Bowels but even from the Brain it self Salmon VII Alterative Remedies for the same Nothing is better than our Powers of Rosemary Amber and Spir. Antiasthmaticus given as directed in our Phylaxa Salmon CHAP. III. Of AGVES I. A rare Secret to Cure all Agues whatsoever TAke Venice Turpentine half an ounce incorporate it with as much Camphire and Mastick beaten into fine Powder as will make it into a Plaister then take of it and spread it on a piece of Sheeps Leather cut round and lay it on the Stomach and Navel pretty warm a day before the Fit cometh Probat II. Against an Ague Take Posset-drink a pint and half put into it nine heads of Carduus boyl it 'till half be wasted to every quarter of a Pint put in a quarter of a Spoonful of gross Pepper stir it well and take half a Pint an Hour before the Fit cometh and be sure to Sweat him in his Bed upon the taking of it III. A Plaister against an Ague Take a piece of Leather pricked full of Holes spread it over with Venice-Turpent and on that spread all over Rue and Frankincense beaten into Powder of each a like quantity then bind it to the Wrist a little before the Fit cometh and let it lie 'till the Fit be gone IV. Against a Tertian Ague Take at the coming of the cold Fit half a Pint of expressed Juice of Germander for Germander is styled by Physicians the Scourge of a Fever V. Against all burning and pestilential Fevers Take of the Herb Fluellin cut small and infuse it twenty four Hours in White Wine then Distil it and drink of this Distilla ion with three four five or six Drops of Oyl of Vituol in every Draught when Thirsty This hath cured Old and Young that took it VI. An Excellent Process to Cure all Quotidian Tertiane Pestilential and Burning Fevers and Agues Take Aloes three drachms Myrrh one drachm Saffron half a drachm Sugar three drachms beat them well together then infuse them in a pint of White Wine over Night and give it two several Mornings half a pint at a time to purge with And for ordinary Drink when-thirsty use this Take White-Wine-Vinegar half a pint rose-Rose-water Conduit or Fountain Water ana one Pint seeth them together with a Pound of Sugar VII Sleep to procure in an Ague If he want Sleep Take Syrup of white Poppy one ounce distilled Water of Lettice Sal Prunella 15. grains mix them and take it at Night for Sleep cools the Body and prevents motion and Motion is one of the principal Causes of heat VIII An Ague with a sore Mouth to Heal. If the Mouth be sore take of red Sage grosly cut one handful of French Barley beaten Roach Allom ana one ounce Boyl all these together in a pint and a half of Spring-water then duleifie it before it be cold with Honey and therewith wash the Mouth and gargle the Throat IX Against a new Ague Take one drachm of pine Tobacco in the Leaf infuse it all Night in half a pint of White-Wine then strain it and drink it fasting two Hours after it This will purge Phlegm and Choler throughly X. Against a burning Feaver Take Water distilled from Wall-nuts a Week or two before Mid-Summer and give of that Water one ounce and a half at a time an Hour before the Fit It Cures XI An Excellent Julep in all Fevers Take poppy-Poppy-water four ounces of prune-Prune-water Juice of Oranges Syrup of Gilly-flowers two ounces a few drops of Spirit of Vitriol mix them and let the Patient drink two or three spoonfuls at a time often XII A Specifick against all manner of Agues Take Quin-quina or Jesuits Bark two Drachms beat it into Powder just about the time of using it Infuse it in a good Draught of Claret or other Generous Wine for the space of two Hours then give the Patient both Liquor and Powder at once as they lye in Bed Some advise to give it as the Fit is coming others as the Fit is going off the latter way is best if the Sick be very weak Salmon XIII Another Remedy for the same If you give my Catharticum Argenteum to forty fifty sixty or one hundred Drops according as the Patient is in Age and strength as I have directed in my Phylaxa Medicinae Lib. 1. Cap. 3. and continue it for five or six times taking it will go near to Cure any Ague whatsoever more especially if after such universal Purging you give either my Guttae Vitae or my Volatile Laudanum in such due Dose as in my said Phylaxa is prescribed about three Hours before the coming of the Fit so as the Sick may be in a good Sweat about the coming of the cold Fit by this means used five or six times the Ague goes off and comes no more I scarce ever fail of Curing an Ague by this method Salmon XIV Agues Cured by another Medicine I have Cured hundreds of Agues exactly by the former method except only that instead of the Catharticum Argenteum I have used either my Tabulae Emeticae or Vomiting Lozenges Or my Vinum Emeticum and sometimes some other proper Emeticks and Catharticks alternately But before either Quin-quina or Opiates be given if you would do like an Artist you ought to premise Universal Cleansers Salmon XV. A violent burning Feaver with Vomiting and Bloody Flux Where the Disease has been long the Patient wasted and brought as it were to Death's door there is nothing in the World better than our Pulvis Antifebriticus mentioned in Phylaxa Medic. Lib. 1. Cap. 45. You may give it to half a drachm or a drachm in any convenient Vehicle an Hour and half before the coming of the Fit Salmon XVI Agues chiefly Quartans Cured by the following Arcanum Rolfinc Lib. 5. Sect. 6. Cap. 12. Take Leaf-gold a drachm dissolve it in Aqua Regis Glass of Antimony a drachm dissolve it in Aqua Fortis Quick-silver six Drachms dissolve it in Aqua Fortis mix these Solutions together and Distil them by an Alembick cohobating twelve times at last to the Powder left in the bottom put Spirit of Wine which abstract from it six times then Calcine it upon a Tile or in a Hascican Crucible in a Circulary Fire so have you one of the best Remedies for an Ague chiefly a Quartane yet commonly known Take of this Powder six Grains Scammony twelve Grains mix for a Dose give it in the Morning the day before the Fit or in the Morning the same day if the Fit falls towards Night Salmon XVII Riverius his Ague Frighter Take Flowers of Antimony thrice sublimed with Sal Armoniack and Dulcified Perlucid Hyacinth Glass of Antimony ana half an Ounce Aqua Fortis made of Nitre and Alum 4 Ounces Praecipitate the said Antimony in the said Water Again Take Quicksilver revived from Cinabar six Ounces Aqua Fortis made of Nitre Alum and Vitriol q. s. in which dissolve and praecipitate the Mercury Take also fine Leaf-Gold one
preventing Abortion and then use Forcers Loosners and Forcers lest any of the Membranes or after-Birth or any part of it or other foetid and putrid Matter should be left behind by which the Woman would certainly Perish But if the Child be not Dead nor expelled but only a Danger and the foetus retreats then you ought to use restingents and things above directed that Abortion may be prevented and the Child preserved Salmon XV. A Medicine after Miscarriage If part of the After-birth should remain and a continual Flux of Blood for some Months should accompany it the most Excellent Sylvius has restored the sick by three ounces of the following Decoction taken twice or thrice a day Take Bistort-root three Ounces Marjoram Pennyroyal ana a handful Water White-wine of each a sufficient quantity Strain and Sweetten with Syrup of Mugwort a Tenth part cinnamon-Cinnamon-water a Twentieth part By Virtue of this a piece of the After-birth as big as ones Fist was voided and the Flux of Blood stopped and cured CHAP. IX Want of Appetite I. IF want of Appetite proceeds from a cold Cause or cold Flegm afflicting the Ventricle or Stomach 't will be necessary to give a proper Vomit and then such things as may heat and corroborate it II. A Vomit evacuating Flegm and cold and watery Humours Take our Pulvis Argenteum 10. grains mix it with the Pulp of a rosted Apple and give it in the Morning fasting drinking warm Broth or Posset-drink after it The third day repeat the same Dose III. Then to warm comfort and restore the Stomach Take our Tinctura Stomachica from half a Spoonful to a Spoonful in a draught of Ale or Wine Morning Noon and Night a quarter of an Hour or more before eating it does Wonders and restores the Appetite tho lost for many Months I have proved it many Hundreds of times for these Twenty five or Twenty six Years together Salmon IV. Salt Meats are also good because they iritate and provoke the languid Faculties of the Stomach Salts also have an inciding and attenuating Virtue and next to these such things as have a volatile heat and sharpness as Mustard seed Onions Garlick Leeks Shellots c. V. When Flegm disaffects the Ventricle that is tough thick and viscous whereby the Appetite seems to be almost destroyed it will be necessary that you use Medicines of another Nature viz. such as are acid sharp and cutting for that these things not only separate the offending Matter from the Tunicles of the Stomach but also prevent Putrefaction and the Generation of the like for the future VI. For this purpose Spirit of Vitriol is most commended by some and 't is doubtless a good Medicine but ought to be cautiously used to dry Bodies lest it induces a Consumption VII But in fuller and moister Bodies it is not only safe but very profitable more especially if the Anorexia or want of Appetite proceeds from Choler Yellow or Green abounding in the Stomach VIII In this case I commend my Spiritus Aperiens and Syrupus Diasulphuriis see them in my Phylaxa Med. Lib. I. Cap. 14. Sect. I. and Lib. 2. Cap. 36. Sect. I. given the first to 30. 40. 50. or 60. or more Drops in a Glass of Ale the other in all the drink the Sick drinks to a Spoonful more or less as they can Affect it and to take it assidiously for ten Fifteen or Tweny days together they are Medecines that seldom fail of their effects and are beyond my Commendation Salmon IX I always adjust the Medicaments for cure according to the Causes where there is an exceeding Coldness of the Stomach my Tinctura Absinthij is beyond compare so also Elixir proprietatis sine Acido To these things add our Aqua Bezoartica and Tinctura Corallorum Composita given in Wine X. If the want of Appetite is restored by taking Acids it is a Sign that the Acid Humour in the Stomach is Languid debile and weak but if not or it rather is hurt by it it is a sign that it is too Rampant and Vigorous and therefore Alcalies as Tincture of Tartar Volatile Sal Armoniack or our Spirit Antiasthmaticus ought to be given and other like Volatile Salts Bezoar Mineral in our Syrup Volatilis is of good use in this case Salmon XI The loss of Appetite which arises from decay of Strength or old Age is seldom or never cured unless it proceed from a Cold cause in which case Volatile Sulphurs and Spirituous Things are proper but things that dry too much must be cautiously given The Stomach may be Anointed with Oyl of Mace or you may use this Take Balsam of Amber one Ounce common Oyl I dram mix them XII If there be neither Sickness nor weakness nor old Age present and yet the Person complains that he never comes to his Food with a Stomach or eats with an Appetite the only way to restore such an one is to let him fast till he is a hungry for long want of Victualsand emptiness insuch always breeds an Appetite XIII In Women especially such as have Gross Bodies want of Appetite is cured if not with Child by proper Emeticks and Catharticks For the first of these I commend our Cartharticum Argenteum given to a dram in a Glass of Ale For the latter either our Family Pills or our Family Powder both of which may be taken 2 or 3 or 4 times with due intervals Salmon XIV If it happens in a Woman with Child all or most of the Preceeding Courses must be avoided and other Courses taken The juices of Oranges and Lemons with white Sugar may be daily taken for some time so also Canary made acid with juice of Limons and if heat also abounds a Decoction of Tamerinds sweetned alone or mixt A Syrup or Infusion of Rheubarb is of good use XV. Want of Appetite in Consumptive People is of dangerous Consequence some commend as the best thing Elixir Proprietatis given in wine it may be good for a little Season but long it must not be taken left it also induce the Consumption The best thing which I have found by my large experience is Our Tinctura Stomachica given to a spoonsul 2. or 3. times a day in a large draught of new Milk And altho the ingredients thereof heat Violently yet by reason they are of thin Substance and parts their heat is quickly discussed and so do no harm Salmon XVI If Sickness at Stomach and want of Appetite proceed from worms as sometimes it does Our Tincturo Absinthij or Infusion of Worm-wood in Rhenish Wine or Canary is good Salmon XVII Galens Antidotus Thespesiana for want of Appetite Take Smallage-seed xij drams Myrrh Anniseed Opium ana vj. drams White-Pepper V. drams Parsly-seed Long-pepper Spicknard Cassia-Lignea ana iv drams Castor Saffron Flowers of Juncus Odoratus ana iij. drams Cinamon ij drams Honey 1 pound make an Electuary dose the quantity of a Hazle-Nut at Bed-time in a little Drink CHAP. X. Loss of the
in this I think Galen was wholly in the wrong I am clearly of the contrary Opinion for the curdy part of Milk is only Nutritive and the greatest part of it dissolves in the Stomach into a chylous Juice God Almighty Himself seeing it the best and most innocent Nourishment even for Infanes as soon as they are Born And who dares to doubt His Wisdom whilst the oily and serous parts of it cool moisten open cleanse and make slippery the Passages XIX Now things are said to open rather in respect to their emollient attenuating and discussive Qualities than to their Diuretick because there are many things-which powerfully open Obstructions that provoke not Urine at all amongst which are most bitter Herbs and Plants which open by a Specifick Virtue as Centory Wormwood Hops Gentian Carduus Camomil and Carminatives which do it by a discussive property such are Angelica Southernwood Parsly Smallage Anniseed Cuminseed all the sorts of Pepper Cloves Nutmegs Fennelseeds Caraways Carotseeds c. And Emollients which do it by their softning and making slippery such are Oil Olive Mallows Marshmallows Lillies Spinage boiled Onions Garlick Leeks c. But the true great and chief of all Openers is Iron and the aperitive Preparations thereof which do that in a Day which none of the others will do in a Month for which purpose I commend my Tinctura Martis as one of the most famous things in the World to which may be added Tinctura ad Chlorosin an approved thing for opening the most obdurate Obstructions XX. The Matter being prepared the next thing is to cleanse the Vessels and Passages of slime filth matter sand or gravel which does or may obstruct the Passages of the Urine and this is properly done with Diureticks of which kind of Medicaments Authors admirably abound We shall not here tell you all that has been said upon that Subject but rather give you an Abstract of the choicest and most approved Experiments of that kind Take of our Tinctura Stomachica two Dra. Juice of Garlick one Dram White or Rhenish-wine six Ounces mix for a Draught I have often proved it with good success Or this Take Juice of Onions two Ounces Juice of Hydropiper half an Ounce White or Rhenish-wine eight Ounces mix for a Draught I gave this to one in extremity a Woman that had not made Water in eight or nine Days it made her make Water and gave her ease in less than an hour Take Onions four Ounces bruise them Anniseeds Caraways ana two Drams bruised Infuse them all Night in White-wine then squeeze forth the Wine and let the Sick drink it it is a singular Experiment XXI Sennertus commends Lignum Nephriticum and Lapis Nephriticus and so does Experience too Take Raspings of Lignum Nephriticum two Ounces Spring water two Pound infuse 'till the Water is blewish for twenty four or forty eight Hours then decant for three Doses Or thus Take Raspings of the Wood two Ounces Spring-water White-wine ana one Pound digest for forty eight Hours then decant or strain out the clear for use for three Doses Or thus Take Raspings of Lignum Nephriticum two Ounces Winter-Cherries bruised one Ounce White or Rhenish wine two Pound mix digest forty eight Hours and strain out for use XXII Or you may draw forth the Tincture with our Spiritus Universalis after this manner Take Raspings of Lignum Nephriticum two Ounces Spiritus Universalis one Pound digest twenty four Hours so will a substantial Tincture he drawn decant and filtre to the filtred Liquor put Alchool of Spirit of Wine one Pound digest twenty four Hours more so will the Sulphur of the Wood be drawn into the Wine which you may decant leaving the Spiritus Universalis at the bottom with which you may perform the like again Dose one Dram to two in any convenient Vehicle as Waters of Onions Parsley or Hydropiper Mead White or Rhenish-wine or the like The Lapis Nephriticus is seldom given inwardly if you do it give the levigated Pouder from one Scruple to half a Dram or two Scruples in Syrup or other fit Liquor But the usual way of using the Stone is to wear it as a Jewel being tied to the Wrist or Arm or hung about the Neck or Hip. I once knew a Lady which experimented the truth of this as long as the Stone was tied to the brawn of her Arm she had ease and voided much Gravel continually upon making Water but as soon as the Stone was removed the Gravel stopt and the pains returned and that she might be sure this was the effect of the Stone she oftentimes laid it by for experiment sake and the stoppage and pains in some few Hours would return upon the taking it off and again upon the putting it on she would have as sensible ease and freedom of passage as before XXIII Trallianus Lib. 3. Cap. 39. saith The Herb Peony in Pouder drunk with honied Wine is an excellent thing against obstruction of Urine caused by a Stone so hard as not to be broken But the Tincture drawn from the Herb with our Spiritus Universalis as above directed and then with Spirit of Wine being drunk with the said honied Wine is much more effectual After the same manner you may make a Tincture of Golden-Rod which will be no less effectual for that the Crude Herb had been proved in this case in innumerable Persons as Carolus Piso saith with happy success XXIV Zacutus Lusitanus Praxis Lib. 2. Observ. 58. saith A Man sixty Years old of a cold Constitution was cured of the Stone by Purgations made of Turpentine which he took divers ways and a daily use of a Decoction of Lignum Nephriticum by which he voided red Gravel and a Stone and was well for two Years together His Disease afterwards coming upon him again Clysters Ointments Fomentations Plasters Phlebotomy Baths were all used in vain his Urine being retained eighteen Days he began to be afflicted with the Falling-Sickness by Fits and the Sick was given over as desperate at length he took Oyl of sweet Almonds with drops of Natural Balsam I suppose he means Balsam of Peru it made him void a clammy Humor by Stool and small Gravel by Urine and continuing the use of the said Remedy he voided with Bloody Urine a Stone of the bigness of a Date-stone of a purple colour long round rough and very hard and now making Water very freely he took a greater quantity of the Oyl of sweet Almonds viz. to three Ounces and the Balsam to the quantity of half an Ounce and in the space of ten days he voided sixty five Stones hard and of the bigness and shape of Vetches And with this Remedy alone he was preserved for the future for he used every Morning to take half an Ounce of the Oyl with six drops of the said Balsam by which he voided gravelly Urine and lived many Years By this Balsam Avenzoar saith he cured a Scrivener who was at
Compounds you may see in our Phylaxa Medicinae Lib. 1. and 2. Salmon LXI In a hot Cause and Constitution Barbet gives this Take Roots of Al theae one Ounce Liquorice two Drams Mallow-Leaves M. ij Melon-seeds half an Ounce boyl them in Barley-water in a Quart of the Colature dissolve Syrup of Corn Poppies two Ounces raw Crabs-Eyes bruised one Dram mix them Dose two Ounces three or four times a Day Or thus Take rose-Rose-water Strawberry and purslane-Purslane-water ana one Ounce prophylactick-Prophylactick-water Cinnamon water ana half an Ounce raw Crabs Eyes bruised one Scruple Laudanum Opiatum two Grains Fernelius his Syrupus de Altheae one Ounce mix them and let it be given by Spoonfuls LXII In a cold Cause and Constitution Take Roots of Rest harrow white Saxifrage ana one Ounce Liquorice half an Ounce Goats blood six Drams Crabs-Eyes bruised Nutmegs Cinnamon ana one Ounce Saffron three Drams Cloves two Drams Strasburgh Turpentine one Pound Spirit of Malmsey-wine five pound the Ingredients being cut and bruised digest fourteen days then distil in B. M. Dose one Ouuce Fasting and twice or thrice a day besides Barbet also saith That Cochinele being taken in fine Pouder in Rhenish-wine to one Scruple is a pleasant and sweet Medicine and of great efficacy LXIII Deckers advises the following Pouder Take Mustard-seed Tartar Vitriolate ana one Dram and a half Crabs-Eyes Salt of Bean-stalks of Broom of Rest-harrow of Pidgeons Dung ana one Dram mix and make a Pouder Dose from one Scruple to half a Dram in Parsly-water The Tincture of the Nephritick Stone is also very good but it is no where described but Moebius has this preparation Take Pouder of the Nephritick Stone put upon it rectified Spirit of Salt digest and there will be a green Tincture Dose from six Drops to twelve or twenty in Wine or proper Water Seeds of Violets are very convenient because they purge and expel the Stone especially if they be used in an Emulsion and is called by Schroder the Nephrocathartick Emulsion it is much commended both by Crato and Hartman and is a good thing against suppression of Urine LXIV Spiritus Acetosae Mineralis Take Tartar Vitriolate one Ounce Julep of Roses one Pound cinnamon-Cinnamon-water four Ounces mix them Dose two Ounces 't is an excellent thing Or Take Tartar Vitriolate one Ounce radish-Radish-water one Pound Juice of Limons two Ounces Syrup of Corn-Poppies and de Altheae ana one Ounce Crabs-Eyes two Drams mix them Dose two Ounces Also Spirit of Juniper-berries affused upon Rob of Elder and Juniper and digested becomes of a pleasant red Colour and in Taste like Malmsey-wine and is truly a Medicine of great efficacy So also a Nephritick Liquor made of Nitre and Sal Gem calcin'd and dissolved per deliquium is a Nephritick of singular use LXV The Urinary Laudanum of Michael Take Spanish Juice of Liquorice dissolved in Winter-cherry-water one Ounce and a half Camphire one Dram Saffron four Scruples Winter-cherries half an Ounce Gum Tragacanth Mastick ana one Dram and a half Laudanum Opiatum two Drams mix them It is much commended for a peculiar Quality of provoking Urine opening Obstructions and expelling the same Michael his Nephritick Liquor Take Lynx-stone Jews-stone Nephritick-stone Sponge Crystal Crabs-Eyes ana q. v. dissolve them in rectified Spirit of Salt filtre the Solutions and distil to dryness so have you at bottom a coagulated Nephritick Liquor LXVI 〈◊〉 his Lithontriptick Pouder Take Crabs-Eyes prepared Goats-blood prepared ana one Dram and a half Jews-stone Nephritick-stone ana one Dram Pikes-Eyes Millet-seed ana two Scruples Crystals of Tartar half a Dram Salt of Tartar one Scruple mix and make a Pouder Dose from half a Dram to one Dram in any appropriate Water LXVII Forrestus his Decoction which some say exceeds all other things Take Red Tares three Ounces Barley hull'd two Drams Seeds of Marsh Mallows Mallows ana three Drams of the four greater cold Seeds ana one Dram fat Figgs nine Sebestens seven Liquorice scraped six Drams fair Water one Pound and a half boil 'till half be consumed then strain for an Apozem These Pills also are esteemed Take Pouder of Millepedes Crabs-Eyes Jews-stone ana one Dram Turpentine two Drams mix and make Pills Dose from half a Dram to one Dram every Morning Fasting Deckers his Apozem is yet better Take spring-Spring-water three Pound red Vetches hull'd Barley ana two Drams Liquorice bruised Juniper-berries bruised ana one Ounce Seeds of Daucus Violets white Poppies Nettles Mallows ana half an Ounce fat Figgs nine Sebestens seven boil to a Quart strain and dissolve therein Syrups of Corn Poppies of the five opening Roots of Diacnicu ana one Ounce and a half Spirit of Sal Armoniack one Dram mix them Dose six Ounces twice or thrice a Day dropping into it at taking 2 or three Drops of the Juniperated Balsam of Sulphur LXVIII The same Deckers commends this Mixture Take parsly-Parsly-water two Ounces Fennel and treacle-Treacle-water ana one Ounce Spirit of Vinegar half an Ounce Crabs-Eyes one Dram Oyl of Juniper-berries six Drops Spirit of Nitre one Scruple Laudanum Opiatum two Grains Syrup of the five Roots or rather Syrup of Corn Poppies one Ounce mix them If the same be great this Emulsion may be given Take Hull'd Barley boil'd 'till it cracks two Ounces sweet Almonds blancht Violet-seeds ana half an Ounce white Poppy-seeds one Ounce with a sufficient quantity of Barley-water make an Emulsion to twenty four Ounces of which add Diacodium Syrup of Corn Poppies ana one Ounce mix them He also commends to all the Spirit of Sal Armoniack given in Rhenish-wine or some Diuretick Spirit or Water as a Specifick Medicine not only to prevent but to cure the Stone if brittle or easie to be broken Universals being given before-hand LXIX Junken Medicus Pars 2. Sect. 1. Cap. 18. prescribes this Take Strawberries fresh gathered a Gallon Winter-cherries half a Pound Horse-Radish Roots scraped two Pound Daucus-seeds half a Pound Juice of Birch or Birch-wine twenty four Pound mix and distil in B. M. Dose frome one Ounce to three with Syrup de Althaea half an Ounce sweet Spirit of Nitre ten or twelve Drops Or thus Take ripe Strawberries four Pound Winter-cherries two Pound Malaga-wine two Pound Juniper-water of Parsly-roots ana two Pound Ground-Ivy white Saxifrage-roots ana one Ounce Peach-kernels two Ounces digest in a Vessel close stopt for a Month then distil Dose from a Spoonful to four in the Morning Fasting it is said both to preserve from and cure the Stone Again Take Crabs-Eyes Sperma Coeti ana half a Scruple Volatile Salt of Amber six Grains mix for a Dose and to be often repeated Or thus Take Wild Bryar Seeds half an Ounce Crabs Eyes pure Nitre ana one Ounce mix them Dose one Dram. Or thus Take Crabs Eyes one Scruple Volatile Salt of Amber six Grains Laudanum Opiatum one Grain or two mix them for a Dose Again Take Malaga-Wine one Quart Opium in pouder Salt
Amicum four Ounces Pulvis ad Ulcera two Ounces mix and apply it and let it be drest at first twice a Day afterwards once a day Salmon XIII For that which the Vulgar call an Ague in the Brest viz. an Inflammation First Purge with our Family Powder then apply a Cataplasm of baked Turnips for twenty four Hours after bathe it with our Powers of Amber and in four or five Days it will be well Salmon XIV Another for an Inflammation of the Breasts Universals being first premised as Purging with the Family Powder c. Apply outwardly our Balsamum Amicum or if you please anoint with Balsamum de Chili Morning and Evening Salmon CHAP. VIII Of Abortion or Misearriage I. Abortion more dangerous then a Timely Birth IT is not only more dangerous but more painful by reason of the violent divulsion of the Immature Foetus whence it is that many Dye and such as escape it is not without dangerous Symptomes vehement Pains Fevers c. It is not unlike to unripe Fruit which is difficully pulled off the Tree whereas was it full ripe it would drop of its own accord whether it was ripe or no which is the true cause of a mature or timely Birth The danger is the more if the Foetus be in the sixth seventh or eighth Month and the Woman be of a weakly Constitution for that healthy Women never miscarry without eminent Danger II. Bleeding by the Womb not always a sign of Abortion This is evident for that some Women have their Terms all the time of their going with Child and I have known some that have had them from the third Month to the last after they had been stopt 3 Months without danger and therefore Midwifes ought to be very discreet in making Judgment For though a Woman with Child may void much Blood by the Womb yet it may be no Miscarriage but either be a natural Flux as it is to some Women or only foreshew a Danger which ought by proper Means to be prevented Therefore Midwifes ought diligently to examine the Matter excluded whether it be Blood or Flesh or Seed or Faetus which by washing it in Water will easily be discerned and Judgment may be made accordingly whether there be an Abortion or no. III. A History of a Woman that Miscarried A Woman gon with Child fourteen Weeks Miscarried First much Blood came away then the Membranes and Faetus Two days after the Woman fell into a high Feaver due means was used and sufficient Cleansers but the Placenta or After-burthen stuck so fast that it could by no means be removed all the while she voided a filthy Cadaverous stinking Matter and sometimes pieces of Flesh on the tenth Day she died IV. A Spirit to prevent Abortion Take Spirit of Wine one Gallon Balaustians Pomegranates Peels Oak-bark of each four Ounces Opium two Ounces mix dissolve the Opium digest all together for six or seven days then add to it a Gallon or five Quarts of fair Water Distil in an Alembick and draw off five Quarts of Liquor which Dulcifie with white Sugar and keep for use Dose four or five Spoonfulls two or three times a day Salmon V. Another for the same much stronger Take of the former distilled Spirit a Gallon Catechu Cortex Peruvianus both in Powder of each a Pound mix digest shaking it twice a day for ten or twelve days then keep it for use Dose from one Spoonfull to two or more Morning and Evening it will scarely ever fail Salmon VI. A Powder for the same Take Antimony Diaphoretick Pearl red Corral in fine Powder Levigated Powder of Crabs Eyes ana two Scruples Balaustians in Powder Nutmegs ana five Grains mix for a Dose to be given Morning and Evening Salmon VII Another Powder for the same Take Blood stone Mastick Olibanum ana fifteen Grains make all into a fine Powder for one Dose to be given Morning and Evening in a Glass of Tent. Salmon VIII An Emplaster for the same purpose Take Blood-stone in fine Powder half an Ounce Mastick Frankincense Olibanum of each an Ounce Sumach Balaustians in Powder ana two Drachms Galbanum two Ounces Pine Rosin Venice Turpentine enough to make a Cerecloth which apply to her Belly and continue the use of it 'till the seventh Month or time of Birth Let it be laid on the Belly and on the Loyns on each side the Back-bone being left bare and every ten or twelve Days it may be changed IX A most excellent mixture for the same Take of our Guttae Vitae one Ounce see it in our Phylaxa Lib. 1. Cap. 9. and our Tinctura ad Catarrhos four Ounces mix them Dose one Spoonfull every Night going to Bed in a Glass of Ale Tho' there be evident signs of Abortion yet this will prevent it I have proved it above a hundred times with success Salmon X. A Plaster from Riverius If the Child be not severed from the Cotyledous apply this Take Olibanum in Powder two Ounces the Whites of five Eggs stir them together over the Fire always keeping stirring that they may not run to a Lump adding also a little Turpentine that they may not stick too much Lay it upon Tow and apply it to the Navel as hot as it can be endured twice a day Morning and Evening for three or four days in the mean Season also let her wear an Eagle-stone or a Stone found in the Heart or Womb of a Hind under her Arm-pits XI A Cataplasm to comfort the Womb. Take Crumbs of Houshold Bread two Pound Camomil Flowers a handfull Mastick Olibanum of each half an Ounce in Powder Nutmegs Cloves in Powder of each an Ounce Rose-Vinegar two Ounces Tent or Malmsey-wine a sufficient quantity Boyl all over a gentle Fire to the consistence of a Pultice put it into a Bag or folded Cloth and apply it hot to the bottom of the Belly XII A Cataplasm to prevent Abortion Take of our Balsamum Amicum two Ounces of our New London Treacle one Ounce mix them and with Powder of Rue make it of a consistency apply it warm to the Belly Salmon XIII Prevention of Abortion A Woman who had miscarried four or five times and dispaired of ever having a live Child I Cured by the following Remedy Take Rheubarb four Ounces slice it thin Anniseeds Caraways bruised of each two Drachms put all into a large thin Rag with a stone in it and so tie it up which put in a Gallon of Ale in a Stone or Glass Bottle after it has stood three or four days drink of it This she drank of all the time of her going with Child and she went her whole time out chearfully and well I have prescribed the same to several other Women with the same Success Salmon XIV An Observation worth noting Consider whether there be a real Miscarriage or no viz. whether the Faetus be actually excluded or only fears of it If it be actually done you must abstain from Astringents and things
