for many Ages It is believed that that body of a most beautiful Woman was embalmed with this Liquor which as Raphael Volateranus relates in the time of Pope Alexander the VI. was found about 117. years before or thereabouts in an ancient Sepulcher near Albana so intire and wholly free from any corruption as if the Life had but that hour expired Whereas by the Sculpture upon the Marble Tomb it was witnessed to have lain there buryed above 1300. years Oil of Vitriol Dissolve the best Vitriol in common water the Solution digest by gentle heat of Baln afterward fiâ—ter it and by vapour of Baln in a Glass vessel abstract â—he water till it contract a skinnyness Then set the vessel in a cold place to produce perspicuous Chrystals which removed the remaining water evaporate until it contract a new skin and produce new Chrystals in a cold place All which separated dissolve digest and filter and in a cold place again set to Chrystallize and as above separate repeating the same labour the third time until the Vitriol be freed from all Heterogeneal terrestriety This Vitriol put into an high Cucurbit and in Baln abstract the flegm to a dryness reverting the humid so oft upon its own earth as till the dry shall have imbibed all the humid The Mass take out and grind to a subtil powder which put into a firm Retort with an eighth part of its own weight of Spirit of wine perfectly rectified and observing degrees of fire for three days distil off all the Spirits The vessel being cooled what shall be in the Receiver mix with other two pound of Colcothar as above prepared and again for three days distil it Then in an high Cucurbit separate the spirit of wine by Baln afterward distil the spirit of Vitriol by ashes In which spirit if you shall dissolve Corals or Pearls you will have a true Antepileptick The Oil Red like bloud which adheres to the bottom you may rectifie by Retort in sand or by digestion only and separate the earthy feces setling to the bottom from the oil It s use is rather in Metallicks than in Medicine Oil of Antimony â„ž Of crude Antimony and Sugar candid of each â„¥ iiij of calcined Allom â„¥ j. grind and mix them together distil them by Retort with a very moderate fire So will you have a Red oil most apt for curing Ulcers CHAP. VII Of Liquid Tinctures BY the word Tinctures Chymists do not understand as the vulgar think simple colours separated or exalted from a mixt body but essential colours of things and such as are inherent in the formal qualities extracted from the concrete body Wherefore Tinctures are sometimes called oils sometimes spirits and sometimes Quintessence Tincture of dry Roses Put â„¥ j. of Roses dryed in the shade in four pound of warm water unto which adde Ê’ij or thereabout of spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur In three or four hours the water will be deeply coloured which must be filtred In which if you dissolve â„¥ xij of Sugar you will have a true Refrigerative of the Liver Tincture of Violets Bruise the Flowers and macerate them in their proper water or in oil of Sugar above described afterward express them the expression strain until Tincture answer your desire Or. Put the flowers to the nose of an Alembeck that the proper distilled water gliding through them may abstract the Tincture with them CHAP. VIII Of Balsoms CHymical Balsoms are no other than compounded oils and by the addition of other things rendred more thick They consist almost of a triplicit Liquor viz. spirituous or aqueous oleaginous and thick like honey With which sometimes as the nature of the matter requires Musk Amber Civet c. are wont to be added Balsom of Cinnamon This is compounded of the Tincture extracted by spirit of wine and inspissate with oil and salt of the same as also with white wax dissolved and wel washed in Rose water from all its acrimony which gives a convenient consistency Or it is made of Deer suet or suet of a Wether well cleansed and washed every of them per se or one of them may be mixed with the wax and afterward with the extract oil and Salt be reduced to a jâ—st consistency So are prepared Balsoms of Cloves Juniper Sage Rosemary Anise and such like which as well for external anointing as internal use are most efficacious Balsom of Sulphur â„ž Of flowers of Sulphur â„¥ j. oil of Turpentine â„¥ iij. mix them and in a Glass placed in sand gently boil it for the space of eight hours until it be as Red as bloud Then pour upon it common water and by Alembeck distil off the superstâ—ous oil with the water In the bottom the Balsom of Sulphur will remain from which you may extract a Tincture with spirit of wine and coagulate it which is given in water of Hysop or Syrup of Liquorish to those that are afflicted with the Cough of the Lungs Balsom of Saturn Distil away two parts of Vinegar impregnated with the salt of Saturn that only a third part may remain Then take of oil of Roses â„¥ iiij of the impregnated Vinegar â„¥ viij Of this pour drop by drop upon oil mixing them continually together in a brass Mortar until it be like Unguent Which helps in Inflammations and hot Gouts If the same Vinegar impregnated with the salt of Saturn shall be mixed with an equal part of common water and applyed hot with double Linnen Cloaths upon contusions in what part of the body soever it presently asswageth all dolour CHAP. IX Of Extracts EXtracts specially so called are prepared of the Animal and Vegetable kind by the benefit of accommodated Dissolvents or Menstruums such are spirit of wine of Juniper Whey of Milk Hydromel-vinose water of redolent Apples fumitory and the like or waters of the same things from whence you intend to prepare the Extracts From Animals Flesh Mumy the Liver Spleen Lungs Testicles and like parts are chosen Whence extracts of Cranium are famous for the Epilepsie of Ox-spleen for provoking the Menses of the Liver of a Calf for the Dropsie and hepatick Flux of the Lungs of a Fox for the Asthma and like diseases From Vegetables various extracts are made as from Herbs Flowers Roots Juices Berrys Rinds Woods Aromaticks Seeds and Fruits as is manifest in Quercetanus his last Chapter of restoring the Pharmacepaea of Dogmaticks Moreover for preparing purging extracts many have hitherto used spirit of wine for a dissolvent which because it doth much infringe their Cathartick force is not to be promiscuously used in all It may sometimes be used as in extract of Hellebore Coloquintida and Scamony but in others distilled waters must be substituted as in Rubarb water of Endive is most commodious in Leaves of Oriental Sena water of redolent apples of Fumitory and Fennel in Agarick water of Cinnamon and so in others others Now could such an Aqua vitae deprived of its Salt armoniack be
obtained as Dariotus and after him John du Val Physician of Issoldunen likewise Panotus in his Treatise of the true preparation of Chymical Medicaments in the Magistery of Tartar teacheth a more excellent could not be desired for preparing extracts of every kind Although Dn. Mayaud a Man in the Chymical Art long experienced and my very good friend did with me according to prescript of the above-named Doctors attempt to prepare such a Menstruum yet in this operation we sometimes lost both the oil and our labour Whence a Man may conjectâ—re that when the good Panotus in the above cited Magistery of Tartar did admonish and invite others to reverence GOD and render him thanks for so rare a Secret he himself did not enough fear God or render him praise when he consecrated such a Magistery to Posterity Extract of Sena Macerate the Leaves of Sena twenty four hours in a sufficient quantity of distilled water of redolent Apples what is tinged poured off and filter the Leaves being first strongly exprest In the mean while from the feces extract a salt according to Art and commix it with the extract which distil with gentle heat of Baln until but two parts remain or in a glass Bason exhale the superfluous homor by vapour of an hot Baln to the consistency of an extract Note the extraction of Tincture from the same Leaves of Sena must not be the second time repeated least the extract admitted into the body excite grievous torments Extract of Rubarb Fresh Rubarb cut very smal digest in water of Endive or other odoriferous water until it be coloured what is tinged pour off and repour on fresh water so oft as until it will no more be tinged The evacuations filter circulate and distil off the Menstruum to the consistency of an extract by heat of Baln the salt from the feces being first added as in the former preparation Panchymagogon â„ž Pulp of Coloquintida Black Hellebore Diagridium of each â„¥ ij ss Leaves of oriental Sena â„¥ iiij Choice Rhei â„¥ iiij Species of Diarrhodon Abbatis â„¥ j. Hermodactils Turbith Agarick Aloes of each â„¥ j. Make an extract with water of Cinamon according to Art adding the salt from the feces Dose from ℈ j. to Ê’ ss For the Quartane â„ž Aloes â„¥ iiij Myrrh Roots of Gentian Round Aristolochy of each Ê’iij Oriental Saffron Ê’ ss Of the three kinds of Saunders of each Ê’j Coltsfoot Ê’ j. Leaves of Sena cleansed â„¥ j ss The best Mithridate â„¥ ss Pulverisate what are to be pulverised and make a Mass with Syrup of Scolopendrium of which make an extract with water of Carduus benedictus adding the salt of the feces Dose From ℈ j. to Ê’ ss the day before the coming of the fit in the morning with Ê’j of water of the extract Germain Treacle Fresh and ripe grains of Juniper are beaten in a Marble Mortar to every one pound of which four pound of distilled rain-Rain-water is poured and for three days they are digested in a hot place afterwards strained through a cloath and strongly exprest the strained Liquor filtred and exhaled to the consistency of an extract Dose Ê’j It is given in the Cholick Stone suffocation of the Matrix suppression of the Menses cold defluxions and in the Dropsie It is also a specifick Preservative against the Pest and all contagious air Laudanum or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quovis Homerico praestantius A Narcotick extract is called Laudanum that is to say a Laudible Medicine viz. by reason of the famous effects thereof Some call it Nepenthes which we very often find in the most grievous diseases and dolours For Homer witnesseth that the Remedy of Hellen was insignized with such a name whereby all languishings of the heart and sicknesses are driven away and pleasant chearfulness and joy is induced â„ž Tincture of Henbane extracted according to art with spirit of wine made sharp with spirit of Viâ—riol or Sulphur â„¥ j. Extract of Opium extracted as above â„¥ j. Extract of Oriental Saffron â„¥ j. Mix these and set them in a warm place for fifteen days daily stirring them The days expired draw off the spirit of wine by Baln to the mass remaining in the bottom adde extract of Castor Ê’ij The Tincture extracted from â„¥ ij of Diamber by spirit of Juniper Wine in a vaporous Baln together with the Dissolvent Let these stand in digestion for a Moneth stirring them often until all the strong odour vanish Then add Tincture of Corals Perlucid Amber prepared of each Ê’j Bone of the Stags-heart ℈ ss Tincture of Gold Ê’ ss First beat what are to be beaten then mix all these in a Marble Mortar and add Oil of Amber Of Mace Of Cinnamon of each ℈ j. Extract of Musk ℈ ss but this in Women must be omitted Put altogether mixed in a temperate place that the Mass may be dryed of it thence easily to form pills Dose from one grain to four CHAP. X. Of soft Tinctures ALthough Tinctures of this kind by reason of the operations they perform and the consistency they have may worthily be numbred with extracts yet because by Authors they were endowed with the Title of tinctures I thought it not amiss to assign them a peculiar Chapter Tincture of Honey Mix honey with very clean sand that it may be made a mass then on it pour so much spirit of wine as may stand above it two fingers digest it for five or six hours the coloured spirit pour off and pour on other until it be no more coloured The tinged spirit filter and coagulate It helps the Pthisick in a wonderful manner Tincture of Saffron This tincture is made with spirit of wine which must so often be poured on as till all the tincture be extracted and a whitish earth remain The tincture must be filtred and the spirit of wine with gentle heat of Baln abstracted It hath various and egregious faculties and especially it wonderfully recreates and restores the spirits in swounings if one only drop of it be exhibited in a little broath or wine Tincture of Sugar â„ž Of white Sugar pulverisate one pound put it in a Cucurbit or other convenient vessel with 2 spoonfuls of distilled Vinegar digest it in hot ashes for six hours Then pour on of Aqua vitae so much as will stand above it two fingers digest it until it be coloured afterward the tinged water pour off and pour on other often until it be no more coloured Then remove the Menstruum per Baln and the tincture or Red essence will remain in the bottom which must be circulated with Cordial waters It is profitable in the Syncopen and deliquiums of the mind being exhibited with water of Cinnamon and Roses Tincture of Sulphur Melt Salt of Tartar in one vessel and flowers of Sulphur in another afterward mix them together then suffer them to cool Afterward grind the mass on which pour so much spirit of wine as will stand about it four fingers Digest it until
