Waters; it is a specifick Remedy for Wo∣men troubled with diseases of the Mother; the Spirit alwayes

steeming, which was the first drawn, is also a very strange substance; for besides that it will not be kept in by any Vessel, without yield∣ing continually white vapours, and without any sensible dimi∣nution of its weight or vertue; it is so active, subtile and pe∣netrating, that it stops and pets at a stand, not only Gangrenes and Wolves, the offending parts being only rub'd with it, but even can hinder the progresse and running of the Sphacelus which is a rottennesse of the bones; in which Cure, it goes e∣ven beyond the water of Quick-lime, whereof we have spoken, and taught the making above. Besides all what we have said, there is a Noble Preparation yet to be made with this Spirit; which is, to take as much as you will of it, and put it in a Ma∣trass broad at the neck, and softly by little and little and by intervals pour upon it Tincture of salt ♀, immediately will rise a fermentation with several bubbles, which break with some kind of noise and smoak or steem; you must go on in pour∣ing of this Tincture till the noise and bubbles do cease; place afterwards the Vessel in warm ashes, and the matter will turn into a coagulated substance black as pitch, to which giving a fire of sublimation, you shall have white Chrystals melting as Wax, which are a very good cure of scrophulous and cancerous Ulcers, as also any ill remainders of the Pox, because they cauterize almost without pain to the very bottom of the Ul∣cers, and cause the separation of dead flesh or scarre, leaving the Ulcer without malignity, which must afterwards be filled with the Balsam of Sulphur, and the Plaister of Rullandus cal∣led Diasulphuris. With this we put an end to Metals, to come to Minerals which are next kin to them.

SECTION IV. Of half or semi Metals, and middle or mean Minerals, which come the nearest to the nature of Metals.

VVEE bring in this Section those substances which follow more immediately, and have a greater af∣finity and correspondency with Metals, which some call semi-Metals, middle-Minerals, and sometimes also Marcassites; but this last appellation is only pro∣per to Antimony, and not to Quick-silver; but the Quick-silver and Antimony are the matter and subject of this Section; for we will not speak of Mineral Cinnabar by it self on purpose, since we are to mention it when we come hereafter to treat of Cinnabar or Artificial Vermilion, which is a sublimation of Mercury and Sulphur, or Brimstone and Quick-silver.

Of Quick-filver or Mercury, and its Chymical Preparation.

MERCURY is a mineral volatile Liquor, which gree∣dily sticks to Metals, and above all to Gold. It is also called Quick-filver, and sometimes found running and pure in Mines, but very seldom; for it is for the most part drawn by Revivification from a mineral Earth, vulgarly called Cinnabar. The choice of it is much to be heeded, because it is not equally good, but accordingly proves more or less useful in Chymical O∣perations; for Mercury may hold something of the foulness and impurity of his Matrix, which is the place of its formation and original, either by reason of the earthly Recrements and other filth which do pollute and defile it, or by reason of some impure mixture, or amalgamation and sophisticating of the Merchants who use to sell it.

As for the choice to be made of it by reason of its original, that which grows near Mines of the most pure and noble Metals,

and chiefly those of Gold, is to be preferred; wherefore that which comes from Spain and from the Mines of Hungary, is ever to be chosen before any other. The matters which naturally cor∣rupt and deprave Mercury, are Arsenick, Antimony, Lead and Cadmia; but there is besides an artificial Sophistication, very hard to be discovered and discerned, either by sight or weight; for it is mixt with some part of Lead or Bismuthum, squeezed through Leather, so as nothing remains behind; yet this Cheat may be discovered and found out two several wayes: the first by distilling it in a Retort; for if no dregs or impurity remains in the bottom of it, it is a sign that the Quick-silver is pure; the second is by evaporating of it in a silver Spoon in open fire; for if the Mercury leaves only a yellowish or white spot, it is a sign of its purity; but if it leaves a brown, black or obscure, it is a sign of its foulness, and of being sophisticated. There are yet nevertheless some other wayes of depurating it wholly, which we will place amongst the preparations of Mercury.

The general vertues of it cannot very well be described, ha∣ving not yet been sufficiently tryed; for it may be said with truth, that they never were yet discovered by any to the bottom: thus much nevertheless may be said, that Mercury is an internal cleanser or Mundificative of the whole masse of the blood, and that it expels from it whatsoever the depravation of digestion and evil fermentation may have contracted and mixed in it of dange∣rous and hurtful humours; but particularly it cleanseth the body from the venomous infection of the Pox; kills and expels worms, advances and hastens difficult birth; but in outward applications cures all manner of Scabs and Itch, destroyes all manner of Ver∣min, and dissolves hard swellings and Tumors; hung to the neck, it is a preservative from Plague; and some are even of opinion that it may hinder Witchcraft, Charms and Incantations; final∣ly, it may be said with much reason, that except it be Anti∣mony, there is no substance under the Sun of so general a ver∣tue, nor yielding so many different Remedies against all Dis∣eases; for it supplyes us with Vomitives, Purgatives, Diaphore∣ticks, Lenitives, as it will appear when we come to particu∣larize the several descriptions, and the several processes and O∣perations incident to the preparation thereof. But we must

advertise our Artist, that Quick-silver is called ♀ Mercury, by reason of the correspondence which is between that Planet and this semi-Metal; and that as Mercury is an inconstant and changing Planet, so likewise this Mineral makes himself all to all, hot with the hot, cold with the cold substances, and so of the rest. Some give it the Rule of, and place it over the Lungs; and others subject unto it the inferiour Ventricle, as also the uppermost or whole belly: but I hold of a more universal Opi∣nion, and say, that I believe Mercury universally to work upon all man's body, and to drive away generally all Diseases and griefs from it, of what nature soever; since we see that Reme∣dies taken from Mercury are a cure of Leprosie and Pox, which are diseases and a corruption of the whole substance. I leave ne∣vertheless those that will dissent from me, in the freedom of their Judgement.

The general preparations made upon Mercury, are, Purifica∣tion, Calcination, Precipitation, Sublimation, Distillation, Ex∣traction, Liquation, Resolution into Liquor, and Salification. We will give some Examples of the Work which all these general Operations do require, that they may be a Model and Introdu∣ction to the Artist, to possesse the whole Harvest of Remedies, which Mercury will yield to such as will take the pains to exa∣mine and anatomize it; for as it is a Proteus which takes all sorts of forms, and changes himself into all manner of colours, it would never be done, if we would heap here all the observations, and relate all the particulars, which both by reading and our pra∣ctice we have discovered in the Nature of this Mineral.

The purification of Mercury.

VVEE shall not spend time here in making a long de∣scription of all the Lotions, Frixions and Agirations, with which some have pretended to cleanse and purifie Mercury of its natural impurities, and the spots of sophistication, be∣cause they are not the right meanes to deprive it of its filth and foulnesse; it will suffice only if we shew the manner of Revivi∣fying and Extracting it from artificial Cinnabar by the help of Fi∣lings

of Iron, since it is the surest way for obtaining very pure and clean Mercury to use afterwards towards all such preparations as the Artist will take in hand.

The Revivification of Cinnabar into flowing Mercury.

℞ lb j. of Vermilion or artificial Cinnabar, which is nothing else but sublimated Quick-silver with Brimstone; bray it in a Mar∣ble Mortar with a wooden or glass Pestle, and mix it with equal weight of Filings of Iron; this mixture put in a small Retort, so as to be filled to an inch near the top of it, then place the Retore upon a broken brick with a little of Lute under, and fit the neck thereof to a Recipient half full of water, lute it, and having put bricks round about the Retort four fingers distant from it, fill up the space between with black Charcoals two inches high, then mix kindled coals with it in four several places equally distant, and cover the remainder of the Retort of black coales also up to the top; and so suffer the fire to kin••le slowly of it self, that the Retort may insensibly grow hot and by degrees, and all your Cinnabar will come over the helm in flowing Mercury, either shaped in vapors or in body into the Recipient, leaving only behind the Brimstone which had been sublimated with it when the Cinnabar was made, which here cleaves to the Iron remaining half calcined and half opened in the Retort, and is then very fit to make the aperitive or astringent Crocus therewith, that nothing may be lost. This done, unlute the Recipient, throw away the water, and dry the Mercury, running or squeezing it often through a white and dry linnen cloth; then run it also three or four times through Chamoy leather, and keep it in a Viol to use in all operations, as a very clean and pure Mercury; for besides that it hath already been purified by the first operation, which was its sublimation with Brimstone, the manner whereof we shall teach hereafter; this Revivification doth yet cleanse and purifie much better, because the Iron doth greedi∣ly draw the Brimstone to it self, and keeps also whatsoever impu∣rity might have risen with it in the former sublimation.

The Calcination and Precipitation of Mercury.

THough commonly the Calcination of Mercury be called Pre∣cipitation, it is nevertheless a very improper Expression; for nothing can be said to be precipitated that has not before been dissolved, and doth return to a body by the infusion and injection of some salt or Spirit, and then the Dissolvent leaving that which it had dissolved, it falls and precipitates it self in the bottom of the Vessel; but use having prevailed to call Mercury concocted, digested and calcined, a Precipitate, we will keep this appellation which is found in all Authors. This Precipitate is made with Mercury alone, or with some addition of either of the two Lu∣minaries, or of both together, which are Sol and Luna, Gold or Silver; we shall exemplifie it here; as also shew the method of some other Precipitates which are made after dissolution in some convenient Menstruum.

To make the Precipitate of Mercury without addition.

℞ A double Vessel called Infernus, a Hell by Artists, flat and broad in the bottom, and throw in it ij. iij. or iiij. ℥ of Mercury, purified and cleansed in the manner by us delivered above; stop the upper part of it with a single paper, and place it in sand very equally in its poise or Equilibrium, so as the Mercury may be evenly spread upon the whole surface of the bottom of the Vessel, lying no thicker in one part then in the other, that the fire might equal∣ly work upon the whole substance of the Mercury at the same time. Begin your fire at first slowly, and encrease by degrees until the whole Mercury be changed, calcined or precipitated into a red powder as mineral Cinnabar, very bright, shining and sparkling to the eye. Digest it the space of three weeks with alkohol of Wine, and kindle it seven times over, by which the concoction and fixa∣tion of it will be perfected; it is an universal Mercurial Reme∣dy against all Agues, but particularly a true Specifick against the Pox

which it radically cures, if it be administred seven times to the Patient to provoke sweating, for it is an infallible Sudorifick; it kills also the wormes in the stomach, and those which are ge∣nerated in the Guts and Intestines. The Dosis must be from ij. gr. to viij. in some Conserve, Confection or Cordial Extract; the Patient must keep his bed when he uses it, and must take care of being well covered, expecting patiently till the sweating comes, which will not fail to bring along with it the hoped for and desired success. But the Artist must not grow faint and weary in this operation though it be long and tedious; he must be∣sides take care to rule the fire with judgment and discretion; o∣therwise he will be put often to begin anew, because if there be any fault in ordering well the fire, the Vessel will break. This Operation is slow and tedious by reason of its length, for it cannot be perfected under six weeks, yea two, three or four months, according as the Artist shall take care to prepare ill or well his Mercury, and govern well his fire with care and assi∣duity.

To make the Solar or Lunar Precipitate.

THere is no need here to repeat any thing of the manner of the Vessel: we only advise our Artist to note that he may make this operation, as also the foregoing in a plain Matrass, without making use of a Hell: for that kind of Vessel being rare, it would put a needless difficulty and rub upon the Work; Yet let the Matrass however be flat and plain in the bottom, and stopt in the mouth only with a wooden pin which may easily be taken away, to throw down again the Mercury which may have raised its self by sublimating into the neck of the Vessel. We have no more to do here then to add the Doses of the Metals which are intended to be added to the Mercury, to communicate unto it some other vertue then that it hath already from it self: for as we have said, there may be gold or silver added, or both together▪ If it be gold alone, after it hath been three times purg'd by An∣timony, it must be made into an Amalgam with viij. p. of Mer∣cury purified, and this Amalgam put in the Vessel and there con∣cocted,

as hath been said above. If it be silver, it may be mix∣ed ij. p. upon viij. but let it be very pure silver of Capel made in leaves or very subtile calx, that it may be the better amalga∣med and incorporated with the Mercury, and then concoct it in the Vessel, as hath been said; and if the Artist hath any desire to communicate to the Mercury the properties of both Luminaries, he shall make his Amalgam with i. p. of gold, and ij. p. of silver, melted with vj. p. of very pure and clean Regulus of An∣timony, with vij. p. of purified Meerury, to be concocted ac∣cording to Art. The Solar Precipirate is given from j. gr. to vj. in the same Vehicles and Ingredients we have already said, and for the same Diseases; except that it hath this vertue more, to be specificated for strengthening and corroborating the Heart, and to drive away all weaknesses and griefs from it. The Lunar Precipitate is also as it were specificated, and destinated to the Head, besides the general vertues it hath of it self; But neither of them are to be compared in strength or vertue to the last, which receives a mixture of Gold, Silver, Antomony and Mercury; for it is an universal Remedy and a kind of true Panacea: insomuch, that one of the most learned and most renowned amongst Chy∣mical Authors, doth not think amisse to give it the name of Phy∣sical Gold, or Medicorum aurum, and the comfort of Patients. The Dosis of the Lunar Precipitate is from j. gr. to xij. They that will make use of it also for a Preventive of Diseases, when they finde themselves loaded and filled with impure serosities, pro∣ceeding from superfluities of digestion, may take vj. gr. there∣of fasting, and keep themselves well covered to expect sweat; and then after having taken a good Broth or Bisket dipt in Wine, shall cause their sweat to be well wiped off, keeping their Cham∣ber for that whole day; after which they will finde themselves so altered and so much lighter, that they may be half better disposed for all functions. This much we had to say concerning these Precipitates without addition of Salts and Spirits: but as their preparation is long and tedious, and that all Artists are not ca∣pable or fitted for these high Operations, it is necessary we should give a description of some other Precipitates of Mercury, which may be made in lesse time, and never fail. It is true, that their vertue is neither so great, nor so extensive; they may

in a manner be substituted to the foregoing, provided their Dosis be regulated with more circumspection, and the use thereof du∣plicated and more often reiterated.

To make a very excellent fix Precipitate.

℞ ℥ iij. of purified Mercury, ℥ ij. of yellow Brimstone, ℥ j. ss. of Armoniack salt very pure: mix and pound all in a Marble mortar so long that none of the Mercury will more appear, though being rub'd on the palm of the hand; this mixture put in a Viol or Matrass in sand and give it a sublimatory fire; the sublimation being ended break the Vessel, and separate cleanly the sublimed matter, and pound it again, and mix with the mat∣ter left in the bottom of the Vessel; then begin to sublimate a∣gain, and thus do four times: but at the fourth time, give it a good fire towards the end, until the bottom of the Matrass or Viol growes red hot; wherefore the Artist must leave less sand in the bottom of the pan then at other times; the matter being cooled, keep that you shall finde in the bottom of the Vessel, and preserve it as a very good Medicament, having the vertue to expel from the body sound or sick, all what may be noxious to it, by sensible or insensible transpiration; it is given fron four gr. to twenty in Treacle, or extract of Juniper berries.

To make the Precipitate called Arcanum Corallinum.

℞ ℥ iij. of purified Mercury, and having put it in a Ma∣trass, pour upon it ℥ iiij. φ. of spirit of Niter, and therein dis∣solve it in a slow heat of ashes, and being all dissolved, put the Vessel in sand under a Chimney; but let the neck of the Matrass be short, and cut away to facilitate the vapouring of the spirit; give it a gradual fire until the Mercury be dry, then cease the fire, and let the Matrass grow cold; if it be shiver'd or broken, draw the masse in it again and bray it in a Marble mortar; then pour the powder in a new Matrass: but if the first be yet whole, you may use it to go on in your operation; for you have no more

to do, then to pour again as much spirit of Niter as before in one of the said Vessels, and put it in ashes to digest until the masse or powder be dissolved; then place it again in sand, and evaporate the spirit of Niter to a dry bottom; this done, begin again for the third time with as much spirit of Niter, and place the Vessel in sand after dissolution; and when you perceive all the spirit to be vapoured away, encrease the fire, and go on until you finde the Mercury to be changed into a red powder; but if you will be more secure of your work, bray the masse you shall finde in the Matrass after the evaporating of the spirit of Niter in a Marble mortar, and put the powder in a Crucible, which by degrees you shall bring to be red hot in an open fire, and when you see your powder of a fine red coralline colour, and insipid or tastelesse, then take off the Crucible from the fire, and let the powder cool, which afterwards put in a Marble mortar, and moisten it with al∣koholiz'd spirit of Wine, poured on it till it swims over half a finger high; then giving fire to it, exhale it to a dry bottom, thus continuing and repeating seven times, and then may you be sure to have a purgative Precipitate capable of working many noble effects, and without any corrosion. The Dosis must be from ij. gr. to x. in purgative Extracts, or a little of the masse of An∣gelick Pills. It is a real and true Arcanum against the Pox and all its dependances and evil symptomes: for it equally and universally purges away all what is hurtful & superfluous; wherefore it is good against Dropsie, Gour, venomous Plague, Agues, and to resolve Fluxions and Catarrhs. As for outward applications, no Remedy surpasses it for the cure of malignant and corrosive Ulcers; it is also very good against Itch, Scabs and all eruptions in the skin, if ʒ j. or ℈ ij. be mixed in Pomatum, and the pulses in the Head, Wrist and Feet be rubbed or anointed therewith.

We shall not lose time here in describing the several white, red, scarlet, yellow, green Precipitates, and of several other colours which are made with spirit of Niter, aqua Regalis, aqua fortis, spirit of Salt and other Resolvers, and precipitated with spirit of Salt, Sea-water, spirit of Urine, U••ine, Tincture of Smiris or Emrill stone and many other substances, because such operati∣ons are of little Art, and require little of observation: where∣fore we refer the Artist to his own already acquired experi∣ence

or the reading of such Authors as have fully treated of Mercury, being contented to have taught what is noblest and most worthy of observation in the preparation of Precipi∣tates.

The sublimation of Mercury.

THis word Sublimation may generally be taken for all kind of Distillation, since it denotes and signifies nothing else but the raising up of vapours and exhalations of the matters upward: but here it is taken in somewhat a stricter sense; for it signifies no∣thing else but the raising or lifting up of the body of Mercury into vapors or exhalations, which are thickned and condensated upwards in a hard and compact body, sticking to the sides of the Vessels in which the Mercury is put after it is dissolved, mixt, or as it were united with Salts, Spirits of Brimstone; we will give some few examples of this Work, that our Artist may punctually and knowingly put it in practice with all requisite and due ob∣servations.

To make the Corrosive Sublimate.

℞ lb s. of purified Mercury, dissolve it in a Matrass with ʒ iiij. of good aqua fortis, then put it in sand, and softly eva∣porate away the aqua fortis to a dry bottom; then cease the fire, and breaking the Vessels after they be cold, weigh the masse, and having bray'd it in a Marble mortar with an equal weight of Vi∣triol, calcined to whitenesse, and as much desiccated salt, put the mixture in a Cucurbite or Matrass, or between two earthen pots, and place either of these which you will use in sand near the bottom plate; if it be a Cucurbite, let it be low and cover it with its Head; if a Matrass, stop it with paper only; and if two earthen pots, let the uppermost which is turned the bottom upwards, have a hole in the middle of it, to evaporate the moisture of the Salts, and when you see white and dry vapours come away through the same, stop it also with paper: give it a sublimatory fire by degrees, until all the substance of the Mercury be ascend∣ed, which will coagulate into a chrystalline matter to the top of

the Vessels, containing in it self many of the corrosive spirits of the salts you have made use of; if you will have a very pure and very corrosive Sublimate, bray that which is sublimated with ℥ xij. more of desiccated salt, and ℥ iiij. of Vitriol calcined to redness, and sublime it for the second time, and continue to the third with as much desiccated salt without addition of Vi∣triol; and for the last, bray it alone again and sublimate in sand in a Viol or Matrass, and so shall you have a sublimate Corro∣sive Mercury very pure, and fit not only to prepare with it the sublimated sweat Mercury, but to serve also for many noble Chymical Preparations; the true Artist must have a care to pre∣pare himself the corrosive sublimate which he intends to use, not trusting to that which is sold at the Grocers, which hath yet too much of impurity, and is sometimes mixt with Arsenical sub∣stances, because they are cheap in those places where those sub∣limates are wont to be prepared in quantity: yet neverthelesse there are marks to know and chuse the same, which are a stink∣ing arsenical smell, cleaving strongly to the fingers if you do but touch it, and moreover, the revivification of it; But it is as soon done to prepare it your self, to avoid all suspition; wherefore my advice to the Artist is, not to trust at all to that which is bought.

To prepare the Mercury dulcis, or sweet Sublimate.

BEfore we deliver any thing of the manner of the work of this Operation, we must as much as lyes in our power, give to understand how the sweetening of Corrosives is made, that the Artist may the better ratiocinate upon his own work, and so a∣void all error, or at least know when he commits any, how to satisfie himself and others in the reason thereof. To this end he must consider, that what causes the Mercury to become corrosive, which of his nature is not, are the spirits of Salt, Vitriol and Niter, employed for the mortification and sublimation of the same: Now as long as those spirits remain united to the sub∣stance of the Mercury, they are capable and in power to act by reason of their acrimony; but if any thing is offered to corrode and work upon them which doth glut and enervate the same, then

they lose that great activity they had, and leave the Mercury insi∣pid, as it was before these spirits were united to it. This evidently appears by the revivification of a corrosive Sublimate, with quick∣lime and salt ☿. for these salts which are Alkaly's do kill and al∣ter the nature of the other salts which are acid, sharp and corro∣sive, and so these spirits not being able longer to detain the Mercury, it is raised by the action of fire, and returns to its first nature of flowing and insipid quick-silver in the Recipient: But it is otherwise in sublimation: for the acrimony of these spiri∣tualized and recorporified salts with Mercury, spend most part of the extent of their activity upon the quick Mercury, which is ad∣ded to the corrosive sublimate; for they work upon to mortifie and dead it, but in so doing they dead themselves; and if any portion be yet left behind, the fire doth make an end of driving it away by its action, during the three sublimations which commonly are made use of for the sweetening of it totally, and it is thus per∣formed.

℞ ℥ xij. of a corrosive sublimate, bray it in a Marble mortar, and when it is turn'd to powder, add to it by little and little ʒ viij. of purified Mercury; stir and triturate these together until the Mercury be so deaded and mortified, that no living atome of it more doth appear; put the powder in a Viol or Matrasse in sand, with a thumbs thickness of sand only under the Vessel, and give it a gradual fire the space of ten hours, or until the Artist sees that the Mercury is wholly ascended and sublimated in the top of the Vessel; then ceasing the fire let your Vessel cool, and break it, to take the Mercury which you shall finde sublimated in a compacted and close chrystalline substance, that hath almost already lost its corrosive faculty, for the reasons before alledged. Bray it and sublimate again for the second time; and thus con∣tinue a third, and then shall you have that they call Mercurius dulcis, or sweet Mercury, sweet Sublimate, the sweet and mitiga∣ted Eagle, the tamed Dragon, which is that famous Panchymagog of Quercetanus; to be short, it is so known a Remedy, that it is vain to say it is good against all Venereal Diseases, and safely gi∣ven to kill wormes in small Children: The Dosis is from gr. iiij. to ʒ ss. without any danger but of provoking salivation, which it doth easily: but in case it be mixt with Purgatives, as Electu∣aries,

Gellies or Extracts, and the Patient doth take a clear Broth, or a glass of Ptisan after he hath swallowed it, he needs not be any more in fear of this great accident. But the Artist must note, that neither Mercury, nor any of its preparations ought to be bray∣ed in mortars, or with pestles of mettal, because it easily sticks too and incorporates with mettals. The Opiates or Electuaries also wherein is put the Mercury, must not be chewed; but they must be swallowed in Bolus with wafel Bread, or some Conserve of Sweet-meats, that none may remain in the mouth or throat, because it is the occasional cause of Salivation; it is also for the same reason that Mercurial Remedies ought not to be dissolved nor mingled with Liquors to give the Patients to drink, because by reason of their weight they ordinarily remain in the bottom of the Cup, or their substance sticks and cleaves to the mouth, throat or along the gullet, and so causes salivation.

To sublimate Cinnabar, or Vermilion.

WEE have deferred above to speak of mineral Cinnabar, with a purpose to mention it in this place: and to satis∣fie the Artificers mind upon this subject, he must know that mi∣neral Cinnabar is nothing else then Mercury or Quick-silver, rais∣ed and sublimated by internal heat of the Earth in mines, which made a portion of mineral and embryonated Sulphur, predomi∣nant in the same mine to ascend with it: and according to the purity of the earth, stone, sand or place where this mercury and sulphur are sublimated and coagulated into Cinnabar; this mixt is also more or lesse pure, as it appears by the mineral Cinnabar of Corinthia, which is much purer, and abounds much more in Quick-silver then that of Hungary, which is much earthlier, and hath more of stones and sands then of mercury and sulphur, and the mercury which may be extracted out of this Cinnabar, is not much purer then that which may be extracted from artificial Cin∣nabar, unless out of this respect, that it proceeds from places which abound with golden Mines: but if our Artist can recover none, let him not be put to a stand therefore, provided he takes care to purifie it well; and the first purification is made by

sublimation with common sulphur or Brimstone, in this man∣ner.

℞ lb ss. of sulphur or Brimstone, and with a moderate fire melt it in a well glazed earthen pan, and when it is all well melted, squeeze ℥ x. of ordinary Quick-silver through a Chamoy Leather to separate the parts of it, and make as it were a very subtile Raine thereof, which immediately and suddenly mingle with a wooden pestle and incorporate to the melted Brimstone, and thus continue squeezing the mercury and agitating, until it be all swallowed by the Brimstone; which being grown cold will turn to a black masse, which bray and reduce to powder between two earthen pots, exactly luted together mouth to mouth, the uppermost having a hole in the middle of the bignesse of a Quill, place this pot upon two bars of Iron, and give it a circular fire, be∣ginning under the bats by degrees, and stop the upper hole of the pot with a little piece of paper, and when you perceive the ex∣haling vapour to begin to turn from yellow to red sticking to the paper, then stop it more exactly, and give it a good strong fire for the space of three or four hours, then cease and let the Ves∣sels cool, and you shall finde in your pot the Mercury sublima∣ted into a red and shining lump or masse, which is that we call artificial Cinnabar; which may be used for a Perfume to pro∣voke the fluxing of the mouth, for it is not fit to be used internal∣ly; but we have described it, that the Artist may better conceive the manner and action of the sublimation made naturally in the earth, and to teach him how to work and prepare it with Sulphur, as well as with Salts.

To prepare the silvered and pearled flowers of Mercury.

ALthough this Operation be long and laborious, it deserves neverthelesse our teaching, not only by reason of the ver∣tue of these mercurial Flowers, but also chiefly in respect of the modus faciendi, which is sufficient to instruct an Artist, and lead him to that patience which is required in the preparation of those Arcana's which are extracted from Mercury, so often re∣commended by our incomparable Paracelsus.

To peform then this Operation, ℞ first lb j. of common salt, and as much Salt-peter, which being reduced to a powder, mix with lb vj. of common Bolus also in powder, and by little and little moisten this mixture to knead and reduce it to a masse or lump, of a fitting consistency to frame Pellers therewith, which must be very well dryed either in the Sun, or upon an Oven where bread is daily baked. Out of these must be extracted an aqua Re∣galis, after the method and way we shall teach in the Chapter of Salts. Dissolve ℥ x. of well purified Mercury in lb j. of this Regal water, and draw off again the two parts thereof, or three in ashes, and the Vessel being cold, take away the Limbeck or still Head, and you will finde the Mercury changed into Chrystals in the bottom of the Cucurbite, which separate from the Liquor and edulcorate; then put it in a double or digesting Vessel, and pour upon it tartarized spirit of Wine three fingers high; then luting it very exactly, put it in putrefaction in B. M. the space of 40 dayes, which is a Philosophical month. This time being expired, pour all what is in the Vessel into a Retort, and place it in sand; then draw off the spirit of Wine with a very slow heat, and when it is all come over the Helm, encrease the fire for four or five hours, and some part of the Mercury will sublimate it self, and the other part remain in the bottom of the Retort in the form of a red Precipitate; break the Vessel and join these two substances together, braying them in a Marble mortar, and the powder thereof put in a Matrass, pouring upon it very good distil∣led vinegar two fingers high; put this Matrass in digestion in B. M. or in sand or ashes, and give it a gradual fire 24 houres, or until the substance of this Sublimare or Precipitate be dissol∣ved, which filtrate warm in a glass Vessel very clean, and the Menstruum will immediately grow clear, and the substance of the Mercury coagulate into Flowers, which resemble white, flat and shining silk, cotton or flakes of snow, in colour as fair-shining and well polished silver: separate these Flowers with a silver-spoon, and put them to dry upon filtrating paper fourfold dou∣bled, without pressing or crushing them, that in drying they lose not their lustre and beauty. Continue the same dissolution with fresh Vinegar in the remaining matter, then filtrare and coagu∣late until it be all converted to Flowers, which are a very excel∣lent

purgative Remedy against all Venereal Diseases, Wormes, intermittent Feavers, Leprosie, and all manner of Scabs and Itch; The Dosis is from ij. to viij. graines; they must be reduced to Pills with extract of Liquorish to administer so to the Patient, giving to drink over it a glass of some Decoction appropriated to the Disease, or prescribing a Broth to be taken immediately.

The distillation of Mercury.

ALmost all Authors put the distillation of Butter of Anti∣timony in the same rank and order as that of Mercury, but with very little ground and reason: for though the corro∣sive Sublimate be made use of in this distillation, the butter which proceeds from it. is nothing else but a dissolved and de∣purated Antimony by the saline Spirits, which had coagulated the Mercury into Sublimate; but that which invincibly proves and makes good this truth, is, that when Antimony is deprived of his saline spirits by affusion of water, it turns to a preci∣pitate or powder, which is easily converted again into Regulus by fusion with a little of Tartar, and that the Sublimate also returns into quick Mercury if the butter be made with Regu∣lus, or is sublimated into Cinnabar, if it be done with crude Antimony, because it hath yet in its self its grosse and exter∣nal sulphur. But here our intention is only to treat of the di∣stillation of Quick-silver not prepared before, for after prepa∣ration, and teach to extract from it several noble Remedies, which are used for the cure of the most stubborn, obstinate, and radicated Diseases.

The distillation of spirit of Mercury without addition.

THis Operation is harder then the following, because the parts of the quick-silver are not discontinued in it, nor opened by the temperation or addition of salts or spirits, and moreover hath received yet no impression from their mixture, which is the cause that many do set a greater value upon this Spirit then up∣on

on the following, and attribute unto it more vertue and efficacy; it is thus performed.

First, You must have a Furnace on which a Crucible must be placed, so as to rise half a foot above the grate of it, upon this Crucible lute an earthen stone Cucurbite of one foot and a half high, opened in the top and bottom equally, in the bottom to receive the sides of the Crucible within, and in the top, to he fitted for a great and capacious glass still-Head, there must also be a small hole of two inches square above the side to which the Crucible is joined, having a very exact stopple fitted to it, that by the same the Mercury may be thrown into the Crucible: the joints both of the Crucible and Cucurbite where they meet in the bottom must be exactly luted, with a Lute not subject to crack, and the joints of the Cucurbite and still-Head with a bladder & whites of Eggs; this done, give your fire gently so as to heat your Ves∣sels by degrees, and encrease it until the bottom of the Crucible be turned red; then, having at hand purified Mercury, pour about ʒij. at every time into the Crucible, by the square hole of the Cu∣curbite, which stop without delay, & the Mercury will pass through the Helm in vapours, which partly will turn again into the body of flowing Mercury, and partly into a clear Liquor, but in small quantity, proceed thus pouring and putting new Mercury, until you have enough of this Spirit for your use. Note, that you may change the Recipient and substitute another in the place to take a∣way from it the distilled Liquor, and separate the quick-silver to put in your distillation, being as good as the other that never was yet used. Rectifie this spirit in Balneo M. or ashes, and keep for use. It is a searcher, penetrating through all the body, and driving away all impurities from it, either by sensible or undiscernable transpiration, and chiefly by sweats. The malignant and foul Ul∣cers may also be washed with it, chiefly those that proceed from the venom and infection of the Pox; we shall make a more exact application of the same again, after we have delivered the descrip∣tion of the two following Spirits.

To prepare the white and Diaphoretical spirit of Mercury.

ALthough some give the name of Oyle to these Preparations, it is improperly, since nothing can lawfully be called Oyle but what is fat and inflammable, but not any aqueous substance; for which cause we have rather chosen to keep the name of Spirit, as best expressing the nature of the thing; this Spirit is thus prepared.

Take lb ij. of prepared corrosive Sublimate, such as we have taught to make above; reduce it to a very subtile powder upon a Marble stone, and mix it with three times as much red clay, and knead or work it with a little of distilled Rain-water into a lump, whereof you may make pellets fit to passe through the neck of a Retort; cause them wholly to dry in the shade, and then put them into the Retort, to which, after you have pla∣ced it in sand, fit a capacious and well luted Recipient: but Note, that the neck of the Retort must be above an inch dia∣meter in the mouth, both to give way to the pellets to passe, and also to facilitate the successe of the operation, which would be endangered, if the matter by sublimation did stop the neck of the Retort before all the aqueous and watery vapours are come forth, which might cause the Retort and perhaps also the Reci∣pient to break. The Lute being very dry, give it a gradual fire the space of two or three houres, and there will come forth an excellent Spirit, which put by it self; and if any Mercury be sub∣limated, incorporate and work it again with new red Clay, and proceed as before, until you have turned all this Sublimate into Spirit, which mix altogether, then rectifie and keep for use in a well stopt Viol; the Vertues and Dosis we will deliver in the following Preparation.

To make the red and Diaphoretical spirit of Mercury.

THis Spirit being of more toyl in the preparation then the former, so hath it also much more of vertue; and I say, that in case there should be any danger in the use of these Re∣medies, there should be much less even however in this whereof we are about now to teach the preparation, because the ♂. or Iron which is made use of doth abate and slacken very much the acrimo∣ny and sharpnesse of the spirits of the Sublimate: but there is no doubt at all to be made for the safe use and goodnesse of these excellent Medicines, which are corrected by fire and given in so small a Dosis, by reason of their subtile and quick penetration, so as no body ought to fear the effects thereof, which can be but useful and commendable. It is thus performed.

℞ lb j. of good corrosive Sublimate, and as much of Fi∣lings of Needles very pure, clean and small; grind the Subli∣mate very well, then add the Filings to it, and this mixture put in a Cellar or some other cool place upon a glass Table, that hath an edge and a small Conduit in it, under which a Dish is to be placed, that shall receive a yellow Liquor proceeding from the dissolution of these two substances, which you are to preserve care∣fully; and when it is all done, take the remainder, and having put it in a glass Cucurbite, pour upon it distilled Rain-water half a foot high to draw the salt thereof; digest it in ashes, and stir often the matter, and after three dayes filtrate the dissolution and evaporate into salt, which dissolve; again filtrate, evapo∣rate and chrystallize until it be very pure, then dry it and make it into powder, which mingle with the yellow Liquor kept before, and it will grow as red as Saffron; pour it all into a low glass Cu∣curbite, upon which fit a still-Head with a short and big Nose, to which having fitted a proportionate Recipient, and luted the joints, make the distillation in sand, giving fire by degrees; there will come forth first a phlegm, and when you see that yelow va∣pours begin to appear, change your Recipient and encrease the fire, and this yellow vapour will condensate it self into a red Li∣quor,

which will partly fall into the Recipient, and the remainder which will be too thick, shall stick to the body and Nose of the Limbeck; this done, let the Vessels cool, and take away the still-Head, to which with the phlegm that came forth at first from the sides and brims of the Cucurbite, where some part of this red substance is stuck fast, pour again upon its own Caput Mor∣tuum in the bottom of the Cucurbite, in case it be not broken, if so, then take another: but leave what is in the Limbeck and its Nose, because after you shall have luted the Vessels and be∣gun your fire to reiterate the distillation, as soon as the Limbeck feels the hear, and that the vapours begin to ascend, that which is in the still-Head will resolve itself into Liquor, and flow in the Recipient; as soon as all the red Liquor is ascended and come over the Helm, change your Recipient to encrease the phlegm, after which more red Liquor will yet ascend, which receive by it self and join to the other; reiterate these distillations and coho∣bations until no more of red Liquor will ascend. Then put it all in a double or circulatory Vessel, and pour upon it alkohol of Wine three fingers high; digest and circulate it in a vaporous Bal∣neo the space of three weeks; after which take away the Blind∣head, and put a still in lieu of it, and draw off the spirit of Wine in the gentle heat of B. M. keeping the red Spirit remaining in a strong Viol well stopt, as one of the best Remedies prepared from Mercury. Both these Spirits are of a very great and com∣mendable use in Physick; but that which is red, is yet much more to be esteemed, and above any of the other. All of them do e∣qually expel and drive away by sweat whatsoever may be hurtful or offensive to the body, and disturb the oeconomy of life and health; they cure also several Diseases, upon which other Reme∣dies could have no power. It may be truly said that these Spi∣rits, but chiefly the red, are the true Specificks against invete∣rate Pocks, which may be tryed by their use: for the pustles or pim∣ples vanish away of themselves, the Nodus's and hardnesses in∣sensibly decay; night-pains and aches do cease, and the putrid, noisome and open Ulcers are cleansed and consolidated without application of any external Remedy. The Dosis must be from j. drop to iv. at the most in Theriacal water, or Camphyr'd The∣riacal Spirit, spirit of Life of Paracelsus, spirit of Guajacum,

spirit of Diatrion, or mixtum simplex of the same Paracelsus, or even in Tincture of Sassafras and China Root made with white Wine. I doubt not but most who shall read this, may be of a different sentiment from mine; believing that I produce impos∣sibilities upon the Stage of Chymistry, and follow the tract of all the rest, by attributing so many vertues to the preparations of Mercury turn'd into Spirit; but I am not at all amazed at it; for those who passe this Censure and Judgement cannot certainly be acquainted with the subtile and fermentaive action of Mercury, and with those Remedies it yields. What change and alteration doth it not produce in mans body being only applyed outwardly in Frictions, Perfumes and Plaisters? What doth it not perform in Baths? What strange effects doth it not produce in Pills? and all this whilest yet cloyed with a Body, or only altered by the intervention of salts and spirits; What then may not be hoped from it, when it is brought to a further digestion, and turned to a liquid spirituous substance which may be mixed with potable Li∣quors! for then it is capable to be volatiliz'd by natural heat, and its vertue brought from the Center to the Circumference, and so penetrates all parts and carries along with it by sweat, whatsoe∣ver impurities and evil humours it meets with, whether a matter ripe for Diseases, or only a superfluity of digestions. But to stop the mouths of the Detractors and obstinate unbelievers, I finde my self obliged to relate here the History of a Person eminent both in condition and place, who is yet living; having been actually blind in former time, and now cured by a Mercurial Remedy, yet in powder, and not brought to the perfection of a Spirit; and that which is more to be considered in this cure, is, that there was no other Remedy us'd but of one grain and half of this prepa∣red Mercury blown with a Quill in the Nostrils, which in a very short time did produce surprising effects! for his Head swell'd in an extraordinary manner; then did he spit, drivel, shed tears, blow his Nose, sneeze, vomit, pisse, had copious and large stools, & sweated likewise, and all this in lesse then eight hours; after which those violent symptomes did cease, and relent by degrees. But that which is more wonderful, is, that the very next day he began to see, though somewhat confusedly, and from day to day after that, began to distinguish objects, and finally was totally cured, and en∣joyes

joyes now one of the best and steadiest eye-sights a man can have, and since that hath performed many remarkable services to the Crown of France. The same Person which cured him, did also cure the most desperate Pocks with the fame Remedy, given in the same quantity, and blown in the Nostrils. Where is now (I beseech you) that Medicine that shall produce the like effects, even at a great distance? This Relation is so true, that to justifie it, I can produce many a witnesse of Credit and Repute; where∣fore I think no body shall judge it more strange, that I should at∣tribute to the foregoing preparations, vertues and effects of far in∣feriour difficulty and worth; which makes me conclude here in a profound admiration of the supream Wisdome, and with scorn of humane ignorance, saying, That the age of Man is too short to go through the exact Anatomy of Mercury, and draw all the noble Remedies which God and Nature have placed in this Hete∣roclit and neutral Mixt, which hath not its like in all created sub∣stances or sublunary Beings.