to the flux of the Humor to the sore or raw parts Elder Persons may take my Laudanum Volatile from three to six Grains beginning with the smaller Dose first They that cannot swallow a Pill may take ten or twelve Grains of my new London Treacle in any fit Vehicle These things thicken the fluid acid so that it cannot approach with that violence to the diseased parts IX But whereas Opiates strangely disagree with some People my Tinctura ad Catarrhos answers all the Intentions both of sweetening and stopping the flux of the said Humour and it may be given even to Children with a world of safety and security from half a Dram to one or two in any proper Liquor which the Child will take See it in my Phylaxa Medic. Lib. 2. Cap. 9. Sect. 2. c. X. If an Epilepsie or Convulsion be present or feared you may give with it from ten Grains to fifteen or twenty of Cinnabar of Antimony or from six Grains to twelve of the native Cinnabar levigated into a very subtil Pouder purging presently after with some of the things before named XI If the Child be taken with a vomiting withal it certainly shews the foulness and dissaffection of the Stomach and then you must cleanse it with the most innocent Gilla Theophrasti or the Salt of Vitriol given to fifteen or twenty Grains which has this Property in it not only to cleanse the Ventricle of the sharp and acid Humor causing the Thrush but also even to heal the places already raw And in those of ripe years it is a most admirable thing if given from two Scruples to a Dram in Broth or some such-like XII Sylvius de le Boe saith be prefers a metallick or mineral Sulphur fixt above all in comparison of which nothing saith he that I have hitherto tried does so kindly certainly speedily and safely restrain those vicious effervescencies But what those Sulphurs are or how in his sense to be prepared he has no-where told us I am well satisfied that the Sulphur of Antimony if well made is a most admirable thing But then it must be given to Men and not to Infants Truly I cannot tell whether it may safely be given to Children in any Dose whatsoever or no especially as it is now made There is a Sulphur of Antimony that I know which may be so prepared as it may be given to little ones without danger but that is no where to be sold that I can tell of XIII Among the rest of the ordinary Remedies Lac Sulphuris is no mean thing and it may be given to Infants as well as to elder Persons with a very great advantage XIV Topicks must be also used to the mouth throat and afflicted parts among which elder Persons may use this Take white Vitriol Roch Alum one Scruple Plantane or Spring-water four Ounces mix dissolve and sweeten with Sugar for a Gargarism But Children to whom it cannot so easily be used must have the juice of baked Turneps to wash withal or swallow down or the juice of Parsneps baked with Milk These things are Balsams in their kind and besides their healing Property have a faculty of sweetning and taking off the edge of the acid XV. Moreover you may if you please sweeten these Juices with Honey or Syrup of Roses both which still contribute to the healing of the sore and raw mouth And if the Child has discretion enough it ought to hold the same in its mouth for some time And to these things you may add Syrups of Violets Jujubes Liquorice Lettuce juice of Purslane c for that they all blunt as it were the edge of the sharp Humor and withal contribute to healing XVI But that which is more observable and remarkable but only for Persons of ripe years is the use of Spirit of Wine or pure Brandy for that only held in the mouth and sometimes Gargled with for two or three minutes at a time and that four or five times a day and then spit out certainly heals and cures the afflicted parts to a miracle And though it may smart much at first it is vehement but for a while viz. for the first two or three times using of it afterwards it is easier and at length the parts are as it were pleased and refreshed with the use thereof and in the end it perfectly heals them And this it does not do only from its balsamick Property but also as it is an Alcaly and absorbs the acid in the Ulcer XVII Sylvius commends the Yolk of an Egg mixt with a little Rose-water and Sugar for that it draws to it the acid Humour that hurts the Stomach and so by degrees 〈◊〉 the parts affected and promotes the falling of the Thrush you may use it as the Turnep and Parsnep-Juice Concerning both which Juices you are to note this That they correct the evil Ferment both in Stomach and small Guts whereby the acid effervescency is hindred and the Disease the sooner cured XVIII While the Thrush is ripening to wit gradually falling from the afflicted parts a new Cuticle grows under it and covers the place and although this follows of its own accord by the Benefit of the Medicines now commended yet it will be promoted by Syrup of Red Roses Honey of Roses and the like Also Powder of fine Bole Terra Sigillata Crabs Eyes c. mixt with fair Water and Sugar or Honey and held for some time in the mouth promote the healing XIX This is also observable That as in the curing of other Ulcers Driers are used so on the contrary much spitting is good here as if the Patient was in a Flux for then it is cured with the more speed and ease In other Ulcers things that temper the acid Acrimony and then dry are used In this you must use such things as may temper the said Acid but withal moisten XX. AEtius commends Galls beaten and boiled in Water the strained Decoction made into a thick Syrup with Honey being rubbed upon the place it is good Others commend a Decoction of Cinquefoil Roots You may also if you please use the Leaves too A Decoction of Savory in Wine is said to do it in two or three days If it be malignant Hercules Saxonia used Lixivium of Tartar or vitriol-Vitriol-Water by which he conquered them Joel first washes the part well then lays on this Take Honey of Roses half an Ounce Oil of Vitriol one Dram mix and make a Liniment This he says is a present Remedy whether in old or young XXI Goclenius advises for a Thrush in children this Take Roch Alum Sugar ana half an Ounce boil in Plantane water add Juice of Mulberries a sufficient quantity mix and wash the mouth often with it But Riverius saith that the best and only Remedy is Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur if there be no Inflammation which in those that are grown may be used alone Dip a little Cotton bound to the end of a stick in it and give
Death's door with the Stone If you cannot get the true Balsam Zacutus advises to use instead thereof Stacte which is the precious droppings of Myrrh and comes out of the East-Indies also from Peru which saith he works rare effects In the same Observation he saith That he had many times driven out great Stones that were firmly fixed in the cavities of the Kidnies by the Water distilled out of Green Tobacco which he gave the Patient to drink XXV Platerus in Lib. 2. of his Observations tells us He cured one of the Stone with this Julep Take Pellitory-water one Ounce Fennel water Bean-flower-water Julep of Roses ana half an Ounce mix them giving the Patient to drink after a decoction of Pease Bean-shales Parsly Roots and Restharrow-Roots Another he cured by giving 1. A Clyster 2. A Narcotick 3. Pellitory and Turpentine-water ana half an Ounce by which the Stone got into the Bladder and then into the Yard and there stopt he sate in a Bath and a little after pissed it forth And by the taking of this following Pouder twice a Week a Spoonful at a time a Patient of his voided many Stones and the continued use of it prevented the pain Take Liquorice in Pouder half an Ounce dried Peach-kernels one Ounce Anise and Fennel-seeds ana two Ounces Winter-Cherries one Dram Gromwel-seeds half a Dram Crabs-Eyes two Drams Sugar-Candy one Ounce and a half make a fine Pouder He drank after it a decoction of Pease Parsley and Bean-shales with Butter and a little Salt And in Lib. 3. of his said Observations he commends this Take Turpentine two Ounces Honey one Ounce Yolk of one Egg grind them in a Mortar together 'till they are white then add White Wine pellitory-Pellitory-water bean-flower-Bean-flower-water ana one Ounce and a half Syrup of Limons or Juice of Citrons one Ounce mix them Dose one Ounce and a half The Sick took also these Pills Take Cyprus Turpentine half an ounce Sugar-candy two Drams with Syrup of Limons make Pills Dose one Dram at a time drinking after a decoction of red Pease but while his pain was great he gave him an Opiate and sometimes a cleansing Clyster of Whey Yolks of Eggs Turpentine and Honey Platerus gave this to a Patient thrice which had his Urine stopt Take Turpentine five Drams Yolks of Eggs two Honey one Ounce Wine four Ounces By the use whereof he avoided so many Rags that he wrote to him That a torn Shirt came out of his Bladder Thus was he cured and lived many Years after sound and with the same kind of Potion he cured a French Minister who voided the Stone with the first Dose XXVI I cured a Man after he had been twelve Years troubled with the Stone and Gravel with this mixture Take Venice or Strasburgh Turpentine four Ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds six Ounces Honey two Drams melt and mix them well together it opened the Passages made him presently piss freely and brought away a great quantity of Sand and small Stones He took it Morning and Evening half an Ounce or better at a time for three Months drinking after it Arsmart-water and was perfectly cured so that for many Years after he had not the least Pain or Symptom Another I cured with this Take Strasburgh Turpentine eight Ounces Yolks of four Eggs grind them together in a Mortar 'till they are white then add Oyl of sweet Almonds four Ounces and mix them well by grinding Dose an Ounce Morning and Evening drinking a Glass of Mead after This he continued for eight or ten Weeks it continually brought away Sand and large Gravel and he was perfectly cured Salmon XXVII Bartholinus tells us That he found no ease by any Diuretick except Bean-shale-water which brought away Gravel so that saith he more may be attributed to it in bringing away the Stone than to Millepedes And saith he Egg-shells are given with singular success after the Chickens are Hatched either to break or expel the Stone this Lithontriptick being reckoned among Secrets of this kind For this purpose Ludovicus Mercatus commends the Flower and Seed of Star-Thistle as a thing highly in request for purging and cleansing the Reins and Bladder daily experience saith he still confirming it giving two Ounces of the distilled Water in the Morning Fasting but an Essence of the whole Plant as we have taught in Chap. 5. Sect. 35 and 37 aforegoing is much better XXVIII Augenius in his Medicinal Epistles Lib. 12. Ep. 1 and 2 saith He has cured near six hundred of the Stone by this following Syrup giving three Ounces at a time with six Ounces of the decoction of Eringo for fifteen days together five hours before Dinner Universals being premised Take Saxifrage Knee-holly Eringo Lovage Restharrow Anise Fennel Parsly Grass ana half an Ounce Horse-Radish Roots two Ounces Leaves of Betony Burnet Marsh-Mallows Nettles Penny-royal Rocket Calamint Knot-grass Pellitory of the Wall ana M. qu. Winter-Cherries twenty Sebestens fifteen Seeds of Basil Burdock Parsly Seseli Millet ana three Ounces Bark of the Bay-Tree Root Liquorice ana three Drams Water five Quarts boyl 'till three Quarts only remain strain and with Honey two Pound Sugar four Pound make a Syrup and aromatize it with Cinnamon one Ounce Nutmegs half an Ounce Probably it may do good there is no Argument against Experience yet it looks like a hotch-potch of all together XXIX Crato in Consiliis saith That he prefers Eringo Roots candied or steeped in White-wine and Syrup of the Juice of Speedwel before all though saith he I am not Ignorant that the Roots of Brier and Restharrow do much good when the Stone is manifest And for the pain in the Kidneys caused by the Stone there is nothing saith he better than a Decoction of Speedwel or the Inspissate Juice thereof But an Essence of the Plant crude as we have directed in Chap. 5. Sect. 35 and 37 much transcends them both XXX Fresh Oyl of Hasle-nuts by expression given to three Ounces at a time every day for some time is commended as an excellent thing and a certain Physician attests That by the daily use thereof he has seen several Stones voided The same probably may be done with expressed Oyl of sweet Almonds as also with the expressed Oyl of Wall-nuts but more with the expressed Oyl of Orange Limon or Citron Kernels Outwardly also to anoint with this following Oyl it is of good use Take Oyl of Scorpions four Ounces Oyl of bitter Almonds one Ounce Palm Oyl six Drams Oyl of Juniper-berries half an Ounce mix them and anoint the region of the Loyns therewith Morning and Evening XXXI With this following Remedy I have done almost Miracles in expelling Sand Gravel and Stones out of both Reins and Bladder Take Balsamum Copaybae or as we call it Capivi four Ounces Yolks of Eggs four Oyl of sweet Almonds Honey ana three Ounces Oyl of Juniper berries one Dram Grind all together in a Glass Mortar 'till they are perfectly mixed and
keep the Mixture for use Dose from six Drams to an Ounce every Night going to Bed drinking after it three Ounces of the Essence of Speedwel in a Glass of Rhenish-wine and Sugar Salmon XXXII Beverovicius de Calculo Cap. 12. saith That when the ways are loosned I suppose he means with Oily and Mucilaginous things nothing is more effectual to remove the Stone than one Dram of Sal Prunellae to be given in Rhenish-wine warm by which Medicine alone saith he I have often brought away the Stone of the Bladder from Children Crabs-Eyes are of tenuious Parts and Diuretick they break the Stone and force it away by Urine especially the Liquor of them which prepared after this manner is best Take Crabs-Eyes finely poudred two Ounces Acetum Terebinthinatum four Ounces stop and digest for a Night in hot Ashes the next Day decant what is clear and pour on as much more repeating this work so often 'till all the Pouder is dissolved These Liquors filterate and evaporate to dryness and the Salt will remain at bottom which dissolve in a Cellar into Liquor per deliquium Dose gut ten or twelve in Horse Radish Water or some such like This Liquor is much more efficacious than the Crabs-Eyes in substance XXXIII Quercetan his Nephritick-water is of great account and it is thus made Take Juice of Horse-Radish of Limons ana one Pound and a half Waters of Betony Saxifrage Wild Tansey Vervain ana one Pound Hydromel Malmsey ana two Pound Juniper-berries three Ounces Seeds of Millet great Burdock Nettles Onions Anise Fennel ana one Ounoe and a half of the four greater cold Seeds Marsh-mallows ana six Drams burnt Egg-shells Cinnamon ana three Drams Cloves two Drams digest all four or five days in a gentle Balneo then strain out and distill in Ashes He says this Water does wonders in the Stone and against suppression of Urine Dose from two Drams to an Ounce He adds a Dram of two sorts of Lithontriptick Species to the Composition but the smalness of the proportion to the former large quantity signifies but little I am of Opinion the Juice of Limons alone depurated without that specious preparation or given in Malmsey-wine as Guarinonius advises may be as good it is found by experience effectually to purge and cleanse the Reins and to give help to many and that without any harm to the Stomach especially if sheathed with Honey or Sugar XXXIV Brannerus de Calculo commends the following Syrup as an excellent Remedy leaving no calculous Matter behind in the Kidnies if after Purging two Spoonfuls of it be taken at a time in the Morning Fasting Take Juice of Speedwell one Pound Juice of Ground Ivy six Ounces of Purslane three Ounces mix and make a Syrup with Honey one Pound and a half Both Helmont and Faber commend the Liquor of the Birch-Tree which we call Birch-wine as a Remedy that does not only expel the Stone and Gravel but also prevents the Bleeding thereof XXXV Riverius saith The Ashes of Egg-shells given from half a Dram to one Dram in White-wine powerfully expels the Stone lodged in the passages of the Urine So also the Salt of Bean-Cods and Stalks of which half a Dram in White-wine operates after a wonderful manner Also Tartar Vitriolate given in the same Dose Spirit of Salt is also praised some drops of it being taken in the Morning Fasting in Broth or some other Liquor as Wine Decoction of Eringo c. He commends this Potion not a little Take Strawberry and Saxifrage-waters ana two Ounces White wine six Ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds two Ounces Spirit of Vitriol one Dram mix for three Doses to be given six Hours one after another Take Sal Prunellae Crystals of Tartar Pouder of Ivy-berries and Leaves of Cresses ana partes equales with some proper Syrup make Pills of which take one Dram every Morning Fasting XXXVI AEtius Sextus Platonicus and Guarinonius do all of them commend a Hare baked in an Oven 'till it is dry then poudred but Poterius saith the Ashes of a Hare given from one to two Drams in Wine is profitable to expel the Stone some say to dissolve it as also to prevent its breeding for the future made into Pills with Turpentine it is indeed of good use The Pouder of Deers-blood given to one Dram is commended to expel the Stone as Hoferus affirms Motherwort and the Roots of Vervain in Pouder or the Essence of those Plants prepared as we have taught in Chap. 5. Sect. 35 and 37. and drank with White-wine or Mead a little warmed are incredible Remedies in removing all things that hinder the passage of the Urine as Hofman and Marquardus say XXXVII For Medicines given Clyster-wise Fontanus commends the Decoction of Millet given to half a Pint but without doubt it may be much more effectual if half an Ounce of Turpentine be added to it being first ground with the Yolk of an Egg to open its body XXXVIII Zecchius in his Consultations commends yea says nothing is better to bring away the Stone in the Kidnies than warm Water or Veal or Mutton or Chicken-broth five or six Ounces being drunk pretty warm Morning and Evening before Eating And the great heat of the Reins will be taken away which is the essicient cause of the pains of the Stone returning if boyled Water to the quantity of seven or eight Ounces be drank before Meals twice a day for nothing renders the Kidnies so free from Recrements and so temperate and their fiery heat is at length extinguished with the warm Water so that they can never after breed the Stone If to what our Author here says you add to each Draught half a Dram of Salt of Tartar or pure Nitre it will in my Opinion be much more effectual because those Salts do in some measure direct the Water to the parts afficted If also it be sweetned with Honey the Medicament will be still the better for that it will less disaffect the Stomach which in some People it will be apt to do Salmon XXXIX Saxonia in prescribing some familiar Purge for such as are troubled with the Stone mightily discommends the use of Cassia whether for Prevention or Revulsion Petrus Pigray Lib. 7. Cap. 4. says That Cassia agrees very ill with those that are troubled with the Stone Others say that Cassia has increased the Disease and that the heat of Urine always followed the taking of it Fabritius Hildanus tells us That two Ounces of Cassia being given one in a continual Fever it raised such a Flux of Urine that for three days together he made his Urine so hot every time that he thought a red hot Wire had been drawn through his Yard XL To all this we answer 1 That very famous Physicians no ways inferior to the former have constantly used Cassia with very good success Platerus scarcely gave any thing in the Stone without it and often gave it mixt with Manna And the learned
Medicines that break and expel the Stone they ought not to be used once or twice only but oftner 'till the obstruoted Passages be opened And while they are given the Reins and Bladder ought to be helped with Baths Fomentations Unctions c. that they may operate the better Liquors also that are of thin Parts such as White and Rhenish-Wines must be given now and then with internal Emollients and Laxatives and Things slippery to make the Passages easie and open and qualifie the Acrimony of other Medicines XLVII To a nephritick Person vomiting Blood Maebius durst not prescribe Things to force the Stone lest when the Vessels are unstopt they should open wider and by farther vomiting of Blood Life should be endangered He gave therefore 〈◊〉 Hartshorn for several days in fresh Broth and fomented the Part with Camomil-flowers c. so his vomiting ceased and the Stone fell into the Bladder and afterstuck in the neck of his Bladder Then he gave his Anodyn-salt in Decoction of Mallows fomented his Privities with mucilaginous Things and anointed the Part with Oil of white Line-Tree within six hours he voided a Stone as big as a Bean and was restored to perfect Health XLVIII Spirit of Turpentine is a good Thing against the Stone but before it be used Lenitive Purgers should precede at least before it be continually and daily used It is a great Medicine and has a dispersing Power penetrating deep purifying the Bowels and healing them dissolving coagulated or hardned Tartar and expelling it by Urine Yet in the use of Turpentine it self in substance purging before-hand is not needful because it has in it self a cathartick Virtue especially if mixt with Rheubarb in Pouder as Crato in Scholtzius Cons. 152. advises It helps by its temperate heat whereby it befriends the Parts destin'd to Concoction for which Reason it is good for those that are troubled with the Stone You may see in Amatus Lusitanus Cent. 1. Obser 63. the History of a Monk who every Morning for several Months swallowed a piece of Turpenttne as big as a Nut and so was cured both of Stone and Gout when all other Medicines would do no good XLIX When the Stone is voided though all danger is over yet you ought for two or three days following to use Abstersives and Cleansers and Healers that the Reins may be perfectly cleansed and healed for which purpose nothing can be better than a Bolus of Turpentine made after this manner Take Turpentine one Dram and half Rheubarb Nutmegs Liquorice all in Pouder ana half a Dram mix and make a Bolus After which an Emulsion of sweet Almonds in Barley-water or Broth or Decoction of Pease may be profitably drank L. How great a Medicine Turpentine is is not easie to be declared it being a volatile Alcaly mixt with a small quantity of a volatile Acid but the Alcaly very much over-powering It purifies and sweetens the whole mass of Blood and Humors after a most wonderful and admirable manner and after such a way as 't is possible no other Medicine except of the Family of Turpentine as all natural Balsams are upon Earth can do besides For it momentarily enters into the whose Mass of Blood purifies it sweetens it and dissolves all its Coagulums entring into its Substance with its whole and entire Body where by its resolutive Power it does that which neither Spirit of Wine can do by its subtilty nor Spirit of Nitre Vitriol or Sulphur can do by their Acidity nor other volatile Salts can do by their penetrability being indeed and intruth one of the most absolute Antissorbuticks Antiphthisictiks Antispasmadicks Antiarthriticks Antepilepticks and Antinephriticks yet to this day discovered to the World LI. So that if a Physician knows rightly how to prepare and use that alone Medicine he knows a Thing which will do more than a whole Apothecary's shop beside it It is a Medicament which is a natural piece of Chymistry being only a dissolution of sand rocks or gravelly Bodies by the mighty Power of the plastick Spirit of the Plant which destroys the antecedent petrifactive Spirit of the Matter of which it was made viz. Sand Gravel Stones Rocks c. and by a living Alembeck to wit the Body of the Tree and all its Limbs is digested raised exalted and subtilized purified and made volatile and lastly impregnated with a mighty Spirit in direct antipathy and opposition and vastly superiour to the petrifactive Spirit as being not only able to do but also undo that which the said petrifactive Power can never do or accomplish again LII Nature has done so much already towards the perfection of this Medicine that little remains to be done by Art yet something it wants to be fitted effectually for so universal an use as it is design'd for and without which it will not perfectly answer the desired End of which we may in some other place discourse more at large This we could not even for Piety sake avoid the speaking of here considering that some thousands of times in about twenty six or twenty seven years Practise we have made use of it with admirable success LIII If in the Stone in the Reins the Sick pisses much Blood and often the case is hazardous because two opposite Intentions occur and it is a difficult thing to find a Remedy in Art to perform opposite Intentions or Operations viz. to open and stop dissolve and bind break and consolidate at one and the same time In this case you must set aside all other Remedies and have recourse to vitriolick Bath-waters or Waters running from Iron Mines for that their Virtue is most excellent there being no safer or better Remedy to be thought of for such Waters expel violently and efficaciously and are therefore Lithontriptick and yet as being impregnated with Vitriol they eminently stanch Blood strengthen all the Viscera and cool the Liver Spleen and Reins LIV. But because every one has not the liberty or conveniency of going to the Wells at Tunbridge or other Springs coming off of Iron or vitriolick Mines we shall here shew a Way of making those Waters artificially to perform the same Intention which is thus done 1. Take fair Spring-water six Quarts Salt Vitriol or Crystals of Mars one Dram mix dissolve and filter through brown Paper so have you a Water in Virtue and Effects like that which runs off from the natural Iron-Mines 2. Or thus Take Spring-water a Gallon Sal Armoniack one Dram Scales of Iron one Ounce mix and digest for some days in a gentle Sand-heat 'till the Water begins to colour then filter and keep it for use 3. Or thus Take spring-Spring-water a Gallon Spirit of Wine four Ounces Spirit of Vitriol two Drams or better mix them for use These artificial Waters may be taken from a Pint to two Quarts or more but by degrees and a little warm or made into Posset-drink using moderate exercise and fasting 'till the Water is out of the Body They purge
joined with a volatile Alcalie and such are the Spirit of Wine and Essence of the Blood Dose from ten to twenty or thirty or forty Drops in any convenient Liquor It opens all manner of Obstructions in any part of the Body provokes Urine powerfully and is an admirable good thing against the Disury and Ischury viz. where the Water comes scalding and by drops or where it is totally supprest IX I have found much good in this following for bringing away Sand Gravel or any mucous Matter obstructing the Urine Take Strasburg Turpentine two Ounces Oleum Petroleum one Ounce Oleum Anisii Baccarum Juniperi ana half an Ounce Millepedes prepared Earth-worms prepared pure Salt of Tartar volatile Sal-Armoniack ana three Drams mix them Dose from six Drops to twelve or more in a Glass of Ale Wine or Mead. Sometimes I prepared it thus Take Strasburg Turpentine two Ounces Oleum Petroleum one Ounce Oil of Limons Caraways sweet Fen nel-seed ana half an Ounce Crabs Eyes Goats Blood prepared volatile Sal-Armoniack volatile Salt of Amber ana three Drams strong Tincture of Thebian Opium made with the best rectified Spirit of Wine an ounce and half mix them Dose from ten Drops to twenty thirty or more according to age and strength in any proper Vehicle X. This is a thing I have often experienced with good success Take of our Spiritus Universalis two Pound brui sed Onions eight Ounces Parsley bruised four Ounces digest twenty four hours strain out by pressing then pass it through a Filter Dose from half a spoonful to a spoonful or more in a Glass of Ale Mead Wine or Parsley or Arsmart-water Or thus Take common Spirit of Wine a Quart bruised Onions Aniseeds Parsley roots ana six Ounces mix digest three days strain filter and keep it for Use Dose three or four spoonsuls in any fit Vehicle XI Laurenbergius Riverius and others mightily commend this as a thing almost infallible Take pure Salt of Tartar one Ounce parsley-Parsley-water a Quart mix dissolve and filter it two or three times through brown Paper that it may become clear then put into it the fresh outward Rind of Orange peels so much as to colour it of a Citron-colour viz. about two Ounces after three days decant the clear and keep it for Use The Dose is a spoonfull or more in half a Pint of White or Rhenish-Wine or Wine in which Mustard-seed or Horse-Radish-root has been infused XII This is commended by some for to expel the Stone in the Bladder Take Millepedes prepared Bedugar or Sponge of the Briar bush seeds of purple Violets ana one Ounce Species Lithontripticae two Drams mix them make a Pouder Dose two Drams in ten Ounces of a Diuretick Decoction mixt with two Drams of Spirit of Juniper It was given at five in the Morning for some time and a little after a great quantity of reddish Urine came away with flakes like Scales of Fishes which was the Coat or Crust loosned from a larger Stone and by the continual use thereof the Sick was freed from his Disease XIII This has been approved of Take a Hare with young calcine it to Ashes these Ashes mix with an equal quantity of Sugar Dose two Drams in any convenient Vehicle as Syrupus Nephriticus mixt with a Glass of White or Rhenish-Wine But Arnoldus de Villa nova took a Hare and fill'd the Bolly with the skin Saxafrage Millet Lapis Lyncis Lapis Judaicus Lapis Spongiae Cinkfoil and golden Rod and then calcin'd it of which he gave a spoonful in a Glass of Wine every day it broke says he and forced away the Stone in the Reins and Bladder XIV I have often given this following Medicine with incredible success Take Strasburg Turpentine two Ounces Hercules noster half an Ounce Bezoar Minerale Crabs Eyes Millepedes prepared ana q. s. mix and make Pills Dose two Drams twice a day drinking after it the following mixture Take Rbenish-Wine eight Ounces Syrupus Nephriticus an Ounce Potestates Litbontripticae fifteen Drops mix for a Draught This I have also proved with good Success Take Balsam of Peru half a Dram Oils of Nard and Mastich ana ten Drops Oil of Juniper six Drops Lapis Judaicus prepared Crabs Eyes fifteen Grains mix and give it in White or Rhenish-Wine or a Decoction of Millet XV. If by these or some of the Medicines mentioned in the former Chapter the Sick receives no benefit you must come to manual operation how that is to be performed whether by the Apparatus minor or major we have taught in our Synopsis Medicinae Lib. 3. Cap. 16. Sect. 7. 8. to which we shall refer you But there is another way of taking out the Stone which is thus The Artist puts his Finger up the Anus and moves the Stone to the fore-part of the Belly and then by a hole cut in the Musculus Rectus according to the Duct of the Fibres above the Os Pubis he takes out the Stone by the help of the Lapidillium or a pair of Forceps The Operation being performed this way a dripping of the Urine need never be feared and besides a larger space is allowed to take out the Stone in However this Operations is not without its danger besides the trouble for if the Lips of the Wound made in the Bladder be not united to the Muscles of the Abdomen an Exulceration of the Bladder follows which both makes much pain and creates an Ulcer more incurable than the Stone it self Roussetus commends cutting in the Groin especially for Children and is approved by Hildanus in larger Stones which cannot be brought to the Perinaeum it being there taken out with less pain and danger of an Hemorrhage The healing of the Bladder is not extraordinary because it has fleshy Fibres by the help whereof and the innate heat the Wound is the more easily cured XVI Some inject by a Catheter into the Bladder thinking thereby to break the Stone for that the Medicines are not altered in their passage nor lose any thing of their Virtue as those do which are given by the mouth but reach the Stone immediately I have injected Opiates with good success for giving ease If the Liquors be sharp they ought to be such that breaking the Stone they may not hurt the Bladder as Waters made of the Ashes of Scorpions Parsley-roots Kneeholm Crabs Eyes Pellitory of the Wall Pigeons dung c. Baverius injects Petroleum in which Lapis Lyncis has been boiled and strained forth embrocating at the same time with a Decoction of Mallows He says it wonderfully breaks the Stone in the Bladder Or you may inject with this Take a small Lixivium of Pot-Ashes one Pound crude Opium two Drams mix digest twenty four hours then strain out the Liquor for use CHAP. XXI Precipiolum The Universal Medicine of PARACELSUS WHat we have aenigmatically delivered in our Doron Medicum Lib. 1. Cap. 27. concerning the universal Medicine of Paracelsus by reason of
Sons of Learning wonder not for we have not concealed it from you but have delivered it in such Language as that it may be hid from evil Men and that the unjust and Vile might not know it But ye Sons of Doctrine search and you shall find this most excellent gift of God which he has reserved for you Ye Sons of folly impiety and prophaneness avoid you the seeking after this Knowledge it will be Enimical and destructive to you and precipitate you into the State of Contempt and Misery This gift of God is absolutely by the Judgment of the Divine providence hid from you and denyed you for ever XIV A solar Medicine of the third Order It is made of Sol dissolved and prepared after the manner of Luna in Chap. 46. Sect. 11. aforegoing to which you must add of Sulphur dissolved 3 parts of Arsenick one part as afterwards is shewed through all things doing as in the place now cited is directed and it will be a Medicine tinging every Body and Mercury it self into true Sol or better according to the way now shewed Read and peruse what we shall direct and thereby you will be able to tinge to Infinity if you have understanding and erre not by the ambiguous sayings of the Philosophers XV. The Ferment of Sol for the Red. The Ferment of Sol is made of Gold dissolved into its own Water Aqua Regis and decocted and prepared by the directions in Chap. 46. Sect. 16. aforegoing So will you have the Ferment of Sol for the Red which keep for use XVI The Ferment of Ferments upon Mercury for the Red. Dissolve Sol in its own water which we shall hereafter teach i. e. Aqua Regis to this Gold dissolved 1 ounce add Sulphur 2 ounces dissolved in the same Water together with it Mercury 3 ounces also disolved Let all these be truly dissolved into most clear Water which being mixt decoct for one day that they may be Fermented then draw off the Water 15 times each time cohobating Incerate with Yellow Virgins Wax that is with half its Weight of Oyl of Blood or Oyl of Eggs then project upon crude Mercury as you see requisite Here note that if you perfect this Medicine as we teach in our third Order in Chap. 47. Sect. 21.22 c. following of the Congelative Medicine of Mercury you will find by Reiteration of the Work and by Subtilization thereof that one part will tinge infinite parts of Mercury into most fine and high Gold more Noble than any natural Gold whatsoever CHAP. XLVIII Of the Alchymie of Mercury I. ARgent Vive which is also called Mercury is a Viscous Water in the Bowels of the Earth by most temperate heat United in a total Union through its least parts with the substance of White subtil Earth until the humid be contemperated with the Dry and the Dry with the humid equally There fore it easily runs upon a plain Superfices by reason of its watery humidity but it adhers not although it has a Viscous humidity by reason of the dryness of that which Contemperatesit and permits it not to adhere II. This is also as some say the matter of Metals with Sulphur and easily adheres to three Minerals viz. Saturn Jupiter and Sol but to Luna more difficulty and to Venus more difficulty than to Luna but to Mars in no wise but by Artifice Hence you may collect a very great Secret For it is amicable and pleasing to the Metals and the Medium of conjoyning Tinctures and nothing is submerged in Argent Vive unless it is Sol. Yet Jupiter and Saturn Luna and Venus are dissolved by it and mixed and without it can none of the Metals be gilded It is fixed and the Tincture of Redness of most exuberant perfection and fulgid splendor and receeds not from the Commixtion till it is in its own nature But it is not our Medicine in its Nature but it may sometimes help in the Case III. Of the Sublimation of Argent Vive This Work is compleated with its Terrestreity is highly purified and its Aquosity wholy removed We remove it not by adustion because it has none so the Art of separating its superfluous Earth is to mix it with things where with it has not Affinity and often to reiterate the Sublimation from them Of this kind is Talck and the Calx of Egg-shells and Calx of white Marble as also Glass in most subtil Pouder and every kind of Salt prepared for by these it is cleansed but by other things having affinity with it unless they be bodies of perfection it is rather Corrupted because all such things have a Sulphureity which ascending with it in Sublimation corrupt it And this you may find to be true by Experience because when you sublime it from Tin or Lead you find it after Sublimation infected with blackness Therefore its Sublimation is better made by those things which agree not with it but it would be better by things with which it does agree if they had not Sulphureity Wherefore this Sublimation is better from Calx than from all other things because that agrees little with it and has not Sulphureity IV. But the way of removing its superfluous aquosity is that when it is mixed with Calces from which it is to be sublimed it be well Ground and commixt with them by Imbibition untill nothing of it appear and afterwards the Wateriness of Imbibition removed by a most gentle heat of Fire which receeding the Aquosity of Argent Vive receeds with it yet the Fire must be so very Gentle as that by it the whole substance of Argent Vive ascend not V. Therefore from the manifold reiteration of Imbibition with Contrition and gentle Assation it s greater Aquosity is abolished the residue of which is removed by repeating the Sublimation often And when you see it is most white excelling Snow in its whiteness and to adhere as it were dead to the sides of the Vessell then again reiterate its Sub limation without the feces because part of it adheres fixed with the Feces and can never by any Art or Ingenuity be separated from them Or afterwards fix part of it as we shall teach you and when you have fixed it then reiterate Sublimation of the part remaining that it may likewise be fixed VI. Being fixed reserve it but first prove it upon Fire if it flow well then you have administred sufficient Sublimation but if not add to it some small part of Argent Vive sublim'd and reiterate the Sublima tion till your end be accom plished for if it has a Lucid and most white Color and be porous then you have well sublimed it otherwise not therefore in the preparation of it made by Sublimation be not negligent because such as its cleansing shall be such will be its Perfection in projecting of it upon any of the imperfect Bodies and upon its own Body unprepared VII Yet here note that some have by it formed Iron
