A Compendious Body OF CHEMISTRY, Which will serve As a Guide and Introduction both for understanding the AUTHORS which have treated of The Theory of this SCIENCE in general; And for making the way Plain and Easy to perform, according to Art and Method, all Operations, which teach the Practice of this ART, upon Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, without losing any of The ESSENTIAL VIRTUES contained in them.  
By N. le FÈBURE Apothecary in Ordinary, and Chemical Distiller to the King of France, and at present to his Majesty of Great-Britain.  
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Davies and Theo. Sadler, and is to be sold at the sign of the Bible over against the little North-door of St. Pauls-Church, 1662.   

A COMPENDIOUS BODY OF Chemistry: Wherein is contained whatsoever is necessary for the attaining to the curious knowledge of this Art; Comprehending in general the whole practice thereof: and teaching the most exact preparation of Animals, Vegetables and Minerals, so as to preserve their essential Virtues.  
Laid open in two Books, and dedicated to the use of all Apothecaries, etc.  
By Nicasius le Febure, Royal Distiller to his Majesty of England, and Apothecary in Ordinary to His Honourable Household.  
Translated into English by P. D. C. Esq. one of the Gentlemen of his Majesty's Privy Chamber.  
Part. I  
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Ratcliff for Octavian Pulleyn Junior, and are to be sold at the sign of the Bible in St. Paul's Churchyard near the little North-door. 1664.   

To his most Excellent MAJESTY CHARLES the second, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, etc.  
ROYAL SIR,  
THE more I reflect upon the gracious favour your Majesty hath done me, by calling me to be one of your majesty's servants: The more my mind is raised and excited to apply wholly herself to the study and disquisition of the Contexture and Compound, and of the resolution of Natural bodies: whereby those wondered Virtues, and specifical proprieties which Nature hath hidden in their Centre, may be discovered & laid open. And as your Majesty is eminently versed in the nature of good, and knows, that good can only be properly called so and reputed such, insomuch as it is more obvious to the understanding, and more communicable in the practice; so likewise have I begun to follow this heroical Idea, from the time I did live in France, and there teach Chemical Philosophy, I did than by vocal expression declare as much as I was capable to do; and since GREAT SIR, I have compiled in French this Book; which now being made English by one of your Majesty's Servants (a lover and great admirer of this noble Art) I presume to dedicated unto your Majesty; that having the stamp of this Language upon itself, it may go more currant amongst, and be better understood by your own subjects, by whom your Majesty's Royal inclinations to the public good being generally so well known through the vast extent of your majesty's Dominions, this Gentleman hath concurred with me in the laudable intention of seconding this tenderness, and paternal care of your Sacred Majesty, for preserving & restoring the health of those three Nations which Providence hath subjected to your sacred Empire, and for instructing those which dedicated themselves to the practice of the Noblest and best kind of Pharmacy. To this end, I say, hath been translated this which I had written, that it might become more familiar and useful to the one for their health, to the other for their information and improvement of their knowledge. I hope, SIR, I shall have the good fortune from henceforth to produce some other things, which may best contribute to the satisfaction of that sublime, Heroical, and most worthy curiosity of your majesty's discerning Genius, and which according to your own Royal desire and intention shall find a success towards the good and advantage, both of sick and healthy, it is the earnest wish of him, who to his last breath shall ever be,  
Royal Sir, Your Majesty's most humble, most obedient, and most faithful servant N. le Febure.   

To the Apothecaries of England.  
SIRS,  
I Am very glad I have applied myself during the time I was in France to some work useful to the English Nation, even before his Majesty of Great Britain had done me the honour and been graciously pleased to call me unto his Royal service. For in this Treatise of Chemistry you shall find a Chapter of Vegetables and their preparation, which contains several specifical Remedies, to oppose and root out Scorbutical Diseases, which are but too frequent and connatural to the Clime of this your Country; so that with a very earnest and sincere heart and affection I do impart unto you, not only that which I have declared of most abstruse and secret particulars in the matter of Vegetables, but all the Contents of this whole Work also, both touching Animals and Minerals, where you likewise will meet with a considerable Harvest of Antiscorbutical Remedies. I wish all may succeed to the common good and advantage of your Nation, and to your own in particular; since it is the chief aim, and sole intention of our Great Sovereign. You shall know by the sequel of this Discourse, that I have now, and shall always have for you and the improvement ●f your knowledge, the same tenderness I have had for the French Apothecaries; I shall than advertise you, that 'tis near five and thirty years since I was first addicted to Pharmacy, and that by a Father that was in his profession most exact, who employed himself particularly in the curious searches into things necessary for the Election, Preparation, and Composition of Medicines, which he kept in his Shop, to dispose of according to the precept and orders of the Physicians. I may say, as he was my Father, so he was my Master, from whom I received the first Elements of Pharmacy and Chemistry; who likewise in the first place enjoined me to observe that excellent principle, viz. to exercise my Profession with Fidelity, suffering nothing to discredit the dignity of this Art: But above all, to follow punctually the directions of the Physicians, which aught to be the Fountain from whence all first receive the Noble knowledge of true Natural things, and the manner of preparing them well.  
But this excellent Patron, by whom I aught to square all the Actions of my best life and Profession, soon forsook me, leaving me full of nothing but grief for his loss, and a true Prognostication of the decay of Pharmacy. For he foresaw that the body of the Physicians was divided in such a manner, that the branches were separated from the Roots, and that the nourishment necessary for their subsistence must fail them, without question, if he did not effect a good reunion, that might oblige the Physicians to continued their studies and searches into Naturals, and so communicate them to the Apothecaries. And these aught to receive them with due respect and gratitude, to the end that they might jointly dedicated themselves to the Public good, without farther rending themselves by partiality and particular interest, which hath ever been the ruin of those that are willing to indulge themselves from their due endeavour. Now when I saw myself deprived of the instructions of a Father and a Master, I applied myself wholly to follow his last precepts. Whereupon I searched among the dead for those Physicians that had written best of Pharmacy, and among these living, those that did practise best, and did labour daily to embellish it by their new doctrines, and supplies of good and wholesome Remedics. 'Twas my good fortune to find at Sedan (which was than the place where I was settled) one Dr. Duhan deceased, Dr. of Physic, and professor of Philosophy, who did me the favour to instruct and show me much; 'Twas of this great Man that I confess I received whatever did by degrees promote in me that good design of diligent searching into Physical verities, because those notions are absolutely necessary for our Apothecary, that would acquit himself well in his profession with requisite fidelity; and I can say in commendation of his admirable Genius, that France hath suffered much by his untimely death; for he was designing than to publish some Write, which would have much illustrated the knowledge of things Natural, Medicine & Pharmacy. He had Anatomised Nature in General and particular sufficiently to acquit himself honourably of what he had undertaken, had he not been ravished hence so soon to the infinite loss of the Commonwealth of Learning. Afterwards at Paris, I had the happiness of liberty to converse with M. du Clos Dr. of Physic, who did me the favour to correct my defaults, and lead me as by the hand of his judgement and experience, through all that which I have undertaken in my endeavours to advance the dignity of Pharmacy, which now lies bending toward its ruin, if it be not upheld by its true Arches and Pillars, those faithful, learned, experienced and curious Physicians. This Excellent and rare Physician denied me none of those lights, or illustrations, that are necessary for the well-doing of those that addict themselves to the legitimate preparation of Pharmacy; so that I am indebted to Him for the well-being I have acquired in my Profession. Thus I have continued, till at length I was called some years since by the favour of Mons. Vallot, the most worthy and Chief Physician to our most invincible Monarch, as Apothecary and Distiller in ordinary to the King, to perform by his precepts & order lessons and operations in a course of the true Pharmacy; which is Chemistry, and that in the Garden which his Majesty prepared in the Suburbs of St. Victor. 'Twas there truly that I found wherewithal to satisfy the appetite of my curiosity, not only by the profuse expense with which this True Father and Restorer of Medicine and Chemistry furnished us vessels and materials withal, for the demonstration of those operations which I was commanded to make yearly, as well after the Ancient as new ways; But likewise by those unfathomed depths of Learning and Experience which he possessed, and which he communicated to me for the application of it to myself in particular, and the imparting of it in pulick Lessons so in general, (I find I come in my expressions beneath my desires) that I thought I could not do less than to let Posterity know, how much I stand indebted to the bounty, learning, and sole generosity of their great and illustrious Maecenas.  
I have given you this account of the progress I made in Pharmacy, to the end that you may see the method of making your own advantage, and to discover to you the reasonable submission that you and we do, and always shall own to our illustrious Masters. You must know than by this that I am about to say, that I give you nothing here but what hath been received from the Physicians, so that it is to them only to whom you own the obligagation. And as for my publishing this Tract of Chemistry in French, 'tis because I would imitate the most eminent Authors of Germany, who thought themselves obliged to writ of Chemical Pharmacy in the vulgar Tongue, that it might likewise be useful not only to the Apothecaries, but, that it might likewise be serviceable to men of other professions. For as much as is impossible to writ with order and method of that which is necessary to Art, when we declare not, nor illustrate at the same time the principles of things Natural; and moreover, because we discover not the order of the generation, and corruption Physical, from which all the effects of Nature do result which are the subject of the operation as well of the one as the other Pharmacy.  
I have likewise published it, to contribute to the public good in general, and yours in particular; For as I have never had a greater ambition than to see Pharmacy practised in its true lustre, which I now see vilified and neglected, and as I am fixed in this profession under the protection of one of the chiefest of all Physicians, one that entertains the highest and most generous design for its establishment; so likewise will I guide and conduct you by the Theory and practice of this Treatise of Chemistry to a fair, exact, faithful and veritable profession of our Art  
You will learn hence Readers, as in other Tracts of Pharmacy abundance of things, their true and legitimate preparation, from whence must follow necessarily a good and agreeable Composition. I have undertaken this labour for your use, because I have never yet found one that hath taken the pains or care to show and discover punctually the manner of operating upon things to preserve their virtue, and correct their defaults.  
Moreover, You may observe the difference there is of the correction of those Medicaments which are made according to the opinions and directions of the Ancient Pharmacy, with that which is showed and commanded by the Modern.  
You may observe likewise the envy and malice of those that carp at and rail against Chemistry, and how ignorantly they aver, that this admirable Art is not occupied by its followers, but on poisons, when you will find the Treatise of the Chemical preparation of Animals as well as Vegetables. Lastly, You will find the difference that there is in the modus faciendi of the Ancient Pharmacy with the judicial, intelligent and reasonable government of Chemical Artists, for the separation of the pure from the impure, and for the preservation of that which causes the efficacy and the virtue in things.  
You may and aught to believe, Readers, That though I have not made all the preparations that are described in this Tract, yet nevertheless I have tried the greater part, and may therefore judge of the possibility of their operation and the liberality and virtue of things by the practice and experience in other works which daily pass my hands. If you do but examine those Authors that have given you the description of some things, I will leave it to your discretion to judge the pains I have undertaken to denote to you those little observations which are necessary for operating, and without which it is impossible to avoid failing. I have followed the Method and Order of that knowing and expert Physician Schrederus who is yet living and a Stipendiary to the City of Francfort, to whom all Apothecaries are greatly obliged for the excellent Chemical Dispensatory he hath published. I Recommend to you likewise the Auspurge Dispensatory, illustrated by the Remargues of that Great, brave & Artist Mr. Zwelfer, Physician to his Imperial Majesty, as likewise to the Appendix joined to it, to the end that you may have greater knowledge of those Noble Lights which these two excellent persons have communicated in public, and from whence I have drawn many things that will serve for your instruction if you please to give yourself the trouble to read and practise them.  
Lastly, Readers, I desire with the greatest passion that this may redound to the glory of Medicine, to the advancement of the one and other Pharmacy, but above all to your good and particular satisfaction.   

THE PREFACE.  
THey that reckon Chemistry amongst the modern Arts, and of but late invention, betray their knowledge both in the history of Nature, and the reading of ancient Authors: Since, in the first place, Chemistry is nothing else but the Art and Knowledge of Nature itself; that it is by her means we examine the Principles, out of which natural bodies do consist and are compounded; and by her are discovered unto us the causes and sources of their generations and corruptions, and of all the changes and alterations to which they are liable: And secondly, it is known, that the ancient Sages have taken from Chemistry, the occasions and true motives of reasoning upon natural things, and that their monuments and writings do testify this Art to be of no fresher date than Nature itself. To this do agreed the testimony of the holy Scriptures, by whom we are taught, that even in the World's Infancy, Tubal-Cain the eighth of Mankind from Adam, descended of Cain's line, was an expert Artist in all Brass and Iron works, which he could not have been without a previous knowledge of Minerals, and without being well acquainted, that the Mineral nature contains in itself and comprehends the Metallick, as the purest part of its essence. But this knowledge cannot be attained unto, but by the help and skill of Chemistry; since it is by this Art we are informed, how a metallic, malleable and ductile body, may be extracted out of brickle and inform Minerals. Whence we do safely conclude, that he did receive this noble Art from his Predecessors, or being himself the inventor of it, left it to Posterity, as the richest Jewel they could inherit from him. This Assertion may be proved by the most ancient of Authors, and most worthy of credit; and so we have upon record, that Moses took the Golden Calf, an Idol of the Israelites, did calcine it, and being by him reduced to powder, caused those Idolaters to drink it, in a reproach and punishment of their sin. But no body, how little soever initiated in the mysteries of this Art, can be ignorant, that Gold is not to be reduced to Powder by Calcination, unless it be performed either by immersion in Regal Waters, Amamulgation with Mercury, or Projection; all which three Operations are only obvious to those which are fully acquainted both with the Theorical and Practical part of Chemistry. This truth is confirmed by Hippocrates, when in his Book de Diaeta, he saith, Artifices aurum molli igne liquant: and all experimented Artists know, that Gold is not to be melted without some violence of fire, and that the action of fire doth rather purify it, than destroy it, unless it be made tractable and volatile by the help of certain salts and powders, only known to few persons; and those specially who have had their hands in the work, and by practice attained the secrets of the Art We could join to this, the authority of Aristotle, made use of by his Sectators of this Age, to oppose Chemistry, who saith, That the Inhabitants of Umbria, were want to calcine Reeds, thereby to extract a salt out of them for their ordinary use; which they would not have undertaken without being first taught by the principles of this Art, that Salt is a body of an uncorruptible nature, which by this vulgar calcination could not be destroyed: And if we run over all Ages since the World's Creation, we shall scarce find any wherein some great man hath not raised himself a name to live in the remembrance of Posterity, by the help of Chemical learning. Witness the Egyptian Mercury, or famous Trismegist, whose works do at this day exercise the understanding of the greatest wits: Witness the first inventor of Glass; and that other more skilful Artist, which had attained to that admirable secret of making it malleable, and died with it, by the strange and tyrannical policy of the Emperor Tiberius. And do not Geber, Raymundus Lullius, Peter of Apona, Basilius Valentinus, Isaac the Hollander, and Paracelsus, sufficiently prove by their incomparable works, that Chemistry is the true Key of Nature; that by her means the expert Artist discovers her hidden beauty, and that without her aid, no man shall ever attain to the true preparation of those remedies, which are only capable to encounter with that Hydra of various diseases wherewith human nature is daily afflicted and assaulted? But we should prove ungrateful to our Age, and the memory of a most worthy and charitable Physician, and to the industry of one of the most ingenious and exact Artists that ever was, if we should pass by unmentioned the subtle Van Helmont lately deceased, and the laborious Glauber, yet living, since they are as the two Beacons and Lights which we are to follow in the Theory of Chemistry, and the best practice of it: From their works than, and Paracelsus, we acknowledge to have compiled this Abridgement of Theorical and Practical Chemistry, which we shall divide in two parts: The first containing the Theory, the second the Practice of the Art: The first part divided in two Books, shall treat in the first, of the Principles and Elements of Natural things; and in the second, discover the springs and effects of purity and impurity in them: The second part shall also be divided into two Books; the first whereof is to contain all the necessary terms, both to reduce in practice, and understand the operations of the whole Art; and the second and last of all, shall open the means, and give a plain description, whereby to anatomize all mixed bodies, whether Vegetables, Animals, or Minerals, and thence to extract such remedies as are necessary for the cure of our diseases. But before the principal matter be entered upon, I have not thought it unnecessary, for the Readers satisfaction, to clear some few Queries, which use to be moved, touching the nature of this Noble Art   

A Preliminary Discourse, containing some few Queries about the Nature of Chemistry.  
IT is one thing to treat of a Science and Art, in order to teach it, and it is another to discourse upon the same: The first belongs properly to the Artist; the second is a matter of deeper speculation, and belongs to the enquiry of the Philosopher, whose part it is, to treat of the method, object, end, and action of every Art or Science. According to these rules, we will succinctly examine the most difficulties occurring in this Art, propounded in the following Queries, and first, Concerning the Names usually given to Chemistry, whence they are derived?  
1 Quaery. This art, as many others, hath according to its several effects, received several names; the most ordinary is that of Chymia, or Chemistry, which seemeth to have its original from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, signifying Gum, or Liquor, because it teacheth to reduce the most solid and compact bodies into Juice or Liquor. Sometimes it is called Alchymia, Alchemy, with an addition of the Arabic Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all, 
* Answerable to the Greek Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  which is the indication of some remarkable thing; often times prefixed as a Particle: Others have called it Alchamia, supposing Cham one of the Sons of Noah, to have been after the Flood inventor and restorer of Chemical Arts, but chief Metallick. Sometimes it is called Spagiry, which name includes the Noblest of her operations, namely to separate and join again substances, from the Greek 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, to divide, and reunite again.  〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; And because none of her operations can proceed without external fire, which doth excite the internal heat of bodies: It hath the name also Pyrotechny, as the Art of fire, from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, as to say, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If it be called the Art of Hermes, or Hermetical, it gives a note of her Antiquity; as Distillatory Art, or Art of Distillation, designs the most familiar of her operations. Of all these names we rather choose that of Chemistry, as being the most vulgarly known and received.  
2. Quaery. If Chemistry aught to be called Art or Science? and of its definition.  
Before we enter into the definition of Chemistry, it's necessary to examine her genus and difference, the knowledge of both which is necessary, before a true definition of things can be given. We must than examine, whether it be an Art or a Science, before we can define its true genus, and seek its difference in the object; since there is no part more essential in its definition. But to avoid difficulties and intricacy, let us in few words explain the difference between Art and Science, and the several acceptions incident to the name of Chemistry.  
The difference assigned between Art and Science, is only to be taken from the diversity of their intentional ends or purposes: For as it is the only scope of a Science to contemplate, and its end to attain knowledge by that contemplation, wherein it doth rest satisfied without putting the mind to a further inquity: So Art is only bend to operation, and never ceaseth until it hath brought the purposes of the Artist to a desired accomplishment. Whence we may infer, that Science is only of such things as are not in our power, and that Art doth busy itself upon such things as are in our power. This being granted, we must know, that as Chemistry is of a great extent, so it hath also several ends, and that as it hath all the sphere of Nature for its object, some things are under the power and reach of its disciples, others not; and besides these two kinds of subjects, which are wholly of a different nature, there is a third sort, partly under their power, and partly not: Whence we may in some manner conclude, that there are three species of Chemistry; the one wholly Scientifical and given to Contemplation, and may be very well termed Philosophical, having only its end in the knowledge of Nature, and of its effects; because it takes for object those on●y things which are constituted out of our power: So that this kind of Chemical Philosophy, doth rest satisfied in the knowledge of the nature of the Heavens and Stars, the source and original of the Elements, the cause of Meteors, original of Minerals, and the way by which Plants and Animals are propagated; having not in her power to frame or make any one of all these things, but being sufficiently pleased with entertaining her discourse and reason upon the causes of so many various effects. The second species of Chemistry may be called jatrochymy of Medicinal Chemistry, whose only end is operation; but not to be attained, unless by the means and helping hand of Contemplative and Scientifical Chemistry: for as the art of Physic, consists in two parts, Theory and Practice; the former being but a Clue and help to lead unto the other: so shall also jatrochymy participate of both; the end of its contemplating being only Operation, and that operation again purposing only the satisfaction of her disciples minds, about the Contemplation both of things that are, and are not in our power. The third species is Pharmaceutical Chemistry, which hath for its end only operation, belonging to the Apothecary's profession, who is to direct his work by the Precepts and Orders of jatrochymists: such as amongst the French Physicians is eminent at this day, Monsieur Vallot, first Physician to his most Christian Majesty, who doth eminently possess the Theory and Practice of those three species of Chemistry which we have spoken of. This third species or kind, hath for its object those things which come under our power to operate on them, and extract those different parts which constitute the compound thereof. Whence, from all that is above said, we may conclude, That Chemistry may be called both Science and Art in several respects, and so consequently a practical or operative Science.  
Thus having found the genus, it remains we should find the Difference, to complete the definition. Some do define Chemistry, The art of Transmutations; others, The art of Separations; others, of both Transmutations and Separations: But as Transmutation and Separation are the effects of Chemistry, they cannot constitute its true and specifical Difference. There are several other ways of definition used by others, but which do all come to what we have already said; therefore we must of necessity take the Difference from its Object, as it is above deduced. Some Authors make the object of Chemistry to be, Mixed bodies: but they are deceived; for the Elements which are unmixed bodies, are also under the verge of this Science: Others would have it the Natural body; but they also are deceived; since Chemistry hath under its consideration the universal spirit, which is divested of all corporeity. We say than, that Chemistry makes all natural things, extracted by the omnipotent had of God, in the Creation, out of the Abyss of the Chaos, her proper and adequate object. But it is to be noted, that by natural things we do not understand bodies only, as they are said to be composed of matter and form, but that we mean all created things, though deprived of bodies; and by opposing things natural to supernatural, there will be a sufficient distinction set between the Creator and Creatures, to take away that reproach wherewith the Professors of this Noble Science, are ordinarily spotted and traduced. Chemistry is than thus defined, A practical and operative Science (or knowledge) or things natural. It is a Science, as is already said, because it contemplates natural things; but because it doth not end or rest in Contemplation always, but alters sometimes natural things by the means and help of others, it may be called an operative or practical Science. To make short, It's nothing else but Physic, or knowledge of Nature itself, reduced to operation, and examining all its Propositions by reasons grounded upon the evidence and testimony of the senses, and not relying upon bore and naked contemplation. This is than the difference between the Chymical-Physician, or Naturalist, and he that follows the Schools, or Dogmatical way; that, if you ask from the former, What parts do constitute a body, he will not give you a naked Answer, and satisfy by words and mere discourse your curiosity, but he will endeavour to bring his demonstrations under your sight, and satisfy also your other senses, by making you to touch, smell and taste the very parts which entered in the composition of the body in question, knowing very well that what remains after the resolution of the mixed, according to the rules of Art, was that very substance that constituted it. But if you ask from the School-Philosopher, What doth make the compound of a body? He will answer you, that it is not yet well determined in the Schools: That, to be a body, it aught to have quantity, and consequently to be divisible; that a body aught to be composed of things divisible and indivisible, that is to say, of points and parts: but it cannot be composed of points, for a point is indivisible, and without quantity, and consequently cannot communicate any quantity to the body, since it hath none in itself; so that the answer should have concluded the body to be composed of divisible parts. But against this also will be objected, If it be so, let us know, whether the minutest part of the body is divisible or not; if it be answered, Divisible, than it is instanced again, that it is not the minutest, since there is yet a place left for division: but if this minutest part be affirmed to be indivisible, than the answer falleth again into the former difficulty, since it returns to affirm it a point, and consequently without quantity; of which being deprived, it is impossible it should communicate the same to the body, since divisibility is an essential property to quantity. You see than, that Chemistry doth reject such airy and notional Arguments, to stick close to visible and palpable things, as it will appear by the practice of this Art: For if we affirm, that such a body is compounded of an acid spirit, a bitter or pontic salt, and a sweet earth; we can make manifest by the touch, smell, taste, those parts which we extract, with all those conditions we do attribute unto them.  
Now followeth the third and last Query: What is the end of Chemistry? It is not to be wondered, that ordinary Naturalists have attained to so little light, in their search and knowledge of natural bodies, since they did propose to themselves not other end but contemplation; thinking that it become not them to set their hands to the work, thereby to attain a true knowledge of mixed bodies by Chemical Anatomy: They and their Sectators also, imagining they should wrong their Gravity and Doctoral State, to defile and sully their hands with the blackness of Coals. Much contrary hath been at all times the practice of Chemical Philosophers, though they made, as well as they, Contemplation their end: For they were persuaded, Practice and Operation were to be joined, to receive a full delight and satisfaction, and lay firm and sure foundations to their Reasoning; unwilling to build upon the quicksands of vain, frivolous, and fantastical opinions; which made them willingly undergo the charges, toil and labour of Practical Chemistry; and not be discouraged by Watch, and ill Savours, that they might attain the sooner to a solid an delightful knowledge of the things of Nature, finding by the several experiments of their Works and Processes, the abstruse causes of its wonderful effects, wherein they differ very much from the Empyricks; which do, without much reasoning, confounded, obscure and intricate all things.  
We do than conclude and affirm, that Operation is truly the general end of Chemistry: For the Philosopher operates, only the better to be able to contemplate; the jatrochymist also to discover the better by his operation that which Nature performs in the body of a sound man, that he may be capable to restore health, when by sickness it becomes vitiated and disordered. Lastly, the Pharmaco-Chymist operates, only to furnish wholesome and salutary remedies to the sick Patients, according to the judicious Prescriptions and Orders of the skilful and learned Physician. Is it than to be wondered at, if Chemists do bestow so much labour and industry in purchasing this noble knowledge, the perfection of which can never be attained without having first anatomised the greatest part of Nature? For as it is necessary to dissect the human body, if we will know its organical parts; so it is requisite, before we can discover the fairest and best part of natural substances, which are as it were hidden and involved within a secret rind, that we should open their composites. Whence it may be concluded a very difficult matter for any to attain to the exact knowledge of natural things, without the previous guidance of Chemistry, and being acquainted with all its parts; neither can any be reckoned a perfect Physician without the help of Hermetical Philosophy, since it is the truest ground of Physic, and without which no Practitioner can deserve any other title than that of Empiric: For it is not a Gown, or degrees taken in Universities, which constitute the Physician, but a solid knowledge of Nature, grounded upon sound Reason and mature judgement, improved by practice and experience. Whence it followeth, first, That Chemistry doth not merely consist in the skill of preparing well a Remedy, as many do erroneously imagine; but in the using of it with due circumstances, and respect to the Theorems of Art, which is properly the true Physic: Secondly, that whosoever meddles with Chemical remedies, without the previous grounds of Theory, can deserve no other name than of an Empiric, since he is altogether ignorant of the internal efficient causes of their effects, and cannot give the Physical reasons, why he doth administer such a remedy, for such and such disease; being not sufficiently grounded to know that these rare prescriptions of Chemistry, have their remedies grounded, not upon the actions of first and second qualities, but upon the specifical and internal virtues of their Chemical Principles, as will more evidently appear in the sequel of this Treatise.   

A Compendious Body of CHEMISTRY.  

Book I Of the Body of Chemistry abbreviated.  

PART I Of the Principles and Elements of Natural things.  

CHAP. I Of the Universal Spirit.  
THE title of this Chapter doth sufficiently evidence the error of those who maintain, that the Natural Body is the only object of Chemistry, since it treats also of the Universal Spirit, which is a substance void and divested of all Corporeity: hence it is, that with more reason, we did assign all natural things her adequate object, viz. all created things, both corporeal and spiritual, visible and invisible; and that because Chemistry doth not only teach, how a body may be spiritualised, but how a spirit also may be fixed to become a body. For after having made the general and particular Anatomy of Nature, and searched and penetrated to its very centre, this noble Science hath found, that the spring and root of all things was a spiritual substance, homogeneous and like unto itself, to which ancient and modern Philosophers have attributed several names, calling it a Vital substance, a Spirit of life, Light, Balsom of life, Vital Mummy, Natural heat, Universal Spirit, Mercury of life; and many more names, which to sum up all here, would be needless, since these are the principal appellations.  
But as our Scope, in this first. Book, is, to treat of the Principles and Elements of natural things, it seemeth to stand with reason, that we should in the first place speak of the first Principle, by which the others are principiated; which Principle is nothing else but Nature itself, or that universal Spirit, which makes the subject matter of this Chapter.  
Paracelsus, in his book of Vexations, saith, that Domus est semper mortua, sed eam inhabitans vivit: By which mysterious and figurative speech, he endeavours to teach us, that the strength of Nature is not included in the mortal and corruptible body; but that it is to be sought in that wonderful seed which hides itself under the shade of the body, who of itself hath no strength or virtue, but fetches it all from that seminal spirit which it contains; a thing manifestly demonstrable in the corruption of that body, during which the internal spirit doth fabricate itself a new one, yea many new ones, by the destruction of the first: Which occasioneth again our Germane Trismegistus to say, that the power and virtue of death is efficacious; for than the spirit doth disengage itself from the bonds of the body, wherein he seemed to be fettered, and without efficacy, which he beginneth than to declare, when it should seem more improbable. This truth is illustrated by the grain of Corn rotting in the earth: for the body being opened by that corruption, the internal seminal spirit therein enclosed, buds out, produceth a blade and stalk, and at the end of it an Ear, containing several grains of Corn, the very same in likeness to that which perished and was rotten in the ground.  
This spiritual substance, which is the primary and sole substance of all things, contains in itself three distinct, but not differing substances: For they are homogeneous, as we have already said. But because there is found in it, a heat, a moisture, and a drought; and all three are distinct, but not differing; we say, that these three are but one essence, and the same radical substance; otherwise, as Nature is one, simple, and homogeneous, if the seminal Principles of these substances were heterogeneous, nothing would be found in nature one, simple, and homogeneous; which cannot be, in regard of the great inconveniences that would follow: For if heat did differ from moisture, it could not be nourished and fed by it (which is notwithstanding necessary to be granted true) because nourishment is performed by things not differing, but of a like nature▪ and if the aliment should prove in the beginning, different from the alimentated, it would be necessary before it could pass into the substance of the last aliment, that it should be divested of all difference and dissimilar nature. Now it is granted on all hands, that radical moisture is the last aliment of natural heat; whence it followeth, that it cannot be of a different nature: Moreover, if they did differ, each one would endeavour to produce its like, and the intestine war, raised by this occasion, hinder the generation of the Compound. Let us than conclude, that this radical and fundamental substance of all things, is truly and really one in its essence, but hath a threefold denomination; for in respect of its natural heat and fire, it is called Sulphur; in respect of its moisture, which is the food and aliment of this fire, Mercury; and finally, in respect of the radical drought, which is, as it were, the knot and cement of the fire and moisture, it is called Salt; which we shall clear more particularly, when we treat hereafter of these three Principles by themselves, and examine, whether or not the one may be transmutated or converted into the other.  
Having thus much spoken of the nature and essence of this universal spirit, we must now examine its original, and the effects which it doth produce: And for the first point, it is not to be doubted, but that this spirit hath been created by the omnipotency of the first Cause, when it extracted this goodly fabric of the world out of its nothing, and did harbour it in all the parts of this vast Machine, as the Poet doth acknowledge, when he saith, 
Spiritus intus agit, totamque infusa per orbem  
Mens agitat molem.—  For all the parts of the Universe are in continual need of its supply and presence, as we discover by the effects; and if any by accident hath been deprived thereof, he immediately returns to possess it, and taking its place, restores life by his arrival. So we see, that having extracted from the salt of Vitriol several substances therein contained, if the dead earth, or Caput mortuum, be exposed to the air, in some sheltered place free from the washing of Rain, this spirit will not fail to return to it, being potently attracted by this Matrix, whose earnest longing it is to fill itself with this spirit, which makes the principal part of all things existent; for as things are only destinated to their operation, so can they not act, but by their efficient internal Principles. Therefore God, who ever works by the most compendious way, and will not every day busy his Omnipotency in the creation of new substances, hath once for all created this Universal Spirit, and placed it every where, that he might operate all in all things.  
And as this Spirit is universal, so can he not be specificated but by the means of particular Ferments, which do print in it the Character and Idea of mixed bodies, to be made such or such determinate substances, according to the diversity of Matrices, which receive this Spirit in themselves to make it a body. Thus in a Vitriolic Matrix, it becomes Vitriol; in an Arsenical, Arsenic; a Vegetable Matrix makes it a Plant; and so of all the rest. But two things are here to be noted, the first, That when we say, that this Spirit is specificated in such or such a Matrix, that we understand nothing else, but that this Spirit is embodied in such or such a Compound, according to the different Idea it hath received, by the means of particular ferment; and that, notwithstanding, it may be extracted again out of this compound, by divesting it by the help of Art, of this gross body, to give it a more subtle one, and so bring it nearer its universal nature, and thus prepared, it doth manifest its own virtues much more eminently. The second thing observable is, that this spirit cannot return to its indifferency or universal nature, without having lost first of all the Idea received from the Matrix, in which it was embodied: I say, it must have lost all this Idea, because although these spirits have been divested of their bodies by Art, they do notwithstanding preserve yet, for a while, the character and print of their first body; as it evidently appears in an air poisoned with Realgarick and Arsenical spirits, which invisibly fill it, and do fly up and down; but when it hath quite lost this Idea, it reunites itself with the universal spirit, and if it meets with any fruitful Matrix, being yet impregnated of its Idea, than it embodyes itself in several different compounds: as it is evident in Plants and Animals, which we see produced without seed, as Mushrooms, Nettles, Mice, Frogs, Infects, and several other things; which to relate here, would be too tedious.  
Thus much had we to say of the Universal Spirit, reserving to speak of the Matrices which do specify and corporifie it, and communicate him the Idea and Character of such a determinate existence or body, where we shall treat of Elements hereafter.   

CHAP. II Of the several substances which are found after the Resolution and Anatomy of the Compound.  
WE may consider three several ways, the Principles and Elements which do constitute the Compound: Viz. Or before its composition, or after its resolution, or whilst they do yet compose and constitute the Mixt. In the foregoing Chapter we have demonstrated the nature of Principles, before they enter in the composition of the body; now our task is, in this Chapter, to show, what they are after the resolution, and during the composition of the Mixed; which we will do the more succinctly and in general terms at present, in regard we shall fall again more particularly upon the same matter in the following Chapters.  
We have said heretofore, that the Universal Spirit, which radically contains in itself the three first Substances, was indifferent and in order to be made all things; and that he was specificated or embodied, according to the Idea which it took from the Matrix wherein he was received; with the Minerals becoming Mineral, with Vegetables becoming a Plant, and with Animals Animal. Of this Idea we will speak more hereafter, as also of the Matrices which do communicate it to the same.  
During the composition of the Mixed, this spirit retains the nature and Idea which it took in the Matrix. Thus if it hath taken the nature of Sulphur, and been impregnated with its Idea, it communicates to the Compound, all the virtues and qualities of Sulphur. The same is to be said of Salt, and Mercury; for whensoever it is specificated, or (if it may be said without barbarism) Ideificated in any of these Principles, it shows it immediately by its actions: Thus things are in their Composition either fine or volatile, liquid or solid, pure or impure, dissolved or co-agulalated, and so of the rest, according as this spirit contained more or less Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, or more or less mixture of the grossness and terrestreity of the Matrices. But after these Principles are separated one from the other, and from the terrestreity and corporeity which they draw from their Matrices, they make it plain enough by their powerful effects, that it is in this state they aught to be reduced, before they can work with efficacy, though they retain yet still their character and internal Idea. Thus some few drops of the true spirit of Wine will be more powerful, than a whole glass of this corporeal liquor wherein it was enclosed: A drop of spirit of Vitriol shall be of more effect than many ounces of the body. But you are to note also, that these powerful effects and great virtues do last not longer in the spirits, than the Idea of the Mixed, whence they were extracted, remains with them: For as all things by a natural circulation in Nature, which corporifies to spiritualise, and spiritualizeth again to corporifie, have a strong tendency to their first Principle: so these spirits are still busy and working, in endeavouring to divest and free themselves of the Ideas wherein they are fettered, that they may return to their first Principle, which is the Universal Spirit.  
These things being so cleared, it remains to see how many substances Chemistry finds in the resolution of the Compounds, and what they are. Aristotle saith, that the resolution of things shows their constitutive Principles: Upon this Axiom, hath its ground and basis our Philosophy, both by reason of the truth of it, and that Chemistry receives no Principles of sensible things but such as are obvious to, and fall under the Judicatory of the senses. And as the Anatomist hath found a certain number of similar parts, which constitute the human body, whereof he makes the subject of his Art; so doth the Chemist endeavour to find out the number of primary and similary substances of all Compounds, to exhibit them to the senses, that they may better judge what was their Office whilst yet joined in their Mixed, having considered their virtue and efficacy, in this purity and abstracted nature; thence the name of Sensal Philosophy hath been by some given to the Chemist: For as the Anatomist doth make use of Razors and other sharp Tools in his Dissections, to separate the better the several parts of the human body, which is his chief object: The same doth the Chemical Artist, fetching his instruction from Nature itself, to attain his end, which is nothing else but to join homogeneal and separate heterogeneal things by the means of Heat; for he doth nothing else but contribute his care and labour, to regulate the first according to the exigency of natural Agents and Patients, thereby to resolve the mixed bodies in their several substances, which he separates and purifies afterwards; for the fire never relents or slackens its action, but rather drives it on and increaseth it, until he finds no 
* Or Dissimilar parts.  heterogeneity left in the Compound.  
After that the Artist hath performed the Chemical resolution of bodies, he doth find last of all five kind of substances, which Chemistry admits for the Principles and Elements of natural bodies, whereupon are laid the grounds of its Doctrine, because in these five substances is found no Heterogeneity; these are, the Phlegmatic or waterish part, the Spirit or Mercury, the Sulphur or Oil, the Salt, and the Earth. Some give them other names; for it is free for every body to use their invention in such a case, being a thing of no great importance to neglect Names, and leave a latitude of freedom to every one therein, provided you may agreed in the substance.  
Now, as the Mixts cannot subsist in their integrity and perfect state, if you deprive them of any or these parts, so would also the knowledge of these substances prove defectuous, if they were separated one from another: wherefore we are to consider them, both absolutely and respectively. Three of these substances offer themselves to our sight, by the help of Chemical Operation, under the form of a Liquor, which are the Phlegm or Water, the Spirit, and the Oil; the two other in a solid body, viz. Salt and Earth. The Water and Earth are commonly called passive Principles, material and of less efficacy than the other three; as contrary wise the Spirit or Mercury, Sulphur and Salt, are reckoned active and formal Principles, by reason of their penetrative and subtle virtue: Some do call the Earth and Water or Phlegm, Elements; and give the name of Principles to the three others. But if that definition which Aristotle hath given to Principles, is essential, viz. That Principia neque ex aliis, neque ex se invicem fiunt; Experience doth teach us, that these Substances cannot properly bear the name of Principles; because we have said above, that Mercury did change itself into Sulphur, moisture is the aliment or food of heat, and food transforms itself into the thing which is fed. Therefore the definition of Elements should rather suit with these substances, since they are the last thing to be found, after the resolution of the Compound, and that Elements are, Ea quae primo componunt Mixtum, & in quae ultimo resolvitur.  
But because the Elements are considered two ways, either as they are parts which do constitute the Universe, or as they only compound Mixed Bodies; to accommodate ourselves to the ordinary way of expression, we shall attribute unto them the name of Principles, in regard they are constitutive parts of the Compound; and shall reserve the appellation of Elements, for those great and vast Bodies, which are the general Matrices of natural things.   

CHAP. III Of each Principle in particular.  