To make a sweet Oyle of Mercury.

VVEE have yet two distinctions more of Mercury to de∣scribe, because the processes of it are differing from the rest, and the Menstruums also, that our Artist thereby may the better be informed, and more exactly conceive whatsoever the most learned and experimented amongst ancient Writers have left upon Record, for the preparation of the great Arcana's. The first is made thus.

℞ q. v. of corrosive Sublimate made with Salt, Vitriol and Salt-peter, and thrice sublimated with new Vitriol, and salt that hath been in fluxion or fusion, and taking at every time, half of the Caput Mortuum remaining after sublimation, and half of new matter. Put this Sublimate in subtile powder, and pour up∣on it very good distilled Vinegar three fingers high; digest and dissolve them together; then separate the dissolution, and reaf∣fund new Vinegar, thus continuing until all the Sublimate be dissolved; put all these dissolutions in a Cucurbite, and draw off the Menstruum again in a sand-fire, well graduated to a dry bot∣tom:

then take off the matter, and having put it in a double di∣gesting Glasse, pour upon it spirit of Wine very much alkoholiz'd; stop the Glasse with its Blindhead, and lute it exactly, then put it in digestion in a vaporous Balneo the space of three weeks, or until the matter be opened and becomes viscuous and clammy: then draw off the spirit of Wine in a heat proportionate to its nature: this done, put the Vessel in sand, and distil it with the highest degree of fire which it is capable to receive, and at last it will yield a liquor as white as milk: cohobate that which is come forth upon the matter remaining in the bottom, and reiterate the distillation and you shall have a sweet and fragrant Oyle, void of all corrosive quality. They that know the action and reaction of Salts and Spirits, shall not finde this change from corrosive to sweet impossible: for these mixtures, these actions, these dige∣stions, these dissolutions and distillations, do produce new beings, which the Artist should never have hoped for, as very well saith the most profound Philosopher and Physitian Van Helmont. Di∣stillatio parit novum ens.

This Oyle or Liquor cures all internal Ulcers, and drives away by sweat all impurities which are the spring of Diseases; above all, it is an admirable Specifick against Ulcers in the Throat, those of the Reines and the Bladder. The Dosis may be from j. drop to three in some appropriated Liquor. But if the Artist will per∣fect a true Magistery or Elixir of Mercury, let him digest the calx of Gold well opened in this Oyle, during the space of six whole weeks in a circulatory Vessel, and he will have an inestimable Remedy, much exalted in Vertue, and the Dosis whereof exceeds not from half a grain to two for the most.

To prepare the Astrum Mercurij, or star of Mercury.

℞ lb j. s. of quick Mercury, seven times sublimated with salt, Salt-peter and Vitriol, and as many times revivified with quick∣lime, put it in a Cucurbite, and pour upon it ℥ xij. of very good spirit of Niter; cover the Cucurbite with its Blindhead, and let them dissolve in the slow heat of ashes, if need be, or place the Cucurbite in sand after the total dissolution of the Mercury, and

draw the spirit from it to a dry bottom: then reduce to powder the remaining lump on a Marble mortar; this powder put in a new Cucurbite, pour upon it very good Vinegar four inches high, co∣ver the Cucurbite with its Blindhead, and put it in sand, let the matter digest and boyl the space of 24 houres, then taking off the Blindhead, put a still in the place, and draw off the Vinegar to a dry bottom, and thus draw it three times; Beat the lump to powder, and distil seven times upon it distilled Rain-water, or so long till the lump hath no taste of the vinegar left at all; then beat it again to powder, and put it to digest, for the last time in a double Vessel, with its equal weight of true alkohol of Wine; cover it with the Blindhead, and being well luted, place it in a vaporous Balneo with shred straw, and so digest it during six weeks in an equal and continued heat. This done, pour all the matter into a Retort, and distil it in ashes mingled with sand in a graduate heat, until even by encreasing of the fire nothing more will come forth; open the Vessels after they are cooled, and pour what you finde in the Recipient into a Cucurbite; draw off the spirit of Wine in a slow heat of B. M. and you shall finde in the bottom of the Vessel an Oyle or precious Liquor of a very good smell, which is called Astrum Mercurij, or the star of Mercury, not to be given to sick persons but from j. drop to iij. in appropri∣ated Liquors. We shall relate the vertues of it after we have taught the extraction of salt of Mercury, because it hath the same proprieties and efficacy.

To make the Salt of Mercury.

TAke what was left after the distillation of astrum Mercurij, put it in a double Vessel, and pour upon it some of the said astrum or star of Mercury; put them together in digestion in ashes to a moderate heat the space of three dayes, after which se∣parate the extraction by decantation, that no impurity may go a∣long with it, pour upon it a good quantity of very subtile spirit of Wine, circulate them together the space of xv. dayes in a well stopt Vessel, after that draw off the spirit of Wine in B. M. and cause the Oyle to ascend in ashes, and you shall have the precious

salt of Mercury in the bottom of the Vessel; keep both these ex∣cellent and noble Remedies for use. They are both a very secret and specifick Remedy to cleanse, and rectifie the whole masse of the blood: upon which account they are wonderful for the cure of Leprosie and Pocks. They also cure all manner of never so malignant and inveterate Ulcers; and carry away and cleanse ea∣sily all manner of scurf in the Head, scab and itch; the Dosis of the Salt is equal with that of the Liquor. Their working is by transpiration and sweat. We will not speak of the Liquation or Resolution of Mercury, though we did promise above to give an Example thereof, because this operation hath an affinity and de∣pendance on the two last distillations by us described: wherefore nothing remains for us to treat of, but of the Extraction where∣by the sulphur of Mercury may be procured: for we have shewed above how the salt thereof is to be made.

Tincture of Mercury, which is called The Sulphur thereof.

℞ j. p. of red Precipitate made with spirit of Niter, bray it in a Mortar, with ij. p. of desiccated salt, and iij. p. of Vitriol desiccated also to whitenesse; put this mixture in a Matrass, and sublime it in sand, with a strong and violent fire towards the end. Put this sublimate in a double or digesting Vessel, pouring upon it good distilled Vinegar four fingers high, cover it with its Blind∣head, and put it in ashes to digest the space of three weeks, and the Vinegar will take a yellow▪ Tincture; this draw off by de∣canting the Vessel, and put new vinegar in the place; and thus pro∣ceed extracting and digesting with new Menstruum, until it takes colour no more. Filtrate all these Tinctures, and pour them in a Cucurbite, which place in sand, and by distillation draw off all the Liquor to a dry bottom, and in the bottom of the Cucurbite you shall finde the sulphur of Mercury in a red powder, which keep in a glass Viol for use. Paracelsus gives very great Elogiums and commendations to this Sulphur, and attributes unto it the vertue of curing the Gout, Epilepsie, and the great Pocks radi∣cally, and without any fear of relapse; the sensible effects thereof are Urines and Sweats; otherwise it works by a gentle, natural and

insensible transpiration. The Dosis may be from j. gr. to iij. in some Conserve or Cordial Confection, or even in Extract of Juniper.

Though we have already warned before all Chymical Artists in the Theorical part of this Treatise, not to make any use of Chymical Remedies, unlesse they have prepared them themselves, or be very well acquainted with, and dare trust to the experi∣ence, knowledge and conscience of those from whose hands they will take them. We think our selves neverthelesse yet obliged to say somewhat more of this matter here, chiefly by reason of those pernicious accidents we have seen to happen to several persons of all conditions, for having trusted and having admitted Mercurial Remedies not rightly prepared: it is therefore much safer to ab∣stain from their use and administration, then to hazard a repent∣ing for all your life, either in your own person, or of those which you shall expose to danger and torment by an ill prepared and dangerous Remedy, which makes me to advise and counsel those, that are not yet sufficiently instructed in the Theorical and practical part of Chymistry, not to venture upon the pre∣paration of the great Mercurial Remedies, until they have at∣tained to a sufficient and exact knowledge of the materials they are to handle and work upon; and to a happy and long expe∣rience of the goodnesse of Remedies by them prepared: and since we have the injunction of our great Master Hippocrates, to make our experiments upon a vile subject, even in trying the vertue of a Root or a Plant: how much more are we to be cir∣cumspect, when we go about to use Remedies extracted from Metals or Minerals, when their vertue and activity is not yet come fully to our discovery and knowledge. Here then must we pro∣ceed warily, and sound the depth before we enter this Foord, lest we forfeit our Reputation, and endanger the life of the Patient. For although the Processes and Operations seem to be plainly delivered and easie enough to practice, yet the ill choyce of materials, the action of the fire, the want of Vessels, some mis∣take or inadvertency, some neglect or impatience of the Artist familiar enough to the French Nation; do very much alter the nature of things, and imprints in it new faculties, and quite dif∣ferent from those we do expect. Let then every body work with

knowledge, prudence and circumspection, with conscience and very long patience, if they will attain to the possession of those great Remedies, which Mercury and Antimony, of which last we are now to treat of, do yield.

Of Antimony and its Chymical Preparation.

AS Antimony is the stumbling stone of many of those which professe Physick, and they that are not acquainted with it, will traduce it as the vain Idol of Chymists and Chymistry; so must we with all possible endeavour make it appear, that it is with very just reason and good purpose, that Artists have Anti∣mony in esteem, since it is grounded upon their knowledge of its nature, they having not, as the Traducers and Dissamators there∣of do, been contented with the Rind and superficial examination of the same; but contrariwise, having opened and anatomized it, to extract those wonderful Remedies which daily do produce such noble effects, to the great praise and exaltation of Chymistry, and the discredit of those who publiquely professe their defaming by invectives, and ridiculous calumnies against such as daily use it with skill and knowledge, order and Method, and consequently with desired success.

But to clear more this truth which we have laid, we must in few words declare the nature of Antimony, and of what substance it is made of, to make it obvious and plain, and evident to the least capacity, that those that have an aversion and hatred for it, do on∣ly condemn it for want of true knowledge, both of the substance and first preparation thereof, as we will declare in the sequel of this Discourse.

Antimony then is nothing else but a Marcassite, mean or mid∣dle Mineral, which nature had destined to a metallick production; but hath fainted in the way, want of not having in it self the neces∣sary dispositions to attain to that perfection; or because it was pre∣maturely snatcht away and torn off from its matrix, as an unripe fruit pluckt off from the tree; or finally, by reason of the terre∣strial impurity of its mixture, and the disproportion and indige∣stion of its principles.

But to let the Reader better understand, this we say, let the Artist know, that Antimony doth first of all consist of a mineral sulphur, partly very pure and answering the nature of that of Gold, whose foundation is in its rednesse and is fix; and it is in the center of this Solar sulphur that all the wonders of Antimony are placed; the other part of this sulphur is impure, dissipable by fire, and volatile as common Brimstone, and to this Sulphur are commonly referred and attributed the violent and raging opera∣tions, when it is not well and duly corrected, or ill and negligently separated. Secondly, This Mineral is compounded of a metal∣lick Mercury in abundance, which is neverthelesse indigested and suliginous; but yet more concocted and coagulated then quick∣silver, because it participates of the Saturnine nature: finally, the third constituting part or principle of our Antimony, is a gross and earthly substance which it holds from its matrix, containing very little of sensible salt, though salt was the first cause of its production: but the nature of it is chang'd by reason of the se∣veral alterations and disguises it hath suffered by the concoction and digestion of its centrical fire.

By which description of Antimony and its constituting parts is plain to be seen, that it is nothing else but a gathering and con∣junction of Vitriol, Sulphur and Mercury of the nature of Lead met together, and that by consequence it cannot be dangerous or condemnable in it self, since every day these three substances are used by themselves, and taken apart in Physick, either as they grow naturally, or prepared; and wherefore then should not crude and prepared Antimony be made use of also? But it will be objected unto me, That the most famous and celebrated Authors which have written of Antimony, call it a Poyson, and say, that it doth participate of some mixture of Realgar and Arsenick; To which we answer, that Lead, Quick-silver and Brimstone, participate also of the same mixture, and yet are not banished from the com∣merce of Physick: since even Realgar and Arsenick are made use of, after the malignancy of their salt and sulphur hath been corrected by the ministery of fire, and of the spirits that are ca∣pable of this operation, so that they may be inwardly administred, supplying us also with the best Topical Remedies against all dan∣gerous and malignant Ulcers. But it is quite otherwise of Anti∣mony,

which daily is administred by the mouth wholly raw, and without any accident even to sucking Children: and moreover, made to boyl in the weight of lb ss. in Decoctions against the Pocks, and also put in cold infusion of water to open the body and remove obstructions in the Entrails. Let then our Artist know, that when ever Ancient or Modern Authors which have treated concerning Antimony, have said it was a Poyson, it is to be un∣derstood only comparatively between the common preparations of Antimony not yet sufficiently corrected, and so consequently causing violent Vomits and Stools, with those they describe that are harmlesse and of no danger, but which only do strengthen Na∣ture, and help it to expel insensibly whatever is noxious and hurt∣ful to it. Wherefore let us conclude this small preliminary Dis∣course of Antimony, by the words which Zwelferus hath to this purpose in the Appendix inserted to the end of his Notes upon the Pharmacopea of Aufburg, in praise of this noble Mine∣ral, and against the unlearned and ignorant Despisers thereof. Cum stibij vel antimonij nomen apud aliquos artis pulcherrima o∣sores, praesertim ignorantes, tam malè audiat, ut qui solummodò ore illud excidere permittit, mox ex medentium coetu proscriptus ad veneficos amandetur; quia tamen hoc de antimonio judicium, non in alia officina, quam cerebri ad Lunae crescentis & de crescentis mutabilitatem tornati excuditur; & vix alius de eo magis perversè & perfricta fronte loquitur, quàm qui minimam ejus habet cognitionem; Idoirco nullo canum similium hoc sidus allatrantium, con∣vitio à veri tramite dimotus, hoc in praesens asserere non erubesco: antimonium verè unam & principalem esse columnam universae Me∣dicinae; Quipè ex eo tanquam Proteo, diversis duntaxat praepara∣tionibus, dioersa••um operationum medicamenta saluberrima, utpotè antiloimica, antivenerea, diaphoretica, purgantia & vomitoria blanda, sanguinem uiversum mundificantia, vulnera••ia, pectoralia, imo universale medicamem seu Panacea ipsa, erui possunt. Nec con∣stat ex vegetabilibus unicum emeticum, quod minore cum periculo exhiberi possit, quam antimonium dext••è & debitè praparatum; nunquam enim tormina ventr••••, Hypercatharsin, fluxumque nimium colliquantium causabit, etiamsi aqua frigida superbibatur. We should think it superfluous to say any more of it: wherefore we will come now to the choice of Antimony, and the several de∣nominations

gven unto it, by those that would keep secret the mysteries, and hide the preparation thereof, that it may be a Key to the Artist for understanding other aenigma's and dark Ridles, and explicating of their mysterious Hieroglyphicks.

Chymical Philosophers do characterize this Mineral with a Fi∣gure representing the round World, and a cross on the top there∣of thus {antimony} to denote, that as the mysterie of the Cross doth pu∣rifie, and heal the soul from all spiritual filth and leprosie; so Antimony and its Remedies well and duly prepared, do cleanse and free the body from all impurities, which breed and entertain the Diseases whereby it is tormented and afflicted. They call it by several aenigmatical names, as the Wolf, because it consumes and devours all metals, Gold excepted; Others name it the P••o∣teus, because it turns it self into all Forms, and takes all manner of colours, by the assistance of Vulcan, which is the fire, Others call it the Root of Metals, both because it is found often near their Mines, and that many are of opinion it is the rudiment and prin∣ciple of Metals: it is moreover denominated the sacred Lead, the Lead of the Philosophers and of the Wise, because so it hath some analogy and affinity to the nature of Saturn, which devoured his children as he devoures Metals, and because also some do take it for the subject matter of the great Work of Philosophers, and of their Quintessence: Basilius Valentinus calls it the Eastern Lion, Paracelsus the Red Lion, and Glauber describes it as the first Being of Gold.

All Authors are agreed that the Hungarian Antimony, or Tran∣silvanian is to be chosen for the noblest and highest operations, because it is the purest, and participates more of the Solar nature, and so its internal sulphur is much more exalted. It is found ne∣vertheless in many other places, and chiefly in Germany, and France hath some which is not altogether despicable. So that those which cannot come at that Antimony which is digged a∣bout golden Mines, must take and chuse in lieu of it to supply their work, a clear, pure and shining Antimony, with clear and bright faces or glittering flawes: if it be mineral, mixt with a kind of changing and playing colour, as that in Doves necks, or the chan∣ges of the Opal or the Rainbow, which are all signes of the pre∣dominancy and abundance of its sulphur: but if it be common

Antimony that hath beem melted already, that which has the longest streakes or shining and sparkling lines, or flawes with the sames notes of colour, which we have recommended in the o∣ther, is to be preferred. They that will try it further to be surer of it, must take ʒ j. of Antimony made into very small powder, and temper or sprinkle it with very good spirit of Vinegar; then let it dry or evaporate in the fire upon a small Iron plate, or some small piece of an earthen pot, with this caution neverthe∣lesse, neither to flow, or melt in the fire: and if the powder remaines of a red colour, it is an assured sign of the goodnesse and abundance of its sulphur. But we hold the best tryal of An∣timony to be its reduction into Regulus by the help of Mars and Niter, without any mixture of Tartar, by reason of its Alkali which dissolves sulphurs: for that which yields the greatest quan∣tity of Regulus and the purest, is the best, since the Regulus is nothing else but a well purified Antimony.

The general preparations of Antimony.

BEfore we come to the particular Operations which are made upon Antimony, we have thought it necessary to give first a general Idea of such preparations as are made upon this noble Mineral; the harvest of them being so great, that to describe what Modern and Ancient Authors have delivered of it, and what by our own experience we are confirmed in, would require end∣lesse Volumns, the vertues of Antimony being bottomlesse and innumerable, as by the sequel we shall make it appear. We shall then restrain and couch up our selves according to our wonted custome, with some examples of each of the most general Ope∣rations, by which the Artist will be guided and ruled to perform such others, as the necessity of Patients or his own curiosity shall prompt him to undertake, that he may not come short of giving or receiving the satisfaction he looks for.

The general preparations then made upon Antimony, are: First, Calcination; secondly, Sublimation; thirdly, Distillation; fourthly, Liquation or Resolution; fifthly, Extraction; sixthly, In∣fusion; seventhly, Salification; some do add in the eighth place,

Mercurification: but we will omit that, having made a hundred successesse trials, by which we could never be convinced of the truth thereof; wherefore we abstain from it upon the same account, and for the same reason we have hinted, speaking of the mercury of Metals; and further, knowing full well that Paracelsus and o∣thers, understand nothing else by the mercury of Antimony, then its well prepared Regulus, without any diminution or loss of its So∣lar or Central sulphur, though we deny not the possibility thereof: But we will impose upon no body, nor be the cause of any losse of time upon Processes and Operations that have never, nor never shall hit or succeed right. The Calcination is twofold, dry and moist: the dry yields the Glasse, Crocus or Saffron, Diaphoretick Remedies and Regulus; the moist gives the Precipitates. Sub∣limation makes the Flowers, Cinnabar or Vermilion. The Distil∣lation drawes Vinegars, Oyles and Spirits. Extraction commu∣nicates Sulphurs and Tinctures. Infusion gives emetical Wines and Ophthalmical Waters; and the Salification, Salt.

The particular preparations of Antimony, and how the Glass of Antimony is to be made by plain distillation.

THere are so many descriptions of the manner of preparing the Glass of Antimony, that Artists are confounded in this particular, and hardly know how to chuse the best: but as we are sufficiently instructed, both by Theory and practice, that the best is that which is made without addition or mixture, we will exem∣plifie and propound for a pattern the preparation of this, because whosoever can perform it exactly, shall never be put to seek in exe∣cuting the others, the melting, clarification, and diaphaneity whereof is much easier, by reason of the union of several salts, by which the fluxion is sacilitated and becomes both quicker and cleanlier; this Glass without addition is thus made.

Take well chosen Antimony, and being made into very small powder, calcine it in a very large and capacious earthen Dish, not glazed or varnished, upon a slow fire, stirring continually with an Iron Spatula or Slice; this Calcination is to be made in a place where the ayr may freely passe thorow, and the Artist must stand

above the wind, that he may receive no inconveniency by the vapours exhaling from the pure sulphur of Antimony, nor op∣presse or suffocate his breast; above all things great care must be had not to make too big a fire, otherwise the excrementitious moisture being too suddenly driven away, the melting and vitri∣fication thereof would be hindered; after you have kept this Antimony three or four houres upon the fire, and that you shall see it begin to crumble it self and gather up together, draw the Vessel off from the fire, and pour the matter upon a Porphyry stone, whereafter it is grown cold you may reduce it into alkohol; then begin anew to calcine with a little more fire then at the first time, and thus proceed three or four times, encreasing still the fire at every time that you bray your Antimony, and you will have an antimonial Calx of a whitish gray, which you may use to make your Glass therewith; as also to prepare an excellent Diaphoretick against the Plague and malignant Feavers: to attain to this, Reverberate part of this calx in a Crucible in open fire, until from white it turns to yellow; and if the calx do happen to crumble during the Reverberation, take it immediately off from the fire, and bray it again, and thus go on until all the external sul∣phur be evaporated, and the internal begins to appear and mani∣fest its self by its yellow colour, which it yields when it is come to this pass; put it in a Matrass, and pour upon it very good spirit of Wine, and digest them together the space of fifteen dayes, which being over, kindle of this spirit seven time upon your Dia∣phoretick to fix it the better. The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to xij. in some Conserve of Marigold flowers.

But to perform the Vitrification, take lb ss. of the prepared calx, and add to it ℥ s, of crude Antimony in powder, to faci∣litate and advance the fusion, which you must make in a wind Furnace in a Crucible of very strong matter, capable to resist the fire, and last in it, and when you shall perceive your matter in the Crucible to flow clear and bright, try with a small sharp Iron which may be clean, and expose it between your sight and the light, and if it be red or transparent as a Granate or Ruby, pour it into a brass Bason, or a Copper, or brass dressing plate well scoured, and made warm before the Glass be thrown upon it, and thus shall you have a pure Glass, red and transparent, which may

be used for many noble and useful preparations, which we will place in their Rank and Order, according to the Rank and Clas∣sis of their general preparation, wherefore an Artist must never be unprovided of it.

To make the Crocus or antimonial Saffron, which is called Crocus Metallorum.

WEE will give three descriptions of this Operation: the first more slight, common and easie; the other something more intricate, and the third more laborious; that as the work and preparation of it is various, and for different reasons, so the Artist may be instructed in the one and the other, to be the more capable thereby to satisfie himself and others.

The first Crocus Metallorum.

WEE have in general recommended to the Artst, to have a special care of the choice and purity of his materials: but he must be more circumspect then ever in all the Antimonial O∣perations, because from thence depends very much, as also from his prudence and knowledge, the good or the bad successe of his Operation.

Wherefore let him take well chosen Antimony, and well de∣purated Salt-peter to make all the following preparations: for as Niter is called the Soap of the wise, so must it be pure and clean to perform that cleansing, and that action which Authors hope to finde in it. ℞. then well chosen Antimony and well purified Sulphur ana equal parts, beat them to powder each apart, then mix and put them in a brass Mortar covered with an earthen-pot cover, or with a round Tile, having a hole in it of the bignesse of a Thumb in diameter, through which it may be set on fire with a small kindled coal; this Operation which is called Fulguration, Fulmination and Detonation, must be made in an open place, and you must get agove the wind, lest you be overcome by the smoak which is noisome and dangerous, by reason of the corrosion of

the nitrous Spirit, and the inflammation of the external sulphur of Antimony. When the Mortar is grown cold, draw off the matter from it which will be of two kinds: the uppermost par∣ticipating of Salt-peter, Sulphur and Antimony; the undermost, which is in a compacted and close lump of Liver-colour and re∣sembling unto it, for which reason it is called Hepar antimonij, or Liver of Antimony, is properly nothing else but an instanta∣neous, imperfect and opacous vitrification of Antimony, by the calcination which the Salt-peter performs in a moment. These two matters are to be put together in a brass Mortar, and tritu∣rated to a subtile powder, which must be washed in warm water, to separate the fatness thereof; set the first Lotion aside for the use we shay say hereafter, and continuing the trituration, lotion and effusion of the Liquor loaden with the subtilest powder, un∣til all the body of this Hepar or Liver of Antimony be transfused with the water into an impalpable powder; separate the said wa∣ter, and dry the powder gently by evaporation, and you shall have that which commonly is called Crocus Metallorum, or Saffron of Metals.

If the first Lotion be filtrated, and this clear water precipi∣tated with distilled Vinegar, there falls a red powder in the bottom, which is called Sulphur auratum diaphoreticum, diapho∣retick golden Sulphur, but very improperly, because it is nothing else but a portion of the external sulphur of Antimony, which the fixt salt of the Niter did keep dissolved and hidden in it self, and has been made corporeal and visible by the help of the distilled vi∣negar, because all whatsoever is dissolved by the salts alkali, is pre∣cipitated by acid spirits; and contrariwise, all what is dissolved by acid spirits, is precipitated by alkaly's. But let it not be fancied that this pretended golden Sulphur be Diaphoretick; nor let the Au∣thors word be taken for a warrant in this matter: for it will de∣ceive, unless you give it in a very small Dosis, which shall not work, and if the Dosis be encreased it will cause exceeding and violent vomiting: for it is nothing else but a very subtile Crocus metallo∣rum, wherewith many do prepare their Emetical Wine.

The second Crocus Metallorum, which is though to be that of Rullandus.

THis second preparation doth not differ in the matter, it only differs in the work which is something of longer deduction: for you must take lb ss, of Niter, and melt it in a Crucible, and being melted draw it off from the fire, and try with a small par∣cel of Antimony reduced to powder, if it will not take fire when put upon; and if it happens so, then stay yet a while, for it must not burn to a flame: but as soon as by trial you have found that the mixture may be made without inflaming, pour upon it gently and by little and little lb s. of Antimony made in powder, and mix it well with a Spatula or Slice with the melted Niter, until all the substances be well incorporated; this done, set it on fire with a kindled coal, as you did the other, and you will have the same effect to succeed. This mixture and manner of working is only for this end and reason, that the Niter in fluxion mixes & doth unite it self, and penetrates much better the Antimony, then the Niter cold and in powder, and the conflagration or quick burn∣ing doth carry much better away the impure sulphur of Antimo∣ny, which makes the Crocus Metallorum lesse violent in its o∣peration, since all the ill consequences commonly feared in An∣timony, take their rise from this impure and dangerous Sulphur, to which, though upon slight grounds, are attributed the arsenical and venomous vapours of it.

The third Crocus Metallorum.

THe manner of working this third preparation is quite differ∣ing from the two former, but not lesse to be valued: for it requires a longer Calcination, and consequently a better and more exact maturation of the undigested parts of Antimony, by the help of the salts and fire: and you must proceed thus.

℞ Well chosen Antimony, well depurated Salt-peter, and common Salt, well cleansed and desiccated ana equal parts, re∣duce them into powder by themselves, then mix them, the mix∣ture put in a well luted Crucible, covered with a Cover, bored in the middle with a hole of the bigness of the small fingers end, that the vapours may exhale through it; put this Crucible upon a thick Tile or Brick in a wiped Oven, and lay round about it black and quick coals up to the top of the Cover that it may be heated by degrees, and when it is once heated, and that the vapours of the salt and antimonial Sulphur begin to rise through the hole, en∣crease the fire, and open all the doors of the wind-Oven, adding to it also, if need be, the ayr of the bellows, that the matters may flow very well in the Crucible, and thus continue till the smoak or vapours begin to cease, and even then continue a quarter of an hour longer; then let the Crucible was cold and break it after∣wards, and you shall finde your Antimony turned into a kind of Regulus, red as Vermilion under the salts, which as scums and dross does lye above it; break it with a Hammer, and reduce it to powder without any Lotion, and keep for use as one of the best kinds of Crocus Metallorum, to make Emetical Wine; they attri∣bute unto it the faculty of working more downwards then up∣wards, though it excites also vomiting, but with lesse violence.

These three Crocus's may equally and promiscuously be used where the one fails instead of the other, since they have the same vertue, only that they work more or lesse violently, which in∣conveniency may be prevented and remedied by diminishing the Dosis. Their faculties are, to expel the Head-ach which proceeds from impurities of the stomach; as also to help the Epilepsie, Pleu∣resie, Melancholy, Madnesse, and to help those that have running paines, and voluntary or spontaneous wearinesse; they are also extraordinary good Remedies in all Feavers, as much continual as intermittent. Their operation is wonderful against Plague, arthritical paines, coagulation of blood. They are never admini∣stred in substance, but their vertue is extracted by infusion or ebul∣lition, and when haste requires, with some fermented Liquor, as Wine, Hydromel or Mead, Cider, Beer; The Dosis may be from iij. gr. to viij. x. and xij. Moreover, they prove admirable Re∣medies in Glysters, if the infusion thereof be put, from ℈ j. to

iiij. in Meat, Broth, or some Emollient or softening or Carmina∣tive Decoction.

Thus much we had to say of that preparation which is called Crocus, by reason of some resemblance in colour with Saffron, which hath a Solar Tincture, but their vertues not analogal to that noble spice of the Philosophers: wherefore it is but improperly that they are called Saffron of Metals: for the true Sons of Art will only impart this name to that noble and excellent preparation of Metals, by which they are reduced to a saffranous, sweet and pleasant powder, which is their meer volatile sulphur, capable of all the vertues and qualities of Saffron: as to procure sleep, miti∣gate pains, strengthen the Heart and all the functions of Life, open obstructions, serve as a consolidative Balsom, and hinder the acci∣dents of Wounds, maturate, ripen and dissolve the hardnesses and Nodus's, all which vertues are attributed to vegetable Saffron, though weakly: but the true Saffron of Metals, which is the true Philo∣sophical Crocus, doth eminently and perfectly contain and possesse all these Vertues we have related: for it provokes sleep, and al∣layes all griefs, because it be calmes all the irritations and rage of the internal Archeus, and corrects all the defects and deviations thereof, strengthens all natural weaknesses, removes all obstructi∣ons from the entrails very efficaciously, and in a short time: it stops also and appeases all colliquations of humours and immode∣rate Fluxes; finally, cures inwardly and outwardly all kind of ma∣lignant, cancerous fistulous Ulcers; and to say in a word, reme∣dies all Diseases to which humane Nature is subjected; because it is a true volatile Sulphur, which consumes and gently drives away by the power of its heat and internal light, all the impurities and evil humours which lay lurking in the superfluities of the last dige∣stions. But this place doth not allow us to say more, our design being only to inform the Sons of Art, that then they will become capable of seeking this noble and divine Crocus, when in earnest they shall apply themselves to the love and true worship of their Creator, that by the help and assistance of his Light, they may penetrate into the most abstruse Closet of those high mysteries of Art and Nature, which are contained in the true Crocus of Philo∣sophers.

The manner of preparing Diaphoretical Antimony.

IF we did recommend the purification of Salt-peter for the Crocus Metallorum, we have reason to do it much more for the preparation of this Diaphoretical; for as this Remedy is ex∣cellent, so must the Artist study with all his power to prepare it with all requisite dircumstances; and the chief point of this Ope∣ration doth consist in the goodnesse, purity and sincerity of the Ni∣ter, because by him the impure sulphur of Antimony is to be ex∣pelled, and it is he that must digest, ripen and fix the indigestion of its Mercury, as we shall make appear in the progresse of the O∣peration; which is thus prepared.

℞ ij. p. of very pure and dry Salt-peter, and j. p. of well chosen Antimony, beat them each asunder into very small pow∣der, and mix them to the other: then fit a strong earthen pot not glazed, or a good Crucible upon a round Tile in a wind Furnace, and cover it, encompassing the same with kindled Charcoal almost to the top, that the Vessel may be heated by degrees, and when it is grown red all about, blow in it to get out the filth or ashes if any be fallen in, then pour half a spoonful of this mixture, and cover the pot with a well and exactly fitted Covering; as soon as the matter touches the Pot it presently kindles, and the Salt-peter doth forcibly carry away with it the impure sulphur of An∣timony; and what remaines after this detonation or fulguration, doth fix it self in the bottom of the Vessel by the action of the fixed salt of Niter, and the activity of the fire; thus proceed till you have made an end of calcining your Antimony, putting it thus by little and little in yo••r Vessel: which done, add another parcel more of very dry Niter to what is in the Vessel, that it may flow with the matter, and perfect the Coction and fixation of it by the penetration and action of the spirits of Niter, which by their subtilty and quicknesse insinuate themselves in and amongst the least atomes of Antimony; and thus conc••ct, wash, and fix it in a white and b••uisable substance after it has been edulcorated and desiccated. Keep up the fire one or two houres more, after

you have put in the last parcel of Salt-peter, then cease and let the matters cool in the Vessel: you must carefully remove all the filth and impurity which might remain about the Pot, before you put it to soak in a pan full of boyling water, which by degrees shall dissolve the fixed Niter, which makes part of the lump re∣maining in the pot with the Antimony; and when this lump is to∣tally dissolved, stir that remainder in the bottom of the Vessel with a good Pestle; and when the water appears milk-white, pour it in another Vessel, and then grind in a Marble mortar what re∣maines in the Pan, and continue still to wash it with the same water, until all the antimonial substance be converted into an al∣kohol, as we have already taught in the first preparation of the Crocus Metallorum; and if you intend to have sooner done, break the pot or Crucible as soon as it comes from the fire, and draw out the matter from it, which bray on a Marble mortar, and wash it with lb ij. or iij. of water only, until it be all converted into alkohol. Draw off this first water by decantation as soon as it is setled, and lay it by it self; then pour new upon what remains, and thus go on, until the water comes off from it tastelesse; which done, dry the Diaphoretick and keep it for use.

It was not without reason we have said, that the first water wherein the fixed Niter was dissolved is to be set apart; because the nature of this salt is altered by the sulphur of Antimony, and is become of the condition of alkali and lixivial Salt, whose qua∣lity and essence is subtile, penetrating and igneous rather then corrosive, which is the reason it has dissolved the purest portion of the antimonial Regulus impregnated with its fix and solar Sulphur, very well concocted and digested by the action of the fire and Niter; and though this water appears clear, yet it hath contracted a weight: wherefore this water must be precipitated with distilled Vinegar, and it shall immediately turn as white as Milk, because the Diaphoretick which was hidden in the dissolu∣tion of it doth manifest it self, and with no unpleasant smell; but contrariwise hath the very smell of Cream and sowrish Whey, whilest it is edulcorating, and after the desiccation is made to keep it for use; and as we have said, that the precipitate of this Dia∣phoretick was of a very good smell, by reason of the fixednesse of its internal sulphur, so must we make it appear, that that

which is prepared out of the pretended Sulphur auratum or gol∣den Sulphur, whereof we have spoken above, with distilled Vi∣negar, hath a very unpleasant smell, because it is nothing else but the external, impure, and volatile sulphur which the salt had drawn to its self, being not sufficient to draw it and expel away, much lesse to fix it, the parts of Niter and Antimony to make the Crocus Metallorum being but equal, whereas in the preparation of the Diaphoretick, there is first ij. p. of Niter against j. p. of An∣timony, and that moreover j. p. is added after the Fulguration or Detonation is ended, which doth perfect the maturation and fixation of all the crude and indigested remaining matter. We have thought necessary to say so much to inform the Sons of Art, that whatsoever must fix a substance, ought ever to be in triple proportion to what is to be fixed; and contrariwise, what is to be volatiliz'd, must in the same proportion be lesse, then what is to act and work upon it; and sometimes the proportion is quadru∣plicated: as ℥ iiij. of spirit to volatilize ℥ j. of salt, and ℥ iiij. of salt to fix ℥ j. of spirit; which observation passes for a fun∣damental Axiom in Chymistry. The Dosis of this Diaphoreticks in Body and grosse substance, is from gr. iiij. to xxx. and of the Precipitate, from gr. iij. to xx. The vertue of both is very esti∣mable and of high value in Physick; for though we call them fixed, it is only comparatively to other antimonial Remedies which provoke violent Vomitings and Purgation: for the Diaphoretick works by an irradiation of vertue and-efficacy almost inconcei∣vable, because it strengthens gently and naturally the internal Archeus, which is the principal Director of all the functions of Life, either in health or sicknesse: wherefore the use of it must be continued without interruption during the space of a Philoso∣phical month, because during that time, it is capable to alter and change for the better, whatsoever is hurtful and hinders the li∣berty of the actions of this principal and real Archeus. But if it be applyed and appropriated to particular Diseases, as also to parts of the body, we shall be bold to say, that the Diaphoretical Antimony is an unparalleld Remedy, to resist the corruption which may breed and lurk in the body, mundifying and rectifying the whole masse of the blood, and being capable to open the most inveterate obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Mesentery, Pan∣creas,

and all other parts besides: it removes the stopping of Cour∣ses, cures Green-sicknesse, Dropsie, Hypocondrical Melancholy, Pocks and all the accidents thereof; mundifies and cures inward and outward Ulcers, breaks inward Impostumes without danger: and finally, is singular against malignant and spotted Feavers, Mea∣sels, and small Pocks. And though this Diaphoretical be a gene∣ral Remedy, there are some neverthelesse which think to parti∣cularize and render it specifical to certain parts of the Body, and Diseases, adding Metals, as Gold, Silver, Tin, Copper, or Steel to the Antimony, or its Regulus before it be calcined with Niter, and thus pretend to render it Cordial, Cephalick, Stomachick, Splenetick or Hepatick; but our opinion is, that those Metals are not opened enough for this plain antimonial Fusion, to com∣muicate so easily their vertue which doth properly lurk in a cen∣tral sulphur, not so easily extracted; and as Antimony is a Mi∣neral, whose sulphur is lesse close and fixed, let us content our selves with what Nature and Art have so bountifully supplyed us with, and with so ample and so diffused a vertue.