Linnen Cloths often doubled over the place it closes up the extremities of the Vessels and powerfully stops the Bleeding Salmon IX Where the Bleeding is extream and dangerous Dissolve Salt of Vitriol in fair Water and wash the place with it then apply Cloths doubled wet in the Solution or this Powder Take fine Bole Sanguis Draconis Powder of Galls Salt of Vitriol ana make each into a Powder and mix them Salmon X. Another thing for the same purpose I have often stopt Bleeding in most parts of the Body by the use and application of Aqua Styptica especially in Wounds made by a Cut 't is not so useful in a Hemorrhage at the Nose but 't will do the Feat if not Impetuous Salmon XI Another for the same A Tent made of the prest Fungus at Sect. 6. aforegoing and put up the Nostrils to the place that Bleeds will so admirably stop the Bleeding that it will seem as if it was done by Witch-craft or Inchantment Salmon XII A Remedy from Colcothar The Illustrious Prince of Orange was re-called from a Fatal Bleeding only by the use of Colcothar or burnt Vitriol He every Day bled a vast quantity of Blood at a Wound which he had received in his Jugular Veins and it could be stopt by no other Remedy but by a Tent wrapt up in a Digestive and good store of the Powder of Colcothar which was thrust into the Wound By this very means I cured a Youth that had a great Wound and Bleeding in the Calf of his Leg and I stopt the Bleeding in another which had a Bleeding in his Arm. Salmon XIII A Remedy made of Alum After cutting off of Limbs Borellus made little Tents of Alum and thrust them as far as he could up into the Orifice of the Vessels especially the greater and so finished the Business with the application of many Splenia and Astringent Powders And the Bleeding of a Vein in the Arm which could by no means be stopt he did it only by applying Alum XIV Galen's Topick against Bleeding Take Aloes Frankincense Hares Wooll ana all very finely powdred which mix with the white of an Egg with which fill the Wound and then bind it up Salmon XV. Bleeding stopt by Spirit of Vitriol In Scorbutick Bleeding Spirit of Vitriol mixt with any convenient aqueous Vebicle is of admirable use It has also been found excellent to stop a Hemorrhage in Hysterick Persons and such as have been troubled with Quartans and Dropsies and this it does by coagulating a Blood too Fluid and attenuating it when too thick Salmon XVI Bleeding at Nose stopt by touching I have oftentimes stopt a Bleeding at the Nose by pressing outwardly upon the Jugular Carotide Artery and this has done when many other Remedies have failed Salmon XVII A Medicine made of Sheeps Blood Take Sheeps Blood Ox Blood is as good but Man's Blood much better dryed and powdred an Ounce Crocus Martis red Colcothar of each half a Drachm mix them It is a Medicine that exceeds all Credit apply it or strew it upon Wounds If Powder of a dryed Toad 2 Drachms be added 't is much better Salmon XVIII To stop Bleeding caused by Leeches Take a 〈◊〉 slit it in two take away the Skin and lay it on a place where a Leech hath drawn that Bleedeth too much or cannot be easily stopt and it will stop the Bleeding CHAP. V. Fluxes Gripings Wind. I. Against Wind and Gripings in the Belly TAke of the Roots of Kneeholm Elecampane Anniseeds and Fennel-seeds half an Ounce of each make them all into Powder and mix them well together with half an Ounce of Sugar and take every Morning of it as much as will lye on a Shilling in Wine or Posset-Drink II. Against the Griping in the Guts Take Salt of Worm wood half a Drachm Andromachus Treacle 2 Drachms Volatile Laudanum 2 Grains make it into a Bolus to be taken first in the Morning or rather last at Night Salmon III. A vehement Diarrhaea or Flux stopt Riverius saith A Robust and Cholerick Man was taken in the midst of Summer with a Cholerick Diarrhaea very violent with extream Thirst I saith he prescribed him Sal Prunellae in his ordinary drink as also in Juleps of Lettice and Purslane Water to be taken thrice a day and he recovered in 24 Hours Almost in Imitation of this I prescribed Sal Prunellae half a Drachm at a time four times a day in spring-Spring-water well sweetned with double refined Sugar to one that had a Vomiting and vehement Flux and although the Flux had continued 14 Days and the Patient had sometimes twenty or thirty Stools a day yet in the first day 24 Hours the Flux was stopt and after the second Dose the Vomiting and in about four Days time the Patient was well his Weakness only excepted Salmon IV. Another Remedy for a Flux Take Madera or Sherry-wine half a Pint Sal Prunellae half a Drachm mix dissolve and give it three or four times a Day This will do though in a vehement burning Feaver Salmon V. A Flux with sharp matter Take forty or fifty Drops of our Spiritus Anodynus two or three times a day in a Glass of Wine or Burnt Brandy and it will do the Cure in four or five Days See how it is made in my Phylaxa Medicinae Lib. 1. Cap. 13. Sect. 1. Salmon VI. A vehement Flux with Vomiting If the Stomach be so weak that things cannot be easily administred by the Mouth then you must use Clysters Take Posset-drink or Mutton Broth or Decoction of Sage a Pint Spirit of Wine four Ounces Spiritus Anodynus two or three Drachms or half an Ounce mix and let it be exhibited once twice or thrice a day as need requires Salmon VII Another for the same Take Canary four Ounces of our Gutte Vitae four ty fifty or sixty Drops as the Sick is in Age and Strength mix and give it every Night going to Bed And if the Flux be vehement give also this Clyster Take Decoction of Rosemary or Sage a Pint common Spirit of Wine four five or six Ounces mix them and exhibit it warm Salmon VIII Fluxes Cured with our Volatile Laudanum in our Phylaxa Medicinae Lib. I. Cap. 50. Sect. I. Take our Volatile Laudanum every Night going to Bed beginning first with a Grain or two and so increasing the Dose gradually to five six seven or eight Grains and in a few Days it will do the Cure After three or four times taking of this Medicine 't will be good to Purge with our Family Pills such as you have from me not those of Holliers making for they are not made as I make them nor does he know how to prepare the Aloes and some other particulars of them as they ought to be prepared I advise to Purge not first because of weakness but after four or five Doses of the Laudanum because by that means the Sick will gather some Strength to endure the Purging withal and this Purging
be praised But if the Patient be Young or Weak you must proportionably lessen the Dose You may give it in the Morning Fasting and let the Sick beware of taking Cold. Salmon V. The Cholick with a vehement Catarrb and Cough Where the Griping of the Bowels is with Costiveness of Body which is for the most part accompanied with a great Cough and Catarrh there is no better Remedy upon Earth than our Spiritus Anticolicus of which the Sick may take half a Spoonful every Morning and Evening in a Glass of Ale or Wine and if it be vehement in all the Drink they take Salmon VI. The Cholick with a violent Flux of the Belly downwards and a vehement Catarrb upwards I have several times seen this preternatural Flux though it be not common Once I remember I had a Patient afflicted therewith and in a most deplorable Condition I Cured him by giving a Spoonful or Spoonful and half of my Tinctura ad Catarrhos Morning and Evening in a Glass of Ale and in a Weeks time he was perfectly well See it in my Phylaxa Med. Lib. 2. Cap. 9. Sect. 1. Salmon VII One Purge saith Rolfincius given with Judgment in the Cholick does that alone which ten Clysters will scarcely reach especially in the Cholick pain from Obstruction of the Excrements above the value It was observed when a Patient had thirty Clysters given him without any benefit that another Physician gave him an Ounce and half of Manna with two Ounces of Oyl of sweet Almonds in fat Chicken Broth and eased the Patient of his pain We in the West-India's in this case where the Constipation is great give a strong Decoction of the bitter Gourd or bitter Squash made in Water which effectually does the Cure at once if given in the beginning of the Disease Pulp of Colocynthis here will do the same In the West-India's where Peach-Trees are plentlful the Disease is Cured by taking three or four times Syrup of Peaches or by taking a very strong Decoction made of the bruised Leaves of the Peach-Tree Salmon VIII Sometimes when Clysters are given they come not away but almost suffocate by reason of their ascension be ing stopt by much Wind in this case if one two or more Clysters do not come away you must either put up a very sharp Supository or recall them with a small Clyster made of a strong Tincture or Decoction of Pulp of Colloquintida IX Where the Cholick proceeds from a kind of Glassy Phlegm weak Clysters may not be given made of Oyl Hiera and the like these though in a gentle Cholick may do some good yet in a violent one can do nothing rather mischief In this case nothing less than a strong Clyster made with our Tinctura Aurea see Phylaxa Lib. 2. Cap. 5. will do any good After the Clyster has been taken and is come away let the Patient be three or four times Purged with our Pilula Mirabiles see Phylaxa Lib. 2. Cap. 59. and he will be so perfectly Cured that the Disease will no more recur from that numerick Cause Salmon X. In a vehement Cholick with Obstruction of the Courses I gave the following things 1. I Purged the Sick well with my Pilulae Mirabiles thrice 2. I gave the following Powder Take Livers and Galls of Eeles dry them and make them into Powder Dose from one Drachm to two in white Wine Salmon XI A Venereal Cholick There is no better Medicine upon Earth then to give every day for a Week together if it has been of long continuance our Vinum Herculeanum a Sack Glass full at a time three or four times a day The way of making it see in Phylaxa Med. Lib. 1. Cap. 47. Sect. 15. It is much beyond all the the Spicy and Aromatick Things in the World Salmon XII A Clyster against the Cholick Take Decoction of Juniper Berries a Pint Spiritus Aureus one Ounce Aqua Benedicta four Ounces Oyl of Olive two Ounces mix them this works in a small time but which is admirable even before it works the pain ceases Salmon XIII Another Clyster for the same Take Decoction of Dates made in Mutton-Broth a Pint Vinum Emeticum five Ounces mix for a Clyster it gives ease almost in an Instant and brings away the morbifick Cause or Matter after a wonderful manner Salmon XIV Rondeletius saith that Castoreum and Euphorbium are of good use if the pain be constant and stir not from its place yea he estimates them not only as a present but as the ultimate Remedy If you take six eight or ten Grains of Castor in Wine and drink a little after it it will quickly Cure And five or six Gr. of Emphorbium may be Infused and taken the clear Infusion in the same quantity and manner XV. If the pain be in the upper part of the Belly above the Navel Clysters seldom do any good for they never reach the Morbifick or offending Matter yet sometimes even in these cases when the pain is very violent and the Humours crude Clysters may be given but they ought to be made of strong Attractives such as the afore-mentioned XVI This Clyster has done much good Take fat Broth a Pint Aloes dissolved two Drachms Turpentine one Ounce and a half or two Ounces Truly it is a Medicament not to be despised I remember once above all the rest of the times I used it I recovered a young Lady even from the Jaws of Death with it The Sick had been three daies and three Nights tortured with incessant Pain Clysters of most kinds had been given by an Apothecary by the Prescript of a Physitian moreover there had been given previous to those Aromatick Bolus's bitter Decoctions and lastly Opiates but all in vain nor could the Opiates do any good for that they constipated the Bowels much more which were before costive and so rendered the disease to all appearance uncurable so void of true Medical Sense or Knowledge were those Men of great names which had been before concern'd with her In short they neither gave her any Ease nor made her go to Stool so that what with the Anguish and Pain she was given over and lay for dead In this state and Condition a Gentlewoman then present moved that I might be sent for which was accordingly done when I came thither I viewed my Patient no appearance of Life could be discerned so that I had but small encouragement to act however being entreated by her grieved Parents I was perswaded even for their satisfaction The Apothecary was sent for and gave me an account of all that was done I could not forbear blaming the Physitians for acting so preposterously against the rules of Art as to prescribe Opiates in a Cholick with a strong constipation of the Bowels The Apothecary could no waies take their part but was of my Opinion But the business was now what was most fit to be done nothing could be given by the Mouth for her Teeth seemed to be set
Strain out and digest again separate the thinner part and with its own Salt or Salt of Tartar in the former proportion by digestion purifie and perfect the Essence by another forty days space of time I astly adding three or four Ounces of white Sugar to every Pint or Quart keep it close stopt for use Dose from twospoonfuls to four six or eight according to age strength It purges well and carries off the morbifick cause to a Miracle but it ought to be taken three four or six times as the exigency of the Disease requires This is a specifick in a Cholick beyond most other things and withal very safe Salmon XXXVIII Among Carminatives or Discussers of Wind I commend from a very long and large Experience our Powers of Anniseeds Powers of Caraways of Juniper-berries Limons Cloves Nutmegs Rosemary and the like Out of these the following Compositum may be made Take Powers of Cloves Nutmegs ana one Ounce of Anniseeds Carraways ana an Ounce and half of Juniper two Ounces of Limons and Rosemary ana two Ounces and a half mix all for the Uses afore-mentioned Dose half a spoonful in a Glass of Ale or Wine Salmon XXXIX This is also certain from a very great Experience That as vehement Cholicks are often caused from a cold tough viscous Phlegm sticking to the Stomach and Guts and Wind thence arising so that not only the said Wind may be gradually discussed by the assiduous use of the said Potestates or Powers but also by the use thereof that viscous Phlegm adhering to the Tunicles of the Stomach and Guts will be by degrees incided corrected and removed Salmon XL. But though these Aromatick Potestates are admirable in the precited case and so powerfully resist the Cause yet it is my Opinion That nothing exceeds my Spiritus Anticolicus being profitable to all the intentions of the Cure for that it not only corrects hoth Phlegm and Choler and discusses Wind when bred but also hinders it from breeding It not only discusses Wind or condenses it but prevents its new extention or rarification again I could produce several Histories of this Cure performed by this Medicament alone XLI Some after all other Remedies have failed have been cured by a Decoction of Guaiacum and its Bark And several Histories of Cures performed by it are extant but the most eminent is that of a Bath-keeper of Vienna after he had been tortured with a most vehement Cholick for nine months and used a great number of things to no purpose his Disease still increased upon him and by drinking of Spaw-waters was still exasperated He was married to a young Wife and she was also afflicted with the same Disease and dead of it He feared the same fate and began to be convulsed in his whole Body so that his Physicians began to fear that the Disease was or would be translated to the Genus nervosum or nervous Stock and so cause a Palsie Having stopt his Convulsions by other Medicines he gave him Guaiacum Wine according to the Advice of Amatus Lusitanus Cent cur 32. to cause him to sweat which he did for five days and was perfectly cured Germ. Eph. An. 3. P. 487. This Cholick the Physician judg'd from phlegmatick Humours the Seminaries of Wind which being dissolved by that diaphoretick Wine were spent by Sweat Some Laxatives were also given between whiles XLII In a Cholick proceeding from a hot cause hot things whether for inward or outward use must be avoided lest an Inflammation be caused In this case purging Waters clarified Whey with Sena and Syrup of Violets drank plentifully are given with good success and outwardly to the Bowels Willis advises to Fomentations of a Solution of Nitre or Sal-Armoniack as in pains of the Gout and sometimes as Septalius reports of simple cold Water XLIII If the Cholick be caused by hard Excrements hindring the passage of the rest of them and of Wind Emollients must first be used and afterwards sharp things to irritate the faculty Sennertus XLIV I had a Patient that for Four Months had been troubled with an almost Invincible Colick at length he desired my help I only gave him my Spiritus Anticolicus two Drachms at a time in a Glass of Wine and made him sweat upon it and by the using of about two or three Ounces thereof he was Cured XLV A Man about sixty Years of Age mightily complained to me of a grinding pain in his Groin which always seized him just at Night and this had continued with him for three or four Months the Constitution of the Bowels all this while being as it should be for he was neither Costive nor Loose from whence I conceived it to be rather a Flatulency in the Muscles of the Abdomen than in the Colen and so it proved for I caused him Morning Noon and Night to bathe the Part afflicted with Powers of Amber and this alone in about a Weeks time without taking any thing inwardly cured him XLVI I have several times cured an Inveterate Colick with loss of the use of Limbs by giving Turpethum Minerale so as to raise a Flux which has sometimes lasted twenty Days or more for by this means the peccant Matter lodged and as it were rooted in the Nervous System which could not be removed by other Medicines is taken away For the Mercurial Particles by diffusing themselves every way dissolve divide and dissipate the morbifick Matter into almost insensible small Particles and at length wholly expell them And this I experienced in a miserable Lame Patient whom I Cured by this means even while this present Book was in Writing LXVI I am of opinion that Catharticks mixt with Opiates are of good use I have used this following with a wonderful success Take Extract of fine Aloes Extract of Colocynthis of each twelve Grains Laudanum Volatile Nostrum five or six Grains mix them for a Dose It is true the Purge works not presently by reason the Opiate is mixt with it and therefore I give it over Night but it commonly works by the next daynoon yet this is very observable That the Patient does not feel himself as if he had taken a Purge but lies very quietly and pleasantly all Night the Physick not disturbing him griping him nor making him sick and when it does work it is with a great deal of pleasantness without any pain at all and by this silent way as it were of carrying off the Humour the Paroxysm is many times presently at an end XLVII If the Pain as I said before be not in the Bowels but in the Muscles of the Abdomen from what cause soever it does not so much matter it is sometimes cured by a Vesicatory applied upon the part or a little below the Navel and this is often done with very great success But you must by no means lay it upon the Navel lest Convulsions or Swooning follow by reason of the commerce of the umbilical Vessels and the Heart For a man
and speedy suffocation if the congregated Matter be from Phlegm which refuses Repercussives And Humours extravasated sticking in the Flesh whilst thick cannot flow therefore they are to be made Fluxile with hot Remedies If one taken with a Quinsey do saith Wallaeus in the beginning of the Disease gargle with Spirit of Wine all Inflammations will cease in about three hours time XXIII There has been a great noise made in the World about the use of a Swallow's Nest but the Virtue truly lies in the Dung which is found in the Nest And because the Dung is full of nitrous Salt 't is possible it may have a specifick Virtue against this Disease and though it is sharp yet it is withal discutient and therefore may be proper where the Disease arises from thick Phlegm The Tincture of it may be made with Wine or Spirit of Wine and Water and a Gargarism made thereof to be used four five or six times a day hot XXIV Scultetus commends this highly in the beginning of any Quinsey whatsoever Take Plantane Water three Ounces sharp Wine-Vinegar one Ounce Sugar two Drams Saffron in Pouder half a Dram mix and make a Gargarism to be often used XXV Platerus commends the Juice of Tree Ivy swallowed slowly from three Drams to half an Ounce for that it both digests and repels Sennertus saith that the Decoction of the inner Rind of the Hazle or of the Barberry-wood is excellent So also a Decoction of Alder flowers and Leaves with Jews-Ears sweetned with Honey of Roses for a Gargarism An Infusion of Mustard-seed in Wine is also an approved thing XXVI Outwardly Things also ought to be applied to induce the ripening such as this Take of our Antidote one Ounce Hens Dung Turpentine Saffron ana one Dram mix them and apply it hot Or this Take a roasted or baked Turnep split in balves moisten it well with Balsam of Amber and apply them on both sides the Jaws warm But the old Remedy you know is Album Graecum dried poudered and mixed with Honey to be applied as a Cataplasm outwardly and to besmear the parts withal inwardly XXVII Some affirm that the Ashes of an Owl burne in an earthen Pot being blown into the Throat are a specifick against a Quinsie softning it to admiration and breaking of it Others commend as a great Secret this Take Nitre half an Ounce Cream of Tartar one Ounce white Sugar two Ounces make each into a fine Pouder and mix them which put upon the Part leisurely to dissolve there or make a Gargarism therewith with this following Water Take Juice of Housleek one Pound Sal Armoniack half an Ounce dissolve and filter through brown Paper XXVIII I commend this following as a thing I have had great Experience of Take Wine half a Pint Tinctura Stomachica a spoonful mix and give it for a draught It dissipates the Inflammation and by its heat it discusses the Tumor at three or four times using provided it be used at the beginning If used afterwards it does good either discussing the swelling or hastning the maturation it is certainly one of the best of Remedies in this kind but at first it seems to set on fire the whole Mouth and Throat afterwards it is more moderate XXIX Among the number of the rest of the Things which I cannot enough commend our Spiritus Anticolicus has place In Extremity the Parts ought to be smeared or moistened with it with a Rag alone or you may mix a spoonful of it with three four five or six spoonfuls of Wine and gargle with it often warm viz. five or six times a day XXX When a Quinsey is in beginning the only thing and truly the best of Remedies is to take about one ounce of our Spiritus Cosmeticus in a Glass of Sack this given two or three times is indeed an admirable Remedy for it not only discusses or dissipates the Tumor but it brings on a most necessary Diaphoresis by which not only the afflux of new Matter is prevented but the Disease and all its Relicks perfectly cast off CHAP. XVI Of Deafness I. YOu ought to consider whether there be a perfect deafness or a difficulty of hearing only If the deafness be perfect so that the Patient can hear nothing no not the very beating of Drums nor the noise of Guns or Cannon the Tympanum or Drum of the Ear may be supposed to be broken and therefore the Disease to be incurable In this case you ought to attempt nothing for you will reap nothing but Disgrace But if with much gaping hollowing or making a noise the Patient can hear you there is hopes and you may hopefully make a trial II. If Deafness is either attended or begun with Pain it is either through a sharp Vapour or Matter offending the Part In this case according to the Rule of Hippocrates Sect. 4. 〈◊〉 48. you ought to evacuate by vomit For Diseases as he saith in another place are to be discharged by the part next to them and to be drawn out by that part that has a passage nearest to them In Libro de Affectibus he advises That if pain arises in the Ears to wash in much hot water and apply a fomentation to the Ears that the Phlegm may be attenuated and the pain eased but if it cease not yet an emetick Potion is then best to be used III. There are many kinds of Vomits prescribed by Physicians as the Vinum Benedictum Vinum Antimoniale Aqua Benedict a Rulands and a great many more of that kind which without doubt may be profitably given But there is no Vomit which I ever met withal has out done nay scarcely equalled my Caetharticum Argenteum which may be given from two Scruples to a Dram in a little Posset-drink or Ale or in place thereof you may give from four to six Grains of our Impetus Mineralis in a little Conserve or Syrup taking a large quantity of warm Broth after it IV. Now this is to be understood when the seat of the Phlegm and cause of the Pain is above but if it lies lower or vomiting does no good cooling things must be dropt in and that actually cold as Juice of Plantane Fumitory and the like and a Potion or Pills must be given that purge downwards Our Vinum Catharticum is here of excellent use if you give a Potion but if the Sick loaths a Potion and you desire to use Pills our Pilulae Mirabiles are admirable given from twenty Grains to half a Dram If any thing can be said to exceed them it is the Pilula Lunaris given to six Grains which I have several times given with success even in this case See these Medicines in my Phylaxa Med. Lib. 2. Cap. 59 61 62. V. You ought also to consider whether the Pain and Deafness proceeds from a hot or cold cause though what proceeds only from those simple Intemperatures seldom lasts long yet you ought to have some respect to them because hot
from drinking Wine especially new Wine not sufficiently enough freed from its Tartar the which is evident in all those Countries which abound with and drink much Wine in which the Stone and Gout from those tartarous Concretions are very familiar and common XI Now why Wine should by much drinking of it cause those Diseases is apparent from its tartarous or petrefactive quality and why Wine should breed or have such plenty of Tartar is also as clear from the Principle before-named at Sect. 6. deduced from the two foregoing Observations at Sect. 4 5. for that Vines generally delight and grow in sandy Ground and upon the sandy sides of Hills and in many places upon meer Rocks themselves out of whose sole Substance not only the Body of the Wine but also its Leaves and Fruit are wholly made and by the plastick Virtue of the Plant formed so that it is no wonder for a Liquor formed out of the Substance of a Rock or out of Stones and Gravel being resolved to revert into its first Principles again and where it can reside or dwell and have a home to breed that Matter of which it is generated And this your great Claret-Drinkers sufficiently afflicted with Gout or Stone and sometimes with both can by sad Experience tell for that Red or Claret Wine abounds with Tartar much more than other Wine does as the very Vessels containing it sufficiently witness XII You ought to avoid purging in the height of the Paroxysm or till the pain is somewhat asswaged for even a strong Cathartick being given whilst the Pain is violent will many times not purge at all because the Parts only mindful of the Pain feel not the Cathartick force at all or at leastwise they so contract themselves as not anywise to assist the Medicine XIII In remedies for the Stone we are to consider 1. What Things give ease and relief in the Paroxysm 2. What Things open the Passages so as to make way for the Water 3. What Things cleanse the Parts of Sand and Gravel 4. What Things naturally or by accident dissolve sandy and stony Concretions 5. What kinds of Purges are most necessary in this case XIV The first of these is done by Opiates and Things a-kin to them but their Matter and Composition and way and manner of Exhibition remains to be enquired into They are given in Liquids or in a more solid Body As also either by the Mouth or by the Fundament or by the Urinary passage XV. The Matter of which they are made is Opium or Things of like Nature with it as Purslane Lettise Nightshade Stramonium c. As for Preparations made of Opium there are scarcely any better than what we have invented such as are 1. Our Guttae Vitae which may be given from twenty Drops to one hundred and in extremity to two hundred or a full spoonful 2. Our Spiritus Anodynus in like Dose and manner 3. Our Antidotus from one Scruple to two Drams or more 4. Our Theriaca Londinensis from half a Scruple to two Scruples and in extremity of Torture to one Dram. 5. Our Volatile Laudanum from two Grains to six or eight or to ten or twelve or more if gradually given and inextremity I remember once I knew a Gentlewoman which had lain about twenty days in extream Torture and continually crying out for Death making in all that time little or no Water She sent for a Dram of Crude Opium resolving upon a fatal ease She had it and took it unknown to any about her She fell into a Sleep for about twenty four Hours then waked in ease and freely and plentifully made Water nor was she ever after troubled with any more Paroxysms Though this succeeded well yet such bold attempts are not practicable I here only recorded this matter of Fact for the Gentlemen of our Art to contemplate the reason of the thing and to consider how far a man may warrantably goe in extremity or where the case seems desperate XVI We have also other preparations of Opium which we have found extraordinary effecting as 1. Our Tinctura Opii Sulphurata 2. Our Elixir Opiatum 3. And our Eaudanum Volatile cum Aloe The first of these we oftentimes give to those who naturally disaffect Opium and all other kind of Opiates for by reason of the Acid the Opiatick is so corrected that it never disaffects the Stomach nor alters its Tone as the other preparations of it do The Opiated Elixir is a Stomatick and of good use where Vomiting is present And where there is a constipation of the Bowels my Laudanum Volatile with Aloes is of singular use and the effects are more than ordinary for that the Aloes though joyned with the Opiates yet seem not to lose any part of their Cathartick force and in some Constitutions the Medicine works more than if the Aloes were given alone XVII A Tincture drawn out of the Seeds of Stramonium or out of the Leaves carefully dried gives present ease So the inspissate Juice of the Leaves given from ten Grains to one Scruple made up into the form of a Pill or Bolus Crato commends the Juice of Purslane being inspissated and made into Pills and given to the quantity of a Dram he says it does wonders Syrup of the Juice of Lettice is also of good use being given to three or four Spoonfuls it may be thus made Take Juice of Lettice two Pound white Sugar as much mix boyl clarifie and make a Syrup the Syrup being made and cold add thereto Spirit of Wine a Quart It is a thing not to be despised XVIII But if the Torture be tolerable 't will be much better to give such things as have an apperitive Virtue and Power which may gently open or purge or evacuate because by emptying the parts will become more Lax and so the easier submit to the opening Medicine This I commend as a thing familiar for both Intentions Take Juice or Decoction of Speedwell eight Ounces choice Manna two Ounces mix for a Dose It opens and purges gently Asses Milk is likewise commended for People troubled with the Stone for that it exceeds all sorts of Milk in serosity and subtilty If the Sick be Costive let it be sweetned with Manna for Manna has a peculiar property both of opening the Urinary Passages and giving ease whereby the Matter offending is the more fit to be carried off Authors have commended Camels Milk and not without a shew of Reason as being good against the Dropsie because they Feed upon Spurge Widdow-wail Ranunculus and such like strong fiery and cathartick Herbs whereby their Milk acquires a Purgative Faculty and the Serum becomes detersive But some Authors will have all Milk to breed the Stone because it is caseous but this is Error For why should the solid Substance of Milk breed the Stone more than other solid Substances Except there be a real petrifactive property in it which none ever yet could prove And truly
