from the Mines is crude and undigested and imbued with some malignant qualities but not to be rejected since that by due preparations its impurities may be seperated from its purer parts its Homogenious principles from its Heterogenious adherences and its Medicinal virtues freed and purged from all venemous and offensive qualities therefore not to be despised much less wholly rejected for dayly experience teaches us that Vipers which are venemous in their own Nature are notwithstanding inserted in the Theriaca Andromachy not without great success and that the bare suffocation of them in Wine or in its Spirit produces a sovereign Antidote against all Poysons nay what 's more by this bare Emergency they become a test by which such medicaments as are dayly used as Catharticks are examined whether they be of a venemous nature It is not my intention hear to Impeach any particular Medicament least I should add to the general adversion against Physick I have two much respect for it and its learned Dogmatists therefore only in general take this example make choice of two persons as near as you can of one age habit and complexion give to the one an ordinary dose of Viper Wine to the other none then administer to each an ordinary dose of a Cathartick Infusion and you will find that the Person which took the Viper wine shall not be moved and the other sufficiently purged which clearly proves the Alexipharmicalo peration of the Vipers upon the noxious qualities of the said Catharticks which with pricking Volatil Salt irritates the expultrice faculty and so provokes dejection it being a Maxim that none but fix qualities can expel fix diseases Neither is it so much the driving forth by stools of the excrementitious peccant matter which is so effectual as the Evacuations through the Emunctories by Sweats Urines and imperceptible perspirations Now this Preparation which I have chosen here being the most fix of all the Preparations of Antimony for that very reason I have made choice of it having in twenty years experience found it to be most efficacious against the Leprosy the inveterate Itch the Scurvy and all Venereal diseases as also in the Dropsy and generally all obstructions it purifies the Mass of blood helps Melancholy resists Poysons opens Asshmaticks heals Ulcerated lungs cleanses the womb helps Generation and Conception and is indowed with a renewing quality Thus much of Antimony And now Concerning Coral Coral is a stony Vegetation in the form of a Tree sticking fast unto rocks in the bottom of the Sea There are chiefly two sorts the White and the Red but this last is the best There is some of other colours also to be seen in the Closets of curious Persons as Black Yellow Blew and the like As to the choice the Male is the best which is of a deep and clear Red this Concrete if well prepared and opened yeilds a Tincture as red as blood whose effects vitutes are to purify renew the blood it dries cools strengthens the Ventricle and the Liver but chiefly the Heart It is good against the Plague Poysons and malignant Fevers it recreates the spirits stops all Fluxes it is an excellent Anti-Epileptick prevents Convulsions in Children is sovereign in the Palpitation of the Heart Fainting fits Melancholy Dropsy Gout all which it performs through that Solar Tincture which is communicated to it from Gold in a great measure which gives it the true and deserving Title of Preserver and Renewer Concerning Vipers The Viper is a Serpent the most venemous of all Reptils apt to be irritated and when so it drives in the twinckling of an eye from the vesicle of the gall to the gumms through an almost imperceptible vessel so spirituous and subtle a poyson which insinuates and communicates it self so suddainly to the spirits and the natural heat that it as subtlely stupifies the parts as it has bit which poyson communicates it self immediately to the heart and from thence to the brain by the means of Circulation The remedies which this Animal affords are no less surprising admirable than its poyson for it doth not only combat its proper poyson but enervates absolutely overcomes the strength power of all the poisons that the three natural Families does produce provided that these Vipers be well prepared administred in time and order This long-liv'd Animal of so great assistance so abounding in a Balsamick Salt doth not only renew those that frequently make use of its preparations but renews it self also in order to which towards the end of the year when their food begins to fail them they hide themselves under stones and in the Earth where they remain languid till the beginning of the next Spring when so soon as they have fed upon the balsamick blades and sprouts of budding plants refreshed themselves with the Aromatick Air and cherished themselves in the Raies of the Life-giving Sun they seek out rugged places to rub themselves against