that a candid dry powder may remain It is of singular use in all pestilential affects and malignant Fevers generally infesting CHAP. XIII Of Calcination and preparation of Mercury MErcury is a Mineral body compounded of subtile sulphureous earth and water strongly commixed The earthy substance thereof must be purged from its gross sulphureous terrestreity and its watery substance from the superfluous humidity in it contained Mercury is two-fold natural and artificial The natural active Natural Mercury and well purifyed in Almagro near Calatrava in the Kingdom of Castile is found living per se flowing and coagulate into cinnabar which is extracted by force of fire This most ancient Minera Pliny calls the continent of eternal Liquor Like unto this is found in Idria a Village of the County of Goritz in Slavonia But the Spanish excels in goodness although Idria be more fertile But there is one thing remarkable and worthy of admiration viz. that although the bordering Towns and people of Idria are almost every year afflicted with a Pestiferous Lues yet from this evil they sometimes are wont to be wholly free which I going to that place about eight years since was confirmed to me by the people that a certain man of a very great age had observed it so in himself and had received like Information from his Ancestors From whence as well as from other innumerable examples it is found that Mercury is an Alexipharmacon against all corruption and putrefaction Also no less stupendious and nigh to a prodigy is that which I there noted There was a decrepit Old man who having spent the whole time of his Life in preparing cinnabar did perpetually tremble and he did so dealbate gold coin by compressing it in his hand as the native colour thereof did wholly disappear There is also other Mercury found in the Mountain called Gimnavoda six miles distant from Cracovia in Poland between Tarnava Ribie and Streletzky which at certain times of the year breaks out on the superficies of the earth especially in the Autumnal quarter Yet about the Feast of John Baptist I there gathered many grains like Pease in the roots of green things But this Mercury is very aqueous and far inferiour to that of Sclavonia as well as to the Spanish The natural is also found in many other places and sometimes in Gold and Silver Mines The Artificial Artificial Mercury and its way of preparing is sufficiently known to Artists viz. by resusitative salts as well from middle Minerals as Metals Yet in this City I have known many credible persons and of great Authority and Dignity who affirm they have extracted living Mercury not from Minerals only but from humane bloud first calcined and from Plants also That Mercury is the best The sign of the goodness of Mercury which if a dram of it be put into a very clean Silver spoon and that set over a fire shall after evaporation leave a yellow or white spot But what shall blacken the spoon before it can be adhibited to medicinal use must thus be purged â„ž Of Mercury and of distilled Vinegar of each one pound put them in a strong vessel with an handful of prepared salt stir them very well together for a quarter of an hour that they may be mixed and the Vinegar receive the blackness of Mercury to it self Then pour out the Vinegar with the Mercury into a glass-bason and so often wash it with warm water as until all the blackness and salsature be separated from it When it is dryed put it in the former vessel with Vinegar and salt as above repeating the former Labour three or four times and at last pass it through a skin But this is a vulgar and imperfect purgation a more perfect follows â„ž Mercury precipitate cinabarisate or sublimate mix it with two parts of its own weight of calcined Tartar or Calx-vive distil it by a glass Retort in fire of suppression or in a close Reverberatory applying a large Receiver half full of water So you will have Mercury purified better than in the precedent manner Yet the most perfect way of purifying Mercury than which a better cannot be given is the Amalgamation thereof with perfect bodies distilling it certain times by Retort every time removing the earthy sulphureous and fetent feces and a new amalgamating it and at length passing it through a skin A White Precipitate Mercury is dissolved in Aqua fortis and by affusion of salt water precipited into a white powder The dissolvent is by inclination separated and the precipitate by many ablutions with digestion freed from all its saltness and acrimony Then is it dryed and washed with Rose water and again dryed Dose internally from eight grains to ten chiefly in Venereal distempers It purgeth only by the inferiour parts A Red Precipitate After dissolution of Mercury in Aqua fortis evaporate it to a dryness with violent fire and to the bottom of the vessel a Red precipitate powder will adhere especially fit for venereal Ulcers Precipitate Mercury From the best the best is made â„ž Of Mercury purifyed â„¥ iiij On which pour of oil of sulphur rectifyed â„¥ viij digest it for two days in sand then by Retort distil it three times cohobating lastly with violent fire that the Retort may be Red hot Which being done take out the white mass and grind it and with hot water wash it often until you see the precipitate turned to a most yellow powder upon which burn spirit of wine thrice So may it be securely given into the body Dose from three or four grains to six in purging Extracts conserve of Roses or sugar of Roses It helps in infirmities caused by putrefaction of humours and in deplorable diseases It purifies the bloud in the Gout Dropsie and in all continued Fevers it is a principal Arcanum Another Calcination and Precipitation of Mercury Mercury distilled from Sol or Luna and purifyed as above either per se or with an eighth part of Sol or Luna precipitate into a Red powder in this manner â„ž A small vessel with a long neck in which put â„¥ iiij of Mercury place the vessel upon an Iron plate in a fornace of sand administring a continued fire for the space of fourty days The neck of the vessel must stand above the sand six or eight thumbs breadth and for the first ten or twelve days the Mercury that shall ascend to the neck of the vessel must be certain times a day every day thrust down and precipited to the fiery bottom with an Iron Rod having a Linnen cloath bound to the end of it as Geber teacheth This way of precipiting Mercury is not the method of the modern but ancient Philosophers The days being expired if any crude Mercury be found in the bottom it must be separated from the Red powder which hath wonderful faculties in medicine For it is a most excellent Cathartick in the Leprosie so kindly loosning the belly as it may safely
of May twelve pound bruise them or cut them very small pour on them of common water twenty pound and having macerated them three days by a Vesica distil at least eight pound Fennel Water â„ž Of Fennel-seeds grosly beaten four pound of common water twenty four pound add of Salt of Tartar or common Salt â„¥ j. macerate these in a hot place Afterward distil them by a Brass Vesica with its Refrigeratory So the water with the Oil will pass out together which from it must be separated Cinnamen Water â„ž Of the best Cinnamon grosly bruised on which pour of Rose-water and of White-wine of each three pound macerate them in heat congruous to the heat of dung then make distillation per Baln separating the first water which is the best and also receiving the second apart and so likewise the third The second may be used instead of a Menstruum for maceration The third is unprofitable phlegm Acid Water of Oak Juniper Guaiacum and Box. â„ž The sawings of Oak or small splinters or shavings of Juniper and Guaiacum or shavings of Box distil them in a Retort unto a dryness afterward separate the Oil from the water through a brown paper Rectifie the water in sand upon Colcothar or Sea-Salt or its own proper ashes then by distillation separate the phlegm from the acid Liquor Lastly reserve a third part of the most pure Liquor or there about It is useful in dissolving Corals and Pearls and in extracting their Tinctures Compounded Water of Cinnamon Macerate and distil Cinnamon as above adding the Roots of Dittany of Crete Angelica of each Ê’ij In this water dissolve as much white Sugar as you can and digest the whole for one day natural afterward segregate the superfluous water by distillation then adde of Aqua vitae rectifyed â„¥ â—j and diligently mix them It is of admirable virtue in the Pest and in a difficult Birth CHAP. III. Of sundry kinds of Aqua fortis STrong Waters which are also called Caustick Chrysulcae Separatory and Stygian Waters are confected by violent fire of Atramentum Sutorium Salt Nitre Salt-armoniack Stibium sublimate Mercury Allom Cinnabar c. Of which that which obtains the greatest caustick and corrosive force of all is called Aqua Stygia but that which dissolves gold Aqua Regia Common Aqua fortis â„ž Vitriol dryed two pound Salt-peter purified one pound grind them together and mix them then put them into a Retort very well coated which place in a Furnace of Reverberation and applying a capacious Receiver distil by fire gradually augmented for twenty four hours When white and cloudy Spirits are dissipated in the Recipient the distillation is ended after which suffer all to cool by degrees The water taken out clarifie with Silver in this manner take a fourth part of the Liquor distilled in which project of pure silver Ê’j and dissolve the same over a fire pour out the Solution on the other three parts and they will wax milky let the water settle and pour off the clear If you would have it be Aqua Regia in â„¥ iiij of this common water dissolve â„¥ j. of Salt Armoniack or common Salt dryed and with it you may dissolve gold A perpetual Aqua fortis and the way of making Cinnabar Dissolve Mercury in Aqua fortis add of Sulphur an equal part distil these by Retort and you will have a water more potent than before and in the neck of the Retort Cinnabar Philosophick Water or Aqua Regia â„ž Of Salt Nitre purified and Salt armoniack of each â„¥ ij grind and mix them well together and in a large Retort with a capacious Receiver annexed the junctures gently luted make distillation in ashes continuing the fire until all the fumes with great violence be come forth and no more drops will fall from the Retort Then take out the Retort while it is hot and put in the same quantity of the abovesaid matter and mix it with the Caput-mortuum distilling it as above CHAP. IV. Of Spirits SPirits participate partly of water and partly of fire and as they are more aqueous or more oleaginous so are they called either water or Oil. Yet such as are extracted from Minerals are for the most part called Oils Among the Spirits of Animals the spirit of humane bloud excels of Vegetables spirit of Wine and of Minerals spirit of Vitriol Spirit of Wine Digest Rich wine in dung or like heat in Circulatory vessels of an equal largeness for eight or ten days afterward the vessels cooled pour it out into high Cucurbits on which set Alembecks with Recipients annexed the junctures being firmly closed with Hogs or Ox-bladders make distillation in Baln according to Art First the spirit Spirit comes forth which keep apart by changing the Receivers then urge the phlegm till the feces remain thick like liquid honey The same feces distil by Retort administring fire gradually and you shall receive a fat Oil. Oil. Then from the Caput-mortuum by reverting the phlegm upon it and by digesting filtring and coagulating you may extract a Salt Salt If you desire the spirit of wine more excellent rectifie it by often repeated distillations Spirit of Tartar â„ž Of pure white Tartar five pound put it in a glass Retort to which when placed in ashes with a large Receiver annexed administer fire gradually first the spâ—rit comes forth afterward the Oil both which must be rectifyed by addition of Salt of Tartar and afterward separated each from other It is a famous aperitive wherefore in retention of the Menstrues the Paralysie Jaundies and such like affects it is wonderfully efficacious It is also used in the Dropsie with other hydragoge waters In the Leprosie Indian disease Pleurisie and Quinsey it is also exhibited The dose from ℈ j. to ℈ ij in convenient Liquors Spirit of Turpentine â„ž Of clear Turpentine what quantity you please put it into a Brass Vesica with its Refrigeratory almost filled with water So a spirit is drawn forth which will swim above the water and by B. M. it may be rectifyed It s use in Medicine is manifold The Cough Phtisick it cures pestilential venoms it resists it clears the stomach of sordid and viscous stoppages it maketh Urine sweet as a Violet it expels the Stone and gravel and heals the Strangury and Ulcers of the bladder it opens and comforts the nervous parts heats the Spermatick vessels and excites Venus dissolves coagulated bloud purifies the womb and in suffocation of the Matrix is exceeding profitable Externally in contusions it is of admirable use and exceeding beneficial Spirit of Sulphur Under a Glass Campane place an earthen vessel with Sulphur which set on fire The inferiour vessel must be so fitted to the Campane that the ascending fumes may not suffocate the flame but carryed freely upward into the head may there be condensed into Liquor and so fall into a vessel apt to receive the same From one pound of Sulphur may you have