SECT. I Wherein is treated, Whether those Five Principles, which remain after the dissolution of the Mixed, are Natural or Artificial.  
Chemical Philosophy doth admit for Principles of the Compound, those five substances whereof we have treated above, because as it is a Science wholly sensal, it grounds its reasons only upon what senses do demonstrate unto her: And because having exactly anatomised a body natural, nothing is found beyond what may answer one of these five substances. But here may be a Question moved of no small difficulty, viz. Whether these five Substances, are Natural or Artificial Principles, and not rather Principles of Disunion and destructive, than of Composition and Mixture? To this may be answered, that it is not a matter of small difficulty, to know whether these Principles are natural, because we do not see them severed from the Compound, by a natural corruption or putrefaction; and that Chemical separation can only be performed by an artificial corruption caused by the help of the heat of fire: but if the business be judiciously and narrowly examined, it will appear, that although these substances can only be extracted by the help of Chemical Art, they are notwithstanding, merely and purely Natural, since Art doth contribute nothing else but the Vessels to contain and receive them. Whence Nature being destitute of these Vessels, and we cannot without their help tender those substances palpable and visible objects of the eye; it cannot seem strange, that we should not perceive these substances, in the natural corruption and solution of their Compounds: for Nature which is still in action and busy about productions, makes use of the said substances, and applies them to the generation of several other existencies, as Aristotle hath very well observed, when he saith that, Corruptio unius est generatio alterius. Thence it is, that in the natural putrefaction of bodies, a certain smell for the most part offends our Nostrils; a true token of the Air being impregnated with volatile spirits, which are Saline and Sulphureous; by which it appears, that the Mixed is radically dissolved, and thus it is performed: The Salt is dissolved by the help of the internal Phlegm or Water; and as the Salt is the bond of the two other Principles, so can they not longer subsist in their Mixed or Body, because heat which accompanies all putrefactions, doth subtilise and carry them away, so that there remains nothing but what is of earthliness in the Compound. Therefore we do conclude, that although these Principles may not be made sensible and manifest, but by the Operations of Chemistry, it doth not debar them notwithstanding from being natural, because if nature had not immixed them in all things, they could not indifferently be drawn from all bodies, as we daily see that they may; whence we infer, that these substances are not extracted from the Mixed by transmutation, but by a mere natural separation, assisted by the heat of the Vessels and the hand of the Artist: for all things cannot indifferently and immediately be transformed in the like and same things. Therefore it cannot be thought strange, that other substances than the forementioned five, should be extracted from Mixed Bodies by Chemical Operations, when the way of operating is altered, and proceeds by another way, than by the separation of Principles, such as are the Quintessences, Arcana, Magisteries, Specificks, Tinctures, Extracts, Faeculae, Balsams, Flowers, Panacaea's and Elixirs, whereof Paracelsus treats at large, in his Books of Archidoxa; since all these several preparations take their virtues from the various mixture of the Principles, whereof we are to speak in the following Sections, according to the order wherein they fall first under our senses. Where we shall consider them both as they yet compound the Mixed or Body, and as they are separated from it.   

SECT. II Of Phlegm or Water.  
THat insipid liquor which commonly is called Water, hath by the Chemists the name of Phlegm given unto it, when it is separated from all other Mixture; it is the first substance obvious to the eye, when the fire doth act upon any Mixed body; it appears first in the shape of a vapour, and by condensation turns into liquor: Her presence is as necessary as any other Principle in the composition of the Mixed: And we do not agreed with the opinion of those who hold it to be needless, provided the proportion and harmony required in Natural bodies be preserved: for Phlegm is as the curb and reins of spirits, which dulls and allays their sharpness, dissolves the salt, and weakens its corrosive acrimony, hindereth the inflammation of Sulphur, and binds the Earth, and mixes it with the Salts; for as these two last Substances are brickle, crumbling and dry, so could they give but little firmness and consistency to the body without the help of this liquor: Thence it comes, that corruption and dissolution are introduced by its absence, which hath occasioned some to call it the Principle of Destruction; for it easily vapours away, which is the cause that the Mixed cannot long subsist in the same state and harmony, because this Principle being part in the body, easily and at every hour exhaleth itself and vapours away, which makes it obnoxious to the lest outward injuries, procured as much by internal as external causes. Therefore those that do work about the preservation of Mixts, make it their study to preserve this Principle in the Compound; because it is he that keepeth all the other linked together, as it evidently appears by the operations of our Art: It can endure several alterations, without changing its nature; for if sometimes it turns itself into vapours, they are notwithstanding essentially nothing else but the very Phlegm itself. And here you shall note, that vapours are of a different nature; some are merely aqueous and Phlegmatic; others spirituous and Mercurial, others Sulphureous and Oily; and lastly, some participate of these three qualities together. It is moreover to be noted, that even the Salts, and Mineral and Metallick Earth's, may be subtilised yet and turned into vapours differing from the aforesaid four qualities, yielding fix and ponderous spirits, and flowers. Briefly, the Doctrine of fiery, aqueous, and aerial Meteors, may very well be related to the nature of these vapours and exhalations: For we see that aqueous vapours are easily condensed in water in the Limbecks, which the Spirituous or Oily are not, as requiring much more time and cooling; whence many consequences may be drawn, tending to the use of Physic, and particularly in the cure of those pains, which are thought to proceed from vapours and exhalations, and vulgarly are called Mereorisms, or griping vapours of the Ventricle and Spleen: For aqueous vapours cannot 'cause so much distension, because they are sooner compressed and condensed, than those which proceed from the Spirits, Oils, and mixed Salts. Now as too much Phlegm doth extinguish the natural heat, and slackens the body, and dulls all his functions: so the too small proportion thereof, causeth as it were a burning and corrosion of it, whilst the Sulphur and fixed Spirit or Salt becomes predominant; an evident proof that the frame of mixed bodies doth only subsist by the harmony and just proportion of all its substances. To conclude what we have said of this Principle, you are to observe, that the Phlegm or waterish part of any Mixed, is ordinarily the fittest Menstruum to extract the tincture and Extract thereof, because it is endowed still with some character of its Compound, and some Idea of its virtue and faculty: but chief because it is for the most part accompanied with the volatile Spirit of the Mixed, whereby it is rendered more capable easily to penetrate the same, and to extract its virtue, being partaker of a mixed nature of most subtle Sulphur and Mercury, which comes very near to the Universal.   

SECT. III Of the Spirit.  
SOme do call Mercury that second substance which falls under our sight in the Anatomy of the body; Others name it radical Moisture, but we shall keep the appellation of Spirit, as the most in use. Notwithstanding, to avoid error and mistake in these vulgar names of Principles, and that the Reader should not confounded them with the appellations of Compounds; it is necessary to inform him, that they have received such names, only for the likeness and correspondency they have with those substances from which they are denominated: See therefore you do not mistake Phlegm for Pituite, Mercury for Quick silver, and Sulphur for ordinary Brimstone, which is an ingredient in the composition of Gunpowder, mixed with Saltpetre, nor Salt for that common Salt familiar to our Tables, and much less Earth for such a substance as is Bol-Armeny or Terra sigillata, since all these are Bodies, composed of the same Principles, every one as we design by those names. Spirit than is nothing else but that aerial, subtle, penetrating, active substance, which we draw out of the Mixed Body, by the help of fire; whence it is to be concluded, that this Principle in itself is one, unmixed, and homogeneous, having taken its Idea from the character of its specific and particular Matrix, as we shall deduce hereafter more at large, when we speak of the Elements, and their virtues, in the following Chapter. This substance of the Spirit is considered, either as it composeth yet the Mixed, or as it is separated from it: Separated, it is very penetrating; i● cuts, opens, and attenuates the most solid and fixed Bodies, it excites heat in Fermentation, untieth the bonds of Salt and Sulphur, and makes them separable, resists corruption and rottenness; yet by accident may be the cause of it; devours the Salt, and seizes so greedily upon it, that it can scarce be separated but by an extreme violence of the fire: It is possessed of its own heat, and cold, for it doth not act by Elementary, but by his own proper and specific qualities: To be brief, we fall short of proper terms to express duly his nature; since it is a true Proteus, which turns himself in all shapes, and as the Sun dries and moistens, whiteneth and blackens, according to the diversity of subjects upon which it worketh. This same Spirit communicates several Noble qualities to the Phlegm; for it preserves him from corruption, makes it penetrative, and endoweth him almost with a●l his own activity: And in requital, the Phegm doth soften and bri●●e the fury of the Spirit, and makes it so tractable, that it may become useful in a thousand ways.  
Now whilst this Spirit remains in a due harmony, and doth not exceed the terms of his Office in mixed Bodies, it becomes to them very serviceable, hindering the increase of excrementitious matters, and of all other substances which may prove contrary or hurtful to the nature of the Compound, multiplying his substance, and strengthening all his faculties, and that in Animals, Vegetables and Minerals. But if by the power of some other Agent, this Principle is forced to exceed the condition and constitution of the Mixed wherein it is, it alters the whole frame and oeconomy of its Compound, as we shall show more at large, when we come to treat of the Principles of Destructives.   

SECT. IV. Of Sulphur.  
THis Principle, as well as the others, hath received several names; for it is called Oil, Natural Fire, Light, Vital Fire, Balsam of Life and of Sulphur, and besides, many other appellations have been given by the Sons of Art, with which we will not fill up this Section: According to our usual custom, we will content ourselves, with examining the nature of the thing, leaving the nicety of Names to the overcurious.  
That substance than, which sometimes we will call Oil, sometimes Sulphur, is the third in order of those we extract by the artificial resolution of the Compound; we give it this name because it is an Oleagineous substance; which easily take fire, being of a combustible nature, by whose means also the Mixts are rendered such. It is called Principle as well as the others, because being separated from the Compound, it is homogeneous in all his parts, as the other Principles are. This Substance is also considered two several ways: For being loosened from the others, it swims above the Phlegm and Spirits, because it is lighter and more aetherial; but if it be not absolutely separated from the Salt and the Earth, it will sometimes precipitate itself to the bottom, or swim in the middle, because the Sulphur supports and holds up the Earth and Salt, until it be overcome by their weight; it receives not easily nor willingly the Salt, without being first joined with the Spirit, or before the Salt be circulated with the Spirit, wherewith it hath a great sympathy▪ and than they easily receive the Sulphur together; a thing very well worth noting, since without this observation, not Panacaea's, Magisteries, Essences, Arcana's, nor other most secret Remedies, which are unknown to vulgar Physicians, and Galenical Apothecaries, can be made: not more than these can give a reason of the noblest natural effects; because for the most part they assign them to the four first or primary Qualities.  
This Sulphur is of the matter of those fiery Meteors, which are kindled in the several Regions of the Air, and are sometimes found in the Cavities of the earth, and chief in those places, where Minerals and Metals are generated; it resists to Cold, and never congeals, being the Principle of Heat; it never suffers corruption, preserves from it those things which are immersed in it, preventing the penetration of Air, it sweetens the acrimony of Salt, by whose help it is fixed and coagulated; doth so powerfully blunt the sharpness of Spirits, that the most strong Waters have no power over it, nor those Bodies where it abounds. His Office is, to bind and alloy the Earth which is but dust, with the Salt in the frame of Mixed Bodies: It causes also the strict union of the other Principles, moderating the too great dryness of Salt, and fluidity of Spirit, and finally by his means, these three Principles grow into a viscuous compact substance, which often times hardens afterwards, by the mixture of the Earth and Phlegm.   

SECT. V Of Salt.  
THe Phlegm, Spirit, and Sulphur, are volatile Principles flying from the Fire, which makes them ascend, and sublimate into vapours; whence it followeth, that they were unable to endure the Mixed with a requisite solidity for its duration, unless there were some other fixed and permanent substances joined unto it; of which we find two wholly differing from the others in the last dissolution of Bodies. The first is a plain and unmixed Earth, without any remarkable quality, except it be dryness and heaviness: The second is a Substance; which resists fire, and dissolves in water, known to Chemists by the name of Salt.  
These two substances, which are as it were the basis and foundation of the Mixed, though confounded by the action of fire, are notwithstanding two several Principles in which are to be found such essential differences, that there is between them no Analogy. The salt doth manifest itself by his qualities, which are as numberless as efficatious and powerful, much more without compare than the Earth, which is almost without action or virtue.  
The Salt being exactly severed from the other Principles, offers itself to our senses in a dry, crumbling, and brickle body, easily reduced to powder, a certain sign of his external drought; but it is endowed also of an internal moisture, witness its fusibility; it is fixed, and incombustible, resisting to fire, wherein it grows purer, suffereth no putrefaction, and is (as it were) eternal, being capable to preserve itself without alteration. This substance is thought by some, to be the first subject and cause of all savours, as the Sulphur of odours, and Mercury of colours; but we shall refute this Assertion, when we come to handle this Subject hereafter.  
Salt is easily dissolved in moisture, and being dissolved bears up the Sulphur, and joins it to itself by the means of the Spirit. The usefulness of it is very great; for it hinders fire from consuming hastily the Oil; which is the cause that floated Wood doth not yield a long flame, being deprived of the greatest part of its Salt: It is salt which makes the earth fruitful, being with the Oil, instead of a vital Balsam to Vegetables; and thence it comes, that Grounds too much washed with rain, loose their fertility: It conduceth also to the generation of Animals, and hardens Minerals also, and giveth them their consistency: But you are to note, that all these effects do only follow, when it is dispensed in Bodies, with a just proportion; for if it exceeds, generation and increase are thereby hindered, because it corrodes and destroys with his acrimony, whatsoever the other substances can produce.  
But that you may not be deceived by the ambiguity of the word Salt, you are to know, that there is a certain Central Salt, radical Principle of all things, which is the first body wherewith the Universal Spirit closeth itself, and contains the other Principles; some have called it Hermetical Salt, because, say they, Hermes was the first that spoke of it: but it may be more properly and lawfully called the Hermaphroditical Salt, because it participates of all natures, and is indifferently inclined to all. This Salt is the fundamental ground of all Nature, being the Centre where all her virtues do meet, and the true seeds of all things, being nothing else, but a congealed, well digested and concocted Salt: The truth of which evidently appears in this, that if you boil in water any Seed whatsoever, it becomes immediately barren; because this seminal virtue consists in a very subtle Salt, which dissolves and vanishes in the water; whence we learn, that Nature beginneth the production of all things by a central and radical Salt, which she extracts out of the Universal Spirit. The difference between these two Salts is, that the first breeds the other in the Mixed, and that the Hermaphroditical Salt is ever a Principle of Life, and the other proves sometimes a Principle of Death. But because we are to treat hereunder, of the Principles of death and destruction, we shall not insist in these Sections upon the effects of either, because the knowledge of Contraries being the same, they shall be more illustrated when opposed one to another.   

SECT. VI Of the Earth.  
THe Earth is the last of Principles, both of fixed and volatile; it is a naked substance, divested of all manifest qualities, except dryness and astringency; for as concerning Weight, we shall speak of it hereafter: I say, manifest quality, because this Earth retains always in itself, the indelible character of that virtue she was once possessed with, viz. of embodying or corporizing, and Ideifying the Universal Spirit. The first Idea she imparts to it, is that of Hermaphroditical Salt, which restores to this Earth, her first Principles, so that the mixed is as it were by it resuscitated, since from the same body, the same specifical Principles, which by Chemical separation were before separated, may be extracted again; as we shall explain hereafter more at large, when we come to treat of this matter. Let us consider at present, the usefulness of this substance, very necessary in the Compound of the body, since it is by her means that it receives firmness and consistency: For being united to the Salt, it causes presently the corporeity, and consequently, the continuity of the parts: Mixed with the Oil or Sulphur, it causes tenacity, viscosity, and lent or, i. e. slowness in motion; it yields than with Salt, hardness and firmness; for as Salt is of a brickle and crumbling nature, and easily reduced to dust, it could not intimately be united to the earth, to give it a solidity, but by the help of moist and liquid substances. The inconveniences of this Principle are manifested in this, that the Mixed requireth abundance of the other substances: For when Earth doth predominate, it makes the body heavy, slow, cold and stupid, according to the nature of Composites, wherein it doth abound.  
But you shall notwithstanding take notice, by the By, that it is not the sole Earth which causeth the heaviness of the body, as those Philosophers do assert, who are little acquainted with our handiwork: For we find more Earth in a pound of Cork after its resolution, though it be a very light body, than in three or four of Box and Guaiacum, which are so heavy, that (against the nature of other Woods) they can scarce hold above water: Whence we must of necessity conclude, that the greatest heaviness and weight of Bodies, proceeds of Salt and Spirits abounding in these Woods, whereof Cork is deprived. It is also experimentally seen, that a Glass filled with Spirit of Vitriol, or some other sharp Spirit well rectified, shall outweigh two or three Glasses of the same bigness, filled with water, or any other like Liquor. I know it will be objected against this Experiment, that the heaviness of Guaiacum proceeds from the compactedness of its substance, almost impenetrable to Air, and that the lightness of Cork doth proceed from the great quantity of big and large pores it hath, which are filled with that light Element, and 'cause it to swim above water, contrarily to Box and Guaiacum. But this Answer is not fully satisfactory; for if levity and heaviness are caused by rarefaction and condensation, it will follow thence, that those many pores in Cork, must proceed from the abundance of earth in it, and the defect of the other Principles; and hence it will be concluded necessarily, that Earth is porous of itself; and secondly, that it causeth porosity in Bodies: For the Axiom is true, Nihil dat quod non habet; &, Propter quod unumquodque est tale, illud est magis tale, say the Peripatetic or Ambulatory Philosophers; and so shall they be forced to assert by their own reason, though contradictory to their Maxims, that Earth causeth not only the levity of Mixts, but that it is also light of its own nature, which in their Philosophy should be a Monster: and contradicts also to experience; for of all the Principles, when they are duly and according to Art separated one from the other, none is heavyer than the Earth, which ever subsideth in the bottom of the Glass, when they are mixed together.  
To come out of this Labyrinth, a higher Philosophy is required, and fair Ariadne, which is Nature itself, must be courted, to obtain this Clue, and find the issue of its winding paths; which if we can happily attain to, we shall be taught by the operations of Chemistry, that there is two sorts of levity and heaviness, the one internal, the other external; the one found in the Principles, whilst they yet compound the Mixed, the other when they are separated asunder.    

CHAP. IU. Of Elements in General and Special.  

SECT. I Of Elements in General.  
THE difference which Peripatetics make between Principle and Element, is, as they say, that Principles cannot take one another's nature, neither be metamorphosed or transmuted the one into the other; but that Elements are Substances which of themselves are compounded of Principles, and do compound the Mixts afterwards at their turns, and so these substances can easily pass one into another's nature; the truth whereof we shall examine hereafter. But in Hermetical Philosophy, Elements are taken for those four great Bodies, which are as it were the Matrices, containing in themselves, the virtues, seeds, characters and Ideas imparted to them by the Universal Spirit. But before we enter into this kind of Philosophy, after we have spoken in the foregoing Chapter of the nature of Principles, we must now treat in this of Elements; where we will first examine, what reason the Galenists have to say, that Mixed Bodies are compounded of those Elements, and whether there are not more substances found in their Dissolutions, than those which their Books make mention of.  
They say, that when Wood is burned in the Fire, four substances do manifestly occur to the senses, and do assure us, that these are the four Elements, which did constitute the Mixed before it was destroyed by the fire. Let us examine, whether they have discovered all, and left no occasion unto us of farther inquiry.  
Their reasons are grounded upon the following experience: The four Elements, say they, are made manifest to our senses, when the Wood comes to be examined and consumed by Fire; for the Flame represents the Fire, the Smoke Air, the Moisture issuing from the ends of the Wood Water, and the Ashes Earth; whence they draw this consequence, That since we see but those four substances, there was none other that could constitute the Compound. But, though we grant those four to be all what can appear in so gross an operation, yet, if we will proceed with more Art and exactness, we shall not want to find something more in it: For if you take the pains to enclose shreds or filing of Wood in a well luted Retort, and fit a capacious Recipient to it, and give a graduate and regular fire, you shall discover two substances, which without this Art cannot fall under our senses, and this is the Apple of Discord between Peripatetical and Hermetical Philosophers: Which before I proceed further, I will endeavour to reconcile. To this end, we grant to both Parties, that Principles and Elements, are found in all Mixts; but let us see how. When the first say, that the Smoke in burning Wood represents the Air, we say they are in the right, for it is only by way of Analogy and similitude, that this Smoke can obtain the denomination of Air; For it is not really Air, since experience showeth us, that this smoke imprisoned in a Recipient, hath qualities very much differing from that of Air; whence we infer, it can be called Air, only by Analogy. And this is the point in which both do differ, concerning this substance, that the Peripatetics call it Air, and Chemists Mercury: Let them dispute of the words, provided we do agreed in the thing itself.  
We come now to the other Element of Peripatetics, viz. Fire, and the other Principle of Chymisters, Sulphury, which we are to examine, and see in what they agreed, and wherein they differ. The first say, that in the action of Fire preying upon Wood, its action is manifest to the senses. But our answer to this sensible experiment is, that whatsoever destroys the Mixed, cannot be a constitutive Principle of it, but rather a Principle of destruction: If they return, That no fire is actually in the Mixed, but only potentially: therein we will close with them, and reconcile them with the Chemists, who name their Sulphur that potential fire of Peripatetics. To end than their Controversy, I say, that the fire which we see to issue out of burning Wood, is nothing else but the Sulphur of Wood actuated; for the actuating of Sulphur doth consist in its inflammation. As for the Ashes which they will have to be the Element of Earth; that Salt which by washing and Elixivation is extracted out of them, should sufficiently persuade these Philosophers, that the Chemists are as well, if not better, grounded in establishing the number of their Principles.  
The number than of Principles and Elements which compound Mixed Bodies, being thus cleared, it remains for us to say something of the Elements, both as to their number and propriety, before we speak of them severally, as also of their Matrices and Fruits.  
It is a thing to be wondered at, that the Sectators of Aristotle, should not yet since so long a time that his Write and Philosophy are in credit, have determined the number of Elements: For some amongst them with great reason do affirm, that there is no Elementary Fire; I say, with reason, if it be understood in their own sense: for, to what purpose is it to admit an Element of Fire under the sphere of the Moon, since we assign to it no other use than to enter in the Compound of Mixed Bodies; and that, besides that Element so placed, is at too great a distance from the place where Mixts are generated, we have found that the fire in them is nothing else but their Sulphur: therefore I do conclude here, with Paracelsus, that there is no other Elementary fire, but the Heaven itself, and its light.  
As touching the general proprieties of Elements, two Queries use to be made on them: The first, If they are pure; the second, If they are transmutable one into the other. Concerning their purity, I answer, that if they were such, they should prove of no use; for a pure Earth were barren, since it should have in itself not seeds of procreation and fruitfulness; and the brine of the Sea, and several qualities of the Air, sufficiently confirm this Assertion. But as concerning their mutual transmutation of one into the other, it is not so easily performed as vulgar Philosophers do imagine, though we cannot say it to be absolutely impossible: For they teach, that Earth is changed into Water, Water into Air, Air into Fire, and finally that Fire by another transmutation returns into Earth: Because, although Earth and Water do sometimes assume and take the shape and form of Exhalations, yet these vapours are always essentially Water or Earth, as it is made plain by their reassuming their first nature. This change than cannot hap, unless such or such Element being totally spiritualised, comes to loose its Elementary Idea, and to be reunited afterwards to the Universal Spirit, who might than give him the Idea of another Element, whose body he might have, by the character imprinted by the Matrix.  
For this reason do Chemists assign two natures to Elements, in their description of them; viz. the one Spiritual, the other Corporal; the virtue of the one being hidden in the bosom of the other. Hence it comes, that when they will have any thing to act efficaciously, they endeavour as much as in them lies, to divest it from its Body, and spiritualise it: For as Nature cannot communicate its. Treasures unto us, but under the shade of Bodies, so can we do no more than to divest them by the help of Art from the grossest and most material part of that Body, to apply to our uses: for if we urge them, and spiritualise too much, so as that they should fly from our sight and contact, than do they loose their bodily Idea and character, and return again to the Universal Spirit, to reassume after some space of time their first Idea, or some other differing from it, by the character and Idea of such or such a Matrix, enclosed in such or such part of such or such Element.  
These are the true effects of Elements, which are, as we have said, to corporifie or identify the Universal Spirit, by the several ferments contained in their particular Matrices, and to give it those characters which they had imprinted in themselves; for, as we have said, this Spirit is undetermined to all things, and may be made all in all. This happens, because Nature is never idle, but perpetually in action; and as it is a finited essence, so can it neither created or annihilate any other, because such an act belongs only to an infinite power. But this matter being of too large an extent to be treated of here, w● shall refer it to the following Sections, where we shall particularly treat of Elements, which are the Universal Matrices of all things, where also we will speak of particular Matrices, that imprint the Ideas and characters to the Spirit, whereby so many first-fruits are produced, which daily fall under our use, by the help and means of natural fermentations.   

SECT. II Of the Element of Fire.  
SInce all things tend to their Centre, and place of their natural rest, it is a manifest sign that they are thereunto inclined and drawn, by a natural virtue, hidden under the shade of their bodies; this virtue can be nothing else, but that Magnetic faculty wherewith each Element is endowed, to draw its like to itself, and repel its contrary: For as the Loadstone attracts the Iron of one side, and rejects it of the other, the Elements do likewise by a like power attract those things which correspond with their nature, and repel and drive away from them, those that be of a different: since than fire ascends, it is not to be doubted but that this effect doth proceed from a tendency it hath to its natural place, which is Elementary Fire, where it is carried by its own proper spirit, when it forsakes the commerce of the other Elements.  
To understand well this Doctrine, it is first to be known, that the Element of Fire is not enclosed under the sphere of the Moon, as we have already hinted above, and that consequently no other Fire can be admitted, than the Aether or Heaven itself, which hath its Matrices and first-fruits, as the other Elements. For that great number of Stars which we see moving in that vast Element, are nothing else but particular Wombs or Matrices, where the Universal Spirit takes a very perfect Idea, before it descends to incorporate itself in the Matrices of the other Elements; and thence may be illustrated the sense and meaning of that Axiom of the Great-Hermes, which many look upon as a Chimaera; that, Nihil est inferius, quod non sit superius & vice versâ; and that opinion of Paracelsus, who doth affirm, That every thing hath its peculiar Heaven and Astrum: For to speak true, the virtue of all sublunar things cometh from Heaven, by the means of that Spirit whereof we have already so much spoken. Paracelsus names the knowledge of this Doctrine, Pyromancy, especially when he treats of the Theory of Diseases; for we see that Elements are as it were the Receptacles and Domicils of all those things that are endowed with an intellectual, sensitive, or vegetative knowledge, or also Mineral, which some do call the first-fruits of Elements: And according to that Doctrine, it is not to be doubted, that as the Heavens are most perfect and spiritual, so they are the Mansion and Receptacle of those spiritual and perfect substances which are called Intelligences.  
But you must note, that when I have said, that Fire in its ascent doth forsake the commerce of others Elements, that I have so spoken, only because the visible Fire which we use on our Hearths, is nothing else but a Meteor or Body imperfectly mixed of some Elements or Principles, wherein Fire or Sulphur are predominant, and its flame an oleagineous and sulphureous smoke kindled; and when fire is spiritualised by that forsaking, it never ceaseth till it hath returned to its natural place, which of necessity must be above, and beyond the Air, since we see it in the Air itself in a perpetual action, as willing to forsake it. It is also by the means of this fire, which is still aspiring to its Centre, that the Clouds, which are hot and moist Vapours, or Meteors, compounded of Fire and Water, ascend to the second or middle Region of the Air, where the fire forsaking the water to ascend still higher, and so this Water finding itself destituted of the Fire, which did bear it up in the Form of a Vapour, is forced to fall back in the form and substance of rain.  
And here you are to note that Circulation, which Nature makes by the means of that Universal Spirit, already described; for as its power is limited, and that she can, neither created nor produce any new thing, so can she neither created nor annihilate any substance already created; as for Example, The continual Influxes of Heaven and its Stars, do incessantly produce the Fire or Spiritual Light, which beginneth first to embody itself in the Air, where it takes the Idea of Hermaphroditical Salt, which thence falls in the waters and upon the earth, where it takes a body, either Mineral, Vegetable, or Animal, by the character and efficacy of some particular Matrix, imprinted in it by the action of its ferment; And when this body comes to be dissolved by the means of some potent Agent, its Sulphur, Fire or Light corporified is so depurated, that the Stars attract it for their food; for the Stars, (as we suppose) are nothing else but a Fire, a Sulphur, or some most pure Light actuated: Not unlike the link of a Lamp, which once being lighted, doth continually attract the Oil to feed its flame: so that the Stars in the same manner attract this fire, which is depurated by that action, and spiritualise it anew, to precipitate again by their kind influency, and restore it to the Air, the Water, and the Earth, to corporifie it, or give it a body again: Thus you see nothing is lost in Nature, which maintains its great work, and wheel, by these two principal actions, viz. By spiritualizing to corporifie, and corporifying to spiritualise, as we have already said; and these are as two Ladders, whereby the heavenly influences descend down, and re-ascend again from the lower parts: for the Heavenly virtues should not be so durable, and would daily decay, by reason of the perpetual Conflux of so many productive substances, without this constant Circulation; unless that without any necessity we would admit a perpetual creation and destruction of sublunary substances, which could not be without a Miracle, and being a thing of daily course, might be called a miracle without miracle, and so imply a manifest contradiction: What Spring do you think could supply the matter which feeds those vast Aetnean flames, which have lasted already so many Ages, were it not for this Circulation of Nature? And what could since so many years entertain the streaming sources of those mineral, hot, and acid Fountains which the World doth afford in so many places, unless it were by the help of this wonderful Ladder, and concatenation of Earth and Heaven: Therefore it must not be held totally impossible to make a Body turn wholly into Spirit, and reduce that Spirit again to Body; for you know, that Art applying Actives to Passives, may in a very short time perform that, which Nature must be long busied about: And because that artificial Circulation which was performed in an ancient Sepulchre sound out at Milan, doth not ill represent that Natural Circulation, or Circulation of Nature, whereof we have spoken, it will not be amiss to insert here in sew words the history of it; Appianus in his Books of Antiquities, relates it thus: That in the Town of Milan was discovered a very ancient Monument, wherein, being opened, a burning Lamp was found, which had been there kindled many Ages before, as by the Inscriptions of it did appear. This fire could not possibly be maintained, but by Circulation, and so it is easy to conjecture how it was done; viz. The Oil spiritualised by the heat of the burning and kindled Taper, did condense itself at the top, and so fall again into the same place whennce it had been elevated. The Taper likely was made of Gold, Talcum, or Alumen Plumeum, which are incombustible; and the Urn was so exactly closed, that the lest particle of Oleaginous vapours could not breathe out.   

SECT. III Of the Element of Air.  
Philosopher's have been long in doubt, whether there was an Element of Air, and whether that space wherein Animals do move and live, was not void of all substance; but the invention and use of Bellowss, and the necessity of respiration, have at last abolished this error. Therefore, there is no debate or difference between Chemist and Peripatetics at present, concerning the existency and place of this Element; but they agreed not amongst themselves concerning its use in Nature: for these last do make the Air to bear a part in the composition of Mixed Bodies, which the former utterly reject and deny, because it never falls under their senses, in the last resolution of the Compound. The chief use which Chemists do assign to this Element, is, that it serves as Matrix to the Universal Spirit, which doth begin in it to take some bodily Idea, before it be wholly corporified in the Elements of Water and Earth, who produce Mixed Bodies, that are as first-fruits of the said Elements. And because we see no Element which doth not bear and produce its first-fruits, some have been forward to affirm, that Birds were the first-fruits of the Air. But this opinion is wrong and erroneous; for although these Birds be volatile, and for the most part abide in the Air, yet can they not be deprived of Commerce with the Earth either for the necessity of generation or food: they that maintain Meteors to be the right first-fruits of the Air, are much more in the right, since they take in it their true Meteoric● Idea.  
Some do call that part of Philosophy, which concerns the knowledge of Nature, the first-fruits and effects of this Element, Chormancy, but it is corruptly, and by a mistake instead of Aeromancy; for Chormancy is something more general, and more universal: since it is the Doctrine and knowledge of the Chaos, which is to say, this great Matrix, whence all the Elements have been drawn: it is the Tohu and Bohu, or the hyle of Cabalists, which in Holy Scripture is called Water, where it is said, that the Spirit of God did move upon the Waters, or rather lay hover over the Waters, 
* So much doth import 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Original.  as a Hen doth over her Brood, Spiritus Dei incubabat aquis.  
But a question may here be moved, that whereas we have said above, that Elements cannot but difficulty quit their own nature to put on that of another Element, how it comes to pass, that Air is said to be the food and aliment of Fire, and that in reality it seems so necessary for its subsistence, that it perisheth as soon as the passage or communication of Air becomes intercepted. The answer is at hand; for as we have already showed, the fire of our Hearths, or material fire, is not pure, the combustible matter set on fire, doth sand forth abundance of vapours and fuliginous excrements, which do very much prejudice the durableness and action of it; therefore it requires still a stream of continual Air, to remove the fuliginous matter, because without it the flame should immediately be choked; so that by this appears, how this conversion or imaginary food, is to be taken, and how much d●fference there is between true and false Philosophy.  
Another question may be yet started, touching the use of respiration or breathing in Animals: Whether that Air which they draw in their breathing, hath any other end but merely to refresh them, as the ordinary Philosophers do give out, only relying upon their Teacher's words, without any industrious enquiry touching the truth of it, and contenting themselves to quote their Authority, as the sum and ground of all reasons: But those that look more narrowly into the nature of things, say, that there is another much more excellent and necessary use thereof, viz. to attract the Universal Spirit, which by th● influx of the Heavens, is conveyed into the Air, where it is endowed with an Idea altogether Celestial, Spiritual, and full of virtue and efficacy; it is converted in the heart into Animal spirit, where it receives a perfect and vivifying Idea, which renders the Animal capable by its help to exercise all the functions of life: For it is this spirit contained in the Air we breath in, which subtilizeth, and maketh volatile, all the superfluities that are found both in the venal and arterial blood, the shop and matter of vital and animal spirits; and it is by the force and efficacy of this Spirit, that Nature is enabled to expel the impurities of nutriment insinuated in the last digestions, by entertaining a continual transpiration through the pores. This appears even in the Plants, though very obscurely: for although they be deprived of Lungs, or any other material Instrument, for the performance of respiration; yet have they something Analogous to it, which is their Magnetisme, by which they draw that Spirit residing in the Air, without which they could not perform their natural Operations, as to nourish themselves, increase, produce their like, etc. Which manifestly doth appear when they are buried too deep in the ground, and by this means deprived from that vivifying Spirit, by which they are animated, for they immediately die as if they were suffocated.   

SECT. IV. Of the Element of Water.  
THE most learned and perspicacious Philosophers amongst the Ancients, have been of opinion, that Water was the first Principle of all things; because it could in their apprehension, by its rarefaction or condensation, produce the other Elements. But as we have heretofore declared this mutual change to be impossible, so must we have our recourse to another way of Philosophy. We shall not here consider Water, as being a constitutive Principle in the Composition of the Mixed; for in this sense we have already spoken of it, where we have treated of Phlegm: But we shall speak of it as of a vast Element, concurring to the frame of this Universe, and containing in itself many particular Matrices, which produce a fair and pleasing variety of first-fruits: First of Animals, viz. Fish, and all sorts of Water-Insects: Secondly, Vegetables, as the herb called Ducks-meat, which hath her root implanted in the Water itself: And finally, Minerals, as Shells, Pearls, and Salt, which is abundantly through Creeks and secret pores conveyed into the Earth, to advance the production of her own first-fruits. The Water than is the second general Matrix, where the Universal Spirit takes the Idea of Salt, communicated by the Air, which did receive it from the Light, and the Heavens, for the production of all sublunary things. Paracelsus calls the knowledge of this Philosophy of Water, Hydromancy.   

SECT. V Of the Element of Earth.  
IN the last Section of the foregoing Chapter, we have spoken of the Earth, as a Principle partly constituting the mixture of the body, and found after its last resolution; but in this Section we treat of it, as of the fourth and last Element of this Universe.  
The Earth in this respect is, as it were, the Centre of the World, in which all its virtues, proprieties and faculties are united; it seemeth even that all the other Elements were created for the use and benefit of the Earth, for all what is in them more precious, seemeth to be intended for its service. Thus the Orbs of Heaven are incessantly whirled about, to supply all the parts of it with vital spirit, and for the maintaining as it were, and recruiting the daily expenses of its Family: The Air is in a perpetual motion, to penetrate her deepest bowels, an● that to the same end, viz. to furnish her with the same vital spirit; and the Water is never at rest, running continually to communicate to her that which the Air hath bestowed upon him: So that all the World seemeth to be concerned for the Earth, and the Earth only for her Fruits, which are her Children, she being the Mother of all things. It seemeth even that the Universal Spirit, loves the Earth above any other of the Elements, since it descends from the highest part of Heaven, where it is in its exaltation, to corporifie itself, or take a bodily shape here on Earth. Now the first Body which the Universal Spirit doth take, is that of Hermaphroditical Salt, whereof we have spoken above, which contains generally in itself all the Principles of life: it is not deprived of Sulphur nor Mercury, for it is the seed of all things, which takes afterwards a body, and the Idea or taliety of Mixts, by help of the characters of particular Matrices or Wombs, enclosed in the body of this great Element: If it meets with a Vitriolic Matrix, it turns itself to Vitriol; if with Sulphur, it becomes Sulphur, and so of the rest, and that by the virtue and efficacy of several natural sermentations: In a Vegetable Matrix, it becomes Plant; in a Mineral, Stone, Mineral, Metal; in an Animal, whether living or not living, it produces an Animal, as it is daily seen in the generation of such creatures as are produced by the corruption of some Animal, or other Mixed; as for Example, Bees generated out of young Bull's flesh, and Worms out of the corruption of several Fruits: Now as there are a great many differences of Mixts, so is there a great variety of particular Matrices, which often causeth a transplantation in all things; but this matter belongeth rather to Chemical Philosophy than to this place, where having no time to particularise, we do treat of things only in a general way. The knowledge of that part of Philosophy which concerns this Element and its first-fruits, is called Geomancy. By it we are made capable of knowing the operations of Nature, both in its very bowels and the surface: Her first-fruits are the Animals, Vegetables and Minerals; and if these Mixts are composed of the purest vital Principles, than according to their proper nature and condition, will they be lasting, and will attain the end of their natural predestination (or destiny) if some external and occasional cause doth not interrupt that progress, and stop them in their Career: But when Chance (or Fortune) mixes in their first Composition or Nourishment, any of the Principles of Death or Destruction, they cannot long subsist, neither end their intended course by Nature; because these Domestical ●oes do incessantly devour and consume them, as we shall make appear, when we come hereafter to speak of Purity and Impurity. But before we enter into that matter, something must be said of the Principles of Death or Destruction.    

CHAP. V Of the Principles of Destruction.  

SECT. I Of the Order of Matters treated in this Chapter.  
HAving to treat of Purity and Impurity, in the second Book, which shall immediately follow this Chapter, and the Principles of Death being in a manner contained under this matter; I found it not out of purpose, to close this first Book by a short Discourse upon these Principles, although to speak properly, they should not be called by this name; for it is proper to the nature of Principles ever to compound or generate, but never to destroy.  
We have showed heretofore, that Principles may be considered three several ways, viz. Either before the composition of the Mixed, or in the state of its composition, or finally after dissolution and destruction: We may say the same here touching the Principles of Death, which we have already said in another place concerning the Principles of Life. But because Contraries opposed one to the other, are better apprehended and illustrated, we shall say something again concerning the Principles of Life before the composition of the Mixed, that we may the better come to the knowledge of the Principles of Death, when we shall speak of it in the third Section; for we shall refer ourselves so speak of their effects, being already corporified or embodied in Mixts, when we come to treat of Purity and Impurity.   