and strip off their old skin which they have no sooner laid by selves against and strip off their old skin which they have no sooner â—aid by but immediately possest with the sence thereof and of its acquired benefit it crawls more nimbly and declares by the quickness and liveliness of its motion the Oriental colours of its new garment that it is really renewed and that by consequence those remedies which it does yeild can produce the same effects in humane bodies also The Virtues of this Animal are to strongly resist all poysons they are good against Leprosy all Venereal diseases Consumptions Hectick Feavers but chiefly against the Scurvy driving forth through its Volatil Balsamick Salt all the malignant â—erosities which infect the mass of blood the cause and fomenter of this popular disease so raging at this very time amongst us Of the Roots of Sarsa China and of Saffron Rosemary and Lavender flowers These two Indian Roots are so frequently used well known to every vulgar eye that I need not say much concerning them I shall only in few words give you the reasons why I have chosen them to enter into this Composition They abound both in a fix Balsamick Salt in a Faecula which is of a very drying healing quality they are both Diuretick and Diaphoretick friendly to the Liver good against the Dropsy Palsey Gout Head-ache Jaundice Green-sickness the Scurvy all Venereal diseases they heal and dry up all inward Ulcers which makes them to be dayly used in all diseases which require exiccation Saffron is a flower which abounds in such Virtues as are Analogick with the rest of those Ingredients wh ch compose this noble Balsum so that I should have done it wrong not to have inserted it amongst the rest It is a great Anodyne a great Cleanser of the womb a Cherisher of the Heart a Disopilator of the Liver and Spleen a great Provoker of Child-birth and of what should immediately follow it is esteemed the most sovereign Cordial
her activity may be expatiated beyond its Natural extent and limits both for the preservation and prolongation of Life In the Chymical anatomy of Blood the fixt Salt is found in a less quantity than the Volatil which fix salt it a powerful principle whose Balsamick parts are so absolutely necessary to Life that the durance thereof is to be measured by the standard of its quantity and quality so that according as any living being does abound more or less in this fix salt it doth accordingly continue more or less and requires less nutriment this is most particularly evinced in the Viper an Animal of great abstinence and long Life out of two ounces of whose Flesh has been extracted a dram of Balsamick Salt What I have said either concerning this Salt or in reference to the preservers and renovators is without derogating in the least from the Archeus that fervent Spirit and Prince of Life which resides in us who assisted by its Balsum and concurring with the results of the exterior restoratives does Visit inlighten and comfort all the Parts and render them partakers of the effects of its Virtues but whereas this said spirit does keep its chief residence in the more noble parts where all its Virtues are treasured up and in which its faculties do shine with a greater lustre influence and Authority the preservatives have likwise a greater power upon and sympathy with the noble than with the Inferiour and subjected parts Now whereas the Heart first agent of the Blood does extract a too small proportion of this fix salt out of the Nutriment to sufficiently supply all the parts withal and that the Volatil salt does evaporate too fast and is too easily dissipated Whereby the said parts remain in a continual craving If that a Quintessence does add Energy both in quantity and quality to the Balsamick Salt and suppress the Subtil Evaporation of the Voltatils of necessity preservative and prolongation must be adjudged as Infallibly as necessarily These things rightly Considered I am of opinion that to deny the existency of preservers and Renovators amongst plants Animals and Minerals is to oppose experience maintained by reason and confirmed by divers Antient and Modern Authentique Authors I shall no longer insist upon this Theme least it should swell this little Piece beyond my first intention the rather since many have treated at large upon this Subject but they have involv'd it for the most part in so many circumstances and accompanied it with such a numerous variety of Nicitys which has elevated it beyond the reach of Vulgar capacities and rendered it so intricate and of so difficult an acquisition that but few will attempt the purchase at such a troublesome rate whilst that man who naturally aspires to glory wants but diligence to search with courage to execute he being already endowed with reason to understand that he is in possession of that Instrument of Instruments the hand to perform and that kind