Of the Regulus of Antimony.

WEE have already said above, that the Regulus of Antimony is nothing else but depurated Antimony: but that purifi∣cation ought to be made without Tartar, because the alkali which results from the Tartar and Niter is a mixed salt, which doth ex∣tract and dissolve the most fix and inward sulphurs of Mixts, as it appears by the feces and skim swimming above the Regulus made with Tartar, which are high in colour, and by the small quantity of Regulus extracted this way. But it may be said, that it is not so much the true Artist's part to seek for quantity as qua∣lity; and that although he may attain to more by another manner of working, yet ought he to prefer and acquiesce in that which yields least, because it is thought to be more pure and more open. To answer this Objection, we must lay first for a Foundation, that Steel is to be used for making of the Regulus, to make it good; that Iron or Steel are capable agents to attract to themselves the impure and combustible sulphur of Antimony, by reason of the

siccity, porosity, and terrestreity of the Iron which longs to sup∣ply himself of what he finds to be destituted of, attracting it from every subject or substance wherein he can finde it: as we have in some manner made manifest when we described the purification of Iron, and the turning of it into Steel, by the help of the fat, volatile and unctuous sulphur of Ox-hornes. Moreover, Niter doth cause a sudden inflammation, and a fusion, which raises up by an ebullition, and as it were an instantaneous fermentation, all the Iron or Mars, the terrestrial impurities and external sulphur of Antimony, insomuch as the only Reguline and Mercurial part of Antimony, remaines in fusion in the bottom of the Crucible, possessing in it self the fix'd and solar Sulphur, which by sympathy and analogy of substance hath attracted the soul of Mars, which is its pure sulphur. Thus must the Artist consider, that in the operation the pure part of the Antimony is preserved, and that we deprive it of its impurity; and moreover, that we add yet to this part another Sulphur, which hath no lesse efficacy then that which is contained in it: whereas Tartar never fails to dissolve and ex∣tract the pure part and its sulphur, which must of necessity be well preserved, if you will have the other operations resulting from it, to succeed with that vertue and efficacy which is desired, of which nothing can be the cause but this pure Mercury and its sul∣phur; all which reasons invite us to give you the description of this following Regulus.

The best preparation of Regulus of Antimony.

℞ lb ss. of ends of Horse-nails, or lb φ. of Filings of Iron or Steel very pure and clean, put in a good Crucible, something big and deep, and place it in a wind-Oven upon a round bottom or Tile, called by the French Culotte, already mentioned above; cover it with a piece of Brick, and bury it in Charcoal mixt with kindled coals, that they may take fire by degrees, and so by little and little season the Crucible; and when the fire is well kindled, and that the Artist shall see the Iron or Steel to be in a very red and clear ignition, so as to draw near the white glowing; add then to it lb j. of well chosen Antimony in powder, then

cover again the Crucible with the Brick and coals, to advance the Fusion and union of the two matters, and as soon as you shall by frequent inspection perceive them in that state, make ready your Cornet or casting Vessel for Regulus, if you have any, keeping it warm and besmearing it with Wax in the sides towards the bot∣tom, and throw in the Crucible ℥ iij. or iiij. of Niter in grosse powder, very dry and somewhat warmed, that it may the sooner take flame with the sulphur of Antimony, that the fusion thereof may be quicker and cleaner; for as soon as the Crucible is toucht by the Niter, there followes immediately an ebullition of the mat∣ters with a noise and sparkling, caused by the internal ayr of the Niter and the mixture of the Sulphur with the Iron or Mars: But the Artist must have a special care to have his Pincers in rea∣dinesse to draw the Crucible, and pour the melted matter into the Regulus Pot, as soon as the ebullition is over; otherwise there would a crusty substance gather on the top, which might hinder the casting of it, and is of very hard and difficult fusion: As soon as the matters are in the Regulus pot, strike upon the brims of it with a Pestle or Hammer, to cause the Regulus the better to se∣parate it self; but if you want this Vessel for casting your Regulus, you need only draw your Crucible from the fire, and striking soft∣ly upon the brims of it, let it cool. It would neverthelesse be ne∣cessary to be furnished with this Vessel in a Laboratory, because you might thereby preserve your Crucible from the necessity of be∣ing broken, and so preserve them for other fusions and the purifi∣cation of your Regulus, besides that it will save much time and fire, which otherwise must be unnecessarily spent; for your four meltings or fusions may be made consecutively in one and the same Crucible: either of these two Vessels being cooled, either turn upside down the Crucible and stamp or beat it against the ground to make the Regulus come out, or break the Crucible, and therein shall you finde an uniform lump seemingly: but knock upon it about the middle, and the Regulus which is in the bot∣tom will forsake the feces that are uppermost, and are nothing else but the Iron Sulphur, and terrestrial impurities of the Anti∣mony, with very little remaining of the Niters, which also frame by themselves a kind of close compacted lump, which every day dissolves it self in the ayr into a dry powder, resembling smutty

and terrestrious Filings of Iron. The Regulus being not pure e∣nough in the first melting, you must therefore beat it to powder, & add to it ℥ iij. of antimony in powder to accelerate the melting thereof, and put it in a new Crucible, and cause it again to flow in a wind-Furnace, and when it shall be in fusion, throw into it ℥ ij. or iij. of very dry Niter and warm'd into a powder, and there will happen yet a small ebullition; throw it immediately into the cast∣ing Vessel, & knock upon it; separate the Regulus from the blackish and impure dregs, and it will come out twice as pure and white; pro∣ceed thus the third time, and the dregs will be either more gray or whitish, which is a sign that it begins to draw nearer the state of its purity: wherefore proceed to the fourth fusion, and alwayes with new Niter dry and warm, giving a very strong fire this last time that the Niter may be in very good fusion, and draw to the colour of a Partridges eye; cast it quickly, & with nimbleness stir the cast∣ing Vessel, being first well warmed, and turn it round, and you shall have a stellate or starry Antimony to the very Center, white as sil∣ver, and flowing already something of its solar Tincture: for the Niter which was in fluxion on the top of it is all yellow, an infal∣lible sign with the star which appears on the top of it, that the Re∣gulus hath attained the true point of its purity and perfection, to be freely used in the preparation of those noble Remedies which it is capable to yield.

If the Artist will raise his curiosity so high, he may frame Cups and Pots with this Regulus, as also Pellets or small Globes, and he will have that which they call Pocula perpetua, and Pilulae perpetuae, the Purgative and Emetick vertue whereof is never exhausted; though Wine be every day put in infusion in the Cups, or the Pellets or Globes swallowed down every day, which may be taken up again after evacuation, and being washed, made use of with as much ef∣ficacy as before, as by daily experience it is found true, which doth evidently prove that Antimony doth as much or more participate as any other Mixt, of light and heavenly Fire, whose vertue never decreaseth, though he imparts every day his Rayes and bountiful warmth: so is it only by an emanation or irradiation of the inward vertue that these Cups and Pills do work, and it is also by irradiati∣on and influence from above of the igneous and sulphurous quali∣ty of their substance, that their vertue is miraculously, as it were re∣paired, and again supplyed.

[illustration] diagram

The Calcination of Antimony by the Sun.

• ...a the Table.
• ...b the Glasse with its up∣holder by which ye may rayse it higher or lower.
• ...c the Stone or Plate on w^ch y^e Antimony in powder is tayd.
• ...d y^e Artist y^e orders y^e Glass & stirs about y^e Antimony.
• ...e y^e light y^t is centerd by the Glasse.

The Solar Calcination of Antimony.

VVEE have demonstrated above, that antimonial Cal∣cination made with Niter, were opened by it, purified and fixed, which could not be done unlesse this salt did partake altogether of the nature of Light, which is found to be corporified in it: but we must shew patherically here, that the Sun, Father and spring of the Light, by whom Niter is generated, doth purifie and six Antimony much better, and with more efficacy then Niter can do; which is a kind of Calcination Philosophical indeed, and worthy a son of Art, whose curiosity leads him to search and pry into the wonders of Art and Nature; But those that are ignorant of the noble Works and rare Effects of Magical and Celestial Fire, drawn from the Rayes of the Sun by the help of a Refracting or burning Glass, shall scarce believe that which we have to say, and are to demonstrate upon this Subject.

For this noble and miraculous Fire preserves and encreases the substance of Antimony, whereas common fire and salts do alter and destroy it, which truth we make good thus: Take xij. grains of Antimony, either mineral or common, grind it into an im∣palpable powder, and calcine it in common fire, or by salt, it yields a smoaky vapour of an unpleasant smell and colour, which is heavy: for if this smoak was kept in a sublimatory Vessel, there would be found Flowers, which are nothing else but meteo∣riz'd antimony, as we will make it plain when we come to speak of the sublimation of this Mineral; which is the cause that the Antimony is found to be decreased of five or six graines, when the Calcination is driven and brought up to a gray or white pow∣der, which has yet a purging and emetical quality: but if you calcine the same weight and proportion of Antimony with a Re∣fracting or burning-Glass, which doth concentrate the light of the Sun-beams to make it work upon the matter, this Mineral doth yield also vapours as when it is calcined by common fire, and consequently it were rational that it should decrease to the same proportion; but it happens otherwise: for the Calcination

being often reiterated, and the Antimony turned into a white powder, you shall finde it to weigh xv. graines instead of xij. that were taken at first, and consequently it is encreased in double proportion almost, whereas the vapours which it hath exhaled should have decreased it as much: but that which is yet more to be admired, and lesse conceivable, is, that these xv. graines of white powder are neither vomitive nor purging, but contrari∣wise diaphoretical and Cordial; which doth cast into admiration not without reason, the most curious and intelligent searchers of Nature, and the wisest Physitians. But this Wonder shall cease as soon as we begin to apprehend and to know, that Light is that miraculous Fire which constitutes the principle of Antimony, and it is the same now that hath prepared it. By which it appears that this noble Mineral hath a kind of natural Magnes in it self, which makes it capable to attract from the highest Heavens this noble kin and similar light, by which it is produced and supply∣ed with its vertue. This Solar Calcination is then performed in the following manner.

Let the Artist have a burning-Glass of three or four foot Diame∣ter, made with two concave pieces of Glass joined together, the two concavites within looking one towards another, the convexi∣ty without, and let there be a hole to fill up the concave space with clear water; for this Glass will concentrate more beames, and calcine better then if it was all of one piece, and broader in Diameter. The pieces must be well glued together with Ich∣thyocolla or Fish glew, that the water may not come out again; it also must be fitted upon a Pedestal or Foot, wherein is a Screw to raise and depresse it according as occasion shall require; it must have moreover a pair of green glass Spectacles to help the sight and enable the Artist to lead the edge of the Sun beams upon the Antimony, and move it as it goes on calcining; otherwise the vivacious quicknesse of this light should impair and ruine the sight; place the Antimony upon a well polished Porphyry stone very smooth, and have a grinding stone ready at hand to grind it when it is turned into crums. The Antimony must be made into the subtilest powder that can be: and a great care must be taken in guiding the light, stirring the matter and grinding it, and so proceed till it be reduced into a white powder, which gathers

it self no more into crums, neither yields any smoak or exhalati∣on when the light is directed upon it, or when it is put upon a red glowing piece of Iron, which is an argument of its fixednesse. The Stellat or starry Regulus may much better be calcined in the common Antimony, and the Diaphoretical Remedy prepared therewith, shall prove much more efficacious and better. The Dosis may be from ij. grains to xij. to be used in all the Dis∣eases we have rehearsed above, and experience will make it mani∣fest, that this Remedy is comparably better and of more excel∣lency then the common Diaphoretick. The Figure here annexed will demonstrate all what belongs to this Operation much more natively and plainly then our Pen can represent it; and so put we an end to the products of the dry Calcination of Antimony, and come to the moist Calcination, which is Precipitation.

Moist Calcination of Antimony.

THere is no need of repeating here to no purpose, what we have already said in handling the Precipitates of Mercury, because it is rather a Calcination then Precipitation; wherefore we send back the Artist to what we have delivered above. We will give two Examples of these pretended Precipitates, that the Artist may the better be informed of all the manners of working, which may elevate his mind, and raise it to attempt higher and more important matters of which these preparation are, to speak pro∣perly, but the Rudiments.

The first Precipitate of Antimony.

℞ As much as you will of well chosen Antimony, make it into course powder, and throw it in a long, broad neck Ma∣trass, and by little and little pour upon it good Regal water, agi∣tating and stirring sostly the matter, until the Menstruum goes a∣bove it three fingers high, but take care in the working of the Dissolvent; put the Vessel to digest in ashes in an equal heat, until you see the Antimony fallen to the bottom in the form of

a white Calx; then pour all into a Retort, and draw off the Regal water by distillation in sand, until the said powder in the bottom becomes very dry; then digest it in distilled Rain-water, and edulcorate it well with new water, then dry it gently; after this, having put the same in a Crucible, reverberate it for the space of six, seven or eight houres, or until the colour be changed and exalted into a red: if you will spare fire and labour, you may put this Calx in a Crucible covered and well luted, and put it in a Potters Furnace to reverberate during the time his work is a ba∣king. This Precipitate doth very happily and successefully purge the yellow and mordicant, or harsh serosities, lurking for the most part in the bottom of the stomach and adjacent parts, which it does very well both upwards and downwards, not that it is of it self violent or purging: for it doth otherwise operate in those that are not stuft with those superfluous serosities, and have no vice or defectuosity in the fermentation of the Ventricle: for it works with them by Sweats, Urine, or insensible transpiration. The Dosis may be from gr. j. to viij▪ in cordial Conserves, or gelly of some. Fruit.

The second Antimonial Precipitate.

℞ As much as you will of well chosen Antimony, grind it to powder and put it in a Matrass, and pour upon it Regulus water two inches high; put the Vessel to digest in ashes, and stir it from time to time to facilitate and advance the dissolution: then draw off the dissolution by decantation very cleanly, or filtrate it in a glass Furnace with Glass grosly beaten: this filtration pour into a Retort, and distil softly in sand to a dry bottom; pour upon the remaining powder distilled Rain-water, and digest it in B. M. un∣til it hath contracted a red Tincture; separate the Tincture, and proceed in the digestion and extraction with new water, until it drawes no more colour; all these Tinctures gather together and filtrate, then draw off the water again in ashes by a slow distilla∣tion in a Cucurbite to a dry bottom: pour upon the remain∣ders very good distilled Vinegar, and extact with it again until it will take no more of the colour; filtrate the Tincture, and throw

away the white remaining feces: draw off the Vinegar in ashes flowly to a dry bottom, or rather to the consistency of a thick Syrup, upon which pour tartarized spirit of Wine; lute well the Vessel with its Blindhead, and put it to digest and extract in the vaporous Balneo during three weeks, and you shall have a faif and red Tincture, which you must filtrate again and throw a∣way the feces; then draw off the spirit of Wine in the slow heat of B. M. to a dry bottom, and you shall have a Powder or Precipitate, which is none of the least preparations which Anti∣mony doth yield. It is a soveraign Remedy against the Pocks and Scurvy; but above all it excels all other things to dissolve con∣gealed blood, and resolve and evacuate all inward Impostumes, and the matter contained in them without any danger. The Dosis must be from gr. ss. to iv. or v. in some appropriated water, or some cordial and stomachical Spirit, or in Bolus in some Con∣fection or Conserve.

The sublimation of Antimony.

THis is one of the most necessary operations to open the Bo∣dy of antimony, and to begin the maturation of the crude and indigested substances that are hid in it. And the Son of Art must know, that when Paracelsus speaks of reducing Antimony into al∣kohol by the preparation of his Lili; that his meaning is not to have it ground upon the Marble stone to reduce it into an impal∣pable powder; but that he understands another much more Phi∣losophical Trituration, which is the meteorizing and exalting of it into vapours by the help of fire, which is nothing else but its sublimation; for you must observe, that this great and wonderful Artist requires that all the Body of Antimony should passe, with∣out leaving behind the least small portihn of its sulphur and Mer∣cury, which it can do by no other way but sublimation. The sublimation yields also the Flowers of Cinnabar, whereof we shall speak hereafter.

How the Flowers of Antimony are to be prepared.

PUT an earthen unglazed Pot of strong, resisting and lasting substance against the violence of the fire in a wind-Furnace; let there be four holes (as Registers) about the pot to draw the better the fire; upon this pot lute another, which may encom∣passe the brim of the undermost, and let the bottom of it be bored with a hole of three or four inches Diameter, and let it have also another hole in the side of about an inch Diameter, that the an∣timony may be thrown that way into the first pot; after this, fit upon these two pots three or four more one on the top of the other, with a hole in the bottom as the second; but let the bottom in the last be no bigger then to passe your finger through, that it may be stopt with a little knob of earth. Have also an earthen stopple very exactly fitted to the hole through which you are to throw the Antimony. The pots being well luted, and the Lute dry, give it first a gentle fire, then encrease it until the first pot be glowing red on all sides; then begin to throw in it ʒ ij. of an∣timony in powder, and not above at once, renew with as much every half quarter of an hour, and alwayes maintain the fire that the pot may grow more red: you may keep doing this as long as you will, according to the quantity of matter you intend to pre∣pare, and you shall finde your antimony to be sublimated into gray, white, yellow, and sometimes red flowers, according to the managing of the fire. The Flowers are not much in use for purg∣ing sick persons, by reason of their violent Operation, for they are properly the sulphur of Antimony, but they are fit to prepare o∣ther Remedies after they have been duly corrected. They may ne∣verthelesse be administred from ij. grains to iv. or vj. to the stron∣gest cens••••••••tions, in Conserve of Roses or infusion of white Wine. But they that will make use of the flowers of antimony without fear of their violence, must sublimate them as we shall now teach.

Flowers of the Regulus of Antimony.

WEE take for this Operation Regulus of antimony, because it is already deprived of the most part of his impure and foul sulphur; and moreover, because the salt armoniack added in this Operation, carries only along with it the purest sulphur and Mercury of the antimony. ℞ then lb ss. of fair antimonial Re∣gulus, and as much of very pure armoniack salt, make them in∣to powder each severally, and mix them exactly; then put them in a Retort in sand, cover it with its still-Head; and fit a Matrass to it for Recipient, lute and give it fire until all what may ascend be ascended. Then take the Flowers which will be of a yellow co∣lour, and edulcorate them with distilled Rain-water, and you shall have an excellent Remedy, much lesse violent then the plain Flowers; it is administred to mad or maniack melancholy Per∣sons, and those that are disturbed with Quartan agues. The Do∣sis ought to be from ij. grains to vj. in Conserve of Roses, or infusion in some fermented Liquor.

Note, that if you put in fluxion the plain antimonial Flow∣ers, with the double proportion of their weight of very pure Salt-peter, in a Crucible in the open fire, and edulcorate them afterwards, then digest them in spirit of Wine the space of fif∣teen dayes, and then set the spirit of Wine burning upon them, there remaines a Diaphoretical powder, which is miraculous for purifying the blood; the Dosis of which is from iv. to x. or xij. grains. But as the plain and white Flowers of antimony, are an admirable Remedy in the most rooted Diseases, and that their violence hinders the free and more frequent use thereof, we think fit to give some Directions for the true correction of the same.

The correction of the Antimonial Flowers.

℞ ℥ j. Of very subtile and white antimonial Flowers, mix them with ℥ j. s. of the salt Tartar of Sennertus, put this mixture in a good Crucible, and with a strong fire melt then in a wind-Fur∣nace, and they will turn to a red lump: which reduce to powder in a hot Mortar, adding to it dissoluble Magistery of Pearls and Coral, of each ʒ j. s. put this powder in a Matrass, and pour up∣on it aromatized spirit of Wine four fingers high, and having stopt the Matrass with another opposite or a Blindhead, let it gent∣ly digest in ashes the space of three natural dayes, then pour all into a small Cucurbite, and draw off the spirit of Wine to a dry bottom, in the slow heat of B. M. and you shall have a well cor∣rected and pleasant Antimony, which keep for use in a well stopt Viol, otherwise it would melt and dissolve in the ayr. It is exhi∣bited in Conserve or in Wine, from iv. grains to xvj. against all inveterate Diseases, chiefly against the strongest and most stub∣born impressions of Melancholy, intermittent Feavers, and all kind of obstructions. It works variously according to the matters it meets with in the stomach: for it sometimes provoks vomiting, but not alwayes; it purges by Stools, Urines: but the chief and best operation thereof is performed by insensible transpiration, be∣cause it strengthens by the irradiation and emanation of its ver∣tue all the natural digestions, and causes the internal Archeus to drive away or expel from the Center to the Circumference, all what is hurtful and obstructive to the oeconomy of Health and Life.

How to prepare the Aromatized Spirit of Wine.

℞ Galanga, Gloves, Cinnamon, Mace ana ʒ ij. Saffron ʒ j. s. Lignum aloes ʒ j. Ambergreese ℈ j, and Musk vj. grains, re∣duce all to powder and mix them; then extract their Tinctures in a Blindhead or double Vessel with good alkoholized spirit of Wine;

draw off the Tincture and proceed in the extraction, until the spirit of Wine drawes no more, join all together, and keep it in a bottle as a great Cordial and strengthener of the brain and stomach; as likewise to help digestion, and to correct Chymical Remedies, and particularly those that are extracted from Mercury and Antimony. We will not speak here of the Cinnabar or Vermilion of Antimo∣ny, though performed by sublimation, because we intend to speak of it hereafter, when we shall come to treat of the distillation of an∣timonial Butter, and the glasical Oyle of this Mineral; for these operations cannot be made asunder.

The distillation of Antimony, which yields the Vinegar or acid Spirit, the Oyle and Spirit of Antimony.

THE Son of Art must here be armed with patience for the di∣stillation of this antimonial Vinegar; for besides that very little can be extracted, much time must be spent besides in the O∣peration, and much heed and circumspection used; but as he shall finde in Authors that this acid doth extract its own Body, it is ne∣cessary he should be taught a good mechanical way to make the di∣stillation thereof: which is performed in the following manner.

The distillation of Antimonial Vinegar.

℞ Mineral Antimony coursly beaten to powder, and put a∣bout ℥ j. in earthen pots made in the form of small Cupels, which must be placed Checkerwise one above the other, in the lower part of a capacious earthen Retort cut in two pieces, and having fitted again the upper part to it, lute it well, and bind with a thick wyre; then place it in a close Reverberatory, and having fitted to it a large Recipient, give it a good fire the space of twenty four houres, as you would do for the distillation of the spirits of Salt or Vitriol; then cease the fire, and opening the Vessels, keep the acid spirit which is come forth but in very little quantity; then put new antimony in the small Cupels and begin anew, and thus proceed until you have enough of this spirit for the work you in∣tend,

or for physical uses. But you must ever set apart the Mi∣neral antimony after it hath been distilled, and expose it to open ayr: for it will attract from the heavenly influence of the stars and the spirit of the ayr, enough to supply again a new distillation at the end of six weeks or two months; and thus lb vij. or viij. of Mineral antimony will suffice for the distillation of this Spirit, and you will never be unprovided for your use in the same Ope∣ration. This acid Spirit is used for extracting the Tincture of its own Body: wherefore the Artist must not be mistaken when he reads in the most famous Writers, and celebrated Authors which have treated of Antimony, that it is to be extracted with distil∣led Vinegar, for he must not understand this of common Vine∣gar; but he must know that their meaning is of vinegar extracted from Antimony without addition. This acid is singular to cool all intempery of the parts of the Body, and chiefly ebullitions of blood, wherefore it is with a very happy success administred in continual Feavers, malignant, hot and putrid Agues; for it penetrates the body, and gives a great refreshment to poor Pa∣tients, you must mix some of it with alleluya water, or only with common water, and a little of the syrup of juice of alleluya or Wood-sorrel. The Dosis must be to a pleasant sharpnesse and a∣cidity; Besides its internal use, it is wonderful outwardly apply∣ed: for it takes away the fire and inflammation of burnings made with Gunpowder, if it be mixed with salt of ♄ in water, and ap∣plyed with wet Fillets, or be made into a Nutritum or Liniment with Oyle, to anoint therewith the burnt parts, and thus you shall not fail to see some very notable Effects of

The distillation of Oyl or Balsom of Antimony.

℞ Equal parts of white Sugar-candy and well chosen Anti∣mony, grind them each severally, and being exactly mingled, put them in a Retort, and put over M j. of very clean Hemp, to hinder the body of the matter to rise and passe in the Reci∣pient, when it begins to feel the heat and make an ebullition, which cannot otherwise be hindered then by this Tow. The Retort, place in a close Reverberatory, and fit to the same a good Recipient,

beginning the fire slowly, and encreasing it by degrees, until you see no more drops nor vapours come over the Helm. Let the Vessels cool, and pour in a Matrass what you shall finde in the Recipient, add to it tartarized spirit of Wine three fingers high, and digest them together in the vaporous Balneo the space of three or four dayes, filtrate all in the cold through a Cotton in a small Cucurbite, which having placed in B. M. draw off the spirit of Wine, keep this Oyle or Balsom in a Viol for use: for it is an excellent Balsam, and almost miraculous for the sudden cure of new Wounds, Ulcers, Contusions, if it be only applyed upon, or in the same with Feathers or Cotton. But it is besides a surpri∣sing Remedy against intermittent Feavers, and chiefly against quar∣tans; for the cure of which are prepared the following Pills.

Pills against Agues.

℞ ℥ j. of antimonian Balsom, ℥ s. of Aloes purified by the juice of Carduus Benedictus, and reduced into an Extract, ʒ ij. of Ambergrease, ʒ j. of Tincture of good Saffron, thickened and evaporated into a thick syrup: reduce all into a lump or masse sit for Pills, which some do call mercurial Laudauum, and good against Agues. The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to xvj. in Con∣serve of Marigold Flowers, or Roses: they gently purge down∣wards, and sometimes provoke sweat, or work by insensible trans∣piration.

Distillation of the Butter or icy Oyle of Antimony.

IT is necessary we should deliver some Notes upon this Opera∣tion before we describe it: for it hath been made so many wayes, and Authors entertain to this day so various opinions a∣bout it, that an Artist will be much put to it, to know what to be∣lieve. For they have first been of opinion, that the sublimated Mer∣cury did contribute very much to the purging vertue of such Re∣medies as are prepared with this Oyle, and that the substance of the Mercury did come over the Helm and make part of this Oyle,

which neverthelesse is neither true nor probable, as the sublima∣tion of Mercury with Sulphur and Antimony doth peremtorily evince, even as the remainder of the Mercury which is vivified again into a Body of running Quick-silver, either in the Retort or Recipient. But if this Oyle be made with the Regulus of the Antimony, there is no sublimation at all, because the Regulus is devested of its external and course Sulphur; but all the Mercury is quickened again in its own weight, except the spirits of those Salts that have forsaken him to work upon the Antimony, and dis∣solved it to convert it into Butter. But the proof is more con∣vincing yet, if the Sons of Art will take the pains to receive that Emetical powder, which is made from this Butter into a Regulus by the help of Salt, Tartar and Niter, by which it appears that this powder is nothing else but pure Antimony. And the last and surest proof is, that this Butter of Antimony may be prepared without the mixture of sublimate Mercury: for if you take only Vitriol, common salt, and Antimony, you may draw an icy Oyle which will be of the same nature of that which is prepared with Sublimate, except that it shall not be so subtile and penetrative, the spirits of the grosse substances being not so capable of pene∣trating or well dissolving the Antimony, as are the spirits coa∣gulated with corrosive Sublimate. The second Note is concern∣ing the Dosis of the Sublimate: for some do take equal parts, others the double, and others more or lesse; but as a true Son of Art must perform his operations without Hesitancy, and with a real knowledge of the matters he works upon, and of their re∣ciprocal action, he must lay as an indubitable Axiome and truth, that the Dissolvent which is the Agent, must ever be predomi∣nant in weight over the dissoluble substance, and so he shall ne∣ver fail to work with successe, if he takes three parts to one. Some do rank this Work amongst the Mercurial Operations, and do call it Mercurius vitae, or Life Mercury, but we did chuse to put it amongst the preparations of Antimony, for the reasons above de∣clared. It is thus prepared.

℞ lb j. of well chosen Antimony, and lb iij. of corrosive Sublimate, very pure and chrystalline, put them into powder, each severally, and mingle them together; then having poured this mixture into a Retort, three parts whereof at least of the four

must be void, and fit a Recipient with a narrow Neck, that the Nose of the Retort may not come into this Neck above an inch, for the need there is to cause the icy Oyle to melt and flow when it coagulates it self in the said neck of the Retort or of the Re∣cipient; lute the joints only with paper and Meal-pap, and give it an open fire gently by degrees, until the vapours and drops be∣gin to ascend, and so keep it in that state until some matter be∣gins to sublimate on the top of the Retort, for it is a sign that the Cinnabar and Vermilion begins to rise; then take off the Re∣cipient, and substitute another, because that which should still down, might in some kind spoil and prejudice that which should be contained in the first: this done, encrease the fire vigorously, and even encompasse the Retort to the top with burning coales, placing them above gently, to drive all the sublimation into the neck of the Retort, and the rest of the Mercury which shall not have sulphur enough to be coagulated into Cinnabar shall quicken again, as it will appear; after the sublimation is ended, separate the Cinnabar from the running Mercury, and keep this last for the same uses as you do common Quick-silver. But the Cinnabar may be used for preparing Trochisks, to perfume those that shall be in a course of cure of the Pocks. They are also used in Pills in Venerean Diseases, and all the dependances of it, because this Antimonian Sulphur which hath cleft to the Mercury, and hath coagulated it, is of a much more exalted Vertue then common Sulphur, insomuch as the one joined to the other, doth purifie to∣gether the masse of the blood, and hinder all corruptions which may be generated in the parts dedicated to copulation. The Do∣sis must be from vj. graines to xx. in Pills or Bolus, with Chian Turpentine, Peruvian Balsom, or extract of yellow Amber or Karabe.

Pour the icy or glacial Oyle which is in the first Recipient into another Retort, after you have caused it to melt in a flow heat; the Funnel also must be hot that nothing may coagulate, make all what is in the neck of the Retort which receives the substance to flow, that there may be nothing in it but very pure; this Retort place in sand, apply a Recipient to it, which may be dry and clean, and rectifie it in a graduate heat until nothing more will flow from it, and if the encompassing ayr should happen to

congeal the distilsing Liquor, cause it to melt with a well kindled coal, drawn by degrees near the neck of the Recipient and the Retort. The Rectification being ended, put the third part of what is distilled in a Viol, which shall be the ice or glacial Oyle of Antimony or its Butter, which hath no other use but for out∣ward applications, to hinder Gangrenes and the growing of dead flesh, the dead part being only rubbed and besmeared over, either with Cotton wooll or a Pencill. The same may be done also upon pestilential Boyls, which it will dead immediately, so as the scar easily will separate from it, without any greater mortification of the flesh; and moreover the cure is far easier: this Oyle chiefly is very useful for Surgeons to make Cauteries or Issues on a sudden, hinder the rottennesse of bones and advance the exfo∣liation, wherefore it is also a very convenient Caustick to bring to perfection the cure of moist and weeping Fistula's; the two other parts are fit for Emetical powder and mineral Bezoar, as we shall say hereafter.

How the Emetical Powder is to be prepared.

℞ Half of what was left of your glacial oyle of Antimony, and cause it to melt if it be coagulated; if not, pour it just as it is in a pan, where there may be about lb iij. of distilled Rain∣water, and it will immediately precipitate into a Body white as snow, because the salts which did hold fast the Reguline and Mer∣curial part of the Antimony in the dissolution, join now to the water which is their Dissolvent, and so forsake the Body of the Antimony, even as they had forsaken the sublimate Mercury in the foregoing distillation. The precipitation being ended, stir all with a wooden Pestle very clean, to join exactly the saline spi∣rits with the water, then let it rest, and the water being very clear, separate as much as you can by decantation without stirring the bottom and keep the water by it self; then pour new water until the pan be full, and so proceed in the Lotion till the water comes off insipid; then separate all the water by filtration, and dry the powder betwixt two papers very slowly, and so shall you have an Emetical powder white and pure, which by some is called powder

of Algarot, from Algorotto an Italian, which is said to be the In∣ventor thereof: others improperly and falsly call it Mercurius Vitae, or Life Mercury. Some others do honour this Powder with the name of Angelick powder, or of the white Eagle, by reason of its rare and precious vertues. The Dosis may be from ij. gr. to vij. or viij. It is ordinarily used to cleanse and purge away all the hurtful and peccant humours and matters from the body, and chiefly in the first Region, which this powder doth evacuate by vomiting and stools; wherefore it is often used in the Plague and malignant Feavers, diseases in the Head, Pocks, running pains, cure of malignant Ulcers and Dropsie, wherein it works for the most part without provoking to vomit.

We have said, that the first water in which the precipitation hath been made was to be set apart, because it is impregnated with the vertue of those spirits of salts which were used in the sublimation of Mercury, and are discovered by their sharp and acid taste. If the water be drawn off by distillation in sand, until it be reduced to three or four ℥ of Liquor, you shall have that which by Hermetical Philosophers is called Philosophical spirit of Vitriol, very efficacious and of singular vertue to put in Julaps and Drinks of feaverish persons, and of such as are troubled with Me∣grims: but above all it is of wonderful vertue for inveterate pains of the Pocks, because it evacuates and drives away sufficiently those malignant and sharp serosities which do prick the membranes and all the nervous and sinuous parts of the Body. And if it be not distilled, this water must be kept and mixt in the Drink of such as are afflicted with the Pocks or Dropsie, to such a proportion as to give it a pleasant sharpnesse, and you shall see unexpected effects, because these saline Spirits have kept yet in themselves some Cha∣racter and Idea of the vertue and efficacy, both of Mercury and Antimony. They that will prepare a lesse violent Emetical pow∣der, and a more efficacious Mineral Bezoar, must distil their gla∣cial oyle with good antimonial Regulus, but they shall then have no Cinnabar.

Preparation of the Mineral Bezoar.

℞ The last parcel of your antimonial Butter; which having weiged, put it in a capacious Matrass, and then throw upon it its equal weight of very good spirit of Niter, drop by drop in the be∣ginning, by reason of the quick action of this Spirit upon the mat∣ter, and of the subtile and strong vapours issuing upon a sudden from the Vessel, which might be hurtful to the Artist; thus pro∣ceed by little and little until you have put all in; and after the dis∣solution is ended, & the Liquor begins to look clear and defecated, pour it into a Cucurbite, which place in sand under a Chimney, and let the spirit vapour away to a dry bottom: which done, pour again as much spirit of Niter as before, but then the action will cease, be∣cause the foam and froth of the Dragon is already mortified by the spirit of the infernal Cerberus; make it likewise evaporate to a dry bottom, and pour again the same weight (of spirit of Niter) for the third and last time, and evaporate it also, until what remaines in the bottom of the Cucurbite becomes fair, white, dry, brickle and in∣sipid; but in case there should remain yet some pleasant sharpnesse in it, it can be of on prejudice: wherefore it will be needless to en∣crease and urge the fire higher, but contrariwise take off the Ves∣sel and let the matter cool, which is your Mineral Bezoar; this put in a Viol to keep for use. It is a great Alexitery, which works a∣gainst all manner of venom, and from this excellent vertue it took the name of Bezoar by excellency, to which was superadded the name of Mineral, to difference it from animal Bezoar, to which is attributed also a great power and faculty to resist poyson; but it comes in no way near the goodnesse or vertue of our Antimonial Remedy, which possesses yet many other vertues and essential proprieties, by reason of the solar Sulphur which is in it, the efficacy whereof is not to be exhausted: for this Rare Medicine doth po∣tently expel by Sweat and Urine, but chiefly by insensible transpi∣ration, all the hurtful and poysonous humours lurking in the bo∣dies both of healthful and sick persons, and especially in all Dis∣eases where sweat is absolutely necessary. Briefly, I can affirm

with a constant truth, that whosoever will make use of it, shall never find himself soon or late disappointed of the benefit and help which he expects. In case the Disease proceeds from the wa∣ters and superfluous malignant serosities of the body, such as are those that are predominant in Pockes, Scurvy, Itch and scabs of the skin; the Dosis is to be from ij. grains to xij. and if necessity requires, it may even extend to twenty. But those that intend to make use of it, must have a care to prescribe to their Patients Broths of Veal and Chicken made with Scorzonera Roots, and keep their bodies soluble with Glysters of plain newly made Urine, putting every third day in the Broths of their Patient, which is to be taken fasting, ℈ j. or ʒ φ. of salt of Tartar of Seunertus. But the Artist must know that mineral Bezoar, is properly no∣thing else but a diaphoretical Antimony, fixed by the spirit of Niter, being before an antimony reduced to Liquor by the mini∣stery of saline Spirits, and so it needed to fix it an ingenuous and fiery Liquor, as the body of Niter doth fix the grosse body of antimony, and that as the Diaphoretick is purer and more sub∣tile, so doth it also work quicker and in a lesse Dosis; they that desire to make use of it, shall have recourse to what we have plainly and without disguise delivered of the vertues of diapho∣retical Antimony, And as this Remedy is universal, so may it also be specificated, and appropriated to some parts, adding any of the Metals, as Gold, Silver, Copper or Tin; the eighth part whereof may be added with the Regulus, and fixed with a triple of pure Niter, or distilling the same Regulus with three times as much of corrosive Sublimate, and making thereof the gla∣cial Oyle, which the Artist may fix with three several Solutions and Extractions of the spirit of Niter, and he shall procure by this way that which is called Diaphoretick, or Solar, Lunar, Venerean, Jov••al Bezoar, the description whereof is found in Authors: it sufficeth here to have taught the manner of opera∣tion, which is common to all these preparations.