four pound of fountain water forty pound macerate them in a hot place as long as shall be convenient adde of Tartar â„¥ ij afterward distil it by a brass Vesica with its Refrigeratory and you will have â„¥ viij of oil In the same manner Mace Pepper and the Seeds of Anise and Coriander c. may be distilled It helps in cold diseases of the Stomach Liver Heart and the Diarrhaea from a cold cause it dissipates melancholly spirits and clarifies the gross Externally it heals green wounds and performs the office of true Balsom Oil of Sugar â„ž Of white Sugar grosly beaten â„¥ iiij Aqua vitae â„¥ viij Set fire of the Aqua vitae in a silver or earthen dish glazed into which cast the Sugar continually stirring it with a Spatula until the flame cease then add of Rose-water â„¥ â—j mix them It corroborates and by experience certainly helps those that labour with a cough caused by coldness of the Lungs Oil of Tartar This oil beside the way above delivered in preparing the spirit thereof is also made per deliquium by putting Tartar calcined to a whiteness in a Cellar This oil is an admirable Remedy in the Measels all Ulcers especially venereal in the Tinea Scab and Warts It makes the face smooth and the skin soft or other moist place until it be resolved into oil which must afterward be filtred Also it may be prepared If Tartar after calcination be dissolved in common water filtred and coagulated and the coagulate placed in a cold moist place until it be resolved Oil of Amber Digest a pound of Amber beaten in one pound of white wine Then adde a handful of prepared Salt distil it by Retort observing degrees of fire By distillation twice rectifie it with Salt only This oil was once called Sacred by reason of the admirable virtues it hath being as well exhibited per se as mixt with others in the Epilepsie Appoplexy Melancholly Cramp Vertigo Pest Stone cold defluxions of the Head Palpitations of the Heart deliquiums of the mind difficulty of breathings difficulty of making water difficult Birth Strangulations of the womb retention of the Menses white flux of the Matrix Worms and Fevers A compounded Oil for the Hemicrania â„ž Of Rue one handful boil it in one pound of oil Olive in a new earthen pot for half an hour Then pour it it into a Retort and to it adde of Venice Turpentine â„¥ xij of Colophony â„¥ iiij distil it in sand the clear water which comes forth first being of little value separate Afterward gradually encreasing the fire the oil will come forth which receive apart In the time of the Fit heat a little of it over a fire and with Cotton moistned in it anoint the fore-head and Temples and the dolourous part also ordering the Patient to go to bed A compounded Oil for the Womb. â„ž Of the powder of Rue a little dryed one â—ound Castor â„¥ ij Olibanum Myrrh of each â„¥ iiij â—il of Linum ½ pound digest them four days in â—orse dung or like heat afterward distil them by â—etort in a close Reverberatory With this Liquor â—oint the Womb morning and evening Oil of Tiles Small pieces of Tiles or Flints like Beans make Red hot in a Crucible which so fiery hot cast into old oil Olive close the vessel and leave it for a night Afterward distil the small Stones with the oil by Retort Rectifie the oil by distilling it the second and third time with prepared Salt Oil of Sulphur â„ž Of Sulphur beaten one pound Calx-vive ½ pound Mercurial Salt â„¥ iiij mix them and distil by Retort For wounds and Ulcers it is very profitable Oil of Salt Salt consists of divers parts earthy The nature of Salt aqueous and fiery It s consistency and solidity is from earth its Liquability from water and its biting property from fire It is sharp * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bitter-sweet cutting subtile penetrative pure fragrant incombustible and preserves other bodys from corruption perspicuous as air by reiterated distillations dissoluble in humid and Liquable in fire like Metals And it is as the Soul in the body according to Pliny who after the Stoicks saith Salt is given to Swines flesh being as it were dead in its own nature instead of a Soul For this in manner of â—erment where it hath power of penetration converts the body with which it is mixed into its own nature by consuming the humour obnoxious to putrefaction Raymund Lully calls the salsuginous Liquor dispersed through the whole body Urinal humour Paracelsus Mummy There are divers ways invented by Artists of extracting the oil of spirit of Salt Some distil Salt decrepitate per se without addition of any external thing But since salt is of easie fusion and when co-united in one it retains the most contumacious spirits after distillation for twenty four hours all being cooled they break the Retort grind the Mass of salt and put it in a new Retort with the distilled Liquor and this they repeat so often as till the whole salt be resolved into oil which in the eighth or ninth distillation is wont to be This Operation is too tedious Others dissolve calcined salt in a Cellar or with Rain-water and impaste it with Potters Clay sifted and thence make smal balls or pellets which when dryed they put into a Retort and so extract the spirit But I am wont thus to prepare it I take of Sea salt calcined two pound and I mix it with six pound of flour of Tiles Red Earth or common Bolus all which I put into a firm and large Retort so as at least a third part may remaâ—n empty and applying a capacious Recipient into which I first pour one pound of distilled water then do I keep it distilling for thirty hours observing the same degrees of fire mentioned in distillation of spirit of Vitriol After separation of the water and phlegm I receive â„¥ xx at least of most sharp o l which must be rectifyed It is endued with most poâ—ent virtues whether it be used internally or externally It renovates the whole Man and preserves â—rom all diseases if it be used in râ—ch Wine or Aqua vitae Mixt with salt of Wormwood and taken either in Wine or water of Wormwood it expels the Dropsie It cures the Epilepsie Jaundies Fevers Stone and Maw-worms By anointing it heals Members disjoynted contracted paralytick and apostemated Also it mitigates dolours of the Gout if mixed with oil of Turpentine or of Wax or Camomil Also it calcines all Metals Stones yea Glass it self the most perfect work of Art Another way Dissolve common salt in humid per se filter it so often as till no feces be left then set it in horse dung for two Moneths afterward with most strong fire distil it and separate the phlegm from the unctuous salsug nous Liquor by B. M. Whatsoever is most obnoxious to corruption if imbibed with this Liquor it remains incorrupt
extraction of the more benign and more pure parts may be made so also by like temperate heat of any other thing digestion separates the subtile from the gross what are thick it breaks and attenuates cocts the crude mitâ—igates and edulcorates the unsavoury and so elaborates all things that from things digested a more plentiful Harvest of essence is always to be expected The administration thereof is Learnedly described by Libavius in this manner The matter to be digested is included in a vessel like unto the Stomach every where firmly closed unless when with digestion evaporation is conjoyned as for correction of an Empyreuma or in coagulation and such like for then a small hole in the cover or mouth of the vessel is left and a just time observed that none of the substance perish Whether it be meer juice or Liquor the matter is plain but in Minutal of Herbs and such like either the proper juice is to be left or some analogous humour from without is to be added which notwithstanding is sometimes also in liquors of divers kinds as when Oils are digested with Spirit of Wine c. where is a proneness to putrefaction and in adding the Menstruum care enough can hardly be taken for putrefaction must not be made when we would digest a thing although digestion may be the way to it then Salt is to be added and the vessel so fitted must be placed in a digestory furnace of competent heat and there permitted to stand unto the desired end which is diverse by reason of the multiplicite use of digestion As for example Green Herbs moistned with their own juice from which by distillation their Essence is to be extracted are macerated three days but the dry moistned with Spirit of wine seven days Seeds and Aromaticks half a Moneth Roots for a Moneth if they be dry Minerals for a philosophick moneth A Philosophick Moneth which is forty days or longer according to firmness and the hability of the Menstruum Some are twice macerated sprinkled with Greek-wine as sometimes Aromaticks which being moistned are digested to a dryness afterward pulverisate are the second time macerated by imbibition So solidity and rarity also have their difference of time Distilled Waters set in digestion to the Sun are rectifyed in half a Moneth the vessel being firmly closed and two parts of the vessel ful and the third empty and sometimes a third part of the glass is set in sand which in cold things Artificers command to be done but with great caution Yet hot waters and Oils are rectifyed in cold sand also a third part of the vessel buryed in it c. in a * Vapid or musty moist Cellar for a moneth likewise the other humour to be added must be such as may help digestion without corruption of the substance And here if the humour be alienate it is separated by the aforesaid hole but if otherwise and it be familiar or else alterable into the nature of the digested it â—s left In Dense thiâ—gs it is more sharp and sometimes corrosive as Vinegar Spirit of wine strong wine c. In others gentle as distilled Rain-water Rose-water c. sometimes Oâ—l of the same kind In the interim what are of another Nature and by digestion recede are separated But digestion is not only accompanyed with distillations or extractions but also with rectification coagulation fixation edulcoration of Calxes prepared by Aqua fortis and is called Maceration because it also hath power of penetrating Maceration of opening the compactness of things and of separating impurities Putrefaction Putrefaction is when a mixt body through natural putridness by humour overcoming dryness and external heat operating more strongly than internaly is resolved to an Essence apt to be extracted and segregated from its hetrogeneal parts The way of performing it is thus What is to be putrefied must be duly prepared and so put into a Cucurbit of glass if it either be dry or abound not with humidity sufficient for putrefaction a certain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a Vehicle or Menstruum so generally from the moneth of putrefaction every Liquor is called which is used for extraction of things if it either be of its own kind or to it analogous or a Water convenient must be poured on which by its own excess may take away