and plentiful Nature is at hand to supply him withal requisite materials to operate upon imploring only the ingenious Artists Care and Diligence Of the Qualities and Virtue of this Balsum It is now time I should give you an account of the singular properties and virtues of this Exquisite Balsum of Life which I shall do as succinctly as its various Energies and natures will permit It dissolves and opens all obstructions drives forth all impurities heales inward bruises sores wounds or ulcers suppresses all evil ferments strengthens all the viscera and the sences recreates the Spirits reestablishes and augments the natural heat and radical humide purefies the blood and natural Balsum resists all corruptions and putrefactions cleanses the reins bladder and womb and drys the superfluities thereof helps conception provokes the Terms yet drys up the white effluviums Accelerates Childbirth and drives forth what should follow combats all Poysons corroborates the whole body and strengthens and renews nature These Qualities and Virtues render it of power to resist and suppress the violence of some to radically extirpate absolutely cure others of these following Diseases All Headaches Disiness Plagues Leprosy Scurvy All Venereal diseases Dropsy Jaundice Gout Consumption All Agues Convulsions Hectick Feavers Apoplex Melancholy Falling sickness Wind. Palsy Indigestions Cramps Green-sickness Gripings Stone and Gravil Stuffings of the Lungs Vlceration of the Lungs Earenness Colicks and to be used by all such as are accustomed to take of those Pills which they call the Drunkey Pills or Pills of good fellowship This balsum is no less excellent outwardly applyed for the cure of Cancerous cavernous Venereal Vlcers and Fistulas applying it with Lint upon the Sore or injecting of it in the cavities which it performes at the farthest at the third dressing but somtimes at the very first application applying over it only some sort of descicative Plaister and desticates all wounds as are difficult to be cured through a flux of humours It dissipates and disperses all Venereal Nodes and those little scurfy and dry pustulas or scabs on the head face or any other part of the body Allays the pains of the Gout and Cramps Heals all concussions contusions Sprains cold aches contracted nerves weakness of joynts and limbs and the dead Palsy Discusses all hard cancerous scrophulous tumours by chafing of it into the Part with a warm hand and in the nape of the neck also as also for gripings colicks and the worms chafing the belly and navel with it Thus much concerning the Virtues Qualities of this Balsum now a word or two concerning the preparation of the body for its reception as also some instructions in the administration of it and of its doses and so conclude According to the intention and nature of the distemper so must the body be prepared and disposed for the reception of this specifick in gross plethorick bodys there is required more circumstantial preparations then others in such persons care must be had not to stir up the humours too hastily nor to let them remain long in the body after once set in motion lest through a new fermentation they should create new diseases and produce putrid Feavers But because I have limited this Discourse to two or three sheets of Paper and that I desire all persons to relye upon the consultations and advices of their own experienced Physitians though I had much to say upon this subject I shall forbare it and only in compassion to such as live in Country Towns far remote from Physitians or that cannot reach to the charge of a Physitians Fees I shall set down some few Rules If the partys design is but to prevent or intercept the growth of some budding distemper or for preservation renovation that he hath lately taken some purging medicament or that his stomach is clean of it self as also in time of infection against the Plague or any other infectious diseases there is no use for preparatives But if the Person aimes at the rooting
the gross and Terrestrious yellowness Then draw off again part of the Spirit or Tinged Menstruum and the rest will remain of a most excellent and bright red colour which Keep for Use The Preparation of Vipâ—rs Take Vipers No. xx of the Actuated Vegetable Menstruum llvss Put those Vipers living and whole in the Menstruum in a Matrass with a long neck to whâ—ch you must fit a head and receiver and there let them remain till they be suffocated and after a due digestion draw off half the quantity of the Menstruum in B. M. the other half pour off by decantation then pour over them the remainder of the distilled Menstruum after digestion distil again half of it and the remaining part Pour off as before which must be very hard Press'd from the Vipers and joined with the first Tinctured Menstruum then filtrate them through Paper and keep them close stopped Take those Vipers very well