How to prepare the water or Spirit of compounded Antimony.

℞ Of well chosen Antimony, common Sulphur or Brim∣stone, and well purified Niter ana equal parts; put them into powder severally, and then mingle together. This done, have an earthen Retort, in the back of which be a gutter or conduit four inches long, and of an inch broad in diameter; this Re∣tort place in a close Reverberatory, so as to be encompassed and walled in on all sides, except four Registers to draw the fire, and the end of the conduit to throw in the matter; fit to it a very capacious Recipient wherein must be lb j. of water, and lute it exactly, put the fire under the Retort, and by degrees let it grow red hot; then begin to throw in ʒ j. of the mixed matter by the conduit, and stop it immediately, and the Reci∣pient will soon be filled with vapours and clouds arising from the inflamed matter; be careful not to throw above dram j. at once of this matter, otherwise you would cause all your Vessels to flye into the ayre, by the violence of so sudden an inflamma∣tion: wherefore I do advise the Artist to make use in this Ope∣ration of a first Recipient of stone metal with three conduits, the first whereof shall receive the neck of the Retort, and the two others, each a great and capacious glasse body called in French Bellon, that so the vapours may finde more room to extend them∣selves in their going out, and neither the Artist nor the Opera∣tion may run any hazard. Keep up the fire to maintain the red∣nesse of the Vessel, and throw in new matter, as soon as the Recipients shall grow clearer of themselves, and go on thus until you think you have a sufficient quantity of distilled Liquor. The Vessels being grown cold, draw the Liquor out of the Recipient and filtrate it, and distil off from it in sand with a slow heat; the water which you had put in the Recipient, which will carry away with it the greatest part of the Empyreuma of the spirit, ke••p for use. This Remedy doth attenuate, cut, subtili∣ate, digests and dissolves all manner of tartarous, slimy, thick and viscous matter, in whatsoever part of the body it be found, be

it never so strongly rooted and incorporated in it, expelling the same by the appropriated Emunctories, as by Stools, Urines, sweat, and spitting. Wherefore it is of singular vertue against ob∣structions of Liver, Spleen, Mesentery, Pancreas, Matrix and Hy∣pocondra's, but chiefly if it be actuated with the salt of Mars. It is administred during the space of six weeks, in spring water with a little Sugar, to a pleasant acidity and sharpnesse, so that from it is made a kind of true mineral Water, whereof sick Pa∣tients may drink as much as they please. This same Operation may be performed with Tartar also, instead of Brimstone: but this last will be more unpleasant in taste then the other.

Liquation or resolution of Antimony.

THis Operation is nothing else but the resolution in the moist ayr, or in a Cellar, of the skin or feces of Regulus made with Tartar, or you must calcine Antimony, Niter and Tartar to∣gether, and expose to the ayr, or put it in a cold Cellar what you finde in the Retort. The union of these three substances flowes into a thick and blackish red Liquor, which hath no other use then to cleanse and cure corroding and faetid Ulcers, and chiefly fistulous and hollow ones. For the salts do cleanse and mundifie, and the sulphur of Antimony is the consolidative Balsom.

The extraction of Antimony.

WEE are now at last arrived to the true volatilization of Antimony, to extract the Sulphurs and Tinctures there∣of, which are two of the choisest preparations that can be made of it; wherefore we would advise the Son of Art not to be too forward and hasty in this work, but to work punctually as Art shall require, if he will attain to the desired end. We shall then first of all give a description of the strong Lye, with which the sulphur of Antimony is to be extracted; after ••hich we shall teach the Extraction it self; and in the third place the fixation of

the said sulphur of Antimony. Then we will speak of the Tin∣ctures, and of the wayes of extracting the same, giving two se∣veral examples thereof, to instruct the better the Son of Art how to proceed in these preparations, which are of the first and high∣est importance, by reason of their eminent vertues and their great essicacy.

Description of the strong Lye, by which the extraction of the sulphur of Antimony is performed.

℞ Salt of Tartar, Pot-ashes, quick lime and burnt Allom, ana equal parts, beat to powder each severally, then mix them with double their weight of fire ashes, which put in a raw, course linnen cloth upon an inverted sieve, placed upon a large earthen Pan; then pour upon it Rain-water somewhat more then luke∣warm, cohobate the water ten or twelve times to impregnate it well with the salts; then filtrate it through paper, that no im∣purity may remain with it. Mercury may be purified with it, as well as the sulphur of Antimony extracted, which is performed in the following manner.

How to extract the sulphur of Antimony.

℞ lb j. of antimonial Cinnabar, beat it to small powder, and throw it in an earthen glazed pot; pour upon it of the strong Lye to fill up the third part of the pot, let them boyl to∣gether the space of three houres, or something more, putting still new warm Lye in the room of that which vapours away by the action of the fire; separate by decantation the Lye from the flowing Mercury which is in the bottom of the pot, and let it rest, and the sulphur of Antimony will settle by degrees in the said bottom of a fair red colour; separate the Lye from it softly, and wash it with distilled Rain-water, until it comes away tastelesse, cause it to dry gently, and thus shall you have the true and genuine sulphur of An••••••ony, whereof the following Panacea is made.

Panacea of the true antimonial Sulphur.

℞ Some of this antimonial Sulphur and very pure Regulus, ana ℥ j. beat them each severally to powder, and mingle exactly together, this mixture put in a Retort, and pour upon it ℥ iij. of well rectified oyle of Sulphur, or as much very good oyle of Vitriol, digest them together in a very slow heat the space of eight dayes; then place the Retort in sand and distil it to a dry bottom, cohobate that which comes out upon the feces again two times, and last of all drive the fire as high and quick as you can the space of xij. houres, after all the moisture is extracted. Or else it will not be amisse to break the Retort, after all the liquor is come over the Helm, and grind the matter found in the bottom, to reverberate afterwards four or five houres upon a Test under a Mussel, to drive away all the impressions of acid and corrosive Spirits. That which hath been reverberated put in a Cucurbite, and cohobate four times upon aromatized spirit of Wine, prepared in the manner we have taught above. This Remedy may be ad∣ministred single from j. grain to viij. in cordial Confections or Conserves; but it is much better if mingled with twice as much dissoluble Magistery of Coral, and given from iiij. to xx. grains in the same Confections or Conserves, prescribing upon it a little of good Malmesy, or some other Wine of quick and noble Spirits. This Medicine hath few to be compared with it, in driving by sweat whatsoever corrupts and staines the masse of the blood which it perfectly doth purifie, insomuch as it may be thought fit and ser∣viceable for all Diseases that require a sensible transpiration, and chiefly Leprosie, Pocks, Scurvy, and noisome eruptions in the skin of what nature soever: the Dosis must be repeated according to the fixed nature or volatility of the Disease: for it equally serves against colliquation and obstruction, because it strengthens the Spi∣rits, which are the chief Masters and Directors of all the functions of life and health. Particularly, it is an admirable specifick in all pestilential, epidemical and malignant diseases; for in such it doth much more excellently shew its power and vertue.

Of the Tincture of Antimony.

BEfore we come to any particular description of the Tinctures, we must give some general notions to the Sons of Art which will much contribute to their information, and make it appear that it were much better to administer without then with Wine, those Remedies which are extracted from Antimony, because that the most volatile part of the Wine doth add still to its vo∣mitive faculty, and opens it too much instead of closing and fixing the same. They must then observe generally, that when∣soever they define an extraction of Antimony with intent to make it a Cordial, corroborating and diaphoretical Remedy, they must never begin either extraction or dissolution by spirit of Wine, neither by any other volatile sulphureous spirit analogal to it; but rather it must be done with some acid spirit of a concentra∣ting and fixative vertue, and after this reserve and use the spirit of Wine for the last extraction. Insomuch as it may be said, that the Tincture of Antimony is nothing else but a dissolution of some part of the same Antimony, and the extraction of its inter∣nal and fixed sulphur. The first operation is performed by the help of an acid spirit, and the second by the mediation of the spirit of Wine by digestion and circulation, as we will shew in the fol∣lowing practice.

The first Antimonial Tincture.

WEE have taught heretofore the true correction of Anti∣mony, and the way to deprive it from all the foul and im∣pure sulphur which is in it, when we shewed the manner of preparing the Glass thereof without addition, wherefore we shall not repeat it over again here. It will suffice to advise the Artist, to take lb φ. of that Glass made without addition, fair, red, and transparent as an oriental Granate, and beat it to an impalpable powder, grinding it upon the Porphyrie stone; this powder put in

a Matrass, and pour upon it spirit of Venus four fingers high; stir it nimbly in the beginning, then put it to digest, dissolve and extract in ashes in a slow heat, and your spirit in three or four dayes will contract a fair, red colour higher then Burgundy Wine; draw off this spirit by decantation, and pour new in the room, to extract again the space of three dayes, and thus proceed three times; then filtrate the Tinctures, and put in a Cucurbite in B. M. and draw off the Menstruum in a slow heat to the consi∣stency of a thick Syrup, upon which pour three fingers high of good alkohol of Wine, and stop the Cucurbite with its Blind∣head and lute it well; then put this Vessel in a vaporous Balneo, and let it extract, circulate and exalt there; the spirit will by de∣grees be impregnated with the centrical and solar sulphur of An∣timony; when it is well and sufficiently coloured, take it away, and put new in the room, and thus continue until the spirit of Wine tinges no more, then join together and filtrate all the Tin∣ctures; the filtrated Tincture put in a Cucurbite in the vapour of Balneo, and draw off three parts of the liquor, and keep the rest as an excellent and noble Tincture endowed with infinite ver∣tues; for it is a soveraign Remedy against all inveterate obstru∣ctions of the Liver, Spleen, and all other parts of the inferiour belly or ventricle, as also against abstructions of the Lungs, stop∣ping of monthly Courses, Green-sicknesse, both kinds of Jaun∣dice, Dropsie, Ptysick, Asthma or short breath, Pleuresie, Ca∣chexy, Hypocondrical Melancholy; against all manner of Ul∣cers both internal and external, Leprosie, Plague, Pocks both great and small, all kind of Itch and Scabs, Measels, and ge∣nerally whatsoever obstructs or disorders the course of health. It purges and drives away whatsoever is hurtful to the body by Sweats, Urine, spitting or salivation, and insensible transpiration. The Dosis may be from ij. to ix. or x. drops in Spanish Wine, or some other analogous Liquor, as strong Hydromel, Mead or Malmesy; they that will make use of this Remedy must take it in the bed, and patiently expect sweats; the use may be reitera∣ted every third day for those that are actually sick, and once in a month for those that take it by prevention, and to unburthen Nature from the superfluities of ill digestions. And as these Tinctures can hardly be transported from place to place with∣out

danger, the rest of the spirit of Wine may be evaporated to a consistency of concocted Hony, adding to it ℥ ij. of powder of Hartshorn, philosophically prepared to every ℥ j. of the thick Syrup, and so shall you have an admirable Confection or Electuary, which may be sent and transporthed everywhere; the Dosis whereof may be from iiij. to xx. grains, drinking upon it the same Liquors above mentioned, or this Confection shall be mingled with a spoonful of one of the said Liquors or Drinks, and a Glass of the said Drinks over it, observing the same prescri∣ptions as before.

The second Antimonial Tincture.

TO attain to the preparation of this Tincture, make first your Menstruum; for whose composition ℞ well chosen Vitriol, common Salt very pure, and quick-lime, ana lb j. salt Armoniack ℥ iiij. put them each severally into powder, and having mixed them, throw in [a Cucurbite], pouring over it lib. iij. of good distilled Vinegar; stop the Cucurbite with its Blind-head and lute it, and so make the digestion thereof with a slow heat the space of a natural day; which done, put all in a Retort, and by a very well regulated and graduated fire, draw the spirit thereof in 24 or 30. houres. Weigh what is come over the Helm in liquor, and add as much of dry common salt to it, and rectifie it in a regulate heat, so as all what shall distil may come away fair and clear from it, and nothing of muddinesse.

Then ℞ lb j. of antimonial Glass made without addition, and grounded to an alkohol upon the Porphyrie stone; put it in a large Matrass, and pour upon it your distilled Spirit, stir them together, and put them in digestion and dissolution in ashes in an equal heat, and the Glass being dissolved, pour off all what is clear and defecated by inclination, and filtrate the remainder: then put all in a Cucurbite, cover it with a Still-head, lute and place your Vessel in B. M. to draw off the Menstruum to a dry bottom in a moderate heat; there will settle in the bottome of the Cucur∣bite a thick, slow, viscous and blackish matter, which put in the cold Cellar upon a square Glass or Table, to make it flow and dis∣solve

into an Oyle, or to speak more properly, into a red liquor, which will leave some feces on the glass Table. This red liquor pour into a small Cucurbite, and draw off the moisture from it in ashes till the matter be dry, which take away immediatly without delay before the ayr hath got and insinuated it self into it, and put it in a Pellican or double digesting Vessel, and pour upon it of the best alkohol of Wine, dephlegmated upon calcined Tar∣tar, lute the joints and passages of the Vessel, and put it to di∣gest in the vaporous Balneo in sawdust, until the spirit be tinged with a fair, red, high colour, which draw off and put new spirit in the place, and thus go on until the spirit of Wine takes no more Tincture, filtrate all the Tinctures, and draw off the two thirds of the Menstruum in the slowest heat of B. M. and keep the rest which is the Tincture, as a rich Treasure for health. It is fit and useful for all the Diseases, to which we related above that the first was proper, with the same precautions and the same Dosis.

But Note, that the Artist must not throw away the remainder of these two Tinctures: but rather keep them to extract the salt thereof, as we shall teach in its place. The Artist must also know, that the red liquor prepared in the cold Cellar, is one of the best Balsoms in the World for curing of Wounds, and all kind of ma∣lignant Ulcers be they never so dangerous, but chiefly those that are pocky, and against Nodus's; wherefore let him keep some portion by it self, to have his recourse unto it when there is need.

The infusion of Antimony.

THe infusion of prepared or unprepared Antimony is no very mysterious businesse, wherefore we shall make but a short reflection upon it, and only say that this Operation produces E∣metical Wines and Ophthalmick Water. Now Emetical Wine hath several demonstrations in Writers; for some call it aqua Benedicta or holy Water. Emetical, antimonial Wine, sacred Wine, and so•••• other names: Some have also made use of mat∣ters variously prepared to make this Remedy, as likewise of va∣rious Menstruums; for they have taken sometimes antimonial

Glass, sometimes Flowers, sometimes Crocus Metallorum, E∣metical powder, and even crude Antimony; the vertues of these various preparations hath been extracted, either with Wine, Vi∣negar, Mead or Hydromel, Beer, Cider, or aqua vitae. Moreover, they have made Extracts, Electuaries, Lozenges and Syrups, so that they have been disguised under any disguise at the arbitra∣ment of the Author or liking of the Patient; The Artist might of all these materials and Menstruums chuse which he likes best; but our advise is still that he should chuse the best prepared mat∣ter, and that which hath lesse of impure sulphur in it: Where∣fore let him take off the Glass made without addition, and that he may be yet surer of his way, we shall teach the manner of yet better correcting it, and preparing therewith some infusions and preparations, by which it shall appear, that those that cast a dis∣reputation upon antimonial Remedies, were never well aquainted with them, since they may be made more secure and pleasant then the easiest and gentlest purge which may be taken out of Vege∣tables; and as we have said that Wine did render Antimony too volatile, we will neverthelesse shew that it may be extracted with Wine, and yet at the same time deprived from that volatile spirit, which exalts it and advances too quickly its operation.

The correction of antimonial Glass, or Emetical powder corrected.

℞ lb xij. of antimonial Glass made without addition, and ℥ iij. ss. of very pure and dry Salt-peter, beat them each seve∣rally to powder, then mingle exactly together; after this, put a small earthen pot not glazed in a Furnace upon a round T••e, encompasse it with fire and coals, administring your heat by de∣grees until it growes red hot, then throw your mixture by spoon∣fuls therein, and when all the matter is in, let it grow glowing hot without melting, then remove away the pot and take up the lump, which shall be of a yellowish colour, beat i•• to powder in a hot Mortar, this powder throw in in a Chop••••e or almost a pint of distilled Rain-water, and stir it without delay, that the Ni∣ter might quickly be dissolved, then draw off immediately the

water, and dry the remaining powder, observing this, that you mingle not the coursest part of the powder in the bottom of the Vessel, but content your self with the subtilest part thereof; and so shall you have so gentle an Emetical powder, and so well cor∣rected, that it may be given either in infusion or Syrup, and even in Wine to sucking Children and aged persons, without any fear of the least accident. The Dosis for Children is from iij. to ix. gr. in infusion in boyling Wine in proportionate quantity, which must be filtrated in the morning, and so administred to the Patient. The Dosis for strong and more aged persons is from viij. grains to ℈ j. with the same method and observation. But if you will do better, prepare therewith the following Syrup.

The true antimonial Syrup.

℞ ℥ j. of this Emetical powder corrected, and put it in in∣fusion in B. M. in a glass Cucurbite, with pound iiij. of well de∣purared juice of Quinces the space of three or four dayes; after this draw off the clear part of it by decantation, and filtrate the muddy, mix with this juice impregnated with the vertue of Anti∣mony, lib. ij. of Sugar in powder, boyl all these to the consi∣stency and thicknesse of a syrup in a glazed earthen pan in the va∣pour of a Balneo; and the syrup being made, add unto it vj. drops of oyle of Cinament, and ij. drops of oyl of Cloves, well wrought before into ʒ j. of Sugar in powder. This Syrup is a noble pur∣gative and Emetick for the most tender and delicate constitutions, The Dosis is from ʒ ij. to ℥ j. ℥ j. ss. to ℥ ij.

The true Emetical purgative Tartar.

℞ ℥ iiij. of the corrected Emetical powder before it hath been washt, mix them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as much of pure and well dryed Tartar, this mixture put in a glass Cucurbite in sadd, and pour upon it ℥ iij. of distilled Rain-water, boyl and evaporate them together to a dry bottom, then take up the lump and dissolve it in a sufficient quantity of the same water, filtrate the dissolution to separate the

powder from it, then evaporate the filtrated liquor to a salt, upon which pour drop by drop very good spirit of Vitriol, untill you shall perceive no more of ebullition nor any noise, which is a true sign that it is satiated; evaporate all the superfluous moi∣sture, until you have a very dry salt of a pleasant taste, which is administred in Broths or some convenient Decoction; sometimes it works only by Stools and Urines, but it provokes also for the most part Vomiting, when it meets with a stomach stuft with slime and other viscous matters which do rise in the stomach and ferment easily. The Dosis may be from ℈ s. to ʒ s. It is a Remedy which cannot be sufficiently praised nor commended. Our Coun∣sel then is, that the Artist prepare his Emetical Wine with this corrected Glass, viz. infusing ℥ j. φ. of his Emetical corrected pow∣der in lb vj. of boyling wine in B. M. in a great double or blind glass Body, or in a Pellican the space of 24 houres, then filtrate it afterwards through a paper, wherein hath been put ℥ j. ss. of Su∣gar in powder, impregnated with ℈ j. of oyle of Cinnament, and ℈ φ. of oyle of Cloves; and thus shall you have an Emetical Wine, which may be relyed upon without any scruple, and for using of which no Physition can ever run hazard of being reproach∣ed. The Dosis shall be from ounce ss. to iij. or iiij. the vertues of these three last Remedies you shall finde with those we have attributed to the other preparations, both purging and Emetical, to which we refer him to avoid needlesse repetitions.

Ophthalmick antimonial Water.

℞ Of antimonial Glass reduced to an alkohol, or triturated Crocus Metallorum, in the same manner ℥ s. put it in a Matrass with ʒ j. of Florentine Iris Root, and vj. Cloves grosly beaten to powder, pour upon Rhew water, and Eyebright, and Fennel water ana ounce vj. place them in a vaporous Balneo, or in the warm Summer Sun to infuse, and stir oft the Vessel during the space of fifteen dayes, which are required for perfecting the Infusion, and you shall have an Ophthalmick water, with which very few are comparable, for strengthening the sight against suf∣fusions and blemishes, and to dry and cleanse the pustulous crup∣tions

which grow often in the corners of the eyes, and in the lids, and cause there a kind of itching and biting inflammation. But that which is most to be wondred at is, that this water causes no pain, and yet produces very great effects.

The salification of Antimony.

WEE shall deliver two several wayes of preparing the salt of Antimony, as we have done two different manners of extracting the Tincture. For the first, Take the remainder of the antimonial Glass whereof the first Tincture was extracted, and mingle it with its equal weight of Brinstone in powder, then calcine them together, in the same manner as you did calcine Antimony to prepare Glasse thereof, and stir well the matters until all the Brimstone be consumed, but have a special care not to give too intense a fire, otherwise the powder would melt and return again to the Body of Antimony; this done, grind the remainder to an alkohol upon the Porphyrie stone, put the powder in a Matrass, and pour upon it very good distilled Vine∣gar four fingers high, then put it to digest and extract in sand the space of viij. dayes, and drawing off the Vinegar pour new in the place until all the salt be extracted, filtrate the ex∣tractions, and evaporate the Vinegar till it raises a skin, or what is better yet, till it leaves a dry bottom; dissolve the salt remaining in it in phlegm of Vinegar, filtrate and evaporate, and thus continue till the salt be clean and white, and being in this condition, digest it the space of fifteen dayes with alkoho∣liz'd spirit of Wine, then draw off the spirit again slowly in B. M. and preserve this precious Salt in a well stopt Viol; The Dosis and Vertues whereof we will declare after we have made a description of the other, as it followes.

The second way of preparing salt of Antimony.

℞ The black matter remaining after the extraction of the second tincture, and dry it well in an earthen dish, put it without any other previous calcination in a Matrass, & pour upon it spirit of Vinegar very pure and very subtile, digest them together, & make extraction thereof, filtrate, evaporate, dissolve and depurate as we prescribed in the foregoing description; digest it also with the spirit of Wine which you shall draw from this noble Salt to a dry bottom, and keep for use. This Salt is put in parallel, and as highly valued as the salt of Gold, because it cleanses and purifies the blood, purges the body from all superfluous humours and all filth; cures Lepro∣sie and Venerean Pocks, doth wonders upon the Gout, digests and evacuates as it were insensibly internal Abscessus and Impo∣stumes; cures all inward and outward Ulcers, and expels and drives away all Agues, but particularly Quartanes. The Dosis is from j. to iv. graines, in the same liquors and with the same ob∣servations as those we have hinted, treating of the use of the Tinctures of Antimony, and let no body wonder if we have at∣tributed so many noble vertues to antimonial Remedies; for be∣sides that I have not followed the most Hyperbolical Authors, yet I am so much convinced of its noble and most excellent ver∣tues and proprieties by the effects I have spoken of, that I openly confesse, that Man's life is too short to go through the Anatomy of Antimony as it ought to be done, and that we are too short sighted and our capacity too weak to discover, or penetrate into the secret mysteries which are hidden in it, for Mans ignorance will ever leave a larger Field therein for admiration, then comprehension and knowledge.

We have already said above, that our intention was not to speak of the mercurial extraction of Metals, and lesse of Antimony; some reasons therefore we have given, to which we add, that al∣though we have exactly proceeded in the experiments of several directions, both printed and taken out of Manuscrips, with all the requisite care and punctuality imaginable, yet could we never bring

any of them to passe; however we do not proudly and magisteri∣ally deny the possibility of this extraction: we do rather chuse to leave the feasablenesse thereof to the power of Nature and the perfection of Art, acknowledging our ignorance, or of those which did pen the said Directions which hitherto we have fol∣lowed, and leaving the liberty of a further disquisition, to them that will give themselves the trouble thereof.

Of Bismut, called by some white Antimony.

ALthough this Marcassite or metallick excrement be not used internally in Physick, yet is it endowed with very excel∣lent vertues for outward applications: wherefore we will subjoin the preparation thereof to that of Antimony, because some take it for a species of this Mineral, and call it female Antimony, the French call it Estain de glasse, Glass Tin, the Germans, Bismut, and many only Marcassite, by way of excellency and distinction. We will describe four preparations thereof, viz. the Magistery, flowing Liquor or Oyl, and Salt.

The Magistery of Tin Glass.

PRepare first a strong water with equas parts of Salt-peter and common salt. ℞ lb φ. of this water, and dissolve therein ℥ iiij. of Bismut pure and well chosen, filtrate the dissolution if there be any foulnesse in it, and precipitate it with tartarized spirit of Wine, draw off the liquor swimming above the Magistery, and wash it with distilled Rain-water until it be all dulcified. It is a very good Remedy for all the vices and eruptions of the skin, and above all against itching; it takes away spots and freckles in it, and smoothes the roughnesse of the Face and Hands. But if you will make thereof a very pure and white Cosmetick, and use it either with or without Pomatum, precipitate it with oyle of Vitriol, and you shall have an almost incomparable white; you must dulcifie and dry it to keep for the time of use.

The distillation of Bismut.

℞ lb v. of Bismut as it comes from the Mine, before it has ever felt the fire, beat it to powder and digest and macerate it with good white Wine, in a blind or double Vessel the space of three dayes, draw off the Wine after digestion, and put new in the place, and thus proceed digesting with new Wine, until you have spent viij. or x. pints of Wine: finally, pour the fourth part of the Wine digested upon this Marcassite upon its own Bo∣dy in a Cucurbite, which place in sand, and cover it with a Lim∣beck; draw off the Menstruum with a moderate heat to a dry bot∣tom, cohobate the fourth part, then the third, and finally the fourth in the same heat to a dry bottom, and when you see it yields no more moisture, stop the nose of the Limbeck, and encrease the fire, and there will sublimate and rise in the head thereof white silvered Flowers, which keep without further preparation in a well stopt Viol, or if you put them in a Cellar upon a glass Ta∣ble they will dissolve into Oyle, or to speak more properly, into Liquor, which keep also for its uses. This done, put all what you have extracted by distillation in a capacious Cucurbite, to draw off the spirit of Wine, which may yet be employed in some other operations upon Minerals, and pouring the rest in a bottle metal earthen pan; evaporate in sand till it comes to a pint, then let it rest the space of three dayes, and if the Artist doth not see some chrystallization of salt to shute above it, let him evaporate half of the remaining Liquor away, and throw some very clean strawes in the Liquor, which being put again in a cold place, the chrystals of Salt will stick to the straw; thus go on in evaporating and chrystallizing until no more salt doth come, dry gently and slowly that which you have got, and keep it in a Viol for use.

The Flowers are preferable to the Magistery for the outward ap∣plication upon the skin, and the liquor thereof made in cold, takes away all spots and freckles from it; the Flowers may be mixt in Pomatum's. But the Liquor and salt are wonderful Remedies a∣gainst all kind of cancerous and malignant Ulcers, and the cure

of Fistula's. Briefly, that Surgeon that shall be industrious e∣nough to apply them to their proper uses, shall finde them to be two external Remedies not inferiour to any other Topical Me∣dicament whatsoever; He may also mingle them with Injections or vulnerary Waters, with whom he shall inject them with Sy∣ringes, and wash and foment therewith Ulcers, particularly those that participate of a cancerous or corroding nature: for this Mi∣neral is endowed with a volatile sulphur and a balsamick Salt, which cannot sufficiently be esteemed for softening and allaying of pain, and mundifying and bringing to a full cure the most despe∣rate and malignant Ulcers.

SECTION V. Of Salts.

WEE may say in general, that Salts are nothing else then Minerals dissoluble in water, and which after evaporation of the said water, may be resto∣red into salt. But as we speak not here of salts as they are principles and causes of Physical generations; so will we only deliver plainly our mind concerning mineral Salts, ei∣ther natural or artificial which are used in Physick, and afford ma∣ny vere good Remedies, and many excellent dissolvents by the help of Chymistry. And as we have spoken above of the prepara∣tion of animal and vegetable salts, so have we no more left to do now, then to examine and describe the nature of such mineral salts as are natural, and of those which though artificially prepa∣red, keep still in themselves the Character and Idea of mineral natural salts. We must neverthelesse say something of their ori∣ginal in general terms, before we come to the particular descrip∣tion, and so give a general Idea and Prospect of such Operations as are performed upon salts.

The original and spring of mineral salts cannot otherwise be

conceived then intellectually, and by the comparison which a na∣tural Philosopher must make of sensible and known things, with those that are hidden and removed from knowledge. For as he can perceive some salinous substances to be generated in Animals and Vegetables, from the superfluity of their food and nourish∣ment, or by some action of their internal heat, or coagulation of their Tartar naturally coagulable; even so doth he conceive the great World to be filled with a spirituous and luminous sub∣stance analogous to food, which maintains the generation and pro∣duction of all things by the help and ministery of heat; and when this spirituous and lucid Aliment hath once stamped his chara∣cter and efficacy in any substance or place, and that it begins to contract a heat in it self, and to overflow, there mineral salts are generated; and according as the matrices where this coagulation is made are different, so likewise are produced salts of a different & distinct nature: such as are common salt, salt Gem, Allom, Salt∣peter, Vitriol, to which is added likewise Armoniack salt, though prepared by Art. The preparations of salts in general are, Purifica∣tion, Calcination, Distillation, Sublimation, Fixation and Liqua∣tion. We will give examples of all these operations, when we describe every one of these salts in particular, the better to in∣struct the Sons of art, and proceed still as we have done hitherto, with the least possible confusion.

Of common Salt, and its Chymical Preparation.

COmmon salt, is nothing else but that substance which causes the brine of water, whether it belongs to the Sea, or some spring yielding the same, and the water being vapoured away, leaves that which we call Common or Kitchin salt; And though under this general appellation many species be included, yet the best of all them is that they call Sea-salt, or Bay-salt; and parti∣cularly that which hath been dryed up in saltish Marshes, by the vertue of the Sun beames, and the salifick ferment which is pe∣culiar to the soil of those Marshes after they have been impreg∣nated with impressions and particles of the light: wherefore our Counsel is to the Sons of Art, ever to make use of that kind of

salt, whensoever they finde the name of Salt mentioned in any Author, or some practical Manuscript; and as sal gemm is no∣thing else but a natural conctetion of Common salt in some Ma∣trix of the earth, so think we unnecessary to give him any peculiar preparation, since the way of preparing it is the same with Com∣mon salt.

Purification of common Salt.

THis purification, is nothing else but a dissolution of the Body of the salt upon which your operation is intended, whither in Rain or Spring-water, to sever from it some earthly foulnesse and impurity, which might communicate some ill quality to the Remedies intended to be made therewith. The dissolution must be made in a proportionate quantity of water, and in a moderate heat; after which, percolate the dissolution being warm through a linnen cloth Bag, or a Filter or Blanket, and if you will pro∣ceed more exactly, filtrate through a paper, and let the salt shute into Chrystals; then proceed in evaporating the water to half con∣sumption, and let the Chrystals shute again in the cold, until you have got all your salt pure and clean, which cause to dry, and put in a Box or small Barrel very close, and keep it in a dry place for your Operations.

The Calcination of Common Salt.

THere are two kind of Calcinations of salt, Decrepitation, and Fusion. Decrepitation is nothing else but the calcination of salt in an earthen pot not glazed with a circular fire, until the salt makes no moncracks or noise; the end of it is by reason of mixing the salt with other substances in some operations, and be∣cause when the fire works upon it, it crawles, leaps and stirs, and so might scatter and discompose the said substances join'd with it, which happens not when it is decrepitated; besides, that this Calcination deprives it also from its phlegm and moisture: but if it be too much urg'd by the fire, the acid spirit flyes also away:

wherefore the Artist must here govern the fire gently and with dis∣cretion, to make it rather a violent Exsiccation, then such a Calci∣nation as might bereave the Body of the salt from its active Spirit.

The Calcination made by fusion, is nothing else but the melt∣ing of the decrepitated salt in a Crucible in the wind-furnace; if this salt be kept melted in a warm and dry place, it will preserve it self in a lump, to be used when there shall be occasion; But if it be exposed to the ayr, it dissolves in water, which must be filtra∣ted and put in a Bottle; it is that which Paracelsus calls Sal solu∣tum & aqua salis, dissolved salt, or water of Salt. There is be∣sides a third Calcination of salt, called the fixatory Calcination, which is made with equal parts of Common salt and quick-lime, which is put in an earthen unglazed pot, and being exactly co∣vered, place in a wind-Furnace in a violent heat until it melts to a lump; which done, cease the fire, and dissolve the lump in Rain-water, filtrate and evaporate to a dry bottom, and reiterate so often this Calcination with quick lime, that at last it may be∣come a fusible salt, which is used for extracting the Tincture of Metals, upon which processe the Sons of Art may make their re∣flection, for this is not without some Mysterie.

Having delivered the manner of these general Preparations, we must say something in general also of the vertues of Common salt, before we come to the particular application of those that are found in each particular preparation. Common salt is gene∣rally good for cleansing all rotten, putrid and hollow Ulcers, to resolve all Tumors and Boyls, but chiefly pestilential sores; it al∣layes the fire of burnings, dryes scabs and itch, takes away mange, resolves extravasated blood, and removes the lividity or blewish∣nesse of Contusions and bruises, asswages the Toothach and pains of the Head and Gout: but for all this the use is only external, mixt in Water, Vinegat or Urine according to the distemper; the best for all these purposes is that which hath been melted without addition, because its internal sulphur begins to produce it self, as it appears by the rednesse of its colour. But if salt hath many vertues in outward applieations, it possesses no lesse emi∣nently several remarkable ones internally used: for it doth heat and dry, cleanses and purges, hath a gentle astriction, consumes

superfluities, penetrates, digests, opens, cuts phlegm and tough humours, provokes lust, resists putrefaction and venoms: where∣sore it is of singular use to correct the crudities of the stomach, quicken appetite, and helps the recovery of it when lost, removes obstructions of the Belly and Reines, and is good against griping of the Guts and Collick: Finally according to Basilius it is the noblest and best of Aromats, and the true Balsom of Nature.

The distillation of Common Salt.

ALthough many Artists have spent their Philosophy and me∣ditation upon the distillation of Common salt, and that Glauber amongst the rest, hath taught a way to extract a great quantity of it in a short time, yet have I found no surer nor quicker way, or lesse intricate and more easie to put in practice, then that which I shall now teach. But before we come to the description of it, let us make some necessary Notes: for is it not first a very strange thing, that the most part of those which describe this Operation, will have the salt to be decrepitated? but as we have said above, that violent Exsiccation, not to say Calcination, se∣parates and takes away from the salt its volatile spirit, phlegm, and almost alwayes the best part of its acid spirit, which ought not to be done, since the volatile spirit and phlegm have also their uses in Physick, and it is not fit the Artist should want of skil and knowledge, and lose that which he may easie preserve without any way endangering his Operation, provided he observes well the degrees of fire. The Artist must also note in the second place, that some do mix salt with the heterogeneous matters, pretend∣ing thereby to facilitate the distillation thereof; as for example, burnt Allom and Colchotar of Vitriol; but they do not consider, that by this meanes they alter and change the vertue of the spirit of Salt. Some other do mix ordinary Clay, taking no no∣tice that oftentimes this earth is impregnated with some mix∣ture of metallick or mineral seed, as it is evident by the smell of the smoak, phlegm of Kills where Bricks or Tiles are ordina∣rily back't, and likewise of Potters Furnaces; so that all things well considered, the Artist must choose such kind of Earth or Clay

which may be of a most fix nature, and contribute the least of its quality to the spirit of salt; Now amongst all the several kinds, that which is called Sigillated or fine Bolus, are of a nature which cannot at all bring any alteration to the salt, unlesse to the bet∣ter: wherefore we would have either of these two used for the distillation of this Spirit, which is made as we will now declare, so as to hinder the fusion or melting of the salt.

How to make and duly prepare the Spirit of Salt.

℞ lb ij. of Common salt purified, beat it in a Marble Mor∣tar, and mix it by parcels of ℥ ij. at once, with ℥ vj. of fine Bolus or sigillated Earth, and all the mixture being exactly done, knead it and incorporate it with water of Salt, which is melted salt dissolved in a cold Cellar, and thereof make a kind of paste, whereof frame Pellets to be dryed in an Oven, after the bread is removed, or in the heart of the Sun; break one of the Pellets to know whether it be dry to the very Center, and that being so, fill up with it a great earthen Retort very well luted, and having placed it in a close Reverberatory, fit a large and capacious Re∣cipient to the neck thereof, which lute exactly and cover the Furnace, leaving a Register in the middle above the Retort, that the fire may the better circulate about it. The Lute being well dryed, give it first a gentle fire fit to warm only, and modifie both the matter and Vessel, and when the drops shall begin to fall, and the body of the Recipient to grow warm, proceed soft∣ly and gently in your work; for it is a signe that the volatile spirit of salt, begins to free and dis-intangle himself from the Body, and as it is a subtile and fiery spirit, you must stop the Register and moderate the fire, until the first rage of it be allayed, for it is at that instant and nick of time that the whole operation runs more danger, because this sulphureous spirit is coagulated with difficulty; this will last ordinarily four or five houres, after which the acid spirit begins to come forth, which appears by vapours and white clouds which fill up the Recipient; then may the Ar∣tist freely encrease the fire without fear of any danger, and con∣tinue it stronger and stronger, until the flame comes forth

through the Register, and the neck of the Retort appears red as fire through the body of the Recipient; this Operation cannot be well compleated in lesse space then of xxx. houres, after which cease the fire, and the next day open your Vessels, wherein you shall finde in the Recipient a liquor mixt with the volatile spirit the phlegm, and the acid spirit of the salt, some do add to this the oyle of Salt, but improperly. Pour all these into a Cucurbite and place it in B. M. to draw off the volatile spirit which ascends first, having a sulphureous smell, and frames subtile and crooked veines in the head of the Limbeck, receive it as long as these come forth, and when you see the veines to grow straight, and the drops falling to have none of the smell or taste of the volatile spirit; change the Recipient to receive the phlegm, and encrease the fire stronger then before, because it doth not so easily ascend as the volatile spirit, and when the distilling drops shall have an acidity, cease the fire; for it would prove too great a toyl to endeavour to raise the acid spirit by reason of its heavi∣nesse in B. M. the heat whereof is too weak and insufficient for this purpose, If the Artist hath a design to apply the acid spirit of salt to physical uses, he needs not rectifie it any more, for it hath an excellent and very pleasant acidity as it comes out of B. M. wherefore he may preserve of this a third or one half part for his use, and put the Cucurbite in sand to draw the other half by distillation, and so shall he have a true acid spirit of salt very clear and very pleasant, and that which remains in the bottom of the Cucurbite will be of a yellowish colour, heavy, and of a bi∣ting and violent sharpnesse, fit to be used in the dissolution of Metals, and chiefly stones; this is that substance which improper∣ly is called Oyle of Salt.