by Urine cleanse the Reins and Bladder open Obstructions of the Urine take away sharpness of the Humors cure inward Ulcers strengthen the Stomach Liver Spleen Mesentery and Womb are prevalent against the Dropsie Cachexy Green-sickness and Scurvy and cure the pissing of Blood LV. Experience has for a long time taught us that strong Diureticks must be used with much caution for that they many times encrease the Pain force the Stone into narrow Passages excoriate the urinary Vessels and many times cause pissing of Blood which cause often times Faintings Swoonings Convulsions Epilepsies and the like In this case Lenient or Emollient Clysters are of singular use for by their discussive property they melt or dissolve the Humors clear the urinary Passages making way for Urine and Gravel A certain Physician had experience of this in his own Person who being in extream Torment had ease by taking three Emollient Clysters in one day the Gravel being loosned and the thick viscous Matter joyned with it being brought away with the Urine for several days together that thence-forth he never fell again into any such pain LVI Emollient Clysters may be made of Mallows Althaea-Roots Millet and the like but Faenugreek-seed is inferiour to none of them If also with the Clyster Turpentine half an Ounce opened with the Yolk of an Egg be added it will be so much the prevalent and efficacious Fontanus accounted the Millet seed given to one Pound or less is an excellent thing and kept it as a secret Dolaeus gives a Milk Clyster or one of Milk and Turpentine with the Yolk of an Egg but he advises against Salt being put in because it is apt to make them stay long LVII Doloeus out of Wedelius prescribes this following Opiate Take Sperma Coeti Crabs Eyes ana one Dram Cinnabar of Antimony one Scruple Volatile Salt of Amber four Grains Laudanum Opiatum half a Grain but I think one Grain or two to be better Troches of Alkakengi with Opium half a Scruple mix and make a Pouder for four Doses In the Fit saith he when the pain is violent an Emulsion or some Opiate will be good LVIII Out of the Fit saith the same excellent Man we must endeavour to extirpate the Coagulator and withal we must always have regard to the Stomach therefore Stomatick Medicines will be good some say there is nothing better either for the cure or prevention of the Stone than this following Antinephritick Take Seeds of Anise Parsly Dill Leaves of Saxifrage ana half an Ounce Juice of a Pike Crabs-Eyes Seeds of Hipps or wild Briar ana one Ounce mix and make a Pouder Dose one Dram at a time The following Pills are also of good use Take Venice Turpentine dried a little at the Fire two Drams Spanish Juice of Liquorice Pouder of the same ana half a Dram mix and make Pills as big as Pease which roul in Pouden of Millepedes Dose one Dram and a half at a time Morning and Evening LIX Some Physicians commend a Vomit for prevention to expel the tartarous Matter before it be derived either to the Reins or Bladder some give it in the Fit because Nature seems to shew the way by their reaching to Vomit This I found true by Experience in a certain Lady a Patient of mine who had lain Bed-rid fifteen or sixteen Weeks of this Disease and though many things were administred nothing did good 'till I gave her a Vomit which was Salt of Vitriol one Dram which gave her six Vomits and this I repeated for five days together it made a great revulsion and had so wonderful an effect that in fourteen or twenty Days she was restored to her perfect Health and though through the extremity of the pain she had Convulsion Fits and many returns of them in a day so that she was given over for dead yet after the first Emetick Dose those Fits ceased and her Pains wonderfully diminished the force of the Emetick being over I then administred Antinephriticks and Stomaticks such as Powers of Juniper Salt of Amber Ens Veneris my Tinctura Stomachica Syrup of Limons with some other things of like nature And without doubt Vomits conduce much to the Cure if there be a real Stone or other obstructing Matter for by straining much it helps the expulsion of the Stone or Gravel as sometimes it does to the delivery of a Woman in Travel by the violent commotion of the whole Body and compression of the Muscles of the Belly This method I have often taken with success and sometimes I have exhibited especially if the Sick was strong Vinum Benedictum or my Catharticum Argenteum with good success but I chose to give Emeticks to such as were apt and easie to Vomit and not otherwise Salmon LX. Barbet saith he has done more by Alteratives and Narcotick Medicines than by any others Clysters he also saith are very proper And because in his Praxis Lib. 3. Cap. 8. Sect. 8 he has given us an ample Catal gue of Antinephriticks I care not greatly if I transfer them hither Roots of Rest-harrow Eringo Grass Liquorice Orrice Parsly Smallage Drop-wort Marsh-mallows Onions Garlick Leeks Leaves of Mallows Maiden-hair Germander Arsmart Pellitory Camomil Ground Ivy Lovage Cresses Saxifrage Savin Golden-Rod Schaenanth Garlick Cloves Flowers of Elder Hops Seeds of Poppy Gromwel the four great cold Seeds Anise Fennel Carrots Daucus Carraways Barley broad Cummin Fruits as Winter-Cherries Straw-berries Figgs Juniper-berries Bay-berries Ivy-berries Woods as Hasle-wood Nephritickwood Guaiacum Sassafras Cassia Lignea Cinnamon Pine-chips Balsams as Turpentine viz. the Laricea Venice Cypress and Chio Balsams of Gilead Peru Tolu and Chili Capivi Balsam of Sulphur simple and compound with Oyl of Anniseeds or Juniper-berries Whey Tooth of a Boar Earth-worms Tartar and all its compounded Medicines Salts as of Tartar Bean-stalks Broom Pot-ashes Ash of Egg-shells of Amber Nitre Sal-armoniack Baths Crabs-Eyes Waters distilled out of the above-said Herbs and Roots Mineral Waters from Iron Mines Mineral Waters artificially made Spirits of Wine of Salt of Sulphur Vitriol Nitre and of Tartar both Acid and sweetned with Spirit of Wine and of Ammoniacum Nephritick Tincture of Mynsicht Syrups of Althaea of white and wild Poppies Diacodium Bizantinus Diuretick Oxymel of Quercetan Oils of sweet Almonds Anniseeds Amber and Turpentine of Carraways Dill Fennel Juniper-berries Nephritick Antidote of Quercetan Montagnana's Electuary Jaw-bone of a Pike Oyster-shells calcined To which we add also our Guttae Vitae Tinctura Martis Spiritus Universalis Antiscorbuticus Anticolicus Anodynus Aperiens Cosmeticus Potestates Baccarum Juniperi Carvi Crinum Humanorum Lithontripticae Pulegii Rosmarini Succini Terebinthinae Anisi Virtutum Elixir de Sulphure Proprietatis cum Acido Opiatum Ciroulatum minus Syrupus Chalybeatus Diasulphuus Nephriticus Sal 〈◊〉 Vitriolatunm Antidotus iostra Theriaca Londinensis 〈◊〉 Laudanum Volatile notrum Pilulae Lunares Miabiles nostrae Nephriticae Lau danum Volatile cum Aloe Manna Honey Mead and Metheglin Rhenish-wine All these latter
Vaporosum and let it stand 〈◊〉 Weeks in digestion or to putrifie and it will become a slimy Water Take the Retort open its neck and lay the Retort in a Sand-furnace and cover it with an earthen Pan fixing to it a Receiver well luted give first a slow fire then a stronger which continue till the Spirits be well resolved into water First the Spirits will come forth in white Clouds or in smoak and at last in red Clouds or smoak give fire so long till all the Spirits are come over in a clear white water and when you have this sign take the Receiver from the Retort stopping the said Receiver very well with Wax that no Spirits may fly away then let the Fire go out XX. The Matter which remains in the Retort take out and put it into a Bolt-head and stop it well and set it in a warm place then rectifie once the Spirits which are in the Receiver and keep them carefully Now observe this you remember that when the Mercury hath lost its Praecipiolum that the same Mercury will be as bright as a Venice Looking-glass Take of this bright Mercury one part of the Spirit aforesaid two parts put them into a Bolt head stop it very close and let it stand in a little warmth and the Mercury will mix with the Spirit then distil all through a Retort in Sand. Take again of the aforesaid Mercury which is clear as a Venice Looking-Glass p. i. of the Spirit p. ij put them into a Bolt-head and set it in a warm place and the Mercury will mix with the Spirit and dissolve then distil again in a Retort in Sand ut supra and it will come over in form of VVater this continue so long 'till all the one half part of the might Mercury is brought to a clear thin VVater which keep very close stopped with VVax Take the Pouder which I ordered to be kept in a Bolt-head and place it very deep in a sand Capel and give a strong Fire for twenty four Hours then let the Fire go out and take the Bolt-head forth and stir the Pouder with a wooden Stick and put it upon the half part of the clear Mercurial Water closing the Glass with Hermes Seal shake it and let it stand in digestion in a warm place for three or four days then pour off this into another Glass and pour upon the remainder of the Pouder the other half of the VVater sealing the Glass again and letting it stand ut supra for three or four days then put it to the former VVater and Seal up the Glass Hermetically letting it stand in Balneo Vaporoso eight Days after distil it through a Retort and if any thing remain in the Retort which will be very little pour upon it the Spirit again and distil it 'till all is come over Now is the Salt with its own Spirit and brought into its first Matter keep it well stopped XXI This is the VVater which the Philosophers have given divers Names to as their Horse-dung Balneum Mariae and Calx Viva and in Sum this is the Philosophers true Fire without which no true work can be done in Chymistry XXII The Philosopher has brought forth this Salamander which will never wast in the Fire the longer the stronger This Water will increase and multiply per Infinitum that is to say if all the Sea were Mercury it would turn the same into its first Matter First you must wash your Mercury with Salt and Vinegar divers times and at last with Water to wash away the Salt Then mix this Mercury with Calx Vive and Calcin'd Tartar and by Sect. 8. aforegoing distil it in a Retort in a sand Furnace and fix to it a Receiver fill'd almost half full of Water that the Mercury may fall into it and coagulate which dry and squeeze eight or ten times through Leather so will your Mercury be well purged and cleansed from all its filth and uncleanness XXIII This is the Mercury which you must use in the multiplying your Spirit or Astrum Mercurij Take of this Mercury p. i. of the Astrum Mercurij p. ij put them into a Bolt-head stop it close and let it stand in a warm place one Night so will the Mercury melt in the Spirit or Astrum Mercurij and turn into Water then distil it through a Retort Thus may you do by repeating the Spirit with fresh Mercury as long as you please XXIV This Water will dissolve Gold and Silver and all sorts of Stones and bring them over with it through a Retort Gold and Silver thus dissolved can never be separated one from another The reason is because they and all other Mettals are of the same Nature and have beginning from the same Water there is nothing in the World but has its beginning from it XXV Medicina Universalis the Universal Medicine Take of your fine Gold in Powder viz. the same which did remain when you made the Praecipiolum one part of your finest Silver two parts in fine Powder put each by it self into a Glass pour upon each the Astrum Mercurij so much as may overtop them a Fingers breadth stop each Glass very close and let them stand in a warm place for eight days and the Gold and Silver will be almost all dissolved into Water pour off this Water each by it self into a Glass and put more Water to the Gold and Silver which yet remains let it stand again eight days in a warm place and then pour off these Waters to the former Waters so will the Gold and Silver be dissolved into Water but there will remain some Foeces XXVI Take of both these Waters a quarter part and put them together into a Bolt-head so as three quarters may be empty seal it Hermetically digest it in an Athanor in a continual warm heat 'till it comes to a fixed red Stone or Pouder Before it becomes a red Pouder there will appear many Colours as Black then Green then Yellow lastly Red When it is very Red and a Pouder take the Bolt head and bury it in a sand Capel very deep and give Fire by degrees and at last a very strong Fire and it will melt like Wax Let it stand one whole Week but the longer the better then take it out and let it cool after break up your Glass and you will find a fird Stone or Pouder and Red as Scarlet XXVII Now you may remember that I bid you keep three parts of your Gold and Silver which were dissolved into Water put both these Waters together into a Retort distil them and both the Gold and Silver will go over with the Water through the Retort with which Water you shall multiply your Medicine Now take of your Medicine p. i. in fine Pouder and put it into a little Bolt head putting upon it twice as much of your Waters as of Gold and Silver Seal it again and digest it in an Athanor 'till it comes to a Red Pouder
operation viz. after the Conjunction with Sol it is augmented This is then the beginning and the end Salmon Here Hermes eludicates the Philosophick Work by a most familiar Example of the Phases of Luna and so it is the Mineral Process in this Philosophick Work exactly answering to that Parallel in Heaven Some divide the Operation of the Stone into two parts viz. the former and the latter The former Hermes explicates by the notion of Decoction which does diminish the matter dissolves it as it were destroys it but being thus Dissolved and Corrupted it is through Regeneration by the Medium of perfection restored again This done then follows the latter part of the Operation by means of which the Virtue and Power of the Stone is made wonderful brought to its highest perfection and multiplied as it were in infinitum In these few words of Hermes are comprehended the whole Work and in them it is plainly laid open from the beginning to the end In a word it is like the Husbandman Sowing his Seed in the Ground which must first Die be Corrupted and Putrefied before it can be possest of a new Life by which it must arise and yeild its Hundred Fold Increase the first Life the first Birth the first Body must Die and give place to the second CHAP. II. The First Exposition of the Matter I. HERMES Behold I have Exposed to you that which was hidden and the work is both with you and for you that which is within is quickly taken out and is Permanent or fixt and you may have it either in the Earth or in the Sea Salmon This secret Work commends it self to its Children and the series of the Operation demonstrate that the Regenerating Spirit is within the Matter but adhears to it invisibly In Elementary and Gross Bodies it is not manifest except they be reduced into their first Essential Nature or Being for so this Spirit of Regeneration which is the Seed of the Promise the Heaven of the Philosophers out shining the Glory of the Stars is brought forth to View That which is Sown is not quickned except it Die it is Sown in Corruption it Rises in Incorruption it is Sown in Dishonour it is Raised in Glory The Sea is the Aqua Philosophica which entring into and Opening the Terra Philosophica brings forth the Gold bearing Vine of the Philosophers II. Hermes Keep therefore your Argent Vive which is prepared in the innermist Chamber of the Bridegroom in which it is Coagulated for that is the Argent Vive it self which is spoken of the remaining Earth Salmon Argent Vive is indeed the Prima Materia of the Philosophick Work but say the Philosophers beware that you use not the Vulgar Argent Vive or Quick-Silver for if you do you will be deceived Our Silver is not Vulgar for that is Dead and unfit for Our Work you must have that which is Living which is rightly Prepared by Art for the perfection of Nature Our Mercury is Philosophick Fiery Vital Running which may be mixed with all the other Metals and separated again from them It is prepared in the innermost Chamber there it is Coagulated Now where Metals grow there they must be found If you have found this Argent Vive the residence of the Philosophick Earth keep it safely for it is worthy If you have brought your Argent Vive to Ashes or Burnt it by the Power of the Fire you have an incomparable Treasure a thing much more Pretious than Gold This is that which Generarates the Stone and it is Born of it it is the whole Secret which Converts all the other Metalline Bodies into Sol and Luna making Hard Soft and the Soft Hard putting Tincture and Fixity upon them III. Hermes He therefore that now hears my Words let him search into and inquire from them it is not for the justification of the Work of any Evil Doer but to give to every good Man a Reward that I have laid Open or Discovered all things which were bid relating to this Science and Disclosed and made Plain and Open to you the greatest of Secrets even the Intellectual knowledg Salmon The Philosophers ever Discourse in Parables and Figures nor is it fit that all things should be revealed to every Body the matter is to be enquired after and diligently Searcht into without Labour and Pains nothing is to be obtained but Wisdom enters not in to profane Souls nor dwells in a Body subject to sin as the Wise Man affirms And altho' Hermes has spoken in this Book many things concerning this most noble Arcanum and has over-past nothing yet he has not spoken so plainly as that every profane and unworthy Person may understand it but has left the Mystery to be unfolded by the Sons of Wisdom IV. Hermes Know therefore ye Children of Wisdom and ye seekers after the Fame thereof that the Vulture standing upon the Mountain cries out with a great Voice saying I am the White of the Black and the Yellow of the White and the Citrine of the Yellow and behold I speak the very Truth Salmon The Mountain upon which the Vulture stands is a fit Vessel placed in a well Built Fornace encompassed with a Wall of Fire at the foot of which Mountain is a watchful Dragon who is full of Eyes and can see before him and behind him who is Vigilant and Careful in keeping the Entrance or Passage into the Mountain lest the unworthy should Ascend to the height theirof where is hid the Secret Stone of the Philosophers It is unpossible for any to enter here unless the Dragon be laid a Sleep Hoc opus hic Labor est to find out the means how this is to be done how this Beast is to be circumvented that we may obtain this so desirable Treasure is the Work of the Philosopher Three things are commended for this purpose first Crude Argent Vive made into Pills and Gilded with Gold Second a Sulphur of Mars extracted with Sol. Third The water of the Philosophers These things being rightly given will so lay him a Sleep that Night and Day you may continually have Egress and Regress Being once entred and Ascended the Mountain the Vulture or Crow will shew you the way where the Colors appear 1. Black which is the beginning of the Art 2. White which is the middle 3. Red which is the end of the whole Work V. Hermes Now the chief principle of Art is the Crow which in the Blackness of the Night and Clearness of the Day flys without Wings From the bitterness existing in the Throat the Tincture or Tinging matter is taken But the Red goes forth of its Body and a meer Water is taken from its back parts Salmon The Vulture and the Crow are both but one thing but in differing States it is the Vulture while it is Active and devouring and the Crow when it lies in a more passive Nature The Vulture is the Mercury of the Philosophers prepared by
help of Vulgar Argent Vive And the Crow is the Infancy of the Work wherein the said Philosophick Mercury is United with its Solar Ferment The blackness of the Night is the Putrefaction thereof and the clearness of the Day its Resurrection into a State of Purity It flies without Wings being Born or carried by the fixt Nature and the bitterness in the Throat is the Death of the first Life whence is Educed the Soul which is the Red and Living Tincture taken from the Body And the Water is the Viscous Humidity made of the Philosophers Argent Vive which radically dissolves all Metals and reduces them into their first Ens or Water and also reduces common Quick-Silver into the same by a Simple Imbibition for ever VI. Hermes Understand and accept of this gift of God which is hidden from Ignorant and Foolish Men. This hidden Secret which is the Venerable Stone splendid in Color a sublime Spirit an Open Sea is hid in theCaverns of the Metals Behold I have exposed it to you and give thanks to the Almighty God who teaches you this knowledge If you be grateful be will return you the Tribute of your Love Salmon Fools and unlearned are excluded from the knowledge of this Mystery viz. Such as are unacquainted with the gift of God which is a measure of his Holy Spirit He calls it a Stone yet says it is a Spirit for was it not a Spirit it could not Penetrate and Tinge other Bodies by an absolute Unity and Conjunction Bodies and Matter cannot do this the most that they can do is but to touch one another in their Superficies for all matter is Dead and no Dead thing can penetrate into the property of another but only at most lie side by side with it And to make the matter the more sensible to your understanding he compares it to an open Sea for that this Spirit peirces Bodies and is joyned to them even as Water is joyned to Water or as the Salt Body thereof is joyned with its Aqueous parts It is hidden in the Caverns of the Metals that is if you seek for it in any thing that is not Metalline you stumble at the Threshold VII Hermes You must put the matter into a moist fire and make it to Boil which Augments the Heat of the Humour or Matter and destroys the Dryness of the incombustible Sulphur continue Boiling till the Radix may appear then Extract the Redness and the light parts till only about a third remains Salmon There are said to be three Species of Decoction 1. An external Fiery heat in Humido and is called Elixation 2. An external heat in Sicco which is called Assation 3. An internal natural heat in Humido called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Maturity or the Ripening and perfecting heat Now which of these it is that Hermes speaks of is the question The first and the third differ in this The first is an external Fiery Heat The latter an Internal Natural Heat In my Opinion both are to be admitted The Natural Heat Internal is the Cause of Generation and without that the External Heat can do nothing Hence we conclude the Heat to be twofold 1. External to excite 2. Internal to perfect both which ought to be made in humido for all Generation is naturally made in Calido Humido in a moist Heat which Hermes calls Ignem Humidum as if he should say the Fire is twofold which you must use viz. External and Internal He seems to make his Coction double 1. In the time of Augmentation 2. In the Ultimate perfection or Maturity and so long this Fire is to be continued till the Radix does appear i. e. the Seed of Metals The same method that Nature takes in Generating Herbs and Plants she takes in Generating Metals whose Seed is extracted by the help of Art which Seed is only and truly the Philosophers Mercury in which all the Metals are resolved into their first principles and in which is imprest the Character or Power of Transmutation They all err who think to reduce Metals only into Crude Mercury and not into their Radix as Hermes speaks viz. into their Seeds which is the first Matter living in Metals and from thence Nature ever goes forward never back-ward till she comes to perfection VIII Hermes For this Cause-sake the Philosophers are said to be Envious or Obscure not for that they Grudged the thing to the honest or just Man to the Religious or Wise or to the Legitimate Sons of Art but to the Ignorant the Vitious the Dishonest lest evil Persons should be made powerful to perpetrate sinful things for such a fault the Philosophers must render an account to God Evil Men are not worthy of this Wisdom Salmon It appears that neither Hermes nor any of the other Philosophers did Envy or Grutch the true knowledge of the matter to the Pious Just and good Man but only to the Profane and Wicked they did not think it fit to give the Childrens Bread to Dogs for which Cause-sake they always keep the Prima Materia Secret and left it as a Legacy to the Legitimate Sons of Art but the manner and way of working it through all its various Operations they have faithfully and plainly declared to the least Iota or Tittle CHAP. III. The Names and First Operation Explicated I. HERMES Now this Matter I call by the Name of the Stone the Feminine of the Magnesia the Hen the White Spittle or Froth the Volatile Milk the Incombustible Ashes so that it might be hidden from the simple and unwise who want understanding honesty and goodness which notwithstanding they signified it to the Wise and Prudent by one only Name which is the Stone of the Wise or the Philosophers Stone Salmon There are various Names by which the Philosophers call it as Sol Gold Brass of the Philosophers Magnesia the pure Body clear Ferment Elixir Masculine Fixt Argent Vive Incombustible Sulphur Red fixed Sulphur the Rubin Kibrick Green Vitriol the Greenness Redness burnt Brass Red Earth the Water of Sulphur Aqua Mundi Spittle of Luna Shaddow of the Sun Eyes of Fishes Sulphur sharp Wine Urin Light of Lights Father of Minerals Fruitful Tree Living Spirit Venom most strange Vinegar White Gum Everlasting Water Aqua Vitae a Woman Man Masculine Feminine a Vile thing Azot FirstMatter Principium Mundi and therefore Argent Vive Mercury Azot Plentlunam Hypostasis White Lead Red Lead Water the Crow Iron Silver Lime Jupiter Vermilion Whiteness all signifie but one thing Our Stone but in diver times and degrees of Operation So also White Earth White Sulphur Ethel Auripigmentum Arsenick Chaos a Dragon Serpent Toad Green-Lyon Red-Lyon Camelion Quintessence Virgins Milk Radical Humidity Unctuous Moisture Sperm Sal Armoniack Hair Urine Antimony Philosophers Lead Salt a Bird Microcosmus Cinnaber do all signifie but one and the same thing II. Hermes Conserve therefore in this the Sea the Fire and the
the Regions above but truly by forbearing to Flie. Salmon In this our Art are two Principles which spring from one Root and which are the subject of our Stone viz. Argent Vive and Sulphur of which the one is Volatile and superior the other fixt and below from the Conjunction of which often repeated is made the true and Philosophical sublimation and fixation And that is the fixation when the Body receives the Tinging Spirit and takes from it its Volatility this is done by frequent Reiterations till a Calx of perpetual duration is produced and will remain for ever in the Fire But in the very beginning of this work the substance of the Stone which in it self is most fixed by a Spirit not fixed or Volatile as Sea Water acetum radicatum and such like is to be made Volatile And by this means it will be more fit to be cleansed of its Filth or Rust which in metals is a most certain sign of Imperfection V. Hermes If therefore you shall deliver it out of its Imprisonment or Cage or Straights then afterwards you shall Order and Govern it according to the number of days I shall note to you according to Reason and then it shall be a Companion to thee and by it thou shalt be made great and powerful Salmon That is the fixed Body is to be lifted up by sublimation and to be so often repeated till the Volatile is made fixed or fixed with it But this is not to be done hastily or all at once but by little and little and by degrees Lest by too great a haste you break the Vessel or come to some other hurt God himself made all things in Number Weight and Measure that is in due and just proportion as well in respect of Time as Matter If you proceed wisely in this Case you will receive the fulness of your expectations VI. Hermes Extract from the Sun Beams the shadow and the sordid Matter by that which makes the Clouds hang over it and Corrupts it and keeps it from the Light because by its Torture and Red Fiery Heat or Redness it is Burned Salmon The shadow always goes along with the Body walking in the Sun Now that a clearer Light may appear through the Body without any shadow the Body must be opened made thin and dissolved which is the Patient by the Spirit or Sun-Beams which are the Agent the living Fire by whose Power it is brought to a Calx and the Corruptible part is Burnt up and destroyed or made fit to be separated VII Hermes Take this Redness Corrupted with the Water which resembles the Matter holding the Fire as in a live Coal from it As often as you take this Redness Corrupted in Water away from it so often you have the Redness Purified then will it Associate it self viz. become fixed and Tinged in which 〈◊〉 it will rest for ever Salmon That is Our Magnesia which is sown in our Philosophick Earth is to be Corrupted or Putrefied and then to be Digested Coagulated Sublimated Incerated and Fixed This Magnesia or Redness is thus made pure by separation and then it becomes Dissolved Digested Coagulated Sublimed Incerated and Fixed and Tinged being first lift up into the highest Heavens and then Buried again in the deepest Earth that therewith it may arise and in the same have a Habitation and be fixt for ever The Water is the Spirit the Redness is the Soul or Tincture and the Earth is the Body Now the Spirit is the Life of the Soul as the Body is the Clothing or Habitation thereof so that the Body is a substance fixed dry and containing both the Spirit and the Soul The Spirit Penetrates the Body the Body fixes the Spirit the Soul conjoyned Tinges of its own Color whether it is White or Red. VIII Hermes Return the Coal being extinct in its life to the Water in the thirty days I note to thee so will you have a Crowned King resting upon the Fountain or Well but drawing it from the Auripigment and wanting the Humour or Moisture Now have I made the Hearts of the attentive who hope in thee glad and their Eyes beholding thee in the hope of that which thou possessest Salmon The Life of the Coal is Fire which being removed from it is like a Dead Body nor in a Coal only but in all other things it is Fire that excites or stirs up the Life comforts it and conserves it Yea the Essence of Life is nothing else than Pure Naked Unmixed Fire not that which is Corrupting and Elementary but that which is Subtil Coelestial and Generating all things This in Metals is the Aqua Philosophica Oleaginosa Sulphurea and in this the Earth is to be raised up in the space of 30 days which is a certain Number for an uncertain By the Crowned King is meant the perfection of the Tincture The Well is the Fountain of the Philosophers inexhaustible out of which it draws the Auripigment or eternal Tincture but wanting indeed its moisture or running-Running-Water which is for so long time to be Digested and Boiled with Fires c. IX Hermes Now the Water was first in the Air then in the Earth restore thou it then to the superior places through its own meanders or passages and not foolishly or indiscreetly change or alter it and then to the former Spirit gathered in its Redness you must carefully and leisurly joyn it Salmon Convert the Elements and you shall have what you seek The Earth which is Cold and Dry agrees with the Water in one quality which is cold The Air which is Hot and Moist participates with the Fire which is Hot and dry and consequently the Earth with the Fire because of its Driness The Earth is the only true and first Element of the Stone which by a Philosophical Calcination is to be Burnt up and Rarified afterwards to be Dissolved in a Moist place into a Ponderous Water This by Sublimation is made more subtil and converted into Fire This Oyl by a most strong Fire into Ashes or a Red Rubicund Earth Thus the Dragon devours his own Tail and the Pelican with her own Blood nourishes her Young ones The Blood of the Pelican is this Red Spirit Now nothing is joyned together with it but that which before was separated from it This Mixtion of the Elements is not Corporeal but Spiritual not with Hands done but the work of the Metalline Archeus or Spirit which you ought well to know and then you will not long err from the Truth CHAP. V. A Dialogue between Hermes and his Son I. HERMES Know thou my Son that the fat of our Earth is Sulphur that Sulphur is Auripigment Siretz or Colcothar of which Auripigment Sulphurs and such like some are more vile or mean than others in which there is a difference or diversity Of this kind also is the Fat of Glewy substances to wit of Hair Nails Hoofs and Sulphur it self Oyl of Peter and the Brain or