the dryness of the mixt body open the mixture draw the out-going Essence to it self and conserve it intire and uncorrupt untill it be all extracted and least the heat with its own humidity should expire the vessel must be sealed with Hermes Seal afterward in Horse-dung or like heat it must be conserved and that heat continued to the end of the time prefixed The property of Putrefaction The property of putrefaction is to change both the colours odours and tasts of things and their old nature being destroyed to generate a new Circulation Circulation is of a Liquor depurated from Elements in a Pelican by various Circumvolutations or Rotations by which the impurities setling downward are removed and so it is converted or exalted to a more excellent State It is thus performed The Liquor to be exalted is included in a Pelican or Circulatory vessel four or five parts thereof remaining empty and so it is placed in Balneum or Dung as deep as the Liquor riseth within the Glass or a little lower so as the superiour empty parts of the vessel may stand in the cold Air that from the bottom and the sides an attenuation may be made by heat but from the upper parts coagulation by cold and so the said vessel must be kept in moderate and continued heat â—ntill the Artist come to his desired end and the fâ—ces totally reside in the bottom In this place it seems not improper to annex Fermentation Fermentation although sometimes by it is not made so conspicuous a segregation of the salubrious from the more gross parts as rather a disposition for extracting the most noble Essence Yet it is the Exaltation of a thing in substance by which digestion mediating the Agent heat prevails and turns the Patient into its own Nature Moreover what are fermented are either Liquid or Solid What are Liquid are such simply as Water and Wine or thick and soft as honey and Sapa Liquids which are simply such if they be also hot * Wine boiled to a consistency per se are fermented as Wine Perry Sider But what are cold as the exprest juices of cold things have need of the addition of some other external as feces of Wine dregs of Beers or Ale Salt or any like acidness for accelerating ebullition and fermentation The thick and soft may be in the following manner fermented For example To ten pound of honey adde fifty pound of water Let them stand in moderate heat for one day natural Hydromel then with gentle fire boil the whole and scum it let a third part exhale or while
are they For so one distillation is better than three rectifications Let the Cucurbits or Glass bodys for the most part be two Cubits high The Third In every distillation vessels must not be two full you will more safely operate if Cucurbits be filled but one fourth part Retorts about half but the Brass Vesica may be three parts full and but one remaining empty The Fourth Things flatulent as Wax Rosin and the like as also those which easily boil must be put to distil in a less quantity and in greater vessels and indeed must be mixed with Salt Sand or such like The Fifth Distillation by a Balneum is proper for things not too strongly compacted Yet in Herbs especially those that are hot as in Worm-wood Sage Rosemary c. great heed must be taken that we use not too gentle heat least we draw out not so much of the essence as of the unprofitable phlegm But in Lettice Endive and such like of a more thin substance a moderate heat must be adhibited and sometimes a Baln of dew or vapour only which neither impresseth an Empyreuma nor dissipates the more thin airy parts may be sufficient The Sixth Distillation by Ashes or Sand agrees with things of a more solid consistency as Seeds Woods Roots c. The Seventh By a Brass Vesica things thin are not only distilled but others also which are more firmly compacted yet in their Menstruum first macerated The Eighth Distillation by Retort doth not only extract the more weighty Spirits of Minerals but also things more soft as Woods Seeds Roots Gums Rosins c. Waters and Oils The Ninth When fresh and juicy Herbs are to be distilled they must be bruised and the juice expressed and then by heat of Baln distilled in a high Cucurbit The Tenth Herbs either of their own nature dry or dryed by time must be bruised and moistned with common water or their own proper water May-dew or Wine And of the Menstruum must be so great a quantity as may be sufficient for maceration but if more be poured on the whole quantity must not be abstracted Maceration being made according to discretion distillation must be made by a Baln or if you shall distil per Vesicam add to every one pound of herbs six pound of water and distil according to Art The Eleventh In the same manner per Vesicam whatsoever is Aromatick whether Roots or Rinds Woods Seeds or Leaves or Flowers are distilled and Oil and water come forth together The Twelfth There are some which require a vehement fire yet such must not be too violently urged least in so doing their nature be wholly corrupted The Thirteenth Great care must be taken that the Luting wherewith the distillatory vessels are conglutinated do no where admit of expiration least the liquor be defiled with an extraneous quality especially when a more violent fire is to be adhibited The Fourteenth The distillation of things Acid hath this property that the more ignoble part always comes forth first and the more noble last Wherefore in Rectification of them what first comes forth is to be separated as phlegm The Fifteenth If waters smell of an Empyreuma or shall be very much contaminated with a certain fiery heat dispersed through their least parts that is corrected if the Glasses containing them be set in a cold and moist place The Sixteenth When Liquors distilled per B. M. are to be rectified by Insolation the Glasses wherein they are put must be but half full or three parrs filled at most and the Membranes with which they are wont to be covered must be pricked with a needle that through those Spiracles the unprofitable flegm may exhale The Seventeenth Distillation must so long be continued as untill the Liquor come forth without any savour of the matter imposited CHAP. II. Of Waters from Flowers Herbs Roots Rinds Seeds Woods Water of Roses THis is prepared divers ways Some take of Roses a convenient quantity and these digested three days in Baln they distil with the vapour of hot water Others without preceding digestion draw forth a water from them put into an Alembeck Others also distil them by ashes where there is need of the greatest Caution and circumspection least the distilled Liquor be infected with an Empyreuma And there are others who for lucre of gain more than intending the health of Men take the Roses whole as they are gathered with a great quantity of water and distil them by a Brass Vesica and from thirty pound of Roses they extract a hundred pound of saleable water having an indifferent good odour Others distil the flowers bruised by gentle heat of Baln without any Menstruum or at most only so much as will serve to moisten them and for the more expeditious procuring of a cooling virtue in one distillation they first moisten them either with common water or old Rose-water or else for enduring a fragrant and comforting virtue they use more infusions in distilled water Which way we follow in preparing it only distinguishing between the white and the flesh coloured For from them that the greater cooling virtue may be obtained we beat them in a Marble Mortar having first moistned them with a little Rain water then with a Press express the juice and so distil it The flesh coloured bruised without any moistning are put into a great glass vessel set in a Cellar and after three days the juice is exprest and distilled This is the most fragrant water and will keep the fragrancy of its odour many years Some upon the pressings of these pour clean and pure water and so macerated for eight days they distil it either in Baln or a brass Vesica and this water so dâ—stilled in virtue and efficacy is not inferior to the common vendible Rose-water Burning Water of Roses As from all other things especially such as are Alimentose as flagrant and fragrant water by the benefit of fermentation may be extracted so also from Roses which by common censure are cold Take Roses gathered in a serene time when they are wholly destitute of any dewy moisture beat these most accurately and put them in a glass Cucurbit which afterward being firmly closed place in a Cellar As soon as the Matter seems to smell of any acidity take of the same bruised flowers what quantity you please and thence distil a Liquor per Baln the water thence extracted pour upon another part of the Roses and again distil it after the same manner proceeding until all the quantity of fermented Roses hath passed by Alembeck the feces which are wont to remain in the bottom being every time separated Afterward all the water drawn from the Roses distil by Baln and abstract about a twelfth part at least and it if you please rectifie So will you have a most grateful and most odoriferous water and which will as readily take flame as Spirit of wine Water of Succory Take of the Herbs and Roots of Succory gathered in the middle
it be tinged with a most Red colour separate the Menstruum by Baln This tincture is the true Balsom of the Lungs Tincture of Coral Dissolve â„¥ j. of Corals in one pound of juice of Lemons digest it for eight days then filter the Solution in this tincture dissolve of white Sugar â„¥ viij Then digest it by evaporating to the consistency of a Syrup Dose one spoonful in every Hepatick flux Dysentery and flux of bloud Another way â„ž Of Coral beaten smal what quantity you will infuse it in acid water either of Oak or of Juniper Guaiacum or Box rectified as we have taught in the Chapter of distilled waters that the Menstruum may stand above the Coral three or four fingers Then place it to digest in horse-dung or like heat for eight days What shall be dissolved pour off and pour on other acid water digest and pour it off so often as until the Corals be wholly dissolved the dissolutions filter and distil to a dryness To the matter remaining in the bottom pour the best spirit of wine That will in eight days be tinged like bloud being set in digestion then separate the tinged Liquor from the feces repour on other spirit digest and pour it off until you shall have extracted all the tincture Then filter the tinged spirit and coagulate it to the consistency of a Syrup If you will you may circulate it with Cordial water or add Sugar dissolved in Rose-water and reduce it into a syrup Another way Corals are calcined with a like quantity of sulphur and the tincture extracted with distilled Vinegar by digestion for five or six days Otherwise Corals beaten are calcined with a like quantity of Salt-peter for one hour in a fire so moderate as the Nitre may not melt Afterward they are put hot into a vessel and spirit of wine is poured upon them and with it they are digested for twenty four hours The tinged spirit is poured off and other spirit repoured on until it shall have extracted all the tincture CHAP. XI Of Calcination of Common Salt Salt-peter Vitriol the Stone of the Spunge Chrystal and Marchasite of Silver Calcination of common Salt PUt common Salt in a crucible or other earthen vessel filling it full almost to the top then place the vessel covered between living coals until it be very hot all over and the Salt cease crackling Afterward dissolve it in common water filter the Solution and coagulate it in a new glass dish Calcination of Salt-peter or Mineral Crystal or of Lapis Prunella Dissolve Salt-peter in common water and filter it through brown paper that it may be purged from all its impurities Then in a glass vessel boil it and scum it often before it be coagulated When coagulate and dry grind it and in a clean earthen vessel placed in burning coals liquefie the Salt To every pound of melted Salt inject â„¥ j. of flowers of Sulphur yet not altogether at one time but at sundry times until all the fatness be consumed in flame But the flame must studiously be avoided This Solution Filtration Decoction Despumation Coagulation Eliquation and Deflagration of the Salt being thrice repeated the Salt is sufficiently prepared for medicinal use Of this Salt Ê’ ss dissolved in water of Roses or Endive is a principal Arcanum in the Prunella or soar throat being gargled for it takes away all uncleanness of the mouth and throat And if a little of that water be swallowed it asswageth all internal heat and is an admirable cooler of the heart It abateth the