We have noted here all the circumstances of the distillation and rectification of the spirits of Salts, that we may have no need to make unnecessary repetitions thereof when we shall speak of other salts, since whosoever can exactly well draw the spirit of salt, can never be mistaken in the distillation of others. So that we have no more to do now, then to add the proprieties and vertues of several substances drawn and proceeding from the Common Salt.

First then, the volatile sulphureous spirit is a good Cephalick

and Sudorifick, wherefore it may be given from ij. p. to x. in Broths and appropriated waters, to those which are troubled with Megrim, or any other Headach; it is also very excellent to be mingled in the ordinary drink of feaverish or aguish persons, al∣laying thirst, and asswaging their restlesnesse. They may also have Frontals applyed, made with the phlegm, that have inveterate paines in the Head, and not sleep through too much heat and dis∣quietnesse. But above all things the phlegm is excellent to wash Wounds and Ulcers, which it wonderfully doth cleanse without pain or grief; but contrariwise, it appeases it if there be any. It is also a wonderful fomentation for the swollen joints and pained limbs in gouty people, provided you mingle a little of its vola∣latile spirit, and a little of salt of Saturn with it. The acid spi•••• of salt is diuretical and good against gravel and stone, it resolves and drives away powerfully Tartar and Muscilagineous substances from all the parts of the body: wherefore it is of very good use to open all obstructions of the Liver and Spleen, and generally all the parts of the Ventricle; is singular against Dropsie, for it quenches the thirst of the Patient; it is also wonderful against Jaundice, ebullitions of blood, driving away by Urine the causes of both Diseases; it is of a soveraign efficacy to stop Gangrenes, and to resist all manner of corruption and putrefaction; mixt with oyle of Turpentine or oyle of Wax, it appeases the ach and grief of the Gout, dissipating the Tophus's and Nodosity's thereof; it quickens again, and cures also the contraction of Members and withered Limbs, and doth remedy their atrophy.

We have spoken above of the sweet spirit of Salt and tem∣pered Water, when we made mention of Coral and of its Tin∣cture, where also we did relate its proprieties and vertues; where∣fore we shall not use vain repetitions here. We will only add one distillation more of an extraordinary spirit of Salt very Phi∣losophical, and which is altogether endowed with a particular vertue.

The essential and stomachical spirit of Salt.

℞ Of purified and very dry salt, calcinated in open fire in a Cru∣cible to whitenesse; put it in a Matrass and imbibe it with oyle of salt, which is the last spirit remaining in the rectification in the bottom of the Cucurbite; make the imbibition by little and little, stirring the Vessel until the mixture be reduced into a clear pap, lute the Matrass with a Blindhead, and put it to digest in ashes in a moderate and equal heat, until the oyle of salt be well united with the calcined and desiccated salt; then begin again the imbibition, digestion, union and extraction so often, that the salt refuses to receive any more of, and be satiated with this Oyle, which must swim above it without penetrating; but the true con∣cluding signe that this salt will be ready fitted for distillation, is the turning of its colour into a fair golden yellow colour, and having contracted a pleasing and a sweet smell, which when it hath, put it in a Retort, and distil in a well graduated fire, and there will come out a very white smoak and clouds, which by degrees shall turn into Liquor; the distillation being ended, rectifie this spirit in B. M. to separate the phlegm thereof, and you shall have an essential and stomachical spirit of Salt, with which none is to be compared in Physick, to stop in a moment and as it were miraculously all fits of vomiting in any accident or Disease whatsoever. Some are of opinion, that this Spirit is capable to extract and-draw the Tincture of Gold to it self, without a full dissolution or disunion of the whole body. The Dosis is from j, to iv. drops in some Broth, or a spoonfull of syrup of Pomgranates, or rind of Oranges, or in a little Wine.

The preparation of the sweet Chrystals of Common salt, or the coagulated spirit of Salt.

YOU must chuse first a capacious and large Retort, made of good Earth, capable to resist fire and not porous, the neck of the Retort must be three fingers broad in diameter, that the spirits issuing forth in abundance may have a free passage, let it also have a channel or Conduit in the upper part made Funnel-like, only five inches high, with a very close and well fitted stop∣ple, easie both to be shut and drawn off again with the same ease, and without stirring the Retort; moreover, this Retort must be walled in a close Reverberatory, having four Registers in the four corners, the channel or Conduit-pipe of the Retort being just in the middle; all this being so fitted and prepared, throw into the Retort lb iiij. of Bay salt well purified and well dryed; put a large round glass Body, or Ballon to the neck of the Retort with lb j. of distilled Rain-water in it; lute exactly the joints, and let the Lute dry very well, that no crack may be in it; then begin to give it a gradual fire, which encrease to that height that it may leave the salt in fusion in the Retort; this done, throw into it j. or ij. drops of cold water with a Feather by the upper pipe or channel, and stop it immediately; it will yield great store of va∣pours which will come over into the Recipient, and the Reci∣pient being cleared, begin again to throw j. or ij. drops more of water at the most; for otherwise the Vessel might flye up and the Artist run hazard to be hurt; keep up the fire in this height for preserving the salt in fusion, and proceed in throwing of wa∣ter by drops until it be turned all into spirits and vapour, which done, let the fire cease and the Vessels cool. Put whatsoever is found in the Recipient in a Cucurbite in B. M. if so be you finde it pure and clear; if not, filtrate it before you draw off the phlegm, and distilled Rain-water which was added, then try in a cool place if any Chrystals will shute, which if you finde; sepa∣rate the Chrystals which are sweet and of a pleasant taste, and pro∣ceed in the extraction of superfluous moisture and chrystalliza∣tion

until it yields no more Chrystals: keep some part of these Chrystals in a Viol very-exactly stopt; because they may so be more ready and easie for transportation, and put the rest in a Cel∣lar to dissolve into a Liquor which will be of the same vertue and efficacy, but the Dosis must be a little bigger. Both Chry∣stals and Liquor are two good Diaphoretick's or Sudorificks, allay∣ing altogether the thirst of hydropical persons, and restoring to their languishing bodies that essential moisture which is daily con∣sumed and preyed upon by that undermining Disease, strengthen∣ing their digestion, and restablishing all the intrals which suf∣fer by it and are altered; briefly, it is a true vital Balsom in all other Diseases, and chiefly in the Plague and all malignant and burning Feavers. They are also good Topical Remedies to mun∣difie evil Ulcers, and resolve Tumors and swellings.

Of Niter or Salt-peter, and its Chymical preparation.

ALthough there are many that take Salt-peter to be an uni∣versal Salt, believing that it possesses in it self the Soul of the World, yet we are of a different judgement, if by Niter or Salt-peter is understood that chrystalline Hexagonal salt, which is used in the making of Gunpowder. But if by Niter or Salt-pe∣ter be understood a mysterious salt which is the soul of all phy∣sical generations, a Child and Son of Light, and the Father of all Germination and Vegetation, we confesse that Salt in such a re∣spect to be Universal: but we say at the same time, that it is more to be apprehended by the Intellect then the Senses, and that this divine Salt cannot be comprehended nor hidden under any o∣ther covering or shape, then of the sulphureous and Mercurial volatile salt of all natural Bocies, since this salt is endowed of all the essential and centrick vertues of sublunary Mixts. But as concerning Niter or Salt-peter, which is common in our dai∣ly use, we do not deny, but that it possesses in it self much of a volatile sulphur and Mercutial spirit, which have their original from Light; and are folded, wrapt, and sealed in a course and earthly saline matter proceeding from the Water and the Earth, which is the reason that much of Philosophy, and much of work

and operation must be bestowed upon, before any body can at∣tain to the capacity of separating these several substances, by dis∣intangling this wonderful Agent from the society of its matter, without losing or imbezelling any of its essential and heavenly qualities. But as it is not our design to treat generally of Salt∣peter, so will we restrain our selves to speak of it here as only of a mineral salt, which is extracted from fat and fruitful Earth. Wherefore a Lye is prepared with water which this salt coagu∣lates with its self, as it appears by the fusion of Niter, which by the action of the fire loses all its aquosity, so that there remains in it nothing but the taste and vertue of an Urinous and Lixivial salt, which properly is nothing else but that fat and frui••ful salt extracted from the earth, separated by fire from the water which Nature or Art had mixed with it: and this is not one of the least secters and mysteries of Chymistry, if it be well heeded and me∣ditated upon. For we must confesse, that Niter is one of the most wonderful and powerfulest Agents which Nature hath lent to Art, as the Sons of Art may have noted hitherto by those Ope∣rations wherein we have used it, and may yet note by those we shall describe in the sequel of this Discourse.

We say then, that Salt-peter is a sulphural salt, partly vola∣tile, and mixt with another earthly salt of a saline and bitter taste, extracted from fat Earth's or Grounds, and from the mines of old Buildings; as likewise from Vaults of Cellars and Stables, the Earth having received the impression and being impregnated with the Excrements and Urines of Beasts, the volatile salt whereof did join and imbody it self with the salt of the Earth, and these two being knit and indivisibly united together by the power and action of the light and ayr upon it, and of the Archeus of the Earth which is the Director of all mineral generations, Chy∣mists do call it the Chymical Ce••berus, the infernal Salt, the sul∣phurate Salt; the Dragon of the Earth, the winged Serpent. Now, as we have still begun all our Operations by charging the Son of Art, ever to be careful of chusing well his Materials before he puts them to work, so do we here enjoin him to take very good heed in the choice of his Salt-peter, and would have him ca∣pable of setting a difference between that which of it self is good, without any previous separation, and that which abounds with

fixed salt, which of necessity must be depurated and separated from it that it may be without mixture. The visible notes of that purity, are the length of the Needles, their whitenesse and transparency, and the hexagonal Figure which this salt takes al∣wayes in its chrystallization: moreover, there is the taste which must be of a harsh acidity and sharpnesse, somewhat bitter and end∣ing in a saline sowrishnesse: neverthelesse, all these marks are not yet absolutely concluding for its goodnesse and purity; wherefore the Artist must have his recourse to that tryal which is made by fire; Let him then take a burning coal, and put one or two ʒ of Niter upon it, and so let it burn and evaporate into the ayr; if nothing remaines upon the coal, the action of fire being ovet, it is a true sign of the goodnesse and purity of the Salt-peter; but he shall judge of the value and goodnesse ac∣cording to the greater or lesser quantity of fixed salt which re∣maines upon the coal. Physitians are in debate amongst them∣selves of the first qualities of Niter; for some believe it to be cold, others contrariwise hot; but without losing time about these tri∣fles, we will say generally the vertues of Niter, by the rehearsal of which it shall appear that the last are better grounded then the first in their Assertion, since it resists putrefaction, quenches thirst, and cooles powerfully sick and languishing persons, chiefly feaverish Bodies, but it doth not produce such an effect by any cold quality, but rather by the quicknesse and subtility of its parts, which insinuates and causes the Patient's Drink to penetrate from the center of the body to the Circumference; and moreover, because this Salt hath in it self a sulphur and subtile spirit which recreates and strengthens the Archeus, so as to dispose him to meliorate and better qualify those functions which it does exer∣cise: add to this that Niter doth cut and attenuate slimy humors, and muscilagineous matters and tartarous coagulations, which are the cause of obstructions; it resolves congealed blood and al∣layes paines. It is given to persons troubled with Pleuresie, hot and putrid Feavers, against gravel in the Kidneys and Bladder, and heats of Urine. The use of it is also very commendable in Gar∣gels, against inflammations in the Throat and Quinsy. It is of very good successe outwardly applyed in Fomentations with Fil∣lers, to take away the heat and grief of burnings, and other inflam∣mations

proceeding from effervescency of blood. But let this suffice concerning the general uses of it, since we are to speak more particularly of it in the description of its preparations, which are Purification, Calcination, Fixation, and Distillation.

The purification of Niter.

℞ lb x. of common Niter, otherwise called of the first boil∣ing, put it in an earthen pot not glazed, place the pot in a wind-Furnace, and give it fire by degrees until the Niter begins to melt, and whilest it is in fusion, throw by degrees in it ℥ ij. of powder of Allom and Armoniack salt ground together; this will cause at every throwing an effervescency, by which the fatness and impu∣rity of the Niter will be driven away, which remove with a hot I∣ron Ladle, and having done with the powder, cleanse very well the superficie's of the Niter from all impurities; then throw it in a brass Mortar very clean and warm; the Niter being grown cold in the Mortar, grind and dissolve it in Spring-water in the heat of a clear wood-fire, then strain it through a Blanket, and pour imme∣diately into this straining whilest yet warm ℥ iiij. of good distilled Vinegar, and put the Vessel in a very close place, leaving it there the space of 24. houses, and so shall you finde your Niter well chrystalliz'd in fair, clear and transparent Chrystals; separate the water from them, and evaporate it by a slow ebullition to a redu∣ction of its half, and let this also shute into Chrystals in the cold; But the Artist must here note, that it is necessary he should still make use of the Niter which proceeds from the first chrystalliza∣tion, for all the preparations which are to be taken inwardly; and of the remaining for making of aqua fortis, and all other Opera∣tions which are of lesse consequence. Dry gently your Niter between two fair Searchers or sieves turned upside down, and co∣vered with linnen cloth or paper that it may not be sullied; then put it in very well closed Boxes in some warm and dry place, to use in all hind of necessary Operations, when occasion shall call for in a Chymical Laboratory.

Calcination of Niter, to prepare the Chrystal Mineral.

℞ Purified Niter of the first chrystallization very dry, put it to melt in open fire in a good strong Crucible capable of resist∣ing the fire, not apt to crack and very well reback't; when it is in fusion, throw by degrees into it ʒ φ. of flowre of Brimstone upon each ounce of Niter; this done, throw it in a brasse Skil∣let very clean, and stir it, that it may be extended in a flat Table or Cake, out of which Lozenges may be cut: or you may form small Rowles thereof with an Iron hot Ladle, pouring it upon a smooth Iron plate, or upon a Marble stone. If you will not take so much paines, pour only this Niter so prepared and melted in a clean and warm Mortar. Now I take this Calcination rather for a Reiteration of purification, then a true preparation of Chrystal mineral; wherefore you must have water distilled of the juyce of wild Endive, Buglosse or Borrage, and in a conve∣nient portion of this water melt this pretended Chrystal mine∣ral, and filtrate it through a paper filled with Province or Da∣mask Roots, or Buglosse and Borrage Flowers, made wet before with a little spirit of sulphur, salt or Vitriol, and thus shall you have a Mineral Chrystal pleasant as to the taste, colour and vertue, endowed really with those proprieties and that efficacy we have attributed to Salt-peter. But above all, it will be a true Anodyne and an excellent allayer of thirst and restlesnesse to Aguish and Feaverish persons, to whom may and must lawfully be given the name of Lapis prunella, or S••l prunellae; for it is a soveraign Remedy against those malignant and putrid Feavers, which are called Fieves prunelles or burning Feavers, because prunella in Latin signifies a burning coal. The Dosis must be from ℈ ss. to ʒ j. in the ordinary Drink of the Patient, some Decoction, Broth, or distilled water appropriated to the Disease. This Chrystal Mineral is a general Remedy, that may be speci∣ficated by the addition of several salts which may be united and in∣corporated with it, as the salt of Saturn, whereof we have spoken treating of Lead, salt of Pearls, Coral, and so of others; and

thus may you have a Cordial, Hepatick, Splenetical or Stomachical Chrystal mineral, according to the faculty and vertue of the salt which you have joined and coagulated to your well prepared Niter.

The fixation of Niter.

MElt lb vj. of very pure Niter in an Iron pot in open fire; throw in it continually by small parcels Charcoal dust, which will immediately take fire, and softly consume by the action of its fire and sulphur, the waterish moisture which the salt of the Earth had coagulated and united to it self in its chrystallizati∣on; continue this throwing of Coal-dust until you finde it will kindle no more, and that the remainder of the Niter begins to thicken and turn to a blewish and greenish colour; then cease this Operation, and take off this salt out of the pot, and put it in a warm Mortar: and if the Artist will preserve any of it whole, let him put thereof as it is hot and dry in a Bottle, and stop it exactly with a stople dipt in melted Wax. This is true fixed Niter, much altered from its first nature; for it is no more volatile or apt to be turned into Chrystals, but contrariwise turns exposed to the ayre into a liquor which is subtile and penetrating, hath an urinous and lixivial taste like unto salt of Tartar, but yet more biting and more penetrating. We are beholding to Glauber for the invention of this Liquor, who hath given us the description thereof under the name of Liquor alkahest, fit to draw the Tinctures of all natural Bodies, whether Animals, Vegetables or Minerals, and to speak truly, this Liquor hath in it something very considerable, being ca∣pable of extracting the sulphurs of Metals, provided they have been well opened before; those of Minerals do easily yield unto it, from whence it may be concluded that it takes in an instant the sulphurs and volatile salts of Animals and Vegetables. If any Chymical Artists have a curiosity for these noble Oparations, they shall finde them in the Book which this great and famous Artist hath given us thereof. But there is left much matter of speculation and Philosophy upon this fixation of Niter, which is made by the Vegetable sulphur of Coals, which doth change it into the nature

of salt Alkali, whose taste is urinous and lixivial; this salt being ca∣pable of fertilizing the worst Earth's, if the seeds to be put in be prepared with a Liquor made of this salt and some other Ingredi∣ents, this admirable Salt so nourishing and invigorating the bud or sprout of the seed, that it multiplyes to so high a number as to seem altogether Hyperbolical, and fabulous to those which appre∣hend not the hidden mysterie which Nature doth extract from the light of Spirits and Salts, and how the sperm of the seed finds in this saline Liquor that which is analogous to its principle, doth greedily suck and attract it, for which reason being as it were dou∣bly strengthened, it shoots and puts forth a more vigorous and nu∣merous stalk, yielding eares and graines of Corn above all belief, as it hath been seen and tryed in Paris some yeares since. But to make this Assertion more plain and palpable, let us reflect upon the practice of the Husbandman in Britany and the Forrest of Or∣dermes; who meeting with unfruitful and barren grounds, produ∣cing nothing but Heath and Fern, a kind of wild Flag and Broom, use to pare off the upper part or moale of their ground, pluck off the Broom and Fern, and drying all in heaps something distant one from the other, set it on fire, leaving after the heavenly influences and Rain to work upon this calcined Earth, containing the Alkali of all the plants fixed by their own sulpbur; this Alkali assisted by the sulphur hath contracted a fatnesse and clammy moisture, heavy and of slow motion, which communicated to the lightnesse, dry∣nesse and too great porosity of the Earth, causes it to keep with it a kind of greedinesse and delectation, a pleasant substance and nou∣rishment; and as soon as the Rain doth abound and exuberate, it cannot so soon be disjoined from it, neither carried away by the violent heat of the Sun by reason of its fixednesse; and so it comes to passe, that when these Husbandmen have plowed and sowed their grounds, they reap store of Rye for the first year and Oates in the second. We brought in this story only to the end that the Artist may reflect with his meditation upon this salt, and note the better its worth and excellency, which proceeds from nothing else but the mysterie of Nature contained in the Salt-peter, which he must seek by his industry how to free and dis-ingage.

To make the Solar dissolutive Earth of fixed Niter.

℞ lb j. of the fixed Niter which you kept in a Bottle, pour upon it lb ij. of very good distilled Vinegar, put it in ashes to digest 24 houres, then distil and draw off the liquor to a dry bottom, and your Vinegar will ascend tastelesse and insipid; rei∣terate in the same manner the same operation with new distilled Vinegar, until the Vinegar comes off with the same sharpnesse as you did pour it on; then dry it well, and dissolve it in very good alkoholized spirit of Wine, filtrate and digest them toge∣ther during the space of four natural dayes, then distil in B. M. to a dry bottom, drawing off the spirit of Wine again, which you may yet use afterwards in all other Operations. Put after this your Cucurbite wherein lyeth the salt in a sand-Furnace, and give it a good fire, so shall the salt cleanse it self from all re∣maining impurities, and settle in the bottom into a substance something resembling Calk, white, of a good and pleasant taste, and dissoluble in all manner of Liquors, melting in the heat like Wax. It is one of the best Remedies amongst Chymical prepa∣rations, for it opens all obstructions and purges gently and with∣out prejudice, and giving offence to the digestive faculty of the stomach, both by Stools, Urines and Sweats. It corrects the malignancy of all Purgatives, and encreases their strength in double proportion, it is one of the most soveraign Medicaments that can be made use of against Chronical and obstinate Diseases. The Dosis may be from ℈ j. to ℥ ss. and ℈ ij. in infusion of Rhubarb made with this salt, a little of Cinnamon and white Wine, or in Broth.

The distillation of Niter, and how to prepare the spirit of Niter.

℞ lb ij. of depurated Salt-peter, grind it by little and little with lb vj. of common Bolus, and being thus well mixt make a paste of it with water impregnated with as much pure Salt-peter as it is capable to dissolve in the cold, knead and work well the paste, and rowl it to make Pellets therewith fit to be put in a great earthen well lu∣ted Retort, which place in a close Reverberatory, and fit a capa∣cious Recipient to the neck of the Retort, exactly luted with a salted Lute. The Lute being dry, begin to give it your fire by de∣grees, and thus proceed the space of 20 or 24 houres, with the same gradation as we have taught in the distillation of the spirit of Salt. There is neverthelesse this difference between them, that Salt-peter alone yields red spirits, by reason of its soul and in∣ternal spirits, which are children of the Sun, for all other salts send forth only whitish vapours; this is that Spirit which ancient Philosophers have called the Salamander's blood, as if one should say, the blood and soul of Fire. This is the most ordinary way of preparing the spirit of Niter, to use in all dissolutions and other Chymical operations. But there is yet another manner of prepa∣ring it with more subtility for inward uses, to apply it as a Remedy; which is thus performed.

℞ Of the finest Salt-peter you can finde, and very dry, reduce lb ij. thereof in powder in a warm Mortar, in a very dry & fair day, pound also lb vj, of pots made with ordinary Clay, only wrought & dryed before they be baked; mingle these two substances exactly together, and pour them in a capacious glass Retort with a very broad or wide neck, and chiefly from that side which is towards the belly of the Retort, let it be luted with a very good sticking Lute, abiding in the fire and not easily falling off, neither crack∣ing; fit to the neck thereof a very large Recipient, and lute or close the Vessels together only with a wet Bladder, begin the fire very slowly at first, and thus go on encreasing by degrees until all the phlegm be come over, and the Recipient begins to grow red, then empty the Recipient, or substitute another like unto it very

dry and clean, which lute with the same Earth wherewith the Re∣tort was luted; then encrease the fire and keep it still higher, so as you perceive that the falling drops shall be of a red or yel∣low colour, or that the Recipient begins to lose something of its high red colour, even during the great height of the fire; for this is a true sign of the end of the Operation, and do not expect till the colour begins to grow cleater, for this would never happen by reason of the red vapours which this spirit continually sends forth. But the Artist must be preadmonished to take heed, when he comes to unlute the Vessels and pour out this red spirit, for it is so vaporous, subtile and volatile that it would endanger and suf∣focate him, or it may be cause him to lose all by breaking his Vessels: wherefore let him stand above the Wind and stop his Nose, not opening the mouth, and taking very great heed in the pouring out of it; and to this end let him have both his Bottle and Funnel in great readinesse, that he may meet with no stop. The Viol wherein this Spirit is put, must be very exactly closed with an earthen stople, very closely joyning on all sides that no∣thing may evaporate: this spirit is endowed with many admirable faculties, both for Physick and Metallick: but considering it is so subtile and so volatile that it cannot almost be preserved, much lesse transported or sent upon occasion abroad; there is a way found to mix and circulate it as followeth for better prser∣vation.

The circulated spirit of Niter for Physick.

℞ ℥ vj. of the red spirit of Niter, ℥ xij. of Balm water, ℥ ij. of spirit of Lilly Convally Flowers, put them together in a capacious Pellican, or two joined Matrasses with a long neck, and place them in a vaporous Balneo in Oat straw, and digest them in a temperate and gentle heat the space of seven continual days: then put this circulated and united spirit to the other, and to the water in a strong Viol very well stopt; as we have said of the spi∣rit; it is an admirable Remedy, both against Apoplexy and Epi∣pilepsey, against Colick, and generally against all obstructions; it is also very good against Agues and Plague. The Dosis is from ℈ j.

to ʒ j. and ʒ j. ss. in Wine, Broth, some Decoction or distilled water appropriated to the Disease.

Now as the aqua fortis and Regal water take only their dissol∣ving faculty properly from Niter, though for the most part other salts be mingled with it, such as are Allom, common Salt, sal gemme, Vitriol, and salt Armoniack; therefore will we give a de∣scription of them here, as we did promise above.

How the good aqua Fortis is to be prepared.

THe name of aqua fortis hath been given to the spirit extra∣cted from Niter and Vitriol, because it hath the strength and faculty to dissolve all kinds of Metals, Gold excepted, whom it cannot touch or work upon unlesse it be Regali••ed; that is to say, made capable of dissolving Gold which is the King of Metals, for which cause the name of Regal or Regal water hath been given to this other Dissolvent. Aqua Fortis is made thus:

Equal parts of Salt-peter of the second chrystallization, and Vitriol only desiccated, to which add half their wright of Brick∣dust very dry, and put these in a good earthen Retort well lu∣ted, fitting to it a Recipient, and make your Operation and Distillation with the same care and precaution as we prescribe above in distilling the spirit of salt. Drive the fire the space of 24 houres, making it the last eight houres of a very quick flame, that the last spirits may be very well drawn off from the Center of their own Earth, wherein they be strictly intangled. Then there remaines a salt of middle nature in the Caput Mor∣tuum (as it is called) which is of very great vertue, by reason of the mixture and action and reaction of the Vitriol and Niter one upon the other, whereof a very good Remedy may be pre∣pared in the manner following.

The vitriolated Niter, otherwise the Arcanum of Niter and double Panacea.

PUT the Caput mortuum of your Aqua fortis to digest in boyling distilled Rain-water, and stir it often, the better to extract the salt, filtrate the dissolution, and slowly evaporate it in ashes in an earthen Pan or glass Vessel, and when you shall perceive a small skin gathering on the top of the Liquor, put it to chrystallize, then continue to evaporate until you have extracted all the salt; which you must so often dissolve, filtrate, evaporate and chrystallize, that it appears clear, pure and bright. Then ℞ ij. p. and φ. of this salt, and p. φ. of mineral Chrystal, prepa∣red as we have taught, put them together in a well luted Cucur∣bite, being first triturated into very subtile powder, calcine them together in open fire in this Cucurbite, giving it a gradual fire un∣til they be together in fashion; the Vessel being cooled draw out the matter, and grind it once more with an eighth part of mineral Chrystal, and begin again the Calcination and Fusion in a new luted Cucurbite. After this second Calcination, dissolve that which did remain in the distilled Rain-water, and filtrate the dissolution, then evaporate in the vapour of B. M. to a dry bot∣tom; this salt being so dryed, grind upon a Porphyrie stone into Alkohol with an eighth part of calx of Gold well opened, and mix them as it were indivisibly together by trituration; then put this mixture in a new luted Cucurbite, and calcine it in a very well graduate fire till it hath attained to a fluxion, which done, cease the fire and let the Vessel cool; and out of it take that Grand Remedy, whereof abundance of experiments have been tryed a∣gainst diseases of Melancholy, and all kind of Agues and feaverish distempers, both continual and intermittent, also against gravel and scurvy, and finally against all obstructions. The Dosis must be from scruple φ. to scruple ij. in some Confection, Conserve, or appropriated Liquor. The vertues of this Salt and its manner of operating cannot sufficiently be praised; for it sweetly provokes sleep, and settles the archeus of the Ventricle in its ordinary state

and calmnesse when it is out of order. Briefly, there is a certain hidden Mysterie in it, whereof it is very difficult to render any reason, unlesse we conceive that this salt must have received the eradiations of the anodyne sulphur of Vitriol, by the great ex∣pression of the fire, or sufficiently opened the Gold, to make him yield and communicate his salutiferous influences; but we rather give credit to the first then the last Conjecture.

How the Aqua fortis is to be regaliz'd or made Regal.

ARtists use to Regalize their Aqua fortis with decrepitated salt, or salt Armoniack. Some dissolve either of it only without more ado in the aqua fortis, viz. j. p. salt, and iv. p. of aqua fortis. Others mix ij. p. of Niter, and j. p. of Armo∣niack salt, with iij. p. of the Caput mortuum of the aqua fortis and distil it S. A. Others do make Gradatory waters, as they call them, with Sublimate, Arsenick, Orpiment, Brimstone, Cinnabar, as ustum, spanish-green, and many other Ingredients; but as all these are not for Physical uses, and that moreover, the ill smell proceeding from those operations doth kill and hebetate the Brain, and causes evil accidents and shakings of the Limbs, we shall af∣ford no description thereof here since they make nothing to our purpose, which is to preserve and restore health, not to impair or destroy it. But as we have occasion of a good Regal water, pure and well prepared to reduce Gold in a subtile and well opened Calx, the son of Art shall thus prepare it.

How the true Regal water is to be prepared.

℞ ℥ v. of red spirit of Niter, and ℥ iv. of sal gem in powder, put the sal gem in a pretty capacious Retort, and pour upon it the spirit of Niter, mixing them very well together, place the Retort in sand, and fit to it a very capacious Recipient, which lute without much circumspection, provided the neck of the Retort be large, and strikes half a foot into the body of the Re∣cipient; give fire to it by degrees, and encrease it by little and lit∣tle

till the sal gem be altogether dryed, and that neither drops nor vapours will come forth any more from it. Pour this true Regal water into a good Lortain Glass bottle, double and well backed, stopping it with a Glass stopple made very fit to the neck of the bottle, by working and turning it within with powder of Emerod and Oyle, otherwise this water would flye and vapour away; which makes me counsel the sons of art, not to prepare it till they be ready to use it in their operations: this is the Dissolvent where∣with they shall be capable to prepare Gold in the right manner, to reduce it into a Calx capable to answer their expectation, in such preparations as they shall design with it, or to satisfie their curio∣sity in discovering the sphere of activity of this noble Art, or to extract such Remedies as may be useful for the relief of afflicted Patients.

Of Allom and its Chymical preparation.

WEE understand nothing else by Allom but a saline sub∣stance dissoluble in water, though many other things bear improperly this name, which rather participate of the nature of Calk by their incombustibility then of Allom, whereof we in∣tend to treat as of a fit subject for this Section, where we only handle Salts. That Allom whereof we intend to give the man∣ner of preparation, is that which in Pharmacy is called alumen rupeum or Roch Allom, and being nothing else but the salt sub∣stance of a mineral earth, participating of the nature of Lead or Saturn, having in it self an acid spirit and a harsh, canstick salt▪ Our Allom is made three several wayes: for some of it is first found ready prepared by Nature, and condensated of it self in the veines of aluminous Earths. Secondly, It is made by the evapo∣ration of mineral aluminous Waters: and thirdly, it is also drawn by the dissolution of Earths, Stones, or other Minerals abounding with aluminous salt. The general vertues of this Salt are to de∣siccate, astringe, thicken or incrassate, there is not much use of it inwardly without preparation, though by some it is given against Agues; but it is much us'd in Gargarism's, which are appointed for diseases and paines in the Throat, and chiefly in the swelling

and inflammation of the Almonds, and falling, swelling or inflam∣mation also of the uvula; it is also good against Quinsy, rot∣tennesse and putrefaction of the Gums, proceeding either from a Scorbutical venom or Tincture, as also of Venereous infection; it is also a good Resolutive, taking away swelling and oedematous Tumours of the feet, being mixt in a Bath which is called a lave∣pieds or feet-washer, because it resolves and allayes the inflamma∣tion and heat of spirits attracted and irritated in these lower parts, either by toyl and wearinesse or indisposition of body.

The preparations commonly made upon Allom are, purification or chrystallization, Calcination or Ʋstion, Distillation and Extra∣ction, or Subtiliation, of each of which Operations we will give some Examples, that the Artist may fully be instructed both of the Work and vertue of the Remedies resulting from the same.

Purification of Allom.

THe Purification of Allom, is not made upon the bare in∣tention of separating the impurities and earthlinesse of it, but the son of Art must have a more excellent prospect and end in it, which is the correcting of its harsh, austere and unpleasant taste; to attain to this, dissolve as much Roch Allom as you please in distilled Rain-water, heated before in a glazed earthen pan, for Allom must not be put in any metallick Vessel because it imme∣diately works upon it, and by its acid and penetrating spirit drawes the taste and Tincture thereof. The Allom being dissolved, fil∣trate it, and evaporate afterwards the superfluous▪moisture in a slow heat, like unto that of the boyling vaporous Balneo until it con∣tracts a skin; then put the Vessel in a cool place to cause the Chrystals to shute, and go on in evaporating and chrystallizing un∣til no more Chrystals will come; this Work reiterate four times, and so shall you have a subtile and pleasant Allom if compared to common, which you may administer both inwardly and outward∣ly with much more successe, safety and delight.

The Calcination or Ʋstion of Allom.

IT would not be worth while to speak of this Operation by rea∣son of its easinesse, unlesse we had some notes and reflections to make upon; for there is none but is capable to put a piece of Allom upon an Iron plate, and to give fire under it until the phlegm and spirit be evaporated away, and that this piece which was smooth, heavy, clear and compacted is become light, opa∣cous, spongious and white. And now since the Artist hath need of the phlegm and spirit of Allom, and that the substance remaining after they are extracted by distillation, hath the same vertue with that which remaines upon the Iron plate, it will be much more convenient to distil first the same in order to Calcination, where∣by to preserve the phlegm and spirit, which otherwise are wasted without any advantage. Burnt allom is very good to consume by degrees and without pain, the moist and spongious flesh and excrescencies of the lips of Wounds and Ulcers; it is good also to hinder corruption, because it desiccates and resolves their superfluities. The fixed salt of Allom is also drawn from it, as we shall say after we have spoken of the distillation thereof in order to calcine it.

The Distillation of Allom.

℞ As much Allom as you will, and put it in small pieces in a capacious glass Retort, filled with it to a third part, place it in sand, and adaptate to the neck of it a large Recipient, give it fire by degrees to draw the phlegm thereof with a well and duly graduated fire, and when the white vapours shall begin to come forth out of the neck of the Retort, change the Recipient, and encrease the fire by degrees until all the spirit be come forth, and you shall finde your calcinated Allom in the bottom of the Re∣tort. But this Spirit being unpleasant and of an ill taste, hath need of being rectified, corrected and sweetened, which is per∣formed

with the spirit of Wine, with which it must be rectified three or four times, so it becomes sweet and pleasant, and an excellent Remedy to mingle in the ordinary Drink of Febricirants, because its little sharpnesse and quicknesse, doth cool and temper their predominant heat, and allayes their thirst. But if it be good in∣wardly applyed, it is no lesse successeful outwardly; for it cleanses and heales wonderful well all Ulcers in the mouth, and particularly those small Ulcers called aphtha, or the sore mouth of sucking children. The Dosis must be from iv. drops to x. in Wine or some convenient Decoction. The phlegm of Allom is good to temper the inflammation of the eyes, as also that of Phleg∣mons or Eresypela's; it is also very useful to wash and foment Wounds, Ulcers and Burnings.

How Allom may be turned into a liquid Magistery.

℞ As much purified and chrystallized Allom as you will, put it in a glass Cucurbite and sprinkle it with distilled Rain-wa∣ter, and put the Vessel in a cold place, until all the Allom be resolved into Liquor; which filtrate and distil in ashes to a dry bottom; sprinkle again the remaining Allom with distilled Li∣quor, and let it dissolve again, and so distill to a dry bottom as before, going on thus sprinkling, resolving and distilling, until the body of the Allom be all converted into Liquor, and come through the nose of the Limbeck, which is that we call the liquid Magistery of Allom, or to speak more properly, his true astrin∣gent Spirit; for this Remedy is one of the noblest and surest Stipticks and Astringents to be found amongst all Physical Prepa∣rations, not inferiour to Martial Remedies, Bolus or any other, whether for inward or outward application, as experience will make evident. The Dosis inward is from iv. to xij. drops, in immoderate Fluxes, Gonorrheas or heat of Urine, the Venereous stain being first taken off by some excellent Purge appropriated to the Person or the Disease. It may be mixt with hopes of a speedy and hasty successe in Epulotical Waters, for nothing advances better Cicatrization and re-union of the several so∣lutions of continuity.

How Sugar of Allom is to be prepared.