Now that Water in or by which the blackness is washed away is the Sweat or Moisture of the Sun and Childrens Urine i. e. the Virgins Water The thing which I tell you is sufficient for you to know V. In like manner take the Water of the Water Mercury of Mercury and with it cleanse and purifie the Wind Fume or Vapor and Abolish the blackness Understand what this signifies and rejoyce therein VI. Also in the same manner take the blackness and Conjoyn it then have respect to the White and Conjoyn the Red so will you go through the thing desired and come to the end of the Work VII It is also to be noted that it is the Fire-Stone which Governs the Matter or Work by the good pleasure of God Boyl it therefore with a gentle Fire Night and Day lest the Water should be separated from it even till it becomes of a Golden Color Understand well what I say VIII That also which Congeals does Dissolve and that which does Whiten does in like manner make Red. IX I have made plain to you the nearest way that you may be easie and satisfied Understand therefore these things and Meditate upon them and you shall certainly attain to the perfection of the Work X. It is also to be noted that as Sol is among the Stars so is Gold among the other Metalline Bodies For as the Light of the Sun is joyned to the Lights and contains the Fruit of this Operation so in like manner Gold Meditate upon these Words and by the Permission of God you may find it out CHAP. XVI The Nature of the Medicine and Government of the Metals I. HERMES Moreover saith he that outwardly takes in this Medicine it Kills him but he that inwardly drinks it in it makes him to Live and rejoyce Understand what this means II. And as for this cause sake this Water is said to be Divine so it is said to be the greatest Poyson and it is preferred before all other things by so much as that without it nothing of the Work can be done III. It is also called Divine for that it cannot be mixed or joyned with any filth or defiled thing and this Water of our Stone purifies and cleanses the Natures of the Metals and washes away their defoedations or defilements IV. And as Sol Acts upon Bodies so also does this Water upon the Philosophick Stone Yea it penetates and sinks through it and is constant fixed and perfect V. This indeed is seen in Sol but it is to be understood that the Work may be made through all the seven Planets as first from Saturn then from Jupiter Mars Venus Mercury and lastly from Luna VI. The first is the government of Saturn to wit to cause Sol to putrefie or bring the Body to putrefaction which is done in the space of 40 days and nights The second is the government of Jupiter which is to grind or break the matter and in 12 days and nights to Imbue or moisten it which is called the Regiment of Tin VII The third is the government of Mars which is to induce Death or blackness or to separate the Spirit from the Body by which it is said to be changed The fourth is the government of Sol which is to Work away the Blackness and Poyson and is indeed to make it White VIII The fifth is the government of Venus which is to joyn the moist to the dry and the hot to the cold and to Unite them together in one This is the Dominion of Brass or Copper or the the making of the matter of a changeable Yellow The sixth is the government of Mercury which is to burn and is called the Dominion of Argent Vive IX The seventh is the government of Luna which is to Decoct or Boyl and make Hot and so to perfect the matter with the fixed Citrine Tincture in 25 days and this is the Dominion of Silver See here I have gone with you through the whole Work take heed therefore lest you err CHAP. XVII The Difference of the Ferments and Quality of the Spirit I. AND know that the White Body is made with the Whiteness and its Ferment is that which you already know Whiten therefore the Body and understand what I say II. Also in like manner you are to note that the Stone sought after has not its like or equal in the whole Earth It is both outwardly and inwardly of a Citrine Golden Color but when it is altered or changed it is made a Body dark and black like burnt Coals III. Now the Color of the Spirit taken from it is White and the substance thereof is Liquid as Water but the Color of the Soul thereof is Red. IV. But the Soul and the Spirit thereof is returned to it again and it doth Live and Rejoyce and its Light and Glory returns again and you shall see it overcome and Triumph And that which was even now Dead shall have Conquered Death and then it shall Live and arise from the Dead and Live as it were for ever V. Happy and Blessed therefore is he in whose Power the disposition of this Matter is who Kills and makes Alive and is Omnipotent over all for ever VI. I therefore advise you not to do any thing in this work till you get an understanding thereof For if you be Ignorant and void of true Knowledge you will err in whatsoever you do you will wholly Labour in Vain and your work will Perish VII So that thus mistaking in your Operation you blame presently your instructors the Philosophers and think that they have erred or taught you wrong when it is only your Ignorance and none understanding of their words VIII This then know and understand that the Day is the Nativity or bringing forth of the Light but the Night the Nativity or bringing forth of the Darkness IX Sol also is the Light of the Day and Luna the Light of the Night which God Created to govern the World X. But Luna does receive her Light of the Sun by Combustion and is dilated or enlarged therewith and by so much as she receives of the Light of the Sun or does contain in her of his Light by so much does the Nature of Sol bear Rule over the Nature of Luna XI If therefore you contemplate what I say and Meditate upon my Words you will find that I have spoken the Truth and you will understand the signification of all that I have said and the demonstration of the whole Matter XII Know then that the Spirit is enfolded or circumscribed within as it were its Marble House or Walls Open therefore the Passages that the Dead Spirit may go out and be cast forth from our Bodies then it will become beautiful which is only a Work or undertaking of Wisdom XIII Sow therefore O God thy Wisdom in our Hearts and Root out the corrupt Principles which lodge therein and leads us in the way of thy Saints by which our Spirits
and Souls may be Purified Thou art Omnipotent O Lord God Almighty and canst do whatever thou pleasest CHAP. XVIII Of Argent Vive Tincture Order of the Operation and of the Fire I. THere is one thing which is to be wondered at viz. after what manner Carmine to wit Grana Nostra doth tinge or Dye Silk which is of a contrary Natue and tinges not a Dead thing and after what manner Uzifur to wit Our Vermilion doth tinge Vestem which is of a contrary Nature and tinges not Live or growing things II. For it is not Natural for any thing to tinge other substances not agreeable to their Natures If therefore you put into your Composition Red Gold you shall find in the Tincture a pure and perfect Red and if you put into it White Gold the most passive Red will vanish or go forth There is nothing indeed does tinge any thing but what is Consimilar to or like it self III. And I testifie to you by the Living God maker of Heaven and Earth that the Stone which I have described you have permanent or fixed nor are you kept from it by the Earth or the Sea or any other matter IV. Keep then your congealed Quick-Silver many parts of which are lost because of its subtilty Also the Mountain in which is the Tabernacle which crys out I am the Black of the White and the White of the Black I speak the Truth indeed and I lye not V. Now know that the Root of the Matter is the Head of the Crow flying without Wings in the dark and black of the Night and in the appearance of the Day from the Throat the fixing Spirit from its Gall the Coloring or Tinging Matter is taken from its Tail the desication or drying of the matter from its Wings the liquid Water and from its Body the Redness VI. Understand the meaning of the words for hereby is understood our venerable Stone and the Fume or Vapour thereof which is exalted lifted up or sublimed and the Sea eradicated and a Light shining VII You are also to note what Alums and Salts are which flow from Bodies if you put the Medicines or Matters of the Medicine in a just or true proportion you shall not fear to err but if you mistake the proportion you must add or diminish according as you see it tends to the emendation or performing of the Work lest a Deluge should come and overflow all drowning the Regions and overturning the Trees by the Roots VIII And tho the Matter be unknown yet consider these things how or after what manner these two Colors are distinguished or diversified by their Vapours look into the sweetness of Sugar which is one kind of sweet Juice and into the sweetness of Honey which is yet more intense or inward IX Except you make the Bodies spiritual and impalpable you know not how to putrefie Ixir or proceed on in the Work nor how the three Volatile Matters or Principles fight one against another and how they fail not each in their turns to devour one another till of two being left one only remains X. Be careful also how you increase your Fire tho it is not to be very small when you dry up the Water and take heed that you burn not the Matter because if the Vessel breaks it will be with a mighty impetus or force XI And unless the Matter of the Stone prove inimical one to another or contend and fight with and strive to destroy one another you shall never attain to the thing you seek after XII If you mix your Calx with Auripigment and not in a mean or due proportion the splendor and glory of the Operation will not succeed but if you interpose a medium the effect will immediately follow XIII Now know that it is our Water which extracts the hidden Tincture Behold the Example and understand it if you have once brought the Body into Ashes you have operated rightly XIV And the blood which is in the Philosophick Water of the animated Body is the Earth of the Wise to wit the permanent or enduring perfection CHAP. XIX That the Beginning of this Work is in the Blackness and Darkness and of conjoyning the Body with the Soul I. NOW it is that which is dead which you ought to vivisie or make alive and that which is sick which ought to be cured It is the White which is to be rubified the Black which is to be purified and the Cold which is to be made hot II. It is God himself who does create and inspire or give life and replenishes Nature with his Power that it might follow and imitate his Wisdom and act as an Instrument subservient to him III. Iron is our Gold and Brass or Copper is our Tincture Argent Vive is our Glory Tin is our Silver Blackness is our Whiteness and the Whitness is our Redness IV. From hence it appears necessary that we should have a Body purifying Bodies and a Water subliming Water Our Stone which is a Vessel of Fire is made of Fire and is converted into the same again V. And if you would walk in the true way you must persue it in the evident or visible Blackness for saith our Stone it is that which is hidden within which does make me white and the same thing which makes me White makes me also Red. VI. Conceal this thing from Men like as a word which is yet in thy Mouth which no Man understands and as the Fire Light or Sight which is in thine Eye I will not tell it plainly to thee thy self left by thy words thou conveyest my Breath to another to thine own damage This is the caution I give thee VII Now know that this our Work is made or compounded of two Figures or Substances the one of which wants the White Rust Ceruse and the other the Redish Rust Crocus Our Matters also are searsed thro our Sieves or Searses made of pure or clean Rinds and a most blessed Wood. VIII You are also to take notice that the Fire-stone of the Philosophers sought after wants Extention but it has quantity It behoves you therefore to support and nourish it on every side and to continue it as in the middle IX You must also conoyn the Body with the Soul 〈◊〉 beating and grinding it 〈◊〉 the Sun and imbuing it with the Stone then puting it into the Fire so long till all its Stains and Defilements are taken away let it be a gentle Fire for about seven hours space thus will you get that which will make you to live X. I also tell you that its habitation or dwelling place is posited in the Bowels of the Earth for without Earth it cannot be perfected Also its habitation is posited in the Bowels of the Fire nor without Fire can it be perfected which is the perfection of our Art XI Again Except you mix with the White the Red and presently bring or reduce the same into a perfect Water it
will tinge nothing for it never tinges any thing Red but that which is White and while the Work is now perfecting add them to the light of the Sun and it will be compleated Regimine Marino as we have already declared and by this conjunction above your Stone will attain to its Beauty and Glory XII Thus have you a dry Fire which does tinge an Air or Vapour which fixes and chains the Volatile Matter binding the Fugitive in Fetters and also whitens expelling the blackness from Bodies and a fixed Earth also receiving the Tincture CHAP. XX. The Order of the Practical part of the Operation I. WAsh your Mercury with the Water of the Sea till you have taken away from it all its Blackness so will you accomplish your work to perfection in which rejoyce II. If you understand how a Resurrection is ac complished i. e. how the living Principle or Spirit comes forth from the dead Matter or Substance how that is made apparent which was hidden and how Strength is drawn forth through Weakness you cannot be Ignorant how to compleat and perfect this Work III. How Manifest and Clear are the Words of the Wise yet so as the internal Life and Principal is still hidden you understand them not perfectly by their Expressions IIII. Two Bodies equally taken from the Earth grind in the Oyl of the Decocted Matter and in the Milk of the White Volatile Now mighty and wonderful are the powers and force of these Bodies which are freely bestowed upon you through this whole Science which you shall possess and therewith a long and enduring Life V. Take by force the most Intense Wisdom from whence you must draw forth the Eternal perpetual or fixed Life of the Stone till your Stone is congealed and its dulness is vanished so will you accomplish the Life thereof sought after VI. Give therefore of this Life sufficienly to your Matter and it will mortifie it or bring it to putrefaction but repleat your Earth and it shall make it to live Spring Bud Grow Germinate VII Plant this Tree upon your Stone that it may not be in danger of the violence of Winds that the Volatile Iufluences or Bird of Heaven may fall upon it and by virtue thereof its Branches may bring forth much Fruit from thence Wisdom does arise VIII Take this Volatile Bird cut off its Head with a fiery Sword then strip it of its Feathers or Wings undo its Joynts and boil it upon Coals till it is made or becomes of one only Color IX Then put the Venom or Poyson to it so much as is enough to bury or cover it govern it now with a gentle Fire till your Matter is mortified or putrefied which done grind it with White Water and manage it rightly X. For we bought two Black Crows and we put them into a Paropsidem or Crucible or Cupel which we had by us and Eggs or Silver Gobbets came out White as Salt these we tinged with our Saffron of them we sold publickly two hundred times with which we have been made Rich and our Treasures are multiplied XI And whosoever you shall imbue or fill with the Powers thereof should they be hurt with the Poyson of Vipers or the Malignity of Brass or Verdigrise they shall be in no danger for that it quickens and revives the Dead and kills the Living It destroys and restores again it casts down that which is elevated and lift up and elevates that which is abjected and cast down and gives you a dominion over the Heavens of the Earth XII Now you must note that there are two Stones of the Wise found in the Shores of the Rivers in the Arms of the Mountains in the Bowels of the Floods and in the back parts of the Kings House which by instruction and prudent management may be brought forth Male and Female XIII By these being conjoyned and made complex or perfectly united into one consimiliar substance you will be made wiser you will see the reason of the Operation and the end of the Work Blessed God how great and how wonderful a thing is this XIV A certain Philosopher dreamed that the Kings Messenger came to a certain Podagrick and the Podagrick desired that he might go with him to whom the Messenger answered since thou hast the Gout how canst thou go with me for thou canst not walk XV. To whom the Podagrick answered Thou knowest that in the Root of this Mountain there is a certain Tabernacle bearing me then thither leave there the burthen so shall I be presently freed or delivered from my Gout XVI Then said he to me thou art not able to touch the foot thereof but going back he took him up and placed him in the Tabernacle the foot of which the Messenger said he was not able to touch And waking from his Dream he saw nothing Behold the Similitude XVII Another also saw in a Dream wherein it was said if any one truly should sit down by the way and should ask you whether you would think fit to do this thing would you do it He answered I know not the other said thar he should lie or generate with his Mother in the middle of the Earth then awaking he saw nothing Consider well this similitude CHAP. XXI The remaining Operations and conclusion of this whole Work I. BUT leading you to the knowledge of Phylosophy and exposing the Demonstrations thereof in a Philosophick manner we should make it the dirision and mockery of Women and the play of Children II. Take also the fresh Bark or Rind in the same moment in which you shall after another manner extract the matter or thing it self in the place where it is generated and put it into a Cucurbit and sublime it III. And that which is or shall be sublimed separate it for it is the Vinegar of the Philosophers and their Sapience i. e. their Salt IV. Then take this Vinegar and melt or pour it forth upon another Cortex Bark or Superfices of the Sea and put it into a Glass Vesica in which put so much of your Vinegar as may over top it the heighth of Four Inches this bury in warm Horse dung for Thirty One or Forty Daies V. This time being past take the Vessel forth and you will find it now dissolved and turned into a black and stinking Water more black and stinking than any thing in the whole World VI. Take then this very thing it self and very gently elevate it in its tabernacle till all the moisture is consumed so as no more will ascend this sublimed Matter keep carefully for your use VII Then take the Foeces which remain in the bottom of the Cucurbit and keep them for they are the crown and rejoycing of the Heart Die then the same and grind them and add there to fresh or new Cortex of the Sea that is say Mercury and grind them together drying them in a warm Sun VIII And the Waters from the same first sublimed
is but One and of the Nature thereof I. WHEN it was demanded of Bauzan a Greek Philosopher whether a Stone may be made of a thing which budeth Answered Yea viz. the two first Stones to wit the Stone Aleali and our Stone which is the Workmanship and Life of him who knows and underftands it II. But he that is ignorant of it who has not made nor knows how it is generated supposing it to be no Stone or apprehends not in his own mind all the things which I have spoken of it and yet will attempt to compose it spends away foolishly his precious time and loses his Money III. Except he finds out this precious Treasure he finds indeed nothing there is no second thing or matter that can rise up and take its place or stand it self instead thereof there is no other Natures that can triumph over it IV. Much heat is the nature thereof but with a certain temperature If by this saying you come to know it you will reap profit but if yet you remain ignorant you will lose all your labour V. It has many singular Properties and Virtues in curing the Infirmities of Bodies and their accidental Diseases and preserves sound Substances so that there appears not in them any Heterogenities or Contrarieties No possibility of the dissolution of their Union VI. It is the Sapo or Soap of Bodies yea their Spirit and Soul which when it is incorporate with them dissolves them without any loss VII This is the Life of the Dead and their Resurrection a Medicine preserving Bodies cleansing them and purging away their Superfluities VIII He that understands let him understand and he that is ignorant let him be ignorant still For this Treasure is not to be bought with Money and as it cannot be bought so neither can it be sold. IX Conceive therefore its Virtue and Excellency aright consider its value and Worth and then begin to Work How excellently speaks a Learned Philosopher to this purpose X. God saith he gives thee not this Magistery for thy sole Courage Boldness Strength or Wisdom without any labour but thou must labour that God may give thee success Adore then God Almighty the Creator of all things who is pleased thus to favour thee with so great and so precious a Treasure CHAP. XXXIII The Way and Manner how to make the Stone both White and Red. I. WHen you attempt to do this take this our precious Stone and put it into a Cucurbit covering it with an Alembick which close well with Lutum sapientiae and set it in Horse-dung and fixing a Receiver to it distil the matter into the Receiver till all the water is come over and the moisture dry up and dryness prevail over it II. Then take it out dry reserving the water that is distilled for a future occasion take I say the dry body that remained in the bottom of the Cucurbit and grind it and put it into a Vessel answerable in magnitude to the quantity of the Medicine III. Bury it in as very hot Horse-dung as you can get the Vessel being well luted with Lutum sapientiae And in this manner let it digest But when you perceive the Dung to grow cold get other fresh Dung which is very hot and put your Vessel therein to digest as before IV. Thus shall you do for the space of forty days renewing your Dung so often as the occasion or reason of the Work shall require and the Medicine shall dissolve of it self and become a thick White water V. Which when you shall see you shall weigh it and put thereto half so much by weight of the water which you reserved close and lute your Vessel well with Lutum sapientiae and put it again into hot Horse-dung which is hot and moist to digest not omitting to renew the Dung when it begins to cool till the course of forty days be expired VI. So will your Medicine be congealed in the like number of days as before it was dissolved in VII Again take it weigh it justly and according to its quantity add to it of the reserved water you made before grind the Body and subtilize it and put the water upon it and set it again in hot Horse-dung for a Week and half or ten days then take it out and you shall see that the Body has already drunk up the Water VIII Afterwards grind it again and put thereto the like Quantity of your reserved water as you did before bury it in very hot Horse dung and leave it therefore ten days more take it out again and you shall find that the Body has already drunk up the Water IX Then as before grind it putting thereto of the afore reserved Water the aforesaid quantity and bury it in like manner in hot Horse-dung digesting it 10 days longer then taking it forth and this do the fourth time also X. Which done take it forth and grind it and bury it in Horse-dung till it be dissolved Afterwards take it out and reiterate it once more for then the Birth will be perfect and the Work ended XI Now when this is done and you have brought your matter to this great perfection then take of Lead or Steel 250 Drams melt it and caste thereon 1 Dram of Cinnabar to wit of this our Medicine thus perfected and it shall fix the Lead or Steel that it shall not fly the fire XII It shall make it white 〈◊〉 cleanse it from all its dross and blackness and convert it into a Tincture perpetually abiding XIII Then take a Dram from these 250 Drams and project it upon 250 Drams of Steel or Copper and it shall whiten it and convert it into Silver better than that of the Mine which is the greatest and last Work of the White which it performs XIV To convert the said Stone into Red. And if you desire to convert this Magistry into Sol or Gold take of this Medicine thus perfected at 10. above the weight of one Dram after the manner of the former Example and put it into a Vessel and bury it in Horse-dung for forty days till it be dissolved XV. Then give it the Water of the dissolved Body to drink first as much as amounts to half its weight afterwards bury it in hot Horse-dung digesting it till it is dissolved as aforesaid XVI Then proceed in this Golden Work as before in the Silver and you shall have fine Gold even pure Gold Keep my Son this most secret Book containing the Secret of Secrets reserving it from Ignorant and Profane Hands so shall you obtain your desire Amen CHAP. XXXIV Kalid's Secret of Secrets or Stone of the Philosophers Explicated I. IF you would be so happy as to obtain the Blessing of the Philosphers as God doth live for ever so let this verity live with you Now the Philosophers say it abides in the Shell and contains in it self both White and Red the one is called Masculine the other Feminine and they are
it would neither move nor work for which reason you must consider and understand that all Metals are compounded of Mercury and Sulphur Matter and Form Mercury is the Matter and Sulphur is the Form According to the pureness of Mercury and Sulphur such is the Influence they assume XVII Thus Sol is engendred of most pure fine Mercury and a pure red Sulphur by the Influence of the Sun and Luna is made of a pure fine Mercury and a pure white Sulphur by the Influence of the Moon XVIII Thence it is that Luna is more pure than the other five Metals which have need of cleansing being cleansed they need but onely the pure Sulphur with the help of Sol and Luna Sulphur is the Form of Sol and Luna and the other Metals their other parts are gross matters of Sulphur and Mercury XIX Husband-Men know many times more than we do They when they reap their Corn growing on the Earth gather it with the Straw and Ears The Straw and Ears are the Matter but the Corn or Grain is the Form or Soul XX. Now when they sow their Corn then they sow not the Matter which is the Straw and the Chaff but the Corn or Grain which is the Form or Soul So if we will reap Sol or Luna we must use their Form or Soul and not the Matter XXI The Form or Soul is made by Gods help after this manner You must make a good Sublimate that is seven times sublimed the last time of the seven you must fublime it with Cinnaber without Vitriol and it will be a certain Quintessence of the Sulphur of that Antimony XXII When this is done take of the finest Sol one Ounce or of the finest Luna as much file it very fine or else take leaf Gold or Silver then take of the aforesaid Sublimate four Ounces sublime them together for the space of Sixteen hours then let it cool again and mix them all together and sublime again Do this four times and the fourth time it will have a certain Rundle like unto the Matter of the White Rose transparent and most clear as any Orient Pearl weighing about five Ounces XXIII The sublimate will stick to the brims and sides of the Vessel and in the bottom it will be like good black Pitch which is the Corruption of Sol and Luna XXIV Take the Rundle aforesaid and dissolve it in most strong Spirit of Vinegar two or three times by puting it into an Urinal and seting it in B. M. for the space of three daies every time pouring it into new Spirit of Vinegar as at the first till it be quite dissolved Then distill it by a filter and save that which remains in the Pot for it is good to whiten Brass XXV That which passed the filter with the Vinegar set upon hot Ashes and evaporate the Moisture and Spirit of Vinegar with a soft fire and set it in the Sun and it will become most White like unto White Starch or Red if you work with Sol which are the Form or Soul or Sulphur of Luna and Sol and will weigh a quarter of an Ounce rather more than less save that well XXVI Take an Urinal half a foot high and take of the firm body five Ounces of the Soul or Sulphur of Sol or Luna a quarter of an Ounce and of the Spirit four Ounces Put all of them into the Urinal and put on its head or Cover with its Receiver well closed or Luted Distil the Water from it with a most soft Fire and there will come off the first time almost three Ounces XXVII Put the Water on again without moving the Urinal and distil it again until no more liquor will distil which do 6 or 7 times and then every thing will be firm Then set the same Urinal in Horse-dung seven days and by the virtue and subtilty of the heat it will be converted into water XXVIII Distil or filter this water with stripes or shreds of Woolen-cloth a gross part will remain in the bottom which is nothing worth All that which is passed the filter congeal which will be about 4 or 5 Ounces and save it When you have congealed it three times melt ten ounces of the most fine Sol or Luna and when it is red hot put upon it 4 Ounces one Coppy said 13 Ounces of this Medicine and it will be all true and good Medicine XXIX Likewise melt Borax and Wax ana one ounce to which put of the former Medicine 1 ounce Put all these upon Mercury or any other Metal 3 pound and it will be most fine Sol or Luna to all Judgments and Aslays Thus have I ended this process in which if you have any practise or judgment and know how to follow the Work you may finish it or compleat it in 40 days XXX An Appendix teaching how to make Aurum Potabile Take Sal Armoniack Sal Nitre ana 1 pound beat them together and make thereof an AR Then take of the most fine Sol q. v. in thin leaves and cut into very small pieces which roul into very thin Rowls and put them into an Urinal or like Glass to which put the AR so much as to overtop it the depth of an inch XXXI Then nip up the Glass and put it to putrefie in Sand with a gentle heat like that of the Sun for 3 or 4 days in which time it will come to dissolution then break the Glass off at the Neck and pouring off the AR. easily and leisurely leave the dissolved Sol in the bottom and repeat this work with fresh AR. 3 or 4 times and keep the first water then put on a Helme with Lute and distil off in Sand Being cold break the Glass and take the Sol and wash it 3 or 4 times in pure warm water XXXII When the Sol is clean from the AR take of it and put it into the like Glasses with rectified S. V. 2 or 3 inches above it put it into putrefaction as before in Sand stoping the mouth thereof very close for 3 or 4 days then put the S. V. out which will be all blood red If any thing remains in the Glass undissolved put in more S. V. and let it stand as before Do this as long as you find any Tincture therein This is Aurum Potabile XXXIII But if you would have the Tincture alone distil off the S. V. with a very gentle fire and you shall find the Tincture at the bottom of the Glass which you may project upon Luna Gebri Arabis Summa The Sum of GEBER ARABS Collected and Digested By WILLIAM SALMON Professor of Physick CHAP. XXXVII An Introduction into the whole Work I. PErfection and Imperfection of Metalline Bodies is the Subject of this present discourse and therefore we treat of things perfecting and corrupting or destroying because opposites set near to each other are the more manifest II. That which perfects Imperfect Minerals is a commixtion of Argent Vive and Sulphur
soft substance This is done with Ignition in their Fusion thus With Saturn or Jupiter the substance of Argent Vive or Sulphur fixed or of Arsenick must be mixed in their profundity Or they must be mixed with hard and not fusible things as the Calx of Marchasite and Tutia for these are united with and embraced by them and harden them so that they flow not till they are red hot The same thing is also compleated by our Medicine perfecting them of which hereafter XX. Fixation by removal of their fugitive substance This is done by calcination in a fire proportional to their substance In order to which 1. All their corrupting adustive substance must be cleansed from them as aforesaid 2. Then their earthy superfluity must be taken away 3. They must be dissolved and Reduced or compleatly washed in a Lavement of Argent Vive This is necessary and profitable XXI Saturn is specially hardened by a Calcination with the Acuity of Salt and by Talk it is especially dealbated as also by Marchasite and Tutia Calcine Saturn fluxed with common Salt putrefied stirring it continually with an Iron Spatula till it comes to Ashes Decoct it for one Natural day and let it be a little Fiery hot but not much then wash it with pure clean water and Calcine it for 3 daies till it be Red both within and without If you would have it to be prepared for the White Imbibe it with water of White Alum and reduce it with Oyl of Tartar or its Salt But if you would have it for the Red Imbibe it with the water of Crocus Martis and of Verdigrise and reduce it with Salt of Tartar as before This work Reiterate as often as need requires XXII The Calcination of Saturn and Jupiter Let a great Test or Calcining Pan be placed in a Fornace and put Saturn and Jupiter into it with as much common Salt prepared and Roch Alum Calcined being in Flux let the Metal be continually stirred with an Iron Spatula full of holes till the whole be reduced to Ashes which sift and set chem in the Fire again keeping them continually Red Fire Hot till the Calx of Jupiter is whitened or that of Jupiter is rubified as Minium XXIII The Regimen of Saturn and Jupiter for the White Take Saturn purified three Pound melt or add to it clean or purified Mercury twelve Pound stirring the whole that they may be mixed This mixture put into a Bolt-Head of a Foot in Length which place in the Athanor with a gentle Fre for a week Take purified Jupiter one Poind melt and add purified Mercury 12 Pound doing in all respects as before with Saturn In this weeks time you will have a Paste dissolved fit to be Fermented with the White Ferment Thus. XXIV Take of the White Ferment one Pound of the Paste of Saturn two Pounds of the Paste of Jupiter three Pounds These being dissolved mix through their least parts and set in putrefaction in a moderate Fire like as in dissolution for seven daies Then take them out well mixed and Strain or Squeeze their more Liquid parts through a Cloth The thick Matter remaining put into a Glass Seal it well up and place it in an Athanor for the time aforesaid which do thrice till it has Imbibed all the humidity Then put the Vessel with its Matter into a Fornace of Fixation for twelve daies which done take it forth and reduce it with things reducing so will you find that which our Ancestors found not without great Study viz. The Generated generating Prove this upon the Cineritium or Cupel with Lead and you will find the Body perfect in Whiteness perpetually generating its like XXV The Regimen of Saturn is also compleated if being prepared and dissolved I suppose he means in his dissolutive Water made of Nitre and Vitriol it be mixed with a third part of its Red Ferment dissolved also and then Distilling off the Water and Cohobating seven times Reduce it to a Body and prove it by its Examen and you will rejoyce in the bountiful Body which is generated XXVI White Medicines for Saturn also solar Medicines for Saturn Because the Medicines and the work are wholly or altogether the same as for Jupiter and that in the Chapter of Jupiter we have explicitely and largely declared the matter we shall refer you thither saying no more thereof in this place see Chap. 43. Sect. 16 17 18 19 20 21. following CHAP. XLIII The Alchymie of Jupiter I. TO prepare Jupiter Put it into a fit Vessel in a Fornace of Calcination and make a good Fusion stirring the melted Metal with an Iron Spatula full of holes drawing off the Scum as it arises and again stirring the Body and thus continuing till the whole quantity is reduced to Pouder or Ashes This Pouder sift and replace it in the Fornace again in the same heat of Fire stirring it often for 24 hours till its whole accidental and superfluous humidity is abolished with all its combustible and corrupting Sulphur Then often well wash it with common Salt cleansed and Alum purified and sharp Vinegar and dry it in the Sun or Air. Grind it again washing and drying it doing this so long till by the acuity of the Salts Alums Vinegar its whole humidity blackness and uncleanness is taken away This done add Glass in fine Pouder to it impaste the whole together and with a sufficient Fire make it flow in a Crucible with a hole in its bottom set within another so will the pure and clean Body descend the whole Earthy and Faeculent substance remaining above with the Glass Salts and Alums in which pure Body is an equal and perfect proportion Argent Vive and White Sulphur not burning Then Calcine this pure Body with pure and clean Sal Armoniack till it be in weight equal or thereabout being well and perfectly Calcined Grind the whole well and long upon a Porphyrie and set it in the open Air in a Cold moist place or in a Glass Vessel in a Fornace of Solution or in Horse-Dung till the whole be dissolved augmenting the Salt if need be This Water ought to be esteemed for it is what we seek for in the whole II. Tin is a Metallick Body White Livid not pure and a little sounding partaking of little Earthiness possessing in its Root harshness softness easiness of Liquefaction without Ignition not abiding the Cupel or Cement but extensible un der the Hammer Therefore Jupiter among Bodies diminished from perfection is in the Radix of its Nature of affinity to Sol and Luna but more to Luna and less to Sol. III. Jupiter because it receives much whiteness from the Radix of its generation it whitens all other Bodies which are not White but it has a fault that it breaks or makes brittle all other Bodies except Saturn and most pure Sol Jupiter adheres much to Sol and Luna and therefore does not easily receede from them in the examen or Tryal by the