Cough if taken with spirit of Wine with water of Hysop it removes obstructions both of the Lungs and Liver Shortness of breath it cures Hoarsness it helps and restores lost speech if Ê’ ss thereof be taken in a morning fasting with the yolk of an Egge moderately boiled Moreover it is useful in all diseases both internal and external as John Tholdeus in his Halography and Bernard Penotus in his book of the true preparation of Chimical Medicaments amply teach Calcination of Vitriol Dry Vitriol to a whiteness in an earthen vessel not glazed with moderate fire afterward encrease the fire for a quarter of an hour that the Vitriol may wax red then is it called Colcothar Calcination of the Spunge Stone Heat the Stone of the Spunge red hot often and as often extinguish it in distilled Vinegar until it be resolved into a Calx It s use in Calcination is for extracting tincture Calcination of Chrystal Chrystal reverberated for six hours in a crucible reduce to a subtile powder and mix it with an equal quantity of Salt-peter and again reverberate it with a vehement fire for eighteen hours Pour it out while in flux into clear water and what remains undissolved dry and reduce to an Alcohol Then with the same water boil it until it be thickned like a Poultis after which lay the Spissiude upon pieces of glass to dry in heat and again reduce it to an Alcohol and if you will set it in a cold humid place to be resolved If any thing shall remain still undissolved reiterate the Calcination with Nitre and the other labours as above that it may be Soluble Dose three or four drops with a like quantity of oil of Juniper Against the Stone of the Reins and bladder Another way Make clear and pondrous Chrystal red hot often and as oft exstinguish it in distilled Vinegar until with the least touch it may be reduced to powder Then mix it with a like quantity of Salt-peter and reverberate it for eighteen hours Then by many ablutions extract a fixed Salt-peter dry it and reduce into an Alcohol It is profitable in the Stone Falling sickness Dysentery and Sterile Breasts If any one would for the aforesaid affects more subtiliate this impalpable powder let him digest it twenty four hours in spirit of Wine and by Retort distil it What shall remain fixed must be reverberated as above and so often digested and distilled as until the greater part shall ascend with the spirit of Wine Then the spirit of wine being separated by distillation what remains in the bottom of the vessel must be set in a moist place that it may be dissolved into a water or oil Calcination of Marchasite of Silver Weismouth or Marchasite must be dissolved in water made of Salts unto a sulphureous and Stiptick clearness The solution being clear pour upon it the * Nucleus essence of all liquid things so in a moment it will be precipited into an Alcohol most white like snow which must be freed from all acrimony and dryed It s use is for removing vices of the skin CHAP. XII Of the various Calcination of Antimony Calcination of Antimony â„ž Of choice Stibium four pound of salt prepared five pound These pulverised mix And in a vessel of earth with a broad bottom placed over a fornace of Reverberation still them together for the space of five or six hours until the fume cease and the Stibium
be made white and somewhat yellow diligently beware of Liquefaction and the noxious fume Afterward grind it to powder from which by affusion of hot water and also of cold often the salt must be extracted which dryed and pulverised sublime per se in a proper vessel for ten or twelve hours Hav ng gathered the flores grind the Catu-mortuum and reverberate it to a redness in a moneths space the vessel being so closed by reason of the ashes as the fire may not be impeded from due operation After calcination draw forth the tincture with radicate Vinegar and further elaborate it by filtration separation of the menstruum and circulation with Cordial water Another Calcination of Stibium and Emetick Powder or Mercurius Vitae â„ž Of Antimony pulverised â„¥ â—iij Mercury sublimate â„¥ viij Mix them together and distil them in ashes by a glass Retort unto which annex a Receptory half full of water Afterward administer fire gradually until a gummose Liquor like butter adhere to the neck of the Retort which with a live coal externally applyed cause to resolve and it will be precipited into the water in a white powder Then leisurely give fire of suppression until a red Liquor come forth which beginning to appear remove the Receiver and apply another presently and intend the fire for an hour or two until the Mercury joyned with the sublimate sulphur of Antimony be sublimed to the neck of the Retort into Cinnabar The precipitate powder digest for one night and separate the water impregnated with spirit of Vitriol from the sublimate and keep it for dissolving Corals and Pearls Then upon the precipitate powder pour other water often until all its Acrimony be removed afterward wash it with Cordial water and dry it with most gentle heat Dose in strong constitutions is four or five grains but in the weak two or three grains in a roasted Apple or conserve of Roses It is beneficial in the Pest diseases of the Head Fevers Lues-venerea Leprosie Dropsie and in Ulcers But in exhibition hereof Cautions in exhibiting of Antimony to be observed those singular Cautions delivered by Crollius in his Basilica Chymica are to be observed the first whereof is That in the use of Antimony care be taken that no constipations be cholick dolours nor one of the principal Members hurt The second nor that in those to whom Antimony is given a vein be cut either before or after taking it The third that it be not exhibited to cholerick persons nor such as difficultly vomit and who have otherwise but little strength but unto those who are prone to vomit having a strong stomach a large and wide throat and who are otherwise accustomed with ease to vomit and in whom the sickly matter easily comes upward The fourth where vomiting is needful that a little pease broth gently boiled or fat broth of Hens or warm beer be exh bited and that certain times if need be that the sick may the more easily vomit and the action of the medicine be accelebrated Liver of Antimony or Crocus of Metals â„ž Of crude Antimony one pound of Salt-peter â„¥ xij Mix these in an Iron mortar where having first ground them well with a live coal set fire to the mixture and it will presently be Liver of Antimony Afterward separate the Salt peter Dose from twelve to twenty grains in infusion of white wine water of Carduus Benedictus or other convenient Liquors especially in Pestilential Fevers Another Calcination of Stibium working only by the inferiour parts â„ž Choice Antimony and salt decrepitate of each one pound these ground together and well mixed reverberate in a well luted crucible for twelve hours encreasing the fire to it by degrees The vessel cooled wash the matter so oft with Aqua dulcis as until all the acrimony be removed then dry and grind it Dose from twenty five to thirty five grains Regulus of Antimony â„ž Of Antimony Salt-peter and Tartar of each one pound mix these pulverised well together then set a crucible in the fire that it may be hot Which being done inject a spoonful of the powder and presently close the vessel until the fume cease then removing the cover inject more of the powders and close it again so doing till all the powders be in after which give fire of fusion and shake the crucible that the Regulus may settle to the bottom The crucible cooled separate the Regulus from the feces and keep it And from the Feces a Sulphuraurate Diaphoretick may in this manner be made â„ž The feces of the Regulus as above prepared and reduce them to a Lexivium by digestion or ebulition then filter it hot through brown paper To this Lexivium when cold add a little distilled Vinegar and you will find the Crocus edulcorated by many ablutions Which dry and keep apart It wil be an admirable sudorifick and mundificative of the bloud most apt for expelling many diseases Dose from ℈ ss to ℈ j. Crâ—â—â—s Martis Stellate â„ž Of Horse nails ½ pound Antimony one pound make the Mars hot in a crucible then add the Antimony beaten and cover it giving fire of fusion afterward inject at times â„¥ â—j of Nitre and lastly pour all out into a Cone Again pour the Regulus into the crucible and add â„¥ j. of Nitre at times as above Repeat this Labour five or six times until you have Regulus Martis Stellate Diaphoretick Antimony â„ž Of Antimony and Salt-peter of each one pound mix them being pulverisate together then set a crucible in the fire that it may be hot when hot inject â„¥ â—j or thereabout of this mixtion and presently cover the crucible until the fume and noise cease Afterward â—nject more of the powder and close the vessel as above this do continually until all the mixture be put in then administer fire of Lâ—quefaction for a quarter of an hour Which being done and the vessel cold take out the matter and grind it mixing it as above with an equal quantity of Salt-peter calcine it in the same manner as before The matter afterwards being ground and edulcorated with ablutions reverberate in an earthen vessel closed for the space of twenty four hours until it be made a candid powder of whâ—ch the Dose is fifteen grains Another â„ž Of the venenate scum of the two Dragons once rectifyed â„¥ iiij On which when resolved in heat pour spirit of Balsamick salt â„¥ â—iij from this mixture distil away the Liquor in sand to a dryness The earth take out and when very well ground on it repour it s own distilled Liquor with â„¥ â—j of fresh Balsamick spirit and distil as before Afterward to the powder ground as before again pour on the distilled Liquor anew adding other â„¥ ij of spirit and proceed again as at first Then deliver the dry and ground matter to be examined by Vulcan for twenty four hours continually stirring it with a clean iron Instrument At length from it often abstract the Alcohol of wine
be given to Children and Women with child sharp humours it mitigates it purgeth out phlegm and amends the hot and dry constitution of the bowels Dose six grains Another Dissolve Mercury in Aqua fortis and precipitate it according to Art by exhalation of all its humidity that the precipitate may be Red. When pulverisate put it into a strong vessel pouring on it so much Vinegar three times distilled as will stand above it five fingers place the vessel in sand administring fire that the vinegar may gently boil for the space of six hours and the precipitate be wholly dissolved Filter the solution and upon it pour Liquor impregnated with the soul of the world and presently the Mercury will be separated from the Dissolvent which must be washt and dryed and so reserved for use Dose from four grains to five Precipitation of Mercury in a moment Put the Red pulverisate matter in a crucible exposing it to a violent fire for four hours space until it do in a manner begin to vitrifie and adhere to the sides of the crucible Then remove it from the fire and when cold grind it to a subtile powder and put it into a glass vessel pouring Aqua Regis rectifyed upon it then set it in digestion for twenty four hours which time elapsed by inclination evacuate the tinged water and pour on other water repeating the same Labour so oft as until it shall have extracted all the Tincture The evacuations distil to an Oleaginy Of this oil â„ž â„¥ j. and pour it upon â„¥ iiij of crude Mercury and so it will be precipited in a moment Nor will the oil adhere to the Mercury if it be distilled off with strong fire After exhalation of the oil some of the Mercury will be sublimed but the greater part will remain fixed It s use is in augmentation of Sols and most red vitrification A Diaphoretick Precipitate Dissolve Mercury distilled from Sol or Luna and purged as above in Aqua fortis which in a vessel with a long neck and proportionate Alembeck annexed abstract by fire of the third degree with double cohobation that the Mercury may be made Red which must afterwards be edulcorated by calcining in a crucible placed in the fire continually moving it with an Iron rod for a quarter of an hour or thereabout or else with the following water â„ž Of distilled vinegar two pound of the phlegm of Allom ½ pound of reverberated Calx of Egg-shels â„¥ vj. distil them together to a dryness Of this water â„ž three pound of the aforesaid precipitate Mercury one pound mix and digest them for one day natural afterward distil them by Alimbeck with three cohobations toward the end encreasing