SECT. II Of the Principles of Life before Composition.  
WE have often said above, that the Universal Spirit being indifferent to be made all things, is undetermined to any particular subject, unless by the character of particular Matrices; and because each Element is filled with these particular Matrices or Wombs, as we have already proved, each Element doth contribute something of his own for the perfection of its Composite. The Heaven doth by the assistance of his Stars, communicate unto it her heavenly, spiritual, and invisible virtue, which descends first into the Air, where it beginneth to assume a kind of body; the Air sends it into the Water or the Earth, where this celestial virtue and influence beginneth to operate more materially, and associate itself to matter, thereby to frame a body to itself, by means of those various natural fermentations which are the cause of alteration in sublunary things: because this Spirit is the true Agent, and the true efficient internal cause of these fermentations performed in the Matter, which of itself is merely passive, and the Archaeus or director general of it: For when it is Mixed and united to the body, which clotheth it as it were, or involves it under its rind, it can neither produce nor manifest those wonderful effects which it hides and conceals, being than as it were fettered and imprisoned; and shall never be able to exercise or show his vittues, unless it be first disintangled of its corporeity, and grosseness of the matter; and this is the main point upon which Chemistry bestows so much labour, care and study, to bring unto light those lovely Truths, which this p●●t of natural knowledge doth contain.  
Now as this Universal Spirit is the first Principle of all things, and that all things are produced by it, and return into the same, it is evident, that it must by necessity prove also the first Principle or Original of death in all things, which doth imply no contradiction, since it is done and understood in several respects; for as the variety of Compounds in Nature, doth require for its maintenance a variety of substances: There is also a variety of Matrices or Wombs in the Elements, to attend the fabric of those various substances, and thence it is that what doth oftentimes advance the life of one, is the destruction and death of the other; as for Example: A corrosive Principle will be the death of a sweet Mixed; and contrary wise, a sweet Principle the death of a corrosive, by taking away its acrimony and sharpness, which did constitute its estence and difference.  
But to speak strictly and properly, it appears, that this first Principle, thus and thus Ideified, cannot be said to be a Principle of Life or Death: This expression can hold but in a respective consideration, and as it relates to this or that Compound; but as the most part of sweet things do contribute to the service and preservation of Mankind, because they have some correspondency with his taste, and participate more of substances analogous to his Nature and Constitution: Hence it comes to pass, that when the Universal Spirit hath received this stamp or character, it takes the denomination of Principle of Life; as to the contrary that of Death, if it be stamped with a corrosive Idea, which not only prejudiceth to the actions of man, but corrupts also those of such Mixts and Substances as serve for his daily food and subsistence.  
So when the Air is filled with Arsenical vapours, and Realgarick and Corrosive Influences, which by reason of the necessary use of respiration, are often the cause of great mortality amongst Mankind; yet considering that those destructive spirits are not influenced to that end, and that their ill effects, as to Man, are only accidental; so can they not properly be called Principles of Death, since they are dispensed here below by the Care of Nature, for the generation and propagation of Arsenical Substances, Realgars, and other corrosive mixed Compounds, which are no ess a part of the World than Man itself, and are destinated to a better end, by the hand of the alwise Master and Creator of this Universe, than is known unto most of us; for we see that Nature and Art can so order and prepare these Mixts, as to make them fit and serviceable for the use of Man: We must not therefore presently call Nature a Stepmother to us, since God hath endowed us with the skill and means, to avoid these evil and malignant influences. To accommodate ourselves than, to the vulgar way of expression, we shall say, that the Principles of Life, before the Composition of the Mixed, are nothing else but the Universal Spirit, impregnated with the Idea of favourable and amicable Principles to our Nature, and possessing in the Centre of its Hermaphroditical Salt, a moderate Sulphur, a temperate Mercury, and a sweet Salt: as to the contrary, the Principles of Death are nothing else but this same Spirit, having in it the same Hermaphroditical Salt mixed with a sharp Sulphur, a biting Mercury, and a corrosive Salt, as we shall more fully declare in the following Section.   

SECT. III Of the Principles of Death.  
I Must, before I do proceed further, repeat once more here, that when we call these, Principles against Nature, we understand not Nature in a general term; but only human Nature: because it happens often, that what is Poison to one species, shall be nourishment to the other: so doth Hen-bane please to Sterns, which feed upon it; and killeth Man.  
This ground being laid, I say, that all heat, or rather all hot, corrosive, biting, sharp substance, which destroys and consumes, is such, because it contains in itself a Sulphur against Nature; and that from this Sulphur it is, that as from their Spring, do flow all the virtues and proprietyes of the Mixed, where that impure Sulphur is predominant: for if Life doth flow from a sweet, natural and vital Sulphur, and that it receives a long preservation by the essential proprietyes of this Sulphur, it must necessarily be concluded, that death and destruction must follow that Sulphur which is of an opposite nature unto it; and all Arsenicks, Realgar, Auripigment, or Lead-oar, Sandarack, and all other venom's of a hot, fiery nature, whether celestial, aerial, watery, terrestrial, all these Poisons, I say, are such by their very actions, and sole propriety of this Sulphur against Nature.  
It is not our design to speak here of those Principles which are enemies and contrary to human nature when they are already incorporated, and do compose some of the venomous Mixts, because we refer ourselves to treat of it in the Book following; we shall only speak of these Principles here, as they are yet spiritual, & flowing from the Stars; by the mediation of the Universal Spirit, and as this Principle is single in this respect, so hath it received these several and different denominations: for as we have already said, that the Sulphur, which is heat, cannot be without Mercury, that is to say, moisture; neither without Salt, by reason of their mutual union, it followeth from thence, that a biting Mercury, and corrosive and caustick Salt is required to the subsistence of a sharp Sulphur; as likewise a temperate Mercury and sweet Salt is required for the preservation of a moderate Sulphur. For these three Principles are ever united and joined very strictly together, whether considered as Principles of life, or Principles of death; and if sometimes we treat of them separately, it is to the end only that their operations and nature may be better understood; because there is still one of these Principles predominant above the others in the Compound, and whose actions are made manifest, concealing and blunting the efficacy and virtues of the two other, though notwithstanding they act by way of Concomitancy, with that which predominates; as for Example: When the Mercury of Death operates the Sulphur against Nature, and corrosive Salt does not cease from their action, though it appears but little, by reason of the predominant Principle, for à potiori sumitur denominatio.  
Now as the Sulphur of Death, or Mortal Sulphur, doth manifest itself in the Arsenical substances, Realgar, Auripigment, etc. the Mercury of Death doth also the same in all Narcoticks, and we have not without reason affirmed these poisons to be, not only terrestrial, but aerial also; for in all the Elements there is much of this malignant Mercury, not yet specified in any individual Body, but flying up and down, and remaining of a volatile nature; and whensoever it exceeds proportion, doth cause an infinite number of Epidemical, Pestilential, and Contagious Diseases; and if the individual venoms already immersed in Bodies did not attract it for their nourishment, it would infallibly, cause a great spoil and disorder in the World.  
And as Salt is the Principle which causes the coalescency of substances in Bodies, or corporification (if we may use the word) and that by it Sulphur and Mercury are made visible and palpable, by reason of the coalition of the same which it causes; so the corroding Salt, doth also corporifie the two other Principles of Death, and renders them visible by giving them a Body; for these substances otherwise should remain invisible in the Universal Spirit, were they not brought to light, and made corporeal by the operation and help of the Salt, and by this means it is, we find true, that so important Axiom of the great Trismegist, when he saith, that Quod est occultum fit manifestum, et vice versâ. The violence and hurtful nature of this Salt of Death, appears very little in natural things; but when Art hath bestowed its skill, upon one or several Mixts, than appears its activity, and not before, as is obvious in all sublimated Corrosives, Aqua Fortis, Butter of Antimony, and several other Preparations, of this nature, known to the Sons of Art, it is from such a kind of Salt, that Cancers, Gangrenes, Kings-evil, and all other corroding Ulcers are generated in man's body; which is against the sense of those, who do impute to sharp and biting humours, the cause of these Diseases, having but Chemical notions of knowledge in natural things, as we shall show in the next Book, where we shall declare which way the Principles of Death do incorporate themselves in Man.      

The Second Book OF The First Part. Of Purity and Impurity.  

CHAP. I What is Purity and Impurity.  
THE words pure and impure, may be taken several ways; for some by Purity understand what is useful and profitable to Man's Nature, and by Impurity what is hurtful and damageable to it: Others will have that to be purity which is homogeneous, and all heterogeneous substances to be impurity; but it may so hap sometimes, that Heterogeneous substances shall be profitable, and the Homogeneous hurtful. Thence it may be gathered, that nothing can be said either pure or impure, absolutely speaking, but only comparatively, and in respect of one thing to another: For as we have already said above, it may hap, that what shall offend the one, shall help the other; as for Example: Should it not be thought a very great absurdity to believe, that the bones of Animals should be impure, because men do not eat them, and that their Flesh only should deserve the appellation of pure, because men feed upon it with pleasure, though the same bones be so absolutely necessary to the perfection of Animals, that without them they should not be what they are, since Bones are the solidest part of their substance.  
We shall not take here purity and impurity in this sense: but by purity we will understand, all what in the Mixed or Compound can be found to serve our end and purpose; as to the contrary, by impurity all what opposeth itself and contradicts to our intention in the work: For though in Mixts Bodies there be many parts hurtful to man's nature, yet if we speak absolutely or respectively, in reference to the same Mixed, the parts of its Compound cannot be said impure, since they are of the estence of it, and do constitute his integrality: Moreover these parts cannot be damageable to man, but conditionally, since nothing compels him, but his own will to make use of it.  
Purity and Impurity are in this sense considered, either in man, or out of him. The impurity found in man doth hinder and disturb his and Nature's intention, which is, that without interruption, he might enjoy a full and entire health: The same doth it also out of him, since we suppose that it must necessarily enter and penetrate in him: But this is the difference between these two kind of Impurities; that inward impurity doth all immediately by its presence, and the other is only considered as remote and absent, though it is to be nearer at hand, at some time or other. Because, as there is a necessity for man to breathe, and receive daily food, so can he not avoid the action of that impurity wherewith the Air and Elements are sometimes impregnated, as hereafter we will make it appear, and demonstrate also that in those substances which by some are accounted pure, there doth yet remain intermixed abundance of impurity.   

CHAP. II How Purity and Impurity are mixed in all the Compounds of Nature.  
THere is in every Mixed a Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, proper to its nature, as we have already said above: Now all Mixed perfectly framed, is either Animal, Vegetable or Mineral. Whence we gather, that as the one is the food of the other, as it appears by the mutation of Minerals into Vegetables, and of Vegetables into Animals, and again from Animals into Vegetables and Minerals; so is there in every Mixed, a Salt Sulphur and Mercury, Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral, imparted to them by the Universal Spirit; for all what receives nutriment receiveth it by its like, and what is dissimilary, is expelled as an Excrement: and if the expelling faculty is not vigorous and strong enough for this purpose, there remains many Excrements in the Compounds, which occasions many Mineral Diseases in man's body, altogether unknown to vulgar Physic, and consequently out of the reach of her Methodical Remedies and Prescriptions.  
This which I say here, cometh to pass in this manner: When the food is received into man's body, & digestion hath separated the several parts of Mixts, which contribute to its nourishment; each part doth attract out of this food, and the Animal Principles therein, that which is most proper and Analogous to its nature. But as for those other Principles, which cannot be assimilated to our substance, and are no staff of our lives, Nature doth expel them by the ministry of that faculty which is dedicated to such an Office: But if this faculty be oppressed or debilitated, by some accidental and external cause, or by some internal disorder of our Archaeus, which is the guide and director of our life and health; than do these Excrements coagulate themselves, or turn volatile, according to the Idea which the natural fermentation vitiated by this accidental disorder, imprints on them; and by this defect are all the Ours of Diseases bred and generated in us. Whence it cometh to pass, that such Diseases cannot be mastered nor expelled, but only by such as are first very well acquainted with the nature and vice of the Ferment; and secondly, with the proper and specifical remedy, which can restore our Nature, and appease those irritations of Spirits, which are caused for the most part by a preposterous or corrupt fermentation. For if the ferment be of a coagulative nature, it is necessary we be acquainted with some specific dissolvement, which should not prejudice the Ventricle: but if it be such a dissolvement, as will make an evil colliquation of the nutriment and parts; he that will undertake the Cure with success, must know what remedy is capable to repair that fault in Nature, and reform its disorder. Thence proceed the reiterated fits in Fevers, and their continuance often, notwithstanding the administration of many remedies, which cannot stop their raging fury, because we are for the most part ignorant in the effects of good or bad fermentation.  
If our leisure would give us leave to enlarge here upon several noble and curious inquiries, we should be taught by this Philosophy the causes of several effects, altogether unknown to most men. I will give a touch only by the by, for a proof of it, upon this Question ordinarily moved: Wherhfore Men before the Flood were much stronger and long-lived without comparison, than after that general inundation of the World? Two reasons of this effect and wonderful change we can give, according to the Doctrine laid already before: The first, that as the world stood than in the beginning, there was yet no change of alteration in the nature of things; which happened since, only by the several mixtures and changes introduced in the Compounds of Nature, after the deserved Curse inflicted upon sin. The second, that the Waters, which are the general Matrices or Wombs of several Minerals, and particularly of Salts, had not yet covered all the Earth, neither by consequence communicated the Mineral seeds, to feed the Family of Vegetables, whose virtue is thereby become vitiated, and their first nature in a manner altered: Whence the Animals Family hath been made partaker of this defect, because it draws its food and sustenance almost from Vegetables; as this chief appears in the Vine, which abounds in Bohemian-tartar, which is its proper Salt: Now, that Bohemian-tartar is a kind of Mineral, appears by its action, working potently upon Minerals, and with great efficacy upon Metals; for, all natural action is performed by its like, and there is a proportion required between the Agent and Patient. But to avoid here multiplying objections, I understand here by this Proportion only a genetical similitude. These things thus premised, 'twill not be very difficult to conceive what is here properly understood by impurity, viz. That they are Principles of an Heterogeneous and different nature, mixed with other Principles, not of the same Family nor Category: As when Minerals become by some way or other, united to Vegetables or Animals: It is also very easy to observe, how Purity insinuates itself in all things, by taking the opposite or contre-part of what we have said of Impurity. But now will it be necessary to show, how impurity may be severed or banished, since it is a Principle of Death and Destruction, as purity a Principle of Life, as we have said here above.   

CHAP. III How the Impurity of all things is to be separated.  
WE have said impurity to be that which could interrupt the perfection of those actions, which do conduct the Mixed to the end of its natural predestination: It is than very requisite to know, how it may be freed from this domestic enemy, which insensibly doth creep into the Compounds. Now as all Mixts are under several genders, and differing species, and that there is several sorts of impurities, men have invented several Arts to correct and take them away: and as the Art of Chemistry hath all the things of Nature in general for her object, so doth it endeavour to show how they may be freed and extricated from their impurities: But because, to particularise all the parts of this doctrine, would extend beyond the limits of a Compendious Treatise, as this we do intent; we shall content ourselves to speak only of those Impurities, which use to hap in Chemical Operations: For, to handle any part of Physical Chemistry or jatrochimy, is not here our design, since it could alone fill many Volumes. You are to note only by the by, that there is two several ways of removing the impurity of things; the first universal, the other particular: The first is an universal medicine, which is or may be extracted from several subjects, after they have been, as much as Art can perform it, reduced to their Universality, and devested of their specification and natural fermentation, which caused them to be this or that determinate Mixed: For this Medicine being by a fit digestion, and requisite coction and maturation, reduced to the highest degree of its exaltation; it is sufficient to expel impurity out of all Bodies indifferently, because it insensibly consumes it, both by the help of Fixation and Volatilization. The second is a particular Medicine, which by its specifical virtue and faculty, may expel particular impurities: A thing of no small importance, and whose secret is not to be attained unto but by the true Sons of Art; and those which do join together manual Operation and diligent Practice to an indefatigable study, which do use and bring to the Examen of Tracts the weight of their reason, and never venture their Remedies upon sick Patients, unless grounded upon the infallible Theorems of the noblest Philosophy, and the truest Physic.  
To return than to our Operations, we have said above, that by the ministry of fire, the Artist did separate from each Compound, five Substances or differing Principles, which though very pure in themselves, yet in several respects may have their impurities, either in respect to themselves, or in respect to our intention: For if we have occasion to use only the Spirit extracted out of a Mixed, and that this Spirit be joined with some portion of the Phlegm of it, we shall say this Spirit to be impure in such a respect, and so of the other Principles. Now concerning the particular way of separating these kind of impurities, we shall treat of it in the following Book, but particularly in the first Chapter of the last Book, to which we refer the Reader.   

CHAP. IU. Of the Pure Substances extracted out of Mixts.  
BEsides the five Substances or Principles, which we have formerly said may be extracted out of natural Compounds, by the ministry of fire; there may be yet some Essences drawn, by diversifying the Operations of Art, which exalts, and do ennoble the Principles of these Mixts, and raise it to their purity. These Essences do not only differ in body, from that of the Compound whence they were extracted, but are advanced also to nobler and more efficacious qualities and virtues, than those which during its entireness did adorn their bodies, and after its dissolution and artificial separation, will possess more than any of the Principles of the Compound. But though these wonderful Essences obtain several names in the Books of Philosophers, who call them Arcana's, Magisteries, Elixirs, Tinctures, Panaceas, Specifical Extracts, etc. they are comprehended nevertheless, under the general notion of pure and purity; and it proceeds from hence, that after those Essences are drawn out of their Mixts, the remainder is commonly rejected as impure. Paracelsus in his first Book of Archidoxa's, saith, that the six following Preparations, viz. Essences, Arcana's, Elixirs, Specificks, Tinctures, Extracts, are contained in the mystery of Nature, which he calls Purity, and that with a learned allusion to the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which signifies fire; thereby insinuating, that these Essences are brought near and assimilated to their first Principle, which is of the nature of Fire, since Light itself, which is but Fire, is the first Principle of all things: In the same place, he calleth also the Body Impurity, which keepeth in Prison this mystery: and therefore saith, that he that will enjoy this mystery, must divest it of all Corporeity, as it shall appear in the second part of this Treatise. But it is here to be noted, that when Paracelsus saith, that this mystery must be devested of its body, he means only that it must be freed of that gross body wherein it is imprisoned, to impart him a more subtle one, which he may shake of with ease, and spiritualise himself, to be the more capable thereby to penetrate into our last digestions, and there correct all those defects which impurity might have caused. This mystery sometimes is extracted out of one sole Mixed, as Magisteries are done; sometimes of several Compounds, as Elixirs, which will appear more plainly hereunder.  
But it will not be from our purpose, to treat succinctly of Compounds, either perfect or imperfect, and their variety, because we have already much spoken of it in this Treatise, and are to speak yet more; considering likewise that these Mixts are the subject and matter of Chemical Operations, and further, that it may serve as a common and peculiar place of Physic, where he that will rightly be informed, to what Category each Body doth belong, may have his recourse: We shall than handle in this last Chapter of this Book, the natural generation and corruption of Bodies, and their variety.   

CHAP. V Of the Natural Generation and Corruption of Mixts, and their variety.  

SECT. I Of the Order of this Chapter.  
BEfore we can well understand the nature of Mixts and Mixtion, and apprehended clearly how purity or impurity bear a part in their generation, we must know well beforehand, what Alteration is; and thence consequently inform ourselves touching the nature of Generation and Corruption. Therefore it will be apposite, to say succinctly something of Alteration, Generation, Corruption, and Mixtion, before we enumerate more particularly the Mixts, either perfect or imperfect, which are the first-fruits of Nature, and by consequence the subject of its Operations.   

SECT. II Of the Alteration, Generation and Corruption of Natural things.  
IF you will insist upon the Etymology of the word Alteration, you shall find it to be nothing else but, A motion by which any subject is made different from what it was before: Or thus, It is a motion by which a subject is accidentarily altered according to its qualities. In this, Alteration differs from Generation; for Generation is an essential and substantial change, and Alteration is only an accidental motion of the qualities of a Body: And further, Alteration is only a disposition and preparatory way towards Generation and Corruption: and thence it comes to pass, that there are two kinds of Alteration; the one perfecting the Body or Substance, the other destructive of it. In perfective Alteration, all the qualities observe a just temper of proportion, and an equal harmony, according to the nature of their subject, and in order either to preserve the same nature, or assume a more perfect one. But in the destructive or putrefactive Alteration, all qualities fall into that disorder, that they plainly remove their subject from its natural constitution, as it often happens in fluid bodies, abounding with great store of Phlegm; and is seen by Example in Wine, when it gins to corrupt, and grow flat.  
This is than the difference between Alteration and Generation, that Alteration introduceth no substantial form into its subject; but that which is substance in the subject, receives only some adventitious quality which it had not before; as for Example, when heat or cold are generated in any Plant or Animal. But Generation is a change of substance, which presupposes not only the production of new qualities in the Subject, but of new substantial forms also: as when out of Bread Blood is engendered, the subject or matter of this Bread is not only deprived of the quality of Bread, but also of its substantial and essential form, to take the form and quality of Blood: Yet are you to note, that a question upon this may be raised, though not wanting its Answer, viz. That when some Physical Herb is prescribed to a Nurse to feed upon, that the virtue of this Herb may pass into her Milk, whether it be the same numerical quality which was in the Herb, that is now found in the Milk? The Answer is negative; though it be the same specifical, or rather generical: For as the Milk and the Plant do generically differ, the difference of their quality should also be altogether generical. But to speak of these things more intelligibly, we say with Van Helmont, that the virtue of the Plant was enclosed in its Median or Intrinsecal Life, which is neither altered nor corrupted by the Nurse's digestions, and so is conveyed into her milk, setting aside the ordinary Quiblets and Niceties of Schools, which usually raise more doubts, than they can establish truths in Physic and Philosophy. Hence you may learn, how the Generation of one thing is the Corruption of the other: and contrariwise, the Corruption maketh the Generation. Therefore we will say no more of Corruption, because whosoever shall understand the one, cannot be ignorant in the other: We will only succinctly show, wherein Generation and Corruption, do differ from Creation, Destruction or Annihilation. The difference than lies in this, that Generation and Corruption do presuppose a matter, which must be the subject of the several forms introduced into it. But Creation and Destruction require no matter; for as the one is the production of something out of nothing, so is reciprocally Annihilating performed but upon created things. Generation and Corruption are natural motions, proceeding from a second and finite cause: but Creation and Destruction or Annihilation, can only be the work of an Omnipotent hand, and infinite Cause; the distance between being and not being, something and nothing, being infinite.  
These things thus cleared, we come to Mixtion, which is twofold, viz. the one so called improperly, which is artificial; the other proper and natural. That improperly called, is but a local approximation of Bodies differing in Nature, confusedly joined together, so an heap of Corn is improperly called Mixed; this Artificial mixture, in which the parts are really mixed together, but without change or alteration of the whole substance, is yet double, viz. that which is made by apposition, and that which is by confusion of the parts: Apposition is made, when the things mixed together, are divided in parcels scarce perceptible to the eye, as when the particles of Wheat and Barley mixed in a heap, are mingled in the same mass of Flower: Confusion is, when the mixed parcels are not only imperceptibly divided, but also so confounded together, that they cannot easily be separated again, as when Water and Wine are mixed together, and Apothecaryes' mix their Drugs, which remain so confounded, that none can be longer discerned.  
Natural mixture properly so said, is a strict union of the substances, whence some things substantial doth result, and yet different from the other Substances which constitute it, by the help of Alteration: For by the conjunction of the Principles, a Mixed is generated, whose principal form differs from that of its own Principles, as it is made more manifest in the dissolution of the Mixed, according to the Peripatetical Axiom, which saith that, Quod est ultimum in resolutione, id fuit primum in compositione. This Alteration, which causeth Unition to lead Nature to Union, and thence to Mixtion, hath been already illustrated, where we have spoken of the conjunction of Salt and Spirit, and the action of Phlegm and Sulphur, which overcome the sharpness and sourness of Salt and Mercury; and when we have said, that the Earth imparts solidity and body to these several Substances; it is by the means of this Alteration, this union and conjunction, that the natural Compound is framed and produced. And if it be objected, that these Principles are rather a work of Art than Nature, your recourse shall be for answer, to what we have already said in the first Section of the first Chapter of the first Book.   

SECT. III Of the difference of Mixts in general.  
HAving sufficiently discoursed at large of those single, pure and homogeneous Substances, which we have called Principles; and having illustrated their various alterations before their union and mixtion, which maketh up the perfecting of the Compound: it followeth we should speak of such Mixts as are resulting from this action. All Mixts are perfectly or imperfectly compounded, according to the strength or weakness of their Principles union. The Body, which is imperfectly compounded, hath only a light coagulation of some of the Principles, and not very lasting, neither differenced by some principal, substantial form, which should make it essentially to differ from its Principles; as for Example, Ice or Snow, which only differ from Water by adjunction of some foreign and adventitious qualities: But the Perfect Mixed is that, which is endowed with a substantial principal form, distinguished from the Principles whereof it is compounded, after their perfect union, and for this reason also is more lasting; such are all Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals.  
Those Bodies which are imperfectly compounded, are called Meteors, and their difference is great, according to the difference and variety of the Principles which abound in them; for some are Sulphureous, others Nitrous, others Aqueous, and so of the rest; of these we must say something, before we speak further of perfectly compounded Mixts: and herein will we imitate the process of Nature in her workmanship, which never produceth any perfect Mixed, before her Principles have passed through Meteorick Nature, as we shall explain hereafter: her method being, never to pass from one extremity to the other without a mean. Meteors are called (sometimes) perfectly mixed Bodies, not because the nature and form of Mixts is in them, but because, although they preserve in a manner the nature of Principles, yet they differ in some kind from the natural state of those Principles; which is the reason they are assigned a middle condition and nature, between that of pure and unmixed Principles, and Bodies perfectly compounded of them: they are also imperfect Mixts, by reason of their sudden generation, and dissolution: For as the mixture and coagulation of the Principles in those Bodies is imperfect, so can they neither be of duration; but are easily converted into the nature of the Principle most predominant in them. The material, remote cause of these imperfect Mixts or Meteors, are the Principles; and the proxime or immediate, those fumes and Spirits, into which by the virtue of some efficient cause, the same Principles are turned by volatilization and spiritualization. But you are to note here, that there is two different kinds of Fumes and Spirits, viz. Vapours and Exhalations: Vapour is a hot and moist Fume, and consequently proceeding from Phlegm, if it prove Aqueous; from Oil or Sulphur, if inflammable; or Mercury, if windy and spirituous. Exhalation is a hot and dry Fume, and by consequence generated from a terrestrious and earthly Body, and a Principle of Salt: It must also be noted, that the Vapour is said to be hot and moist, because Water converted into Vapour, is elevated by the action of Fire which is insinuated in it, and for this cause (by a Greek expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) is called Meteor, or a body imperfectly composed of some Principles. And concerning the Doctrine of Meteors in particular, they that will be exactly informed, must repair to such Authors as have professedly handled this Doctrine: For it would engage us beyond the bounds which we have limited to this our short Chemical Abbreviate in our Preface, if we should undertake that matter here at large.   

SECT. IV. Of the Diversity of Perfect Mixts.  
HAving showed, that Nature ever aims at the corporifying and spiritualizing Mixts and their Principles, by the assistance of the Universal Spirit, and the virtue and character of particular Matrices or Wombs, and that wrought by the operation of the Ferment, and impression of the Idea once received: We must also now turn our discourse to those Mixts, which are as we have already often said, generated by the Universal Spirit only, clothed under some Meteorical Idea; as that appears in the resolution of Metals and other Minerals, which are converted into Fumes and Exhalations, before they escape our sight, to reunite themselves to the Universal Spirit; whence we gather, that they must have observed the same degrees of production in their generation, corporification and coagulation.  
The perfectly compounded Body, is animated or inanimated; the animated Mixed, is that which is adorned with a soul, or vivifying form, as Plants, Beasts, and Men; as contrariwise, the inanimate Mixed is that which is deprived of all appearance of life, which doth consist in sense and motion.  
But a Question is here raised, Whether Minerals are animated or no? To which, without mentioning here the vulgar School-Arguments, to avoid tediousness, we answer, That though in these Bodies, which are first-fruits of the Earth's Centre, we cannot so easily perceive those manifest vital Operations, which are obvious in Plants and Animals, yet nevertheless are they not altogether deprived thereof; since they are multiplied by a constant perpetuity; which moves us to say, that as they have a multiplicative form of their own species, so must they be endowed with life. Some of the ancient Philosophers have acknowledged this Life, as when Pliny saith, lib. 3. c. 10. Spumam Nitri fieri, cum ros cecidisset, praegnantibus intrariis, sed n●n parientibus. Let us than conclude, that Minerals do live, as long as they are joined to their Matrix and Root, since they grow there sensibly; but when they are separated from it, they are justly called Inanimate Mixts; as we may rightly call dead, the stock or body of a Tree separated from its root. In this sense we shall from henceforth term them, as also many other substances, though taken from Animate Bodies: In this manner, we say, there are two kinds of Inanimate Bodies, the one extracted from the Earth, the other from the Mixts themselves, either animate or inanimate: those which are extracted from the bowels of the Earth, are called Minerals, whereof there are three species, viz. Metals, Stones, and middle Minerals, which are also called Marcassites.  
Metal is a Mixed, extending itself under the Hammer, and melting in the fire. Marcassites are fusible, but extend not under the Hammer: and Stones are neither fusible nor extensible.  
As for those Mixts which are not digged out of the Earth, human Art hath found a way to draw them ordinarily out of animated bodies, such are Fruits, Seeds, Roots, Gums, Rosins, Wool, Cotton, Oil, Wine, and several other substances extracted and separated as parts of Animals and Vegetables, not more considered as Organical; whose Animals are also made use of (in Chemical Operations) when they are deprived of their life and soul. Of all these mixed substances, as much animated as inanimated, shall we treat in the following Sections.   

SECT. V Of middle Minerals or Marcassites.  
MIddle Minerals are Fossiles of a middle nature, between Metals and Stones; and partaking in something of the essence of both: For by their fusion they agreed with Metals; and with Stones, in their brickle and crumbling nature. Middle Minerals are for the most part Metallick Juices, dissolved or condensed, or else Metallick and Mineral Earth's.  
The principal Metallick Juices are, First, Salt, which is a body easily crumbled, dissolving itself in moisture and coagulating in drought: whence it is evident, that the predominant and abounding Principle in this Mixed is Salt, whence it borrows its denomination, and because it is a Mixed, thence it follows, that it is not destituted of other Principles, as it appears by the action of fire upon it, and its Spagitical Anatomy.  
Salts are either natural or artificial: Nature produceth the first kind, which are called Fossile Salts; Art doth make the other, of which therefore several species are found; as for Example, Salgem. Armoniac, Saltpetre or Nitre, Well or Pit-salt, Sea-salt, Fountain-salt, Aloms', Vitriol or Copporas, which all are endowed with specifical qualities differing the one from the other, according to the nature of their predominant Principles, which are either fixed or volatile, dissolving or coagulating, as may be seen by the diversity of Operations which may be performed upon each kind of these Salts.  
Bituminous Substances follow Salts, and comprehend several various kinds, as Asphalium, Amber yellow or gris, Camphire, Naptha, Petroly, and Brimstone, which we difference from the Sulphur as it is a Principle in all things: For this is but a fat and stinking Mineral Juice, having in itself a subtle, inflammable part, and another terrestrious and Vitriolic, by which he soon destroys Metals, and will soon be extinguished if Vitriol doth abound in it. This Brimstone is either quick (Sulphur vivum in the Shops) that is, such as when it is drawn out of the Earth, and never felt the fire; or prepared by Art, and refined by Fire, as we have it in Cakes from the Druggist. Several various Remedies useful in Physic, are by the help of Art extracted out of these Bituminous bodies; as we will more particulary declare in the last Book of the Second part of this Chemical Treatise.  
Arsenic is either Natural or Artificial; the natural is of three kinds, Auripigment or lethargy of Gold, so called for its golden colour; Sandarak, which is read; and Realgar, which is yellow: the artificial is prepared by a sublimation of the natural, with Salt.  
Antimony is also natural, otherwise called Mineral; and artificial, which is most frequent in our use, having been melted from the Mineral in Cakes: Of the qualities and choice of it, its constituting parts, and various kinds, we shall speak more fully hereafter, where we handle the practice upon this Mineral.  
Cinnabar is a Mineral body, composed of Sulphur and Mercury, or Brimstone and Quicksilver, coagulated together to a stony hardness. The natural is extracted from Ours, where it is found more or lesle mixed with Sand; the artificial is made by sublimation of those two substances mixed together.  
Cadmy is natural or artificial; the natural is a Metallick Stone, containing in itself the volatile and impute Salt of some Metal; there are very many kinds differing one from the other, in colour, virtue, and consistency: The artificial is found in Furnaces where Metals use to be melted, being nothing else but the Flores or volatile Salt of Metals, sublimated and cleaving to the walls of the Furnace; raising, as the subtlest part of flower doth in Mills, to the roofs of melting houses. There are also of this several sorts, as, Pompholyx, Spodium, Tuty.  
The other kind of Marcassites are Mineral Earth's, as B●lus's, Terra Sigillata of Lemnos, Silesian Day or Blois in France, Chalk, read Clay, and all other Mineral Earth's. To this we might also add, all Artificial Earth's, as the several kinds of Lime, made out of feveral sorts of Stones, and containing in them a corroding Salt, and a secret fire.  
But before we begin with the Section of Metals, we must remove a difficulty which offers itself in this place; and that is, That since Salts are reckoned amongst Metallick Juices, how can Armoniac Salt, and some kind of the Metallick Earth's, of which we have spoken above, be placed amongst Mareassites, since Marcassites or middle Minerals, do not indeed yield or extend themselves under the Hammer, but are fusible; for it is granted that Armoniac doth never melt in the fire, but rather ascends and sublimates itself; and so likewise those Metallick Earth's do not melt, but easily calcine and sublimate themselves in Metallick Flowers. To this we answer, that if indeed Armoniac Salt be put alone in a Crucible, it will not melt, but sublimate; But if this Salt nevertheless be mixed with other Salt in fusion, it will melt together; as likewise if Metallick Earth's be mixed together alone, they shall rather be calcined than melt; but if they be allayed with some fusible body, than are they capable of fusion: as by Example, When to equal weight of read Copper, is added as much Lapis Calaminaris, it will melt with the Metal, turn it into a yellow Brass, and make an augmentation of fifty in the hundred. It is than to be noted, that when Fossiles are divided into Metals, Stones, Marcassites; by Marcassites or middle Minerals must only be understood those bodies which participate, or bear some relation with the nature of Stones or Metals, either in respect of their fusibility, or extensiveness, or hardness, or softness. So that noble Mixed which seemeth to be the Masterpiece of Art, that is Glass, must in this sense be reckoned amongst Marcassites, since it easily melts, but cannot for all that yield and extend itself under the Hammer, if you except that which was made Malleable at Rome (in the time of Tiberius) whereof the Secret is perished with its Author.   

SECT. VI Of Metals.  
MEtals are hard bodies, generated in particular Matrices or Wombs in the bowels of the Earth, which may be extended under the Hammer, and melt in the Fire. They are commonly reckoned seven in number, which number is referred to the seven Planets, whose names (in the writings of Chemical Philosophers) they sometimes do borrow. They are divided into perfect and imperfect: Perfect, say they, are those which nature hath advanced and brought to their ultimate and perfect end. The tokens of which perfection are, perfect fixation, a most exact mixtion and union of the constitutive parts of those Bodies, accompanied with (requisite) weight, sound, and colour; capable of bearing a long fusion, and a strong ignition, without altering their qualities, and losing of their substance: There are two of this nature, viz. the Sun and Moon, or Gold and Silver. Imperfect Metals are of two sorts, viz. hard and soft; those that are hard, are rather susceptible of ignition than fusion, as Mars and Venus, or Iron and Brass; soft, are those which are sooner susceptible of fusion than ignition, as Jupiter and Saturn, or Tin and Lead. The Mercury or Quicksilver is accounted the seventh Metal, and is a liquid Metal, for this cause called fluid, as the other are named solid: Yet by reason of this fluidity, some do expel it from the Classis and number of Metals, and place it amongst the substances that are nearly related to Metals, as being a kind of Meteor of a middle nature between; and even many Philosophers, will have it the first matter of Metals.  
Metals and Minerals are differenced in sex, and accordingly several kind of Menstrues are used for their dissolution: so nothing but Regal water can dissolve Gold, Led and Antimony, which are accounted of the masculine sex; but ordinary Aqua fortis is sufficient to dissolve the others, which are accounted of the female sex.  
Before we put an end to this Section, some few Questions, which are usually raised, about the nature of Metals, must be illustrated: The first Question raised, is: If when several Metals are melted together, any Metallick Species, differing from the Metals, which do make the whole Compound, is thereby raised? To which, the Answer is negative, because it is not a true mixture, much lesle a strict and exact Union, but rather a Confusion, since they may be again separated asunder. There is another Doubt also made upon this matter, Whether or no Metals do specifically differ amongst themselves, or only according to the more or lesle perfection: But Scaliger answers to this, that Nature hath no more made Metals in order to the production of Gold, than framed other Creatures to the generation of Man; it may be added to this, that God created this variety of Metals for the perfection and beautifying of this Universe, and the several uses wherein men do employ them: We must nevertheless acknowledge as a truth, that both Minerals and imperfect Metals participate of the nature of either of the two perfect Metals; and most commonly of both together, as it is evident by the extraction which those can make, that are Masters of the secret of this separation, performed either after a preceding digestion, or by examining by the true instrument of Separation, external Fire, which excites and actuates the internal, potential Fire of things, and is the only Instrument of Philosophers to verify by deed what I have said: Whence we conclude, that these imperfect Metals and Minerals do continually endeavour the perfection of their natural predestination, whilst they are yet in their Mother's Womb; which they are able to do not more, when torn of from their Matrices. This Question is commonly followed by another, which demands, Whether the power of Art doth extend to the changing of an imperfect Metal, and may advance it by this Metamorphosis to the perfection of either of the great Luminaries? To which out Answer is affirmative; since it is certain, that both Art and Nature applying Actives to Passives, are capable of great and noble transmutations. But the difficulty of success is almost insuperable: and this i● that Great Work, which since so many Ages hath vexed the minds of so many obstinate searchers, wearied and weakened their bodies, and emptied their Purses.  
The last Question to be touched here, and ordinarily made, is, Whether Gold may be made potable? To which the Answer is, that it cannot be doubted of, since Experience doth show that it may be converted into Liquor; but the chief point is to know, whether this Liquor can afford nourishment, as many do endeavour to persuade: which we do deny, since there is neither correspondency nor analogy between Gold and our Body, which is necessarily required between nourishment and the body nourished; but there is no proportion between the Metallick and Animal Nature. Yet no doubt is to be made, but that this Liquor is a very Sovereign Medicine, if it be performed with a Menstruum or dissolvent friendly and amicable to our Nature, and capable to tender Gold so volatile, that it may not be afterwards in the power of Art, to reduce it again to body. For being thus once prepared, it passes easily to the very last digestion, where it corrects whatsoever it meets with that is defective; and so it alters and changes our body for the better, provided the right Dosis and way of using it be known, otherwise it would rather prove a devouring Enemy, than a familiar and pleasing Guest.   

SECT. VII. Of Stones.  
Stone's are hard Bodies, which neither are extensible under the hammer, nor meltable in the fire. They are generated in their particular Matrices out of a Juice, which hath the Idea and Lapidifick ferment imprinted in itself: they receive their various colours, from the various Ours through which their Lapidifick juice, and their Mercurial fumes, or coagulating Spirit doth pass. They are either opacons, or transparent: The transparent are either with or without colour; so in all likelihood we may say, that the Coagulative Spirit of Emerald passeth through a Mine of Vitriol or Copper; that of Opal through a Sulphureous Mine; of Ruby and Carbuncle through a golden one; Granats and some other like Stones of this nature, draw their colour from Iron, a proof whereof is, that they are attracted by the Loadstone; and so we may conclude of others. But the Coagulative Spirit of Diamond and Rock Crystal, is only a pure and unmixed petrifying Spirit, deprived of all tingent Sulphureity; which by consequence leaves in it nothing but that lovely and admirable transparency, for which they are admired.  
It is noted, that opacous Stones, are not only generated in the bowels of the Earth or Waters, but also in the bowels and entrails of all kind of Animals, as the searchers of Nature have made it manifest.  
Thus briefly we have run over the Nature of Minerals: For in what concerns the Doctrine of their particular history, we must have recourse to such natural Philosophers as have exactly and professedly written thereof, as Georgius Agricola, and Lazarus Ercker; for our intention is, only to make an Abridgement of the chief heads, to which you may refer all the natural-Mixts which depend upon, and flow from them.   