take out the Matter grind it on a stone and dry it very well Imbibe again with rectified Oyl of Eggs or with Sal Alkali or Oyl of Salt of Pot-Ashes or of Nitre or Tartar until it will flow with Ingress Project one part upon five parts of Tin prepared and it will be perfect Luna of the second Order without Error XVII Another White Medicine for Jupiter and Saturn prepared Take Talk Calcined and grind it with as much as it self of Sal Armoniack sublime it three or four times dissolve into Water and therewith Imbibe Luna calcined as you did in the former so often as until it has drunk in as much as its own weight is and give ingress to it with the Oyls aforesaid and project one part upon 10 parts of Jupiter prepared and it will be all fine Luna XVIII Another White Medicine for Saturn and Jupiter prepared Take Luna 1 pound dissolved in its own water made of Nitre and Vitriol to which add Talck calcined and dissolved 1 pound Distil off the Water cohobating 3 or 4 times congeal and incerate with Arsenick sublimed until it flow and have Ingress project 1 part upon 8 parts of Jupiter prepared and 't will be all fine Luna These three Medicines you may project upon Saturn prepared for the White but then the Saturn must be prepared and calcined for three days by Sect. 21. of the former Chapter XIX A Solar Medicine for Jupiter and Saturn prepared Calcine Sol amalgating first with Mercury as in Luna express the Mercury through a Cloth then grind it with twice so much as it self of common Salt prepared set the whole over a gentle fire that the remaining Mercury may receed Extract the Salt with sweet water dry the Calx from which sublime as much Sal Armoniack reverting the sublimed Salt four times dissolve it in A. F. made of Vitriol Nitre and Alum dissolve also Crocus Martis made by calcination or Copper calcined red joyn these Waters in equal parts draw off the Water by distillation and cohobate four times then dry the matter and imbibe it with Oyl of Tartar rectified as heretofore is taught until it flows as Wax and by projection will tinge four parts of Saturn or Jupiter into Gold Obrizon XX. Another Solar Medicine for Saturn and Jupiter prepared It is made with Sol dissolved as in the former and a like quantity of Verdigrise calcin'd and dissolved being both mixed and incerated by distilling and incerating with Sulphur prepared until it flow like Wax and tinge 8 parts of Saturn or Jupiter prepared splendidly XXI A third Solar Medicine for Saturn and Jupiter prepared for the Red. It is made of Sol dissolved Sulphur dissolved and Verdigrise dissolved mixt and prepared as in the last Sect and then increated with Oyl of Hair prepared or of Eggs for both are one one part of this projects upon 10 parts of Saturn or Jupiter prepared for the red and it will be most fine Gold according to its degree these Medicines only altering in the second Order XXII There is also another preparation of Jupiter by Sect. 22. of the former Chapter XXIII And in Sect. 23. of the former Chapter you have the Regimen of Jupiter for the White which generates or produces fine Luna such as being tryed upon the Test produces a Body perfect in Whiteness and perpetually generating its life CHAP. XLIV Of the Alchemy of Mars I. TO prepare Mars or Iron Calcine it as Venus with common Salt cleansed and let it he washed with pure Vinegar Being washed dry it in the Sun and when dried grind and imbibe it with new Salt and Vinegar and put it into the same Fornace as we shall direct in Venus for 3 days Esteem and value this Solution viz. The water of fixed Sulphur wonderfully augmenting the color of the Elixir II. The whole Secret of Mars is from the Work of Nature because it is a Metalick body very livid a little Red partaking of Whiteness not pure sustaining Ignition fusible with violent fire extensive under the Hammer and sounding much III. It is hard to be managed by reason of its impotency of fusion which if it be made to flow by a Medicine changing its nature is so conjoyned to Sol and Luna that it cannot be separated by examen without great Industry but if prepared it is conjoyned and cannot be separated by any Artisice if the nature of that fixation be not changed by it the defilement of the Mars being only removed Therefore it is easily a Tincture of Redness but difficultly of Whiteness And when it is conjoyned it is not altred nor does it change the colour of the commixtion but augments it in quantity IV. Among all Bodies Jupiter is more splendidly more clearly more brightly and more perfectly transmuted into a Solar or Lunar Body than other Bodies but the Work is of long labour though easie to be handled Next to Jupiter is Venus chosen of more difficult handling but of shorter labour than Jupiter Next after Venus comes Saturn which has a diminished perfection in Transmutation and is easie to be hand led but of most tedious labour Lastly Mars among all the Bodies of least perfection is in transmutation most difficult to be handled and of exceeding long labour V. And the more difficult any Bodies are of fusion the more difficult they are in handling in the Work of Transmutation the easier to be fused the easier to be handled and what diversity of perfections are found in any particular in the lesser or middle Works yet in the Great Work all Bodies are of one perfection but not all of a like easie handling or labour VI. Hence it appears that Mars or Iron is a commixture of fixed Earthy Sulphur with fixed earthy Argent Vive of a livid whiteness the highly fixed Sulphur predominating which prohibits fusion Whence it is evident that fixed Sulphur hinders fusion more than fixed Argent Vive But Sulphur not fixed hastens fusion more than unfixed Argent Vive By which the cause of speedy or slow fusion in every body is seen VII What has more of a fixed Sulphur is harder to fuse than what partakes of a burning fugitive Sulphur which appears because Sulphur cannot be fixed without Calcination and no Calx gives fusion therefore in all things it viz. fixt Sulphur must impede the same VIII The causes of the corruption of the Metals by fire are 1. The inclusion of a burning Sulphur in the profundity of their substance diminishing them by Inflammation and exterminating into Fume whatever fixed Argent Vive was in them 2. A Vehemency of the Exterior flame penetrating and resolving them with it self into Fume and the most fixed matter in them 3. The rarefaction of them by calcination the flame or fire penetrating into and exterminating them Where all these causes of Corruption concur those Bodies must be exceedingly corrupted Where they all concur not they are by so much the less corrupted IX The causes of the
is made pure Silver if in quantity it exceed not yet this has a purity short of the purity of Gold and a more gross inspissation than Gold hath the sign of which is that its parts are not so condensed as that it can be equal in Weight with Gold nor has it so fixed a substance as that which is known by its diminution in the Fire and the Sulphur of it which is neither fixed nor incumbustible is the cause of that diminution V. But it is not impossible or improbable to give Judgment of the same as fixed and not fixed in the respect of one Body to another for the Sulphur of Luna compared with the Sulphur of Sol is not fixed and burning but in respect of the Sulphur of other bodies it is fixed and not burning VI. The Citrinating of Luna by medicines of the first Order This is that which adheres to it in its profondity and adding color either by its proper Nature or by the Artifice of this Magistery We declare therefore that Medicine which arising from its own root adhers to it but there are Artifices by which we make a thing of every kind to adhere with firm ingress But Our Medicine we extract either from Sulphur or Argent Vive or a commixture of both from Sulphur less perfectly but from Argent Vive more perfectly This Medicine may also be made of certain mineral things which are not of this kind as of Vitrol and Copperas which is called the Gum of Copper VII The method by Argent Vive Take Argent Vive precipitated viz. mortified and fixed by precipitation put it into a Fornace of great Ignition after the manner of Conservation of Calces until it be red as Usifur Cinabar But if it be not red take a part of Argent Vive not mortified and with Sulphur reiterate the sublimation thereof The Sulphur and Argent Vive must be cleansed from all impurity Repeat the sublimation of it twenty times upon the praecipitate then dissolve it with dissolving water and again calcine and dissolve till it be Exuberally done Then dissolve a part of Luna mix the Solutions and coagulate them and project the coagulated matter upon Luna in flux and it will colour it with a peculiar Citrinity But if Argent Vive be in its precipitation Red the aforesaid Administration without commixtion of any thing tinging it is sufficient for the compleatment of its perfection VIII The Method by Sulphur is difficult and immensly laborious It is Citrinated with a solution of Mars but then you must first calcine it and then fix it with abundance of Labour then administer it with the same preparation and the same projection upon the Body of Luna But hence results not a splendid bright colour but a dull and livid with a mortiferous Citrinity IX The Citrinating of it with Vitriol or Copperas Take of either of them q. v. and sublime as much thereof as can be sublimed until the fire be increased to the highest degree Then sublime this sublimate with a fit fire that of it part after part may be fixed until its greater part be fixed Afterwards warily calcine it that a greater fire may be administred for its perfection This done dissolve it into a most red Water which has no equal and so operate that you may give it ingress into the Body of Luna These three last Sections are all Medicines of the first Order X. We thus seeing things of this kind profoundly and amicably to adhere to Luna have considered and it is certain that these are from its own Radix and thence it is that Luna is altered by them It is also to be noted that Medicines of 〈◊〉 Vive if they alter Luna with more than one only difference in order to a total compleatment They are not of the first Order XI A Lunar Medicine of the third Order for the White It is as well for perfecting imperfect Bodies as for coagulating Mercury it self into true Luna And is thus made Take Luna calcined dissolve it in solutive water Aqua fortis then decoct it in a Phial with a long Neck the Orifice of which must be left unstopt for one day only until a third part of the water be consumed Then p t the vessel into a cold place to convert into fusible Crystals or Vitriol This is Silver reduced to our Mercury fixed and fusible Take of this 4 Ounces of White Arsenick prepared 6 Ounces Sulphur prepared 2 Ounces mix altogether well grinding them with Nitre and Sal Armoniack put the mixture into a Bolt-heat keeping the same in heat for a Week that the matter may be hard as Pitch This take out and again incerate the third time and in 3 days you will find it an Oyl in flux when the vessel is cold break it and take what you find therein which will be in a lump fixed and flowing as Wax This is the first degree Again Take of new Matter as much as before and joyn the same with this ferment and do as before and consequently a third and a fourth time Thus doing you will find a Medicine which is great and excellent in goodness for 1 part falls upon 10 of any other Body or of Mercury and converts it into true Luna Keep this Stone and considerately ruminate upon the things we teach and you will attain unto higher things XII A Lunar Medicine of the third Order for the White Take the known Stone of it and by way of separation divide its most pure substance and keep it apart Then fix some of that part which is most pure leaving the remainder and when it is fixed dissolve what is soluble of it but what is not soluble put to be calcined and again dissolve the calcinate until again what is soluble of it be altogether dissolved Continue this process until the greater quantity be dissolved Then mix all the solutions together and coagulate them this done gently decocting keep the coagulate in a temperate fire until greater fire may be fitly added for its perfection Therefore reiterate all these Orders of Preparation upon it 4 times and lastly calcine it by its own way for thus administring you have sufficiently governed the most precious Earth of the Stone Then subtily and ingeniously conjoyn a quantity of the part reserved with part of this prepared Earth through its least Particles then sublime by way of sublimation until the fixed with the not fixed be wholly elevated which if you see not again add a quantity of the not fixed part until enough be added for elevation thereof When it is all sublimed repeat the sublimation until by repetition of this Operation it be wholly fixed Being fixed again imbibe it with quantity after quantity of the not fixed after the same manner till the whole shall be again sublimed then again fix it until it have easie fusion with Ignition This is the true Medicine which transmutes all imperfect Metals and every Argent Vive into most fine and
perfect Luna XIII The Regiment of Luna Dissolve and Coagulate it 7 times or at least 4 times and to it dissolved adjoyn the fixed Rubifying Waters which we shall declare and you will find the body aptly solar for it agrees with Sol and remains quietly with it In this Venus admirably well purged and dissolved may be a great help to you because a most clean tinging and fixed Sulphur may be extracted from it And I tell you that Mercury purified and fixed has power to palliate or illustrate the foulness of imperfect Bodies and fixed Sulphur extracted pure from bodies to tinge them with splendor XIV Hence you may gather a great Secret viz. That Mercury and Sulphur may be extracted as well from imperfect Bodies as from perfect For purified Spirits and middle Minerals are an help and very peculiar for deducing the Work to perfection XV. Another Regiment of Luna This is to reduce it to a more noble state Take Luna dissolved 3 Pounds of Venus dissolved 4 Pounds of Ferment dissolved 1 Pound conjoyn the dissolutions decoct them sor 7 days with gentle fire in a sealed glass as in Mars with their whole water then augment the fire leisurely for other 7 days and let it be as a fire of Sublimation For other 7 days give it fire yet stronger that the whole water may be fixed with it This pouder reduce in a small quantity and if it retains with it self part of the Mercury which you will easily perceive if you know how to calcine it is well indeed but if not put it again to be fixed until it is sufficiently fixt This must be reduced with red reducing Medicines so will you find your Luna tinged transmuted and fixed XVI The Ferment of Luna for the White It is made by dissolving Luna in its own Corrosive water and then boiling this water away to a third part it is to be exposed to the Air or set in B. M. or in Dung for certain days so will it be Oyl of Luna and Ferment which keep for the White Work XVII The Ferment of Ferments upon Mercury for the White Take of the Ferment of Luna which is its Oyl add to it twice as much of Arsenick sublimed and dissolved in water Quaer what Water then to both these add of Mercury dissolved as much as of the Arsenick mix the Waters set them over the fire for one day to be incorporated then draw off the water by an Alembick and cohobate fifteen times so incerating it will be fluid as fusible Wax Add to it as much Virgin-Wax melted commix them and project the mixture upon Mercury washed Quaere What is meant by washing here according as you see fit for that resolved is augmented in Virtue and Weight XVIII A Work upon Luna and Mercury Take Litharge Salt of Pot-Ashes mix and make a Cement Put the Cement first into a Crucible an Inch thick upon which put a Ball of the Amalgamation of Mercury and Luna upon which put the remainder of the Cement that the Ball may be in the middle Dry lute and set the Crucible in a gentle fire for half a day leisurely augmenting the fire and so continue its leisurely in crease from the Evening unto the dawning of the day with moderate ignition at last then take it out and prove it by Cineritium and it will be Luna in weight and surdity and much better in fixation XIX Another Work Amalgamate Luna with Mercury to which add as much Saturn as there is Luna put it into such a Crucible that a fourth part of it may be empty Affuse on it Oyl of Sulphur and decoct it unto the consumption of the Oyl Afterwards keep it for two hours in a moderate fire and there will be generated a black Stone with a little Redness This Stone prove by Cineritium and you will find your Luna augmented in Weight Surdity and Fixation XX. Another Work Take Luna amalgamated with Mercury Grind it with twice so much Metaline Arsenick to which a tenfold proportion of amalgamated Venus viz. That the Amalgamation of Venus may be 10 times as much as the whole Amalgama of Luna and Mercury mixed with the duple quantity of Arsenick grind the whole and fix Then reduce it into a Body and you will find a good augmentation XXI Of the Citrination of Luna or tinging its Body yellow Dissolve 〈◊〉 Philosophick Zyniar which is Verdigrise deduced from Venus prepared in the water of the dissolution of Luna Aqua Fortis to which adjoyn half so much as its self is of Mercury rubified by sublimation and in some sort fixed and dissolved to these add as much of Luna dissolved as the Zyniar Verdigrise is from which fermented for one day extract the water by distillation and cohobate 10 times then coagulate and reduce into a body and you will find it a good Work XXII Or thus Dissolve Zyniar 1 Ounce and our Crocus prepared with Mercury sublimate till it wax red 1 Ounce add as much Sal Armoniack and sublime it thrice from that Crocus which dissolve To which add of Luna dissolved 2 Ounces Then do as in the former incerating and reducing and you will find satisfaction XXIII Or thus Take of Crocus and Zyniar dissolved ana add as much Sol dissol ved incerate as before then coagulate to the coagulate add a fourth part of its weight of the Oyl of Salt-peter and project upon so much of Luna and will be a Tincture of a Citrine aspect XXIV Or thus Make a Water of our Zyniar and of our said Crocus and imbibe the Calces of Sol and Luna of each equal parts therewith until they have drunk in their own weight of it Then incerate with the Oyl of Sal Armoniack and Nitre and reduce the Mass into a Noble Body XXV Or thus Sublime Sal Armoniack from our greenness to which add Crocus and Zyniar from which well commixed sublime the Sal Armoniack and repeat it twice or thrice Then dissolve the whole to which add a third part of Gold dissolved incerate as before and congeal then project upon Sol 1 ounce Luna 2 Ounces mixed together and it will be good CHAP. XLVII Of the Alchimie of Sol. I. PErfect Bodies as Sol is need no preparation in relation to their farther perfection but that they may be more subtilized and attenuated we give you this Preparation Take Leaves of fine Sol which lay stratum superstratum with common Salt well prepared in a Vessel of Calcination Set it into a Fornace and calcine well for 3 days until the whole be subtily calcined Then take it grind it well wash it with Vinegar Quaer Whether Spirit of Vinegar or some other acid Spirit and dry it in the Sun Then grind it well with half its weight of prepared or purified Sal Armoniack and set it to be dissolved until the whole by help of the Common Salt and Sal Armoniack is reduced into a most clear water This is the pretious ferment for
Goodness and purity of each Metal For seeing that Argent Vive for no Causes of Extermination permits it self to be divided into parts in its composition because it either with its whole substance receeds from the fire or with its whole remains permanent in it there is necessarily observed in it a cause of perfection For it is that which overcomes Fire and by Fire is not overcome but it amicably rests rejoycing therein possessing Perfection as we have found with an Approximate Potency XXXIII Of the Purification of Argent Vive It is cleansed two ways either by sublimation of which we have shewed the way already or by way of a Lavament of which the way is this Put Argent Vive into a Stone or Earthen Dish and pour upon it as much Vinegar as is sufficient to cover it Set it over a gentle fire and let it heat so far as you may well hold your Fingers in it and no more Then stir it about with your Fingers until it be divided into most small Particles in the similitude of Powder and continue stirring it until all the Vinegar be wholly consumed After which wash away the Earthiness remaining with Vinegar and cast it away Repeating this washing so often till the Earthiness of the Mercury is changed into a most perfect Coelestine colour which is a sign that it is throughly washed XXXIV Of the Nature of Argent Vive There is a necessity of removing its Superfluities for it has Causes of Corruption viz. an Earthy substance and an adustible watriness without Inflamation yet some have thought it to have no superfluous Earth and Uncleanness but that is vain and not true For we see it to consist of much lividness and not of whiteness we see also a black and Feculent Earth to be separated from it with easie Artifice by a Lavation as abovesaid But because we are by that to acquire a two-fold perfe ction viz. 1. To make a Medicine 2. To perfect it Therefore we must necessarily prepare the same by the degrees of a two-fold purification for two cleansings of Mercury are necessary One by Sublimation for the Medicine which shall be here shewed The other by a Lavament for coagulation which we have shewed at Sect. 33. above XXXV For if we would make a Medicine of it then there is a necessity to cleanse it from the foeculency of its Earthiness by sublimation least it create a livid color in projection and also to remove its sugitive watriness lest it make the whole Medicine fugitive in projection and to keep safe the middle substance thereof sor Medicine of which the Property is not to be burned but to defend from combustion and not to fly it self but to make sixed which is a perfection by manifold Experiences For we see Argent Vive more nearly to adhere to Argent Vive and to be more beloved by the same but next to it Gold has place and after that Silver XXXVI Wherefore bence it follows that Argent Vive is more friendly to its own nature but we see other Bodies not to have so great conformity to or unity with it and therefore we find them in very deed less to partake of the nature thereof And whatsoever Bodies we see more to defend from adustion those we judge to partake more of the nature of it therefore it is manifest that Argent Vive is the perfective and salvative from Adustion which is the Vltimate of Perfection XXXVII The second degree of its Purification is for its Coagulation And the washing away of its earthiness for one day only is sufficient for it the method of which washing we have largely declared at Sect. 33. aloregoing Being therefore so throughly washed project upon it the Medicine of Coagulation and it will be coagulated into a Solifick or Lunifick substance according as the Medicine was prepared From what is now said it is manifest that Argent Vive is not perfective in its nature but that matter is which is produced of it by our Art And so likewise is it in Sulphur and Arsenick Therefore in these it is not possible to follow nature but by our natural Artifice XXXVIII It is also undeniably manifest that bodies containing the greatest quantity of Argent Vive are bodies of perfection Wherefore it is to be supposed that those bodies are more nigh to perfection which more amicably imbibe Argent Vive The sign of this is the easie susception of Argent Vive by a Solar or Lunar body of Perfection For this same reason if a body altered do not easily receive Argent Vive into its Substance it must needs be very remote from this perfection spoken of XXXIX The preparation of Argent Vive Take of it one pound Vitriol Rubified two pounds Roch Alum Calcin'd one pound Common Salt half a pound Nitre four ounces Incorporate all together and sublime Gather the white and Dense and ponderous which will be found about the side of the Vessel and keep it for use Now if in the first Sublimation you shall finde it Turbid or Unclean which may be thro Carlesness sublime it again with the same Foeces and reserve it as before XL. The Regiment of Mercury It is done two ways 1. You must Amalgamate it well washed and purified as under directed 2. You must Distill it and thence make an Aqua Vitae or Spirit of Wine The first wav Take of Mercu ry 40 Ounces of Sol. of Luna of Venus of Saturn ana one Ounce melt these bodies first the Venus and Luna secondly the Sol thirdly Saturn Take all out of the Fire having melted them in a large Crucible and your Mercury in readiness made hot in another and when the said Metals begin to harden pouer in the Mercury Leisurly stirring the mixture with a stick setting it again on the Fire and taking it off untill they be all amalgamated with the whole Mercury This Amal gama put to be dissolved for seven days Extract the water with a Cloth make the residue Volatile giving Fire of Ignition This again imbibe with its whole water and put it to be generated and again to be dryed for forty days and you will finde a Stone which put to be fixed so will you have a Stone augmentable to Infinity In this Book we have expounded all things which we have written in divers Books XLI The sublimation of Mercury If you would perfectly sublime it you must add to every pound of it common Salt two pound and a half Salt-Peter half a pound mortify the Mercury wholly grinding it all together with Vinegar until nothing of the Mercury appear living in the mixture then sublime it according to Art It is a thing profitable XLII The Sublimatioa of Red Mercury Take one pound of it mix and perfectly grind it with Vitroil Nitre ana one pound and sublime it from them Red and splendid XLIII Out of all that has been said it appears with evident Demonstration that our Stone is procreated out
of the substance of Argent Vive But to unlock the Closure of Art you must study to resolve Luna or Sol into their own dry water which the vulgar call Mercury And it is so that a duodenary proportion of the solutive water may contain only one part of the perfect body For if with gentle fire you well govern these you will find in the space of 40 days the body converted into mere water and the sign of its perfect dissolution is blackness appearing on its Superfices XLIV But if you endeavour to perfect both Works the White and the Red dissolve each of the ferments by themselves and keep them This is Our Argent Vive extracted from Argent Vive which we intend for Ferment But the Paste to be fermented we extract in the usual man ner from imperfect bodies And of this we give you a general Rule which is That the White Paste is extracted from Jupiter and Saturn but the Red from Venus and Saturn But every Body must be dissolved by its self in the Ferment XLV Sulphur we have proved is corruptive of every kind of Perfection But Argent Vive is perfective in the Works of Nature with compleat Regiment So we not changing but imitating Nature in Works possible do likewise assume Argent Vive in the Magistery of this Work for a Medicine of each kind of Perfection viz. both Lunar and Solar as well of Imperfect Bodies as of Argent Vive Coagulable And seeing there is a twofold difference of Medicines one of Bodies but the other of Argent Vive truly coagulable we shall here discourse it XLVI The matter per se of this Medicine of every kind is one only already sufficiently known Take therefore that and if you will work according to the Lunar Order learn to be expert in Operating and prepare that with the known ways of this Magistery The intention of which is That you should divide the pure substance from it and fixt part thereof but leave a part for cerating and so proceeding through the whole Magistery till you compleat its desired fusion If it suddenly flows in hard Bodies it is perfect but in soft Bodies the contrary For this Medicine projected upon any of the Imperfect Bodies changes it into a perfect Lunar Body if the known Preparations have been first given to this Medicine But if not it leaves the same diminished yet in one only difference of Perfection it perfects as much as depends on the Administration of the Order of a Medicine of this kind But this due Administration not preceeding according to the third Order it perfects in projection only XLVII A Solar Medicine of the Second Order of every of the imperfect Bodies is the same matter and participates of the same Regiment of Preparation Yet in this it differs viz. in the greater subtilization of parts by proper ways of digestion and in the commixtion of subtil Sulphur under the Regimen of Preparation administred with the addition of the matter now known XLVIII The Regiment of it is the fixation of pure Sulphur and the solution thereof For with this the Medicine is tinged and with it projected upon every of the Bodies diminished from perfection it compleats the same in a Solar Complement as much as depends upon a Medicine of the Second Order the known and certain preparation of the imperfect body preceeding Also the same projected upon Luna perfects it much in a peculiar Solar compleatment THE SECOND BOOK OF GEBER ARABS CHAP. XLIX The Introduction to this Second Book I. THERE are two things to be determined viz. the Principles of this Magistery and the perfection of the same The Principles of this Art are the Ways or Methods of its Operations to which the Artist applys himself in the Work of this Magistery These ways are divers in themselves As 1. Sublimation 2. Descension 3. Distillation 4. Calcination 5. Solution 6. Coagulation 7. Fixation 8. Ceration All which we shall with much plainness declare II. The perfection consists 1. Of those things and from the consideration of those things by which it is attained 2. From the consideration of things helping 3. From the consideration of that thing which lastly perfects 4. And from that by which it is known whether the Magistery was in perfection or not III. The consideration of those things by which we attain to the Compleatment of the Work is the consideration of the Substance manifest and of manifest Colors and of the weight in every of the Bodies to be changed and of those Bodies that are not changed from the Radix of their Nature without that Artifice and the consideration of those likewise that are changed in the Radix of their Nature by Artifice with the consideration of the Principles of Bodies according as they are profound occult or manifest and according to their Natures with or without Artifice IV. For if Bodies and their Principles be not known in the profound or manifest properties of their Natures both with and without Artifice what is superfluous and what is wanting or defective in them cannot be known and our not knowing those would of necessity hinder us from ever attaining to the perfection of their Transmutation V. The consideration of things helping Perfection is the consideration of the Nature of those things which we see adhere to Bodies without Artifice and to make Mutation And these are Marchasite Magnesia Tutia Antimony and Lapis Lazuli And the consideration of those which without adherency cleanse Bodies such are Salts Allums Nitre Borax Vitriol and other things of like nature And the consideration of Glass of all sorts and things cleansing by a like nature VI. But the consideration of the thing that perfects is the consideration of chusing the pure Substance of Argent Vive and it is the Matter which from the Substance of that took beginning and of which it was created This Matter is not Argent Vive in its Nature nor in its whole Substance but it is part of it nor is it now but when the Stone is made for that illustrates and conserves from Adustion which is a signification of Perfection VII Lastly The consideration of the thing or certain Tryal and Examination by which it is known whether the Magistery be in Perfection or not arises from the consideration of 1. The Cupel 2. Cement 3. Ignition 4. Exposing it to the Vapours of Acid Things 5. Extinction 6. Commixtion of Sulphur burning Bodies 7. Reduction after Calcination 8. Susception of Argent Vive All which with the former we declare with their Causes from Experiences by which you may certainly know we have not erred CHAP. L. Of Sublimation Vessels Furnaces I. THe cause of the Invention of Sublimation was to unite Bodies with Spirits since nothing can possibly be united with a Body but a Spirit Or to find something that can contain in its self the nature both of Body and Spirit which being cast upon bodies without being first purified either give not