dried so that they may be easily crumbled into a gross pouder with the hands set them in a glass retort to which fit and lute a large Receiver distil them in an open fire observing the degrees of heat till all that is in the retort be driven over through the violence of a Flame fire The distillation ended the Volatil Salt will be â—ound partly dissolved in the Water contained in the receiver and Partly adherent round the sides of the receiver in various forms which is to be washed off with the said water then separate it from it 's fatid Oyl through a filter of paper This Volatile Salt is to be separated afterwards from it's stinking and better water by a gentle Sublimation in a long-neck'd Glass with it's Head and Receiver so that the humidity mount not with the Salt Join this Volatile Salt to the forementioned Essence of Vipers which set to digest in a glass well stopped during two or three days and so you 'l have the Preparation of Vipers The Preparation of Coral Take of red Coral so much as you Please make it into very fine Pouder upon a Porphiry and having put it in a Matrass with a long neck pour over it to the height of three fingers breadth of the spirit of Venus described in the Preparation of Antimony set it to disgest till it is very well impregnated with the Tincture of the Coral Then pour it off gently and pour on some fresh Spirit this repeat till the Coral will afford no more Tincture then take all the Tinged Spirit and distil it off almost to driness then pour over the remaining Tincture as much of the actuated Menstruum as will be requisite to take up the Tincture which keep for Use close stopped The Preparation of the Sarsa China Saffron Rosemary and Lavender Flowers This Preparation is so common and easy that few words will serve to demonstrate it Take the Sarsa and China and after the usual manner slit them and slice them in to very thin pieces but leave the flowers whole put all into a Matrass with a long neck pour over them the height of three fingers breadth of the Vegetable Accuated Menstruum Stop well the Glass set it to digest in a gentle heat and when the Menstruum is throughly Tinged pour it off by Decantation pour new Menstruum upon the Materials digest it as before and when well Tinged Decant as before and so you will have the true Preparation of the Roots and Flowers The Preparation of the Gumm Guajacum Though this Gumm seems so pure and clear from all dross that it requires none other purification yet in the Preparation of it there are found such Terrestrial parts as require a separation from the Tincture after this manner Take of that Gumm q. s pouder it very fine and put it into a Matrass with a long neck pour upon it to the hight of three fingers breadth of the Accuated Vegetable Menstruum Close the Vessel set it to digest in a gentle heat a day or two then gently pour off the Tinged Menstruum in which all the Refinous and Balsamick part of the Gumm is dissolved which keep for Use close stopped The Preparaion of Myrrh Is after the same manner as of the Gumm Guajacum therefore I refer you to that The Composition of the Balsum The Ingredients being all duly and rightly prepared as has been said every one according to what their Nature and Quality did require It is time to come to the Compâ—sition consisting in the true proportioning of their respective Doses and the Mixture of the several Preparations which take as follows Take of the Tincture of Gumm Guajacum llij of the Tincture of Myrrh llss of the Tincture of the Roots and Flowers the same as of Myrrh of the Essence of Vipers â„¥ vi of the Tincture of Coral â„¥ iiij of the Tincture of Antimony â„¥ iij of the sweet Red Oyle of Vitriol impregnated with the dissoluble Magistery of Pearls as much as of the Tincture of Antimony and of the Tincture of Gold â„¥ ij Pour these into a capacious Matrass with a long neck add to it a blind head and set it in digestion in a gentle heat during two or three days Here is the Composition of the Excellent Balsum of Life proper for a general use which will keep hundreds of years fit to receive any Medicinal addition provided it be first prepared according as it's Nature and Quality shall require and dissolv'd in our Menstruum For none other being so purely spiritualized as this those waterish particles which others would introduce into these other pure Tinctures would cause them immediately to precipitate to the bottom in a milkie white substance to the great detriment of the Accidental and some Prejudice to the Essential form of this Specifick Balsamick Liquor Reasons for the Election of the Ingredients which constitute this Balsum of their Natures Properties and Virtues First concerning the Menstruum Amongst the Chymists the word Menstruum is given to any Liquor either Natural or Artificial Simple or Compound which is used for the dissolution of any Mixt and in that respect common Water