SECT. VIII. Of other Mixts, both Animate and Inanimate.  
WE have said above, that there were two kinds of Inanimate Mixts, viz. Those that are extracted from the bowels of the Earth, and those that are not; it remains we should speak of these last, since we have, as much as the Laws of our Abridgement can suffer it, discoursed of the former. Those which belong to this last Classis, are Juices and Liquors, extracted out of Plants by expression; as also mediately or immediately from Animals: As for Example, Wine, Oil, Vinegar, Gums, Rosins, Fruits, Fats, Milk, Cadavers and their several parts, and many other things, which as remedies are used for the restauration of men's decayed health.  
Animate Mixts, are either Vegetables or Animals; Vegetable or Plants are either perfect or imperfect: Perfect Plants are those which have both root and stalk or surface: Imperfect, which want either of the two, 
* Tuberes terrae, Puffs.  Trussoli are of this kind: for their root makes all their substance, and contrariwise Mushrooms, in which there appears little or no root at all. Perfect Plants are divided into Herb, Shrub, and Tree; and each of these again subdivided into an infinite number of differing kinds, the names whereof are to be found in Herbals. The parts of perfect Plants, are principal, or lesle principal; Principal are those which the Vegetative soul maketh use of in her functions, and they are similary or dissimilary: Similary again are, liquid or solid; Liquid are Juices and Drops, which if they be aqueous are coagulated into Gums, if sulphureous in Rosins; and for this reason Gums dissolve in Liquors of an aqueous nature; and Rosins cannot be dissolved, but by Oils, and analogical Liquors. The solid parts are the substance or carneous part, and the fibres of the Plant. The dissimilar parts, that is to say, those which contain in themselves a diversity of substance, are perpetual or annual. Perpetual or lasting long, are the root, the stock, the rind, the marrow and the branches: Annual are those which renew every year, as the buds, flowers, leaves, first-fruits, seeds, etc.  
As the plants than have a great variety of parts, and they divided into several kinds; so likewise Animals, which are composed of similar and dissimilar parts, are divided into several species: for they are either, rational or unrational; the irrational, or beasts, are perfect or unperfect: Perfect are those which are without caesure, and for the nourishment of their parts do generate blood: Unperfect, such as are Infects, breed no blood and are divided by cesures. All beasts, whether perfect or unperfect, are either gressile and marching, or reptile and creeping, or natatile, i e. swimming, or volatile, i e. flying. But if you desire to be further instructed in the History of Animals, read Aldrovandus, who hath treated of this subject with great exactness; and for the knowledge of Man and his parts, consult Anatomists.    

CHAP. VI In what manner Chemistry worketh upon all these Mixts, to extract what is pure in them; and rejects their impurity.  
YOu see by the enumeration of these Mixts, of what vast extent is the Empire of Chemistry, since her operation is busied upon these so different Compounds: for she may choose any of these bodies, either to divide and resolve it into its Principles, by making a separation of the Substances which do compound it; or she uses them, to extract the mystery of Nature out of them, which contains the Arcanum, Magistery, Quintessence, Extract and Specific, in a much more eminent degree, than the body from whence it is extracted; because this body, by Chemical Preparation which separates impurities, for the perfection of this mystery, is changed and exalted; as we shall make it plain in the Book of Operations. For it is not enough to study and read the Works of Paracelsus, and chief his Books of Archidoxa, which I have already recommended: but you must also use your hands, and come to the Practical part, if you will unriddle his Obscurities, not heeding the time which therein must be spent, nor thinking much of the labour and charges; As most do, who by the reading of some few Authors, only grounded upon the authority and opinions of their Predecessors, neglecting experience and the painful search of Nature's secrets, think and imagine to attain unto great perfection, though Experience be one of the Columns of the best Natural Philosophy, and consequently of the truest Physic. That we may than the better attain to it, we shall here conclude the Theorical part, to come to the Practice; and by the help of one, illustrate the other the better.  
The End of the Theory.    

Part II Of the Abridgement of CHEMISTRY.  

Book I Of the proper and necessary terms to understand and perform all Chemical Operations.  

The PREFACE.  
IN the First Part of this Treatise, we have showed unto you the Grounds upon which doth lean all the Theory of Chemistry: But because we said in the Preface, that Chemistry was a Sensal Philosophy, which admits only what the Senses manifest and demonstrate unto us; it is time for us to come to the Practical part, and Operations depending of it, and to examine, Whether all what we have said above, is grounded upon Sense. No body must admire, that a Science should become Operative; since Operation is only to the end of perfecting Contemplation, and Contemplation seemeth to be only to help Operation; so that these two seem to be inseparable. And if it be true, that all Doctrine and Knowledge must begin by the Senses, according to the Maxim which saith, Nihil esse in Intellectu, quod non prius fuerit in Sensu; I think it very necessary that the Senses be well informed and instructed by several Experiences, before you give yourself to the Theory, or begin to contemplate upon Natural things, jest you fall into the error of those superficial Philosophers, who please themselves in arguing upon the Principles of some Doctrine, whereof experience discovers the untruth; as for Example: Is it not a very manifest and palpable error, to imagine that the Smoke or Fume, which any Mixed doth yield by violent dissolution, should be a Fire or Elementary Air, or some unmixed Substance; since, if they are examined in a Limbeck, or any other Vessel or Receiver, experience will demonstrate to the sense, that that Flame or Smoke, are neither pure Elements nor imperfect Mixts; but that it is sometimes the Body of a most perfect Mixed, as evidently appears by subliming of Brimstone and Armoniac Salt, and the Fumes of Mercury, which is the same Quicksilver, who like unto that Proteus of the ancient Poets, takes all sorts of shapes and colours; but returns again to its first nature, being revived.  
By this it appears, that it is not good to judge of things lightly; as to say that all Smoke is Air, because it hath some resemblance with Air: For though all Vapours and Exhalations are alike unto the sight, yet nevertheless are they of a very different nature; as those that examine them thoroughly, and search them narrowly, by the help of Chemical Vessels will discover; and this shall we demonstrate by the several Operations, whereof we are to treat in this last Part.  
But because in the practical part of these Operations, we meet with several terms that are proper and essential to the Art of Chemistry, and seem to be of difficult understanding, it is necessary, before we enter into the discourse of Operations, to explain their meaning. We shall than in this First Book, treat of the several kinds of Solutions and Coagulations; because one of the chief ends of Chemistry is to spiritualise and corporifie again, thereby to separate Purity from Impurity: after this, we will show the several degrees of Fire; by the means of which, and the help of several Furnaces, and divers Vessels, that true exaltation is attained unto, which from the mystery of each Mixt's nature, doth extract the Arcanum, Elixit, Tincture, or some sublime Essence graduated to such a height, as one drop or grain of these miraculous remedies may without comparison be more efficacious than many pounds of the gross and bodily Mixed, out of which these Medicaments have been extracted.   

CHAP. I Of the several kinds of Solutions and Coagulations.  
THough Chemistry takes for its object all natural Bodies, yet properly and particularly she confines her Operations upon Mixed Bodies, which she reacheth how to exalt by the help of Solution and Coagulation, who do contain under them several kinds of Operations, tending all either to spiritualise or corporifie, Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals: so that the exaltation of any Mixed or Compound, is nothing else but the purest part of the same, by the help of several Solutions and Coagulations often reiterated, brought to its highest perfection. To attain this point, Purity first must be separated from Impurity, which is performed materially or formally: Materially, by cribration or sifting, ablution or washing, edulcoration or sweetening, detersion or cleansing, effusion or pouring, collation and philtration, or running through a bag, and despumation: Formally, by distillation, sublimation, digestion, and several other reiterated Operations, whereof hereafter.  
The separation of Purity and Impurity being performed, to obtain a perfect exaltation of the Mixed, the impurity of it must be rejected, and that which is pure be first put in Solution, than Coagulation; which is done either by reducing it to very small Particles, or to Liquor, or else in a solid Body, by help of the following Operations, viz. Limation or filing, rasion or scraping, pulverisation or reducing to powder, alkoholisation or reducing to atomical parts, incision or cutting, granulation or reducing into small grains by melting, lamination or converting into thin Plates, putrefaction, fermentation, maceration, fumigation, which is either dry or moist, cohobation, precipitation, amalgamation, distillation, rectification, sublimation, calcination either actual or potential, vitrification, projection, lapidification, extinction, fusion, liquation, cementation, stratification, reverberation, fulmination or detonation, extraction, expression, inceration, digestion, evaporation, desiccation, exhalation, circulation, congelation, crystallization, fixation, volatilisation, spiritualization, corporification, mortification and revivification; all which terms, to remove obscurities in the understanding of the Artist, we will further illustrate in this Chapter.  
Cribration, is when the matter, after it hath been pounded in a Mortar, is sifted through a thin Cloth or a Sieve, the one is for the exact contusion, the other for the grosser.  
Ablution or lotion is, when the matter to be cleansed from its grosser impurities, is washed in water; but when the matter by its weight is fallen in the bottom of the Vessel, and the water poured out by inclination, it is called Effusion.  
Edulcoration is, when the spirituous, saline, and corrosive parts of Chemical Preparations, performed by actual or potential calcination, are separated.  
That matter which cannot endure water without alteration, or loss of its substance, is purged by Detersion; and if it be put in any convenient Liquor, and than afterwards grossly expressed, either through a Linen, or some other Strainer of Cloth or Tamy, it is called collation or Percolation: but if this Operation be performed through some more compact substance, it will be called Philtration, which is performed either by the Cloth, Paper, or Rag; that which is performed through the Paper, is cleanlier and exacter.  
Despumation is nothing else, but separating of the scum, or other impurities which swim above the matter, with some proper Instruments to that purpose.  
Limation is the solution of continuity of some mixed Body, performed with a File of Steel: it is used in all the three Families of Bodies; for, the Bones of Animals, the Wood of Vegetables, and the Bodies of the most compact, hard and solid Metals yield to the File.  
Rasion comes very near Limation, but is performed with a sharper Instrument, as a knife, or some of the like nature; it may also be referred in a manner to In●ision.  
Pulverization or Contusion, are nothing else but the reduction of some Mixed into Powder, by means of Trituration or grinding upon a Marble or Porphyry, or pounding in a Mortar; and if the matter be reduced to an impalpable and imperceptible Powder, it is called Alkoholisation, which is also sometimes said of liquid things, as the Alkohol of Wine, or other volatile and inflammable spirits, when these spirits are so deprived of their phlegm and waterish part, that they consume and flame away with the matter wherein they were dipped, be it Linen, Paper, or Cotton.  
By Granulation, Mineral and Metallick Bodies are reduced to small grains, and by Lamination extended in small and thin Plates, as are Gold, Silver, Leaf Copper, etc.  
Putrefaction is, when the Mixed by a moist heat without any mixture tends to its corruption: and if it be performed by the mixture or addition of any Ferment, as Bohemian-tartar, common Salt, Yeast of Beer, Leaven of Bread, or Leeses of Wine, it is than called Fermentation.  
Maceration is, when any matter is put in a Menstruum or proper liquor to infuse, that liquor being chosen according to the design or intention of the Artist, to extract the virtue of the Body upon which it works. This Operation requires a fit and competent time for completing the Extraction, which retards or advances, according to the more or lesle solidity and compactedness of the body wrought upon.  
Fumigation is a Corrosion of the external parts of a body by a vapour, or sharp and corroding Exhalation: If it be by a vapour, as is that of Vinegar, it is a moist fumigation: if by Exhalation, as the fumes of Lead or Quicksilver, it is a dry fumigation, calcining laminated Metals, or reduced in Plates, and making them so crumbling and brickle, that they may afterwards be easily reduced to powder.  
Cohobation is done, by often pouring again the Menstruum, extracted out of one or several Mixts upon its own feces, or the remainder of those Mixts in the Receiver, either to draw the Central Virtues enclosed in those Compounds, or to 'cause the same feces, to resume and take back, what in the distillation they had suffered to fly up and volatilize by the action of heat, and in this only Operation doth Cohobation consist.  
Precipitation causeth the dissolving Menstruum to quit the body which it had dissolved, which is performed by the analogy that Salts have with Spirits; for, Whatsoever is dissolved by Spirits, is precipitated by Salts; and contrariwise. This Operation requires the particular consideration of the Artist, because it gives great light, and is a great key to comprehend the generation and corruption of natural things.  
Amalgamation is a particular calcination of Metals, which some Authors do call Philosophical Calcination: It is performed by the union of Mercury or Quicksilver with the lest particles of Metals, which doth so separate and open them, that they become unctuous and extensible upon the hand; so that evaporating the Quicksilver with a convenient heat, the Metals are reduced to a very subtle Calx, which cannot be performed so well by any other means.  
Distillation is, when the matter enclosed in a Vessel, drives and sends up vapours in another Vessel, by the help and activity of Fire: There are three species of it. The first, when the vapour of distilled Substances do ascend. The second, when the same vapours are driven by the side of the Vessel: And the third, when downwards: all these according to the distillable matters, and the fitness of the Vessels for Operation.  
Rectification is nothing else but a reiterated Distillation, and that to subtilise the more the distilled vapours, or separate some Spirit from its Phlegm, and the more-terrestrial and gross parts, according as the Spirits are, either sharp and fixed, or volatile and inflammable.  
Sublimation is an Operation, by which the action and heat of Fire, elevates a whole body, in dry Exhalations, or at lest some part of it which cleaves and condenses itself in thin and subtle Flores, or sometimes thick, compacted and pressed in the top of the Vessel: this manner of Operation is opposed to Precipitation.  
Calcination is a violent action, which reduces the Mixed to Calx and Ashes. It is double, actual and potential: the actual is performed by flaming Wood or kindled Coals, which are the material fire: Potential Calcination is that which is made by the secret and potential fire of strong and dissolutive Waters, or Aqua Fortis, single or compounded, and by the vapours and corrosive fumes, as it is observed in Precipitation and Fumigation.  
Vitrification is the change of Metals, Minerals, Vegetables or Stones in Glass, and that by projection after their fusion, or by addition of Salts, Alkali or fixed, or extracted from Leeses, which do penetrate and purify these several substances, and vitrify them by giving them fusibility and transparency: There are many nevertheless Opacous also, which are used for enamelling, and called Amels.  
Lapidification is when Metals are changed into Stones or Pasts, which in a kind are of a middle nature, between Metallick and Transparent Glasses; and Amels, because they are susceptible of a fair polishing.  
Extinction is the suffocation and cooling of a hot kindled substance in some Liquor, either to the end of extracting its virtue and communicating it to the Liquor, or to impart some adventitious quality to the substance immersed; as when, for Example, Tuty or Lapis Calaminaris is extinguished in Fennel water or Vinegar, to make them more efficacious for the cure of the Eyes; as also all Iron and Steel Tools are dipped, to become thereby more apt for polishing, and receive a hardness, and consequently an edge.  
Fusion is properly said of Metals and Minerals, and is performed by a great and violent Ignition. And Liquation is only said of the fat of Animals, Wax, and unctuous fat and resinous substances of Vegetables, performed by a temperate heat.  
The Impurities of Metals are removed by Cementation; it serves also to examine them, whether they are true or false, as also to lessen their bulk by the compressing of their parts, which is performed by stratification, making a bed or lay of Cement, another of Metallick Plates, and so continuing stratum super stratum, or lay upon lay, till the Vessel be top full; but you are to note, that the first and the last lay must be of Cement, after which the Pot or Crucible must be exactly luted, to give a Circular fire by degrees until fusion.  
Reverberation is an Ignition, by which Bodies are calcined with a flaming fire in a Reverberatory Furnace: Whether it be done to the end corrosive Spirits may be separated from it, or to subtilise and soften the body with that Operation.  
Fulmination or Fulguration is an Operation, by which all Metals, excepting Gold and Silver, are meteorized, and driven or reduced into vapours, exhalations, and fumes; by the help of Lead in a Copell, with violence of fire kindled and animated with good and ample Bellowss.  
The end of Detonation is to drive away and separate all the Sulphureous and Mercurial parts of a Body which are not pure, that there may remain the earthly part only, which is accompanied by the internal and fixed Sulphur, in which is properly inherent the virtue of Minerals. This Operation is performed by the help of Saltpetre or Nitre, as it appears in the Precipitation of Diaphoretical Antimony, made by Detonation and Fusion.  
Extraction is, when the essence or tincture of a Mixed is extracted, by help of a Menstruum or convenient Liquor, which the Artist doth evaporate away, if it be unuseful and of small value; but if of any price, he draweth it again by Distillation, to use it in other Operations; that which remains in the bottom of the Vessel is called Extract.  
Expression tends to separate the subtlest from the grosser parts of the body, according to the intention of the Artist, to preserve the one or the other, it is performed by a Press which screws, or otherwise, and Tables.  
Digestion is one of the principal and most necessary Operations of Chemistry; because Mixts are made tractable by it, and capable to yield us what we desire out of them; it is performed by the means of a convenient Menstruum, and a slow and long heat: most commonly jointed Vessels meeting at the mouth, called properly Circulatory, are employed for this purpose, that nothing of the volatile spirits of the digested Substance may be lost; to this Operation are commonly made use of, the heat of a watery Bath (Balneum maris) or vaporous, or aerial, or the heat of Horse-dung, Ashes, or Sand. Digestion hath a great affinity with Maceration, they do notwithstanding differ among themselves; in regard that there is a kind of coction performed in the act of Digestion, which is not done in Maceration.  
The Menstruum, which hath been used in Dissolution or Extraction, is by evaporation reduced to vapour, and this way is Desiccation performed: but by Exhalation the dry spirits are carried away from the substance by the virtue of the fire, and reduced to Exhalations.  
Circulation is an Operation, by which the substances, contained in the bottom of a Pelican, or Circulatory Vessel, are driven upwards by the action of heat, and thence fall again upon them-themselves, either to volatilize them by the help of spirits, or to fix the spirit by the frequent and reiterated contract of the body; which is a thing very well worthy the contemplation of him that will attain the true knowledge of Nature.  
Congelation is, when the solid parts of Animals are, with some convenient Menstruum, reduced to a Jelly by Elixation: Such are the Jellies of Horns, Bones, Muscles, Sinews, and Cartilages; but you are to note, that this Congelation proceeds only from the volatile Salt, which abounds in Animals: As Crystallization is properly said of Salts purified by several Solutions, Filtrations, and Crystallizations, after the Liquor in which they are contained, hath been evaporated to a skin.  
Things volatile are fixed by Fixation, as contrariwise Fixed are volatilised by Volatilization. That substance is called fixed, which abides and is permanent in the fire; as volatile is called that which flies and exhaleth itself with the lest heat. But note here, that as there are several degrees of heat, so there is several things fixed, and several volatile.  
Spiritualization doth change the whole body into Spirit, so that it becomes not more palpable nor sensible to us: And by Corporification, the Spirit reassumes its Body, and manifests itself again to our senses; but the body so qualified is an exalted body, very different in virtue from that from which it hath been extracted, since this body so glorified contains in itself the mystery of its own Mixt.  
By Mortification, Mixts are as it were destroyed, and loose all the qualities and virtues of their first nature; to acquire others much sublimer and more efficacious, by the help of revivification. Paracelsus meant it of this Operation, when he said, That the power of death was efficacious, since no resurrection can be without her: And as the Apostle S. Paul saith, It is necessary, that the grain of Corn should first dye in the Earth, before it can live again, and multiply itself in the Ear which it produces.   

CHAP. II Of the several degrees of Heat and Fire.  
THE most potent Agent that Nature hath furnished us withal under Heaven, to perform the Anatomy of Mixed Bodies, is Fire; which to feed and maintain itself, doth need first a combustible oily and ●●phureous matter, either Mineral as Sea-coal, or Vegetable as Chark-coal, and the Oils of Vegetables; or finally, Animals Fats, Suets and Oils of Animals. Secondly, Fire needs a continual Air, that may by its action drive away the excrements and fuliginous emanations of the substances which are burned, and that may animate the Fire, to make it more or lesle act upon its subject; and from this necessity it is that some, though improperly, have affirmed, that the Air was the true food and nourishment of Fire. If we will exactly speak, it cannot be said, that Fire receives more or lesle by itself or in itself, or as Philosophers speak, admits of intention or remission; Though the matter upon which it doth act, may receive great variety of degrees of heat, according to its nearness or distance, or interposition of things which may receive the impression of heat; whence it necessarily follows, that the ordering of the heat of Fire, doth consist in a just and convenient quantity, administered by the Artist, according to the nature and condition of the matter upon which he worketh, and according to the means or instruments which he uses, to whom it is required he should give a proportionate distance.  
To increase the Fire, it is required, either to add a greater quantity of Coals in the Fire, or if there be enough, and that the Artist doth find it not to burn according to his expectation, there must be more Air let in, either by the door or mouth of the Furnace which receives the Fire, or by the Ash-hole, which is better: as also by opening the Registers, which are usually made either at the upper part, or in the sides of the Furnaces, to let out exhalations and fuliginous vapours, which commonly suffocate the Fire; or lastly, by blowing large bellows, and of a capacious body for room of wind. From this that is said may be conceived, that Fire may be decreased and weakened by the contrary ways, as shutting the Doors and Registers, to hinder the entering of Air, and issue of fuliginous substances; or the combustible matter must be diminished, or the Fire covered with cold Ashes, or a plate of Iron, or a Brick, to hinder such disorders and accidents as usually hap in the midst of the work.  
As for the distance of the Vessels containing the matter, it can only be judged according to the nature of 〈◊〉 matter of their composition, or the Mediums interposed between, it may nevertheless stand as a general rule, that there aught to be a distance of about eight inches, between the Grate which contains the fire▪ and the Dish or part upon which the bottom of the Vessel which is to receive the heat doth rest: For the action of Fi●e upon bodies, is mediate or immediate; Immediate, when without opposition Fire acts upon the matter, or Vessel that contains it, whether it be a Crucible, Retort, or any other thing; and this is commonly called Open Fire; Fire of Calcination and suppression: Mediate is, when any thing is interposed between the Fire and the matter, which doth hinder its destructive action; whereby the Artist is enabled to govern it, not otherwise than a skilful rider manages a Horses, and keeps him in awe, by the help of the Bridle which he holds in his hand.  
We shall comprise under nine chief Classes, the several differing degrees of Heat, and these the ingenuous Artist may yet vary in an infinite number of manners, according to his intention, and that the quality of the Mixed upon which he works, doth require it: Those differences are as followeth.  
We will take the first degree of Heat from the greatest extremity of its height, which is the fire of Flame, which calcines and reverberates all things; and this is that properly, which is capable to turn the most solid and fixed Bodies into Vapours and Exhalations.  
The second is that of Coals, which properly and principally serves for Cementation, for colouring and purging, as well as for contracting Metals, as also those Minerals which participate most of Metallick nature. It is sometimes called Circulatory Fire, (Ignis rotae;) sometimes Fire of suppression, according as the fire is placed above, under, or at the sides.  
The third degree of Intense Fire, is that of the Iron Plate, when it is read hot at the highest; which is a kind of heat proper to try Metallick Tinctures, as well as the degree of Fixation of Mineral remedies.  
The fourth is that which is maintained by the filing of Iron put in a Capsula or Kettle of the same Metal; and this, because this substance being once heated, preserves its heat much longer than the other, and communicates it to the Vessel put into it, which contains the matter that is either to be distilled, digested or concocted, with a greater activity.  
The fifth is the Fire of Furnace, with Sand interposed to the Vessel; it preserves, and yields a lesle heat than that of the filing of Iron, because it takes heat more slowly, and sooner cooleth, and is more easily kept in order, by the help of the Registers of the Furnace.  
The sixth is the heat of Ashes, which in respect of the foregoing degrees, gins to be temperate: This Fire commonly is used in the Extractions of such Mixts as are of a middle substance, either Animals or Vegetables, as also in their digestions and evaporations.  
The Balneum Mariae, or (to speak more properly) Balneum Maris, maketh the seventh of our Classes or degrees; and it is the most considerable of all, as that which constitutes the most excellent and useful part of the work of Chemistry; because an understanding Artist may manage it with that judgement and proportion, that he may with its help perform a numberless variety of Operations, which by any other imaginable way, are not to be attained unto: For this Bath may be boiling hot, half boiling, simpering, lukewarm, half lukewarm, and be yet so ordered as to keep the middle proportions of all these degrees too.  
The eighth degree of well graduated Fite, is the Vaporous Bath, for the Vessels may be only put to the vapour of the water contained in the Bath: And for the ninth, there may be put about the Vessel sawing of Wood to receive the vapour, as also Oaten Chaff, or any other, shred very small, because they are bodies which easily attract this vapour and heat, and keep it long in slow, and almost perfectly equal temper.  
Besides all these degrees and kinds of Heat spoken of, there remains yet the Lamp-fire, which may be graduated according to the distance or nearness of the Lamp, which shall have one or more Weeks; these weeks shall have two, three, four, or more threads, according as you intent to give a lesle or greater temper of heat to your matter; this Heat is chief used for Coction and Fixation.  
The invention of ingenuous Chemists hath found out, besides this, several kinds of cheap Heats, as that of the Sun, either exposing your matter to the reflection of the rays of his light, received by some Body, more or lesle capable to reflect them; or concerning the rays of the same Light, by the help of a Burning Glass, an Instrument whose invention may strike with amazement the best Philosophers, that are not well acquainted with the sphere of its activity, since the most obvious effects of it are, to melt Metals, according to the section and bigness of the diameter of these admirable Instruments. But that which of all is more worth enquiry, and surprises more, is, that this Fire is a Magical Fire, differing from all other; since the vulgar is destructive, and this to the contrary preserves and multiplies, as experience doth verify in the Solar Calcination of Antimony, which loses its impure Mercury and Sulphur, vapouring away in this Operation, whereby it would be thought the body should diminish; whereas it acquires a cordial and diaphoretic virtue, with a considerable addition of weight: which is thus proved. If you calcine in vulgar fire ten grains of this Mineral, it diminisheth to four, and consequently there remains but six, which have yet a Cathartick and Emetic faculty: but if you calcine the same quantity with the Solar Fire, besides that it loses its ill qualities, by the Exhalation made of its Impurities, which no question have some weight, and seem in the Operation to have diminished the ten grains; you shall, instead of that, the Preparation being ended, find twelve grains of matter endowed with an admirable virtue; and this with just reason strikes into amazement the subtlest and most searching Wits; for, compare this to the other Operation, and you cannot but confess, that the augmentation is of a just full half. But it will alloy something your astonishment, if you are acquainted a little more with the nature of this miraculous Fire, and can comprehend, that Light is that Promethean Fire, which gives life to all natural bodies, is their Principle, and indivisibly joins itself to its like, wheresoever it meers with it in any subject.  
Chemical Artists do likewise make use of Horse-dung, which yields a puttefying heat, specially recommended by Paracelsus, in the opening of the most solid and fixed Bodies, as are those of Metals and Minerals: To extract the easier those noble remedies which he doth teach us, we may substitute to the Horse-dung, that of hot Baths and Mineral Spring's heard by Nature itself, as also that of Balneum Maris, which is Artificial, provided the requisite proportions be understood.   

CHAP. III Of the variety of Vessels.  
THE matters which the Artist works upon, are not often put on the open bear fire: But that it is necessarily required they should be enclosed in fit and convenient Vessels, according to the intention of the work; which Vessels are to be set artificially and with great judgement upon the fire, whose action is mediate or immediate; to the end that the extracted substances vanish not, and be lost without proof, but rather carefully and curiously preserved: We shall treat in this Chapter of the variety of those Vessels, and the several uses unto which they are serviceable.  
Now these Vessels are to be considered either according to their matter, or their form; because they are the two essential parts, which make them to be used in the Operations of Chemistry, and their differences is as great, as the fancies and inventions are various in the minds of Artists. And as they are since many Ages in quest of the perfection of the Operations of this Art, so shall we only trace, in more general terms, the greatest part of the more necessary Instruments, to leave a latitude of liberty to the invention of those which will addict themselves to this Noble Art, after they are once introduced to attain to the most secret and abstruse knowledges of it, by the rare Preparations which are made by the means and assistance of the same.  
There must ever be a care had to choose the cleanliest matter for the fabric of Vessels, which must also be pressed and compacted, that the subtlest portions of matter may not transpire, and that the substance of the Vessels may not communicate any foreign quality to the matter, whether single or compounded, upon which the Chemist doth operate. Glass is the body, which excluding all others, would be the fittest to be employed, both by reason of its compactedness, and cleanly nature, were it capable to endure all the actions of Fire; but its fusibility, and the several accidents which may 'cause it to break, notwithstanding all the care and foresight of Artists, make it necessary to have a recourse to some other matters which may be capable of resisting Fire, and may not break so easily: As, for one, to Potter's Clay, which furnishes several Vessels to the service and use of Chemistry, according to the several kinds of Clay, and their porosity; for if it be said, that it may be glazed within with some Mineral or Metallick substances (as Leaden oar. etc.) which will hinder transpiration, it is as soon answered, that this Preparation makes them not differing from the nature of Glass, and so consequently subject to the same inconveniences, as Glass is: For, besides their ordinary brickleness, there must also a great regard be had, not to expose them too soon from heat to cold, nor from cold to heat, because compression or rarefaction of the parts, and the air in them, would soon 'cause them to fly in pieces.  
There is also some use of Metallick Vessels for many Operations in this Art, which without their help would prove very difficult, yea almost impossible; as much by reason of the activity of Fire, destroying and consuming whatsoever comes near it, as for the several m●tters upon which the Artist doth use to work: for, to contain sharp, acid, saline, nitrous, vitriolic and aluminous substances, Glass, or leaded or glazed Pots, are necessary; as contrariwise when you intent to distil spirit of Wine in abundance, Metallick Vessels that may long abide an open Fire, and contain much matter, are requisite. Distilled Oils of Vegetables cannot also be drawn without these Vessel●, because these Operations require a violent and long fire to disunite the Balsamic and Aethereal parts from the other, which are terrestrial and saline, which cannot be separated without much ebullition, and store of water. But you are to note, that when you intent to work upon Mercury (which you are to understand henceforth to be Quicksilver) you must never make use of any Metallick Vessel, because this Metallick Body will easily amalgam and mix itself with the greatest part of Metals, though with greater ease with some than others. Thus much in short concerning the matter of Chemical Vessels.  
As for the diversity of their form, it is distinguished according to the requisite or intended Operations. For when the distillation is intended, we use Cucurbites with their head— or Limbeck, as also the brass Body, or Vesica, covered with the Moors head, made of the same Metal or Tin, jest the Spirits or distilled Oils should draw any vitriolic substance from the Copper; And to prevent the same inconveniency, it will be very requisite, that all the Copper Vessels which are to be used by the Artist, be tinned within: For the distillation of new Fruits, juicy Plants, or Flowers, are to be used great and large Basins, on the top whereof a Tin Bell or distilling head is to be applied: And these three kinds of Vessels, are sufficient for the distillation of all vapours extracted by ascension. But for performing the distillation of such vapours as are droven by the sides, Reports and great Receivers are necessary, as Artists have found by experience, because such vapours cannot ascend by reason of their heaviness; it is also sometimes requisite to have earthen Retorts, or of Metal opened above, as also Receivers with three necks or channels, to change and fit others to the first, with more ease and dispatch when occasion requires, and to condense more easily and speedily the Exhalations and vapours which the matter urged by the Fire's action doth yield; for were it not for that, either of necessity the Vessel containing the matter must break, or the Recipient fly into pieces, if not changed, because it would not be capacious enough to contain the vapour or spirits droven in by the Fire.  
For digestion long necked Matrasses and narrow mouthed, are necessary: double Vessels may also be used to this purpose, which are two Vessels whose mouths are placed one in the other, that nothing of what is fitting to be kept in, may evaporate.  
Pelican's are used for Circulation, as also twins, which are two Cucurbites with their heads, whose noses are reciprocally inserted in the body of the opposite Cucurbite. The double Vessels may also be made use of for this Operation, but they are not so commodious. For sublimation Aludels are employed, or some analogous' Vessels, as several earthen Pots put one in another; as also distillatory heads, or blind Limbecks without nose: strong and well glued blue Paper shaped in a Conic Figure is also used, to receive the Exhalations of the sublimed matters, as we shall teach more particularly in the sublimation of Benjimin hereafter.  
For Fusion or melting, as also Cementation and Calcination, it is requisite to be provided with Crucibles made with a good Earth, and well abiding the Fire, and capable to keep the Salts in fusion, and hinder the vaporation of their spirits, as also to keep Metals in fusion: There must also be cover for the Crucibles, that may easily be put on or removed with the Pincers, that no Coals or any other Mixture, may fall into the matter whilst it is upon the fire, or that they may exactly be luted to the Crucibles, as it is practised in Cementations.   diagram 
A Vessel to alkolize the Spirit of Wyn in the very first distillation.  


1. Vessel receiving the Aqua Vitce  
2. pipe to put it in.  
3. the head receiving the ascending vapour.  
4. the first piece of the crooked pipe or worm.  
5. the second piece.  
6. funnel receiving and supporting the still head.  
7. the still head.  
8. the receiver or Recipient.  
9 a slander supporting the same Recipient.  
10. an Instrument to empty the spirit of Wyn without interrupting the distillation called Siphon.     diagram 
A Common Furnace for all operations, provided the vessels be fitted and appropriated thereunto as we have said in the Chapter of Furnaces  


a. the ash hole.  
b. the focus, or fire room with its grate.  
c. iron bars supporting the Retort.  
d. the Retort.  
e. the cover of the Furnace.  
f. the holes or Registers to suppress the fire.  
g. the receavor or Recipiem.  
h. the stool or threefoot table to support the receivor.     diagram 
Lamp Furnace  
n We atherglass, Thermometer, or Engine to judge of the equality or degrees of heat.  


a. the Basis of the Furnace.  
b. a Lamp which may be raised and depressed with a screw.  
c. Trefoot, to set upon the Vessel.  
d. the Vessel, with the Philosophical egg.  
e. first, second and third piece of the Furnace.  
f. glass Window, to look upon the matter.  
g. another Oval window opposite and answering f.  
h. Registers.     diagram 
Sublimating Furnace.  


a. the Furnace.  
b. the ash hole.  
c. the door of the focus.  
d. Registers.  
e. the next to the fire wherein the matter is put.  
f. another pot turned upside down wards and placed upon: e.  
g. the door through which the matter is thrown in.  
h. the third pot.  
i. the fourth pot.  
k. the fift pot.  
l. button closing the pot.  
m. spoon to throw the matter in.    
Those that will employ themselves about true Fixations, shall need the Philosopher's Egg, or another Instrument of my own invention, which I cannot call otherwise, than the Egg in the Egg, or Ouum in Ovo: It doth something participate of the nature of a Pelican for the Circulation, and of that Instrument which is called a Hell, because whatsoever is put in it can never go out again: This Vessel is proper for the fixing of Mercury, and hath the figure of an Egg enclosed in another; so that it is as the Abridgement and Compendium of these three Vessels, usually employed by Artists in their work of fixation.  
But as the exact description of all these Vessels cannot be so well performed by writing; and that ocular demonstration doth much more advantage the understanding, than reading can do: we have thought fitting in this regard to satisfy the Readers curiosity, by exhibiting in a draught, in the beginning of this Chapter, the delineation and models of the several Vessels spoken of.   