declared And these things I thought fit to speak as a warning to the prudent Sons of Art that they spend not their Money unprofitably but may know what they ought to look after for by this only they may attain to the perfection of this Secret and by no other means Farewel The Secret Book of Artephius CHAP. III. Of the Composition of our Antimonial Vinegar or Secret Water I. ANtimonium est de partibus Saturni in omnibus modis habet naturam ejus Antimonium Saturninum convenit Soli in eo est argentum vivum in qu◠non submergitur aliquod metallum nisi aurum id est Sol submergitur verè tantum in argento vivo Antimoniali Saturniali II. Et sine illo Argento vivo aliquod metallum dealbari non potest Dealbat ergo latonem id est aurum reducit corpus perfectum in suam primam materiam id est in sulphur argentum vivum albi coloris plusquam speculum splendentis III. Dissolvit inquam corpus perfectum quod est de sua natura Nam illa aqua est amicabilis metallis placabilis dealbans Solem quia continet argentum vivum album IV. Et ex hoc utrique maximum elicias secretum videlicet quod aqua Antimonij Saturnini debet esse Mercurialis alba ut dealbet aurum non urens sed dissolvens postea se congelans in formam cremoris albi V. Ideo dicit Philosophus quod aqua ista facit corpus volatile propterea quod postquam in haec aqua dissolutum fuerit infrigidatum ascendit superius in superficie aquae VI. Recipe inquit 〈◊〉 crudum foliatum vel laminatum vel calcinatum per Mercurium ipsum pone in aceto nostro Antimoniali Saturniali Mercuriali salis armoniaci ut dicitur in vase vitreo lato alto quatuor digitorum vel plus dimitte ibi in calore temperato videbis brevi tempore elevari quasi liquorem olei desuper natantem in modum pelliculae VII Collige illud cum cocleari vel pennâ intingendo sic pluribus vicibus in die collige donec nihil amplius ascendat ad ignem facies evaporare aquam id est superfluam humiditatem aceti remanebit tibi quinta essentia auri in modum olei albi incombustibilis VIII In quo oleo Philosophi posuerunt maxima secreta hoc oleum habet dulcedi nem maximam atque valet ad mitigandos dolores vulnerum I. ANtimony is a Mineral participating of Saturnine parts and has in all respects the nature thereof This Saturnine Antimony agrees with Sol and contains in it self Argent vive in which no Metal is swallowed up except Gold and Gold is truly swallowed up by this Antimonial Argent Vive II. Without this Argent Vive no Metal whatsoever can be whitened it whitens Laton i. e. Gold and reduceth a perfect Body into its prima Materia or first Matter viz. into Sulphur and Argent Vive of a white Colour and out-shining a Looking-Glass III. It dissolves I say the perfect Body which is so in its own Nature for this Water is friendly and agreeable with the Metals whitening Sol because it contains in it self white or pure Argent Vive IV. And from both these you may draw a great Arcanum viz. a Water of Saturnine Antimony mercurial and white to the end that it may whiten Sol not burning but dissolving and afterwards congealing to the consistence or likeness of white Cream V. Therefore saith the Philosopher this Water makes the Body to be volatile because after it has been dissolved in it and infrigidated it ascends above and swims upon the surface of the Water VI. Take saith he crude Leaf-Gold or calcin'd with Mercury and put it into our Vinegar made of Saturnine Antimony Mercurial and Sal Armoniack as is said in a broad Glass Vessel and four Inches high or more put it into a gentle heat and in a short time you will see elevated a Liquor as it were Oyl swimming a top much like a Scum VII Gather this with a Spoon or a Feather dipping it in and so doing oftentimes a day till nothing more arise Evapourate away the Water with a gentle heat i. e. the superfluous humidity of the Vinegar and there will remain the Quintessence Potestates or Powers of Gold in form of a white Oyl incombustible VIII In this Oyl the the Philosophers have placed their greatest Secrets it is exceeding sweet and of great virtue for easing the pains of Wounds CHAP. IV. Of the Operations of our Antimonial Vinegar or Mineral Water I. EST igitur totum secretum istius secreti Antimonialis ut per hoc sciamus extrahere argentum viv de corpore magnesiae non urens hoc est Antimonium sublimatum Mercuriale II. Id est opportet extrahere unam aquam vivam incombustibilem dein illam congelare cum corpore perfecto Solis quod inibi dissolvitur in naturam substantiam albam congelatam ac si esset cremor totum deveniat album III. Sed prius Sol iste in sua putrefactione resolutione in hac aqua in principio amittet lumen suum obscurabitur nigrescet demum elevabit se super aquam paulatim illi albus supernatabit color in substantiam albam IV. Et hoc est dealbare latonem rubeum eum sublimare Philosophicè reducere in suam primam materiam id est in sulphur Album incombustibile in argentum vivum fixum V. Et sic humidum terminatum id est Aurum corpus nostrum per reiterationem liquefactionis in aqua nostra dissolutiva convertitur reducitur in sulphur argentum vivum fixum VI. Et sic corpus perfectum Solis accipit vitam in tali aqua vivificatur inspiratur crescit multiplicatur in sua specie sicut res caeterae VII Nam in ipsa aqua corpus ex duobus corporibus Solis Eunae sit ut 〈◊〉 tumeat ingrossetur elevetur crescat accipiendo substantiam naturam animatam vegetabilem VIII Nostra etiam Aqua ceu acetum supradictum est acetum montium id est Solis Lunae ideo miscetur Soli Lunae illisque adhaeret in perpetuum ac corpus ab illa accipit tincturam albedinis splendet cum ea fulgore inaestimabili IX Qui sciverit igitur convertere corpus in Argentum album medicinale facile deinde poterit convertere per istud Aurum album omnia metalla imperfecta in optimum Argentum finum X. Et 〈◊〉 Aurum album dicitur a Philosophis Luna alba Philosophorum Argentum vivum album fixum aurum Alchimiae fumus albus Ergo sine illo aceto nostro Antimoniali Aurum album Al chimiae non 〈◊〉 XI Et quia in aceto nostro est duplex substantia Argenti vivi una ex Antimonio altera ex Mercurio sublimato ideo dat duplex pondus
parte aquae nostrae facta sunt spiritus in aêra scandentes ibique corpus compositum ex mare foemina ex Sole Luna ex illa subtillissimanatura mundata per sublimationem accipit vitam inspiratur à suo humore VIII Id est à sua aqua sicut homo ab aêre quare multiplicabitur deinceps ac crescet in sua specie sicut res omnes caeterae IX In tali ergo elevatione sublimatione philosophica conjunguntur omnes ad invicem corpus novum inspiratum ab aêre vivit vegetabiliter quod est miraculosum X. Quare nisi corpora igne aqua attenuentur quousque ascendant in spiritus quousque fiant ut aqua fumus vel Mercurius nihil fit in Arte. XI Illis tamen ascendentibus in aêre nascuntur in aêre vertuntur fiuntque vita cum vita ut numquam possint separari sicut aqua mixta aquae XII Ideoque natus in aēre sapienter dicitur quoniam omnino spiritualis efficitur XIII Ipse namque Vultur sine alis volans supra montem clamitat dicens Ego sum albus nigri rubeus albi citrinus rubei filius vera dicens non mentior I. PUT the refore the perfect Bodies of Metals to wit Sol and Luna into our Water in a Vessel Hermetically sealed upon a gentle Fire and digest continually 'till they are perfectly resolved into a most precious Oyl II. Digest saith Adfar with a gentle Fire as it were for the hatching of Chickens so long 'till the Bodies are dissolved and their perfectly conjoyned Tincture mark this well is extracted III. But it is not extracted all at once but it is drawn out by little and little day by day and hour by hour till after a long time the Solution thereof is compleated and that which is dissolved always swims a top IV. And while this dissolution is in hand let the Fire be gentle and continual till the Bodies are dissolved into a viscous and most subtile Water and the whole Tincture be educed in colour first black which is the sign of a true dissolution V. Then continue the digestion till it becomes a white fixed Water for being digested in Balneo Mariae it will afterwards become clear and in the end become like to common Argent vive ascending by the Spirit above the first Water VI. When therefore you see the Bodies dissolved in the first viscous Water then know that they are turned into a Vapour and that the Soul is separated from the dead Body and by Sublimation brought into the order of Spirits VII Whence both of them with a part of our Water are made Spirits flying up into the Air and there the compounded Body made of the Male and the Female viz. of Sol and Luna and of that most subtile Nature cleansed by Sublimation taketh Life and is made Spiritual by its own humidity VIII That is by its own Water like as a Man is sustained by the Air whereby from thenceforth it is multiplied and increases in its own kind as do all other things IX In such an ascension therefore and philosophical Sublimation all are joyned one with another and the new Body subtilized or made living by the Spirit miraculously liveth or iprings like a Vegetable X. Wherefore unless the Bodies be attenuated or made thin by the Fire and Water 'till they ascend in a Spirit and are made or do become like Water and Vapour or Mercury you labour wholly in vain XI But when they arise or ascend they are born or brought forth in the Air or Spirit and in the same they are changed and made Life with Life so as they can never be separated but are as Water mixt with Water XII And therefore it is wisely said That the Stone is born of the Spirit because it is altogether Spiritual XIII For the Vulture himself flying without Wings cries upon the top of the Mountain saying I am the white brought forth from the black and the red brought forth from the white the citrine Son of the red I speak the Truth and lye not CHAP. XIII Of the beginning of the Work and a Summary of what is to be done I. SUfficit ergo tibi corpora in vase in aqua semel ponere diligenter claudere vas quousque vero separatio sit facta II. Quae vocatur ab invidis conjunctio sublimatio assatio extractio putrefactio ligatio desponsatio subtiliatio generatio c. III. Et totum perficiatur magisterium Fac igitur sicut ad generationem hominis omnis vegetabilis imponito semel matrici semen bene claude IV. Vides ergo quomodo pluribus rebus non indiges quod opus nostrum magnas non requiret expensas quoniam unus est lapis una medicina unum vas unum regimen una dispositio ad album rubeum successivè faciendum V. Et quamvis dicamus in pluribus locis ponito hoc ponito istud tamen non intelligimus nos opportere nisi unam rem accipere semel ponere claudere vas usque ad operis complementum VI. Quia haec tantum ponuntur à philosophis invidis ut decipiant ut dictum est incautos Nunquid enim etiam haec ars est Cabalistica arcanis plena tu fatue credis nos docere apertè arcana arcanorum verbaque accipis secundum sonum verborum VII Scito verè nullo modo sum ego invidus ut caeteri qui verba aliorum philosophorum accipit secundum prolationem ac significationem vulgarem nominum jam ille absque filo Ariadnae in medio amfractuam Labyrinthi multipliciter errat pecuniamque suam destinavit perditioni VIII Ego vero Artephius postquam adeptus sum veram ac completam sapientiam in libris veridici Hermetis fui aliquando 〈◊〉 caeteri omnes IX Sed cum per mille annos aut circiter quae jam transierunt super me à nativitate mea gratia Soli Dei omnipotentis usu hujus mirabilis quintae essentiae X. Cum per haec inquam longissima tempora viderem neminem magisterium Hermeticum obtinere posse propter obscuritatem verborum philosophorum XI Pietate motus ac probitate boni viri decrevi in his ultimis temporibus vitae meae omnia scribere sineere ac veraciter ut nihil ad perficiendum lapidem philosophorum possis desiderare XII Dempto aliquo quod nemini licet scribere quia revelatur per Deum aut magistrum tamen in hoc libro ille qui non erit durae cervicis cum pauca experientia faciliter addiscet XIII Scripsi ergo in hoc libro nudam veritatem quia paucis coloribus vestivi ut omnis bonus sapiens mala Hesperidum mirabilia feliciter pos sit ex arbore hac philosophica decerpere XIV Quare laudetur Deus altissimus qui posuit in anima nostra hanc benignitatem cum senectute longinquissima dedit nobis veram
naturam retineat convertat in naturam albam XVI Quod si vis rubificare oportet coquere album istud in igne sicco continuo donec rubificetur ut sanguis qui nihil erit aliud quam aqua ignis tinctura vera XVII Et sic per ignem siccum continuum emendatur albedo citrinatur acquirit rubedinem colorem verum fixum XVIII Quantò ergo magis coquitur magis coloratur fit tinctura intentioris rubedinis XIX Quare oportet igne sicco calcinatione sicca absque humore compositum coquere donec rubicundissimo vestiatur colore tunc erit perfectum Elixir I. DIssolve then Sol and Luna in our dissolving Water which is familiar and friendly and the next in nature unto them and is also sweet and pleasant to them and as it were a Womb a Mother an Original the beginning and the end of their Life II. And that is the very Reason why they are meliorated or amended in this Water because like nature rejoiceth in like nature and like nature retains like nature being joined the one to the other in a true Marriage by which they are made one Nature one new Body raised again from the dead and immortal III. Thus it behoves you to join Consanguinity or sameness of kind with sameness of kind by which these natures will meet and follow one another purifie themselves generate and make one another rejoice for that like nature now is disposed by like nature even that which is nearest and most friendly to it IV. Our Water then saith Danthin is the most beautiful lovely and clear Fountain prepared only for the King and Queen whom it knows very well and they it V. For it attracts them to its self and they abide therein for two or three days to wit two or three months to wash themselves therewith whereby they are made young again and beautiful VI. And because Sol and Luna have their Original from this Water their Mother it is necessary therefore that they enter into it again to wit into their Mothers Womb that they may be regenerate or born again and made more healthy more noble and more strong VII If therefore these do not die and be converted into Water they remain alone or as they were and without Fruit but if they die and are resolved in our Water they bring forth Fruit an hundred-fold and from that very place in which they seem'd to perish from thence shall they appear to be that which they were not before VIII Let therefore the Spirit of our living Water be with all care and industry fixed with Sol and Luna for that they being converted into the nature of Water become dead and appear like to the Dead from whence afterwards being revived they encrease and multiply even as do all sorts of Vegetable Substances IX It suffices then to dispose the Matter sufficiently without because that within it sufficiently disposes it self for the Perfection of its own work X. For it has in it self a certain and inherent motion according to the true way and Method and a much better order than it is possible for any Man to invent or think of XI For this Cause it is that you need only to prepare the matter Nature her self alone will perfect it and if she be not hindred by some contrary thing she will not over-pass her own certain motion neither in conceiving or generating nor in bringing forth XII Wherefore after the preparation of the matter beware only lest by too much heat or fire you inflame the Bathe or make it too hot Secondly take heed lest the Spirit should exhale lest it hurts the Operator to wit lest it destroys the work and induces many infirmities as sadness trouble vexation discontent XIII From these things which have been spoken this Axiom is manifest to wit that he can never know the necessary course of Nature in the making or generating of Mettals who is ignorant of the way of destroying them XIV You must therefore join them together that are of one consanguinity or kindred for like natures do find out and join with their like natures and by putrifying themselves together are mixed together and mortifie themselves XV. It is needful therefore to know this Corruption and Generation and how the natures do embrace one another and are brought to a fixity in a slow or gentle fire how like nature rejoiceth with like nature how they retain one another and are converted into a white subsistencie XVI This white substance if you will make it Red you must continually decoct it in a dry Fire till it is rubified or becomes red as blood which is then nothing but water fire and the true tincture XVII And so by a continual dry fire the whiteness is changed removed perfected made citrine and still digested till it comes to a true red and fixed colour XVIII And consequently by how much more this red is decocted in this gentle heat by so much the more it is heightned in Colour and made a true Tincture of perfect Redness XIX Wherefore with a dry Fire and a dry Calcination without any moisture you must decoct this Compositum till it be invested with a most perfect red Colour and then it will be the true and perfect Elixir CHAP. XVIII Of the Multiplication of the Philosophick Tincture I. SI postea velis illum multiplicare oportet iteratò resolvere illud rubeum in nova aqua dissolutiva iterato coctione dealbare rubificare per gradus ignis reiterando primum regimen II. Solve gela reitera claudendo aperiendo multiplicando in quantitate qualitate at tumm placitum III. Quia per novam corruptionem generationem iterum introducitur novus motus IV. Et sic non possemus adipisci finem si semper operari vellemus per reiteratienem solutionis coagulationis mediante aqua nostra dissolutiva id est dissolvendo congelando ut dictum est per primum regimem V. Et sic ejus virtus augmentatur multiplicatur in quantitate qualitate ita quod si in primo opere receperit centum in secundo habebis mille in tertio decem millia VI. Et sic prosequendo veniet projectio tua usque ad infinitum tingendo verè perfectè fixe omnem quantamcumque quantitatem VII Et sic per rem vilis pretij additur color virtus pondus VIII Ignis ergo noster Azoth tibi sufficiunt coque coque reitera solve gela sic continua ad tuum placi tum multiplicando quantum volueris donec medicina tua fiat fusibilis ut cera habeat quantitatem virtutem optatam IX Est ergo totius operis sive lapidis secundi not a bene complementum ut sumatur corpus perfectum quod ponas in nostra aqua in domo vitrea benè clausa obturata cum cemento 〈◊〉 aer intret aut humidit as introclusa
of the Deluge when the whole Composition was water XVII This Serpent must be slain or 〈◊〉 and overcome by the Arrows of Apollo by the yellow Sol that is to say by our fire which is equal too that of the Sun XVIII He who 〈◊〉 or rather the Washings which must be continued with the other half are the Teeth of that serpent which the Wife 〈◊〉 will sow in the Earth from whence shall spring up Armed Men who in the end shall 〈◊〉 themselves suffering themselves by opposition to resolve into the same nature of the Earth and the Artist to obtain his deserved Conquests XIX It is of this very thing that the Philosophers have 〈◊〉 written and so often 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dissolves it self it 〈◊〉 it self it makes it self Black it makes it self White it 〈◊〉 it self and makes it self alive again XX. I caused their Field to be painted Azure and Blue to shew that we do now but begin to get out from the most black darkness For that the Azure and Blue is one of the first Colours that the dark Woman let us see to wit moisture giving place a little to heat and dryness XXI The Man and Woman are almost all Orange colourd to 〈◊〉 that our Bodies or our body's which the Philosophers here call Rebis are not yet decocted enough and that the 〈◊〉 from whence the black Blue and Azure comes is but half vanquished by the dryness XXII For when the 〈◊〉 has got the Dominion all will be white and when it fights with or is equal to the moisture all will be in part according to these present colours XXIII The Philosophers have also called the Compositum in this Operation Nummus 〈◊〉 Arena Boritis 〈◊〉 Cambar Albar 〈◊〉 c. which they have commanded to make white XXIV The Womans Motto is as it were in a white Circle round about her body to shew that Rebis will become white in that very manner beginning first at the Extremities round about the white Circle XXV In Schola 〈◊〉 it is said That the Sign of the first perfect whiteness is the manifestation of a little Circle of hair which is 〈◊〉 over the Head and will appear on the sides of the 〈◊〉 round about the matter in a kind of a 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 Colour XXVI The Motto belonging to the Male is Homo veniet ad judicium Dei That belonging to the Female is Vere illa dies 〈◊〉 These are not Sentences of Holy Scripture but only words which speak according to the Theological sense of the Judgment to come XXVII I have put them there not only for the Theological sense concerning the Resurrection which may serve them which only behold the outward Figures but know nothing of the Scientifick Mystery XXVIII But also for them who gathering together the AEnigmas and Parables of the Science and viewing them with Lynceus's Eyes are able to pierce in to the mysterious sense through the visible Objects XXIX Thus then Man shall come to the Judgment of God it signifies that to bring the Compositum or Matter to the colour of perfection it must be judged that is cleansed from all its blackness and Filth be spiritualized and whitened XXX Again Surely that day will be terrible Such indeed is the day of cleansing and purifying Horrour holds the body in Prison for the space of fourscore days in the darkness of the waters in the extream heat of the Sun and in the Troubles of the Sea XXXI All which things ought first to pass over before our King can become white arising from Death to Life to Conquer and overcome all his Enemies XXXII To make you understand something better this Allification or Whitening which is harder and more difficult than all the rest for till that time you may err at every step but afterwards you cannot except you break your Vessels I give you the following Explication CHAP. XXXI Of the Figure like Paul the Apostle cloathed with a White and Yellow Robe bordered with Gold holding a naked Sword with a Man kneeling by his Feet clad in a Robe of Orange Colour Black and White with his Motto I. VIew well this Man cloathed in a Robe intirely of a Yellowish White and see him as it were turning his Body so as if he would take the naked Sword either to cut off the Head or do some other thing to the Man kneeling by his feet clothed in a Robe of Orange colour White and Black who crys out Dele mala quaetion Blot out all the evil which I have done II. As if he should say Tolle nigredinem Take away from me my blackness which is a term of Art For Evil signifies in the Allegory Blackness as you may often read in Turba Philosophorum Deeoct it until it come to Blackness which will be thought evil III. But would you know what is meant by this Man taking the Sword into his hand Truly it signifies that you must cut off the Head of the 〈◊〉 to wit of the Man clothed in divers Colours kneeling IV. I have taken this Portraicture and Figure out of Hermes Trismegistus his Book of the secret Art where he saith Take away the Head of the Black Man cut off the Head of the Crow all which signifies no more than these few words Whiten our Black V. Lambspring that Noble German hath also used it in the Commentary of his Hierogly phicks where he saith In this Wood there is a Beast all over covered with Black if any one cut off his Head he will loose his blackness and put on a most white Colour VI. Will you understand saith he what that is The blackness is called the Head of the Crow the which being taken away at that instant comes the white colour which is as much as to say that when the Cloud appears no more this Body is said to be without an head These are his words VII In the same sense the Wise Men have also said in other places Take the Viper called Derexa and cut off his Head c. That is to say Take away from him all his Blackness VIII They have also used this Periphrasis When they would express the multiplication of the stone they have feigned the Serpent Hydra for that it is 〈◊〉 that if one Head be cut off there will spring up ten in the place thereof IX For the stone multiplies or encreases it self ten fold every time that they cut off this Head of the Crow that they make it black and afterwards white that is to say that they dissolve it anew and afterwards make it white again viz. They dissolve it anew and afterwards coagulate it again X. Observe also how the naked Sword is wreathed about with a black Girdle yet that the ends thereof are naked and bare and not wreathed at all XI This naked shining Sword is the stone for the White or the White-stone so often by the Philosophers described under this Form XII To come then to this perfect and sparkling whiteness you must
and manage it with much gentleness and patience attend in hope upon this most admirable quintessence And though the fire ought to be something augmented yet it must not be too much XVIII And beseech the Soveraign Goodness to prevent the Evil Spirits which haunt the Mines and Treasures of the Earth that they destroy not thy Work on cast a Mist before thine Eyes nor stupisie thy mind when thou shouldest view consider and perfect the Incomprehensible Motions of this Arcanum or Quintessence yet comprehended and shut up within this Vessel CHAP. XXXV Of the dark Violet Field in which is a Man of a Red Purple Colour holding the Foot of a Lyon red as Vermillion having Wings and as it seems would Ravish and carry away the Man I. THis Field of a Violet and dark Colour demonstrates that the Stone has obtained by a full and perfect Digestion the perfectly beautifulGarment which is wholly Citrine and Red formerly demanded of the Man with the Key in his Hand who was clothed therewith II. And that the compleat and perfect Degestion signified by the entire Citrinity has made her cast off her old Robe or Garment of Orange Colour III. The Vermillion Red Colour of this flying Lyon like the most pure and beautifulScarlet Colour in Grain which is the true native Cinnabar Red explicates the fullAccomplishment of your Work according to the exact and rigorous Laws of Nature and Art IV. And that she to wit the Stone Elixir or Tincture appears now like a ravenous Lyon devouring and swallowing up every pure metallick Nature or Body and changing it into its own true Substance into true and most pure fine Gold exceeding in fineness the Gold of Ophir or that of the best and richest Mines V. And she now removes this Man out of this Vale of Miseries here below into as it were a Sea of Happiness out of the discommodities and Unhappinesses of this Life into an immense Ocean of Ease and Content out of Poverty Disgrace and Contempt into a Kingdom as it were of Riches Honour and Glory VI. And lastly she removes far from him Infirmities Diseases and Death filling his Bones with Marrow and his Soul with Gladness giving him Strength Health and a very long Life VII And with her Wings she gloriously lifts him up out of the dead and standing Waters of Egypt which are the vulgar thoughts of mortal Men into a Paradise of Delights and Pleasures making him despise this Life with all the Riches Glories and Magnificence thereof VIII And causing him Night and Day to Meditate upon God and his Goodness to aspire after the Heavenly Enjoyments and to drink of the Delicious Springs from the Fountains of Everlasting Life where Rivers of living Waters flow making glad the City of Our God IX Praises be given to God Eternally even immortal Praises who has been gracious to us to give us to see this perfectly Beauful Purple this Papaveran Red this Tyrian Glory this sparkling and flaming Colour incapable of Change or Alteration for ever this so Desirable a Treasure X. A Glory a Treasure a Colour a Tincture over which the ZodiacalConstellations nor the Heaven it self can have no more Dominion or Power XI Whose Glorious and Bright Shining Rays not only seem to dazle the Eyes but even to communicate to Man a Heavenly Portion making him when he sees and knows it to be astonisht and to tremble amazing him with the stupendious thoughts thereof XII O Lord God Almighty give us we pray thee thy Grace that we may dread and love thy great and holy Name and by it he taught to use this so vast a Treasure well to the encrease of our Faith the profit of our Souls the benefit of our Fellow Creatures and to thy Glory and Honour now and for ever Amen CHAP. XXXVI Flammel's Summary of Philosophy I. IF you would know how Metals are transmuted you must understand from what matter they are generated and how they are formed in the Mines and that you may not err you must see and observe how those Transmutations are performed in the Bowels or Veins of the Earth II. Minerals taken out of the Earth may be changed if before-hand they be Spiritualized and reduced into their Sulphurous Argent Vive nature which are the two Sperms composed of the Elements the one Masculine the other Feminine III. The Male Sulphur is nothing but Fire and Air and the true Sulphur is as a Fire but not the Vulgar which contains no metallick Substance IV. The Feminine Sperm is Argent Vive which is nothing but Earth and Water these two Sperms the ancient Sages called two Dragons or Serpents of which the one is winged the other not V. Sulphur not flying the Fire is without Wings the winged Serpent is Argent Vive born up by the Wind therefore in her certain hour she flies from the Fire not having fixity enough to endure it VI. Now if these two Spermes separated from themselves be united again by powerful Nature in the potentiality of Mercury which is the Metaline Fire being thus united it is called by the Philosophers the flying Dragon because the Dragon kindled by its Fire while he flies by little and little fills the Air with his Fire and poysonous Vapours VII The same thing doth Mercury for being placed upon an exteriour Fire and in its place in a Vessel it sets on fire its inside which is hidden in its profundity by which may be seen how the External Fire does burn and inflame the natural Mercury VIII And then you may see how the poysonous Vapour breaks out into the Air with a most stinking and pernitious poyson which is nothing else but the head of the Dragon which hastily goes out of Babylon IX But other Philosophers have compared this Mercury with a Flying Lion because a Lion is a devourer of other Creatures and delights himself in his voracity of every thing except that which is able to resist his Violence and Fury X. So also does Mercury which has in its self such a Power Force and Operation to spoil and devastate a Metal of its Form and to devour it Mercury being too much influenced devours and hides Metals in its Belly but which of them so ever it be it is certain that it consumes it not for in their Nature they are perfect and much more indurate XI But Mercury has in it self a Substance of perfecting Sol and Luna and all the imperfect Bodies or Metals proceed from Argent Vive therefore the Ancients called it the Mother of Metals whence it follows that in its own Principle and Center being formed it has a double Metalick Substance XII And first the Substance of the Interior then the Substance of Sol which is not like the other Metals of these two Substances Argent Vive is formed which in its Body is spiritually nourished XIII As soon then as Nature has formed Argent Vive of the two after-named Spirits then it endeavours to make them
Decoct V. And therefore to Grind is to Decoct of which you are not to be weary saith Rhasis Digest continually but not in haste that is not with too great a Fire cease not or make no intermission in your work follow not the Artifice of Sophisters but pursue your Operation to the Complement and perfection thereof VI. Also in the Rosary it is advised to be cautious and watchful lest your work prove dead or imperfect and to continue it with a long Decoction Close up well thy Vessel and pursue to the end VII For there is no Generation of things but by Putrefaction by keeping out the Air and a continual internal motion with an equal and gentle Heat VIII Remember when you are in your work all the Signs and Appearances which arise in every Decoction for they are necessary to be known and understood in order to the perfecting the matter IX You must be sure to be incessant and continual in your Operation with a gentle Fire to the appearing of the perfect Whiteness which cannot be if you open the Vessel and let out the Spirit X. From whence it is Evident that if you mannage your matter ill or your Fire be too great it ought to be extinguished Therefore saith Rhasis pursue your business incessantly beware of instability of mind and too great expectations by a too hasty and precipitate pursuit lest you lose your End XI But as another Philosopher saith Digest and Digest again and be not weary The most exquisite and industrious Artist can never attain to perfection by too much haste but only by a long and continual Decoction and Digestion for so Nature works and Art must in some measure imitate Nature CHAP. XLIV Of the Various Signs Appearing in every Operation I. THis then is the thing that the Vessel with the Medicine be put into a moist Fire to wit that the middle or one half of the Vessel be in a moist Fire or Balneo of equal Heat with Horse-Dung and the other half out of the Fire that you may daily look into it II. And in about the space of Forty Days the superficies or upper part of the Medicine will appear black as melted Pitch and this is the Sign that the Citrine Body is truly converted into Mercury III. Therefore saith Bonellus when you see the blackness of the Water to appear be assured that the Citrine Body is made Liquid The same thing saith Rhasis the Disposition or Operation of our Stone is One which is that it be put into its Vessel and carefully Decocted and Digested till such time as the whole Body ibe Dissolved and Ascended IV. And in another place he saith continue it upon a temperate or gentle Balneo so long till it be perfectly Dissolved into Water and made impalpable and that the whole Tincture be extracted into the blackness which is the Sign of its dissolution V. Lucas also assureth us that when we see the blackness of the water in all things to appear that then the Body is dissolved or made Liquid VI. This blackness the Philosophers called the first Conjunction for then the Male and Female are joyned together and it is the Sign of perfect mixtion VII Yet notwithstanding the whole Tincture is not drawn out together but it goes out every day by little and little until by a great length of time it is perfectly extracted and made compleat VIII And that part of the Body which is dissolved ever Ascends or Rises to the Top above all the other undissolved Matter which remains yet at Bottom IX Therefore saith Avicen That which is spiritual in the Vessel Ascends up to the Top of the Matter and that which is yet gross and thick remains in the Bottom of the Vessel X. This blackness is called among the Philosophers by many Names to wit The Fires the Soul a Cloud the Revens-Head a Coal Our Oyl Aqua vitae the Tincture of Redness the shadow of the Sun Black Brass Water of Sulphur and by many other Names XI And this Blackness is that which conjoyneth the Body with the Spirit XII Then saith Rhasis The Government of the Fire being observed for the space of Forty Days both to wit the White Liquor and the Citrine Body are made a Permanent or fixt Water covered over with blackness which blackness if rightly ordered cometh to its perfection in Forty Days space XIII Of which another Philosopher saith so long as the obscure blackness appeareth the WOMAN hath the Dominion and this is the first Conception or strength of our Stone For if it be not first Black it shall never be either White or Red. XIV Avicen saith That Heat causeth blackness first in a moist Body then the humidity being consumed it putteth off or loseth its blackness and as the Heat encreaseth or is continued so it grows white XV. Lastly by a more inward Heat it is Calcin'd into Ashes as the Philosophers teach XVI In the first Decoction which is called Putrefaction Our Stone is made all Black to wit a Black Earth by the drawing out of its Humidity and in that Blackness the Whiteness is hidden XVII And when the Humidity is reverted upon the Blackness again and by a continued soft and gentle Digestion is made fixed with its Earth then it becomes White XVIII In this Whiteness the Redness is hidden and when it is Decocted and Digested by augmentation and continuance of the Fire that Earth is changed into Redness as we shall hereafter teach CHAP. XLV Of the Eduction of the Whiteness out of the Blackness or Black Matter I. NOw let us revolve to the Black matter in its Vessel not so much as once opened but continually closed Let this Vessel I say stand continually in the moist fire till such time as the White Colour appears like to a white moist Salt II. The Colour is called by the Philosophers Arsenick and Sal Armoniack and some others call it The thing without which no profit is to be had in the Work III. But inward whiteness appearing in the Work then is there a perfect Conjunction and Copulation of the Bodies in this Stone which is indissoluble And then is fulfilled that saying of Hermes The thing which is above is as that which is beneath and that which is beneath is as that which is above to perform the Mystery of this matter IV. Phares saith Seeing the Whiteness appearing above in the Vessel you may be certain that in that Whiteness the Redness lies hid but before it becomes White you will find many Colours to appear V. Therefore saith Diomedes Decoct the Male and the Female or Vapour together until such time as they shall become one dry Body for except they be dry the divers or various Colours will not appear VI. For it will ever be black whilst that humidity or moisture has the dominion but if that be once wasted then it emits divers Colours after many and several ways VII And many times it shall be changed from