PUT lb ij. or iij. of Allom in a good glasse Retort, which place in sand to draw off softly the phlegm of it in a well graduated heat; as soon as this is done, remove the fire, and the Retort being cold, cohobate the phlegm upon the desiccated Al∣lom, and digest them together in a simple heat of the vaporous Balneo the space of 24 houres: this done, put the Retort again in sand, draw off the phlegm from it, and thus seven times con∣secutively reiterate the cohobation, digestion and extraction of phlegm, which being performed, put that which after the se∣venth separation of the phlegm remaines in the bottom of the Cucurbite, in a Cellar or some other cool place to dissolve it into Liquor; the dissolution ended, filtrate it cleanly, and put it to digest in a double or circulatory Vessel in ashes in a slow heat, the space of twelve natural dayes; after which, having placed it in a Cucurbite in ashes, you must distil off all the moisture to a dry bottom, and there shall remain the sugar of Allom, which is a particular Remedy against Diseases of the Breast, allaying also Toothach applyed upon the Gums. Above all, it is of sin∣gular use for those whose Brest is infected with any metallick, mineral, arsenical, mercurial vapours, or the like. The Dosis must be from v. to xv. graines in Broths, or some Pectoral or Diuretical Decoctions. It serves also to allay thirst in Feavers, and is o•• singular comfort to them that feel heates and perio∣dical paines about the Region of the Sternum or the upper part of the Brest, by reason of malignant, sharp and biting serosities, which the Venereous infection sends ordinarily in these parts to such as have long had the stain upon themselves; it works by U∣rine, spitting, sweats, and an insensible and natural transpiration.

The salification of Allom.

TO obtain the fixed part of Allom, ℞ lib. j. or ij. of the Caput mortuum of the distillation of the spirit of Allom, and put it in a Cucurbite; then pour upon it distilled Rain-water six fingers high, digest it in ashes in a moderate heat, which must be encreased by degrees, till the Liquor begins almost to boyl; stir it from time to time with a wooden Slice, then filtrate, and e∣vaporate the filtration in the vapour of a boyling Balneo, in a gray earthen or white earthen Dish till the skin begins to cover it, then let it stand in a cool place and there shute into Chry∣stals, or evaporate it to a dry bottom, stirring continually till it quite dry. This Salt is much more active then burnt Allom, be∣cause it is separated from its earth, and for this reason may be a plyed in much lesse quantity to the same uses. It may be also internally given to those that have a stomach stuft with slime or other foulnesse which deads and duls the appetite: for it will cut them, attenuate and expel, either by stool or vomiting. The Dosis must be from grain vj. to xij. or xv. in Broth or deco∣ction of wild Endive, or Spanish Scorzonera Roots.

Extraction of Allom.

℞ lib. vj. of very pure and clean Allom without any pre∣vious preparation, bake it in an earthen unglazed Pot in a very moderate heat, until all the phlegm be vapoured away, then en∣crease the fire by degrees, so as both the Pot and Allom in it may grow red glowing hot on all sides; which done, have in rea∣dinesse in a great earthen Pan lib. iv. of distilled Vinegar, where∣in you shall throw this calcined Allom glowing red, and the Vi∣negar will draw immediately and take to himself the Essence and Magistery of Allom, and the remainder of the body will preci∣pitate it self in the bottom of the Pan into a white powder, which after separation must be washed to a sweetnesse, or edulcorated,

then dryed and so kept for use. But the remaining Vinegar impregnated with the vertues of the Allom must be filtrated, and having joined to it ℥ ss. of Tincture of Elder berries made with its own fermented spirit, put all together in a Cucurbite in B. M. and draw by distillation all the superfluous liquor to a consi∣stency of boyled Hony or Syrup; then place your Cucurbite in a very cool place, and there letting it rest four or five dayes, you shall finde by this time Chrystals framed in this Liquor, which separate and dry, and proceed in the evaporation and chrystalli∣zation until no more Chrystals will shute. These Chrystals are Sudorificks, Diueticks and Stomachical, and therefore a good Remedy against rhe Scurvy; they may be administred twice in the week, in decoction of Nettle Roots, or juyce of Chervil well depurated and mixt with a little white Wine; it may also be given three times to those that are molested with Tertain Agues a lit∣tle before their fit in the same Liquors: the Dosis is from vj. gr. to ℈ j.

Of Armoniack Salt and its Chymical preparation.

THere is mention made in ancient Writers of a natural Ar∣moniack Salt, which was wont to be found in the Lybian sands, there formed and sublimated as they say, by the mixture of the stale of Camels used in their Carava••es, and making for the most part their Stations and Baitings in places appointed for that purpose. But we have none of it for the present, and know none other but that which is artificial and compounded of com∣mon salt and sal gem, salt of Soot and of Urine; this salt hath a harsh taste, mixt with an acid bitternesse very subtile and biting. Chymists do call it the solar Salt, the white Eagle, the white Mor∣curial Rain, and the Philosophers Mercurial Salt. That which is purest is to be preferred in choyce, as also the clearest and whitest. That which comes from Venice is the best, and the second in or∣der of goodnesse is that of Antwerp, the coursest and worst is that which comes from Holland. The general vertues of it are, to provoke Sweat and Urine, and to work also by insensible transpi∣ration: it is of very great efficacy against all aguish distempers,

and chiefly against Quartans, it resists corruption and putrefaction. The Dosis is from iv, grains to ℈ j. It is used also outwardly against Gangrenes, and to consume the superfluous and corrupted flesh. It is also very good used in Gargals against the Quinsy; and moreover, it is mixt in waters for sore eyes.

Moreover, the Artist must note, that Armoniack Salt is one of the most powerful Agents amongst all Chymical Operations, for extracting the sulphuts of Metals and Minerals by the help of sublimation: wherefore it is not without very good reason, that the greatest part of the most famous Writers in our Art, have disguised it with several aenigmatical and figurative appellati∣ons.

The preparations of salt Armoniack are, purification or chrystal∣lization, sublimation, calcination, distillation and liquation; we will treat in the sequel of this Discourse of all these Operations in particular, and will give examples both of the Remedies and the manner of working, that the Sons of Art may be so well in∣structed by it, as not to be surprized with the several changes that use to happen by the mixture of this salt with sundry dif∣ferent matters upon which it operates with so much efficacy, that it ravishes with wonder even the most knowing in those my∣steries which it opens, and drawes from the bosom and center of natural beings: and chiefly because this Salt is compounded of several parts which are united amongst themselves, and produce a Salt quite different from all other salts, and which consequent∣ly operates in a very different way, as it will evidently appear to those that shall put it in practice.

The Purification and Chrystallization of Armoniack Salt.

THis Purification is not made otherwise then by dissolving it with distilled Rain-water in a slow heat, after which filtrate and evaporate in the same heat; then put it in a cool place to shute its Chrystals, and thus continue until you have extracted all your Armoniack salt fair, pure and clear. This Salt hath not any greater efficacy then common Armoniack in Cakes, though it be something purer: wherefore we will not attribute also more ver∣tue, nor prescribe any other Dosis.

The sublimation of Flowers of Salt Armoniack.

℞ As much melted Salt as Armoniack, and mix them ex∣actly together; then pour this mixture into a Matrass or Cucur∣bite, and sublime it in ashes, reiterating this sublimation four times, to purifie, subtiliate and volatilize the better the Armo∣niack; some will have a like proportion of Filings of Steel mixt with the Armoniack that they may sublimate together; but they are deceived: for when the armoniack salt is mixt with Mars, it presently works upon, and the salt corrodes all the Steel, where∣of there may be made afterwards a very good Vitriol: But as the intention of those that add Steel to this sublimation, is only to make the Flowers of this Salt more incisive, aperitive, more sple∣netical and hepatical; our advice is to the sons of Art, to mix a fourth part of this opacous and greenish or blewish Vitrifica∣tion, which is found in Iron works or Furnaces, where the first fusion of the Mine is made, or as much of those scales which fall from Smith's Anvils: But let him note, that neither of these two substances must be made in very subtile powder; contrari∣wise, it will suffice to have it coursly beaten, that the Armoniack may only lick it over in the action of subliming, and so draw only the soul or a portion of the internal sulphur of it, by which it is much encreased in excellency and vertue: The Artist must consider, that as these Flowers are more subtile and penetrating then Armoniack salt meerly purified and chrystallized: so must it consequently be endowed with much more vertue, and parti∣cularly when this salt is made use of against Quartan and other intermittent Agues. These Flowers are also of singular use to correct the crudities of the Ventricle, and remove ill fermenta∣tions, if every morning the Patient takes of it fasting in a Glass of Wormwood Wine, or in infusion of Sassafras wood, made in white Wine: But the use of it must be continued the space of fifteen dayes or three whole weeks. And if this Remedy be gi∣ven against Leucophlegmacy, or the beginning of any kind of Dropsie, which ordinarily followes after long Diseases, and the

various agitations of dangerous Feavers; you must take care that the Patient be in his bed when the Remedy shall be administred unto him, and that he be well covered to help the provocation of sweat, and at his coming out of it, let him take some nou∣rishment of easie digestion, and above all be carerfully rubbed and dryed, by reason of the ill impressions which these sweats do communicate to the linnen wherein the Patient is wrapt, and might easily raise some malignity upon a skin which is yet open and doth exhale some noxious vapours, and capable yet to do hurt. The Dosis of these Flowers, is from iij. graines to xv. and if the strength of the Patient can bear it, even to xx. chiefly it he hath been used to it before, encreasing the quantity by lit∣tle and little.

The Calcination or Fixation of Salt Armoniack.

WEE have ever had a care sufficiently to inform our Ar∣tist, that he must lose nothing, of what the substances whereupon he works may afford, that is good and useful in them∣selves. For which reason we cannot admit, that he should fix or barely calcine the Armoniack salt in an earthen Pot, in a circular fire and a wind-Furnace; because he loses by this way all the vo∣latile urinous spirit which is contained in this Mysterious Salt. Wherefore we prescribe the operation of it to be made in that kind of open Retort, which Glauber doth describe in the second part of his Philosophical Furnaces: for by this means, what flies otherwise unnecessarily away into the ayre, is preserved: you must then proceed in it in the manner following.

℞ j. p. of quick-lime well chosen and that hath not been exposed to the ayre, and j. p. s. of Armoniack salt; reduce them each severally to powder, then mix together, and incorpo∣rate to a Pap with new made Urine: but before you begin this mixture, kindle the fire under your Retort, and make it so red, that the Lead which is in the hollow channel, and is intended to be a Lute to the Cover, be melted: things being thus disposed, put a small spoonful of this matter at once in the Retort, and co∣ver it immeditately with its Cover, and the vapours will instant∣ly

run into the Recipient, which must be fitted to the neck of it, and the same exactly luted. Go on in this manner until all the matter be consumed, or until you have enough of volatile spirit, if your intention be to extract it, or until you have suffi∣cient quantity of Armoniack salt fixt or calcined, if your intention leads no further. Then draw the spirit out of the Recipient and rectifie it; and of this we shall speak again hereafter in the distil∣lation of Armoniack salt; but draw the lump remaining in the Retort whilst the fire is yet in its strength, for then i•• is soft, and may be taken up easily with a small Iron Ladle, having a handle somewhat long. Dissolve and digest the same matter in Rain-water; then filtrate the liquor, and so proceed on till no more salt will come from it; then evaporate all the filtrated▪ liquors to a dry bottom, stirring them continually towards the end until all the moisture be gone; you may keep some part of this salt whol∣ly dry in a Viol exactly stopt, and put the other in a Cellar to dis∣solve in liquor, which will be fit for extracting several Tinctures, as the salt may serve for Cementations. We say nothing con∣cerning the Dosis of this fixed Salt, because it is never inwardly used in Diseases. The dissolved Liquor may neverthelesse be used externally to mollifie and resolve Cornes and Callous or hard ex∣crescences growing in the feet, and often very troublesome: it may also be used with a little spirit of wine to rub and chafe the hard and knotty places of the Gout, to resolve, soften and attenuate the hardnesse of that tartarous and sticking matter contained in those Nodosities.

The Distillation of Armoniack Salt.

MAny Authors have Equivocated upon the Distillation of this admirable Salt; for some would have the volatile Spi∣rit to be the principal part of this mysterious Compound. Others thought the acid Spirit only could yield what the ancient Philoso∣phers did search in it: We must confesse both Parties to have many reasons on which they seem to be grounded: but they have not yet well decided the Question, because those that did en∣dea•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••lear it most, have not took well enough into their

consideration the double nature of Armoniack salt, which is com∣pounded of common salt that is acid and as it were fixt, and of the volatile salt of Urine: Now the union and mixture of these two Salts is so strict, that it is very difficult, yea almost impossible to turn them over the Helm into liquor one with the other: but contrariwise, the urinous and volatile salt carries away the body of the acid, which produces no more then the sublimation of the same salt. But they that have attempted to possesse them both together, could never attain to it with successe but by the addi∣tion of some other body, which had the faculty to keep back the acid salt, to let the urinous spirit and volatile salt of Urine a∣scend, that are both but one and the same thing, as it appears by the sublimation of the same spirit into a body of volatile salt. It would neverthelesse be an excellent Remedy, if Art could have attained to raise this Armoniack salt to a Spirit, equally partaker of the vertues of the Volatile and of the common salt without any forraign or strange mixture: because that as the action of these two salts one upon the other hath produced a salt quite dif∣fering in taste, smell and vertue from the two taken asunder, so should we have a subtile and penetrative spirit, which would be capable of many Rare effects in Physick, and useful for the prepa∣ration of many other noble Remedies, if once Armoniack salt could be made to ascend into a Spirit endowed with the vertues which do constitute it. But as many have attempted this Ope∣ration without successe, so do I finde my self forced to acknow∣ledge here my ignorance, and say, that we must be contented wi••h the Flowers of salt armoniack, until some more skilful Artist hath improved our knowledge and experience, or our own industry and labour discovered more unto us, to impart it afterwards to the Common••ealth of Hermetical Physick. We will neverthelesse deliver two wayes of drawing the spirit of Armoniack, and its vo∣latile urinous salt; the first shall only teach how to draw the spirit alone, and the urinous salt only: but the second shall teach the separation of its acid spirit, which possesses much more of vertue then the spirit of common salt, by reason of the mixture and working of the volatile salt of Urine, which hath blunted and kil'd part of its corrosive faculty.

To make the Spirit and volatile urinous Salt of Armoniack.

℞ lb j. of well chosen Armoniack salt, and as much of well purified Tartar very dry; beat the Armoniack to powder in a warm Mortar, and then add to it the salt of Tartar exactly mixed; this mixture put in a glass Retort with a wide neck, and placing it in sand, fit to it a large Recipient, and give it a gradual fire, and in a short time you shall have a volatile spirit coming over the Helm in liquor: the salt will sublimate it self into a clear sub∣stance as white as Camphire, and this Operation may be ended in three, four, or five houres at the most. The volatile salt may be dissolved with its own spirit, and they both kept together for such uses as we have said the spirit and volatile salt of Urine to be good, it being one and the same thing; this more only we have to add, because it is a thing of the highest concern, that as this volatile salt and spirit do more then any thing else correct and hinder pu∣trefaction and corruption, and that the poyson or venom of the Plague and all analogous Diseases unto it, is corruptive and putri∣fying, killing by his evil fermentation the natural spirits; so must Physitians have a care to use this admirable Remedy, as much to preserve bodies from that fearful scourge and malady, as to hinder the progresse of it when it hath already begun to rage and spread its infection. We will likewise say that this volatile salt and spi∣rit are more subtile and penetrating, and of a kinder taste and smell then those that have been extracted out of plain Urine, be∣cause they were not fermented and depurated by common salt: wherefore we do particularly recommend them, to preserve the stomach from that putrefaction and corruption which is generated by the vice and defect of the digestive faculty; as also to destroy and quench all evil acid fermentations in the Ventricle; it is like∣wise good in fits of the Mother against Epilepsie, and Apoplexy, inveterate diseases of the Head, and it will produce surprizing and wonderful effects.

How the spirit of Armoniack Salt is to be extracted.

THough we have already shewed how the son of Art may ex∣tract the spirit and volatile salt of this Mixt, yet we cannot shew how the acid spirit of this Mixt is to be extracted, without separating from it at the same time the volatile spirit thereof. And as we have already declared the manner of that Operation above, when we spake of the fixation of Armoniack, we will not insist upon a needlesse repetition of what we have once already said: only we will add, that you must put here equal parts of good quick-lime, and armoniack salt, and reduce them to a pap with Urine, then distil it in a glowing hot Iron Retort, and pro∣ceed as we have said above in the quoted place. The Artist must put all the liquor he shall finde in his Recipient after distillation in a Cucurbite of a Cubit high, and narrow in the neck, placing it in B. M. and covering it with a Limbeck Head exactly luted, as also with the Recipient which must be added unto it; then give it a graduate fire, that all the volatile spirit and volatile uri∣nous salt may separate it self and rise with the heat, and when no more will ascend, put the remaining liquor in a Retort, and rectifie it in sand, and you shall have an acid spirit much plea∣santer then the spirit of common salt, and endowed with the same vertue; wherefore we refer our Reader to what we have said a∣bove: the Sons of Art must only note, that this Spirit in re∣spect of that of common salt, may be compared to a perfect Man, and that which proceeds from common salt can only be resem∣bled to a Youth; from whence he may dra•• those consequences which we only intend to insinuate unto him by this Compa∣rison. The spirit and volatile salt drawn by this Processe, is en∣dowed with the same vertues as we have related above.

The Liquation of Salt Armoniack.

THis Operation is not very mysterious, being nothing else but the resolution of armoniack salt fixed by quick-lime into liquor in the cool of a Cellar, or it is also the resolution of the same armoniack salt purified, chrystallized and reduced to pow∣der, put in whites of Egges newly boyled to a hardnesse, and set it in order in an earthen Pan in a Cellar to extract the Liquor, which Artists do call water of armoniack sal••: these two Liquors made by Resolution are not for Physical uses, unlesse they be us'd in Metallick Preparations, and Minerals, which they either fix or open according to the purpose and intention of the Work∣man.

Of Vitriol and its Chymical Preparation.

WEE have demonstrated in the beginning of the Chapter Metals the first and immediate principles of Vitriol; wherefore we refer thereunto our Artist, to speak only here of Vitriol reduced into a body either by Art or by Nature; for some Vitriol is found ready prepared and chrystalliz'd in the Earth of Mines where Metals do abound; as some is to be seen which cu∣rious searchers of Nature have brought from the Indies, Hungary, Germany, Italy, and several other parts of Europe: But there is also an artificial Vitriol, which is extracted from vitriolick Mar∣cassites, commonly found in fat Grounds, alwayes about the places abounding & with pregnant metallick seeds, and enclined naturally to the generation of Sulphur. They that shall be led by a Philo∣sophical curiosity to instruct themselves further in this matter, must seek in places where the fat Clay for making of Tyles and Bricks is extracted, and there may finde some of these vitriolick Marcassites, which are nothing else but what the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and we a Fire locks, Flint, Thunderbolt, Fire-flint, and the Tile-Bakers Machefer—Having got of these stones, let them

examine them by fire, which shall discover to them nothing but a sulphureous substance, by the vapours striking their Nostrils and seizing upon the Brest as burning Brimstone: but having expo∣sed the remainder in the ayre, it will dissolve it self into a gray and blackish powder, which will sublimate upon its superficies, small, white and sharp excrescences melting in the mouth, and yielding at first a sweetnesse, which ends in a vitriolick harsh∣nesse and austerity; then dissolve this powder in Rain-water in a slow heat, filtrate and evaporate it to a Pellicule or skin, and let it chrystallize and you shall have an excellent greenish Vitriol. With this short and superfi••ial Antimony, the Artist may satisfie himself, and know in part by the seve••ing of this stone the way by which Nature did proceed in b••inging the parts the••eof toge∣ther, and coagulating of it.

The most learned Writers which have treated of Vitriol, and best known and apprehended the nature thereof, do all unanimous∣ly confesse and acknowledge it to be a Mixt of so extensive a ver∣tue as to be sufficient to supply with Remedies the third part of all Physical Practice, and even capable to make up a compleat and well furnished Shop. Basilius, Valentinus, Bedro, Paracelsus, Sala, and many others cannot be large and diffusive enough in its praise and commendation; and those Hermetical Philosophers, which have bestowed upon it that excellent name of Vitriolum, have done it as they say, because the putting toge••her of those Let∣ters contains (allowing a word to each of them) the mysteries which this mineral Salt conceals in its Center. Visitabis Interiora terrae, Rectificando invenies optimum Lapidem, veram Medicinam. These words do insinuate where Vitriol is to be sought, how pre∣pared, and extol the Remedy which is to be ••ound in it. But Vi∣triol being so well known, we think it needlesse to b••stow more time in speaking of its various names and appellations; it will suffice to declare the choyce, and the general vertues of it, before we come to the preparations which Chymistry hath found upon this noble and excellent Compound; which properly is nothing else but a mineral Salt near kin to metallick nature, and chiefly to Copper and Iron, or ♀ and ♂. Venus and Mars. There is three several kinds of it, which contain many other species under them. For first of all there is the blew Vitriol as blew as a Sa∣phire,

in hard, clear, solid and dry Chrystals, called commonly Cypruss Vitriol, or Hungarian. There is a second kind, greenish, of grass colour, lesse compact and in lesse Chrystals, broken in∣to corns almost as common salt, something unctuous and sticking to the hand when it is toucht, though it hath but little of moisture; such is that which is extracted in the Countrey of Liege, made about Spa, where are acid, sulphureous and vitriolick springs; but great care must be had not to be surprized and de∣ceived by that which is of a blewish white, and very small corns and wetting the hands of those that touch it, because this is the very worst of all. The last and third kind of Vitriol is that which is white, and is found in small cakes at the D••ugsters shops, compact∣ed, hard and dry, which we call in France white Copporis, commonly made use of for Vomits and Eye-wa••ers. Our Artist must take for the subject of his work of the second kind of Vitriol, if he will ex∣tract such Remedies from it, as his hopes do lead him to: for the first kind which holds of Silver or Copper, hath too much of me∣tallick earth, and very little of acid spirit. The second which is blewish, is aluminous and terrestrial, and hath scarce any good a∣cidity in it, but only a course and excrementitious earth, which has little or none of metallick Tincture: wherefore let him still gene∣rally chuse of the second for his operations, unlesse he hath some peculiar intention of his own, or that the Author which he follows doth tye him to it, and prescribe positively so.

After the choyce of Vitriol we must come to the proprieties and general Vertues thereof, which are to heat, desiccate, astringe or bind, and excite violent vomiting, constipate, open, and kill wormes. As for external applications it provokes sneezing, if put in the nostrils, and applyed to the orifice of the Vessels open, or to wounds, doth stop the blood. We have also spoken more particularly of the vertues of Vitriol in the Chapter of Metals, when we treated of Copper, whereunto for more satisfaction we send back our Artist.

The general preparations which Chymistry teaches upon Vitriol are, purification, calcination, distillation, sublimation, precipi••ation, salification, extraction, whereof we will give examples that the Ar∣tist may afterwards be capable to seek by himself in this noble Mi∣neral, those Vertues and Wonders which God and Nature for the help and ease of mankind have concentrated in it.

Of the Purification of Vitriol and manner of Preparing the Gelly.

WEE have so often already made mention of the Purifica∣tion of Salts, that it will be no difficult matter to lead the Artist to understand that of Vitriol: it is performed two several wayes and upon two several intentions. The first is but a plain dissolution of Vitriol in Rain-water, followed with filtration, e∣vaporation to a Pellicula or thin skin and chrystallization. The second must be done in distilled May dew-water; but the disso∣lution and filtration being made, the Artist must put his liquor to digest in B. M. during the space of a Philosophical moneth, and he will finde a skin separated by the liquor on the top of it, and feces precipitated in the bottom, which must be yet separated by filtration, and this digestion continued until the Vitriol doth cast forth no more impurity; after which evaporate it slowly and chrystallize. The first chrystallization or purification takes only away the superficial and outward foulnesse; but the second se∣parates the very central impurity; The first Vitriol may be made use of in all common and vulgar operations, but the second is to be kept for extraordinary preparations, which are the Tinctures and Arcana's.

The Son of Art shall meet also in several Authors with a kind of preparation they call Gilla, which are only fit for Vomits, and are nothing else properly, but purified Vitriol separated from their metallick earth: but as these Remedies are for the most part violent, and particularly the Gilla prepared with blew Vi∣triol, my advice is to abstain from them, and to make use of the purification of white Vitriol, which is done by dissolving of it four times in a little Centaury water, filtrated, evaporated, and reduced to Chrystals: for this Water doth not only encrease its emetick faculty, but moreover doth specificate it to become an excellent Remedy against Feavers. The Dosis may be from x. grains to ℈ iv. in Broths, lukewarm Beer, some Decoction or convenient Water: it provokes vomiting very gently, and clean∣ses

the stomach from all impurities and foulnesse, checking the appetite, and causing disgust of meat, headach and fluxions: it is good against diseases of the Ventricle, tertian Agues and quotidi∣an Feavers, wormes in the Belly, Plague and growing Epi∣lepsie.

The Calcination of Vitriol.

THe Calcination of Vitriol is performed several wayes and for several intentions. But amongst the Calcinations of Vitriol some are rather to be called Exsiccations, as that which is made by the Reverberation of the Sun-beames in the Ca∣nicular dayes, to prepare that famous and so much celebrated Magnetical Remedy, which is called Sympathetical powder. There is likewise an Exsiccation made in the Sun in a Pan, or upon the top of an Oven heated every day, to deprive it of its superfluous moisture, and make it ready afterwards and ser∣viceable for distilling of aqua fortis, and for several other Chymi∣cal Preparations. But as the chief scope and intention of the Sons of Art is to reduce Vitriol into Colchotar, and that this intention is fully accomplished and attained unto in the distil∣lation of Vitriol, I do not finde it necessary to lose by vio∣lent ignition in an open fire, that substance which flyes from it, since it hath very good uses in Physick's; wherefore we will not insist to deliver the manner of it which is too plain to be unknown; but we will show how Vitriol may be cal∣cinated by a noble Philosophical Calcination, without losse of any of its essential proprieties, provided your prescriptions in this particular may be exactly followed.

The Philosophical calcination of Vitriol.

℞ Vitriol purified by digestion, in the manner we have de∣clared above; dry it between two Papers in a very slow heat, until it turnes of it self into a dry powder, which must be put in one or several Matrasses with a flat bottom, the thicknesse of a shilling or a little more, or of the back of a Knife, observing well this prescription, otherwise it might come short of your design; heat the Vessels Hermetically, and put them in ashes as deep as the matter is high, and about half a finger above; then give it a fire, which must not exceed the Suns heat in Summer, and without any interruption continue the same during the space of a Philosophi∣cal moneth which is 40 dayes, and thus the Vitriol will by degrees from a white colour passe into a yellowish, and from yellow to a red, which comes to the height of blood reduced to powder; then remove the fire, break the Vessels, and keep this Philosophical Vitriol as a rare and excellent Remedy, both inward and outward, possessing in it self the true soul and Tincture of this Mixt, which may be extracted with the true alkohol of Tartarized Wine, if the Artist hath the gift of patience, and takes not the shadow for the substance and body.

The distillation of Vitriol.

WEE will not teach here the bare Distillation of Vitriol, to draw thereof an acid or corrosive Spirit, which common∣ly and improperly is called its Oyle: but our intention is to make an exact anatomy thereof, that the Son of Art may the better ap∣prehend what are the several parts thereof, and his judgement by consequence be well and duly informed of the substances which are extracted from it, and of their Medicinal faculties.

To prepare the Dew of Vitriol.

℞ As much as you will of purified Vitriol, put it in a broad mouth Cucurbite only eight inches high; place it in B. M. and having covered it with a Limbeck-head, and fitted a Recipient, the joints well luted with a bladder wetted with white of Eggs, give it fire by degrees untill the water of the Balneo doth boyl, and thus proceed in this distillation until this degree of heat drives no more liquor, and no more drops will fall. What you finde in the Recipient put in a bottle, which stop with Wax and Bladder, by reason of a little of the volatile spirit mixt in this Dew, and wherein doth consist its greatest vertue; it is given from ℈ j. to ℈ ij. and iij. in Broth or some other convenient Liquor, to those that are troubled with Megrim and other paines in the Head; it allayes the heats and ebullitions of the blood, and strengthens the entrals.

To draw the acid Water of Vitriol.

AS the Artist must work with method and study, if he intends to make any progresse; so likewise must he be a good Hus∣band of his time, fire and Vessels. Wherefore let him have a Fur∣nace in readinesse with a sand Vessel or Capsula, and the sand warm in it; when he perceives that the B. M. drawes no more of the substance of the Vitriol, because it is a token to him that the matter hath need of a stronger degree of heat to be driven to yield any thing more, let him then draw the Cucurbite from the Bal∣neo, and wipe it to take off the moisture from it, and place it all warm and luted upon one inch and a half thick of warm sand, and let him put of the same equally warm round about as high as the matter goes; then the Recipient being fitted again, let him en∣crease the fire by degrees until the head of the Limbeck be filled with white vapours, and that no more drops of the liquor shall fall from the nose of it; then let him remove the fire from the mat∣ters

and Furnace. Put also the liquor which is in the Reci∣pient in a bottle, and stop it as the other: for it is not an use∣lesse Phlegm as many have conceited, which did despise it and throw it away, not well versed with the anatomy of Vitriol and the knowledge of those Liquors which it yields by distillation. This water stath but very little acidity in it self, but participates already of the aperitive and anodyne vertue of Vitriol; which make it to be very successfully used for the cleansing of the Reines, and softening and allaying of all inward corrosions. It quenches the thirst of feaverish persons, and provokes Urine abundantly. This Liquor is also very good for washing of the eyes, if you add a little salt of Saturn with it; it takes away also inflammations, and allayes the grief of corroding and malignant Ulcers, if they be washt with it warm; and having a little of salt of Tartar mix∣ed with it, it takes away itching in the skin and drives away scabs.

To make the acid Spirit and corrosive oyle of Vitriol.

TAke the dry matter left in the Cucurbite, after distillation of the two forementioned Liquors; beat it to a course powder, pour the powder in a glass or earthen Retort, cover it with one finger thick of such a composition as may withstand the most vio∣lent fire; place this Re••ort in a close Reverberatory, and fit to it a capacious and large Recipient, which must also be well luted, and the Lute being dry, give it a graduate fire as we have taught, when we treated of the distillation of spirit of Salt; but the fire must be driven much higher and longer with the flame of a very dry wood; for it must be continued three dayes and three nights without any interruption, so as the Recipient may still remain full of white clouds and vapours, and that at the end drop down red and blackish drops, which grow clearer towards the end, by which you may perceive the operation to draw to an end, and that the fire hath drawn from the matter, as much as the Artist may and ought to hope for, though some weary themselves unnecessarily, continuing the fire without intermission twelve or fifteen dayes: but they betray their skill in so doing, and show how ignorant

they are of the matter upon which they work, and much more of the sphere of activity of the flame of fire which they made use of; you must then remove the fire when you perceive the signes we have noted, and begin to moisten the Lute in the neck of the Re∣cipient with a little warm water, unlesse you will stay till the next day which would be best: go slowly to work for fear of breaking any thing, and by an overhasty precipitancy losing on a sudden what hath cost so much labour and charge: draw then the Recipient slowly away, and what you finde in it pour in a glasse Retort, which having placed in sand, and fitted a Recipient unto i••, give a gradual fire until the drops begin to fall down, which taste from time to time, to change the Recipient assoon as you perceive them to have an acidity, and after you have drawn two parts of the liquor which was in the Recipient, remove the fire, and so shall you have three Liquors: the first whereof shall al∣most be of an insipid taste, but with a sulphureous smell, which is a token of the volatile spirit, and this mix with the sowr Li∣quor, or keep by it self for the same uses. The second hath a pleasant and penetrating acidity or sharpnesse, which is that they properly call the acid spirit of Vitriol, used in Physick: for it is Diuretical, Diapho••etical, Aperitive, Incisive, and resists to pu∣trefaction and inflammations. Wherefore it is of wonderful ver∣tue against all burning Feavers, occasioned by putrid and malig∣nant matters, and also against obstructions of the Liver, Spleen and Mesentery; it is good to restore appetite, when lost; it streng∣thens the faculties of the stomach, and doth correct the defects of it: It asswages Toothach, if mixed with white Wine, and garga∣rized in the mouth; if you mix of this spirit with water of the juyce of great Celancine, and rub with this mixture the scurf in the head, it destroyes the root of it, and kills that ill, harsh and corrosive humour which doth infect the skin; it is given in Broths or ordinary Drinks of sick persons. The Dosis must be to a plea∣sant acidity or sharpnesse, for otherwise it would set the Teeth on edge, and prove troublesome to those that would use it.

Filtrate the Liquor remaining in the Retort after the distillation of the acid spirit through Glasse beaten to powder, for otherwise it would corrode all other substance, being altogether corrosive; put it in a double glasse Viol, and stop it with a glasse stopple ve∣ry

close. This is called oyle of Vitriol, though improperly, since it is neither inflammable, nor unctuous: but the manner of ex∣pression of Writers must be followed, from whom this Liquor had its first denomination, being too harsh and violent for inward Re∣medies, and only fit and subservient to other Chymical works.

We will not speak here of the preparation of the sweet earth of Vitriol, called by some Terra Damnata, or damned earth, in regard it is destitute of its own salt; this earth and salt are ex∣tracted of the matter remaining in the Retort after the distillation of the oyle and spirit of Vitriol, which Chymists call by the name of Caput Mortuum, or dead Head. We shall defer to speak of these two particulars till we come to treat of Salification: the Artist must only expose this Caput mortuum to the free ayre, in a place not open to the Rain, that it may attract the influences of the heavens and of the ayre.

We could bring here the description of several compounded spirits of Vitriol, and specificated for some particular Disease: but we leave the choyce thereof to the skil and fancy of the Artist, or the directions which he shall finde in Writers which have large∣ly treated thereof; we will only give for a taste two Processes or Preparations of it, by which he may be guided in any further work he shall intend or undertake thereupon. The first shall be a sweet and pleasant spirit of Vitriol, the second a very considerable A∣peritive and rate Dissolvent, both proceeding from the same spring, but only brought by us to shew the variety and difference of O∣peration.

To prepare the Oyle or sweet spirit of Vitriol.

℞ lb iij. of calcined Vitriol between yellow and red, in an earthen Pot not glazed in an open fire; beat it to powder, pour it into a Cucurbite, and sprinkle it with good distilled Vinegar un∣til it be reduced to a Pap; stir the Vessel without intermission, and pour in it new distilled Vinegar three fingers high; put the Cucurbite in a vaporous Balneo and cover it with a Blindhead, then during the space of three natural dayes, give it a digestive fire; the fourth day draw off the Vinegar by decantation, and pour fresh

Vinegar in the room of it, digesting again the space of three dayes, and extracting and taking off the Liquor by decantati∣on; thus proceed seven times without omitting digestion; fil∣trate all the distilled Vinegar, which is impregnated with the vertue of the Vitriol, and put it in a Cucurbite in ashes; draw off the superfluous Menstruum by distillation with a slow and graduate fire to the consistency of decocted Honey; this make into Pellets with pebble stones calcinated to powder, these pellets put in a Retort and draw the spirit and oyle thereof, as they call it, with a graduate fire of the requisite heat; this distillation will require twenty four or thirty hours of fire, or thereabout. The Liquor which you finde in the Recipient rectifie in a glass Re∣tort in sand, and keep for use. This Spirit or Oyle is of a plea∣sant and sweetish taste, having in it the vertues of Vitriol mixt with those of the subtile Tartar in the distilled Vinegar: where∣fore it may be given with much successe in all Diseases proceed∣ing from grosse and tartarous matters, as Scurvy, Gravel, great Pocks, Gout, Rheumatism's and Catarrhs, and generally in all Diseases abounding with malignant, grosse and sharp serosities, as in Leprosie, Scabs and Itch: for this wonderful Spirit doth recti∣fie the whole masse of the blood by Urine, Sweats, and insensible transpiration. The Dosis must be from ℈ j. to ʒ ss. in Broths, Decoctions, white Wine, or appropriated Syrups. The Theo∣rical and Practical part of this Spirit might afford unto us a large field of speculation; but having already spoken of it when we handled the first Menstruum for extraction of the Tincture of Coral, where we made some reflection upon the action and mu∣tual reaction of Vitriol and Tartar, we refer the Artist to that place.

The Tartarized Spirit of Vitriol.

℞ lb ij. of Vitriol well purified and only dryed, and lb j. of Tartar of Montpellier washed in white Wine and well dryed; beat them to powder each asunder, mix them exactly, and put in a glass Retort well luted, distil the spirit in a close Reverbera∣tory fire with requisite precautions; especially take a care that the

Recipient may be very capacious, or put one with three mouthes, that there may be the more room to keep within bounds the fu∣riousnesse of this Spirit which is very violent; drive the fire from 48 to 60 houres, and then cease. All what is come out rectifie in a Retort in sand three times at least, and keep this Spirit in a well stopt Viol. Then take the Caput mortuum which remains in the Retort, and put it to digest in the dew of Vitriol in the va∣porous Balneo the space of 24 houres; separate the Menstruum by inclination, and begin the digestion with new Menstruums, until it comes off with the same taste as it was put in; filtrate all the extractions, and slowly evaporate them in ashes to a skin, then let it chrystallize: but it will be more expedient for husbanding of time, to dry all the saline matter into a white and pure salt in the vapour of a boyling Balneo in an earthen Pan or white earthen Dish: for you must forbear using metallick Vessels, because this salt doth easily and quickly contract the taste and colour of Me∣tals; and if the salt did not prove white and pure enough, dis∣solve it again in new dew of Vitriol, and let it digest in a very gentle heat of the vaporous Balneo, that if any impurity should remain it should be precipitated to the bottom of the Vessel; the liquor must be filtrated in the cold, then evaporated and dryed slowly and cleanly. Put this salt in a double Vessel or Blind bo∣dy, and pour upon it the rectified spi it thereof, stop and lute the Blindhead, and put it to digest and circulate in B. M. in a slow and moderate heat the space of three weeks, which being ex∣pired, open the Vessel, and pour into a Retort all the matter contained in it, having first noted the weight thereof, and distil it in sand, until it yields nothing more by encreasing of the fire; weigh the liquor which is come forth, and cohobate it upon the salt which did remain in the Retort, reiterate the distillation, and you shall finde the spirit to be encreased in weight, which is a token that the salt ascends into Spirit, cohobate and distil so long that all the said salt may come over the Helm; which done, put this spirit in a Cucurbite, draw off the same gently in ashes, then encrease the fire something more towards the end and the salt will remain in the bottom of the Vessel, which having placed in sand, give it a subliming fire, then will the salt ascend insipid, pure and clean, leaving in the bottom its impurity and more cor∣poreal

parts; put this salt in a Pellican, and having poured its own spirit upon it, lute the mouth of the circulatory Vessel with a glasse stople, whites of Eggs and quick lime; and digest and circu∣late this matter the space of seven natural dayes, and thus shall you have the most excellent and penetrating Spirit which Art can prepare, to which we cannot attribute enough of vertue and ef∣ficacy for preserving and restoring of health; for it is an uni∣versal Aperitive, which never will fail in time of need. They that shall be acquainted with his excellency, both in respect of Physick and of Chymical operation, shall never question the truth of what I say: but I must give advice to the Artist to carry him∣self with circumspection in this Operation, and not to grow weary of the length thereof, since he will receive in the end all the benefit and satisfaction which his hopes could entertain. This work doth not concern such as think themselves very great Ar∣tists, when they have attained to the preparation of Mineral Chry∣stal, Cremor of Tartar, and Crocus Metallorum; but contrati∣wise is worth the labour of those that are most consummated in the study, and most versed in all the passages of a Chymical La∣boratory; and it is only for their sakes, that we have related here this excellent, but laborious Preparation, because they only know that, Dii laboribus omnia vendunt.