CHAP. IU. Of the Diversity of all sorts of Furnaces.  
IT doth not suffice, that the Artist be provided with Fire and Vessels, he must have also his Furnaces to regulate and govern his heat, and put his Vessels in that degree of Fire, which he shall judge most fitting and convenient for the matter in them contained. Furnaces are Instruments destinated to those Operations, that are performed by the help of Fire, that heat may be as it were kept in awe and bridled, to submit itself to the judgement, skill, and intention of the Artist. They have several names given them, according to the several Operations to which they are appropriated: For, they are either fixed and immovable, or movable and to be transported. We will only speak here of the Unmoveable, since they are the most useful kind for Chemical Operations; leaving the other to the invention and fancy of those whom their curiosity leads to this noble Art The matter of Furnaces is threefold; Bricks, Clay, and Ironwork; their form is according to their use.  
Every Furnace must consist of four necessary parts, of whatsoever form they be, which are; First, the Hearth or Ash-room, with its hole or mouth, to take away the Ashes falling from the Coals. Secondly, the Grate which receives and keeps up the Coals. Thirdly, the Chafing-dish or Focus with its door to throw the Coals upon the Grate; wherein are the Registers, whereby the degrees of heat of the kindled Coals are ruled and moderated. Finally, the Shop or Laboratory, which must contain the Vessels and matter upon which the work is intended. These are the general heads upon which the matter and construction of Furnaces is grounded; it followeth now, we should say something of their use, and the description of their parts.  
We begin by the Furnace commonly called an ATHANOR, which signifies a Furnace in Arabic, and hath this name given it by excellency, (the figure called by Orators Antonomasia) because this Furnace is not only the most useful of all others, to perform at the same time several Operations; but also because it saves Coals, easeth the care and assiduity of the Artist, and yields a heat easy to be regulated. The Athanor is consisting of four parts: The first is the Turret, containing the Coals: The second, a Balneum Maris: The third, an Ash: The fourth, a Sand-furnace. The Turret is to have four or five foot in height, 1 ½ foot square in the outside, and ten inches of empty space or diameter in the inside. It requires an Ash room, with its door for communicating the Air, and taking away the Ashes, and a door above the Grate, to cleanse it, and take away the earth and little stones which are sometimes mingled with the Coals, and would stop the Grate, and hinder the passage of Air, and consequently extinguish the Fire. This Turret also must have three open places, each half a foot high, and three inches broad in the three other sides of the Furnace above the Grate, that the heat may by that passage be communicated to the Balneum Maris, Ash and Sand-Furnaces, which must be Contiguous to this Turret, and each of these must also have their Ash-hole, Grate, and Door, to be (if occasion requires) employed severally by themselves without the Turret: These holes must be shut up, with Iron Plates, that are to rise and fall, according to the degrees of fire to be given, to either of these Furnaces. To stop the top of the Turret, there may be fitted a round or square brass Kettle, which may be useful for several Operations, but specially digestions: This Kettle or Cauldron shall be fitted, and join between two Iron bands, the one of which shall be even with the inside of the Turret-top, and the other with the outside, the space between these two being filled with Ashes to hinder the expiration of heat by the said top; and thus the fire shall be forced to drive its heat to the sides, drawn in by the Registers fitted to each of the three Furnaces. And so much shall suffice to give a short explanation of the structure and use of the Athanor: for as concerning the form and figure of it, the ingenuous Artist is left to his own liberty.  
There is also a Distillatory Furnace requisite in Chemical Operations, to which the Copper body, or Vesica, is fastened for the distilling of Aqua Vitae or Spirits of Wine, and for other hot Spirits, which are extracted by the help of fermentation; also for the extraction of distilled Oils, improperly called Essences, and after you have covered the said body with its head, you must join to it a Fat or Barrel, with a straight or crooked Pipe (called commonly a Worm) passing through the same, and receiving the vapours droven by the Fire, which are condensed into Liquor in the Pipe, by the cold of Water wherewith the Fat is to be filled.  
For those that will operate upon Minerals and Metals, a Furnace of Cementation or trying-Furnace is required, which is nothing else but a Round of bricks of one foot diameter in the inside, and eight or nine inches high; wherein, after the first row of bricks is set, which by a good Lute and fire-proof, must exactly be joined and fastened together, a hole must be left for the bellows: This Furnace may also serve for Copell and Calcination.  
A Laboratory cannot be accounted complete, without a Reverberatory Furnace, which is either close or open; the close is that in which, Aqua Fortis, and spirits of Salts, as Nitre, Vitriol, common Salt, and other things of like nature, may be distilled; the Open, is that which is used for Reverberation and Calcination, by the help of the flame refracted from the backside to the mouth of the Furnace, drawn in by a gap of half an Inch broad, and of the length of the whole Furnace, left behind the Iron Plate, which contains the matter to be reverberated; and the same flame so reflected, goes out by another gap of the same dimension, left in the forefront of the Furnace at the top, immediately under its Cover, which aught to be made flat without any Register, except the same gap left open before.  
Finally, to complete all, the Artist must have his Winde-Furnace, for Mineral and Metallick fusions, Vitrifications, and preparing of Regula's; the Grate thereof must be placed upon a Square born by four Pillars only, that the wind and air may have a free admission, and so may be instead of bellows; the opening between each Pillar of about a foot; and upon this basis, a round Turret of about fifteen inches high, and eight inches diameter in the inside, shall be built; the door for passage of the Crucibles that are to be put in, must be seven or eight inches broad, and ten inches high: upon this Turret must be applied a Cover of an Elliptical figure, or Arch-wise, with a Channel above bored with a hole of about three inches diameter, upon which another shall be adapted, three or four foot high, that the action of fire may better concentrate about the Crucible, or other Vessels containing the matter to be melted; the mouth of the door, by which Crucibles are put in, Crucibles must also be stopped, with a door of good Clay, made of three pieces.  
But because Chemical Artists are not still sedentary, and so cannot be furnished, where they have occasion to work, with all sort of Furnaces, I will he●e impart a w●y how to erect one, which may successively be employed in all Operations requisite to this Art; provided the Artist may be furnished with necessary Vessels, and of suitable dimensions to the Furnace, which I will now describe.  
Build a Furnace of 1 ½ foot square, make the bottom of the Ash-room with a brick laid flat, and continued to raise the wall with two bricks, and leave the empty place in the middle, with the door before of four inches height, which are two bricks; than cover the door with a brick, and complete the square with the same height: after this set a Grate consisting of seven Iron bars, of the thickness of the thumb, squarely wrought: these bars must be laid upon their edge, that the ashes may the easilier fall through, and not suffocate the fire; the distance between each must be of the fore-fingers breadth: and having thus placed them, and fitted their equal distance with Tiles broken, or stones of the same dimension and thickness, and luted all very well together; you must begin to build in a falling wall, leaving only six inches of your Grate open, and lessening every lay of bricks of about three lines, which work is to be continued till you have brought it to be about ten inches high, which space is necessary, as much to contain the Coals, as to leave a play sufficient for the fire; you must leave here a door also of the same dimension as the Ash-room; this ended, place two Iron-barres of an inch thick, distant half a foot one from the other, and than eeven the wall either with stone, or some other matter of a fit thickness, and than build round three bricks edge wise, that you may have the more room, to put the necessary Vessels for the following Operations.  
If you will work with the Balneum Maris, take a Kettle or round Cauldron of an equal diameter with the inside of your Furnace, and of one foot height only, that it may the better be adapted to the Furnace, and the space remaining at the corns of the square, will be instead of Registers to draw, and enliven or remit the heat, according as there shall be occasion. You must also have another Cauldron, with a good strong bottom of Iron plate, but thinner in the sides, made fit to be adapted to the same Furnace; and this will serve for distillations, and for works that require a heat either of Ashes, Sand, or filing of Iron; and if this Iron Vessel was made of Mettle of a Brest-armour Plate, and forged all of one piece, it would also serve for a Balneum Maris.  
And if you will work with a Retort, you may put an Earthen Pot Cover, turned upsidewards, upon the Grate; and fill the hollow of it with sand, to be instead of a Lute, and hinder the breaking of the Vessel, and the too quick action of the fire, upon it and the contained matter; after which you have no more to do, than to cover the top of the Furnace with an Earthen Pan not leaded, and bored with a hole in the middle, that this hole with the other four angles may be instead of a Register to direct the fire.  
If the Artist desires to make use of this Furnace; towards Fusion, Calcination, Cementation, or Reverberation, he may do it also, having taken away the bricks, builded edge-wise on the side-top of the Furnace, as the bars also, to put in his matter more easily and readily.  
Thus much we had to say of Furnaces built with Lute and Bricks: there remains only now, to speak something of the Lamp-Furnace, used by the most curious Artists for many Chemical Operations. This Furnace must be made of a good Bolus and well compacted Clay, kneaded and well allayed together, and than well baked, that the heat of the Lamp may not transpire; and to hinder it the better, the Furnace may after baking be rubbed and anointed within and without, with white of Eggs reduced to Liquor by a continual agitation.  
This Furnace is to consist of three pieces, making in all 21 inches in height, of an inch thickness, and eight inches diameter in the inside. The first piece, which is the basis of the Furnace, must be eight inches high, with a hole of 4½ diameter below, that by this opening the Lamp may be put in, whose diameter is to consist of three inches, and the depth or concavity of two: it must be round, and covered with an Iron plate, bored in the middle with a sufficient hole to contain a link of 12 threads or more, and with six other holes round about, proportioned in an equal distance from that of the middle. The second piece is to be of seven inches height, and fitted and adapted to the first, having four earthen jets or handles of about an inch long, springing out of the Wall-work, to hold up an Earthen or Brass Vessel of six inches diameter, and four high, to make a Balneum Maris, or a Capsula for ashes or sand, as occasion requires. There must also be in this second piece or part of the Furnace two holes opposite the one to the other, of 1½ inch diameter, fitted with two Glasses of Venice Crystal: these two holes must be made between the height of the fourth and last inch of the height, to be instead of windows, to discover thereby the better the various colours, in the Operations and Dissolutions made by the Artist, opposing a lighted Candle to the side you are to look in the Vessel in which the matter is contained, lying interposed. The third piece or part of the Furnace must be six inches high to complete the total height of 21. made arch-wise, or hemispherical, and bored on the top with a hole of an inch diameter, receiving several pieces of three lines apiece, growing still narrower till they end in a pyramidal knob which shall close up the last: There must also be four other like holes made between the height of three or four inches, equally distant one from the other: these holes are instead of Registers to the Lamp-Furnace, whose heat is also partly governed by the increasing or relenting, which the approach or removal of the flame in the Lamp doth cause, (whose support must be made with a round piece of Wood, fastened or applied to a screw, whereby it shall be raised or depressed at the will of the Artist,) as also by putting more or lesle week to burn in the Lamps; and augmenting or lessening the number of threads in the week, the heat is multiplied or lessened, according to the nature of the Operations. But he that will proceed with more nicety in observing the exact degrees of heat, must have recourse to the Thermometer (commonly called A Weatherglass) wherein the water enclosed, doth by its raising and depressing, exactly show the degrees of heat. The Oil which is to be employed for the feeding of this Lamp, may be rectified upon fixed Salts made by Calcination, that they may yield lesle Soot, and display their action more vigorously, since that rectification takes away their excrementitious humour and superfluity. The week must be made of Gold, Alumen plumae, or Amiantho's, which is a Mineral found in the Island of Elba: to which in case of necessity may be substituted the Marrow or soft Cotton found in the middle of Elder, or Reed, very well dried; and this must be changed fresh every 24 hours: for which cause it is necessary to be provided with two Lamps, to succeed one the other, that no intermission may interrupt the action of heat. If you make use of the marrow or heart of Elder, there must be a little sharp piece of Iron, or a Wire sharpened, fixed and fodded in the bottom of the Lamp, that may answer the middle hole of the Cover which is to contain the wick.  
The figures of all these several Furnaces are exhibited in the Cut, following this Chapter. We add only two words concerning the Instruments necessary to the managing of the Furnaces, as Pincers and Tongues to take away the Crucibles, a crooked Scraper to cleanse the Grates, an Iron Shovel to take the ashes away: There must also be an Iron Conical and hollow Vessel, well sodded and staunch, for projecting the Regula's, the Model whereof may be taken in the figures of Glass Vessels.   

CHAP. V Of Lutations.  
HAving described the variety of Vessels, and their use, as also the diversity of Furnaces, it followeth we should speak of all the kinds of Lutations, both of Lutes belonging to the fabrication of Furnaces, as of that which is used for the preservation of Vessels, and to repair their cracks and fractures, as also to join them again together.  
That Lute which is fittest for the construction of Furnaces, is to be made with read Clay: not too fat, jest it be subject to chinks; nor too lean or sandy, jest it bind not enough. This Clay must be wrought in Water, wherein store of Horse-dung and Chimney-soot hath been steeped and well mingled, by which a Salt is communicated to the water, binding the Clay, and making it fit to abide the Fire. But if you will make use of this kind of Lute or Clay, to arm, or spread about the Glass or Earthen Vessels, which are exposed to the open Fire, you must add common Salt, or the Caput mortuum of Aqua Fortis, beaten or grinded Glass, and scales of Iron falling from the Anvil in Smith's Forges; and you shall have a Lute so resisting to the action of Fire, that it will be impenetrable to vapours, insomuch as it will serve instead of the Retorts when the length and violence of flaming Fire, which is usually given at the end of Mineral Operations, hath melted the Glasten ones.  
When we have spoken of Vessels, we have mentioned some that aught to be joined together for one Operation, and said that it is necessary, when the substances wrought upon are subtle, penetrating and aethereal, that their meeting may be very exactly luted. There are than three kinds of Lute observable, for the joining of Vessels together, when they are not exposed to open fire. The first is, that Lute which is made with white of Eggs, beaten and reduced to water by a long agitation: therein dip Fillets of Linen, and spread the powder of unslackt Lime subtly beaten, than add another fillet of dipped Linen, and spread powder again, and so continued and reiterate this three times; but note, that the Lime powder must never be mingled with the water of Eggs, because the secret fire of the Lime would burn and harden it, though many Artists do fall into this error; you may also dip in the same Whites of Eggs, Swine or Ox Bladder, without making use of the Lime, principally in the rectification and alkoholisation of fiery Spirits, extracted out of fermented substances. The second kind of Lute is made with white Starch or baked Flower, and made into Pap with common water: this kind of Lute suffices for luting Vessels which contain lesle subtle and penetrating substances. The third, is nothing else but Paper cut in Fillets, folded and dipped in water, applied to the top of Cucurbites, both to hinder that the head may not offend it, and prevent the exhaling of vapours. This manner of Lute is only used in evaporating and drawing of some inconsiderable Menstruum or of small worth, and which may not serve again for another Operation.  
There must also be another kind of strong Lute, made to remedy the cracking of Vessels, and join them together, when they are to suffer a violent heat; of this there is two sorts. The first made with Glass reduced to very subtle powder, Karabe or yellow Amber and Borax, allayed with the Mucilage or water wherein Gum Arabic hath been steeped, and so applied to the joints or meeting of the Vessels or their Cracks: and after it is well dried, you must run with a read hot Iron gently over it, and it will give it a fast so dering and almost perfect union of the chinks or cracks of the Vessels together: But if you will spare so much trouble, make your Lute only with soft Cheese, Lime and Rye flower; and you shall find it not lesle successful for this purpose by experience. But if you will close the neck of a Retort, and fit it to its Recipient, for the distilling of Aqua Fortis and Spirits of Salts, use only common Clay, and the Caput Mortuum of Vitriol or Aqua Fortis, and common Salt, dissolving the Salt in water, and mixing well your Lute, than applying to the place, give it time to dry with a slow heat, to avoid chinks; which if any hap, your care must be to stop them leisurely as they are made, and hinder thereby the exhaling of volatile Spirits.  
To all these kind of Lutations may very well be added the Hermetical Seal, which is nothing else but the melting of the Glass in the neck of the Vessel, to which end the Artist is to give by degrees the heat of Fusion; and when you see the neck begin to yield and incline by the force of fire melting the Glass, with strong Cizzers ready for the purpose, you must cut the neck of the Vessel where it is most melted; and thus the parts compressed, do as it were unite the edges of the Glass inseparably: But if you would rather close or seal the Vessel in a sharp end, twisting by degrees the neck of the Vessel, you must after expose the small end to the flame of a Candle or Lamp, to frame thereby a little knob, wherewith that small hole may be stopped, which most commonly remains at the end of the twisting, and is almost imperceptible.  
Now as the Vessels are not still framed according to our desire, and that some parts are often to be taken away, which may hinder the Operations; we must also declare, how this, without endangering the Vessel may be done, viz. by breaking or slitting the Glass equally by a thwart line: This is performed three several ways; as either by applying a read hot Iron to begin the slit, or twisting about the neck of the Vessel three rows of thread dipped in Brimstone, if it be strong and thick; or else turning the Vessels part you would slit to the flame of a Lamp or Candle, if it be a thin and small Glass; and when it is well heated by any of these three ways, wipe it of, and throw upon it some drops of cold water, which will 'cause a Crack; the which begun, money, or any other: Aqua Fortis, the Ostridge's stomach: Armoniac Salt sublimated, the spread Eagle: The Tincture of Gold, the read Lion: That of Vitriol, the Green Lion: The Mercury sublimated, corrosive, and Antimony, are their two Dragons; the Butter of Antimony, the poisonous Foam of the two Dragons: The Tincture of Antimony, the Dragon's Blood; and when this Tincture is coagulated, they have called it, the Wolf's Jelley. They also name that redness, which in the distillation of Nitre appears in the Receiver, the Blood of Salamander. The Vine is called by them, the Great Vegetable; Bohemian-tartar, the Excrement of the Juice of Janus' Plant: And so have they several other names, more or lesle Enigmatical, which we will not gather up here; partly because it might prove both tedious and needless; as also that by assiduous reading and practice, (which are the two best Clues to lead us out of this labyrinth) they may easily be conceived and understood. Thus shall we with this Chapter put a conclusion to this Book, to enter into the second of our Second Part, wherein we shall give a free and ingenuous description of the manner of working, and preparing remedies, as also of the excellent uses, to which they may be applied.    

The Second Book OF The Second Part. Treating of Chemical Operations.  

CHAP. I Of such Observations as are necessary for Separating and Purifying the first Five Substances, after they are drawn from the Mixts.  
FIRE is a potent agent, and an equivocal cause, which easily drives upwards, evaporable, sublimeable, and volatile Substances, such as are Phlegm, Spirit and Oil. Phlegm, or the waterish part, because it sticks not very much to the other Principles, doth ascend the first; and for this reason, there is but need of a slow fire to extract it, whereas for the Oil a stronger is required, by reason of its clamminess and viscosity, and its union with the Salt; and for the Spirit, it requires yet a more violent fire, by reason of its weight, Spirits being nothing else but open Salts, as Salts exchangeably nothing but closed and compacted Spirits. Sometimes the Phlegm, Oil, and Spirit, do confusedly ascend with much Salt, by the great violence and vehemency of Fire, and some time much of the Earth is also sublimated with these Substances; as it may evidently appear in the Soot of Chimneys, from which the separation of the five Substances may easily be made.  
The Phlegm than, which is the first ascending, may be separated with the heat of a lukewarm Bath, or some other analogal heat; it may be severed from the Oil, by the Funnel, because it swims above: but from the Spirit it must be separated by the heat of Balneum maris, or some such like: for, that heat is capable to elevate the Phlegm, but cannot drive upwards the Spirit by reason of its weight; to that sublimation a stronger fire is required, as that of ashes, sand, or filing, or some quicker heat, according to the nature of the Spirit.  
The Salt and Earth are not very strictly united, wherefore they may easily be separated by the help of some aqueous liquor, which is the fittest Menstruum to dissolve Salts, and separate them from the Earth: and as the Earth by its nature is indissoluble, it precipitates itself into the bottom by its own weight: The Salt being thus separated, the Lie must be filtrated, and the Menstruum evaporated in Glassen Vessels, White-Earth, or Jugge-metal till it skins, than expose them to the cold to make it shoot into Crystals, and so enclose it in Glassen Vessels well stopped, to hinder their melting, by the attraction of the moisture of the Air.  
But you are to note, that the fiery, or hot Spirits, drawn from fermented Substances, are lighter yet than the Phlegm, and so ascend the first in their distillation or rectification. A very familiar and remarkable example is obvious in the making of Wine: for, if you take it to distil in the Must before it hath fermented, nothing but Phlegm will ascend, and the Spirit shall remain, joined and incorporated with the essential salt of liquor, which shall thicken into an extract very sweet and pleasant: But, if you stay your Distillation after the Fermentation is perfected in the Cellar, you shall draw first the hot burning Spirit, which the Phlegm shall follow, and in the bottom nothing shall remain, but an ungrateful and unsavoury extract, because the essential Salt of the Must, hath been volatilised into Spirit by the action of the fermentation.  
The difference of Vessels and several degrees of Fire, are also very useful to separate and join again these several substances, after they have separated asunder: for the bond of their union being once broken, each takes its place by itself; but the fire intervening, reduces all into vapours and exhalations, which according to the diversity of Substances are received by the Artist in several Vessels. Thus is the Spirit easily separated from the the Oil by the funnel, whether it swims on the top, as the Oils of Flowers and Seeds are used to do; or whether it sinks in the bottom, as doth the Oil extracted from aromatic Substances and Woods, But nothing but a great and violent heat can separate the Salt from the Spirit, by reason of the great sympathy they have together; when it is noted, that Salts must be made use of in the fixing of Spirits, and Spirits reciprocally to volatilize Salts.  
From what we have already said above, every one may of himself make several fine reflections and considerations, touching the distillation of Mixts abounding in Salt, Spirit, or Oil, or any other mediane Substance between these three. But it must be noted, in general, that Animals and their parts require in the operations made upon them, only a very slow heat, because they are compounded of a very Volatile Oil and Spirit; and that Vegetables and their parts need a heat of a more exalted degree, according to their more or lesle affixation; but Minerals, and chief all the family of Salts, require the greatest and intensest hear.  
When the Oils and Spirits ascend with the other Substances confusedly together, they must be rectified, that is to say, purified by a reiterated distillation. But a slow and gentle fire draws easily away, and separates asunder the Phlegm and the Salt: the Salt hides himself in the bosom of the Earth, and forsakes it not till the Spirit and Oil be separated by augmentation of fire, which by the violence of its action disunites finally the compound, and that done, there must be water poured upon the Earth (commonly and improperly enough called the Caput mortuum) to dissolve and separate the Salt: which done, you are to evaporate the Menstruum, & in the bottom of the Vessel, you shall found are transparent and Crystalline Salt, if the Salt be an Essential Salt which followeth still the nature of niter, provided you leave a portion of Phlegm, that the Crystals may shoot therein: but, if the Salt be an Alkali made by Calcination, you must evaporate Phlegm dry, and you shall found the Salt in the bottom in the form of an opacous and friable stone.  
All these Observations are very necessary to be noted in the practical part, because oftentimes the Artist hath need but of one of these Substances separated from the others: therefore he must be skilful in separating the one from the other according to his present occasion, because the desired and looked for operation is often miss, and impedited by a connexion of the associated principles, when they are yet joined one to another: for one part of the Mixed may be astringent and coagulating, when the other shall be incisive and astringent, according to the variety of principles that compound the same: and these parts so joined together, are hurtful, and contrary one to the other, so that when you intent to dissolve, you must know, and be capable to separate the dissolving principle by itself, as you must reciprocally take the coagulating principle to coagulate.  
The first Distillations are ever tainted with some impurities, and for the most part have a touch and savour of Empyreuma, chief those that without addition of any Menstruum, are made with the heat of a violent fire: as the Oils drawn by a retort, which are thick and filled with some portion of the Volatile Salt of the Mixed, and sometimes of the fixed Salt driven up by the extreme action of fire. Therefore an Artist must be skilled in separating these different parts; so, if the extracted Oil be filled with these impurities, or hath acquired an Empyreumatical odour, it must be rectified upon Alkalis, such as are Bohemian-tartar, or Vine-ashes, or ashes of any Wood; for, the sympathy which is between Salts, will 'cause them to join together; or to speak more Philosophically, the fixed Salts will kill the volatile by their action, they being commonly sharp and acid, and so shall the Oil ascend clear, subtle, defecated, and without that smoky Odour, which the Volatile Salt carries along with it, as a kind of smoke: And if the first Rectification be not sufficient, it shall be reiterated upon other Salts, or upon that which hath already been used, provided it be before hand made read hot in a Crucible, to take away from it, that ill odour and impurity which it had contracted in the first Rectification.  
The impurities of Spirits must be separated by rectifying them upon Earth's deprived of all Salt, or upon Ashes, whose Salt shall be washed away by Lies: because, if you did rectify them, upon bodies that were impregnated with any Salt, the Salt should fix and keep to itself some part of the Spirit; or, if the Spirit was stronger, it would Volatilize the Salt, and carry it along with it by Sublimation, because of their mutual sympathy which binds and unites them very strictly together.  
Those that have been ignorant of this doctrine of Action, Reaction, and the several Fermentations incident to Chemistry, by the means and mixture of Salts and Spirits, have grossly erred and committed irreparable faults, as it may be observed in the reading of Chemical Practitioners.  
Volatile Salts may be purified by dissolving them in their own Spirits, after which they must be filtrated to separate their heterogeneous Substances, and than drive them through low Cucurbits or Retorts with a wide neck: and thus shall two operations be performed at once, by rectifying the Spirit, and subliming the Volatile Salt, which is nothing else but a coagulated Spirit, or a mean substance between Salts and Spirits, by the mixture of a small portion of internal Sulphur of the Mixed whence it is extracted.  
Concerning Essential Salts, such as those which are extracted out of green and juicy Plants, where Nitre or Tartar are predominant, which contain in themselves the principles in which resides the Essence and chief virtue of the Mixed, they must be purified either with distilled Rain-water, or the water distilled from the juices of the same Plants; than percolate those dissolutions through common Ashes, or such as will be made, by calcining the Cakes of the Plants remaining after the juice is drawn: that it may be instead as it were of a filtration, to remove the terrestriety and clamminess, which might hinder the Crystallizing of the Salts; than evaporate what is percolated to a fourth part of the whole, and expose it in a Vessel in the cold, that the Saline substance contained in the liquor may shoot in Crystals.  
As for the Salts, Alkali or Fixed; made by Calcination, they must be purified by reverberating the Ashes, until they become grey or whitish, than make a Lie thereof, filtrate it, and evaporate, till it be dry; and if it be the Salt of any Plant distilled, reiterate the dissolution of that first Salt in the proper water of that Plant, that the Spiritual and Essential Salt of that Plant which is in the water, may join with the fixed Salt, which shall be as a Magns to it, and increase its virtue; as also it will hinder the said Salt from melting so easily when exposed to the open Air, as it would otherwise; the Salt having been thus prepared, must be exposed in the cold to Crystallize, after evaporation hath been made, till a skin covers the liquor: but if it be a Lie only, it must be evaporated, till it be dry, having first been filtrated.  
From all that is said above, it may easily be conceived, that no labour nor care is to be spared, to separate and purify all these divers Substances, since it is absolutely necessary; jest the one should prove opposite and contrary to the other, and so hinder the use and operations of our most noble Remedies, according to the true Indications of Physic: for these Substances being joined yet together, do often more hurt and prejudice than they do service: and this mixture doth hinder, that the Preparation doth not operate (as we do intent) according to the extent of the Salts virtue, or of the Oil and Spirit, because the faculty and virtue of one of these things, is blunted and depressed, by the Viscosity or the drought of the other. And all these general hints and directions may be applied to all Chemical Preparations, which are not only made upon Animals and Vegetables, but also upon Minerals; and as much for those that work upon Metals, as for those which only seek Remedies for the ennobling of Physic; or such as only work for satisfaction of their Curiosity, and the trial and examination of Physical Truths.   

CHAP. II An Apology in the behalf of Chemical Remedies.  
I Thought it necessary to vindicate the Professors of this noble Art, from the calumnies and aspersions which ignorant persons do cast upon it, before I come to describe the Preparations of those Remedies which are used by true Physicians; to arm with Reasons and defensive Arguments the Lovers of this Science, against the weakness of their Adversaries. I say, that these despisers of Chemists, and haters of Chemistry, are ignorant: because not only unacquainted with the true Preparation and Effects of these Remedies; but moreover ignorant in the knowledge of Nature and its Operations, which only can be discovered by those that work upon natural Products, and do exactly and curiously Anatomize all the parts which they contain in particular.  
But before we come to quote the reasons of both parties, Chemists and Galenists, in the controversy between them; we must before all things, found a competent and capable Judge to decide the Question: that is to say, a Judge that may be throughly acquainted with their Opinions. For it would not be possible for a Galenist, to blame and lawfully refute the Theory and Practice of Chemistry, unless he be fully acquainted with their doctrine.  
But, that no body may be scandalised at our Discourse, you must know, that there is a great difference between the Galenists and the Doctrine of Galen; and that Chemistry doth not undervalue this Author, knowing very well, with what desire he was possessed to attain to the knowledge of this Art, having with great avidity and longing sought for that Art, which should teach him how to separate the several Substances, of which Mixts are composed. But many at this day do profess, and take upon themselves the name of Galenists, which never were acquainted with his works; and boastingly pretend to follow the Doctrine of Hypocrates, which never did examine his practice. We must than call Galenists those which are only Physicians by name, and who after they have perused some University Write, which do persuade them, that, Physic is nothing else but an art of discerning heat and cold, immediately take upon themselves the practice, and fill their discourses with nothing else but notions of Heat and Cold; and all their skill tends to speak upon the more or lesle of these qualities. But the learned Fernelius, who was the Ornament of his Age, doth confess and evidence, after having acknowledged this Error, that besides these first qualities, there are many other virtues hidden in the Mixts, as it evidently doth appear towards the end of his second Book, De abditis Rerum Causis, where he teaches how the Seminal Virtue contained in Compounds, and which really is the seat of all their activity, must be extracted.  
We must than take for judge of this Controversy Peripatetic Philosophy, provided it be seasoned with the noble knowledge both of Galenical and Chemical Physic, that none may be judge and party in the same case; to this end, all prejudices which might be entertained concerning either of these Arts, must be laid aside, and submitted to the trial of Reason, which is the Touchstone by which the truth or falsity of all Learning is discovered.  
The Galenists, such as we have spoken of above, do first blame the Remedies prepared by Chemical Art, for three reasons: The first, because these Remedies cannot be wrought but by Fire. The second, because they are extracted from Minerals. And the third, because their Action is too violent. To these heads, we answer in order, and say first, That if whatsoever passes through fire, and cannot be prepared but by it, was to be blamed, it would go ill against the Cooks, who without it can dress no meats; and those very Apothecaries, which according to their Prescriptions, prepare their Medicaments, would stand in opposition to their exceptions. Secondly, that all Chemical Remedies are not extracted from Minerals; though it may objected to them, that they use them in their own Dispensatories; but that the greatest and best part of the choyselt Chemical Remedies are taken from the family of Vegetables and Animals. And for the third point, we say, That if any Chemical Remedies have a violent action, and the Chemical Physician doth make use of them in desperate and refractory diseases, he doth nothing in this case, that Hypocrates hath not done, who made frequent use of Hellebore, the violentest of all Vegetables: If they object, that this great Physician made use of this Remedy only for want of a better; it may be as rationally answered again, that Chemical Physicians neither do use these violent Remedies, but in desperate Diseases, and that because Extremis morbis extrema remedia conveniunt. To say, that all Chemical Remedies are violent, is an assertion of ignorance; for Chemical Artists do prepare them with so neat and in so necessary a manner, that they become by it pleasanter to the taste, more salutiferous to the body, and lesle hurtful in their operations. And it is in this properly, That Chemical Pharmacy doth differ from the Galenick, which prepares also in a manner Medicaments, and doth pretend to correct the vices and violence thereof; but not with that requisite nicety and perfection, as to separate Purity from Impurity, and Homogeneous from Heterogeneous Substances. For, who will not confess, that a Patient will rather take some few grains of Magistery of Jalap, or a Pill of some Panchymagogical Extract; or finally, a very small dosis of well prepared Mercury, which may be wrapped in some Conserves pleasing to the taste, or delicate Jelleys, or finally, be dissolved in some pleasant Liquor, than to swallow a Bolus of five or six ʒ of Cassia, or double Catholicon: that he will more resolutely take three or four grains of some Sudorifical Specific, as Bezoard Mineral, than to swallow a full glass of some Therical Dissolution, or Opiatum Salomonis: That he will look with a better Eye upon a Broth wherein 1 ℈ of Vitriolated Bohemian-tartar shall be dissolved, than a great Glass of Apozem, or some Magisterial Syrup after the old way, the Receipts or Prescriptions whereof are commonly of the length of one foot and a half.  
But it will be moreover objected, That although Chemists do cry up the sweetness and pleasantness of their Remedies; they must nevertheless confess, that there is in them more danger than in others, because they are extracted from Minerals. It is confessed, that many Remedies in Chemistry are taken from the Family of Minerals: But for all this, it must not, nor cannot be granted, that they are venomous, or contrary to the nature of Mans-Body, and to affirm it, is the height of ignorance. For if ancient Physicians, have used them raw, as they were, and without out any Preparation, as may be seen in Galen, Dioscorid, Pliny, and several other Authors; If modern Galenists have also employed them, as Rondeletius, which in his Pills against the Pox uses crude Mercury; Mathiolus who hath put in practice Antimony, which by excellency he calleth Manus Dei; Gesnerus hath done the same with Vitriol; Fallopius with the filing of Steel; and Riolanus, and many others, with Brimstone, for Diseases of the Lungs: Why shall Chemists be debarred from the same Remedies, after they have prepared, corrected, and devested them from the malignity and venom which they did contain, by the separating of Purity from Impurity? which is much a better way than the pretended correction of Galenists, who endeavour to mitigate the vices and malignity of Mixts, used by the Ancients and Moderns also, by the addition of some other Substance, which may have, and really hath, in itself its particular Vice and Impurity: as it is obvious in Hellebore, Spurge, Scamony, Coloquint or bitter Gourd, Agarick, and some others, which they pretend to correct by a simple addition of Mastic, Cinnamon, Cloves, Gum Dragant, and Ginger. But to show the manifest difference between this Correction and that of Chemists; we may use the vulgar comparison of an unskilful Cook, which to dress a savoury and delicate dish of Tripes, should think it enough to boil them with odoriferous Herbs and good scents, without washing and cleansing them from their inward filth.  
Again, the Galenists will instance, and say, that Chemical Remedies, by reason of their sharpness and acrimony, are not to be trusted. But to that we answer, That if the use of sharp things must be banished from Physic, it must with more reason be forbidden in Food, and so consequently all dishes and ragouts wherein Salt, Vinegar, Verjuice, Leek, Onion, Mustard, Pepper, and all other kind of Spices are Ingredients, must be excluded from the Kitchen use, as well as many Medicines blotted out of Antidotaries. Neither do they perceive, that by this argument, they thwart Galen himself, who hath placed Cantharideses among mortal Medicaments, by reason of their corrosion, particularly upon the Bladder; he doth notwithstanding ordain them, and so do his Sectators prescribe them, though in some small quantity, in some convenient liquor, to provoke Urine; to which end and purpose he doth highly commend them.  
The same do Chemists use to do, who give their sharp Remedies in some proper and specifical Liquor, to produce such Effects as they hope from their Medicaments. But to stop fully the Galenists mouth, we must prove that they use in their common practice, though Empirically, Chemical Remedies, whether they be natural, or artificial, as for Example: Do they not make use of crude Steel and Mercury, and many more natural Mixts without preparation? Do they not use Spirit of Vitriol, Spirit of Sulphur, Mineral Crystal, Cremor and Crystals of Bohemian-tartar, Crocus Martis aperitive and astringent, Salt of Vitriol, Saccharum Saturni, or Sugar of Saturn? And though most of them be unacquainted with Antimony, and the true time and method of exhibiting this admirable Remedy; yet nevertheless do they give it in stealth to their Patients, disguising it oftentimes with some infusion of Senne, or some portion of their ordinary Pills; for they mix Emetic Wine in their Infusions, and Emetic Powder in their Pills. But, that which is yet more to be noted, and considered, is, That when Galenists by the obstinacy of the Disease, are at a stand, and can not longer found in their method a Remedy to cure, and eradicate the evil of it, because they never attained to the perfect knowledge of it, they use to sand their Patients for a last refuge, to Baths and Mineral Springs: which practice of theirs, makes them tacitly to confess, that there is in Minerals a more potent, penetrative and active Virtue, than in any other of those Remedies, which they did put in practice before.  
This Truth is further confirmed by those Remedies which Chirurgeons do daily use with very good success, being for the most part compounded of Metals and Minerals; but those principally which do work with more efficacy. It is true, that Chemists do likewise sand their Patients to Mineral waters, and enjoin them the use of them: But there is this difference, between them and Galenists; that the first are distinctly acquainted with the Sulphur, Salt or Spirit, which predominates in the Waters by them prescribed; which the others do not, having but a confused and superficial knowledge of the Virtue residing and hidden in these waters; and prescribing them only, because others have used them before, not being capable to ratiocinate upon the Effects by them produced, much lesle to prove the Efficient Internal causes of the same; since it belongs properly to the search of Chemists, whose peculiar work it is, to anatomize Mineral Waters, and demonstrate what Fire, or Volatile Substances, are contained in them: And if the ingenious Artist finds not himself fully satisfied with examining the Waters, he must further extend his inquisition in working upon the Earth's adjacent to those Mineral Spirits, and endeavour to discover what Metal most abounds in the Marcassites growing about that place: that done, it will be easy for him to found what Salt, or what Spirit is the most fitting to dissolve that Metal, and to unite and mix it so indivisibly as it is, with the water: and being thus instructed, he can never fail to assign pertinent and demonstrative reasons both of the effects and cause of the virtue and efficacy of those Mineral Waters. If it be answered, that Galenists do also give the reasons of such effects, and assign them to the Salt, Sulphur, or Spirit predominant in these Waters; I reply, that they shall never fully satisfy a curious inquisitor and searcher of truth in Nature, by their reasons taken from the Doctrine of the Schools: But, that they must have borrowed this light from Chemical Authors, and so far they are not more a Galenical Doctrine; since they reason only upon the grounds, and by the Organs of Hermetical Philosophy. Let us than conclude in the behalf of Chemical Remedies, and say, that they are the true weapons, wherewith a Physician must arm himself to conquer and extirpate the most stubborn and rebellious Diseases; and even such as are held incurable by the ordinary Remedies of Galenical Physic; and so we conclude this short Apology in the behalf of Chemical Remedies, whose wondered nature it is, ever to act Citiùs, Tutiùs, & Jucundiùs.   

CHAP. III Of the Faculties of Mixts, and the several degrees of their Qualities.  
AFter all we have said above, we are to consider what benefit we can reap, by separating the five Principles which may be extracted out of Compounds, to exalt the Virtues and Faculties of Remedies, and qualify them with convenient and various degrees according to their nature. Having than distinguished the various Substances, which an Artist may extract out of Natural Bodies, and having taken notice, that some of them do more or lesle abound with Sulphur, Salt, Spirit, Earth, or Phlegm and that these five Substances are found in all the Mixts of the three Families of Nature, which are Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals: It seemeth that something may be lawfully determinated in Physic for the use of it, and discovery of such virtues and specifical qualities, as are proper to each of the Substances, extracted out of the Mixed Bodies. For, as Vulgar or Dogmatical Physic hath attributed all, to the several degrees of first and second Qualities: we must in this Chapter open the true knowledge of the specifical virtues of each principle of the compound, that what we shall here deliver, may serve for an Introduction to the better understanding of those Authors, who hitherto have written thereof; for it may be securely affirmed, that whatsoever abounds in Oil, participates of the qualities of Oil, and so of the Spirit and other constitutive parts. We might also insert here a Catalogue of all the Mixts, wherein Sulphur is predominant; as also of the Compounds, where the other Principles do abound. We could likewise Anatomize all Natural Bodies, to know precisely in what dosis or proportion they possess either of the five Principles, and how Nature hath distributed them to every one in particular, and having perfected such a work, we might very well brag, of a distinct and absolute knowledge of the Faculties of all natural things. But, as it is not only a work above the extent of any one single man's life; and even that many Artists put together were not sufficient for it; and that besides this consideration, many Volumes would be of too narrow a compass to contain the Notes of such Experiments: we will content ourselves, to speak only something of it by the by, when we come to the description of the work which may be done upon each Mixed, not exceeding the limits first propounded to ourselves in the delineation of this Abridgement.  
To return than to our several Degrees of Qualities of Mixts, or the five Substances which may be extracted out of them: We say first, that Oil doth heat, or perform its operation by the means of heat, which is a more excellent Quality than that which is styled Elementary. As for Example, We see by a common and familiar Experiment to all, that if the Oil, or Aethereal Spirit of the Wine, which is its sulphureous part, be separated from its Volatile Salt, exalted by Fermentation, which we vulgarly call Aqua vitae; that which remains hath no heating faculty left, and is quite unapt to communicate any part more of that Quality, which we do attribute to Oils and Spirits; but, if you join again this portion of Aetherial Oil, or Spirit to its Phlegm or watery part, you shall restore it immediately to its capacity of heating which it had before; which makes us to conclude, that the more a Mixed doth abound in Aetherial Oil, and Volatile Spirit, the more is it fit to impart heat, strengthen and increase our spirits, as being more analogous and correspondent to the nature of our vital Spirits, as also of the Animals, because this only portion of the Mixed is able to be conveyed and pass to the last digestions.  
The same judgement may be made also of all the family of Vegetables; for we may say confidently, that the different parts of Plants have divers Degrees of Qualities, according as they have been more or lesle fermented, digested and concocted by the external heat of the Sun, concurring with their internal and essential, which is contained in their Salt, which is as the rind and cover of their fermenting and digestive Spirit; and according as this Salt is exalted, by the actions of these two efficient causes, the parts of the Plants do participate of more or lesle efficacy. So is the first place assigned to the Seed of the Plant, because it is exalted to its perfection, and contains in itself, that germinative and spermatick Spirit, which is capable to produce and multiply itself into its like; and that in the body of the Seed Nature hath likewise gathered, concocted, digested and concentrated all the Salt, Sulphur and Spirit of the Body of the Plant; as it appears by the Distillation of Seeds from which a great quantity of Volatile Salt is extracted, which is nothing else but the three Principles volatilised and united together, by the Internal heat of the Plant, and the External of the Sun: and in this Volatile Salt it is, that the virtues of all things lie hidden, which hath given occasion to Van Helmont, to call them the General Lieutenant of the Arcana. Thence must we by degrees descend to know by divers steps the qualities of the other parts of Plants, following the same Ratiocination we have already made upon the Seed, for in the Flower there is lesle virtue than in the Seed, in the Leaf lesle than in the Flower, and in the Wood lesle than the Rind; and the Fruit is better than the Leaf, and so of the other parts of the Vegetable, which all are to be esteemed according as they do abound in Oil, Spirit, Essential or Volatile Salt. But we must digress a little here, to note a difference which is between the annual and lasting Plants: for some have the seat of their virtue placed in the root, the others in the leaf, and most in the Seed; therefore all these circumstances are to be weighed, to make a right and solid judgement thereof, and to examine them by the external senses and ratiocination, and make the choice thereof accordingly.  
All what we have said above, may also be applied to the other Principles, for distinguishing the Degrees of their Faculties; for if, by Example, a Mixed be deprived of its Salt, it shall loose its desiccative, detersive, coagulative faculty, and all other proprieties proceeding from, or depending upon Salt. Now it is possible, that one Mixed compared to the other, may have two, three, four or five times more or lesle of Salt, Spirit, Sulphur, Phlegm or Earth, according to which the rise and rule must be taken, for subdividing the Degrees of its Faculties; when the Artist shall have discovered by his work, the excess or defect of what produces the virtues of Natural Bodies, that being yet hidden from our knowledge either by the neglect of Writers, or the ignorance of those Mongrel Physicians, which neither knew their Mother, nor the Children of her Womb: for we see that the juice of Barberies, Oranges, Lemons, common and distilled Vinegar, the Spirit of Vitriol, common Salt, Nitre, Tartar, and many more like, do deserve to have several Degrees of Qualities attributed to them, considering their eminent actions, which proceed from the excess or defect of some Principle more or lesle depurated; by which it doth appear, that Mixts have more or lesle of efficacy, action, and virtue, according as the Efficient Principles are more or lesle in them; wherefore we may with very good ground and reason seek in Chemistry a solid foundation, for increasing the Ornament and Variety of Physic; correct the vulgar Pharmacy, ready to fall to decay; and examine throughly the practice of common Physicians.   