the fire that the matter may be well dryed which circulate for one day natural with spirit of wine Then separate the spirit by distillation and again circulate and distil it Repeating the same labour the fourth time This is the true preparation of precipitate Mercury for expelling infinite diseases and especially Lues Venerea whether it be internally taken for so elaborated it only provokes sweat or externally applyed with Butter or any other medicament A Diaphoretick Precipitate of Cinnabar â„ž Of vulgar cinnabar â„¥ j. Of prepared salt Ê’ij Grind and mix these together and in a convenient vessel pour on them of oil of sulphur made per Campane â„¥ iij. digest these three days in ashes afterward by violent fire cause all the humidity to evaporate In the bottom a white mass will remain which must be edulcorated by frequent ablution Dose from six grains to ten chiefly in venereal distempers It is given with conserve of Roses and three or four ounces of decoction of Sarsaparilla Diaphoretick Mercury of Venus â„ž Of filings of Copper â„¥ j. Of Mercury meteorisate â„¥ ij Mercurial salt â„¥ ij ss Put these ground and mixed together in a strong vessel which place in sand and administer fire until all be melted as wax Then take the vessel hot as it is and put it in cold water that it may break in sunder and the greenish Mercury flow out which when dryed put into a smal Retort with spirit of sulphur or Vitriol and in ashes set it in digestion for one day natural Which being done distil it in sand twice cohobating it then wash it twice or thrice and the last time with cordial water It is a most excellent Diaphoretick Bezoardick Remedy against the Pest if two hours after the first assault of the disease it be taken in Liquor it preserves from death Dose one or two grains in appropriate water CHAP. XIV Of Calcination of Saturn and Jupiter SInce as Geber saith solution of bodies is imposible the composition being unknown before we come to calcinations of Metals to speak somewhat touching the natures of them will be in this place very suitable Rightly did Hermes the Father of Phylosophers understand when he said That which is superiour â—s as that which is inferiour For by the same reason â—s nature doth produce Plants and other Vegetables â—n the superficies of the earth so doth she in subterâ—anean places generate metals though more slowly 〈◊〉 in a longer space of time of the humid unctuous â—pour of Argentvive and sulphur vitriolate by its own heat containing properties in it self decocting Mercury Whence Hydrargyry is said to be the Mother of metals and sulphur the Father And in these are represented the four Elements which are the remote matter of all natural bodies For Mercury as Feminine cold and humid holds the property of water and air and sulphur as masculine hot and dry bears the representation of Fire and Earth If any shall affirm that as well of the vapour as juicyness found in Mines the matter of metals consists I will not gainsay it For when I the last Summer in Hungaria descended into the Silver Mine in Schemnitz about fifteen hundred Cubits deep I Learned of the Miners who by reason of the exceeding heat of the Mine did work without any cloaths not having so much as a shirt upon their naked bodies that Mineral vapours did frequently arise from the center of the earth and extinguish their lights and themselves also if they did not make haste away and that some time after when they entred the Pit they should find those damps or vapours coagulated into a mass to the sides of the wall which with a gentle touch would be fluid as oil Whence it may safely be inferred that the vapour is the more remote matter of Metal but the sulphureous and mercurial juice the more near matter of the same Also I have at present with me mineral Stones from the same Mine and others which either the vapour or such an unctuous humid mineral juice hath penetrated and in some of them is plainly to be seen a crude matter not sufficiently cocted in others moderately cocted from one pound of which Ê’vj of pure silver may be taken and about ℈ ss of Gold In others is matter perfectly decocted
so as the silver is visible on the superficies and in one vein shootings of pure gold may be beheld Although there be some who by reason of certain frivolous reasons deny Mercury and sulphur to be the matter of metal yet Phylosophers who have experience in metals believe the same and that such a matter is found in all Mines and veins of the earth do with one consent witness With whose opinion the judgment of all Miners Melters and tryers of Meals agree Likewise Physicians know that all diseases of such as labour in Mines arise from the admission of crude sulphureous and mercurial spirits into the body and that metals in external affects perform the same that Mercury doth Yea that all metals with no great labour may be reduced into Argentvive and Argentvive into all metals is well known to Phylosophers Calcination of Saturn Melt Lead in a vessel of earth or Iron and purge it from its Scoria's Then encrease the fire that it may be red hot in the vessel continually stirâ—ing it with an Iron spatula until it be reduced to a Calx which if sifted and afterward longer reverberated will be Minium Calcination of Jupiter â„ž English Tin not sophisticate which you may know by its weight and malleation four pound melt it in a pot with a flat bottom and purge it from its Scoria's Then inject a little salt Armoniack and encreasing the fire til the pot be red hot cast in one pound and half of prepared salt so long stirring it with an Iron spatula as until it be reduced to a Calx which afterward by violent fire must be reduced to a body and separated from the impure and blackned salt Again mix it with one pound of prepared salt and calcine it as above Wash the Calx from all its saltness and reverberate it for eight days that it may be turned to an Alcohol From which by affusion of Alkalisate vinegar a salt is extracted digestion for certain days being adhibited and the matter afterward filtred and coagulated Otherwise Jupiter may also be calcined as Saturn without any addition of salt Or else they may be calcined in a wooden Bowl well coated with clay if they be first melted in a crucible and from thence poured into the said wooden vessel and there be stirred about very swiftly Diaphoretick Jupiter â„ž Of English Tin filed or as above calcined either in a vessel of wood or earth not glazed â„¥ ij Of Mercury sublimed â„¥ â—iâ—j Mix them and by Retort distil them in fire of sand applying a Receiver half full of water and when it begins to distil give a moderate fire of suppression until all the Liquor shall be distilled and precipited into the water But what shall be sublimed to the neck of the Retort scrape off and digest it with what is distilled for one night The water impregnated with spirit of vitriol separate and keep it for use but dry the Cax of which the dose is from four grains to six CHAP. XV. Of Calcination of Mars and Venus Calcination of Mars â„ž Of filings of Steel by Ventilation and Ablution diligently cleansed from filth two pound of prepared salt three pound mix them and in a pot for one day natural reverberate them Then take out the mass and grind it afterward dissolve it in hot water and wash it so often as until it be freed from all saltness and terrestreity Which being done by grinding and sifting reduce it to a subtile powder Then again reverberate it for eight or ten days until the superficies be converted to a most red Crocus and impalpable which removed reverberate the remaining part so oft and so long as till it be all reduced to a Crocus Note That the vessel containing the Limature must have a cover that no coals or ashes may fall into the Crocus yet the cover must be so placed as between it and the vessel the flame may have free access Another way Crocus Martis is also prepared by putting smal plates of Steel red hot and sparkling into rolls of sulphur by the force of which they melt and fall down in smal grains into a subjacent vessel half full of cold water or vinegar Dry the grains and grind them to a most subtile powder and if you will you may reverberate them to a Crocus in the space of six or eight hours It hath virtue of expelling opening and attenuating which filings of Steel also acquire being reduced to a most pure Alcohol by the benefit of simple water Otherwise Dissolve â„¥ j. of filings of Iron in â„¥ viij of Aqua fâ—rtis and distil off the Aqua fortis by Alembick in sand So you will have â„¥ j ss of most red Crocus Otherwise Reverberate filings of Mars with a like quantity of beaten sulphur for four or five hours It hath an aperitive virtue but it will have a greater if it be calcined for half an hour or thereabout with double its own weight of sulphur beaten smal Another Calcination of Mars Digest filings of Iron or Steel in vinegar thrice distilled until it be coloured Pour off what is tinged and pour on other fresh vinegar so often as until it shall have extracted all the Tincture Filter the evacuations and distil them and in the bottom will remain a red powder which must be reverberated for one day natural into an impalpable Crocus It hath virtue of constringing Otherwise Crocus Martis is also made with oil of sulphur thus Pour oil of sulphur and spirit of wine of each an equal part into an Iron spoon and by gentle heat evaporate it till the humidity be consumed afterward if it settle for certain days you will find a most subtle powder which keep in a a Phial firmly closed that no air may enter because it will resolve if exposed to the air If some grains of this be given in broth or other convenient Liquor it will be a true Restorative of the Liver helping in all diseases thence arising as the Dropsie and such like Calcination of Venus Venus is dissolved in Aqua fortis and by affusion of warm water with a smal piece of Iron or Silver it is precipited to the bottom of the vessel Or else plates of Copper are reverberated in a Potters fornace into burnt brass which with easie contrition is reduced to a Calx Or smal plates are put into a crucible with an equal part of sulphur beaten smal making S. S. S. that is lay upon lay and so reverberated into Aes ustum CHAP. XVI Of Calcination of Luna and Sol. Calcination of Luna DIssolve Luna in Aqua fortis and by affusion of salt water preâ—â—pit it into a bright Calx to the bottom of the vessel which by frequent pouring on of common water must be edulcorated and then dryed â„ž Of this Calx â„¥ j. of prepared salt â„¥ ij of Salt-armoniack Ê’ij Mix these well in a glass mortar and reverberate the mixture for eight days Afterward extract a tincture with spirit of wine
will pass it through Hyppocrates sleeve or a Linnen cloath into a firm earthen vessel When it is cold pour off the water by inclination and the Salt adhering to the sides of the vessel by frequent affusion of water gather being separated from the feces And again as above boil it wash it separate it from the feces and dry it Then reduce it to powder of which the Dose is ʒj in a little broth or appropriate medicine It hath virtue of breaking thick and tartarous humours and of opening obstructed passages Salt or Askali of Imperatory Calcine the herb dryed to a whiteness extract the Salt with distilled water of the same herb or else with common water digesting it for one night Afterward pour off the water by inclination taking heed you disturb not the feces Pour on other water the second and third time digesting and evacuating without disturbing the feces as before Then filter and coagulate the three evacuations together If the coagulum be not sufficiently white calcine in a crucible to a redness taking heed it melt not then resolve filter and coagulate it Thus is Salt extracted from all herbs but in such calcination the volatile or essential salt perisheth and the elemental salt only remains Salt of Tartar Strew or spread Tartar in an earthen unglazed vessel with a flat bottom the thickness of one finger Afterward reverberate it to a whiteness for the space of five or six hours with a fire so moderate to prevent fusion that the vessel may be but just Red. The Tartar thus calcined to a whiteness pour out into common water digest it then filter and coagulate Salt of Corals This is done by digesting Corals beaten smal in vinegar thrice distilled for one night Afterward the solution is filtred and the vinegar evaporated to a dryness So the salt of Corals remains in the bottom of the vessel Its virtues are excellent for it cleanseth the bloud throughout the whole body