may be so termed But this word is restrained to such Liquors as are of power to disunite open and dissolve the Mucilaginous Resinous Saline and Balsamick parts of whatsoever lyes hid in Natural Productions as also to extract and retain their respective Tinctures There are variety of these Menstruums according to the diverse qualities of matters to be dissolved and the Inventions of Ingenious and laborious Artists There being but few Masters in this Scientifick Art but have some peculiarly due to their own fortunate Stars and Industry Of these Menstruums some are made of the Juices of fruits as of Lemons Pomgranats Barberies and the like but the chiefest amongst them are such as are prepared of the Juice of the Grape namely Spirit of Wine and Vinegar Others are extracted of some parts and excrements of Animals as out of Bloud Urine the faecal Matter and the like Others
are prepared from Minerals and Metals as out of Vitriol Common Salt Nitre Antimony Mercury Venus Saturne and the like To these Menstruums I may add by themselves such as are extracted out of Hony May-Dew they being kind of Meteors not to be properly ranged under any of the forementioned Classes By a sympathetick influence those which are extracted from Vegetables are most proper for the extraction of Vegetables and so it is with those extracted from Animals Minerals and Metals Yet this rule is not so absolute but that some of these Menstruums are used promiscuously one for another but that which is most general is the Spirit of Wine This Spirit is call'd the Incorruptible Essence the Water of Life the Key of the Philosophers the Vniversal Liquor or Balsum the Philosophers Sulphur and Mercury of the Vegetables the Pearly Matter and the Author of this Menstruum has given it the name of Accuated Menstruum or Heaven of the Vegetables with which he was us'd to extract the true Tincture of Gold And by the Philosophers it was termed that Fire of Nature as much concealed as Celebrated amongst them who unanimously say Ignis Azot tibi sufficiunt These and diverse other such Denominations too tedious to relate are sufficient to declare that this Spirit is the fittest Liquor of all those which are either Natural or Artificial that is capable of extracting the Vertues of whatsoever is infused and digested in it without the loss of its seminal Faculties and leaving behind any reliques of their Middle Lives Vertue Whosoever is acquainted with this Spirit will acknowledge it to have a most piercing Vertue yet not of so hot a Nature as is imagined by the Vulgar since it resolves the hottest and hardest Tumours allays the pains of burning and takes away any inflammations It 's Incorruptible Nature renders it in great esteem both because it preserves it self and all other Beings Animated or Inanimated This Spirit of Wine is Simple or Compound I call that Simple which is extracted by bare Distillation without any further addition And by the Compound I mean that which is Essencified and impregnated with its Essential Salt and amongst all of that kind is that which I have chosen for the preparation of those Matters which compound this Balsum of Life Namely the Accuated Vegetable Heaven of Raymundus Lullius heretofore described The reasons why I have preferr'd this Menstruum before all others to be the Vehicle for communicating the Vertues of this Balsum into humane bodies are because it will extract the Tincture from all things by devesting them of their Accidental Forms and yet preserving their substantial ones which speaks it the most proper Liquor of all such as are capable of extracting the Vertues of those Mixts which constitute this Compound Besides this its intrinsecal qualities and Vertues have invited me to this Election for it is not only of power to convey and communicate the Vertues of all Mixts annexed to it but through its own penetrating Balsamick Essence does open and dissolve all obstructions drives forth all Heterogeneal particles cleanseth healeth and strenghtneth the inflamed and debilitated internal and external parts and corroborates the whole body and thus Natura corroborata est omnium morborum Medicatrix Thus much concerning the Vertues qualities and choice of this Menstruum before all others though easier to be made and now a few words concerning Gold and it's Dissolvant Gold is the most perfect Child of the Earth the Ne plus ultrà of the Mineral Power It is a yellow most solid and compact Metal compounded of such principals as are fix permanent and digested in a most Sovereign degree as it 's incorruptibility does manifest It 's call'd by some the Sun not only by reason of it's great Correspondency and harmonious Relation with the Celestial Sun of the great World but for it's Sympathy and Affinity also with the Sun of the little World the Heart of Man Its fixidity purity and most excellent Cordial Vertues makes it wholly dedicated to the