CHAP. IU. Of the Order which we will follow in the Description of Chemical Operations.  
THE order to be observed in the description of the five Principles extracted from Mixed Bodies by Chemical Operations, may be given two several ways: for there may be first compiled in a Treatise all the Waters, either simple or compounded, according to their several kinds, as also the Oils in another, and so of the Salt, and likewise each other of the Principles. Secondly, These Substances may be described in the same Order, as their Extraction out of the Individual Bodies of Nature is performed. This last method we intent to follow, as that which satisfies better the mind of the Inquisitor, and breeds lesle confusion. We shall than accordingly give to each Mixed in particular a chapter by itself, wherein we shall give an exact description of the nature of the Mixed; and of all the Chemical Operations useful and necessary to Physic: forgetting nothing of what may conduce to the exact information of the Artist, in exactly and curiously anaromizing the Mixed upon which he doth intent his Operation, until he hath separated all the several parts wherewith Nature hath endowed it.  
And to proceed more methodically, we shall begin by Meteors, wherein we are to speak of Rain, Dew, Honey, Wax, and B●ine or Sea-water; next to which, we will teach those Preparations which belong to Animals and their parts. Than we follow speaking of Vegetables; where we will teach, how the parts of that rich and numerous Family are to be anatomised; and finally, end by Minerals, examining the contents of Stones Salts, Marcassites, and Metals, whereof we shall separate the hardest, and fixest parts, to draw from thence those wonderful Remedies, which are locked up in the Centre of those true first-fruits of the Earth.   

CHAP. V Of Dew, and Rain.  
AS Chemists can neither extract nor dissolve, without some fitting and convenient Liquor, adapted to the nature of those Substances whereof the virtue is desired (this Liquor Artists do commonly call their Menstruum, and this word being the most proper and best known, we will only make use of in all the Operations we are to describe) as (I say) Chemists can perform no Operation without their Menstruum; so hath their care and invention, much laboured to find out one, which should be devested of all particular qualities, and agreeable to all sorts of Mixts, besides the particular Menstrues which they possess, and which are destinated for the extraction and dissolution of some particular Substances and Compounds. The Sons of A●t, upon this account, have thought no Substance to be more conducible to their end, than that which is the purest and most simple in Nature, viz. Dew and Rain water; both containing in themselves the Universal Spirit, and capable to yield their universal Menstruum, fit for extracting the virtues of things, and to be separated again from them, without robbing or depriving them of any part of their virtue and excellency; provided these two Liquors be well and duly prepared.  
It is needless to repeat that Dew and Rain are two Meteors, since we have already spoken of it, in the first part of this Treatise: It will suffice to say, that Rain-water must be gathered from the beginning to the twentieth of March, (or eight days before the Equinoxe, and eight days after) because than the Air is all filled and impregnated with those true heavenly seeds that are destinated to the renewing of all natural productions; and when the water hath been elevated from the earth, and deprived of the several ferments wherewith the divers generations made within and without her Womb, had filled her, she doth fall again through the Air, where she is furnished anew with a pure Spirit, undetermined to all things, and fit to assume any shape. And so much shall suffice, to show the necessity of choosing the Aequinoctial time, for gathering of the Rain-water.  
Gather than about this time great store of Rain-water, and leave it in a great wooden Tub or Vessel very clean, in an open place, and free to the Air, and there let it ferment, to make a Sediment of the most gross Impurities, which it might have contracted from the roofs and gutters of houses, or other conveyances through which it passes, and is conveyed unto us; it shall yield moreover a kind of skin or froth above, which perfects its depuration; after this fill, therewith great stone-Bottles, Glass-Vessels, or Casks, if you will keep any as it is than, being than even so, fit for many Operations, and more useful than any other kind of water whatsoever, as we shall make appear in the sequel of our practice; for it is of a more subtle nature than other waters, and abounds with a spiritual Salt, the only capable Agent to penetrate well into the Mixts.  
But if you will subtilise more this water, and tender it more capable to extract the tincture and virtues of things, you must distil it through the Worm, as you do Spirit of Wine, and draw only the two third parts of what your Vessel contains, reiterating this Distillation, by diminishing still proportionably, till from a hundred pints you have but ten, which will afterwards serve to the extraction of purgative Substances.  
The same may be done with Dew, which is to be preferred to Rain-water; the time to gather it is May, because than it is much more impregnated with the Universal Spirit, and filled with that spiritual Salt, which administers nourishment to all things, causeth their generation, and gives them maintenance.   

CHAP. VI Of Honey and Wax.  
YOU must not think strange, if we reckon Honey among Meteors, since Dew contributes much to its generation; for it thickens after its falling upon Plants, detains and condenses in itself those vapours, which Plants do continually exhale, assisted by the cool of the Night; and the Sun's heat doth digest and concoct all into Honey and Wax, which Bees do afterwards gather, and carry into their Hives, for their own sustenance and nourishment. From this that we have said, the consequence may easily be drawn, why one season of the year doth abound more with Honey than the other. The best Honey is that which is of a whitish yellow, pleasant to the taste and smell, neither too thin nor too thick, compacted in its parts, and easily melting upon the tongue. That which young Bees do yield, is better than old Bees Honey. From it is extracted a Water, an Oil, a Spirit, Salt, and Tincture. From Wax also, which is an Emplastic cleaving substance, is extracted the Phlegm, Spirit, Butter, Oil, and a very small proportion of Flowers, which are nothing else but the volatile Salt of this Compound.  

The manner of Extracting the Principles of Honey.  
TAke a quantity of Honey, and put it in a Glass Vessel, white Earth, or Stone Bottle Earth, and put above it about two ℥ of Hemp, or Flax-Tow, to hinder the Honey from raising into the head by its ebullition; cover the Glass or Vessel with its head or Limbeck, and lute or stop well the joints with two bands or fillets of Paper, spread over with Pap made with flower and water boiled together; put your Cucurbite or Vessel in sand, and give a slow fire at first, to extract only the Water by this first degree of heat; than change your Receiver and increase the fire, which shall drive up a second water, of a yellowish colour, containing the Spirit; and increasing yet one degree more, you shall have a read Spirit with its Oil, which must be separated by the Funnel, and the Spirit rectified. That which remains in the bottom, calcine in a Reverberatory Furnace, to extract the Salt thereof with its own Phlegm, and than evaporate either to a total drought, or to a skin only, to get Crystals in a cool place.  
Both these Waters of Honey, viz. the Clear and the Yellow, are very useful to cleanse and clear the Eyes, take away films, spots, or blemishes; to cause Hair to grow: the Spirit is a great remover of Obstructions; for, being taken from fifteen to twenty drops, in Aperitive Waters, or decoction of Nettle-roots and Burdock, it opens all Obstructions, provokes Urine, and drives away Gravel, clammy and viscous humours in the Reinss and Bladder. The Oil being circulated in Spirit of Wine twenty or thirty days, becomes very sweet and pleasant; it conduces wonderfully to the cure of Gun-shots, and to cleanse corroding and cancerous Ulcers: It is a singular remedy to appease the pain of the Gout; as also to take away the spots of the face, being mixed with a little Oil of Camphire.   

To make Hydromel or Mead, and the Vinegar of Honey.  
TAke a q. of very good Honey, and viij p. of depurated Rain-water, or Riverwater, left some days in a Vessel, to defecate and cleanse itself from Impurities; than let it boil softly to the consumption of one half part, being first exactly skimmed. This remaining Liquor put in a Cask, and upon every 30 pints of Liquor put ℥ i of Salt of Bohemian-tartar, and ℥ two. of the Tincture of the same Salt to help Fermentation, which within the Philsophical Month, which is 40 days, will be completed: But you are to note, that every day the Cask must be filled anew, to repair what the fermenting Spirit drives away: that done, put the Cask in a Cellar and stop it well: and this may be used for a very good drink, both by healthful and crazy bodies.  
But when you will make Vinegar, put, in the Vessel wherein you have boiled your Honey and Water to a half consumption, as you are directed above, a knot containing the pounded seeds of _____ grossly beaten, and leave the Cask in a warm room if it be Winter, or expose it to the Sun's heat if Summer, until the Liquor hath done boiling and fermenting; and it will by degrees and slowly turn into very good Vinegar; which may be distilled as the other uses to be. It is an excellent Menstruum for the dissolving of Pebble stones, and all others, though not calcined before; and this is that Vinegar which Quercetanus doth call in his writings, the Philosophical Vinegar. You are to note also, that the same Author doth often make mention of Honey, in his Works, under the notion of Dew, or Heavenly Manna.   

To make the Tincture of Honey.  
THis Tincture is not one of the meanest remedies, extracted out of this Meteor; either by reason of the peculiar virtues of the Mixed, or that of the Menstruum, used to extract the faculties of this Heavenly Manna, much more full of efficacy, than those have imagined which fancy that it is easily converted into Choler; led thereto by that false Axiom of their School, which they take for a granted truth, that Omnia dulcia facilè bilescunt, not apprehending, that these alterations of temper, are not wrought in us by the mixture of humours, but that all is performed by the several fermentations, which have their rise and original in the Ventricle, and that the Leaven or Ferment is either healthful or sickly, according to the good or evil Ideas, which the spirit of Life hidden in Man, hath conceived. To return than to our matter, we say, that Honey is one of the sublunary substances that hath more in itself of Universal Spirit, and that none is fit to be reduced to the nature of that general Agent of the World, to perform thereby wonderful remedies in Physic; sick; provided we preserve in it something of its specification, whereby it may become useful and sensible.  
Choose than the best and purest Honey you can find, according to the notes we have already given, and mix one part of it with 3 p. of the cleanliest and purest Sand you can meet with, beating all together in a Mortar, and reducing it to a mass, whereof make pellets of a convenient bigness, to pass through the neck of a Matrass: thus being put in, power upon spirit of Wine well rectified, and let it rise over the matter three or four fingers; than let another Matrass be inserted in the neck or Orifice of the first, about two fingers deep, and lute the joints of the two Vessels, with two fillets of Neat or Swine's Bladder, dipped in white of Eggs, reduced to water by frequent agitation; (note this manner of luting the joints or commissures of Vessels, for all the Operations which from henceforth shall be described.) Than tie your Matrass to the Cover of your B. M. and suspend to the vapour, and so digest the Honey with its Monstruum, until the spirit of Wine be well impregnated, tincted, and loaded, with the internal Sulphur of this Mixed, which the Sp. V will attract, by reason of the analogy which is between it and this Principle. This being done, leave the Vessels to cool, than open them, and filter the tincture through grey Paper, and having poured it in a small glass Body or Cucurbit covered with its head, luted the joints very exactly, and adapted a fitting Receiver, draw by distillation half of the Alkohol of Wine, with a very soft heat of the B. M. and the Bath being cooled, open your Vessels, and keep choysely the remaining Tincture, in a glass Viol., with a narrow mouth, and well stopped with Cork first seasoned in melted Wax, to stop the porosities of it, and cover it with a doubled wet Bladder and a Paper, that nothing of the virtue of this Remedy may exhale or vapour away, by reason of the great subtlety of its parts, to use when you have occasion.  
The use of this tincture is almost heavenly, in all affections of the Breast or Thorax, wherein slimy and viscous serosities, gathered in the hollow or capacity or cavity of it, are the cause: For it hath a subtilizing and dissolving virtue, sufficiently strengthening the Patient to expel by spotting, what he finds obstructive and cumbersome, or to drive away by urine, sweeting, or insensible transpiration, which are the noblest and most ordinary effects of such remedies as come nearest to the Universal Medicine. Such rare Medicaments do prove the truth of this celebrated Maxim, that Natura corroborata, est omnium morborum Medicatrix. The The Dosis of this Tincture is from one fourth part of a spoonful, to a whole, for the more advanced in age; and from five to twenty drops for Children: It may be given alone, or mixed in decoctions, or specifical waters appropriated to the disease; as are the waters of Colts-foot flower, the roots of butter-Burre, the white and odoriferous Whorehound, Iuniper berries, and roots of Enula; because all these simples do abound with a penetrating and volatile spirit: it may also be exhibited in broths, or the ordinary drink of the Patient.   

To extract the Oil of Wax.  
FRom Wax, as also from many other mixed Bodies, may be extracted, a Phlegm, an acid or sharp Spirit, an Oil, and the Flowers which we have said to be its volatile Salt. But as these substances (the Oil excepted) have no great use in Physic, we shall not insist here upon their descriptions; contenting ourselves to impart here an useful, easy and compendious way of making the Oil of Wax.  
Take lb i. of yellow, well-smelling, and depurated Wax; melt it with a gentle heat in a Copper skillet, shutting with a close Cover; and if you have a Fire already kindled for some other purpose, take read burning Coals, and extinguish them the one after the other in the melted Wax, until they are sufficiently imbibed, and well filled with it: and thus continued until all the Wax be thus consumed, having a special care in the mean while to cover close the Skillet every time you throw the Coals in it, lest the Wax should take fire; than pound the Coals to an indifferently gross powder, and mix with equal weight of decrepitated Salt; and having put this mixture in a glass Retort, leaving the third part empty, place it upon a Sand-furnace, with a sufficiently ample Receiver fitted to the neck of it, and lute exactly the joints with Bladder and whites of Eggs, than having dried it leisurely, give fire to it by degrees, until the vapours begin to cease of their own accord, which ever happens within the space of fifteen or twenty hours, and ●●ll being settled and cooled, separate the Oil which is yet gross and thick from the aqueous Liquor, and keep some part of it in that consistency, to use outwardly, but rectify the rest in a low Cucurbite, and mingle with 3 or 4 lb of Whitewine, and ℥ iv. of Salt of Bohemian-tartar, distilling it with all the care and exactness which is requisite to a very subtle and penetrating Oil, upon Ashes: Thus shall you have the Oil of Wax, as clear, fluent and penetrating as the Sp. V endowed with many peculiar virtues, both for internal and external griefs. It is exhibited inwardly in some Diuretic Liquor, from 6 to 12 drops, in retentions of Urine; and for the same purpose may also be given in Parsly-water, and Sassafraswood-water, or decoction, as also of Lignum Nephriticum. Outwardly applied, it is very resolutive, which makes it of great efficacy to dissolve all schirrhous tumours and swell; good also to restore motion to Paralytical and contracted Members, and cure all cold aches in the nervous and sinewous parts of the body; it is also used with very good success against Sciatica, and cold Gout in hand or feet. The Butter or gross Oil, which you kept unrectified, cures the chaps of the lips caused by cold, and cicatrizes and heals again the soreness or chaps in the Nipple. The aqueous Liquor or Phlegm being rectified, you shall find a fourth part to be a spirit of Salt, not of lesle virtue than that which is distilled alone.    

CHAP. VII. Of Manna.  
PLiny doth, not without reason, call Manna the Honey of the Air, containing in itself a heavenly nature: I have said, that he called it so, not without reason; because Manna is nothing else but a Dew, or a sweet pleasant Liquor, which about the time of the Aequinox, falls upon the branches and leaves of Trees, thence upon Herbs, Stones, and sometimes upon the Earth itself, and in a short time is condensed, and takes a form of drops of Gum.  
That which commonly is chosen for the best, is the Oriental, as the Persian or Syriack; but that which ordinarily comes from Calabria, a part of the Kingdom of Naples, may very well serve turn; it must be white and new, for when it grows reddish, it is a sign of age, and that it hath lost that celestial and spirituous part, wherein did consist its virtue.  

To make Spirit of Manna.  
TAke of Manna well chosen q. s. put it in a glass Cucurbit, covered with its head; lute them both exactly together, and having fitted a Recipient to the Limbeck, give it a slow fire, thence shall come forth a tasteless spirit, of very great virtue; for it is a great sudorific, which with very good success is given, both in pestilential and spotted Fevers, as in all sorts of common Aguish distempers; this Spirit doth provoke sweat copiously, and expels the excrements of last digestions, as may be evidenced by the unpleasant smell of the sweat which it provokes. The Dosis is from one half spoonful to a whole one.  
Moreover, this Spirit hath a peculiar virtue to dissolve Brimstone, and extract the yellow Tincture of it, which is not one of the lest remedies for easing the breast, and the principal parts about it, when oppressed: For this Tincture is as a restoring Balsam, to correct the defects of the Lungs, and strengthen and preserve their action. It may be given in Juice of _____ prepared and depurated, as we shall direct in the Chapter of Vegetables, from one drop to twelve.  
There may be also a water of Manna made, which shall be both laxative and sudorific: For this end, ℞ a parcel of well-chosen Manna, two parts of very pure Nitre, and put them both in a Near or Hog's Bladder, and having exactly tied it, suspend the same by a string in boiling water, till all the two substances be well dissolved: This Liquor or Dissolution must you distil, as we have said of the Spirit; and you shall have an insipid, laxative water, provoking sweat copiously: The Dosis is from i ʒ to vi ʒ, in a broth of some pectoral Decoction. This water may prove a very good remedy to attract forth the superfluous serosities, which ordinarily do breed Rheumatical Defluxions.    

CHAP. VIII. Of Animals.  
TO treat of Animals, is a part of Chemical Pharmacy, containing the remedies extracted out of Animals, and the way how to prepare them: And as the object of Chemical Philosophy are all natural substances, so doth she extend her Operations upon all Animals, and Man itself, the most perfect and accomplished of all. But as the extent of a Compendium, or Abbreviate Treatise, cannot reach to an exact enumeration of perfect Terrestrial Animals, neither of Fouls, Fish or Infects, which are the four Classes or Divisions of this vast, beautiful, and noble family of Animals; it shall suffice for our design and purpose, to make first some observations upon the nature of Animals in general, and the choice which an Artist is to make of them, when he intends to draw from them those wonderful remedies which they contain, to ease the griefs and misery of mankind; thence shall we pass upon some of the Operations made on them, to be as a Guide and an Example, whereby to work upon all others of the like nature.  
We say than by the way, that as all Animals are made of a more volatile, subtle, and aerial substance, than the Vegetables on which they feed; so in their ultimate resolution, which Art doth perform, have they lesle of Earth, and of diversity of Substances: whence it is, that there are only three efficatious Medicines may be extracted from them, viz. Spirit, Volatile Salt, and Oil: We will not loose time in debating here, whether the forms of these Animals are spiritual or material; being a dispute more of curiosity than use. We will only say, that the Artist must choose the soundest and healthiest Animals to extract his remedies from; that they be of a middle age, that the parts may have attained to a requisite firmness, solidity and perfection; for it is well known, that Animals do daily ●ie, as they advance in age, after they have passed a certain state and period of perfection, which according to the nature of each is the limit of their duration, and their Ne plus ultra. It is also requisite the Animal should dye a violent death, chief by strangling and suffocating; because suffocation doth concentrate the spirits in their parts, and hinders their dissipation; and that it is in the preservation of this flame and vital light, that properly inhabits, and makes its residence, the virtue of Animals and their parts, as is manifested by the following history of what happened at Montpellier, as Bartholinus relates it in his Centuries: Which is, that a woman having bought in the Shambleses Meat newly killed, and steaming yet with the heat internal, hung it in the Chamber wherein she did use to sleep; having some occasion to wake at night, she was surprised, to see a great light in her Chamber, though the Moon did not shine; she at first was astraid, not imagining the cause whence it did proceed; but at last she perceived, that this light did proceed from the meat she had hung up; and the next morning related it to her neighbours, which de●rous to see this thing, which by relation seemed to them incredible, were confirmed in the truth and belief of it by their own eyes: A piece of this Luminous Flesh was carried to the Prince of Conde, than Governor for his Majesty in Languedock, in the year 1641. and this Flesh at last did loose its light, as it came nearer its corruption. This truth cannot be contradicted in the historical part; and curious searchers of Nature, may see whenever they list, that sparks of light do issue forth out of living Creatures, if they take the pains to rub a Catskin in the dark, against the hair, a sufficient proof to verify more and more that light is not only the Principle of Composition in all things, but is also the Principle of their preservation, and the chief cherisher of life. The foregoing relation makes me remember a complaint which some Butcher's Prentices did make at Sedan, that coming by night time into their Slaughter-house, they did perceive some extraordinary light, which superstitiously they did attribute to apparitions of Evil Spirits, not without horror and aftrightment, whereof I was an ocular witness: but when there was any Candle lighted in the place, the light did vanish away; by which it was easy to be seen, that this light proceeded from the flesh of Animals newly killed.  

Of Man.  
THe Chemical Artist doth extract from Man, both male and female, several Substances, which are the subject of this work, and that either during his life, or after his death; from male and female during their life, are taken Hairs, Milk, Afterburthen, Urinal, Blood, and the Stone in the Bladder: After death, use is made, either of the dead body, or its parts, which are muscles or flesh, fat, bones, or skull. From these several, parts, is the Artist to take his Remedies, as we shall hereunder teach in order; and that will be a sufficient example to direct him in the like operation upon other Animals and their parts. There are yet besides these above related, several other parts in Animals, very useful for Physic: But, as they are not commonly made use of in Chemical operations, we think it needless to mention them in this Chapter, jest we break the Law of our Abridgement.   

Of Hair.  
TO draw from Hair any serviceable Remedy, and loose none of the Virtue, they must be distilled; for by this Operation is the Spirit and Oil extracted, and the Ashes are preserved: which is performed in this manner.  
Take Hair either of male or female, as they are found in Barber's shops, or Periwick-makers, and fill therewith a Glass Retort, rather than an Earthen one, by reason of the subtlety of their Spirits, and put it in a Sand Furnace, (which for abbreviation we will call only Sand hereafter): To this, fit exactly a convenient and large Receiver, and lute the Joints; the Lute being dry, begin first to give it a moderate fire; which increase by degrees, till the vapours begin to fill and abundantly the Recipient; and keep the Fire in this state, until, the vapours being spent, the Retort gins to grow clear of itself; than increase the Fire more violently, that nothing of what may be driven out of the Retort do remain, and the Calcination of the remainder, may perfectly be performed; than ceasing the fire, let the Vessels cool, and you shall found in the Recipient two different substances, which are the Armoniac Spirit of the Hair, and the Oil, which is nothing else but the sulphurous portion of this Mixed, mingled with the grosser part of the Volatile Salt. These two Substances after separation, may be applied to Physical uses: But it is nevertheless necessary, to rectify them before hand, viz. the Spirit in B. M. upon other Hair, cut in very small pieces, in a small Glass-Body covered with its head, and using all requisite precautions; and the Oil upon its own Ashes, in an Ash Furnace, giving at first but a moderate heat.  
The Spirit of Hair is not inwardly given, partly by reason of its ill taste and odour, partly because Art doth extract from other parts of Man, other Spirits more pleasing, and lesle nauseous in their use. This Spirit than is never used, but with a mixture of Honey, to anoint the parts where Hair are thin, and grow in small quantity, or altogether fallen away: The Oil is sovereign to eradicate Tetters in what part soever of the Body they grow, making a Lineament of it with Salt of Saturn, and applying to the place, after a due Purgation given to the Patiented fit for expelling serosities. The Ashes mixed with Mutton-suet in the manner of a Cerecloth, produce wondered effects in the cure of strains, and the strengthening of disjointed and dislocated parts. Add to this, that Hair unwrought, are a very present remedy to staunch running of blood, either in wounds, bleeding of the nose, or immoderate courses of women.   

Of Milk.  
Woman's Milk of itself is an excellent remedy for Eyes, to appease the grief and remove inflammation, whether proceeding of some hurt in the substance itself, or from small Ulcers which hap to breed in Eyelids and corners of the Eye: and if Woman's Milk cannot be recovered, than some other kind is to be substituted in the place. But there is a Vitriolic Water distilled with Woman's Milk, or some other, either Cow's Milk, Ass, or Goat, which may be still ready at hand, and is no lesle efficacious to remove any grief from the Eye; It is thus made.  
℞ of Milk and white Vitriol pulverised a like quantity, put them together in a Cucurbite or Glass Body, fitted with all the care requisite to Distillation, than extract upon the Ash Furnace, a water S. A. with a graduate heat, until the white vapours or clouds do ascend, at which time cease the fire, jest the Water should become corrosive: This Water doth correct the redness of the Eyes, and removes wonderfully inflammations.   

Of the Afterburthen.  
TO prepare any Remedy from the Afterburthen, you must choose (if possible) one of the first birth, and a male: the Woman being of a middle age, as from 18 to 35 years, sound, Black or Chestnut hair; the Red-hair Women (as participating something of Arsenical Spirits) are to be absolutely excepted. And if the Artist cannot recover one of the first child, let him at lest have it of a male child: and, unless in absolute necessity, make no use of a female, which only in such case he is allowed to do: for being both male and female are nourished in the same womb with the same menstruous blood, there is but the difference of the strength and vigour, considerable in the choice.  
Take than such an Afterburthen (as is said) with all the conditions requisite, put in a Glass Cucurbit, and distil in B. M. until the bottom be dry, and keep the Water in a Bottle well stopped with Cork, seasoned in melted Wax; and if what is left in the bottom of the Cucurbit, be not dry enough to be reduced to Powder, dry it in a Paper doubly or trebly folded, at a moderate heat. But you are to note, that neither in distilling nor drying of it, it must not be turned upside downwards, that the Spirit and Volatile Salt may the better concentrate themselves, because it is this Salt which properly gives virtue, to the Powder that is to be made thereof.  
The Water thus extracted, is an excellent Cosmetick, smoothing wonderfully the skin, both of hands and face, takes away the wrinkles, and spots; chief, if you add a little Salt of Pearls and Borax. But it is moreover very useful in expelling the Afterburthen, when the delivery of the Woman hath been long and difficult, and accompanied with weakness, provided you mix with this Water the weight of ʒ ss. of the Powder of the Body whence it hath been extracted, or the same weight of an Eels Liver dried with its Gall, which is an approved and infallible Remedy.  
The Powder given from ℈. 1. to ij. or iij. is a Sovereign Remedy against Epilepsy, either in its own water, or that of Pyony, or lilium Convallium, or Lime-tree, seven continual days fasting, during the decrease of the Moon. But if you Calcine the Afterburthen in an Earthen unleaded Pot well covered and luted; the Ashes will be a specifical Remedy against the Kings-Evil, and Wens, exhibited in Water of male Sour●hern-wort, the weight of ʒ ss. during the last quarter of the Moon, every morning fasting.   

Of Urine.  
THough Urine be an excrement voided, and cast away daily, it contains nevertheless a mysterious Salt, full of Virtues, known but to very few. The ingenious Artist which is acquainted with its proprieties, shall not easily be scared or distasted by the name or noisomeness of it: it belongs only to such as boast of an eminent knowledge in Pharmacy and its Preparations, and dare not nevertheless fowl and sully their hands in the disquisition and separating of the different parts wherewith bodies are compounded. And to prove in general, the divers Medicinal Virtues of Urine, we shall only hint, that the washing with it, when newly voided, doth dry and heal itches and scab, dissolve tumours being applied warm, mundifies and cleanseth wounds and venomous ulcers, prevents gangreen; opens gently the body without gripe, being administered in Glisters lukewarm; for, it it be suffered to cool, it loses that Volatile Spirit wherein the chief Virtue of it doth consist; hindereth, or at lest, lesseneth the fits of certain Agues, if it be applied warm to the wrist, and in frontals: healeth the ulcerous Ears, being poured in; taketh away the redness and the itching of the Eyes, if be distilled in the corners of them: Being mixed with Spirit of Wine, cureth the shaking of Limbs; and taken in the way of a Gargal, dissipates the swelling and tumour of the Wula: and to be short, appeaseth all the pains caused by vapours rising from the Spleen, applied in a Plasterwise made with Ashes. And if thus, Urinal seemeth to be a treasure against outward Diseases: it is of no lesle efficacy against inward ones, being sovereign in removing all obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Bladder and Gall, preserving against the Plague, and curing Dropsy in its beginning, and removing Yellow-Jaundies: And it hath been observed, by some curious searchers of Nature, that the Husband's Urinal in difficulty of birth is a specific remedy, to 'cause speedy delivery: and experience hath taught it to be not lesle wondered and effectual in the cure of Tertians; a good glass full of recently voided Urinal being given in the very beginning of the Fit.  
All what we have said hitherto, is only to make it plain, how much more excellent and capable of producing its Effects, well prepared Urinal, and separated from its gross impurity shall be, than when it is yet corporeal; and to prove more and more, that the chief, nay almost all the Virtues of mixed Bodies, do proceed from their Spirits, and Salts.  
They that will make use of Urinal in Pharmacy, or Chemical operations, must choose (if they can) that of wholesome Bodies of young men, or children, from the age of 10. until 15. years, drinking Wine, if it may be had so, if not, such as they can meet with; for all Urinal is never without its Spirit and Salt: But in Urinal of this latter sort, they will be fewer and grosser. Though experience hath made it manifest, that the same Remedies are sound in it either to be outwardly or inwardly applied, or to prepare the following operations.   

To make the Igneous Spirit of Urinal, and prepare its Volatile Salt.  
TAke of Urinal, conditionated as we have said above, thirty or forty pints, and evaporate it with gentle heat, to a consistency of Syrup; put the remainder in a Glass-Body of about a cubit high, cover it with its Head or Limbeck well luted; and in a B. M. or Ashes, extract the Spirit and Volatile Salt by Distillation: if you work in Balneo, let it be boiling; if in Ashes, give your degrees of fire with precaution. Your Spirit will be found coagulated in the Limbeck in a Volatile Salt.  
But you are to observe, not to Evaporate your Urinal, but when it is recent and new; for, if you did, after Fermentation or Digestion the best Substance would Evaporate away and be lost.  
The Spirit of Urinal may also be distilled with a Limbeck in B▪ M. hot boiling, without Evaporation; but than it must be rectified.  
The same Spirit may likewise be distilled without apparent fire, which is a wondered operation, and thus performed; Evaporate the Urinal with a gentle fire about a third part away, than having filled the bottom of a Glass Body with three fingers high of good unslackt Lime, pour your Urinal thereupon being thus evaporated, than cover it quickly with its head, and fit a Receiver; and thus without the help of any fire, shall you obtain in a short time, the Spirit of Urinal so Subtle and Volatile, as not to be any way inferior to any drawn by another method: They that will make use of the open Retort of Glauber, shall more easily distil it, and in greater quantity; it is very difficult to preserve the Volatile Salt of Urinal, by reason of its subtle nature, and the penetrability of its parts, therefore is it necessary to digest it with its own Spirit, and unite them both together, preserving them in a Glass Viol of a narrow neck, and fenced with a double bladder wetted above all.  
This Volatile soline Spirit, or spiritual Salt is endowed with almost innumerable Virtues: for it is first, of a sovereign efficacy in allaying the pain of all the parts of the body, and chiefly of joints, when mixed with some convenient liquor. It opens more than any other remedy, all tartarous obstructions of the Mizentery and Bowels; whence it is used with wondered success in Scorbutic and Hypochondryacal Diseases, to correct evil Fermentations of the Stomach, and cure the two kinds of Jaundice: it is of no lesle virtue to dissolve and attenuate the gravel and slimy substance generated in the Reinss or Bladder. It may also be made a very excellent remedy against Epileptical, Apoplectical, Maniacal-Diseases, and all other of the like nature, which are said to have their root and first original in the Brain: but it must be prepared as followeth.  
Take Vitriol purified by several Solutions, Filtrations, and Crystallizations made with distilled Rain, or which were yet better, Dew-water: Imbibe it with Spirit of Urine, until it only covers the matter; stop your Vessel very close, and put in digestion for eight or ten days, after which, put your matter thus digested in a high Glass Body, and distil it in Ashes till dry: you shall have an excellent Cephalick Remedy, to cure the Megrim and all other pains in the head, even by the only smell; and to provoke sleep, if it be only held a little space of time under the nose. That which remains in the bottom of your Glass Body or Cucurbit, must afterwards be put in a Retort in Sand, with its Recipient well luted, to draw the Volatile Salt thereof, and a kind of brown Oil, not to be despised both in Medicinal and Metallick Operations; you may also make a Dissolution of the remainder, and by Filtration, Evaporation, and Crystallization bring it to a Salt, which is one of the truest Stomachal Remedies to expel those viscosities and hurtful superfluities which most commonly stick to the sides of crude and illdisposed Stomaches: it must be given in Broth or warm Beer. The dosis must be from viij grains to xx. and even to ℥ ss. The dosis of the Spirit of Urine, is from xi. drops to xij. or xv. in Emulsions, Broths or other appropriated Liquors; that of Volatile Salt from two. grains to x. in the same manner as the Spirit.   

To make the Water, Oil, Spirit, volatile and fixed Salt, of Human Blood.  
TAke in the month of May, a good quantity of some young men's blood, which they ordinarily 'cause in that season to be let out for prevention of diseases, and distil it in Ashes in a large Glass Body; but to prevent the raising of it in the Head or Limbeck, put upon it two or three handful of Hemp, luting all exactly, and fitting a convenient Receiver; rule your fire accurately by proportionate degrees, and take care above all things, that the remaining Mass after distillation in the bottom may not burn, but be only dried sufficiently. So shall you have Water and Spirit, which rectify in Balneo: with the Water you may extract the Salt remaining in the Caput mortuum, after due calcination; the Spirit may be preserved as it is, to be used against the Falling-sickness, and Convulsion fits of children. The dosis from ℥ ss. to ℥ i It is also a specific Remedy for the same diseases, if you mix with it the Flower of Lilly-convally and Lavender, to extract the Tincture thereof. It will nevertheless be better, if you cohobate it in a Retort upon what did remain in the bottom of your Cucurbit, or Glass Body nine several times, or so long till it hath got a ruby colour, and that the Oil cometh at last with its volatile Salt, sticking to the Neck of the Glass or the sides of your Recipient; than mix it with the Spirit, and join them together by distillation in Balneo. This is that Spirit impregnated with its volatile Salt, so much cried up for the cure of Palsy, being inwardly taken from six drops to ten, in Broths, or decoction of Squina-root, or in white generous Wine.  
What did remain in the bottom of the Glass Body, must be calcinated with a circular fire to extract the Salt thereof, with the water that came first in the distillation, filtering, evaporating, and crystallizing, to preserve for the following use.  
Take the distilled Oil, and rectify it upon Colcothar in Sand in a Retort, until you found it subtle and penetrative; mix the fixed Salt with your Oil, and digest it together, until they be perfectly united; and thus shall you have a wondered Balsam, to alloy the grief of Gout in hands, and feet, and remove the swelling and redness thereof: But, that which is more considerable, is, that this remedy softens, dissipates, and dissolves the Chalk gathered by the Gouty humour in the Joints, as also coagulations in the Joints of Pocky Bodies, being purged before with the ordinary preparations of Mercury and Antimony.  
But you must not stick still at the Spring season of the year, whereby to get your blood; for if necessity doth require it, you may take it also in the other seasons of the year; you may also make use of Goat, Swine, Near, or Sheep's blood, and distil it with the same Art, and in the same manner as human blood; for in perfect Animals, the natural digestions are performed in the same manner, and their blood is endowed with the same virtues; only that of Man is of a subtler nature, by reason of the delicacy of his food.   

To make the Salt and Elixir of the Stone and Bladder.  
IT is a wonder of Nature, that the very same thing which causes in Man such extremities of torture, ●●ould become to the same disease so good and certain a remedy: this is experimented in the Stone of the Bladder, which without any other preparation than being reduced to small Powder, may be administered from ℈ i to ʒ i. in white Wine, or decoction of Burredock Roots and read Nettles, to dissolve the Stone in the Bladder, and expel gravel and slime from it and from the Kidneys: but those Remedies being heightened by Chemical preparation, are much more efficacious, and do act with a much greater quickness.  
Take than a parcel of these Stones, reduce them to powder, and join with 2. pints of Beach Goal pulverised, and thus being put in a well luted Crucible, calcine it with a circular or reverberatory fire, the space of five or six hours; and being cooled, grinned your matter upon a Marble, and, with some diuretical Water make a Lie thereof; o●, with Phlegm of Salt-Peter, or Allom, filtrate and evaporate till it skins; than in a cold place draw your Crystals, and so continued to do, till you have extracted all the Salt; which if you found not yet sufficiently cleansed, put it again in a Crucible, and let it grow red-hot in the fire without fusion, than purify by reiterated solutions, filtrations, evaporations and crystallizations, until you like it. You must keep this Salt well dried, in a Glass Viol. well stopped, jest by the attraction of Air, it should contract moisture. The dosis is from iv. grains to viij. in appropriated Liquors, to facilitate the excretion of Urinal, dissolve and expel the gravel and slimy matter in the Reinss and Bladder, which most commonly are the occasional cause of generating the Stone.  
But if you will have an Essence or Elixir out of it much more efficatious than this Salt, calcine the Stone with equal weight of well purified Salt-Peter in a Crucible with a circular fire, the space of six hours; than extract the Salt from the matter calcinated, with Spirit of Wine, filtrate, evaporate, and draw your Crystals, and when they are well desiccated, put them to digest in a double Vessel in Baelnei vapore, with rectified Spirit of Wine: than cover it with a head, and draw the Spirit of Wine in a gentle Balneo, and cohobate so often, till the Salt be reduced to a very subtle and clear Liquor, which you are choysely to preserve; it must be given from five drops to ten, for the same Diseases, and in the same Liquors before mentioned.  
The Artist must not scruple to make use of Nitre in the Calcination of the Stone of the Bladder, jest its Salt should join with the other●: for, besides that all, what is volatile, sharp and corrosive in the Nitre, flies away in the calcination, that substance of it which remains after the Stone is calcined, can but augment the efficacy of the Remedy, than lessen or obstruct it, being reduced by the action of the fire to the universal nature.  
Having thus ended to treat of those things, which are extracted from Man's body during its life; we will end this Chapter by examining those Sustances' which his Body may afford after death; beginning with the Flesh, which doth furnish us with several considerable preparations, as in the sequel will appear.   

Of Human Flesh and its Preparations.  
THe Mummy which is prepared out of the Flesh of Man, is one of the noblest Remedies which all the parts of his Body can afford: But, because it is abhorred by some natures, and is neither known, nor well apprehended by others, it will not be unfit to say something of its differences, before we come to the description of its true Preparation.  
Those that have more learnedly writ of Mummy among the Ancients, make only four kinds of it: the first is the Arabiack, which is nothing else but a Liquor flowing from Bodies embalmed with Myrrah, Aloes, and natural Balsam mixed and acorporated, with the fleshy substance of embalmed bodies, contaming the Spirit and volatile Salt, from which doth result the Mummial part, which composes with Myrrah, Aloes, and Balsom this first kind of Mummy of the Ancients, which were not to be despised, if recoverable; but none such is to be found at this day.  
The second kind, is the Egyptian Mummy, which is a Liquor thickened and dried, proceeding from the Bodies which have been seasoned and filled with a Balsam, ordinarily called Asphaltum, or Pissasphaltum (a kind of Bitumen). Now as Sulphur in natural bodies is incorruptible, so is it by his means and Balsamic faculty also, that dead bodies are preserved against corruption: This second kind is much inferior to the first, and is only fit for outward uses, being not capable to draw from the dead body, the virtues of the median life, which was hidden and concealed in the parts, by reason of the compactedness and closeness of parts of these Bituminous Sulphureous Substances, which are dry, crumbling, brikle.  
The third kind is altogether to be laughed at and rejected, being nothing else but an Artificial Pissasphaltum, viz. black Pitch mixed with Bitumen, and boiled with a Liquor issuing from the dead Bodies of Slaves, to give it the cadaverous smell; and this third sort is usually found in Druggers shops, which furnish Apothecaries; deceived by the odour of this D●ugg sophisticated and falsified. This that I say, have I learned from a Jew of Alexandria in Egypt, laughing himself at the credulity and ignorance of Christians.  
The fourth, and best, and lesle so phisticated kind, is that of Human Bodies, dried up in the hot Sands of Lybia; for it happens often, that whole Caravans are swallowed up in the Sands, when any contrary wind doth in an instant arise, and whirling the Sand, doth in an instant cover and overwhelm them unawares. I have said, that this fourth kind is the best, because it is uncompounded, and that this sudden suffocation doth concentrate the Spirits in all the parts, by reason of the fear and sudden surprisal, which seizes on Travellers, according to that saying of Virgil,  Membra quatit, gelidusque coit formidine sanguis. 
And because moreover the sudden exsiccation caused by the heat of the Sand, or the irradiation of the Sun, communicates unto it some astral virtue, which by any other way whatsoever cannot be performed.  
They that can recover this last kind of Mummy, shall make use of it towards the following preparations: But, because these dead bodies so dried, are not still to be recovered, and that the Remedies thereof extracted are very useful and necessary; the ingenious Artist may substitute a fifth kind of Mummy, viz. that which Paracelsus calleth Mumiam Patibuli; and which may lawfully be also called the Modern Mummy, which you may prepare in the following manner.   