restores the pristine vigour of health Fluxes of the Womb and Belly and Hemroides it stops It strengthens the heart and stomach removes obstructions of the bowels and dissolves congealed bloud It is profitable in the Dropsie Convulsions Paralysie Stone Suffocation of the Matrix if exhibited with water convenient against preter-natural affects Dose from ten grains to ℈ j. or ℈ ij with respect to age and the vehemency of the disease Salt of Colcothar The Colcothar is put into Rain water and the salt by digestion for one day or night comes forth into the same is filtred and coagulated If the remaining redness be five or six times again calcined and the saltness every time washed out it at length will be sweet and is called sweetness of vitriol which will be the greater if the Colcothar be prepared of vitriol of Venus and it is a present Remedy in malignant Ulcers Vomative Vitriol Dissolve white Vitriol in common water filter and coagulate it repeat the same Labour the second time After which dissolve it in Rose water and coagulate Otherwise Dissolve white Vitriol in distilled water filter it in a glass vessel exhale the water until it contract a skinnyness Then set the vessel in a cold place that it may be Crystallized The Crystals separated the remaining humour evaporate and again set to Crystallize as above and this Labour repeat the second time Thirdly dissolve the Chrystals in Rose water and as before exhale and Crystallize then with gentle fire dry the Crystals Dose from ℈ j. to ʒ ss in a draught of Wine or Beer or with Conserve of Roses It happily operates in Fevers Affects of the Ventricle Catharrs Maw-worms Pest c. Salt or Vitriol of Mars ℞ Spirit of vitriol or oil of sulphur per Campane although not rectifyed ℥ j. With this mix ℥ ij of common water Unto this mixtion add ℥ j. of filings of Iron all which in a close vessel place in hot ashes that it may boil very gently for the space of six hours Afterward permit it to cool and in the vessel you will find vitriol generated green and splendid which is dissolved in hea◠and in cold coagulated Salt or Vitriol of Venus Reduce calcined Copper or scales of Copper to a subtile powder which digest in distilled vinegar for one day natural The tinged vinegar by inclination pour off and repour on other so often as til it be no more tinged The evacuations filter and evaporate or distil off three parts what remains in the bottom of the vessel set in a cold place and so a green obscure shining vitriol will be generated Otherwise Plates of Copper with a like quantity of sulphur beaten as is said in calcination of Venus are reduced to a subtile powder and in an earthen pot with the beaten sulphur are calcined by a continued stirring the mixtion with a rod of Copper til all the sulphur be burnt The Calx again is ground and with an eighth part of its own weight of sulphur beaten smal calcined Then is it again ground as before and project into hot water being often stirred with a stick or Copper rod until the Calx be setled to the bottom and the water wax cold which being filtred is evaporated to a fourth part and put in a cold place to produce Azure Crystals or else by evaporation coagulated Salt of Saturn Put the Calx of Saturn or Minium in distilled vinegar or the phlegm thereof digest it for one day natural often stirring it then evacuate the Menstruum by inclination and pour on other until all the Saltness of Saturn be abstracted Filter the evacuations and in ashes or sand coagulate them If vinegar be the third time distilled from Salt of Saturn with cohobations and afterward spirit of Wine be poured on and thrice cohobated the Salt acquires so admirable a virtue in healing divers Diseases as if six grains be given in white Wine in the Pest it cures the sick in twenty four hours In the Dropsie three grains are given in white Wine four days together In the Cholick six grains with whitewine In the Leprosie also six grains in water of Fumitory continually for eighteen days together This Sugar inwardly taken by its coldness doth also extinguish Venereal Lust and is therefore profitable for those who are devoted to a single and Virgin Life Externally used it wonderously operates in malignant Ulcers Corrosive and Cancrous Cancer Woolf and such like Also it is a most excellent Remedy against putridness of the mouth and Ring-worms Blastings Inflammations Tumors and red Pimples of the face if applyed with convenient Oils or Waters CHAP. XVIII Of Flowers Flowers of Benzoin GRind Benzoin and put it into a round pot which close with a double brown paper wrapt up in manner of Hyppocrates sleeve and administer fire apt for sublimation gathering the snow like flores often These in the Asthma and all diseases of the Lungs are very profitable Dose ℈ ss in convenient Liquors or Syrups It is also a principal Remedy for
bunches and redness of the face Flowers of Sulphur These are prepared by mixing equal parts of Sulphur and Colcothar perfectly rubifyed and dryed and so mixed by subliming as shall be taught in sublimation of Antimony but this operation is performed in the space of eight hours nor is so much fire required as in Antimony They must the second time be sublimed with Sugar candid alone that they may be more efficacious in the Asthma and other affects of the Lungs Also this preparation of flowers is made by mixing one pound of the flowers of sulphur with one pound and ½ of flour of Tiles Or by adding to one pound of sulphur of Colcothar and salt decrepitate of each ½ a pound Or else per se they are sublimed without any other addition These flowers do powerfully resist putrefaction and therefore in the Pest the weight of ʒj either in Carduus benedictus Treacle or Syrup of Citron or else in water of Melissa is profitably used as well for Preservation as Curation They also preserve from Fevers and Epilepsie In Lues Venerea they provoke sweat In all diseases needing exsiccation they help and are very beneficial in all Affects of the Lights the Asthma the Cough as well of long continuance as what is newly taken Catarrhs flowing to the breast Pleurisie Cholick Imposthums and Putrefactions of the body Flowers of Antimony Choice Stibium reduced to a subtile powder and put into an earthen pot with a blind head super-pofited in the top of which must be an hole for exhaling the humid spirits and a moveable stoppel fitted to the hole must be sublimed according to Art administring fire gradually for ten or twelve hours for receiving white flores but for Citrine twenty four hours and for the red flores thirty six hours continuing and encreasing the fire Sublimate Mercury ℞ Mercury purged with prepared Salt and Vinegar and passed through a skin Vitriol rubifyed Prepared Salt of each one pound Salt Nitre ℥ iiij Grind and mix them together in a stone Mortar with a little Vinegar so long as until the Mercury no more appear Living All being well mixed put into a cucurbit Luted with an Alembick having a short neck annexed with Recipient adjoyned administring fire by degrees artificially for eight or ten hours The Aqua fortis which first comes forth keep For the second sublimation to one pound of sublimate add of Salt prepared ℥ xij and of Vitriol ℥ iiij If the third time sublime it with salt only A sweet Sublimate ℞ Of Mercury purged as above ℥ vj. Mercury sublimate ℥ viij Grind and mix them together with one pound of Colcothar well and perfectly rubifyed Then sublime the mixture from a convenient vessel placed in sand for the space of five or six hours The second time sublime it with ½ pound of Colcothar The third time per se only Instead of Colcothar prepared Salt may be used if any one be so minded The sublimations ended reduce the mass into a subtile powder which wash with Rose water and dry it Dose from twenty grains to thirty in Lues Venerea Otherwise ℞ Of Mercury sublimate ℥ vj. Silver foliate ℥ ij By grinding mix these together and sublime them in sand The vessel cooled separate the volatile part and grind what is fixed and Crystaline and mix it with the feces residing in the bottom The second and third time subliming as above and in the end washing the sublimate when dryed keep it for use Dose from six grains to eight or ten It purgeth gently Manna of Mercury Dissolve Mercury in Aqua fortis Afterward precipit it in Sea water and from a cucurbit placed in sand distil it toward the end encreasing the fire that the Mercury may be sublimed to the sides of the vessel The vessel cooled and the feces residing in the bottom of the vessel removed gather the sublimate apart And again in the same water dissolve and distil it as above So will you have the Celestial Eagle more white than snow the use whereof is chiefly in Venereal distempers Dose from ten to fifteen grains It purgeth only by the inferiour parts CHAP. XIX Of Magisterys A Magistery is when the mixt body is so prepared by Chymical artifice without extraction as all its homogeneal parts are preserved and deduced to a more noble degree either of substance or quality the exteriours of impurity being segregated Magistery of Tartar ℞ Oil of Tartar made of the resolved and purifyed Salt ℥ iiij Spirit of Vitriol ℥ i. which instil upon the Oil of Tartar into a large glass drop by drop and it will be a most white Coagulum The supernatant humidity remove by gentle heat unto the dryness of salt upon which distil spirit of wine three or four times And so you will have a white fixed Vitriolate Tartar It s use is in all obstructions of the bowels in the Stone Nephritick dolour Jaundies retention of the Menses melancholy hardness of the Spleen Fevers and the Dropsie if conveniently adhibited Dose from ℈ ss to ℈ j. Magistery of Pearls and Corals Dissolve Corals or Pearls beaten smal in water made very sharp with spirit of vitriol Digest it for one night and upon the Solution first filtred inject oil of Tartar drop by drop til it be like milk Then pour upon it common water and digest it and so it will be precipited in bright powder to the bottom of the vessel The water must be separated and other poured on three or four times until all the Acrimony be separated Then dry the powder and keep it for use Margarits in temperament and virtue do very much emulate Gold and therefore do comfort the vital spirits of the heart and remove palpitation of the heart deliquiums of the mind and Vertigo's And ought deservedly to be mixed with all Cordial medicaments They excite Venus resist melancholy dealbate the Teeth comfort the memory and corroborate the young in the womb They dry up all depraved humours in the body and preserve all parts of the humane body from corruption The virtues of Corals are spoken of in the Salt of them Magistery Milk Cream or Butter of Sulphur ℞ Of flowers of Sulphur ℥ j. Salt of Tartar ℥ iij. Mix them and pour upon them of common water three pound digest all in sand for one day natural with such heat as toward the end the water may almost boil afterward filter it hot through brown paper and upon it pour a sufficient quantity of distilled vinegar so the milky Cream of sulphur will by little and little settle to the bottom Separate the Dissolvent by inclination and with frequent ablutions edulcorate it Lastly digest it with Cordial water and dry it And thus will you have a most white Milk or Cream of sulphur Which is the Balsom of the primogeneal humidity It comforts the natural vigour purifies the bloud Diseases of the Lungs as the Asthma Cough and Ptysick it cures In drying up Catarrhs in removing windinesses of the