The Precipitation of Vitriol.

THe common settlement of the dissolution of Vitriol, is nothing else but a metallick earth and Oker, and is for the most part confounded with the true Precipitations, which are performed only by instillation of some kind of salts or spirits: but there is a great difference between the matters proceeding from them; wherefore we will speake of it with the requisite order.

To make the Metallick Earth or Oker of Vitriol.

℞ As much Vitriol as you will, dissolve it in a full quart of distilled Rain-water; this dissolution put in a great Matrass, and place it in a moderate heat the space of four dayes, and all the me∣tallick earth or Oker of the Vitriol will fall in the bottom of the Vessel; separate the water by inclination, and wash this Earth, then dry it; it is used so for sublimation.

To make the sweet sulphur of Vitriol.

℞ Of the purest of Vitriol you can get, and dissolve it in water of May-dew; digest the solution the space of seven natural dayes in a vaporous Balneo, filtrate it the eighth day, and draw off again half of the Menstruum by distillation in the boyling Bal∣neo; draw out the Vessel whilst it is yet warm, and precipitate the sulphur contained in the Liquor with oyle of Tartar per d••liquium; let the liquor grow clear by little and little, then draw it off by inclination, then by several effusions of distilled Rain-water e∣dulcorate the remaining sulphur, and being exactly dryed, keep it for use. It is a very good Remedy against affections of the brest; it may be administred from ij. to x. graines in some Syrup, Lohoch, Lozenges, or Conserve appropriated to the Disease. It is also successfully used to mundifie and cicatrize evil Ulcers. It may al∣so be sublimated.

To make the Purging Sulphur of Vitriol.

℞ lb ij. of Vitriol of Liege well depurated, mix it exactly with ℥ vj. of Filings of Steel very pure and clean, put this mix∣ture in a great Matrass, and pour upon it sharp or sowr water of Vi∣triol four inches high, then put it to digest in B. M. the space of four dayes, stirring the Vessel five or six times every day: this done,

filtrate the liquor, and draw off one half by distillation in ashes, then precipitate the rest with oyle of Tartar made per deliquium; to lb iij. of the liquor pour on drop by drop ℥ v. of the oyle of Tartar, and proportionably if there be more or lesse: let the sul∣phur settle, then decant the clear liquor, edulcorate and exsiccate as we have taught above. This Sulphur is a mild and commodi∣ous Purgative, very good for those that have any indisposition in the breast or lungs, or do incline towards Consumption or hectick Feavers; it may be given from two graines to six, in Conserve of Roots of Enula Campana, or Conserve of the Berry of Eglantine, called Cynosbatos. But my advice is to those which would pro∣ceed yet more warily and with greater curiosity in obtaining the best Remedies, to digest this sulphur in a slow heat, in a Matrass seal'd Hermetically, during the space of 40 dayes, and it will en∣crease half in vertue, and the Dosis be lesse by half.

To make the fixed and volatile Sulphur of Vitriol.

DIssolve lb vj. of Liege Vitriol very well purified, in a sufficient quantity of distilled Rain-water; this done, put lb j. of Fi∣lings of Needles very clean in a glazed Pan, pour upon it this dis∣solution, and stir them together, and place the Pan in some posi∣tion where the Sun may freely play upon, and there leave it until the matter doth grow thicker by degrees, which you must stir often, and at last dry up wholly; then beat it to powder, and add lb j. φ. more of new Filings of Steel, and sprinkle it with distilled Rain∣water until all be reduced to a pretty clear pap, which dry again in the Sun, stirring it often, and thus proceed to the seventh time, until the matter takes up a very high red Tincture; then being well deprived of all aqueous moisture, put it in a great Marrass, and pour upon excellent distilled Vinegar four inches high, put it to digest in sand, and stir it often; this digestion continue until the Vinegar be well tinged with a red colour, then remove it and pour other in the place, and thus continue until the Vinegar drawes no more Tincture. Filtrate afterwards all the Extractions, and di∣vide them into two equal parts, one of which must be put in ashes in a Cucurbite, and all the menstruum thereof drawn off by distil∣lation

by a graduate heat to a dry bottom; them make the Lotion and edulcoration of the matter with distilled Rain-water until the water comes off tastelesse from it; after this dry it gently be∣tween two papers in a moderate and equal heat; and thus shall you have the burning and volatile sulphur of Vitriol, mixt with that of Mars, easie to take flame, and even to be consumed wholly away if it be set on sire, yielding a purple flame as Cin∣nabar doth which hath store of sulphur in it self; keep it for use for Asthmatick persons instead of flower of Brimstone, being much more efficacious and full of vertue; it is given from iv. gr. to ℈φ. in Lozenges with Benjuin flowers, or in Bolus, with Con∣serve of flowers of Coltsfoot.

The other half of the Liquor kept also as above, must be put filtrated in B. M. in a Cucurbite. Then draw off one half or the two third parts of the Menstruums, and precipitate the remainder with oyle of Tartar made per deliquium poured drop after drop, until no precipitation will longer ensue; let the fix∣ed sulphur settle in the bottom of the Cucurbite some space of time; then separate the liquor from it, wash and edulcorate the remainder, and dry it according to Art; put this sulphur in a Matrasse or Philosophical Egg, and concoct and ripen it in an equal and fermentative heat the space of a Philosophical month, and it will become of a fair red and high in colour. It is a true Preserver and Restorer of health, being given four times in the moneth as a Preservative, and three times in the week for a Curative, from j. grain to viij. in Confection of Hyacinth fasting, drinking upon it a small glasse of some good Wine, or Cordial and stomachal Drink; for this sulphur drives the irradiation of its vertue through the whole body, and ex∣pels from it all impurities, either sensibly by Sweat or Urine, or insensibly by gentle and amicable transpiration. It may even be raised higher, but we keep that processe for the end, when we come to speak of the Extraction of Vitriol.

The Sublimation of Vitriol.

WEE have just immediately before taught how the sulphur of Vitriol or its Metallick earth was to be separated by precipitation, and the sublimation teaches how the Flowers of it are to be severed from it, which are nothing else but the sub∣stance of Copper or Iron, which is found in all the kinds of Vi∣triol. Our purpose of giving this Preparation, is only to de∣monstrate to the Artist the truth of the composition of things. Take then equal parts of metallick earth or oker of Vitriol and Armoniack salt, and beat them to powder each by themselves; then mix them exactly together, and sublime in sand in a Cucur∣bite somewhat low, covered with a still-Head; give it first a slow fire, and encrease it by degrees, until you perceive that no vapour more ascends; then remove the fire, and let the Vessels cool, and take from the Limbeck-head and sides of the Cucurbite the sublimated matter, and having put it in a Matrass, pour upon it common water; then place the Vessel in B. M. and digest it in a moderate heat the space of 24 houres, and the water will dis∣solve the salt, and the substance of the metallick Martial and Vene∣rean Flowers falls to the bottom in subtile powder, which must be separated from the liquor loted and edulcorated, then dryed. It is a very good astringent and desiccative Remedy for all kinds of Ulcers, and chiefly for any pain in the eye. It breeds and re∣paires flesh, mundifies and siccatrizes better then any other Re∣medy.

The Salification of Vitriol.

WEE have deferred hitherto to speak of the Caput mortuum of Vitriol remaining after distillation, saying only a∣bove, that it was to be exposed to the open ayr and influence of Heaven in a covered place, exposed to the free passage of the winds: but we will now teach here how to extract the salt thereof,

after it has been penetrated by the ayr during the space of six weeks or more. Take it then after that time and put it in a Cucurbite, or which is yet better, in an earthen Pan, and pour up∣on it distilled Rain-water, or new and fresh River water, and stir the matter as you pour the water in; otherwise it would grow hard in the bottom; digest all the matter in sand and stir it often, that the salt may the better be extracted; then filtrate the liquor, and slowly evaporate till it contracts a skin, and let it shute into Chri∣stals, and go on thus evaporating and chrystallizing until you can get no more salt; this salt dry gently between two papers, and keep for its uses. After this, take care to edulcorate well the red brownish earth which remaines after the salt is extracted, and to dry and keep it for its use, which is both inward and out∣ward. Internally it is a very good Remedy against the bloody Flux and Dysentery; it is also very good to dry running of the Reines, and stop the fluxion of Gonorrhaeas, the Whites and Reds in Wo∣men, and Hemorrhagy, and above all against spitting of blood; externally applyed it is a very good Emplastical and Balsamical Remedy, which mundifies and cicatrizes gently and without pain, all Wounds and Ulcers: wherefore it is used in Ointments, Cere∣cloths, Liniments and Plaisters.

The true Vitriolick salt which we extracted from this Earth must be white inclining upon the pale red of Roses, and chrystalliz'd as the salt of Saturn in small streaks, long and thin; the taste must rather incline towards mite then acerbity or harshnesse, for it must not keep the Idea or Character of of Vitriol, nor take the cu∣bical or Lozangical figure; otherwise it would not be the true salt of Vitriol; this salt being so qualified as we have described, is full of ma∣ny excellent vertues, which makes it to be a fit remedy for Epilepsy, and for such as are troubled with frequent & great headaches, pro∣ceeding from the corruption and superfluity of matters stuffing the stomach. It is given also against Pleuresy, malignant & pestilential Feavers, and swoonings, and Deliquiums proceeding from some re∣pletion of the ventricle, as also against obstructions of the Liver, Spleen & Reins. It may also be drawn into the nostrils to provoke sneezing, and unburthen the brain from such serous & excrementiti∣ous matters, which do oppress and cause the distention of its mem∣branes: for it is an excellent and specifical Sternutatory. Tsie Dosis must be from vj. gr. to ℈ ij. and ʒ j. in broth, beer, or some appro∣priated Decoction.

The extraction of Vitriol.

BY the extraction of Vitriol we do here understand nothing else then the operation which is made to draw the Tincture of it, which can proceed of nothing else but the sulphur thereof; wherefore we will teach-two several extractions of this Sulphur: the first of the volatile sulphur, the second of the fixed, that a; the processes are various, so the spirit of the Son of Arr may be the better enlightened to penetrate further into the search and operation which will be requisite and necessary to obtain to the possession of the greatest Arcana's which are concealed in natural bodies.

The Tincture or essence of the Sulphur of Vitriol.

BEfore we come to the extraction of the Tincture, the body of the sulphur must have been open and deprived of all its materiality and coursnesse, that it may communicate its soul to the Menstruums which is used for this pu••••••se; Take lb j. of the sweet sulphur of Vitriol very dry, and mix it with lb ss. of salt of Tartar very white, very pure, and very dry; this mixture being put in a Retort, place it in a close Reverberatory, upon the cover of an earthen pot turned upside down; having the thicknesse of one inch of sand upon it, and fit to it a well luted Recipient; then give it a gradual fire, and go on still encreasing the fire, until the red oyle begins to come forth by drops; then keep the fire in the same tenor and degree, and continue it until by that degree of heat nothing will come forth more, which is a sign the last and extreme degree of heat must be used, which is called the fire of suppression, being a violent fire kindled both upwards and downwards, which must be continued the space of four houres; that being over, re∣move the fire and let the Vessels cool. The liquor or red oyle must be poured into a small Cucurbite, pouring upon it drop by drop very good distilled Vinegar, until the internal sulphur of the

Vitriol which was ascended into liquor, be precipitated to a red Violet purple powder, which must afterwards be separated from the liquor and washed to edulcorate, and afterwards dryed very gently. This precious powder put in a blind Matrass, and pour upon it true alkohol of tartarized Wine three fingers high; then stop the Vessel well, and lute it with a bladder thrice doubled, made wet in whites of Egges beaten in water. This Vessel place in a vaporous Balneo in shred straw the space of three weeks, or until the Artist doth perceive that the essence of this sulphur hath forsaken its matter, and swims above the spirit of Wine in the form of a Wine distilled from Cinnament, which separate with the Funnel, after the Vessels are grown cold, and keep it choicely and carefully in a well stopped Viol. All that have treated of this Essence of sulphur of Vitriol, do attribute unto it admirable vertues, and equal it to the Tincture of Antimony; it is given from j. drop to vj. in Balm-water, made with the Plant, digest∣ed and fermen••ed with its own juyce, to drive away insensibly and yet naturally all what can be hurtful to the body, and may be the occasional cause of the irritations of the Archeus; it pro∣vokes appetite and Venery, strengthens the Matrix, and allayes all irregular motions of it, rectifies and encreases the seed, and makes it prolifick & fruitful in either sex; it doth wonders in Dropsies if administred in Parsly water; hinders all Meteotisms and violent, ri∣sing vapours of the Spleen, given in water of Sassafras: briefly it may be said to be Pa••acea of Vitriol; you must observe that the use of it is to be continued according to the greatnesse and stub∣bornnesse of the Diseases; but to preserve health it will suffice to take of it two or three times in a moneth.

The Tincture of fixed Sulphur of Vitriol.

WEE said above, that we did refer our selves to speak in this place of the extraction of fixed sulphur of Vitriol, the pre∣paration whereof we have already taught, and it is performed in this manner. ℞ ℥ iv. of this fixed sulphur of Vitriol, concoct∣ed and matured in it self, and put in a Pel••ican. ℞ also ℥ vj. of tartarized spirit of Vitriol, and as much pure alkohol of Wine,

unite them together by distillation in B. M. then pour them up∣on the sulphur into the Pellican; lute exactly the joints thereof, and put it to digest and circulate in a vaporous Balneo, until you see the liquor grown blood red; then remove the fire, and de∣cant what you finde to be pure and clear into a small Cucurbite, to draw off the half of a third part of the Menstruum, and keep the rest as a Remedy yet more universal in operation and vertue, and more precious then the foregoing. We will neverthelesse attribute unto it no other faculty; for whosoever can prepare it, shall never fail to know also the way to use it. The Dosis may be from j. drop to iv. in Broth or Wine.

SECTION VI. Of Sulphureous Minerals, and Sulphurs.

TO put a period and Conclusion to this Treatise, it re∣maines only we should speak of inflammable and sul∣phureous Minerals; and as we have said, That a Chy∣mical Philosopher could not apprehend the generation of Metals or Minerals, but by comparing them with other na∣tural productions, more palpable and more obvious to his senses; so may we lawfully speak the same thing concerning the genera∣tion of sulphureous substances, which can only be conceived by comparing the same with other fat and oily substances which Na∣ture doth digest, concoct, and bring to perfection in the Family of Vegetables and Animals: for as the Oyles, Rozins and Gums of Vegetables; the Fat, Tallow, Grease and unctuous excrements of Animals are produced in them, by the excesse and superfluity of the fat and sulphureous part of their food; so likewise sulphu∣reous Minerals do proceed from the introduction of the Chara∣cter of the Sulphur and light in the recesse and most abstruse parts of the Matrixes of Minerals, where this Fire works perpe∣tually towards the generation, encrease, digestion, concoction

and perfection of several sulphureous Mixts according to their species and kind; such as are Arsenick, Brimstone, Bitumery, yellow Amber, Ambergreise, Sperma ceti, Asphaltum, Naphta, Pe∣troly, Seacoal and Jet. We will give some examples of the man∣ner of working upon the chief sorts, to put an end to what we have begun, with the same punctuality and clearnesse, which we have endeavoured to use hitherto.

Of Arsentck, and its Chymical Preparation.

ARsenick is a soot or minearal juyce coagulated, which is fat and inflammable, it is called also Orpiment; there are three kinds of it; the first is white, which is that properly we most use, and is called Arsenick; the second is yellow, called Realger or Orpiment, and the third red, called by the Greeks Sandarick. The white and chrystalline Arsenick is not natural, but prepared by Art, with equal parts of common salt and fragments of Or∣piment mixed and bruised together, and sublimated afterwards be∣tween two po••s. The most dangerous and pernicious of all is the red kind; the yellow much lesse, being not so hot, nor so much exalted as the red; and the white is the least hurtful, because part of his heat, corrosivenesse and venom, hath been corrected by the salt with which it was sublimated. All three are deadly poy∣son and most dangerous; for they possesse so evil and so strange an acrimony, and so great an enemy to the vital Balsom, that they immediately raise fearful and stupendious accidents if inwardly taken, or outwardly applyed; for they bring immediately Con∣vulsions, cause perclusions of hands and feet, cold sweats, palpi∣rations of the heart, Syncops and swoonings, vomiting, erosi∣ons, gripings, noise and great rumbling in the belly, and intole∣rable thirst and prodigious heat. All this malignity neverthe∣lesse may be taken away and corrected by Chymical preparation, and the venom of it made a Remedy capable of much good both outwardly and inwardly: but notwithstanding this unprepared Ar∣senick is sometimes used; for in time of Plague it is a Preservative worn in a bag hung to the neck in form or manner of an Amulet or Periapt. It is also used in Depilatories, and sometimes with o∣ther

ingredients for opening of Cauteries or Issues. Now all the end of preparing Arsenick, must only tend to remove its acri∣mony and dulcifie it, to separate the impression and idea of the venom from it, which cannot be performed without the help of Chymical preparation, which is threefold; Sublimation, Fixation, Resolution or Liquation.

The sublimation of Arsenick; To prepare the dulcified Arsenick.

TAke as much of chrystalline Arsenick very pure and clean as you think fit; beat it to a powder, and sublimate by it self in a Matrass in sand with a graduate fire. The Sublimation be∣ing ended, let the Vessel grow cold, then break it, and throw a∣way the most volatile and sublimated part, resembling to the finest flying Meal in grinding; but that part which is more compacted beat in a Marble Mortar, and put it in a Crucible covered with another luted unto it, which place in a circular fire, and digest and bake gently the space of three or four houres; this done, mix your Arsenick so prepared, with scales of Brass such as do fall from the Anvil of Brasiers, and sublimate this matter once more; for this Copper half calcinated drawes to its s••lf the gross venom and malignity of the Arsenick, as digestion and baking did deprive it from its volatility and blacknesse. This done, sublimate it three times consecutively with common salt melted, and this salt will perfect the concoction and sweetening of it, so as it may be af∣terwards used inwardly and outwardly, after it hath been well washed with distilled Rain-water, until the water comes away in∣sipid from it. But before it is put to use, you must try whether or no it be duly corrected, which will easily be known by throw∣ing the same upon melted Copper: for if it doth blanch it, and that the white Tincture be fair and can abide a second melting, it is an evident sign that it is deprived of its malignity: but if it spoiles and blackens the Metal, it argues the contrary. It may also in part be discerned by smell; for crude and ill prepared Arsenick hath an unpleasant and ill-savoured taste, which immediately strikes the brain, and disaffects the heart, whereas that which is correct∣ed

gives no offence at all. Many do highly extol the vertues of this dulcified Arsenick: but my advice to those that are skilful in Remedies, is, to use rather such as are taken from Mercury and An••imony, then prepared from this Mineral, because it leaves the mind still more at rest and satisfied: but it may usefully be applyed outwardly in the cure of the most dangerous and stubborn Ulcers, and chiefly when it is converted into Liquor by resolving it in a cold Cellar. If any will neverthelesse make use of it in despe∣rate diseases, and where the danger bids to play quit or double, he may make use of this Sublimate of dulcified Arsenick in infu∣sion from iij. to viij. graines.

To make the diaphoretical Rubies of Arsenick.

SUblimate three times your Arsenick without addition, and this sublimation must be performed in a Cucurbite, that the vola∣tile sulphur may the better separate it self in the upper part of the Alembick: for it rises in the form of a very subtile powder, which at every sublimation must be thrown away, because it is the most pernicious and venomous part of the Arsenick. That which you finde compacted and in Chrystals, take and grind with its equal weight of Flowers of Brimstone, and sublimate in sand, and you shall have a chrystalline Arsenick red as Ruby. These Rubie are gi∣ven against diseases of the brest, and chiefly when the Lungs are st••ft with crass, tartarous and muc••lagineous matters. It is also good to provoke swear in malignant and venomous diseases. The Dosis may be from iij. to viij. graines in pectoral Conserves, or in extract of Juniper berries. This Remedy is also very excellent for the cure of all obstinate, corrosive, fistulous, cancerous and dan∣gerous Ulcers: for it kills all the venom by which they are gene∣rated, if you have care to purge the Patient at the same time with some Mercurial Remedy, and administer unto him every day Anti∣monial Tincture in vulnerary Potions.

The same kind of Ruby may be prepared out of Orpiment: for as we have already said above, Arsenick is nothing else but Orpiment sublimated with salt, and in some manner already corrected. It may be exhibited in the same Dosis, and against the same diseases.

The fixation of Arsenick.

TAke one part of pure chrystalline Arsenick, or what is yet better, Arsenick already sublimated, and two pints of purified Salt-peter, reduce them each severally to powder, and mix exact∣ly; then put in a great Crucible, which cover with another ha∣ving a hole in the bottom, that the malignant and noxious vaprous may easily come forth; lute both Crucibles together, and let the Lute dry very well; put them in a circular fire, encreasing it by degrees the space of three houres, to exhale and evaporate the most dangerous part; then encrease again the fire, and let it so continue the space of eight or ten houres, and let the Crucible be well en∣compassed with coales towards the end. The Vessels being cool∣ed, take off the matter, and wash it with Rain-water, and when the water comes out tastelesse, dry the powder which you finder in the bottom, which will be very fix and white. They that will yet be more confident of the fixative, must reiterate three times their Operation with new Niter, washing well the matter at every time. This Powder is only used in the preparation of the fixed Sudorifick Arsenick, and the oyle of it per deliquium in a Cel∣lar.

To prepare the fixed sudorifick Arsenick.

℞ As much as you will of the finest powder of Arsenick, imbibe it with oyle of Tartar per deliquium to the consistence of a liquid pap in sand or ashes, stirring it with a slice of Glass or Spa∣tula; this imbibition and exsiccation reiterate three times. B••ay this mixture afterwards in a Marble Mortar with common aqua vi∣tae, and the powder after dissolution of the salt of Tartar will re∣main in the bottom; this powder must be edulcorated and dryed, which may be given in Bolus, from grain φ. to v. in Treacle or extract of Elder berries to provoke sweat: but the mineral Bezoar is better and safer then this Remedy, unlesse outwardly applyed.

The liquation or resolution of Arsenick.

THis Liquation is nothing else but the resolution of the six pow∣der of Arsenick into liquor in the Cellar, or else the resolu∣tion of butter of Arsenick by deliquium; this Butter is prepared in the same manner as that of Antimony, wherefore we do not in∣sert the manner here. Both these Liquors are used against malig∣nant Ulcers of what nature and condition soever they be, but must not be applyed alone; but mixt in Plantain juyce water, or Ars∣mart or Culrage, until these waters may be endured on the tip of the Tongue; then warm them, and so you may wash venereous, cancerous, hollow, fistulous Ulcers; as also the bitings of mad Dogs. They must also be applyed upon the said Ulcers or others with Feathers, or Fillets dipt in it.

Of Brimstone and its Chymical Preparation.

IT is not without reason that the Greeks gave to Brimstone the name of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say Divine; for we must con∣fesse that all Sulphurs have in themselves something heavenly and great, being nothing but the productions of salt, spirit and light: and as light doth easily penetrate and reach everywhere, so do likewise Sulphurs by their odour and colour extend and commu∣nicate themselves far and broad, and that with an almost uncon∣ceivable efficacy. But this is not the place to speak of the inter∣nal sulphurs of things, which do constitute to the best part of their essence and being: for we will now treat only of that Rozin and earthly fat of the earth, which is mixed with some portion of an acid and vitriolick substance, commonly called Brimstone in Shops and Chymical Laboratories. There is two kinds of it, the one Natural, the other Artificial: the natural is that which is called Sulphur vivum, or which hath not passed through fire, and the Artificial is that which is extracted from those peble stones or fire-stones, whereof we have spoken in the operations

of Vitriol; they that will know how it is made, must consult the most learned Georgius] Agricola, which hath wrote about Metal∣licks, and Minerals.

The Artist must for his Operation chuse the purest Brimstone, as that which is in small cakes of a gray colour inclining to green, easie to inflame, burning without intermission, and sending forth a more blewish then whitish flame; and if this Brimstone is not to be met with, let him have recourse to yellow Brimstone, which is in bigger cakes, and may be substituted in the place of the other: he must neverthelesse try whether it easily inflames and burns constantly; for if it doth not so, it is too much indigested, and by its easie extinction doth shew its self to participate yet too much of Vitriolick nature. The vertues and qualities of Brim∣stone are noble and efficacious before its preparation: for it is generally devoted to the Brest, and the cure of all diseases which do molest and afflict the same; it opens, outs, resists putrefaction and venom, as also the biting of venomous creatures; it pro∣vokes sweating, softens and allayes the irritations and irregular motions of the Archeus: wherefore it is used against P••hisick, Cough, Asthma, Pestilence, generally against all malignant, pu∣trid and pestilential Feavers. If it be outwardly applyed, it re∣solves mightily all hardnesse of tumors, doth cute corroding Tetters or Ringwormes, Scab, Itch, and hinders itching in the skin. But if crude Sulphur hath so noble and so great vertues and proprieties, what may not be expected from this Mineral, when according to the precepts and directions of Chymistry, which only aimes at the correction and melioration of substances upon which Artists do work, it shall be either opened or fixed, dissolved or coagulated, precipitated or sublimated! the sons of Art ought then to spend their time and care in working upon this Mixt, as upon one of the chief Instruments, put in their hands by the power of the Creator, to draw from it variety of noble and good Remedies, with which he may charitably supply the wants and necessity of many poor Patients.

The general preparations which are made upon Brimstone, are, sublimation, precipitation, distillation▪ infusion and extraction. We will according to our accustomed method give some examples

of all these operations, that the Artist may well apprehend the manner of working, and learn also the Vertues and Dosis of Re∣medies proceeding from it.

The sublimation; To make the Flowers of Brimstone.

AS we have said heretofore that Tartar was purified by disso∣lution, percolation or straining, and chrystallization, and Antimony by its reduction into Regulus, so do we say here, that the Brimstone is only purified from its feces and earthly superflui∣tie, by sublimation into Flowers, which are absolutely nothing else but a well purified Brimstone; to prepare well these Flowers, you must chuse of the best Brimstone and bray it grosly, then put a Cucurbite of earth in sand, the bottom near the plate of Iron on which it stands, having but the thicknesse of a finger of sand be∣tween; put lb ss. of Brimstone at every time, and cover it with a Head which must not be luted; have another also warm in rea∣dinesse to substitute into the place of this which lyeth on the Cu∣curbite, when it shall be filled with Flowers; after you have given it a gentle and gradual fire of sublimation: there must also be a small Matrass for a Recipient, to receive at first a little portion of sharp fine spirit, which rises before the Flowers and condenseth in∣to liquor in the Limbeck. Thus proceed taking away the Flowers, and substituting a Head to the former taken away, until you per∣ceive the greatest part of the sulphur to have ascended into Flow∣ers; after which you may put again another lb φ. and thus go on till you have enough for your purpose. But you must be nimble in exchanging the Heads or Limbecks, lest that the ayre should set the Brimstone on fire, and if that should happen, let it be extinguished with ashes or burnt Allom. You must also regulate the fire conveniently until the sublimation begins to work, and entertain it in the same state; otherwise too much heat would melt the Flowers, before they were sufficiently carried up into the Limbecks Head.

Now there are some that do add Colchotar with the Brimstone & melted salt, to be able more boldly to give it fire, thinking also by this way to draw more pure and subtile Flowers. Others do mix also Bolus or terra sigillatae, which we do much better approve of then

the process of those who think it enough to mix only Brick flower or small Brick dust, because the oriental Bolusses or sigilled earths have in themseves a solar sulphur, which joyning with the flowers of Brimstone, renders them more efficacious. But we altogether disapprove of those who with the Brimstone do mix Gums and A∣loes, because the sublimation cannot be performed until the Gums also burn, what care or precaution soever is had in it: wherefore it is much better if the Gums beaten to small powder, be mixt with the flowers of Brimstone already sublimated, or what will be much better, the vertue of both be jointly extracted, as we shall teach here∣after. The flowers of Brimstone may be 3 or 4 times sublimated, for a greater depuration, concoction and maturation by the reiterated action of fire, which thus perfects by degrees what Nature had not yet accomplished, by reason of the heterogeneous and terrestrial mixture of matters.

The flowers of Brimstone resists putrefaction, provokes sweat∣ing, and dry humours. They are given with very great successe against pestilence and all malignant Feavers, whether us'd as a cu∣rative or preservative Remedy. They are also of singular use a∣gainst Asthma's and short breath, diseases of the Lungs, inveterate Coughs, Suffocations of the breast, Catarth's and Fluxions. There is not above ℈ ss. given for preservative, but for cures of diseases it is administred from ℈ j. to ʒ j. They are for the most part mixed in Lozenges or Opiat's, and often also given in new layd Eggs: but if you desire to quicken more their working, give them with Treacle, Conserve of Roots of Enula, Campane, or Extract of Juniper berries. There are some yet that sublimate the Flow∣ers of Brimstone with red Coral, and extract the Tincture thereof with oyle of Aniseed, which they give to Consumptive persons as a true specifick Remedy for their cure: but all these contrivances depending from the knowledge and experience of Physitians, we shall not instance upon any here to examplifie; for it is enough for us to have taught the best and surest way of performing the plain sublimation; for whosoever can make the simple Flowers, shall be in much lesse danger of erring in the preparation of those that are compounded.

The Precipitation. To prepare the Milk, Cremor, Butter, or Magistery of Brimstone.

WEE have ever recommended the choyce and purity of Materials, which makes us again to enjoyn hereunto the Sons of Art, not to spare the fair salt of Tartar in the disso∣lution of Brimstone, although several Authors content themselves with ashes of Wine lees or Glasiers ashes, which are the salt of the herb Kali, to make this preparation: but besides, that they cannot well filtrate their Tincture, by reason of the viscosity and clamminesse of the ashes, the Remedy is not so good, so fair, nor endowed with the requisite vertue, because these salts have not the penetrating and fiery vigour which is required for the dissoluti∣on of Brimstone, and the concoction and maturation of that Mineral; and this part must the Artist heed, because the good or evil of his Operation depends from it; therefore you must proceed in it as followeth.

℞ Flowers of Brimstone twice sublimated, at least some part thereof, and three parts of very pure and white salt of Tartar; put them in a gray earthen pot, or a glass Cucurbite, and pour upon xij. or xv. p. of distilled Rain-water, cause them to boyl together in sand the space of five or six houres, or until all the substance of the Brimstone be dissolved, and the liquor clean, and tinged with a very high red; and as the ebullition causes the Menstruum to lessen in quantity, add to it some other warm, stirring continually the matter, to hasten the sooner your dissolution. Moreover, the mixture of the salt of Tartar and flowers of Sulphur must have been made before in a Marble Mor∣tar warm and dry. The dissolution being duly made, warm a great earthen gray pan, putting in it the clear part of the disso∣lution, without any previous filtration, which cannot be soon e∣nough performed, the Brimstone returning into a body as soon as the Menstruum begins to cool; pour upon the Tincture very good distilled Vinegar sprinkling it every where, until the whole turns into a liquor as white as Milk, which when you see, fill up

the remainder of the pan with clear and pure Spring-water, to be∣gin the edulcoration and setling of it; then cover it, and leave the space of 24 houres in a secure place, and separate after that the clear liquor by inclination, then pour new clear water up∣on the milky substance setled in the bottom, and thus continue the lotion thereof until both the ill smell, and lixivial taste of the salt of Tartar be gone away. But note, that the first water must not be thrown away, but contrariwise evaporated, and so you shall finde again your salt of Tartar, which reverberate in a Crucible to rednesse; then dissolve and filtrate, and it will be as good and as pure as before, to serve in the same operation or any other whatsoever; You must wash the Magistery of Sulphur for the last time in equal parts of Cinnamon, Rose-water, and then dry it slowly and keep it for use.

But because this Magistery cannot be made in small quantity, and that the Artists are not alwayes provided with salt of Tar∣tar and distilled Vinegar, we will teach them a good and sure way, to prepare with small expence, and ar all times a milk of Sulphur or Brimstone, which in vertue shall not be inferiour to the former; the Dosis and faculties whereof we will declare after we have spoken of the preparation of the other.

The true and infallible manner of preparing the Milk of Sulphur.

℞ Of good quick lime that hath not been exposed to the open ayre ij. p. and j. p. of good green Brimstone in small Cakes j. p. mix them exactly together in an Iron Mortar by a long trituration, and afterwards let them boyl in a good quantity of Rain-water in a great Iron Cauldron, stirring continually with an Iron Slice, until three parts of the water be boyled away, and the remaining be as red as blood by the dissolution of the brim∣stone, run it then warm through the straining bag, and let the strained liquor cool, then with new made Urine precipitate be∣fore it grows cold; this Magistery suffer to settle, and separate the upper part of the liquor, and wash it twelve or fifteen times with warm Spring-water, and when it hath no more ill taste or

odour left, wash it as the foregoing Rose and Cinnamon water, and let it dry gently, to keep for use. The Remedy is called the Balsom of the Lungs, which by the eradiation of its vertue, consumes and dryes up all malignant, serous and watery superfluities. Where∣fore it is usefully exhibited to those that are tormented with melt∣ing and suffocating Rheumes and Catarrh's, to Asthmaticks and Phthisical Persons, and such as are troubled with old and invete∣rate Coughs, or subject to Colick and Ventosities, which it doth hinder and dissipate. It is given also to those which are trou∣bled with malignant humours and serosities in the joynts; it faci∣litates expectoration, and wonderfully strengthens the brest. The Dosis may be as much as will turn Cinnamon or Balm water to a milk white; it is given every day to the Patient morning and evening, one spoonful at once. Though this Remedy be highly celebrated amongst Authors, yet our advice is to trust rather to the Tinctures extracted from it, then to this body, yet too coarse and material to hope from it all the good and commendable effects which are attributed unto it; we do neverthelesse leave it to every ones liberty to make use thereof, until the truth of our Assertion be better known by study and practice, which are the two Touchstones by which things are to be examined and known.

The Distillation of Sulphur.

THe Sons of Art have sought long how to finde a way of Distilling from sulphur of Brimstone a good acid Spirit, which they improperly call the oyle of Sulphur, and to draw quantity from it, which hath caused a hundred manners of con∣trivances and processes upon this Subject. They also have en∣deavoured to turn Brimstone into an unctuous Oyle, which might be fit both for inward and outward Diseases, wherein e∣very body hath also brought in his mite of experience and in∣dustry to attain that end: but as we have found that Brimstone hath been Vitriol before it could attain the Character of Sul∣phur; our wonder hath been the greater, that they should have laboured so much to get out that acid spirit, since they do con∣fesse

and say themselves, that the spirit of Vitriol is like in vertue and operation to that of Brimstone; and it will be easier to draw lib. x. from one, them lib. s. from the other. We must con∣fesse notwithstanding, that there shall be something found more quick and subtile in the acid of brimstone, then in that of Vitriol, because the substance from which it is extracted hath been more exalted, more concocted and ripened then Vitriol, which is much inferiour in these respects, and consequently more undigested. Wherefore we will declare here two wayes, which have ever been very successeful unto us to draw the acid of Sulphur or Brim∣stone. After which we will also give the Method of turning the body of Brimstone into Oyle properly so called, which will be more unctuous and inflammable; and is a very considerable Re∣medy, both in Physick and Surgery.

The first manner of preparing the spirit of Brimstone.

WEE have caused a draught to be made of the figure of the Vessels for both these operations, because the mind of the Artist is more sensibly toucht with this representa∣tion of them, and he may thereby much better apprehend how to dispose of things; for objects move more powerfully the appre∣hensive faculty, then words can do; wherefore we refer to that Scheme, they that shall be inclined to put in practice the follow∣ing operation.

Take a great gray earthen pan, in the midst whereof place an Iron Trefoot, capacle of upholding an earthen dish glazed with∣out and within; fill up this dish with Brimstone beaten to coorse powder, and melt it in a slow heat, then set it on fire with a brimstone-Match, or an Iron made red hot in the fire After which hang up a glass Bell, such as those that are us'd to cover Melons; let it be moistened with aqua vitae above the earthen dish so as the flame may come into the Bell, but not reach to the top or touch it; take also care that there be not more distance between the circumference of the pan and that of the Bell, then the breadth of an inch, or one inch and a half, because this space is

[illustration] diagram

The Furnaces and Ʋessailes to make y^e Oyle of Sulphur

• ...a The Table which vp houlds the Furnace.
• ...b The Furnace of baked Earth.
• ...c Where the Ashes fall.
• ...d The Harth.
• ...e The Cacurbite in the Fire.
• ...f The Little Port to cast in the Sulphur.
• ...g The Registers.
• ...h The Head with two descendants ballow.
• ...i The Receivers.
• ...k The vp holders of y^e Re••••ients with theyr Rolls.
• ...l The Dishes with the Sulphur in Powder.
• ...m The vpperprops which sustayn the Head.