Preparation of the Modern Mummy.  
TAke some young lusty man's body, of about 25 or 30 years of age, dead by suffocation or hanging, and dissect the Muscles without loss of their common Membrane, and being thus separated, dip in Sp. of Wine, and suspend in a place where the air may be dry and pass freely to and from, that they may be soon desiccated, and the volatile Salt and Spirit contained therein, may be concentrated in the fibres, the serous and unserviceable part only vapouring away; and if so be the weather proves moist and rainy, these Muscles must be hung in a Chimney, and every day aired with a small fire of Iuniper wood, having all its leass and berries, until they become as dry and well seasoned as the powdered Beef, which Mariners use for long Sea-voyages. Thus will you have a Mummy not inferior to that of the fourth kind before described; yea in some regard to be more valued, because we are assured of her preparation, and we can upon any occasion more easily come by it, and that it seemeth that the Spirits, Volatile Salt, and the Mumial and Balsamic Substance, must by this Preparation be better preserved, the flesh thereof not being dried with so intense and great a heat.   

To make the modern Mumial Balsam.  
TAke lb 1. of the fifth kind of Mummy, and bray it with a wooden Pestle in a Mortar, until it be reduced to very thin fibres; which cut afterwards very small with Cizzers, and put in a long-neckt Matrass, pouring thereon Oil of Olives impregnated with spirit of Turpentine, which is properly her Aethereal Oil, until it swims above the matter three or four fingers high, seal your Glass Hermetically, and digest it in Fimo, or at the vapour of a hot Bath or B. M. in dust of Wood, during the space of a Philosophical Month, which is a space of forty days, without interruption of the heat: Than opening the Vessel, pour your matter into a Cucurbite, and without covering put it in Balneo M. and so let all the nauseous smell which it had contracted, exhale away, and all the Mummy be dissolved; than strain it through a Cotton, and let this dissolution digest in Balneo in a couble Glass, with equal portion of rectified Spirit of Wine, wherein you shall have dissolved ℥ two. of old treacle, and mixed ℥ i of Viper's flesh in powder, during the space of three weeks, at the end whereof, you shall take away the blind head of the double Glass, and cover the remaining body with a Limbeck-head, drawing away the Sp. V with a very gentle heat of Balneo; and thus shall you have a most efficacious Balsam, useful both inwardly and out wardly applied.  
It is an excellent internal remedy against all venomous Diseases, but particularly against Pestilential, and all those that come near their nature. It is also singular for inward bruises, and congealed blood by a fall, for Palsy, contracted Limbs, and weakened by Atrophy, Pleurisy, and all other Diseases which are helped by sweeting: Therefore great heed must be had to cover well the Patients to whom it shall be exhibited. The Dosis is from ʒ i to ʒ iii in Broths, or Tincture of Sassafras, or Juniper-berries.  
But the virtues of it outwardly applied, cannot enough be commended, for it is a Balsam to be preferred even to the Natural, which appeases all external griefs or aches proceeding from cold, or any wind or vapour shut up in the spaces that are between the Muscles, as also caused by bruises and crushing; you may also anoint therewith Limbs struck with Palsy, shrunk and contracted parts of the body, or weakened for want of nourishment; you may also rub therewith all places of the body where a pain is felt, and no swelling or redness seen: but you must observe, that it will be good at the same time, to give some inwardly to the patiented, that the internal heat may cooperate with the external; to this end he must be well covered, and left to his rest for some hours, to provoke sweeting, or to cause that which occasioneth the grief and vice of the parts, insensibly to transpire.   

How the Fat of Man's Body is to be prepared and distilled.  
THe Fat of Man's Body, without other preparation, is of itself an outward remedy very considerable; for it strengthens the feeble parts, and dissipates the external dryness, appeases griefs, dissolves contractions, and restores to sinewous parts their action and motion lost, softens the hardness of Cicatrices or Scars, fills up holes and cavities, and smooths the hollow places whi●h the Smallpox leaves usually in the skin.  
The first preparation is common and simple: for it prescribes only to cut it and boil it in Whitewine, until the pieces are well crisped, and the moisture of the Wine evaporated; than crush it between two Tin-plates warmed before: and so keep it for use.  
The second preparation is, when you intent an Anodine Ointment, cooling, and resolving, which may very successfully be applied in swell, inflammations, hardnesses, and other accidents usually happening to Wounds and Ulcers, either by the Patients own distemper and ill diet, or the Surgeons neglect and unskilfulness: You must thus prepare it. Take Phlegm of Vitriol, or Alum, impregnated with their sharp, sour spirit, about lb ss. put therein to digest in Sand ℥ two. of washed and dried lethargy or white Lead, stirring it often; and when your Liquor is well impregnated, filtrate it, and thereof make a Lineament in the form of a Nutritum: and if you desire to make it more specific, add to it in the stirring some proportion of the Tincture of Myrrh and Aloes, drawn with good Spirit of Wine.  
The third and last preparation is the exactest and best, and is performed by distillation in this manner. Take 1 p. of Fat, and 2 or 3 p. of decrepitated Salt, and being well mixed and incorporated together, put it in a glass Retort, joined to its Recipient, both well luted S. A. in a Sand-furnace, than give it a graduate fire, until the bottom of the Retort groweth read, which may be performed in the space of eight hours; and thus shall you have an Oil of a subtle and penetrative nature, a sovereign remedy to re-animate, and take away the benumbing of Paralytic Limbs, which for the most part are cooled and deprived of nourishment: better by much than the substance from whence it was extracted, to all the uses and purposes which we have assigned it hereabove. And if you will make this Oil yet more subtle and penetrating, circulate it in Balneo with equal pawn of Sp. of Wine, for the space of some days; than rectify and distil in Ashes, in a low Glass body; by this means it shall become so penetrating, that scarce it can be preserved in Glass, and becomes imperceptible as soon as applied, by reason of its quick penetration.  
These Preparations already described, may be a pattern for all other kinds of Oils, Butters, Fats, and such like, which by this method may be made more efficacious and penetrating.   

To make the Spirit, Oil, and Volatile Salt of Man's Bones and Skull.  
THe preparation of the Skull, shall not differ from that of the Bones; wherefore we will not loose time in making two several descriptions, the one and the other being thus wrought.  
Take the Bones of a Man extinguished by violent death, which neither have been buried under ground, nor boiled, nor put in Quicklime, and saw them in pieces of a convenient size to be put in a Retort well luted, and being filled not above the two third part: put it in a close Reverberatory Furnace with open fire; and having exactly luted and fitted a Recipient to it, cover the Reverberatory, leaving only a hole of about the bigness of an inch and a half diameter, to be as a Register for ruling the fire, which aught to be moderately graduated, until all the white steams be over; than change your Recipient, or empty the matter contained in the first, and lute it again exactly, continuing and increasing the fire, until you drive out the Oil with a Volatile Salt and the remainder of the Spirit, which work must be thus pursued, until the Recipient gins to clear of itself, which will hap in the space of twelve hours, from the beginning of your Operation. But you must note, that the dust coming out of the sawing of the Bones, must be preserved, or some other provided by scraping or filing, to be used in rectifying of the Spirit, Oil, or Volatile Salt. You must also calcine and reverberate with open fire to whiteness, between bricks, the pieces or lump remaining in your Retort, that they may serve in a manner to stay and fix the Volatile Salt, which otherwise, by reason of its subtle nature, cannot be preserved: as we shall declare, when we come to speak of the distillation and rectification of the Extract of Hartshorn.  
I cannot here bury under silence an experiment wherein I was an Eye-witness, in the person of a Cornet, who had received a Musket-shot in the thigh, near unto the knee, and who after the wound healed, had both his leg and knee so strangely put out of their natural posture and situation, that his heel did almost stick unto the buttock, which made him uncapable of the function of his employment. But their Surgeon mayor, who was a High Germane, did undertake the restoring of his knee to its natural motion; which to effect, he administered unto him every day, for the space of six weeks, ʒ i. of the powder of a thigh or leg-bone of a man, who some years before had been dissected, in his ordinary Broths; by which he did recover not only the bending of his knee, but made him capable, before the six weeks ended, to Fence, play at Tennis, ride on Horse back, and perform all other exercises. Whence you may note, that so rare a Cure could not proceed but from the volatile, spiritual and penetrating Salt, which this remedy did contain, since the material part of the bone could never pass so far as the last digestions. I have quoted this history, to no other purpose than to persuade the better, and lay more open to the understanding, the effects of those remedies which are extracted from the skull and bones of Man, by distillation, separating artificially the pure parts from impurity. The Spirit and Volatile Salt of Man's skull is given against Epilepsy, in water of Lime-tree flowers, Lilly-Convally, or Peony: that of bones is also successfully administered, to restore contracted and dried Limbs; provided you rub them also with Balsam of Modern Mummy: The Oil of skull and bones is only appliable outwardly, to cleanse and heal filthy and corroding Ulcers, provided you mix a little powder of Colchotar, and every other day ply the patiented with vulnerary and purgative potions. The Dosis of the Spirit is from three drops to ten, and of the Volatile Salt fixed from four grains to eight.   

The manner of preparing Remedies out of Hartshorn.  
ALthough we have given a method whereby to perform all Chemical Operations, in extracting remedies from the parts of Animals; yet because there may be many that will be shy ●o work upon the parts or substance of Man, and that some Animals parts do differ from that of Man, and contain in themselves a greater share of the useful substance, to encounter and cure diseases: I thought it necessary, exactly to describe such good remedies, as may be extracted out of Hartshorn, and lawfully substitured to those which are extracted from the body of Man. For we must confess, that there is something very noble, and worthy of our consideration, in the annual production of the Stag's head, which every Spring he doth renew by a kind of Vegetation: And to prove and clear this truth, it is to be noted, that the head of this noble Creature, becomes than only useless and troublesome to him when he is grown decayed and lean; which the French Huntsman expresses by a very significan: Physical notion, Tomber enpavuretè, Grown poor; for their meaning is, that the Deer hath want of good and sufficient food during the Winter season, when the earth being long covered with snow, these poor Creatures are exhausted of natural spirits, and want sufficiency of radical moisture, to fill up and shoot into their heads, having scarce enough to prop up and maintain their life, which makes them in that season prove lean and languishing. But when the Spring, repairer of Nature, restores again the fresh Grass to Valleys, and tender buds to the Copses, they are so plentifully reanimated with a new fire, that the sublimated Spirits shooting into the head, do provoke them by a violent itching to cast their old head, which at that time is become spongious and hollow, and spoiled of its best and principal part, which is a volatile spiritual Salt, in which doth consist all its Medicinal virtue; after which they recover a new Velvet head, soft in the beginning, and filled with a very subtle Salt; which hardens by degrees, till it hath attained to its full perfection: From whence we may gather, that it is very necessary to have a regard in the choice of the heads of this noble Creature; for, you must not take for Operations, any of the cast heads, neither before they have attained their full and requisite firmness; or when they are too near the Winter-season: but the fittest time to have it in its true perfection, is between the two Feasts of our Lady in September; for at this time it is sufficiently furnished with Spirit, Volatile Salt, and Oil, to prepare those Medicines with it, which we shall hereunder describe: The Stag or Deer must be killed by the Dogs. But before we go further, it will not be from our purpose, to show, How the Water of Stag's head is to be distilled, whilst it is yet tender, and covered with its hair, being a Water of very great virtue, and much lesle heating than the other remedies which we shall describe; her Spirits being but yet in their Embryo, not sufficiently concocted and digested, to attain their last perfection.   

How the Velvet head of a Stag is to be distilled, to have thereby the Water of the Stags-head.  
TAke the said Velvet-head from the 15 of May to the end of June; cut it in pieces of the thickness of a half-fingers breadth, and place them checker-wise one upon another, in the bottom of a Class Retort, which put in Balneo, and when all is ready, give fire till the Water gins to drop down, continuing that degree of heat until no more water comes out: you may afterwards put your Cucurbite in Ashes, to extract the remaining moisture, that the pieces being more dry, may the more easily be preserved. Some do add Wine, Cinament, Mace, a little Saffron in the distilling, to make the Water more efficacious, chief to ease women in hard Labours, help to expel the afterburthen when they are grown weak, as also to cleanse the womb from such serosities, as during the Child-bearing have crept in between the Membranes, causing with the remaining blood, those gripe wherewith women newly brought to bed are for the most part tormented. The industrious and curious Apothecary, may make it simple and compounded, the better to answer those Physicians intentions which will be willing to employ him. The Dosis of the simple-water is from half a spoonful to two, and even to more, considering it is a water that strengthens without altering and heating; and besides its singular use in Childebeds, it is of no lesle efficacy in all diseases where there is a touch of venom. They that will preserve it long, must add to each pound weight of this water ʒ i ss. of Borax in powder, by which it will increase the more its virtues for Childe-births, since Borax itself is a specific remedy to help and facilitate Delivery. The Dosis of Compounded Water must be lesle, for it must not be administered above ʒ two. in quantity, in all malignant, and spotted or purpureous Fevers, but chief in Measles and Smallpox it is a most sovereign Antidote.  
The pieces which did remain in the bottom of the Glass, are not to be cast away, but rather to be preserved, and being beaten into very small powder, used from ℈ ss. to ʒ ss. for kill Worms in Children, and to hinder their breeding, giving it in decoction of Scraping of Hartshorn and Ivory; this powder hath not lost its virtue, because the heat of B. M. is not strong enough to elevate the Volatile Salt, which was enclosed in the most solid parts of these pieces.   

A Philosophical Preparation of Hartshorn.  
MAny are of opinion that Hartshorn cannot be made tender and crumbling enough to be easily afterwards reduced to powder, without previous Calcination; but as this way of Calcination deprives it from its Spirits and Salt, the Sons of Art have found a way of a Philosophical Calcination, which preserves its virtue: whereby may easily appear how much ancient Pharmacy doth come short from that which in our days hath received the light of Chemistry.  
Take than well-chosen Hartshorn, and gathered in its true season; saw it in pieces of the length of a Pan about the ends, than putting two sticks cross-ways towards the top of such a Glass Body as usually serves for distillation of Spirits and Waters, there suspend with a packthread pieces of the branches of the Deers head cut as before, when you are to distil any Cordial Waters, such as of Carduus Benedictus, Vlmaria, or small Centaury; or, which would yet be better, when you go about to distil any fermented matters, which sand forth more penetrative and subtle vapours, you must cover the glass body with a Limbeck, and give the same degree of fire as for the distilling of Aqua Vitae; so shall these vapours penetrate into the very centre of your Hartshorn, and make it as easy to crumble and be reduced to powder, as if calcined with open fire, and grinded upon the Porphyry: but you must prosecute the work of your distillation, four or five days, without intermission or opening the Vessel; for which reason, the Glass Body must have a hole towards the upper part, placed side-wise, whereby to recruit it with warm Water proportionably as it diminishes by distillation, taking care also that the Liquor should not come near the suspended matter by half a foot. And if it be objected, that the vapours may carry along with them the most subtle Spirits of the Hartshorn: We answer, that it may be so, and that these cordial and sudorific Waters, whether distilled Spirits of fermented Iuniper, or Elderberries, do thereby contract a greater virtue: but that this vaporous heat is not sufficient to carry along with it the Volatile Salt, enclosed up in the matter by the strict bond and union it hath with the Oil or Sulphur, which cannot be disunited but by a much more violent heat. Hartshorn thus prepared, is much better than that which did remain in the foregoing distillation, as much to strengthen and provoke sweat, as to give to Children against Worms, and hinders all those corruptions which breed for the most part in their tender stomaches. The Dosis is from ℈ ss. to ʒ ss;. and ℈ two. in cordial and sudorific Waters, or in some specific Conserve, against all Pestilential and Venomous Diseases.   

How to prepare the Spirit, Oil, and Volatile Salt of Hartshorn.  
TAke of Hartshorn with its requisite conditions, as much as you think fit, saw it by round pieces of the thickness of two Crowns, fill with it a Glass Cucurbit or Retort well Luted, and put it in a close Reverberatory to open fire, which graduate until the drops begin to follow one another in the Recipient well Luted with a wet Bladder, and fall not faster than you may reckon Four between the interval of each drop falling; than continued and direct the fire upon the same equality and rule, until the drops begin to cease; than remove your Receiver, and empty it, than put it again, and lute it with good salted Lute S. A. and increase the fire by a degree, until the Oil doth begin to distil, with some little remainder of the Spirit, and the Volatile Salt will gather itself by degrees, and stick to the neck of the Retort, and thence pass in the form of a Vapour in the body of the Recipient, where it shall stick to the side in the figure and form of Stags-horns, and branches of Trees, when they are loaden with hoar-frost or snow; which is an Operation very pleasing to the sight; for, of this Volatile Salt some part also under the shape of snow, doth fall into the bottom of the Recipient, and joins itself to the Spirit which is under the Oil. Than continued the last degree of fire, until nothing more cometh out, and the Recipient gins to appear without vapours.  
But it is not enough to have extracted out of Hartshorn these several Substances, but the Artist must be taught besides how to rectify them, both to take away as much as is possible the Empyreuma thereof, as to separate its grosseness; And to begin with the first extracted Substance, which is the Spirit, it must be rectified in Ashes, with gentle and soft fire, in a Glass Retort, wherein you have put sawing or scrape of Hartshorn three or four fingers high, and so shall the Spirit come forth fair, clear, depurated and deprived of the greatest part of its ill odour: The first drawn is to be preferred to the last; because it is a Volatile Spirit, whose nature it is to ascend first still; the remainder must be cast away, as unuseful and unserviceable, but the rectified Spirit is to be choysely kept in a Glass Viol of a narrow neck, very well stopped.  
It is an excellent remedy either inwardly or outwardly applied: for it purifies and cleanses the whole mass of the Blood, of its serous superfluities by Urines and by Sweat, as also by insensible Transpiration; therefore it is a true Specific against Scurvy, the Pox, and all other Diseases proceeding from alteration of blood. Finally, this Volatile Spirit may worthily be substituted to that which is or may be extracted from all the parts of other Animals, and to be an excellent remedy to all the same purposes as the others formerly mentioned. But outwardly applied, it is also of a marvelous use; for it cleanses wonderfully all malignant, corrosive, cancerous, or fistulous Ulcers, if they be washed with it, or if it be injected with a Spring. It serves also for fresh wounds, caused either by fire, sword, or otherwise, preventing all dangerous accidents; it is friendly to Nature, and helps her to the reunion of separated parts, whose intention being not to 'cause suppuration, or a colliquation of the flesh and adjacent parts, so doth this Spirit hinder the same: But note also, that you must give it inwardly at the same time, from six drops to twelve, in vulnerary potions, or the Patients ordinary drink. To be short, this Spirit is nothing else but a Volatile Salt turned to Liquor, as the Volatile Salt reciprocally a Spirit compacted and condensated; whence it comes to pass, that they may indifferently be administered to the same purpose, except that the Dosis of the Volatile Salt, must be something lesle than that of the Spirit; so that the virtues attributed to the one, may be said also to be proper to the other.  
We have no other observation to impart, for the rectifying of the Volatile Salt and Oil, but that the Operation must be performed in a Retort, upon scrape of Hartshorn, and with the fame circumstances for regulating the fire. So shall you have a fair, clear, and Ruby-red Oil, swimming over the Volatile Salt passed into the Recipient, or sublimated to the neck of the Glass, the Salt must be dissolved with its proper rectified Spirit, by a dissolution made in the vaporous heat of lukewarm water, to separate it from the Oil: This dissolution is to be filtrated through Paper, which must be moistened by the Spirit before you pour any thing into it, and you shall have the Oil by itself, and the Salt in its proper Spirit, which thereby is so much bettered, and keeps thus better than alone, unless it be stayed and fixed, as we shall direct to do hereafter. To this end put the dissolution of the Salt and Spirit in a Cucurbit in Balneo to distil again the Spirit, and sublimate the Salt in the head, or if you please in a Retort: It is almost impossible to preserve this Salt, so penetrative and subtle it is, therefore it must be stayed in the following manner. Take the round pieces which were left in the bottom, after the distillation performed, being very black, calcine them in open fire to whiteness, reduce one part to powder, which mix with equal weight of its Volatile Salt, and sublime together, and so begin afresh with new Hartshorn calcined to whiteness re-iterating four or five times, and thus shall you have a volatile Salt fixed, which you may keep, transport or sand with lesle danger than the Spirit: nevertheless, it is my counsel to use rather Spirit, filled, and as it were saturated with volatile Salt, to all the ends and purposes to be declared hereafter.  
This Remedy might truly be called a Panacea, or Universal Medicine, considering the wondered effects it is apt to produce; for it is sovereign against Epilepsy, Apoplexy, Lethargy, & generally against all Diseases, whose spring and original is ascribed unto the Brain: It takes away all obstructions of Liver, Spleen, Mesentery, and Pancreas; resists all Venom's, Pestilence, and all kinds of Fevers, or aguish distempers, none excepted. It cleanses the Kidneys and Bladder from all slimy substances, which are the cause and original of Stones; corrects all defects of the Ventricle, and peculiarly indigestions, which occasions an ill breath: it is a specifical remedy for the Lungs, if it be digested with the Milk of Sulphur. It allays the immoderate looseness of the Belly, and the woman's purgations, because it evacuates superfluous serosities, which are the cause thereof: but, that which seemeth more inconceivable and wondered, is, that it opens also the Belly when bound, and provokes Monthly Purgations, restoring all the functions of Nature in their former estate, and removes all gross and terrestrious matters, which did hinder their effect. I make no doubt, but I shall appear ridiculous to all them which do not understand the sphere of activity of Volatile Salts: but I know likewise, that those who know with me, that this Salt is the last cover, and cloak as it were, of Spirit and Light, shall not found it strange, that I should attribute so many noble effects, to this admirable Remedy. But I will yet unfold and open more this Mystery, as much as lies in me, by a description of what daily is done in our Kitchings, in the preparation of meats, both for healthy and sick people. Is it not unknown to all, that no Cook can make either a Bisk or good Bagon, without making use of the Broth, gravy, and juices of the best kinds of meat; now it is only by their Volatile Salt, variously disposed and mixed, that the pleasure and tickling which affects our taste, is communicated to the Palate. Are there not also Jelleys, strong Broths, and Juices of boiled Meats prepared for the sick, whereof the material and earthly dregss and superfluities are thrown away, being deprived of that Salt, which remains in the Jelleys; and is the only principle of congelation: they are exhibited to weak and crazy bodies, that their Stomach might sooner turn these aliments to the substance of the parts by the easiness of digestion. The same doth our Artist in the preparation of the Volatile Salts, which are capable to show suddenly their Virtues, in that they soon penetrate all the parts of our bodies, and carry along with them that wondered efficacy which we have attributed them. And do we not see, that both the ancient and modern Physic, hath ever prescribed Hartshorn as a necessary ingredient amongst her Cordials, hath in very great esteem the bone of a Stags-heart, and that the shops daily prepare Hartshorn Jelley, rather to strengthen the Patient, than to nourish him. But we leave all this to the Touchstone of Experience, which is the true ground of all our foregoing Ratiocinations.   

To make the Tincture of the Volatile Salt of Hartshorn.  
TAke the Volatile Salt rectified, and put it in a double Glass, or Blind-head, which would yet be better in a Pelican; pour on twice the weight of it of Alkool of Wine, and so let it stand twelve or fifteen days, in extraction and digestion together, in the gentle heat of a vaporous Bath; and if all the Salt was not dissolved, draw of what is already tincted by inclination, and pour on new Alkool to perfect the extraction and dissolution. So shall you have a Tincture much more exalted than the preceding Remedies, fit for all the uses we have already mentioned; and moreover, a most rare Remedy, and of very present help and efficacy in Apoplexies; by reason of its subtlety which is so great, that it can scarce be preserved in the best stopped and closest Vials.  
The same may be done with the Volatile Salt stayed, and as it were fixed, but it will not all dissolve, neither shall its tincture be of that penetration and efficacy; but it will be much more pleasing, and deprived of the nauseous smell: The dosis of the first is from iij. drops to viij. or ix; and of the second from vi. drops to xij.   

Of the Preparations made out of Vipers.  
WE shall close this Chapter of the Chemical Preparations of Animals, by examining the several Remedies which Vipers do afford by the help of Chemistry: for this Reptile is endowed with a very subtle and efficacious Volatile Salt for the cure of several obstinate diseases. Galen doth make several relations of leprous bodies cured by the only drinking of Wine wherein Vipers had been suffocated. Cardan doth also prove the same truth, in a consultation which he sent to John Archbishop of S. Andrews in Scotland containing this sense. I will declare you a very great secret for the cure of consumptive bodies, leprous, and corroded with Pox, etc. which fattens and restores them against all hope. Take a well chosen Viper, cut of the head and tail, pull of the skin, throw away the entrails, and preserve the Fat by itself: cut it in bits as you would do an Eel, and sod it in a sufficient quantity of Water, with Benjeethin and Salt, adding towards the end some few Parsley leaves: being well sodden, strain the Broth, and in that Broth boil a Pullet, and give every morning to the Patiented Bread that hath been dipped in that Broth, and let him eat the Pullet: Continued thus seven days together; but keep the Patient either in a Stove, or a very warm Room during the time, and anoint him with the Viper's fat all along the backbone and other joints of the body, as also the arteries of the feet, hands, and breast. This way are the Ulcers of the Lungs cured, for they are driven to the surface of the skin in the form of Pustula's and other eruptions. Quercetan doth also speak very advantageously of Vipers in his Dogmatical Pharmacy. Several other Authors have followed these two: but we must acknowledge here, that they have all stumbled against the same rock, holding the Viper to be venomous either wholly in itself, or at lest in some parts.  
But the Experiment related by Galen, must confounded this opinion of the Ancient and Modern Authors, since that Viper was whole and alive, when suffocated in the Wine which did cure his Leprousy. The English Ladies herein shame the vulgar of Physicians themselves, making no scruple to drink of that Wine, wherein living and entire Vipers have been suffocated, to keep themselves in their plumpness. Sound disposition of Body, and quickness of Spirits, hinder the injury of wrinkles, and preserve their flying beauty. But that which is yet more remarkable in this particular, is, that the Italian Curtesana's preseve themselves against the Venerean disease, and its sad accidents, taking every Spring and fall, Broths, made of Pullet's, Viper's flesh, and China root. None amongst our Modern Physicians, but the famous Poterius, and the most learned and subtle Philosopher Van Helmont, have well explained wherein the poison of Vipers doth consist; which is only placed in the sting of choler, which prints in the imagination of that Animal an envenomed Idea.  
Fabritius Hildanus, and many other grave and renowned Authors, do by their observations authorize the truth of the effects; but the two quoted only have taught us the true seat of poison, which cannot be but in the Spirit of the Animals life; as the Italian Proverb hints very well; which faith, that Morta la Bestia, morto il veleno, since Man itself, Dogs, Horses, Wolf's, Cats, Polecats, etc. leave no venomous impression by their bites, but when they are angered, and their Imagination poisoned with a desire of rage and vengeance.  
And let this hint suffice by the by, to prove more and more, that all the Virtue of things is placed in the Spirits and Life, which are nothing else but a portion of the Universal Spirit, and corporified light. We come now to the Preparations made of Vipers, and of their parts.   

The manner of desiccating Vipers, to make the Powder and Trochisks thereof.  
THe election of Vipers doth only consist in taking them after they have forsaken their holes, and are more full and fed; the regard of their sex is indifferent, provided the female is not big with young ones: they are to be chosen in high elevated and dry places, leaving them that breed about Ponds, or Morish and watery places.  
Take of these Vipers as much as you please, pull of the skin and the entrails, keeping the Heart and Liver; than put them in a large Glass Body or Cucurbit, where you may have sufficient room to place and order them upon small sticks, that they may not touch one the other: place your Glass with a Head in Balneo, and so desiccate your Vipers; having first strewed over a little Nitre very pure, or Flowers of Salt Armoniac; preserve the Water which shall issue forth from it, for such uses as we shall hint hereafter. Nota, that every 12. hours your Vipers must be turned in the Glass, that they may dry equally.  
Thus shall you have a matter to make the true Powder of Vipers, not full of thirds or filaments, which may be administered in its own Water, or in Wine, or Cinnamon, or Sassafras Water from ℈ i to ʒ i. in all Fevers, but particularly in pestilential and contagious ones, and in the Plague itself, as also against Epilepsy and Apoplexy: but the other following Preparations are preferable to this Powder.  
But if you will prepare Trochisks, take other Vipers, and pulling of their skins and entrails, cut them in pieces, and boil them in the water, which you did preserve in the preceding distillation, in a hot boiling Balneo, in a Glass Body covered with its Head, until this Broth comes to be of the consistency of a Jelley: with this Jelley beaten in a Marble Mortar the Viper's Powder, and reduce it to Paste, which you shall frame in Trochisks or small rolls, having anointed your hands with Peruvian Balsam, Oil of Cloves and Nutmegs made by expression: Those that will rightly prepare treacle, may make use of these Trochisks instead of them which the ancient Dispensatories do prescribe, which are only crumbs of Bread, and Viper's Flesh destituted of all the faculties, which reside in their Volatile Salt. The Powder of these Trochisks is preferable to the single Powder, because they are impregnated with the proper substance and virtue of the Animal, besides that they are lesle apt to corrupt than the Powder. The dosis is from ℈ ss to ℈ ij. in the Water's abovementioned.   

How the Spirit, Oil, volatile Salt, volatile fixed Salt, sublimation of that Salt, and the fixed Salt of Vipers, is to be prepared.  
I Should be unjust to attribute unto myself the manner and invention of all these Operations, since the glory is lawfully due to the learned Zwelpherus, Physician to his Imperial Majesty, yet living, who by his accurate learned and judicious Notes, upon the Auspurgian Pharmacy, hath purchased to himself an Immortal name; having corrected the defects of the ancient and modern Pharmacy, with so clear a judgement and so uncontrollable and confirmed an experience, that all those which will follow the operations of the noblest Pharmacy, must ever acknowledge themselves his debtors.  
I will only hint, in the way, that the invention of Volatilising again the volatile Salt of Vipers is mine, after it hath been as it were fixed by an acid substance. And as this gallant man hath been pleased to make his Experiments become public, thereby to oblige Posterity; so would I not conceal the secret of this operation, since thereby a great benefit may accrue to poor diseased bodies, although the invention of it be not vulgar, and does particularly belong to my discovery.  
Take well fed Vipers without distinction of sex, pull out the Entrails, and separate the Heart and Liver, dry them in a Stove or Oven, moderately heated, and being thus very well dried, beaten into gross Powder, and fill therewith a Glass Retort, which put in a close Reverberatory, upon the cover of an Earthen Pot turned up-side down, upon which put two handful of Ashes or Sand, to fence the Retort instead of lute, and hinder the first brunt and violence of fire; than cover your Reverberatory, and fit a capacious Receiver to the Neck of the Retort, and give a graduate fire, until the Retort grows read, and the Recipient cleareth during the violence of the fire, which is an evident token that all the vapours are dispersed, that is done in lesle than 12 hours. When all is cooled again, you shall found three different Substances in your Receiver, which are the Phlegm and Spirit mixed together; the Oil black and stinking, and the volatile Salt sticking to the sides of it. The volatile Salt which is about the sides, must be dissolved with the spirituous Liquor in the bottom, than must this Liquor be separated from its Oil by filtration, put afterwards the Liquor impregnated with Volatile Salt, in a high Cucurbit or Glass Body covered with its Head, and exactly luted in the Joints, and adapt to it a small matrasse for Recipient, than put your Glass in a Sand or Ash Furnace, and regulate well the fire, jest the bitter and stinking Water, which hath dissolved the volatile Salt ascend within: the sublimation being ended, separate the Salt curiously, and preserve it in a Viol stopped with Cork dipped in melted Wax, upon which pour a little of melted Brimstone, if you will preserve this Salt, otherwise it will vanish in a short time, by reason of the subtle and penetrating nature of its volatile and ●erial substance. It is this volatile Salt that possesseth so many rare virtues and wondered effects; for it hinders all corruptions which use to breed in us, opens all obstructions of the human body, dissolves and carries away all aguish distempers, and particularly the Quartane, being exhibited from 6. to 10 grains in Sassafras, Iuniper, or Elder Water, one or two hours before the Fit: it is moreover given in the Plague, and all other contagious Diseases, in Emulsions made of Columbine, Radish, Carduus Benedictus seed, to which are joined Amands, Kernels of Pine-Aples, Sugar, and a little Rose or Cinnamon Water. It is also singular against Epilepsy and Apoplexy: for it searches into the deepest parts of the bones and marrows; it is to be exhibited in Emulsions made of Water of Lily Convally, Peony Flowers, Lime-tree, Piony-seeds, Almonds, Kernels of Cherries, Peaches or Apricots. The dosis is ever from vi. to xij. grains.  
But because this Salt is of a very unpleasant smell, and unsavoury taste, Artists have been long about seeking the means how to despoil it of these two qualities, as also the Salt of Urine. yellow Amber, Hartshorn, and of the parts of man: but hitherto, none hath attained to this skill and perfection, without depriving these volatile Salts of their subtlety, and by consequence, their penetrating and diaphoretic virtue. The learned and experienced Zwelferus alone, hath well attained the Art of this useful and curious operation, after he had tried first without success several other different ways. But the dosis of this Salt given in a larger proportion, shows enough, that this purification doth fix it in a manner; and that although it be fixed, and more pleasant to the taste, it is notwithstanding of lesle efficacy. And as this great and charitable Physician provokes the sons of Art, to impart their Inventions, to tender it again more volatile, and take away that acidity that fixes it: I shall add to that Preparation, which we own to his free communication, that which my own Industry and the study of natural things have taught me.   

How Volatile Salts are to be stayed, fixed, and purified.  
TAke such volatile Salt as you think fitting, put ℥ iiij. thereof in a high Cucurbit, which cover with its Head, on the top whereof let there be a hole of the bigness of a Goose-quill, lute exactly the Joints, and put in the said hole a fitting Quill, stopped with Spanish Wax, or Gum-lack; than fit a small Recipient to the Limbeck, and softly pour by drops of very well rectified Spirit of Salt, upon your volatile Salt which is to be wrought upon, and continued thus, until the noise and strife between the sharp Spirit and volatile sulphureous Salt be over, than shall you perceive an union made of these two several Substances converted into Liquor; which if it appears to be impure, must be filtrated, if not, stop only the hole in the Limbecks Head with a Glass stopple, covered with a Bladder dipped in white of Eggs: than fit your Vessel again in Balneo, and draw of the moisture, till but two parts remain, if so be you would have your Salt crystallized; if not, draw all the moisture from it, and you shall found ℥ iiij. of Salt, fixed in a manner in the bottom of the Cucurbit or Glass Body, and if you have noted the weight of your Spirit of Salt, you shall found as much of tasteless Liquor, and full of Empyreuma in the Recipient. The Salt hath a fragrancy and very good smell, a sharp savour, and a Saline taste: The dosis of which is to be from ℈ ss. to ℈ i It hath a virtue that penetrates to the remotest parts from the first digestion, without any alteration, purifies the blood, and dissolves all excrementitious matters, which seem already to have incorporated themselves ●●●h our parts, but chief in gouty Bodies: it expels ' Urine, Sand, Gravel and viscous humours from the Kidneys and Bladder, evacuates all matters by which melancholic affections are generated, resists better than any other Remedy to Putrefaction, opens all manner of Obstructions, cures all kinds of Agues, is the true preservative and curer of the Plague; and, to end in a word, the remainder of its virtues, blots out and takes away all the ill Ideas and Impressions, which have imparted their character to the Spirit of Life, the true seat of Health and Sickness: The dosis may also be augmented or diminished, according to the age, strength, and nature of the diseased and disease. But as Zwelpherus hath been acquainted with the way of fixing the volatile Salt, by the help of an acid to take away its evil taste and smell, we will now declare the manner to draw of again this acid, and sublime the volatile Salt, restoring it to its first subtle nature, and increasing by consequence its penetrating virtue, without contracting any evil savour or smell.   

The manner of subliming again the Volatile fixed Salt.  
TAke ℥ iv. of volatile fixed, and mix it with ℥ i of Salt of Bohemian-tartar, made by calcination, and well purified; put them in a small Glass-body in Ashes; cover the same with a fitting Head, and fit to it a Recipient, if the Head hath a Limbeck, (for if it be a blind Head, there is no need of it): lute exactly the Joints, and give a graduate fire, until the sublimation be ended: so shall you have the most subtle volatile Salt that may be found in Nature, and which hath a perfect analogy and peculiar sympathy with our spirits, which are the subject of our natural heat, and radical moisture. But note by the by, that all Alkaliss have this propriety to kill acids, and never to prejudice volatile substances. The dosis of this Salt can be but from ij. grains to viij. by reason of its great subtlety, which is so penetrating, as it cannot be preserved, unless mixed with it own Liquor, or being reduced into Essence, which preparation shall be taught hereafter. It is good for all the diseases above related, but principally, that of Hartshorn and Vipers, which aught to be considered as one of the Keys of Physic.   

How the Essence of Vipers, with their true volatile Salt is to be prepared.  
TAke about 50. or 60. Hearts and Livers of Vipers, dried in the manner above related; beaten them to Powder, and put in a double Glass, pouring upon Alkool of Wine, until it swims six inches above the matter; than having covered your Glass, and luted it exactly, put it in a moist vaporous Bath, to digest with a fitting heat three or four days, to extract all the virtue thereof: that done, put all in a Glass-body in Balneo M. and with a slow heat distil the Spirit, cohobating three times, and at the fourth distil all of to the dry bottom; put in every pound of this Spirit ℥ i ss. of the true volatile Salt of Vipers, ʒ i Ambergrice essensified, as we shall describe it hereafter, ʒ ss. of Oil of Cinament, and as much of the true Essence of the external and fresh rind of Limon; put all these substances together in a Pelican, to circulate the space of 8. days; after which, put it up carefully in Glass Vials, as it becomes so precious a Remedy, and stop it with all requisite care. All the virtues which we have attributed to the volatile Salt alone, may lawfully be attributed to this noble Remedy; it hath even this advantage over and above, that it may easier be preserved than the volatile Salt; and moreover, it is one of the best and securest Antidotes in the world, worthy of the closerts of greatest Princes. The dosis is from ℈ ss. to ℈ i in Wine, Broth, or other convenient Liquors.   

The manner how to make the simple Theriacal Salt, impregnated with the Alexiterial and Confortative Virtue of Vipers.  
THe Ancients, and Quercetanus after them, have spoken of these Salts, and made a particular account thereof: but the ancient way of preparation, and the correction of it made by this famous Physician, are rather to be pitied than imitated, though he aught not to pass without praise and commendation, for having excelled in his age, and endeavoured to found the truth with all his power; but as we have got upon his shoulders, and the discoveries of modern Physicians, industrious about the search of the secrets of Nature, and our own experience having now better informed us, it is but justice and reason we should impart it to others.  
Take than lb ij. of Bay-salt, white and depurated, or as much Salgemme; dissolve it in lb x. of Riverwater well settled, than add 2 dozen of Vipers, with the Hearts and Livers, their skins and entrails pulled away: boil all together in Sand, until the Vipers do easily get of from the bones, squeeze all, clarify and filtrate, than evaporate in a hot Balneo's vapour to the dry bottom, and keep it for use in a well stopped Bottle. Of this Salt, you may give to eat to healthful and sick bodies; to the one, as a Preservative; to the other, as Restorative. It is chief of great use in Chronical Diseases, where the mass of the blood is to be purified, and the vice of digestion rectified. Those that will have it yet more specifical and stomachal, must add the distilled Oils of Cinament, Cloves, and Nutmeg-flower or Mace, with a little Sugar in Powder, which will be as an uniting mean to mix it perfectly with the Salt. ʒ i. of anon of these Oils, with ʒ i. of essensified Ambergrice is required to each lb of Salt, for in this manner the Salt will be much more efficacious. It's dosis shall be from x. grains to ʒ ss. in Broths, fasting in the morning, to cleanse the stomach from all preceding superfluities, which are for the most part the occasional causes of diseases.   