Colour to Colour till such time as it comes to the fixed Whiteness VIII Synon saith All the Colours of the World will appear in it when the Black humidity is dryed up IX But value none of these Colours for they be not the true Tincture yea many times it becomes Citrine and Redish and many times it is dryed and becomes liquid again before the Whiteness will appear X. Now all this while the Spirit is not perfectly joyned with the Body nor will it be joyned or fixed but in the White Colour Astanus saith Between the White and the Red appear all Colours even to the utmost imagination XI For the varieties of which the Philosophers have given various Names and almost innumerable some for obscuring it and some for envy sake XII The cause of the appearance of such variety of Colours in the Operation of your Medicine is from the extension of the blackness for as much as Blackness and Whiteness be the extream Colours all the other Colours are but means between them XIII Therefore as often as any degree or portion of Blackness descends so often another and another Colour appears until it comes to Whiteness XIV Now concerning the Ascending and Discending of the Medicine Hermes saith It ascends from the Earth into Heaven and again descends from Heaven to the Earth whereby it may receive both the superiour strength and the inferiour XV. Moreover this you are to observe that if between the Blackness and the Whiteness there should appear the Red or Citrine Colour you are not to look upon it or esteem it for it is not fixt but will vanish away XVI There cannot indeed be any perfect and fixt Redness without it be first White Wherefore saith Rhasis no Man can come from the first to the third but by the second XVII From whence it is evident that Whiteness must always be first lookt for after the Blackness and before the Redness for as much as it is the Complement of the whole Work XVIII Then after this Whiteness appears it shall not be changed into any true or stable Colour but into the Red Thus have we taught you to make the White it remains now that we elucidate the Red. CHAP. XLVI Of the Way and Manner how to educe the Red Tincture out of the White I. THe matters then of the White and Red among themselves differ not in respect to their Essence But the Red Elixir needs more subtilization and longer digestion and a hotter fire in the course of the Operation than the White because the end of the White work is the beginning of the Red work and that which is compleat in the one is to be begun in the other II. Therefore without you make the White Elixir first make the matter become first White you can never come to the Red Elixir that which is indeed the true Red Which how it is to be performed we shall briefly shew III. The Medicine for the Red ought to be put into our moist fire until the White Colour aforesaid appear afterwards take out the Vessel from the fire and put it into another pot with sifted Ashes made moist with water to about half full in which let it stand up to the middle thereof making under the Earthen pot a temperate dry fire and that continually IV. But the heat of this dry fire ought to be double at the least to what it was before or than the heat of the moist fire by the help of this heat the white Medicine receiveth the admirable Tincture of the Redness V. You cannot err if you continue the dry fire Therefore Rhasis saith With a dry fire and a dry Calcination decoct the dry matter till such time as it becomes in Colour like to Vermilion or Cinabar VI. To the which you shall not afterwards put to compleat it either Water or Oyl or Vinegar or any other thing VII Decoct the Red Matter or Medicine the more red it is the more worth it is and the more decocted it is the more red it is Therefore that which is more decocted is the more pretious and valuable VIII Therefore you must burn it without fear in a dry fire until such time as it is clothed with a most Glorious Red or a pure Vermillion Colour IX For which cause Epistus the Philosopher saith Decoct the White in a Red hot Furnace until such time it be clothed with a purple Glory Do not cease though the Redness be somewhat long before it appears X. For as I have said the fire being augmented the first Colour of Whiteness will change into Red Also when the Citrine shall first appear among those Colours yet that Colour is not fixt XI But not long after it the Red Colour shall begin to appear which ascending to the height your Work will indeed be compleat XII As Hermes saith in Turba Between the Whiteness and the Redness one Colour only appears to wit Citrine but it changes from the less to the more XIII Maria also saith When you have the true White then follows the false and Citrine Colour and at last the Perfect Redness it self This is the Glory and the beauty of the whole World CHAP. XLVII Of the Multiplication or Augmentation of our Medicine by Dissolution I. OUR Medicine or Elixir is multiplyed after a two-fold manner viz. 1. By Dissolution 2. By Fermentation II. By Dissolution it is augmented two manner of ways First by a greater or more intense heat Secondly by Dew or the heat of a Balneum Roris III. The Dissolution of heat is that you take the Medicine put into a glasen Vessel or boil or decoct it in our moist fire for seven days or more until the Medicine be dissolved into Water which will be without much Trouble IV. The dissolution by Dew or Balneum Roris is that you take the Glass Vessel with the Medicine in it and hang it in a Brazen or Coper Pot with a narrow Mouth in which there must be water boyling the Mouth of the Vessel being in the mean Season shut that the Ascending Vapours of the boyling water may dissolve the Medicine V. But Note that the boyling water ought not to touch the Glass Vessel which contains the Medicine by three or four Inches and this Dissolution possibly may be done in two or three days VI. After the Medicine is dissoved take it from the Fire and let it cool to be fixed to be congealed and to be made hard or dryed and so let it be dissolved many times for so much the oftner it is dissolved so much the more strong and the more perfect it shall be VII Therefore Bonellus saith When the AEs Brass or Laten is burned and this burning many times reiteated it is made better than it was and this Solution is the Subtilization of the Medicine and the Sublimation of the Virtues thereof VIII So that the oftner it is sublimed and made subtil so much the more Virtue it shall receive and the more penetrative
dissolved and put it into a Vessel which stop well and set it in Balneo for seven days so will the water or fire of Nature become a Citrine Color IV. This water or fire of Nature by its attractive Virtue will draw away the Tincture from the fire against Nature as Raymundus saith in his practical Alphabet And altho' it is somewhat opposite to Nature to dissolve the Bodies with the fire against Nature yet if you know how to comfort the matter with the fire of Nature and by Balneation in 15 days to draw it from the blackness of the water or fire against Nature the which may be done as I have proved in 6 days you shall perfect the work and attain the desired end V. Let the aforesaid Natural Water or fire of Nature so tinged with a Yellow Color be always warily emptied and poured off from the aforesaid dissolved Bodies into another Vessel with a narrow Mouth that may be firmly stopped and then with more of the said fire let there be made in Balnco in the space of time aforesaid another quantity of the said Oyl VI. And so the same water being tinged with Sol or Gold let it be warily emptied and poured off as before and when the water of Nature will be tinged no more then it is a sign that the Tincture is all drawn forth from the dissolved Body by the Fire against Nature VII Put the Tinctures thus decanted off into a Glass Stillatory and with a soft or easie Fire abstract the Water or Fire of Nature from the same so long till you see in the bottom an Oyl to which you must put New Fire of Nature again well rectified and after the Matter has stood in Balneo for the space of 6 days then abstract the said water or fire of Nature by distillation VIII And let the work with the same water be repeated upon and from the said Oyl after the same manner so long till you have brought your Oyl of Gold to be most subtil and pure without any Foeculent grossness wherein let nothing of the water or fire of Nature be left behind but the substance of Gold only turned to Oyl IX This subtil and pure Oyl of Gold being put in Kemia or its proper Vessel and firmly sealed up may by the aforesaid Regiments be changed into the great Elixir as it is shewed before with the other simple Oyl made with the Compounded Water in the former practice at Sect. 8. Chap. 65. aforegoing X. But to proceed sublime Quick-Silver with Roman Vitriol and prepared or Calcined Salt and after that sublime it by it self alone three times from its Foeculent substance This done and the same made into Pouder put this sublimate Pouder into a fixatory Vessel and put thereto a certain quantity of your aforesaid Oyl of Gold but so much only as may scarcely cover the sublimate firmly close the Vessel and set it in a soft Fire till the Natures are perfectly joyned together XI This done grind it upon a Marble and Incerate it again with your said Oyl of Gold and after put it again into its Fixatory Vessel under a Fire of the first Degree as before and let the same Vessel stand twice as long as it did before to the Intent that the Natures may be firmly Compact and United together XII Now this Rule is generally to be Observed that the Vessel with the Matter in it to be fixed ought always to be set over the fire from time to time to be augmented and this Inceration to be continued still upon the Argent Vive sublimed until the same is perfectly fixed with the said Oyl or substance of Gold XIII The which must be proved upon a Plate of Silver Red Hot And if it be found fixed let it have for the greater certainty one Inceration more of the said Oyl which set under a strong fire for the space of three days then grind it with your Oyl upon the same Stone till it be as thick as an Oyntment which make perfectly dry with an easie fire and then let it be Calcined with a strong fire for the space of eight hours XIV Which done then Incerate it and dry it again with a soft or gentle fire oftentimes till it stands in the fire like melted Wax This Medicine will transmute Silver substantially and perfectly into fine and pure Alchymick Gold perfect to all the works of Goldsmiths but not to Medicine for Man CHAP. LXVII Two other Mineral Elixirs or Two other Processes of Mercury I. THere be many other Noble and Profitable Secrets in this Art or Mystery of our Mineral Stone viz. good Elixirs to be made out of Metalline Bodies of which Mineral Elixirs two are more excellent than the rest the first of which we shall handle in this Chapter Here comes in the Process or Practical Operation of Mercury mentioned Chap. 61. Sect. 13. aforegoing II. The first of these Elixirs is only in Mercury The second in Mercury and the White Body for the White Elixir and with the same to the Red too if you so please being prudently pursued and sought after III. The first manner to Elixirate only with Mercury is thus Dissolve Mercury only by it self into a Milky water with the which Mercury so dissolved you may dissolve so much more Mercury and so continually as long as you please IV. Put this into a gentle Fire to be Distilled so shall you have Our Virgins Milk White and Chrystalline wherewith all Bodies may be dissolved into their first Matter Washed and Purged V. This water is of a Silver Colour which if you fix with its Earthy Faeces Calcin'd and after that dissolved again in the quantity of its remaining water and then again Coagulated and Congealed which work is to be done upon a Stone you will have at length the Elixir of Argent Vive which will transmute all Imperfect Bodies to a perfect Whiteness VI. And so of this Mercurial substance is made a water permanent or fixt wherewith the Calces of all Bodies may be so depurated and Whitened as thereby to become the most pure and fine Silver VII And therefore as I have said before in the beginning of this work when Mercury is dissolved then are its Elements separable and after the separation of its Mercurial Liquor and that a competent putrefaction is performed after the same White Liquor there will Distill a Golden moisture or humour to which if you add a small quantity of the Ferment of the Gum of the aforesaid Elixirated White Stone that then the same White Stone with the said Golden humour shall be made the Red Stone which shall transmute Argent Vive and all Metalline Bodies into the finest and most pure Gold VIII Again if you take the aforesaid Red humour of Mercury and Dissolve in it a little of the aforesaid Red Ferment being made as aforesaid of the White Stone and then with the same Red humour of Mercury so Fermented with it self the
Calces of all Bodies may be so depurated and Citrinated that thereby they may become most pure Gold IX When also Argent Vive is dissolved then dissolve in it a little of the aforesaid Red Ferment and so put all into Kemia or a proper Vessel which firmly close up with a Philosophick Seal Then with a continual and easie or gentle Fire draw out the Charriot of the four Elements through the Depth of the Sea until the Floods being dryed up there appears in the Matter a bright shining substance like to the Eyes of the Fishes X. For by this Operation if you keep your Temperate Fire continually alive the Floods shall dry up with an exceeding drought and the dry Land or Earth shall appear as in the days of Noah the waters were dryed up from off the Earth and behold the Face of the Ground was dry And by lifting up the Rod of Moses and stretching out his hand the waters were dryed up and the dry Ground appeared in the midst of the Sea for so says David He Rebuked the Red Sea and it was dryed up he led them through the Depths as through the Wilderness XI And then by the Space of Forty days following it shall be Rubified as the Philosophers Demonstrate by the help of a Vehement Fire as the Nature of it requires continuing and remaining in the same strong Fire till it melt and flow like Wax whereby it will be able to transmute all Bodies into pure fine Gold XII And thus the White and Red Medicines are multiplied with their own proper humidities viz. only by the solution of the White Medicines in their own proper White and Red humours and by their Coagulation again of the same as necessity requires Thus have we explicated with singular plainess of Speech the Elixiration of Mercury per se or Argent Vive alone CHAP. LXVIII The second of the former Elixirs with Mercury and the Body Alchymick I. TO Elixirate with Mercury and the Body Alchymick Take One part of the most pure Kibrick quod est pater Mercurij omnium Liquabilium Sea water twelve parts in which dissolve the Kibrick being dissolved strain the water through a Linnen Cloth and what remains undissolved which will not go through put into the Vessel called Kemia set it over a gentle fire as it were the heat of the Sun untill there appears on the Top a Red Color II. Then put to it a quarter more of the Sea-water aforesaid being kept in a very clean Vessel set it on a very gentle fire and dry it up again as you did before by little and little at a time III. For in this Work by so much less there is put of the Spirit and more of the Body by so much the sooner and better shall the Solution be made the which Solution is made by the Congelation of its water IV. And therefore as the Rosary saith you must beware that the Belly be not made over moist for if it be the water shall not receive or attain to its dryness V. This manner of Imbibition must be Observed and continued so long till the whole water by several Imbibitions shall be dryed up into a Body VI. This done let the Vessel be firmly and Philosophically Sealed up and placed in its proper Fornace with a mean or gentle fire which must not wax cold from the first hour you begin to set the same into the Fornace till you have made an end of the whole work VII And when the matter is sublimed then let it be made to Descend by little and little without Violence the fire being Artificially made or set over it which done let it be again sublimed as before VIII And so let the Soul of the Sun of the Vulgar the which Soul is Our unclean Oyntment the Spirit not yet conjoyned with the Body Ascend from the Earth to the Heaven and again make it to Descend from Heaven to the Earth till all becomes Earth which before was Heaven IX To the end there may be made a substance not so hard as the Body nor yet so soft as the Spirit but holding a mean disposition standing fixed and Permanent in the fire like a White peice of melted Wax flowing in the bottom of the Vessel X. The which White substance of a mean or middle consistency must be fed and nourished with Milk and Meat till the quantity thereof be increased according to your desire XI This Medicine being Fermented to the Red with a portion of Sol Dissolved in the water of the Sea by reason of separating the first the form from the Matter to the end that it may be in a more noble form than it was before when the first qualities did remain undivided and that it may be brought into a Purple Colour by the help of a strong and continual fire whereby is made the true Elixir both for the White and Red Work XII Now this Elixir be it White or Red shall be increased an hundred fold more both in Virtue and Goodness if its Quintessence be fixed with it and that then afterwards it be brought and reduced by the Fire of Nature into a thin Oyl the which must be done in a Circulatory Vessel for truly then the least drop thereof does Congeal a thousand drops of Mercury into the very greatest Medicine CHAP. LXIX Of the Vegetable Stone I. THe Vegetable Stone is gotten by Virtue of the Fire of Nature of the Composition of which fire we now intend plainly to treat and of the way how to work with it in every respect II. Its Composition is of four things as Raymundus saith in his Book of Quintessences It is a Composition of Sal Amarum which is Ignis adeptus a fire that is gotten without Wood or Coal and by an easie working does work against all manner of sharpness of Action of the Visible Fire like as if it were the fire of Hell and therefore altho' Wine be hot yet this water of Mercury is hotter for it is able to dissolve all Bodies to putrefie and also to divide the Elements which neither common Fire nor Wine can do III. Some think that this Fire of Nature is extracted or drawn from Wine according to the common way and that it must be rectified by often Distillations until its Flegm is wholly abstracted which hinders its Heat Virtue Strength and Burning But this when it is done to all advantages and its highest perfection which Fools call the pure Spirit and then put to the Calx of the Body never so well prepared yet will it be weak and ineffectual to Our purpose for Dissolution Conservation c. IV. The true and Pure Spirit is Our Silverish Spirit of Wine which is our Vegetable Mercury and the true water of the Philosophers Concerning which see in Ripley's secret Concord V. Wherefore since the vulgar Spirit or Wine is such it is evident that there is an Error in choosing of this Principle for the true Principle which is
the water begins to whiten the whole Mass. XXVII A temperate heat working in moist Bodies brings forth blackness which having obtained there is nothing that you need fear for in the same way the Germination of our Stone does follow and forthwith to wit in the space of thirty or Forty days you have Gas or Adrop which is our Uzifer or Cinnabar and our Red Lead XXVIII Takeheed to defend your Glass from a Violent Heat and a sudden Cold make use of a moderate Fire and beware of Vitrification Beware how you bind up your matter mix it not with Salts Sulphurs nor the middle Minerals let Sophisters prate what they will Our Sulphur and our Mercury are found in Metals only XXIX 7. De Coagulatione Coagulation or Congelation is the induration or hardning of things in Calore Candido and the fixing of the Volatile Spirit The Elements are forthwith converted but the Congelation is no way impeded for those things which are Congealed in the Air melt or soften not in the Water for if so Our work would be destroyed and come to nothing XXX When the Compositum is brought to Whiteness then the Spirit is United and Congealed with the Body but it will be a good length of time before such a Congelation will appear in the likeness or Beauty of Pearls The cause of all these things is the most temperate heat continually working and moving the Matter Believe me also that your whole Labour is lost except you revivifie your Earth with the Water without that you shall never see a true Congelation XXXI This Water is a Secret drawn from the Life of all things existing in Nature for from Water all things in the World have their first beginning as you may easily perceive in many things The substance or Matter is nourished with its proper Menstruum which the Water and the Earth only produce whose proper Colour is Greenness XXXII Understand also that our fiery Water thus acuated is called the Menstrual Water in which Our Earth is dissolved and naturally Calcined by Conge lation when you have made seven Imbibitions then by a Circumvolution putrifie again all the Matter without addition beholding in the first place the blackness then the Whiteness of the Congealed Matters XXXIII Thus your Water is divided into two parts with the first part the Bodies are purified the second part is reserved for Imbibitions with which afterwards the Matter is made black and presently after with a gentle fire made White then reduce to Redness XXXIV 8. De Cibatione Cibation is the Feeding or Nourishing of our dry Matter with Milk and Meat being both administred moderately till it is reduced to the third Order you must never give so much as to cause a suffocation or that the Aqueous humour should exceed the Blood if it drinks too much the work will be hurt XXXV Three times must you turn about the Philosophick Wheel observing the Rule of the said Cibation and then in a little time it will feel the Fire so as to melt presently like Wax XXXVI 9. De Sublimatione Sublime not the matter to the top of the Vessel for without Violence you cannot bring it down to the bottom again by a temperate heat below in the space of 40 days it will become black and obscure When the Bodies are purified let them be sublimed by degrees more and more till they shall be all elevated or converted into Water XXXVII We use Sublimation for three Causes First that the Body may be made spiritual Secondly that the the Spirit may be made Corporeal aud fixed with it and become Consubstantial with it Thirdly that it may be purified from its Original Impurities and its Sulphurous Salt may be diminished with which it is infected subliming it to the Top as White as Snow XXXVIII 10. De Fermentatione Fermentations are made after divers manners by which our Medi cine is perpetuated Some dissolve Sol and Luna into a certain clear Water and with the Medicine of them they make the same to Coagulate or be Coagulated but such a Fermentation we propose not XXXIX This only is our Intention that first you must Break or Tear or Grind the matter to Atoms before you Ferment it Mix then presently your Water and Earth together and when the Medicine shall flow like Wax then see the above mentioned Amalgamation and put forth the same and when all that is mixed together above or on the top of the Glass being well closed make a Fire till the whole be Fluxed then make projection as you shall think fit because it is a Medicine wholly perfect Thus have you made the Ferment both for the Red and the White XL. The true Fermentation is the Incorporation of the Soul with the Body restoring to the same the Natural Odour Consistency and Colour by a Natural Inspissation of the separated things And as the Magnet draws Iron to it self so our Earth by Nature draws down its Soul to it self Elevated with Wind For without doubt the Earth is the Ferment of the Water and by Course or Turns the Water is the Ferment of the Earth XLI We make the Water most Odoriferous with which we reduce all the Bodies into Oyl with which Oyl we make our Medicine flow We call this Water a Quintessence or the Powers and it Heals or Cures all humane Diseases Make therefore this Oyl of Sol and Luna which is a Ferment most fragrant in smell XLII 11. De Exaltatione Exaltation differs a little from Sublimation if you understand aright the words of the Philosophers If therefore you would Exalt your Bodies sublime them first with Spiritus Vitae then let the Earth be subtiliated by a Natural rectification of all the Elements so shall it be more pretious than Gold because of the Quintessence or Powers which they contain XLIII When the Cold does overcome the Heat then the Air is converted into water so two contraries are made by the way till they kindly conjoyn and rest together after this manner you must work them that they may be Circulated that they one with another may speedily be Exalted together In one Glass well Sealed all this Operation is to be done and not with hands XLIV Convert the Water into Earth which will quickly be the Nest of the other Elements for the Earth is in the Fire which rests in the Air. Begin this Circulation in the West then continue it till past the Meridian so will they be exalted XLV 12. De Multiplicatione Multiplication is the thing which makes the augmentation of the Medicine in Color Smell Vertue and Quantity for it is a Fire which being Excited never dies but always dwells with you one spark of which is able to make more Fire by the Virtue of Multiplication XLVI He is rich which has but one Particle or Grain of this our Elixir because that Grain is possible to be augmented by one way to Infinity if you dissolve this our dry Pouder and make a
is Sol or Luna than a Terra Munda a pure Earth Red and White The whole Composition we call Our Plumbum or Lead the Quality of whose splendor proceeds from Sol and Luna III. No impure Body one excepted which the Philosophers vulgarly call the Green Lyon which is the Medium which Conjoyns the Tinctures between Sol and Luna with perfection does Enter into our Magistry IV. These Menstruums you ought to know without which no true Calcination or natural dissolution can possibly be done But our principal Menstruum may be said indeed to be Invisible or Spiritual yet by the help of our Aqua Philosophica secunda through a separation of the Elements in form of clear water it is brought to light and made to appear V. And by this Menstruum with great Labour is made the Sulphur of Nature by Circulation in a pure Spirit and with the same you may dissolve your Body after divers manners and an Oyl may be extracted therefrom of a Golden Color like as from Our Red Lead VI. 1. De Calcinatione Calcination is the Purgation of our Stone restoring it to its own Natural Color inducing first a necessary dissolution thereof but neither with Corrosives nor fire alone nor A. F. nor with other Burning waters or the Vapour of Lead is our Stone Calcined for by such Calcinations Bodies are destroyed for that they diminish their humidities VII Whereas in our Calcination the Radical humidity is Augmented or multiplied for like increases like he which knows not this knows nothing in this Art Joyn like with like and kind with kind as you ought every seed answers and rejoyces in seed of its own kind and every Spirit is fixed with a Calx of its own kind or Nature VIII The Philosophers make an Unctuous Calx both White and Red of three Degrees before it can be perfected that shall melt as Wax till which it is of no use If your water shall be in a right or just proportion with your Earth and in a fit Heat your Matter will Germinate the White together with the Red which will endure in a perpetual Fire IX Make a Trinity of Unity without dissention this is the most certain and best proportion and by how much the lesser part is the more spiritual by so much the more easily will the dissolution be performed drown not the Earth with too much water lest you destroy the whole Work X. 2. De Dissolutione Seek not that in a thing which is not in it as in Eggs Blood Wine Vitriol and the other middle Minerals there is no profit to be had in things not Metallick In Metals from Metals and by or through Metals Metals are made perfect XI First make a Rotation of all the Elements and before all things convert the Earth into water by dissolution Then Dissolve that Water into Air and then make that Air into Fire this done reduce it again into Earth for otherwise you labour in vain XII Here is nothing besides the Sister and the Brother that is the Agent and the Patient Sulphur and Mercury which are generated Co-essential substances The dissolution of one part of the Corporeal Substance causeth a Congelation of another part of the spiritual XIII Every Metal was once a Mineral Water wherefore they may all be dissolved into Water again in which Water are the four repugnant Qualities with diversity In one Glass all things ought to be done made in the form of an Egg and well closed XIV Let not your Glass be hotter than you can endure your naked Hand upon so long as your matter is in dissolution When the Body is altered from its first form it immediately puts on a new form XV. 3. De Dispositione Beware that you open not your Glass nor ever move it from the beginning of the work to the end thereof for then you will never bring your work to perfection Dry the Earth till it becomes thirsty in Calcination otherwise you Act in vain Divide the matter into two parts that you may separate the subtil from the gross or thin from the thick till the Earth remains in the bottom of a Livid Color XVI One part is Spiritual and Volatile but they ought all to be converted to one matter or substance And distil the Water with which you would Vivifiethe Stone till it be pure thin as water shinning with a Blew Livid Colour retaining its Figure and Ponderosity with this Water Hermes moistens or waters his Tree whilst in his Glass and makes the Flowers to increase on high XVII First divide that which Nature first tyed together converting the Essential Mercury into Air or a Vapour without which natural and subtil separation no future Generation can be compleated XVIII Your Water ought to be seven times sublimed otherwise there can never be any natural Dissolution made nor shall you see any Putrefaction like Liquid Pitch nor will the Colors appear because of the defect of the Fire Operating in your Glass XIX 4. De Ignibus There are four kinds of Fires which you ought to know the Natural the Innatural that contrary to Nature and the Elemental which burns Wood These are the fires we use and no others XX. The Fire of Nature is in every thing and is the third Menstruum The Innatural Fire is occasionally so called and it is the Fire of Ashes of Sand and Baths for putrefying and without this no Putrefaction can be done XXI The Fire against Nature is that which tears Bodies to pieces or Atoms which is the fiery Dragon violently burning like the fire of Hell Make therefore that your fire within in your Glass which will burn the Bodies much more powerfully than the vulgar Elemental fire can do XXII 5. De Conjunctione Conjunction is the joyning together of things separated and of differing Qualities or the Adequation or bringing to an equality of principles he which knows not how to separate the Elements and to divide them and then to conjoyn them again errs not knowing the true way XXIII Divide the Soul from the Body and get that for it is the Soul which causes the perpetual Conjunction the Male which is our Sol requires three parts and the Female which is his Sister nine parts then like rejoyces with like for ever XXIV Certainly Dissolution and Conjunction are two strong principles of this Science tho there may be many other principles besides XXV 6. De Putrefactione The Destruction of the Bodies is such that you are diligently to Conserve them in a Bath or our Horse-Dung viz. in a moist heat for ninty days Natural but the Putrefaction is not compleatly Absolved and brought to whiteness like the Eyes of Fishes in less than 150 days the blackness first appearing is the Index or Sign that the matter draws on to Putrefaction XXVI Being together Black like Liquid Pitch in the same time they swell and cause an Ebullition with Colors like those of the Rainbow of a most beautiful aspect and then