Heart who is the Operator of all the Noble Functions of life It is not only a most Sovereign Cordial by reestablishing and augmenting the Radical Moisture and Natural Heat but it is also an excellent Purifier of the Bloud dispersing and driving forth by sensible and insensible Transpirations that which is Heterogeneous and corrupted in the whole Body which are the results of the diverse alterations of the blood tending to Corruption and Putrefaction and Consequently to the destruction of that subject who it ought to Vivify and Nourish Notwithstanding those exquisit intrinsecal qualities and virtues it is the opinion of some that Gold cannot preserve nor renovate by reason of his compactedness which is such as not to be so dissolved but that it may be reduced to a Metalline substance again and that by consequence never better Imployed or more of use than when it is desolved in the devouring Menstruum of an over gorged Kitchin an overflowing Celler and of exorbitant and Gorgeous Apparel all which be dayly found to be most radical dissolvants To which I shall only say that there are none never so meanly versed in Chymie but know that Gold can be so opened through the operations in that Art as to be capable of producing some good effects upon our Bodies although reducible again to its Matallick Body This is easy to be demonstrated by the example of other metallick bodyes which are resolved into Salts or Vitriolls as Silver Copper Tin Lead and Iron all which may be reduced again into Metalls which hinders not the dayly and successful use of them by learned and eminent Physitians who are invited thereunto by the dayly discoveries of those admirable effects which such open Metals produce in Cronical diseases even upon the most obstinate and deepest rooted and complycated amongst them all these metallick vitriols having different tasts various colours as also some peculiar specifick virtue as appears by their various effects If Gold being opened and prepared by the means of a powerful Menstruum so as to be reduced into a Vitriolick Salt having its peculiar Colour Taste and specifick virtues is administred into our Bodies why may I not conclude it to be of force and virtue to renovate and operate divers other wonderful effects and consequently not to be debared from Physical use for no other reason then meerly its reducibility into metal again not but that I know that if this Metal was once so opened and radically dissolved as never to be reduced into Metal again by any Art it would then be more efficacious for Gold thus volatilized and spiritualized does acquire a more ample sphear of activity and virtue but this ought not to debar us from the use of its meaner preparations especially such as have been known by a long experience to be effectual in their operations for the prevention and cure of diseases in humane Bodies But by reason that the more radically Gold is
opened the greater effects it must consequently operate I have made choice of such a Menstruum which through its simpathy and great affinity with Gold does so radically dissolve it that though it may be reduced in part into a metallick substance yet not without a sensible decay of its weight after every dissolution which in success of time by reiterated dissolutions circulations might so radically dissolve the whole as never to be reduced again into Gold or any other metallick substance One property that this dissolvant has which in my opinion cannot be paraleld is that though it be so powerful upon Gold dissolving it without external heat inward corrosion freting ebullition or raising of any fumes scum and bubbles but just as wax would do in warm water yet it will not so much as touch any other Metal Mineral Linnen Woollen or any other thing being so far from corroding that those parts of my Cloths or skin that have been accidentally wetted and imbued with this dissolvant have proved as sound in the wareing as any other parts of my Apparel and my hands not in the least offended which proves its operation upon Gold to proceed from an Analogical consent of parts and by sympathy but after the dissolution of the Gold in it it tinges all things of a most glorious purpurine colour which Evidently shews that the said Menstruum is sufficiently saturated with the central sulphur of the Gold which yields that colour So soon as I shall have prepared this dissolvant which will take up six Weeks Labour in which time I hope to have all the other operations required in this composition I shall present to publick view this as delightful as exquisite dissolution of Gold to all such as will favour me with their visits at the Laboratory to which they shall at all times be very welcom especially such as are desirous to communicate with me about some particuler additions to the Balsum according to their Physitians orders whom I advise all Persons to consult very well before