Stomach in the Sciatica and Gont it is commended as exceeding profitable It also is an egregious preservative from the Apoplexy Pest Leprosie and Convulsions of the Nerves In Hectick Fevers by comforting it profits So much only of the powder being mixed with specifick waters as shall be sufficient for tinging them with a white colour One spoonful is given in the morning and before exhibition accurately mixed with the humid vehicle Otherwise It is also made by mixing sulphur beaten with clean sand or glass beaten smal of each equal parts and by distilling by Retort in a moderate fire applying a Recipient containing distilled vinegar And so the distilled substance of the sulphur will be precipited into a white powder which dry and keep for use This Antidote Prince Auraicus used against the Pest Otherwise Milk of sulphur is likewise made by mixing sulphur and sand with Aqua vitae and distilling it in ashes by Retort It is good against malignant Ulcers venereal Cancers Measels Warts c. CHAP. XX. Of solid Tinctures and Panacaea's Tincture of Antimony MAke a Lexivium of ashes of Harts ease Calx-vive and common ashes of each a like quantity In which dissolve Liver of Antimony digesting it in such an heat of sand for one night as it may almost boil Separate the Tincture and filter it And if you please by vinegar precipit it into a yellow powder and by many ablutions edulcorate it Panacaea of Vitriol Dissolve blew vitriol in hot distilled Rain water which being the third time filtred by gentle heat of Baln evaporate to a skinnyness Then pour the remaining Liquor hot into a Leaden vessel in which you must first place smal sticks transversed And so leave it in a cold place for three days that it may produce green Crystals which separate evaporate the remaining Liquor and put it again into the same vessel to be Crystallized repeating the same Labour so oft as until all the Liquor shall be Crystallized This vitriol of the colour of an Emrauld by these Solutions and Coagulations perfectly purifyed reduce to a powder very subtile which in heat not exceeding the heat of Sol in the Summer season dry in the space of five or six days until within and without it appear candid Then dissolve it in distilled water filter it what is undissolvible cast away coagulate it in a Leaden vessel and dry it to a whiteness in gentle heat as above Repeating this operation unto the third time or until in dissolution nothing remain undissolved This candid vitriol put into a firm vessel sealed with Hermes Seal which so place in gentle fire of ashes as the heat may not exceed the Summers heat The tenth day it will wax yellow the twentieth day it will be reduced to an Alcohol and be most red like bloud Break the vessel and put it into an high cucurbit and upon it pour vinegar thrice distilled so much as may stand above it at least four fingers Apply a blind head and digest it in a warm Baln for four days every day stirring it with a clean wooden spatula The vessel cooled what is tinged pour off and pour on other vinegar digesting stirring and evacuating it as above repeating the same Labour til the vinegar shall attract no more Tincture What shall remain in the bottom reject as useless The ringed vinegar by gentle heat of Baln distil to a dryness In the bottom will remain a Red powder which also the third time in the same vinegar dissolve digest evacuate distil and dry Then put your most Red powder into a Retort with a large Receiver annexed administring fire gradually First the spirit comes forth yellow afterward most red continue the fire in that degree until the spirits appear white Then cease distilling and câ—ol the vessel in the bottom of which you will find a perspicuous pure and most bright earth which with the above said spirits imbibe by little and little digesting and imbibing until the spirit and soul be restored to their proper body Then coct this blessed earth in a vessel Hermetically sealed and placed in heat of Athanor for forty days until it be fixed Dose from three grains to five especially in deplorate diseases A Solar Diaphoretick Panacaea Stomachus Struthionis of Paracelsus â„ž Of Phylosophick water one pound Mercury sublimate â„¥ ij Mix them and in this water dissolve only so much Mercury as can well be dâ—ssolved in it The dissolution slowly proceeds therefore is there need of digestion To the solution add of Gummose Liquor â„¥ ij mix and distil them and that distillation reiterate twice or thrice until after the distillation no feces be remaining In all these distillations sublimate Mercury ascends which every time re-put into the water With this water the Quintessence of Metals Minerals and Marcasites is extracted Spirit of Wine Tartarisate Distil the dryed feces of wine after the manner as Aqua fortis is distilled The water and oil-sepaparate and keep In the mean while calcine the feces to a whiteness which with the above said oil imbibe and as before distil and calcine repeating this Labour so often as until the oil be clear as water and sweet not savouring of adustion So you will have a Tartarisate Quintessence which removes all corrosiveness from Metals Sublimation of Sol. â„ž Of Sol purged with Antimony and cut into very thin plates or instead thereof Of foliate Sol â„¥ ij Of Stomachus Struthionis â„¥ iiij Dissolve and distil by Alembick with strong fire toward the end even to sublimation that the glass may be red hot The vessel cooled cohobate and distil it thrice every time separating what shall be sublimed The fourth time distil away the phlegm gently and anew pour on other â„¥ iiij and do as before until the whole water be consumed and all the body shall be sublimed unto the whiteness of the exalted Eagle that is of sublimate Mercury Then praise GOD. Again reposit the whole sublimate with the phlegm distilling away the phlegm without ascension of the spirit Mercurius Vitae This is made as in the Archidoxes of Paracelsus in the Book of Secrets with one part of Antimony and one part or according to others two parts of sublimate Mercury Afterward it is rectifyed and dissolved upon a Marble or Table of glass then it is congealed by distilling away the phlegm and a little of the acidness until drops falling in the phlegm begin to be precipited Then the Receptory is removed and another applyed and distillation urged with moderate fire This Labour must be four times repeated and the fourth time it will be a clear and white mass The Conjunction of sublimate Sol and Mercurius Vitae â„ž Of Sol sublimate or the oil of the same aforesaid without phlegm one part Of Mercurius Vitae clarifyed two parts Mix them together and with gentle fire distil the spirit What shall remain coagulated dissolve upon a Marble Repeating the Solution and Coagulation the third time Then upon this matter pour two parts
â„¥ j. of spirit of so great efficacy as Leonardus Fieravant said he could never sufficiently admire the vertue thereof inwardly exhibited into the body It may be given with appropriate waters or Syrups to 4. 5. or 6. drops And be mixed with Electuaries and Pills as well in hot as cold distempers Externally also it is profitable for dealbation of the Teeth for Ulcers in Lues-venerea of the jaws Warts and Fistula's of the Fundament and all other members It is also called Oil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but improperly Spirit of Vitriol There are three kinds of Vitriol the Green White and Blew participating of the nature of Salts Alloms and Sulphurs some more and some less The first indeed participates more of Salt the second of Allom and the third of Sulphur and they consist of an aqueous earthy and middle nature the aqueous and earthy as Ripley witnesseth in his Pupil of Alchimy cannot be separated from their extremities but by the mediation of Mercury which as Geber affirms retains what is of its own nature rejecting and exposing to the fire what is not so The middle perspicuous substance exalted by sublimation into a Snow-like candor occultly in it self contains a sulphurious seed most Red like a small worm Whence in Turba it is said Philosophers have admired that a redness should be existant in so great whiteness Of this Sulphur Gebar thus speaketh in cap. 28. Summ. By the most high GOD that thing illuminates and rectifies all bodies because it is Allom and Tincture This is that Aqua vitae the dry water which wetteth not the hands the congealed water the animate Salt touching which Raymund Lully after Alphidius saith salt is no other than fire nor fire any other than sulphur nor sulphur other than Argent vive reduced into that precious celestial incorruptible substance which we call our stone Whence one to the Letters VITRIOLUM thus alludes Visitando Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem Veram Medicinam that is visiting the interiour parts of the earth by rectifying you may find the occult stone the true Medicine Moreover among Artists it is controverted whether among the various kinds of Vitriol either that of Cyprus the Romane or Hungarick be the better and more noble The Cyprian and Romane may well enough be suspected because they are for the most part adulterate and sophisticate being various viz. of divers colours forms and virtues And the Hungarick such as by French and German Merchants is brought unto us is a certain blew perspicuous and sometimes a greenish Vitriol which they sell for genuine and as brought from Pannonia but they lie impudently For when I with great travel went to those parts with intention to go into the Mines of Gold and Silver that I might by * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proper experience have more perfect notice of Metals and Minerals the Illustrious and noble Lord of Bloenstain general Prefect of the Mines of that Kingdom of Hungary through his aboundant courâ—esie and humanity did certainly affirm to me that there were two kinds of Vitriol there whereof one was white and very aluminose of which they make Chrysule-waters but the other blew and far more excellent yet the Minera of this although much better than the other was not dug because no Merchants judged it worth their time to buy such Vitriol and transport it to other Lands The same is likewise affirmed of Antimony Ungarick Antimony genuine is seldom brought into other Regions which is found in aboundance in the Gold Mines That Vitriol of right and deservedly ought to be censured most excellent which by the benefit of water is made of Venus and thence extracted as is mentioned hear-after To this the blew aforesaid is somewhat inferiour for this contains in it self more of Sol transmutes more of Mars into Venus and longer sustains the Examen of fire before it gives forth its last spirits from what place soever it is brought Therefore of this Vitriol â„ž twelve pound calcine it in an earthen vessel with moderate fire untill all its humidity recede The vessel cooled reduce the Mass which will be about seven pound to powder very fine and with one pound or thereabouts of the same Test where it was calcined pulverisate put it into a Retort firmly coated which must be so large as at least a third part thereof may be empty Then place it in a Reverberatory furnace apply a large Recipient with a short neck likewise coated and diligently close the juncture of the Retort with the Receiver with Salt Luting Then above the Retort place a broad cover of earth of one foot high and quadrangularly perforate in the top or upper part being made exactly to close the mouth of the furnace of what form soever it be whether square or round exactly fitted in altitude convenient and to close or shut in the mouth of the furnace equally on every side that the vacant place between the Retort and the cover may be filled with coals Which being done make a quadrangular draught with four pieces of Tile above the square hole of the cover that the flame by help of such a vehicle may when time serves more freely ascend The Orifice of the draught as also the furnace door and ash hole must be so closed as for the first four hours the coals in the furnace may but just burn without being extinguished by which the Retort being leisurely and successively heated then for the following four hours the heat may be encreased by gradually and by little and little every hour opening the holes above and below until the flame begin to break out in the superiour part and the Retort wax hot all over the ash hole and draught being altogether open and no way stopped the fire must be intended eighteen or twenty hours untill all the spirits be come forth After two days moisten the Salt Luting wherewith the Retort and Recipient were joyned with a wet cloath keept on for an hour because it will be so very hard as without moistning it cannot be removed without endangering the Glasses then may you safely take off the Receiver Which being done by distillation in Baln or a gentle heat in ashes separate the phlegm from the spirit There are some who after separation of the phlegm do rectifie the spirit in sand upon Corals beaten small This spirit in burning Fevers mixt with appropriate waters conveniently cools it quenches thirst resists the putrefaction of humours it operates by Urine and Sweat consumes phlegm breaks tough and viscous homours restores languished appetite and excellently tingeth juices of Roses Violets and other flowers Spirit of Nitre Nitre or Salt-peter must be mixed with three parts of common Bolus and distilled by Retort the space of ten or twelve hours Of one pound of Salt-peter you may have a pound of Spirit if you rightly operate This Spirit is the true Balsamick fire of nature and in the Cholick Pleurisie and Quinsey