[illustration] diagram

The Bell to make the Eager or the Spirit of Sulphur

• ...a The great earthen Ʋessail of Potters clay or other Stiffe clay.
• ...b The Dish that contayns y^e burning Sulphur.
• ...c The Bell.
• ...d The Supporters which vphold y^e Dish.

sufficient to entertain the flame of the Brimstone, and hinder the extinction thereof, which if it should happen, great care must be had to kindle it again, that no interruption may happen in the work: and when all the Brimstone shall be spent, have another dish in readinesse to substitute in the place of the other. So shall you have the true spirit of Sulphur per campanam very heavy, acid and of a brown red colour; if the time hath not been too moist, and the Brimstone not too much impregnated with vitrio∣lick Salt. And if the distilled Liquor proves to be only clear and yellow, let it be rectified, and the superfluous phlegm thereof drawn away. The Artist may place as many earthen pans and bells un∣der a Chimney as it can hold, to advance the more his work, for he may as easily use four or five as one; above all times chuse that of the two Aequinoxes, vernal and autumnal, to work this Spirit. That season being moist for the most part and rainy, which is a thing necessary in this operation, otherwise you shall draw very little spirit from lib. j. of Brimstone, because if the ayr be too dry by intervention of either cold or heat, it is not capable of coa∣gulating the acid and vitriolick spirit of the Brimstone, which contrariwise is totally dissipated with the fat and inflammable substance of the Brimstone. We will speak of the vertue and faculties of this Spirit after we have taught the second manner of preparing it.

The second manner of making the spirit of Sulphur and Brimstone.

HAve a small Furnace of baked earth, capable of receiving a strong earthen Cucurbite which may endure well the fire, having a square hole made in the body or belly of it, whereto a piece to close it up, must be exactly fitted; let the Cucurbite al∣so have four small eminencies distant the one from the other, to keep up the border of the Limbeck-head, which is to be applyed upon, that there may be room and ayr to let go and evacuate part of the smoak ascending from the Brimstone when it takes flame, otherwise you should have nothing but acid Flowers and a whitish Liquor; this done, heat softly the Cucurbite at first, then ••••crease the fire till it become red, and have at hand very good

Brimstone well chosen and dry, beaten to grosse powder, and throw about ʒ ij. thereof at once into the Cucurbite through the square hole, and immediately shut it close again, thus con∣tinuing until the ascending vapours begin to condensate them∣selves and thicken in the still-Head, and drop down into the Re∣cipients, which must be applyed to both noses of the still. You must also make choice of a moist and rainy weather to work this Spirit, if you will have it in quantity; the time being seaso∣nable, the Brimstone good, the Artist watchful in keeping up his fire, and throwing in Brimstone as soon as the flame doth cease; you may hope ℥ j. s. from each lb of Brimstone. The propor∣tion of the Furnace and necessary Vessels for this work, may be better seen by the Artist in the Figure, then we could be able to describe, wherefore we refer him thither. He may also finde out the vertues and proprieties of this acid spirit of Sulphur, by comparing those we have a••tributed to the spirit of Vitriol; to which we add neverthelesse, that this spirit is a specifick Re∣medy against the Plague, and other diseases occasioned by putrefa∣ction and corruption, as likewise against Asthma; above all things it preserves health if it be taken in the quantity of gutt. iij. e∣very morning in white Wine or in Broth, because it redresses the defects of the Ventricle, and sufficiently strengthens it to hinder indigestions, which are the springs, causes, and originals of most diseases in our bodies. This Spirit is also us'd with good successe mixt with Plantain-water, in the falling of the blind Gut, fomenting and bathing gently the part with a Spunge dipt in the Liquor.

How the true Oyle of Brimstone is to be distilled.

THose that are versed in matters of natural Philosophy, know that Minerals are only crude and undigested, because their constitution is such, or because they are prematurely taken off from their Matrix as a green and unripe fruit, pluck't off be∣fore his time from the Tree, and it is want of a due digestion on∣ly, that they are uncapable to produce all the noble effects which nature hath made them apt to bring forth: but the intention of

that good and kind mother, ayming still at the best, hath by the mixture of some other matter been frustrated and disappointed, or by being interrupted in her work which she could not bring to perfection by the privation of inward and outward heat which did foment and cherish it, to bring it to the highest degree of its natural predestination: wherefore all the Philosophers that have known and followed Nature closely, have ever endeavoured to let Art begin again where Nature had ended and had been inter∣rupted, to digest and bring to maturation unripe substances, and supply the defects thereof. They have made use of visible fire and of its heat to stir up that invisible one which is hidden in the Center of mixt bodies, and constitute the chief part of their soul, essence, efficacy and vertue: And if this only way could not bring them to their desired scope, they have sought in other Mixts some analogous substance, which could sympathize and an∣swer with a proportional heat to that which they intended to per∣fect and multiply. This same way we do intend to hold in the maturation of common Brimstone to correct it, and this way to stir up the faculties and wonderful vertues it hides under the shade of its body, which is the rind and cover of the light and internal fire by which it is produced.

To this end let the Artist take as much of well chosen com∣mon Brimstone as he doth think fitting; then beat it to powder, and digest in ashes with a moderate heat in a Matrass, without any melting at all the space of forty dayes uninterrupted; this dige∣stion will correct the stench and ill smell of the Brimstone, and will encrease the vertues thereof in a quadruple proportion, which immediately he will perceive by dissolving a small por∣tion of this digested Brimstone in some oyle, and doing the like with other not digested and ripened; for the one will yield an unpleasant smell as it uses to do, and the other will rather recreate and please the smell then offend it. After this first ope∣ration a second must be put in practice, which cannot be but by the means of a subtile, aethereal and volarile oyle which may open the body of this Brimstone, and make it capable of being con∣verted it self into a subtile, penetrating and pleasant Oyle. This Oyle must be none else but of Turpentine, drawn after the man∣ner we have taught above. And as we have laid for an infal∣lible

and sure Axiom, that the substance which must open and subtilitate, must in many degrees exceed that body that is to be opened and subtilitated; so must the Artist put viij. p. of this Oyle upon j. p. of digested B••imstone made into very subtile powder, and let them digest together in B. M. until this Oyle hath almost dissolved all the substance of the Brimstone, and be turned as red as an oriental Ruby; which done, distil the Tur∣pentine Oyle, and draw it off again in the slow heat of ashes, untll that which remaines in the Retort becomes as thick as a Sy∣rup; then cohobate that which is extracted and digest it to∣gether the space of eight dayes, and reiterate the distillation as before, and so continue seven times together digesting, cohoba∣ting and distilling; but the seventh time draw off the Oyle of Turpentine as before to the consistency of a liquid Syrup; then encrease the fire in some small degree, and change the Reci∣pient, and thus proceed in the distillation thereof, and you shall have a true oyle of Brimstone, red, well smelling, and pene∣trating, which is a very Balsom both inwardly and outwardly, the efficacy and vertue whereof cannot sufficiently be exalted. It is a most excellent Vulnerary, curing internal Ulcers, resisting main∣ly corruption, and allaying all irritations and fits of the Mother; it is a wonder of Remedy against the Plague, Colick, Catarrh's and Fluxions, Asthma's or short breath and Empyema's, or cor∣rupted Ulcers in the stomach; it abundantly provokes sweat∣ing and Urine, and doth work also by insensible transpiration. The Dosis may be from one drop to vj. in some appropriated Syrup, or the yolk of a new laid Egg in the morning fasting. For outward application it is an unparallel'd Remedy, to dis∣solve and digest Tartarous and scrophulous Tumors, as also to allay griefs, particulatly that of the Sciatica: Finally it may be said, that this true Sulphur is none of the least Masterpieces of our Art, provided the Artist be punctual and sedulous, and hath been careful to ripen and digest well the Sulphur, as we have prescribed. He ought then to follow the exhortation of that great and renowned Philosopher and Physitian Van Helmont, when he sayes, speaking to Artists that are desirous to learn some profitable and good Operation, Hortor itaque Tirones, addiscant sulphura mineralium spoliare vi peregrina ••c virul••ntae sub cujus

custodia abditur ignis, Arccum in scop••; ••c nsideratos placidissimè deducens. But as this Operation is long and painful, and that every one shall not have the time or capacity to attain to the perfection of it, we will give yet another way of distilling a Bal∣samick oyle of Brimstone, only good for outward uses, yet with∣al endowed with many excellent vertues.

How the faetid oyle of Sulphur or Brimstone is to be prepared.

℞ lib. j. of Brimstone made into fine powder, mix it with lib. j. s. of oyle of Linseed in an earthen glazed pan; put this pan on a slow fire at first, and stir continually the matter, encreas∣ing the fire by degrees, until all be well boyled and united into a lump, which will have some likenesse unto coagulated Oxe blood; let the matter cool to mix it afterwards with lib. ij. of calcined Vitriol; and put it in a capacious and well luted Retort, to make the distillation thereof in a close Reverberatory, accord∣ing to the several degrees of fire; aft••r distillation separate the oyle from the waterish Liquor; then rectifie the oyle in sand with twice its weight of salt of Tartar, and this will subtiliate it and correct much the stench and ill odour thereof. It is an ad∣mirable secret in time of Plague to bring the boyles or sores to maturation, and cure the Ulcers after the skars are fallen from the sore: it advances also their maturation and falling, and hin∣ders the venom from spreading too far.

The Infusion and Extraction. How the Balsoms and Tin∣ctures of Sulphure are to be made.

WEE joyn together the operation of Infusion and Extracti∣on, because the last doth necessarily follow the first. Both do supply us with Balsoms and Tinctures, which are Remedies highly to be esteemed by reason of their efficacy and vertue. For as Brimstone is of it self uncorruptible, and preserves dead bodies from putefaction, with how much more reason shall he hinder

the corruption and decay of living bodies, and restore the defects of the radical Balsom of our life, when once altered. Where∣fore above all things we recommend unto the Artist to delight himself in the works of Balsoms and Tinctures of Brimstone, which will supply him with Medicaments lesse subject to fail in their operations then others. For we must confesse, that what∣soever the most excellent Remedies have of vertue, faculty, effi∣cacy and power, only proceeds from that Ray of Light and in∣ternal Sulphur they have in themselves, whether extracted from animal, vegetable or minerals; and it is for this only reason also that we have so much recommended the conservation of the vo∣latile sulphureous salts or substances, because it is the last rind and covering of Spirit and Light, from whence proceed all the vertues and actions of natural bodies.

We will deliver three several manners of Balsoms of Brim∣stone, and as many wayes to extract the Tincture of it, that the Artist may the better be informed of the method of working, and better apprehend the nature of things and their intrinsecal ver∣tue.

The plain Balsom of Sulphur or Brimstone.

PUt in a long neck Matrass Flowers of Brimstone twice subli∣mated with Vitriol ℥ iv. and pour upon ℥ viij. of aethereal oyle of Turpentine distilled in the manner we have already taught; place this Matrass in sand, and give it at first a moderate fire, which encrease by degrees until the Flowers of Brimstone be dissolved, and the oyle of Turpentine be tinged with a very red colour; then let it cool, and filtrate the same through a Cotton, and put in a close Glass Viol to keep for use. Some make use of the distilled oyle of Aniseed, Fennel, or Juniper berries to extract this Balsom whereof we leave the choyce to the freedome and liberty of the Artist, since the oyle cannot chuse but be very good to encrease the vertues of this Balsom, which are ex∣cellent: for it is singular against Phthisick, and to correct defects of corrupted breath, and to cure Ulcers in the Lungs; but above all it is commendable against Pestilence, and all other contagi∣ous

diseases, whether administred as a Preservative, or given to Patients and already sick persons as a curative Remedy. The Dosis from j. drop to xx. in Lagwort or Butter-bur-water, or distilla∣tion of Enula Campana Roots.

The Compounded Balsom of Brimstone.

THis compounded Balsom is called antipestilential Balsom, or Balsom of Life, by reason of the admirable vertues that are thereof. It is made with ℥ viij. of distilled oyle of Juniper ber∣ries, ℥ iv. of oyl of Amber, ℥ ij. of oyle of Rhew, ℥ j. of oyle of Camphire, all which put in a long neck Matrass, and add ℥ iij. of Milk or Magistery of Brimstone; ℥ ij. of Myrth, ℥ j. of A∣loes Succotrin, and ℥ s. of well chosen Saffron; digest all the••e in ashes together in a slow heat the space of seven natural dayes, or rather until all these substances be converted into a very red Bal∣som, which must be filtrated through a Cotton, and kept as a choyce and precious treasure against the Plague, and all pestilent and dangerous Diseases. The Dosis may be from j. drop to xij. in appropriated Syrups or some Spirits.

The Vulnerary Balsom of Brimstone.

℞ ℥ iv. of good and well chosen Brimstone; beat it to fine powder, and mix it with as much salt of Tartar very dry; this mixture put in a glazed earthen dish, and place it upon a slow and moderate fire, stirring it continually with a wooden slice until all be reduced to a Masse, called the liver of Brimstone; having pro∣ceeded thus far, remove the fire and let the matter cool; then beat it to powder and put in a Matrass, adding to it ℥ j. of A∣loes Succotr. ℥ s. or fine Myrth, and ʒ ij. of Saffron, all beaten to fine powder; pour upon it one p. of yellow oyle of Turpen∣tine, and two p. of its red oyle, which some call the Balsom there∣of, and that until the oyles swim above the matters four fingers high; place the Matrass in ashes, and there keep it in digestion, encreasing the fire by degrees until the matter begin to simper;

then look whether the Extract of the substances be made, and they dissolved, which being so, filtrate the Balsm through a Cotton, to keep fo••use, and in case it be not ready, keep it on the fire till it be. We dare confidently warrant that this Remedy shall ne∣ver fail those that shall know how to use it skilfully, in the cure of Wounds, Ulcers and Contusions; for it is one of the most excel∣lent Balsoms which Art can contrive for outward applications, whereof the Chymical Apothecary which is curious of the reputa∣tion of his Art, and his own, must make use, whensoever he in∣tends to make the Plaister called Diasulph▪ if he expects the operation and vertues which are attrbuted unto the same.

The first Tincture of Sulphur or Brimstone.

THe Artist having made the plain Balsom of Brimstone, and this Balsom being well impregnated with the internal red∣nesse of the Sulphur, he must put it in a glasse Cucurbite, and pour upon it twice as much distilled Rain-water, then place the Vessel in B. M. and draw off the spirit thereof by distillation, and the aethereal spirit or oyle of the aethereal Turpentine will leave the sulphur which it had extracted and ascend with the water, and the true Balsom of Sulphur shall remain in the bottome of the Cucurbite; which may be given from j. drop to viij. in all diseases wherin the plain Balsom doth conduce, for this is more efficacious. And to make the better the true Tincture thereof, pour upon that which remaines in the Cucurbite very well alkoholized spirit of Wine four fingers high, then cover it with its Blindhead, and ha∣ving luted them together with bladder and white of Egges, put it to digest and extract in the vaporous Balneo, until the spirit of Wine be tinged with a very high colour; then draw it off and put new in the place, and thus proceed until the spirit will take no more colour; then filtrate all the Tinctures, and distil in B. M. till the two third parts be distilled away. They that will add ℥ ij. of good Saffron, in a knot at the last distillation, will encrease very much the vertue of this Tincture, and so shall the Artist be free to make yet some other additions according to his skil and judgement, and as he shall intend it for some peculiar use; But it is very neces∣sary

to have it plain, because some other thing can still be added there according to the exigency and several natures and conditi∣ons of diseases. This Tincture is more soveraign yet then the Balsoms, because it is more open and more exalted by the help of the spirit of Wine, which is the Menstruum more analogous and conformable to our natural spirits: which causes it to drive and make those Remedies which it hath volatiliz'd to penetrate into the ultimate digestions. Wherefore it may be us'd for inter∣nal diseases with a quite different successe then that which Balsoms can produce; it may be administred from ij. drops to x. in wine impregnated with the vertue of Juniper berries, new laid Eggs, or some Pectoral or Alexiterial Syrup.

The second Tincture of Sulphur:

BEat to pouder lb j. of very pure and very dry Salt-peter, and ℥ iiij. of well chosen Brimstone, and mix them together: after which place a good Crucible, or an earthen pot not glazed, such as in vulgar French is called un Carnion, on an earthen round Tile in a wind-Furnace, and put round about it quick Charcoal to kindle by degrees, and so gently at first heat the Vessel until it be red on all sides; then pour into it your matter before mix∣ed by one spoonful at once, and renew it still in the same quan∣tity, after the noise of every throwing in is past; this done, en∣crease the fire and open all the Registers of the wind-Furnace, and drive the fire till all the matter be reduced and brought to a red masse or lump, which having taken off from the fire, and beaten to powder in a warm Mortar, put in a Matrass, and pour upon gent∣ly tartatiz'd spirit of Wine to the height of two fingers; then ha∣ving stopt the Matrass with its Blindhead and well luted, put it to digest and extract in embers until it be tinged with a very high red; then remove the fire and filtrate the Tincture, and draw off half of the Menstruum by distillation in B. M. with a very gentle heat, and in the bottom of the Cucurbite will remain a true Tincture of Sul∣phur; which is an excellent specifick against the Plague, Agues, Scur∣vy, obstructions of the Liver, and all diseases of the Lungs. The Dosis must be from iij. to xij. drops in the above mentioned Li∣quors.

The third Tincture of Sulphur.

AS there are many delicate and tender persons, who cannot en∣dure the smell of Balsoms and tinctures of Brimstone, and yet these Remedies are absolutely necessary for the cure of many great and dangerous diseases; therefore have Chymical Artists endeavoured to reduce into a body again the Tincture of Sul∣phur and deprive it of its ill-favoured smell, which doth annoy the brain and stomachs of delicate persons, which is performed in the following manner.

℞ as much as you will of the first Tincture of Sulphur pre∣pared as we have prescribed above; draw off one half of the Li∣quor, and put the remainder in a cold place or Cellar, that the coldnesse of the ayre may reduce to a body again and coagulate this Tincture into Chrystal, which contain in themselves the quintessence and centrical vertues of the Brimstone: separate from these Chrystals the Liquor which is in them, and dissolve them in new spirit of Wine; then draw it off by distillation to a third part, which put again in the Cellar, and let it shute into Chrystals, and so begin anew reiterating this processe se∣ven times, or until these Chrystals have lost altogether all the ill smell they had got in their first preparation. So shall you have a true Magistery, or a true dry Tincture of Brimstone, which will be as useful in every respect as the forementioned Remedies, provided it be used a little longer. The Dosis may be from ij. to x. or xij. graines, in some convenient Liquor, in Lozenges, Conserve, or some appropriated Electuary, suitable to the delicacy of the Patient and quality of the Disease.

The salification, To prepare the salt of Brimstone.

THere remaines for the most part in the bottom of the dishes which have been used, to keep in the burning Brimstone in the distillation of the spirit thereof, a kind of feces or blackish ca∣put mortuum, light, spongious, and as it were in leaves or beds, which must be calcined and reverberated in a Crucible, until it turns to a whitish gray; make a lye afterwards with distilled Rain-water, or dew of Vitriol, which filtrate and slowly evaporate in ashes to a thin skin or dry bottom; for as there is little of mat∣ter, so is there little of salt: wherefore that of Vitriol may al∣wayes lawfully be substituted in the place of that of Brimstone, without any scruple or question to be made of it, because they spring from the same original and have the same vertue, which is to cleanse and strengthen the stomach, and root from it all se∣minaries of wormes and corruption, and expel them from thence. This is all we thought necessary to say concerning Brimstone, to instruct fully the Artists whereby they may take opportun••ty to enlarge further their experiments if they please.

Of Bitumen, or fat Earth.

WEE have comprehended generally in this Section, Sulphurs so properly called and Bituminous substances; and as we have hither to spoken of the first, we must end by Bitumens or earthly pitch, which are the last. Britumens are generalty un∣derstood and accepted for all kind of very fat and clammy Mine∣rals: wherefore Naturalists do constitute several species of it, as the Karabe or yellow Amber, Ambergrise, sperma ceti, Britumen properly called Asphaltum petroli, Seacoal and Jet. We will treat here of the other Britumens which are more considerable, and whereon the operations of Chymistry are intended to draw Re∣medies from them, and separate the purity from the impurity thereof: amongst all others, Karabe and Ambergrise obtain the

chief and principal place: wherefore we will only speak of these two kinds of Britumens principally, because the others admit of so little of preparation, as it would be unnecessary to speak thereof, since the Artist may sufficiently be informed by what we have already said, and shall say anon of the Karabe.

Of yellow Amber or Karabe.

THe opinions of Authors who have writ about yellow Amber are very various, but principally those of the former age, because they wanted the light of Chymistry, to give them a deeper im∣pression of knowledge in the things of Nature: but in this latter age where we are enlightened by that noble Torch, and where it hath been so successefully used to advance Anatomy of mixt bodies, without any other prevention of mind then to discover truth for our own advantage, and leave it to improve to others; Chymical examination hath taught us, that yellow Amber or Ka∣rabe, is nothing else but a bituminous juyce or Pitch and Rozin of the Earth well digested, flowing from the subterraneous veines of it into the Sea, where it gathers, coagulates its self and har∣dens finally more and more. There are three principal kinds thereof; The first which is more esteemed and sought for, is white and opaco us, the most digested and ripened of all, which is known by its purity, pleasant smell and great quantity of vo∣latile salt, which is the most infallible token of its goodnesse and vertue. The second is yellow, which is lucid and transparent, a∣bounding more in oyle then in salt, and by consequence more digested and lesse valuable. The third is that, which between both is mixt of white and yellow, but with some touch of earthli∣nesse and impurity, which makes it inferiour in worth to the two former. All three are endowed with no common vertues: but if any will make use of yellow Amber for Physical purposes without any other preparation then triturating it upon a Porphyrie stone the whitest must ever be taken and preferred, having a Balsa∣mick smell almost like flower of Rosemary, when it is a little stirred by friction. It is the white also that must be chosen to make the Tincture or essence thereof, as we shall teach hereafter. But the

second and third sort may be used for distillation, because the pure part thereof is severed from the impure, and that rectifi∣cation may correct the defects of the first distillation, by which the vitiousnesse of the natural digestion of Karabe is already cor∣rected, and the action of fire hath separated the heterogeneous and grosse substance lurking in it. Karabe in the Persian tongue signifies attractive of straw, which is one of the proper qualities of Amber.

The general vertues of Amber are, to warm, desiccate, streng∣then and bind moderately; it is principally dedicated to the head, spleen and Matrix. Wherefore it is very successefully made use of in Catarrhs and Fluxions, Epilepsy, Apoplexy, Lethargy and Vertigo, as also to allay all irritations and risings of the Spleen. It is also a wonderful Specifick against all fits of the Mother, and chiefly against the rising of it and suffocations which it causes. It is also a true coagulated Balsom, used against bloody-flux and Gonorrhae••, and above all against the Whites; briefly it may law∣fully be said of Amber, that it is the life and soul of Remedies dedicated to the cleansing of the Mother, and redresse all the de∣fects thereof. Some believe▪ that they that wear Amber Collars are not subject to eye sores, or diseases in the throat, whereof they say, it hinders the swelling: The Dosis of prepared Amber is from ℈ φ. to ʒ j. in new laid Egges, some Syrup, Lozenges, or Conserve.

The Chymical preparations of Amber are Dissolution or Extra∣ction, to make the Tincture, Essence or Magistery thereof: and Distillation, by the help of which its Mercurial Spirit is extract∣ed, as also the subtile Oyle, Balsamick Oyle, volatile Salt, and Colophony or Rosin.

How the Tincture or essence of Amber is to be prepared.

PUt ℥ iij. or iv. of white Amber prepared on a Porphyrie sto•••• in a Blindhead, and pour upon it very much alkoholized spirit of Wine four fingers high, and having shut up close the Vessel and well luted it, put it in ashes to digest, dissolve and extract in a moderate heat, until the liquor be tinged with a fair

golden yellow; then open the Vessel, draw off the liquor by in∣clination, and reiterate again a new dissolution and extraction until the spirit of Wine takes no more of the Tincture. Filtrate all the Tinctures afterwards, and draw off the three parts of the Menstruum by distillation in the slow heat of B. M. and the es∣sence of Amber will remain impregnated with the taste and smell of its own mixt, which is capable to produce very noble effects, by reason of the subtility of the parts thereof. Some do pre∣tend to make the Magistery thereof, precipitating this Tincture in common water, but they are in a great errour: for it is properly to unmake or undo what hath been made with great labour, since the water drawing to it self the spirit of Wine, the body of the Amber forsakes it and precipitates into a Gum or Rosin, which is not much better then white prepared Amber, except only that it is somewhat purer. The Artist then shall preserve this Essence in liquor, and shall use it in all diseases for which we have assigned the general vertues of Karabe. But this Remedy must be exhibited in some Syrup, as that of Cinnamon, Coral, Flow∣ers of Paeony or yolkes of Egges; it may also be given in aethe∣real or burning Spirits, as of Juniper, Elder berries, Black Cher∣ries, or spirit of flowers of Lilly Convallium drawn with Sack, because if it was given in any waterish liquor, the Amber would return to a body, and so would not produce so good nor so quick effects as when it remaines in liquor, and all its parts disunited and volatiliz'd, that the Archeus of the Ventricle may bring all the powers thereof to action in the highest perfection. The Dosis may be from x. to xx. drops, even to xxx.

How the Magistery of Amber or Karabe is to be prepared.

AS we with very good reason did condemn the false and pre∣tended Magistery of Amber, so must we recommend that which is truly made, and is capable of producing some good ef∣fects in relation to health; you may proceed therein as followes.

℞ White Amber reduced to an impalpable powder, as much as you will; put it in a Matrass or Cucurbite, and pour upon it very good and very subtile distilled Vinegar four fingers high,

then place the Vessel in sand, and let the matter boyl three or four dayes, pouring still new distilled Vinegar very warm, as the first vapours away, and this continue till the liquor is become red; then filtrate it and draw off the Menstruum in ashes to a dry bot∣tom, and the Magistery shall remain in the bottom of the Cu∣curbite, which dissolve in equal parts of Rosewater, Balm wa∣ter and Cinnamon water, and digest them together the space of 24 houres, then draw off the water again in ashes slowly, which also must be observed the first time when you draw off the Vine∣gar; for overhast and too much of fire spoiles all the work, and mars the vertue of the substances. This digestion and distilla∣tion must be reiterated three times, but at the third time you must remove the fire after you have drawn off the three parts of four, adding to the remainder ℥ j. of well filtrated juyce of Lemon, or ʒ j. of very acid and well rectified spirit of Vitriol; this done, go on gently in your distillation until the matter be well dryed, which reduce to powder and keep for use: for it is a ve∣ry good Medicine to provoke swear, and strengthen the heart and its functions; it may be given with hope of very good suc∣cesse in Measels, small-Pox and Pleurisie: but above all it is a Specifick against the Scurvy and its dependances. The Dosis may be from vj. to xv. and xx. graines, in Conserve of Gelly flow∣ers, Confection of Hyacinth, or Diascordium Fracastoris, giving to the Patient to drink upon it Carduus Benedictus or Meadow sweet (Ʋlmaria) water.

How the distillation of Amber is to be made.

OUr advice to the Son of Art is to take for this operation of the third kind of Karabe or Amber whereof we made men••ion above, because it containes much oyle, and abounds al∣so in volatile salt. Let him then take lb iij. or iv. and ha∣ving put them in a great Retort, so capacious as the matter may fill up but the third part, let him place it in a close Reverbe∣ratory upon the cover of a pot with two fingers thick of ashes under the bottom of the Retort, which will be to it instead of a Lute, and having also fitted to the neck of the Retort a large

Recipient exactly luted, let him give a gentle and graduated fire until the drops of the acid spirit be over, and the oyle begins to appear; then he must encrease a little the fire, and regulate it so that the drops may follow one another. But he must begin to encrease and drive it hard when he perceives the oyle to grow thicker, and the volatile salt to sublimate it self, which may be known by the vapours and clouds coming forth out of the Re∣tort, and let the fire be kept in this state until the Recipient grows clear of its self, which is an infallible token of the end of the operation. That which is found in the Recipient after distilla∣tion containes three distinct substances proceeding from one and the same root. The first is the spirit or Mercurial acid and wa∣tery liquor of the Amber, which comes forth in the first place. Secondly, the oyle which is mixed with much volatile salt which hath made it somewhat thick, unpleasant to the smell, and high in colour. The third is the volatile sulphureous salt, which is not the least considerable of the three in vertue and efficacy. The Artist must know how to separate skilfully these substances the one from the other, to use them each severally according to the several proprieties which are in them; and this is performed in the manner following.

How the spirit of Amber is to be separated.

PUt in a Matrass with a long neck all what you shall finde in the Recipient after the distillation of Amber, and stop it with another Matrass, then put it to digest in the vaporous Balneo in Sawdust, in a degree of heat analogous to the natu∣ral heat of man, the space of three or four dayes, that the Mer∣curial and acid Liquor may sever it self from the oleaginous part; that done, pour the oyle swimming above by inclination; and when there shall remain but little in the Vessel, wet a Filter of paper with Balm or Rosewater, and pour into it by degrees and very gently, the Liquor remaining in the bottom of the Matrass, and the oleaginous substance will remain upon the Filter, because it is wet with water, and the Spirit shall passe clear through, which must be rectified gently in ashes to a dry bottom, that if

any volatile salt remaines dissolved in the Spirit, which almost is of the same nature, it may remain in the bottom without sublimating and burning; keep this Spirit in a well s••opt Viol for the time of use. It is a soveraign Diuretick, Di••opilative and Cephalick Remedy, which may be used upon all occasions where the Amber may be useful: but particularly against obstru∣ctions, and schirrus of the spleen or splenetical tumors, when acu∣ated with its volatile salt. The Dosis may be from iiij. drops to xij. in Tincture of Sassafras, white Wine, or Broth.

How the volatile salt of Amber is to be separated and rectified.

AFter the separation of the acid and Mercurial Spirit of oyle of Amber is made, put about lb ss. thereof by it selfe, which may be used when necessity shall require for outward and inward Remedies, though it be not very pleasant: but as it is ani∣mated with its volatile salt, so may it much better and more successefully be used against suffocations and fits of the Mother, and Epileptical Paroxysms; as also to apply upon shrunk mem∣bers, starved and paralytical limbs, where without comparison it is much more excellent and active, then that which is deprived of this friendly Salt. Take then all the remaining oyle, and put it in agreat Matrass or Blindhead, and pour upon it distilled Rain-water, until it be in the same or a little greater quantity then the oyle; cover and lute the Vessel and put it to digest in ashes in a moderate heat, stirring it every hour, to separate the better the volatile salt from its oyle; for though it be inti∣mately mixed with it, because the oyle is of a volatile and sul∣phureous nature, yet in processe of time will it come off from it, and be dissolved and united to the water by reason of its saline nature, which easily joynes and unites its self to water. When you see the water well impregnated, remove the fire, separate the oyle, and filtrate the water which is full of the volatile salt of the Amber, as it will be perceived easily by the acid and bi∣ting taste thereof; draw off again three parts of the water by slow distillation in ashes, and put the Vessel in a cold place, leaving

it there the space of two dayes, and you shall finde the volatile salt chrystallized and coagulated into a red brown substance, which separate from the water, and dry between two papers in a slow and moderate heat: continue the evaporation of the superfluous water, and draw back all the salt, and having dryed it joyn it to the first, which is ever the purest and the best. You may keep part of it as it is if you think fit; if not, put it all in a small Cu∣curbite, covered with a blind still-Head, and sublimate it in sand with a well graduated heat, and so shall this salt rise fair, pure, white and clean, leaving all its impurities in the bottom of the Vessel. This volatile Salt is the best and most excellent part of Amber, worthy that Artists should seek it with all imaginable cu∣riosity, considering its high vertues, which are yet more general and lesse confined then those of Amber, or its spirit or oyle, since it is the soul and intrinsecal essence thereof. It is an admirable Remedy in the first beginnings of Dropsies, and particularly in Leucophlegmacy where it is wonderful, because it potently dis∣charges the Spleen and all other parts of the lower belly, by U∣rines and transpiration; above all this, it hath all the vertues we have attributed to Amber in a quadruple proportion. I must then once more recommend the use of it to the sons of Art, with pro∣mise and engagement they will not finde themselves deluded by it. The Dosis, from iij. to xx. graines in Wine, Broths, or other appropriated Liquors, both suitable to the Disease and the Patient.

How to make rightly the Rectification of oyle of Amber.

AFter the separation and rectification of these two first sub∣stances, we must also come to the third, which is the Oyle. For as it is of a brown red colour, stinking, thick and grosse, we must teach the Artist three several wayes how to purifie it, and render it fluid, subtile and penetrating, that it may the better bring forth the wonderful proprieties and vertues which lye hidden in it.

For

• the first way, Mix the oyle remaining after the separation of the volatile Salt, with ij. parts of ashes taken from the hearth,

• and j. p. of decrepid salt, putting as much as needs to reduce all into a lump or paste which may be framed into Pellets, or of a fit bignesse to go through the neck of a glasse Retort, which must be filled only half with them, and placed in a close Reverbera∣tory with a well luted Recipient; give it first a gentle fire until the oyle begins to come forth bright and clear, and keep it in this state, or encrease it by little and little gradually, until you observe the falling drops to begin to grow yellow, or inclining to rednesse; then change your Recipient, and substitute another well luted to it, then encrease the fire somewhat more, to force the oyle to separate it selfe from the least atomes of bodies with which it is mixt, and thus proceed encreasing still more and more, until you finde no more substance to come forth.
• The second way of rectifying this Oyle, is, in putting it with Rose, Marjoram, and Balm-water, ana three or four pints, in a still-body, and stilling it with the Moores Head, the Fat and the Worm, making the same observations which we have enjoyned the Artist heretofore for the distillation of vegetable Oyles, and you shall have an oyle of Amber fluid and clear, fit for all those uses and purposes which Authors do commend it for in their Writings.
• The third and last manner of Rectification is this: Pour it into a Retort, and put upon it drop by drop its equal weight of spirit of salt, placing the Retort in sand, and distil it with a well regulated and graduate fire, and your oyl will come forth as pure and as clear as may be wished. We will not unnecessarily repeat the vertues of this Oyle, because they may be found comprehended in those which we in general have attributed to Karabe. They that desire to know more, must consult Writers that have treat∣ed thereof, and do esteem it and cry it up for an Heavenly Re∣medy.

Of Ambergrise and its Chymical Preparation.

AMbergrise is one of the substance whose original hath much puzzled the wits of Philosophers: but they that have travel∣led in the East-India's and have searched more exactly into the nature of it, do unanimously say that Ambergrise is nothing

else but a Bitumen rising from the bottom of the Sea, which by the vertue of its own salt is coagulated, and then digested and ripen∣ed by the Sun beames; it is commonly found about the coasts of Sofola, Mozambique, Melinda, as also towards the Maldive I∣slands and the Cap Comorrin; the best Ambergrise, is that which is of a yellowish gray colour, melts easily, and yields when you thrust into it a hot Needle; but the best tryal is the dissolution thereof in very subtile and fine spirit of Wine, for that which is purest and leaves lesse terrestreity and feces, is ever accounted the best. It is used in Perfumes; and inwardly; it warmes desiccates, resolves, strengthens the stomach and brain, recreates and en∣creases the vital and animal spirits by its volatile sweet sulphur, which is friendly to our nature. We have shewed a way to make a very good Perfume out of it, in the preparation of Benjuin. But there being a way also of opening and dissolving it, to reduce more easily the power of it into act, we will deliver here two wayes of preparing the Essence or Tincture thereof, to put a pe∣riod to our work by the preparation of this noble product of the Sea.

The first Essence of Ambergrise.

℞ Ambergrise of the purest ʒ ij. and xij. graines of very good Musk, white Sugar-candy ℈ j. grind altogether very ex∣actly, and all being well mix'd and incorporated, add to it by de∣grees in the grinding of it ℥ φ. of burning spirit of Roses; this mixiure put in a Matraso, pour on it ℥ ij. of alkohol of Wine; stop the Matrass with a Blindhead, and put it to digest four dayes in a vaporous Balneo; after which filtrate this Tincture tho∣row a Cotton, and keep it for use as one of the greatest Restorers that can be found for aged persons and cold constitutions; it en∣creases the radical moisture, and enables both male and female for generation. It is given from j. drop to vj. in Spanish Wine, Malmesy, Hypocras, or some other analogous Drink, pleasing to the palate and smell of diseased persons or they that take it.

The second Essence of Ambergrise.

AS there are many that will be glad to have open and dissol∣ved Amber without any mixture, and being a thing neces∣sary both in the state of health, and in case of sicknesse, so will we give here a way to make this dissolution plain and without af∣fectation.

℞ then ʒ ii. of very good Ambergrise, and grind them with ana of white Sugar-candy, until the two substances be well in∣corporated and reduced to an impalpable powder, and so exactly united as they seem to be but one body; being thus, put this mix∣ture in a Matrass, and pour upon it four parts of its weight of spi∣rit of wine three times drawn over salt of Tartar; then stop the Matrass, and put it to digest in a vaporous Balneo the space of seven dayes, in a slow and constant heat, stirring often the matter; and when the Artist shall see the dissolution and union of Salt, Sulphur, and spirit of Tartar made, so that the liquor be clear, yellow and pure, except some small feces proceeding from the Ambergrise, which will settle in the bottom of the Matrass, then let him fil∣trate the whole substance warm through a Cotton in a Viol, and stop it well, and then this essence being cooled, will coagulate it self and be congealed into a substance like unto whitish butter, which melts with the least touch of heat, even of the palm of the ••••nd, into a yellow Liquor very subtile, and very excellent to perfume Broths, Jellies, sweet-Meats, Conserves and all kind of Drinks; it may be used against swoonings, weaknesses, to streng∣then the stomach, as also to correct the ill smell of the mouth, or stinking breath. The Dosis may be from j. drop to viij. in the above mentioned Liquor.

Thus much we had to say to put an end to the Chymical prepa∣ration of An••mals, Vegetables and Minerals, thinking to have o∣mitted nothing of what can serve for an exact instruction of such as intend to apply themselves to the study and Art of Chymistry; wherefore we do exhort all Artists to follow punctually the path which we have traced and shewed them, that they may more and

more improve their skill in the search of Physical truths: and a∣bove all we exhort all Apothecaries, which are not yet initiated to the mysteries of Chymistry, to bestow seriously their labour and industry in that noble Art, without suffering themselves to be carried away by the unruly torrent of vulgar Opinion, swelling only with ignorance, presumption, malice and envy, that all of them may according to my lawful wishes, render themselves ca∣pable of serving the Publick, as I in my particular have endea∣voured to be in some manner useful to them: The only earnest desire I have for the good and ease of poor Ptients, and for instructing those of my Profession, having induced and provoked me, to communicate what experiences improved by thirty yeares labour and study have taught me, that all may redound to the glory of God, the good of my Neighbour, and the exaltation of Physick and true Pharmacy.

Notes

• It may Crabs eyes, so called in the shops.