they repair to me Gold thus prepared yields its Tincture in any Liquor which Tincture of a most acerb austere tast does operate as variously as pleasantly for sometimes it has been known to Purge by Stools sometimes though very rare by Vomits frequently by Urines and Sweats but most commonly by no visible outward effects but then its Virtues are sensibly felt in augmenting the strength of the Sick reviving the Spirits chearing the Heart and by Corroborating of the Viscera and the whole Body To speak in few words its innumerable Virtues I shall conclude with Quercetans own words Ad innumerabiles morbos fere incredibilis videtur virtutis Thus I conclude with the most noble of Metals to speak something of the best of Minerals Of Vitriol That there is an Universal Spirit or Spirit of the World which God hath Established for the continuance of the species which Spirit gives Life to all beings is a truth that is past disputing but what this spirit is in what substance incorporated and how communicated is that which but few understand Yet most of the Eminents Phylosophers say that the external green and Azurine colours of Vitriol and its inward acide declare it to be that subtle juice of the Earth which is the sole cause of that Universal fermentation which preceeds all natural Productions even as leaven to Flower and Water The sulphur contained in the said Vitriol being the Spirit and Ferment which opens and unites gathereth and coagulates the divers vapours which are in the Earth and according to their respective matrices formes them into Vegetables Minerals or Metallick Substances In Vitriol Venus is most apparent and therefore most Ingeniously Feigned by those Poets that were Phylosophers to be the Mother or Principle of all Natural Generations and in my opinion the Internal redness of the said Vitriol doth clearly manifest that generative blood of Nature with which she doth ferment her seeds and of those fermented seeds produce such Varietys of beings which makes such a sympathy between those three Natural Families This Vitriol that has an acide Spirit a burning or corrosive oyle has also a sweet red tincture in it that is so friendly to Nature as to communicate to her all that she wants both as to her preservation and renovation sweetening all preternatural acides purging its balsamick parts from all outward adherences and Vivifying of the suppressed Spirits besides it is generally known to be the greatest opener and resolver of obstructions that is used in Physick This was the reason that I have made choice of this inward balsamick sweetness of Vitriol Impregnated with the dissoluble Magisters of Pearls to enter into this composition Of the Pearls Pearls are the concretion of the purest part of that Mucilaginous Liquour that a certain shell Fish called Oyster draws from the Sea Water which contains an Embrionated Salt full of a Natural Balsome and of a principle of Generation which is communicated to it by means of the Air and Water those two great vehicles of the Universal ferment this Gem is only found in those Shells that are most Rugged and that contain the Leanest and most languid Fish which shews that in the production of this Jewel it is deprived of that sweet sulphureous milky substance of which this object of Luxury and curiosity is perfected This concrete has ever been acknowledged both by ancient and modern Authors to be of a nature capable to free the Natural Balsum from all outward and inward insultations to reestablish the Languid strength to recreate and stimulate the Spirits suppress Poysons the Plague and all Putrid humours by reason of the sweetness of its sulphur which deads all the effects of these sharp and saline serosities that prick and irretate the Membranous and Nervous parts inflame the viscera and prey upon the very spirits and Balsum of Life whence are produced the Gout Scurvy Mange Venereal diseases and the Leprosie all which qualities have made me give place in this composition for the soluble magister of Pearls Antimony This mineral abounds in a noble mineral sulphur it pertakes also of a metallick undigestible mercury and a small proportion of salt it is call'd by some the Gray Woolf the black Eagle the Dragon the Leprous Gold and by many other denominations Basilius Valentinus says that it is of an Hermaphrodite nature fix and volatil in temperament hot cold dry and moist that there may be had from it a Medicine for every disease besides a general Panacea he says further that there is as great a variety in goodness amongst the divers sorts of Antimonys as there is difference between the flesh of some Fishes and four footed Beasts which though agreeing in name are of various differences but the best he concludes to be that which comes from Hungaria full of long bright and glittering strikes and here and there tinged with a Purple and Gold Colour This Mineral as it comes