Another Preparation of a Theriacal Salt much more specifical than the foregoing.  
TAke Scordium and small Centaury fresh plucked, ana. lb. i Roots of Angelica, Zedoary, Contrayerva, Asclepias anon. ℥ ij. shred the Herbs, and pound grossly the Roots, than boil them in Balneo in a double Glass, in lb x. of distilled Water of Carduus Benedictus, and juice of Borage and Bugloss: being cooled, strain the decoction, and put it again in the Vessel; than add a dozen and a half of fresh prepared and cleansed Vipers, with their Hearts and Livers, as also the Salts alkalized of Wormwood. Carduus B. small Centaury, and Scordium. anon ℥ viij. shut up the Vessel and lute it, and let it boil the space of half a day, and all being cooled, clarify it, filtrate, and evaporate in the vapour of a Bath in a Glass-body with its head to a dry bottom; so shall you have a most rare and precious Salt, and a water endowed with many singular virtues; for it is a sufficient Remedy to eradicate all manner of Agues and Fevers; it is a specific in all epidemical Contagions, and malignant Diseases. The dosis is from ℈ i and ʒ ss. to ʒ i you may also add to this Salt the same distilled Oils and essencified Ambergrice, as we have declared in the precedent Preparation of Theriacal Silt, and here with this Opeation shall we conclude this Chapter of the Chemical Prepatation of Animals.    

CHAP. IX. Of Vegetables and their Chemical Preparations.  
IN this Chapter we intent to make it manifest, that the haters and persecutors of this noble Art, are very much to be blamed, when they discovered it; and that their upbraid done to the Artists and Practitioners of it, are false and scandalous, since the Preparations which we are to describe, are capable to bring the most envious to a sober mind, and convince the most obstinate, that the Pharmacy of the Ancients had never any preparation coming near its excellency. It is upon the several parts of this noble, pleasant, and ample Family of Vegetables, that the true Pharmaceutick shall ever found matter of employment, and admiration of the Creator's works. But, as the design of our abridgement, doth not permit us to make the examination and resolution of all Vegetables and their parts; we shall content ourselves to give one or two examples, of the manner of working either upon the whole Vegetable, or the parts thereof, which are Roots, Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, Seeds, Rinds, Woods, Grains, or Berries, Juices, Oils, Drops, Rosins, Gums. We shall give a Section to each of these parts, the better to explain the manner of working, and to avoid confusion.  
But before we come to the matter, I have thought necessary to say something of the abuses daily committed by Apothecaries not fully enlightened with the knowledge of Chemistry, and which are only guided by blind men, admiring and suffering all the defects of their ill preparation, want of a true information of the nature of things, and a right apprehension of Physical knowledge, the true gate to Medical skill. Whence it is lesle to be admired, that blind men guided by other blind, fall themselves, and daily cause so many other to fall with them in the pit. And as Germany hath Swelferus Physician to his Imperial Majesty, who hath reform Pharmacy, in those learned and accurate Observations he hath made upon the Auspurgian Dispensatory; so have we in France, Monsieur Vallot first Physician to our Monarch, who hath laboured, and labours yet daily, to cultivate the field of Physic, and vulgar Pharmacy, and to purge it from those thorns and thistles, which the ignorance of Chemistry hath caused to grow, and too much overspread the same.  
This truth will I illustrate by the example of distilled Waters, and that of Syrups, because I know, that in these two Preparations, vulgar Apothecaries commit the greatest faults for the most part, either through ignorance, malice, or covetuousness, to the great dishonour of Physic and Physicians, the discredit of their Profession, and that which is yet worse, the great damage of the common good.  

First Discourse of distilled Waters.  
IF Substances are not throughly known, it is impossible to have any good success in their Preparation, since from this knowledge doth absolutely depend, the exact and most commendable way of Operation: and, if that be necessary in all Chemical operations, much more is it in those which concern Vegetables, and chief the manner of their distillation without wasting any of their virtue, which hath induced me to believe it necessary, to give a general Idea of the nature of Plants, before I come to speak of their particular preparation.  
We shall not speak here of Plants according to the sense of many; following the trace and steps of Botannick Authors, which for the most part have left us nothing but the external Picture of the Plant, and the divers degrees of their qualities, without taking any pains to teach us the differences of the intrinsecal nature of the same Plants, and much lesle the true manner of Anatomising them, to separate and extract from them all what is good and serviceable, and also what is unprofitable.  
To begin methodically; we must explain the nature of Plants, as they are in themselves, by the division we make of them, according to the degrees of their increase and perpetuation: for, they are either long-lived, or annual: The Long-lived (or vivacious) are those whose roots in the two Aequinoxes do attract the universal nutriment to themselves; in the Vernal Aequinox they attract what is necessary to bud out and vegetate, to the full perfection of the Plant, which ends by her flower and seed; and in the Autumnal Aequinox, they attract wherewithal to repair the exhausting of their strength, caused by the Sun's heat, and of the other Stars and Planets. This Note is not made by us without necessity, being absolutely useful, to acquaint the Artist with the most proper and fitting time to gather the Plant with its root, or to leave the same as unnecessary; for, if he hath need of the Plant a little after it is sprung out of the Earth, he must meditate with himself, and make a judicious reflection, that this Plant is not yet furnished with that saline and spirituous nutriment, the Principle whereof is contained in the root, and that so his Operation will be lost upon this Plant; since what he may extract of it, is destituted of that strength and virtue which is desired by the Physician, and much more of that which is requisite to show its efficacy against the disease; his recourse than shall be to the root, which containeth the Volatile Salt, the very soul of the Plant, and possessing in itself the virtue and efficacy of the whole. But if he desires to work upon the same Plant, when it hath almost attained to the period of her perfection, and that it hath but yet a small portion of its virtue left, which does administer yet a kind of languishing life, until it hath recovered its virtue, strength and new life, in the time of the Autumnal Aequinox, to the end that in Winter it may evade destruction, and be renewed or born again in the Spring. By which it appears, that when the Plant is in her full state, as they speak commonly, the Artist must choose it between flower and seed, if he is desirous to enjoy the full virtue thereof; for when it hath attained to that perfection, the stalk, leaf, flowers, and the first seeds, are yet full of vigour and virtue, which they communicate to the Liquor extracted by distillation, which being a Volatile and Mercurial Salt, and an Embryonated Sulphur, containeth all the virtue of the Plant; for, that which is extracted from it, is a spirituous Water, which preserves itself very long, with the proper taste and odour of its subject, upon the surface of which swims an aethereal and subtle Oil, which is that Embryonated Sulphur, mixed with part of its own Mercury. But if the Artist doth expect that the Plant should shoot and concentrate all its life in the seed, and that this Sulphur which was but embryonated, should become actuated and fully ripe, he must than in such a case reject the root, stalk, and leaf, because they have no more in themselves, that virtue which they had before. Here the Artist must meditate anew, and consult with the method of Nature's action; for, the seed being once perfected, hath no more that Mercurial and saline moisture, which caused her virtue more easily to be extracted, but all is to the contrary reunited, as it were, and locked up under the skin of the kernel and the seed; and moreover, these seeds are of three differing kinds; for some are muscilagineous, and slimy, or like unto a Jelly; in the first of these, the Mercurial Salt and Sulphur are more fixed than Volatile, and so these seeds will not yield their virtue, but by the means of decoction; for, as they are clammy and sticking, the virtue thereof doth not ascend in the distillation: The other are milky, of a white and tender substance, whence Oil may be extracted by expression, if so be they are well ripened and dried; but their best virtue is only to be extracted, when you draw the Lacteous substance, or emulsion, out of it: For, this second kind of seed is equally mixed with Volatile Salt and Sulphur, which easily communicates itself to Water; the Artist must not hope, by distillation to extract the virtue of this kind of Seeds, not more than of the former. But there is a third kind of seed, altogether oleaginous and sulphurous, which communicates to the Water neither any Mucilage, viscosity or clamminess, not more than whiteness; but to the contrary, their substance is compacted, dry, and astringent by a Sulphur predominant over the Salt. The Artist must distil this kind of seeds, either alone, or with addition; alone, if externally to be used; with addition, if it be to administer the remedy, which he pretends to extract internally to the Patient. These three differences or distinctions of seeds, do sufficiently show, that it is required for a Chemical Apothecary to be very well versed in the knowledge of Nature, thereby to make the necessary observations upon the fixed and volatile parts of substances, whereupon he operates, that his work may orderly proceed, and not be unnecessarily confounded.  
The same Notes and Theorems are to be applied to annual Plants, which are not preserved by their root, but are every year to be renewed by their seed. Now of these two sorts of Plants, either vivacious or annual, as well as of Seeds, there are three different kinds, viz. Those that yield no smell, of which some are almost insipid or tasteless, or acid, or bitter, or severally intermixed of these two last qualities, and others which have a taste by themselves sharp and subtle; all these kind of Plants are green and tender, whose virtue gins to appear in the prime of their vegetation, because they do abound in Juice, which contains in itself an essential tartarous Salt, which with time and heat thickens into a Mucilage, from whence, but with great difficulty, they cannot be separated; therefore must they be taken whilst they are yet juicy and tender, so as to break easily upon the lest bending of their stalk. The second kind of Plants is altogether opposite to the first; for, the Plant newly growing out of the ground is endued yet with little of virtue, even a good while after; for, when they are yet green and tender, they are tasteless and inodorous, have no taste properly but of grass, because the superfluous humour is yet predominant, and that their virtue doth not consist in an essential tartarous Salt; but this kind of Plant carries with its natural nutriment, a spirituous and volatile Salt, mixed with an Embryonated Sulphur very subtle, which never is reduced from power into act, nor ever discovered by the taste or smell; but after this superfluous humidity is by heat concocted and digested; than gins to appear the virtue of these Plants, discovered by the smell and taste, but particularly by the smell. The proper time to work upon this second sort of Vegetables, is when their stalk gins to grow dry at the foot, when they are yet covered with flowers, and begin already to show some little part of their seed. The third kind of Vegetables is mixed and composed of the two first, for they have a taste from the first moment of their vegetation: But they are without smell, and acquire very little when they are in their perfection; or, if they have any, it appears only when they are pressed, grounded or rubbed with, because their Sulphur is overcome by a slow and gross viscosity, which contains much Salt, and appears by a bitter and biting taste, or a sweetish sugared savour like unto Honey, the Virtue of this last kind, without previous digestion or fermentation cannot be well extracted. These Plants are to be gathered, when their flower is yet upon them, if so be they are bitter and without smell, but if they bear fruit, berries or grains, their maturity is to be expected, because it is in these parts that the principal virtue of the whole is maintained, and it is in the centre of the sugared Mucilage, and of a Honey nature, which is in these first-fruits, that an Artist must seek the virtue of these wonderful Mixts.  
Now it is not enough for us to have given these general notions, unless we make some particular applications, which may serve us for a pattern and guide upon each of these kinds; of integral Plants or their parts. We shall than in the first place treat of Juicy, Nitrous Plants, that is to say, those which participate of a Salt, much of the nature of Saltpetre, or of that Salt in the Earth which is the Principle of Vegetation, and seems to have received yet very little of alteration in the body of these Plants, only that it gins already to partake a little of Bohemian-tartar and its feculency. Plants of this nature are, Parietary, Fumitory, Purslane, Borage, Bugloss, Mercury, Nightshade, and generally all succulent Plants, which are neither acid nor bitter to the taste; but whose savour is only mixed with a tartness, compounded of acidity and bitterness; qualities near to the taste of Saltpetre.  

Of the preparation of Nitrous, Juicy Plants, how to extract the Juice thereof, the Liquor, Water, Extract, Essential Nitro-tantareous Salt, and the Fixed Salt.  
TAke a good quantity of any of the Plants above mentioned, which you must by parcels beaten in a stone, wooden or Marble Mortar, until they be reduced to a kind of Pap, that is to say, until the parts of the Plants be sufficiently disunited and confounded together, so that expressing the same in a Hair-bag, Tammy, or Linen Cloth thinly woven, you may extract all the Juice, which being thus extracted, you may run again through a closer strainer, and than let it settle, until in a manner it be depurated by itself; after which you must softly pour by inclination, this Juice so depurated in Cucurbites, or Bodies of glass, fitted for Limbecks, and place in B. M. in case you desire a good Extract and but a weak Water, because the heat of the said B. M. is not strong enough to elevate the essential Nitrous Salt of the Plant, which causes it to remain with the thick Juice, properly called Extract, when reduced to a thicker consistency, in the bottom of the Glass. But if you desire a long lasting Water, and animated with its spiritualised Salt, you must than place your Cucurbites in Sand, because this degree of heat is capable to elevate and volatilize the, purest and most subtle portion of the Salt, and raise it towards the latter end of the distillation, with the last aqueous vapours: nevertheless, great heed must be taken, that the heat towards the end be not too violent, and that the residence in the bottom of the Cucurbit become not totally dry, of cleave to the Glass in danger of burning. But before you come to the end of your Operation, have a special care that your Juice may be exactly defecated, for there are two Separations performed, when by the heat of B. M. or sand the separation of the radical substance of the Juice of the Plant is made, from the feces or sediment which falls in the bottom of the Glass, and the skimm which rises above; wherefore this Juice so depurated must run through a strainer of Cloth, commonly called a Bag, or Manica Hippocratis in the Shops: after which, the Juice being so separated of all its Heterogeneities, and of the foreign mixture of terrestreity, the distillation in B. M. or Sand must be continued, according to the intention of the Artist, until this Juice be reduced to a consistency of Syrup, which is to be put in a fresh Cellar, or some other cool place, until the Nitro-tartareous Essential Salt be reduced to Crystal, and separated from the viscosity of the inspissated Juice, which must be drawn again by a soft effusion by inclination, than put a second time in B. M. or Sand, to evaporate it to the consistency of an Extract, which shall yet contain great store of Salt, in case the first Operation was in B. M. and will be useful to the making of Opiates, according to the indication which the learned and skilful Physician or the Artist himself will take, when they intent to make use of it in any disease, according to the nature o● virtue of the Plant whereupon the work is performed. And thus much for necessary Observations, concerning the purification of the Liquor of Juicy Plants, distillation of their Water, and the manner of making their essential Salt and Extract.  
We come now to the preparation of the fixed Salt; to this end you must dry the Cake, or remaining part of the Plant after the expression of the Juice, than calcine and burn it well, until all be reduced to whitish grey ashes, whereof you must with river or rain-water make a Lie, which must be filtrated through grey Paper not much stiffened, that the stiffening or glue may not hinder your Liquor to run swiftly and easily thorough. After the first Lie, impregnated with the Salt of the Ashes of the Plant, hath been filtrated, you must pour new water upon the Ashes, to extract the remainder of the Salt, until the water comes of as insipid and void of taste as it was poured first; which is a manifest and evident sign, that no portion of Salt remains in the Ashes, which seem to be no more than an useless Earth, or as some do call it, the Caput Mortuum of the Plant upon which you have wrought: but I will prove the contrary nevertheless, by the following relation of what happened to me at Sedan, after I had wrought upon a parcel of Fennel: For, being possessed of an opinion, as others are, that these Ashes devested of their Salt were totally unuseful, I caused them to be thrown away in a back-yard, where for the most part, Dung and other Immundicities were cast; but the next year by what happened unto me, I knew I was deceived; for great store of Fennel grew in that yard, whereof, after it had attained to its perfection, I drew great store of distilled Oil; by which experiment I was taught with that excellent Philosopher and Physician Van Helmont, that the Median Life of things is not so easily destroyed as it is imagined, and that according to this Axiom of Philosophy, Formae rerum non pereunt; because both the Art and Artist do but follow from far our Mother Nature; and this is sufficient to convince us, that we apprehended not the lest of her ways or contrivances, much lesle any of those which she uses towards the attaining her own ends. But let us return to our purpose after this digression; which, because it is in its proper place, I thought more fitting to make here: After than you have gathered together all the Lies well filtrated, you must evaporate them in Jugg-mettle dishes upon sand, until they thicken to a skin, or incrustate by reason of the Salt, which than abounds; than must you begin with a Spatula to stir and agitate softly the Liquor, until the Salt be wholly dried, which than being put in a Crucible, reverberate in a Wind-furnace between kindled hot burning Coals, until it grows glowing read on all sides, taking nevertheless exact heed that it melt not; this done, take of the Crucible from the fire, let it cool, and than dissolve the Salt in the Extracted Water of the Plant which hath yielded the said Salt, that you may once more filtrate it, purify it, and restore that portion of Volatile Salt which ascended in the distillation; after which, you must put this dissolution in a Glass Cucurbit covered with its head or Limbeck, and draw of again the Water from that Salt upon Sand, until it gins to contract a skin, than cease the fire, and put the Vessel in some cool place, to 'cause the Salt to Crystallize, and thus continued drawing of the Water upon Sand, and causing the Salt to shoot in Crystals, until it be all drawn away, and so shall you have a pure and cleanly Salt, fit for use when you have occasion: but the chief use of it, is to put part thereof in the Water extracted from the Plant, to tender it thereby not only more active and efficacious, but also to make it more durable, fitting for keeping several years, without any loss of its virtue. The proportion may be of ʒ two. upon every pint of distilled Water. The general use and faculty of the fixed Salts of Plants made by calcination, evaporation, reverberation, depuration and crystallization, is moderately to lose the Belly, draw away Urines, and take of all obstructions from the lower parts of the body: the other particular virtues may be taken or assigned, according to the nature of the Plant from whence they were extracted.  
And as we have declared the manner of purifying fixed Salts, so must we do also in showing the way, of drawing of and separating a certain viscous and coloured sliminess, which is found even amongst the Estential Nitro-tartareous Salts, in their first Crystallization. It is thus performed; You must dissolve them in clean, common Water, and percolate three or four times upon a portion of the Ashes of the Plant whence they were extracted; which is done upon two intentional ends: For, the the Artist must not work blindly, or without being capable to give an account, wherefore he doth, or doth not such a thing: The first intention is, that the Essential Salt which is not yet purified, and for the most part is found mingled with the Extract, without having been capable to take the Idea or Character of Salt, by reason of the hindrance caused by the clamminess of Inspissated Juices, takes in his way as it passes through the Ashes the fixed Salt of its own Body, which imprints upon it its own saline Idea, and so causes it easily to crystallize, after the superfluous Liquor is vapoured away: The second intention is, that the Ashes may preserve the thick and clammy body of the Extract in themselves, and so the Water, impregnated with the essential and fixed Salt of the Ashes, may pass cleanlier and purer by the reiterated Percolation. This being ended, you must slowly and gently vapour away your Water in a Dish of Jugg-mettle in Sand; not till the skin gins to cover it, as we have spoken when we treated of the Fixed Salts, but evaporating away the two thirds, or the three parts of the Liquor, which must be softly and without shaking the bottom gently poured in a clean Earthen Dish, so as if by the action of heat any small Atoms or Corpuscles should hap to settle and make a sediment in the bottom, they should not mix with the clear Liquor, to hinder the purity of Crystallization in the Salt. The water which shall swim above the Crystals, must be drawn of, and the Evaporation reiterated, until half of the Liquor be consumed away: and so continued till you have got all your Salt turned to Crystals. And if so be this way of Purification doth not satisfy the Artist, and that the Crystals want the cleanliness and transparency desired; he shall put them in a Crucible made of the lest porous Earth which is to be found, and let him melt his Salt in a Wind-furnace, that the fire of Fusion may consume all what may hinder the Crystallization to be done with the requisite cleanliness and transparency: this Salt being so melted, must be poured in a very clean brass Mortar, warmed a little before, that the too violent heat of the melted Salt should not cleave or split it; when it is cooled, dissolve it in a sufficient quantity of the Water distilled from the Herb whereof the Salt is extracted; but the quantity of Water must not exceed that of the Salt; otherwise the third part or half must be drawn again by Distillation, or Evaporation; whi●h being done, the Vessel must be placed in a cold Room, and the Crystals will become fair and transparent, with sharp ends and sides much like unto the figure of Saltpetre, and about the same taste: Thus you must continued to evaporate and crystallize, until the Water yields no more Salt. This Essential Salt must be dried between two Papers, than be put in a well stopped Glass-bottle to preserve for use: It hath the virtue to preserve as well the Water of the distilled Plant as the fixed Salt; and moreover, makes it diuretical, aperitive, and cooling, much better than the Mineral common Crystal made with Salt-peter. It may be given in Broths, or the ordinary drink of the Patient, according to the judgement and discretion of the Prudent and Learned Physician. The dosis is from ten grains to a Scruple.   

The Preparation of Juicy Plants, possessed with an Essential Volatile Salt, and how to extract the Water thereof, their Spirit, Juice, Liquor, Essential Volatile Salt, Extract and Fixed Salt.  
AFter we have shown the way of operating upon those Plants which are impregnated with a Nitro-tartareous Salt, and in what manner the Artist is to prepare them, we must proceed in showing what change of Operation there is in those which are also juicy, but with an acrimonious, biting, and Aromatical taste, possessing in themselves great store of Essential Volatile Salt: such as are all kind of Cresses, Water-parsley, Watermint, Alexander, Rapistrum, Spoonwort, and, to be short, all the kinds of Mustard, and generally all other Plants of this nature, which commonly are called Antiscorbutics.  
But as we have sufficiently and amply enlarged ourselves upon the preparation of juicy Plants, which have in themselves a Nitro-tartarous Juice, and the Operations already described are to lead the way, and serve as for a rule and example in the case of all other juicy Plants; we have nevertheless thought it necessary to add here some notes, concerning the nature of these Plants, the proper time of gathering them to enjoy their virtues, and furthermore to add the manner of extracting the Spirits of these Plants, by the help of Fermentation, because we have said nothing of it heretofore.  
It is than to be noted first of all, that the●e either waterish or cultivated Plants, do from their first original participate of great store of Essential Salt, which is of a very subtle, penetrating and volatile nature: and that therefore the Artist must work upon going. The reason is, because the other had not in themselves that saline, subtle and Vol tile Salt, which easily vapours and flies away, if the Artist doth not use great industry, and take the nick of time to preserve it; for, if too much time be spent, from the gathering of these Plants to the making use of them, their Spirit doth easily contract a heat, and being volatilised by the same, doth fly away, and the body of the Plant remains rotten and useless. This kind of Vegetable than is to be taken when he is newly sprouted, and gins to frame the tuffs or umbellas of its flowers; for, it is in this very time that the Essential the virtue which is hoped for; for, with a longer stay, all this efficacy would concentrate itself in a short time in the Seed, by reason of the Plants own heat, and that of the time of the year, as it is specially observed in the bringing up of Water-cresses or Nose-smart. And so much shall suffice to admonish the Artist, what heed he is to take in his Operation upon Plants of this nature; for the remainder, let him follow the Prescriptions we have already given above; and specially not to use the Crucible for the Essential Volatile Salt of these Plants, otherwise all this Salt would vanish away, by reason of its most subtle and most volatile Principle, which participates more of Light and Heaven, than of Water or Earth, which in Nitro-tartarous Salts abounds most.   

How the Spirit of Juicy Plants, possessed with an Essential Volatile Salt, is to be Extracted.  
AFter we have given all the necessary observations to work upon Plants of this nature, we must end our discourse or treaty thereof, by the manner of well extracting their Volatile Spirit by the help of Fermentation; which is thus performed.  
B●; as much as you shall think fitting of one of these Plants, and cleanse it from all its earthliness and impurities, bruise it in a Marble, Stone, or Wooden Mortar, and immediately put it in a great Glass Receiver, commonly called a great balon by the French Artists, and pour water upon it, between lukewarm and boiling, which by the Cooks is called Scalding-water, the height of ½ foot, than stop the neck of your Receiver with a blind-head (or Vaisse au de Rencontre;) and thus let it rest about two hours: after which, new water lesle than lukewarm, and only simpering must be added, to temperate the heat of the first, until the finger being put in can, scarce perceive the heat, and that is the degree which the most expert in the Practice and Theory of Chemistry, use to call Natural or Human Heat, and the true point or instant of Fermentation. Herein the Chemical Artist needs properly his nicest judgement, to take the true nick of time of this soft and amicable heat, because if this degree of heat doth exceed, it volatilises too suddenly, the Spirit and subtle parts of the Plants upon which he doth work; which, notwithstanding all care and precaution, easily vapours and vanishes away, for all is converted afterwards into an unpleasant acidity, which contains no more of the Volatile Spirit: And if this heat, on the other side, is lesle than it aught to be, it doth not sufficiently help the Leaven or Ferment, to dissolve and divide the most solid parts of the Plant, which contain yet in themselves a Centrical Salt, contributing very much to the perfection of the Spirit which is to be extracted out of the Plant; and moreover helps not a little to disunite the viscosity of the Juice of the Plant, which contains in itself the principal portion of the Essential Volatile Salt, which affords the Spirit; nevertheless, it is safer to fail in the defect than in the excess. Things being put in this temper, Take Barm, or Beer-yest, if you are in a convenient place to recover it; if not, raise Flower dissolved in Water something lesle than lukewarm, with about lb ss. of Leaven or Ferment commonly used every where for Dow in the making of Bread: and when the Liquor is sufficiently raised and puffed, and the flower hath got on the top of the Liquor, heed must be had when the top of the Flower gins to crack, for it is a token that the Fermenting Spirit is sufficiently excited, to be reduced from power into act, and to be introduced in the matter, ready to be fermented: but you must note, that your Vessel is not to be more than half filled, otherwise all will run out and fly away, by reason of the action of the Ferment, which by an internal motion agitates and elevates the matters, and in which motion doth consist the power both of Nature and Art This first Heat of Ebullition being past, the Artist must suffer the Ferment to act softly and by degrees, until he perceives that all that Crust which the Fermenting Spirit had raised up, and framed out of the most corporeal and material substance, to be as a Wall or Defence against the evasion or evaporation of the acting Spirits, gins of itself to subside, and precipitate itself, because it is not longer supported by the activity of the Spirits; this most commonly doth hap at the end of two or three days in Summer, and four or five in Winter. Here again must the Artist be very careful to take his time, for as soon as this sign gins to appear, he must distil his fermented matter, unless by his own sloth and neglect, he will loose what Art and Nature had prepared to his hand; for, at that time this Fermented Spirit easily vanishes, and what remains is no more than an acid, useless and unprofitable Liquor. But when the Artist taking opportunely his time, shall have put his fermented matter in the brass Vessel or Body, covered with its Moor's-head, or Still, exactly luted the Joints, as much of the Head as the Pipe, taken care that the Water of the Refrigeratory, to condense the raising Vapours, be kept cool and fresh, given the fire by competent degrees, until the drops begin to fall and follow one the other pretty thick, and having attained this degree, closed the Registers of the Furnace, and stopped exactly the door of the Furnace, to keep the Fire in that temper; he shall obtain by these means a Volatile Spirit, very subtle and efficacious; and must not cease the fire, until he hath found out by the taste, that the Liquor stilling down be insipid, which is the true sign upon which he must cease his Operation. If he will rectify this Spirit, he must distil it again in B. M. But in case he hath proceeded by the method we have described, there shall be no need of rectification, because he can separate immediately in the Operation, the first Spirit from the second, and the second from the third, which shall differ accordingly in degrees of virtue and subtlety, because they have more or lesle of mixture of phlegm.  
The virtues of this Spirit are wonderful in all Diseases which have their seat, and are rooted in fixed, crude, and tartarous matters, which he dissolves and volatilises powerfully: But above all, the Spirit of Spoonwort, as also its Volatile Salt extracted of its Juice, as also the Juice of all Nitro-tartareous Plants: for, these are the two most powerful remedies which learned men have found against scorbutical Diseases reigning in Maritime Countries, and whereof very few can preserve themselves in long Sea-voyages. And though these diseases be almost unknown in the Climes of France, yet for the most part such are evil Rheumatisms proceeding from the alteration of the mass of the blood, whose whole Substance is vitiated, and degenerated in a gross and malignant serosity, whose venomous quality imprinted in the membranous and nervous parts, causes weariness, running pains, swell, and spots in the skin, which are all symptoms and tokens of the Scurvy,; and therefore, as these diseases can only be terminated by Diaphoreticks and Diuretics, recourse must be had to the Spirits and volatile Salts of Antiscorbutical Plants, whereof we have spoken but a little before. The Dosis of the Spirit is from vi. drops to xx. in broth, or ordinary drink of the Patient; that of the volatile Salt, is also from u to xv. or xx. grains in the same liquors, or is yet better, in the water of the same Plant.  
There will be no need of making any great discourse by itself, whereby to give to understand how the little Centaury, Wormwood, Rhue, Pennyroyal, Balm, Mint, Flowers of lime-tree, and other Plants of this nature; which in themselves have no moisture when they are possessed with their virtue, and fit to be used, are to be gathered. They are only to be grossly bruised in a Mortar after they are cut, and you have added to each lb of the Plant (which you purpose to ferment and distil thereby, to extract the Spirit) x lb of water, as we have already related above, observing all the notes and hints also given, which are essentially necessary to the true ordering of fermentation. But in case you purpose only in your distillation to extract hereby the aetherial Oil, and spirituous Water of the Plant, you must only distil the same Plant without any previous infusion, maceration, and much lesle fermentation, being shred very small, putting to each lb of plant x lb of Water.  
There is yet notwithstanding a way to preserve Plants of this nature, and even the Flowers themselves, and 'cause them to ferment without any other addition of mixture: And herein also is the Artist to take great heed, and to be very circumspect: for, unless you will loose time and labour, not one of the circumstances which we shall now relate, is to be omitted. Proceed than as it followeth; Gather the Plant or Flower when they are in their perfection; to this purpose must the Plant be in a state between Flower and Seed; and if it bears no Seed, or be only a Flower, it must be in the height of its smell, and the leaves must firmly hold to their stalks: But the principal Note besides, is, the time of gathering, which is, to gather these things a little after the rising of the Sun, that the dew may not be upon them, which would 'cause corruption; they must not also be gathered after a rainy-day, or the day before, whereby they might have contracted superfluous moisture, which would 'cause the same accident. Having these Plants thus conditionated, you must fill great Pots or Vessels of Jugge-metal therewith, well cleansed and dried, and thrust them in very hard; leaving no empty space, but only so much as will serve to put astopple of Cork very well fitted to the place, & steeped in melted Wax; this done, pour upon the stopple, black melted Pitch, and besmear all round about the mouth of the Vessel, than put it in a Cellar upon Board's, that the Earth may not impart it to much coolness, and the Plant or Flower may not thereby be altered; and so shall you for whole years preserve Plants and Flowers, which shall be fermented by themselves, and will be ready for distillation at all times that there will be any need of it; adding only lb x. of Water to every lb of Flowers or Plants so fermented by themselves, and you shall extract a Water and a Spirit which shall really be endowed and impregnated with the odour, and all the virtues of the Plant, as we have ourselves exemplified upon Plants so digested and fermented in themselves and by themselves, by order of Mr. Vallot, first Physician to the King of France; who hath ever ordained those ocular demonstrations to be made in the eyes of the public; that the virtue of things, and the noblest way of distilling them may be made known, and that it may be truly confessed from henceforth, that this noble and learned way of operation owes its invention to him.  
We have nothing else at present, to say, touching the general rules and common observations which the Artist is to make upon the Vegetable in general, and its parts in particular, but that we must impart the way of extracting the Liquors from the whole Plants, or their parts, and exalt them more and more, until they are arrived to the nature of their first being, which will eminently possess all the central virtues of their Mixed, because Art and Nature have preserved in this operation all the seminal powers with which it was endowed, as our great and illustrious Paracelsus doth most learnedly explain in a Treatise, which he entitles, De Renovatione & Restauratione.   

The manner of Extracting Liquors from the Plants and their Quintessences.  
ALl Plants are not fit for this operation, because they have not equally a sufficient proportion of Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury in themselves, to communicate to their Liquors and Quintessences, the virtue of renewing and repairing themselves: and Paracelsus himself doth only recommend us two, among all the rest, which may serve for a rule and pattern, in all other Plants coming near the nature of these two, viz. Balm gentle, (or Melissa) and the great Celandine; among those that come near, we may lawfully comprehend the great Scrophularia, the little Centaury, and the vulnerary Plants, as is the Pyrroha, Consolida, Sarracenica, Virga aurea, St. Johns-wort, Wormwood, and generally all Alexiterical Plants, as Scordium, Asclepias, Gentian, and the kinds of Genti●nel, Rhue, Parsley, Small●ge, and many more, which we leave to the choice and judgement of the Artist, who shall prepare them all in the manner we will relate hereafter, and when he shall have extracted the Liquor or Quintessence, he may use it as occasion shall serve, and according to the virtue of the Plant.  
Of these Plants when you intent to prepare any, being in its state and strength, that is, when the Flower is fully blown, but not yet grown to Seed, at that time which Paracelsus calls Balsamiticum tempus, the Balsamic time. i e. a little before the rising of the Sun, because in this operation is needful, that sweet and pleasant humour which Plants do in the night time attract from the dew, by the magnetical and natural virtue wherewith they are endowed to recruit themselves with the necessary moisture as much for their subsistence and self-preservation, as to resist the Sun's heat, which by day time sucks and drieth them: when you have a sufficient quantity of the Plant you intent to prepare, beaten it in a Marble Mortar, and reduce it to an in palpable Pap, as near as you can; than put this Pap in a long-neckt-matrass thermetically sealed to digest in Horse dung, the space of a Philosophical month, which is forty natural days; or else put the Vessel in a vaporous Bath, wrapped up in sawing of Wood, or minced straw during the same time, and in a heat analogous to that of Horse-dung. The time being expired, open your Vessel to take out the matter which you shall found reduced into a Liquor, which being wrung, separate the pure part from the impurity in B. M. in a slow heat, that there may be a residence of the grosser parts, which you shall separate by inclination, or, which is better, by filtrating this Liquor through Cotton by the Glass Funnel: This Liquor so depurated, put in a Viol Glass, to join therewith the fixed Salt, which you shall draw of by expression from the Plant, or from the same dried: which will serve to increase the virtue thereof, and make it more lasting, and even as it were incorruptible.  
But when the Artist will go further, and purify this Liquor to the highest degree, and reduce it to a Quintessence, he must proceed thus.  
℞ equal parts of this Liquor, and Water or Liquor made out of dissolved Salt, (the manner of which Preparation we shall teach in the chapter of Salts) and put them in a Matrass, which being hermetically sealed and exposed to the Sun during six weeks; thus without any other operation, this saline Liquor will separate all heterogeneous and slimy substances, which did hinder the purity and exaltation of this noble Medicament: but, this time being over, you shall see three several separations, which are the feces of the Liquor of the Plants, the Quintessence of the Plant, which is green and transparent as Emerald, or read and clear as an oriental Granate, according to the quality and quantity of Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, which shall predominate in the prepared Plant.  
I know many will say, that the practice of this operation is easy, and most will hardly believe, that the Liquor of Plants or their Quintessences should possess those virtues, which after Paracelsus, we will attribute unto them. I wish nevertheless every one might be, by legitimate and true experiments, as well assured of this truth as I am myself; that Artists might be more industrious, in furthering these rare Preparations, with a confidence, they shall not miss the benefit they may hope from it in their particular, and procure to the general society of mankind, in preserving and repairing health in the individual members thereof.   

Of the Use and Virtue of the Liquor of Plants.  
THis word Liquor is not here singly to be accepted for juice, or moisture of the Plant: but it is by excellency here given to this kind of Remedy, because it contains in itself, all the efficacy and virtue which may be in the Plant whence it proceeds; whence it is not difficult, to make the understanding conceive, to what use these Liquors so prepared, may and aught to be employed; for, if the Liquor be prepared out of a vulnerary Plant, it may be more safely exhibited than the decoction of any of the Plants of this nature in vulnerary potions; it may also bemingled in injections, used in plasters, unguents and digestives, which are applied to wounds or ulcers: but with this condition, that the body of these remedies be composed of Honey, yolk of Eggs, Turpentine, Myrrh, or any other Balsamic body, which may rather prevent accidents in the wounded parts, than to 'cause a purging and painful colliquation, ever contrary to the good intention of Nature, and much more of the true precepts of the commendable and learned Surgery. In this excellent part of Physic, Paracelsus hath chief excelled, as, without any gainsaying, it may be proved by those his two excellent Treatises, which he doth entitle The great and small Surgery. Moreover, if the Liquor be extracted from a Thoracical Plant, it may be mingled in the Julips and Potions, which are to be exhibited to the Patients, affected with any infirmity of the Breast. If it be prepared from a Diuretic or Antiscorbutic Plant, it may be given for obstructions in the Spleen, Mesentery, Pancreas, Liver, and other neighbouring parts: or, it may be employed against gravel, retention of Urine, and other diseases of the Reinss and Bladder: to conclude, if this Liquor draws its virtue from any Alexiterial, Cordial, Cephalick, Hysterick, Stomachal or Hepatick Plant; it may with very good success be given against Venom's, and all Agues, which may draw their original from venom; if the Plant be alexiterial, it may be given against all Lypothymies, or Swoundings, if the Plant be cordial: and if Cephalick, against Epilepsy, threaten of Apoplexy, Palsy, and all other diseases and affections of the Brain. If hysterical, it will wonderfully conduce against all Suffocations or Fits of the Mother, raisings, Convulsions, and all other irritations of this dangerous creature, living, as it were, and moving within another. If it be stomachical, it will extremely conduce to hinder all corruptions which are generated in the bottom of the Ventricle, whether proceeding from the defect of digestion, by reason of the superfluity, or from the vice and evil quality of nutriment; or occasioned by evil fermentation. Finally, if the Liquor be impregnated with the virtue of an hepatical Plant; if it be true, that the Liver is the receptacle and source of the blood; it shall be administered in all the diseases which are attributed to the vice and defect of this entrail: but chief in g●owing Dropsies, and their very birth, as even in those which are thought to be confirmed and grown. The Dosis of these Liquors, and Tinctures truly Balsamical and friendly to our nature, is from ℈ ss to ʒ i and ʒ ij. according to the age and strength of those to whom they are prescribed by the skilful Physician. Let us add nevertheless one advice more, that those which shall prepare these Liquors, may also preserve them long without any alteration or diminution of their strength, virtue or efficacy: which is done by mixing only ℥ iv. of Sugar in Powder, to lb i of Liquor, if it be to be used inwardly, ℥ iv. of Honey boiled with white and despumated Wine, if to be used outwardly in Chirurgical Operations.   

Of the Use and Virtue of the Q. E. of Plants.  
THE Q. E. of Plants may be used in every thing, wherein we have said, that their Liquors were useful. But there is that remarkable difference, that as these noble Remedies are much purer and exalted, than the Liquors which are more corporeal, so must also their dosis be very much lessened: so that what was given by dragms, before this high degree of preparation, must be now only given by drops: The dosis than is from iij. drops to xx. raising by degrees. This Remedy may be taken in white Wine, Broth, decoction or some kind of Water, which may serve as a vehicle to the Medicine, to tender it more active and penetrating by the subtlety of its parts, even into the last digestions, to expel the evil, obnoxious, and useless part thereof, restore decayed strength, and finally bring Nature back again into his true path, to direct the health and preservation of every individual subject.  
But we will demonstrate, that it is not without reason Paracelsus speaks of the Preparation of Quintessences in the Treatise by us above quoted, De Renovatione & Restauratione. This great Philosopher concludes his Treatise by the method of preparing Quintessences of four several sorts, viz. Quintessences of Minerals; precious Stones; Plants and Liquors, which are Sulphurs' and Bitumens': he hath not been contented with a Theorical Discourse of the possibility of renewing and repairing our internal and external defects; but hath also added the practice and way of operation, upon several matters, to extract the Quintessences thereof, and finally doth conclude, by the manner of using the same to attain renovation of nature. He saith than, that it will suffice, to put as much of this precious liquor in white Wine, as there will be need to colour it with a colour near that of the remedy; and thereof give a Glass every morning fasting to him, or her which shall feel a deficiency by age, or infirmity of sickness. Moreover, he gives the signs of the beginning and progress of this renewing, and the time when the use of this admirable Medicine must be put by: for, he thought it unnecessary, to mention the signs and observations which are to be heeded, when it is taken for some sensible and apparent disease; since it necessarily follows, that the use thereof must be continued, until the Patient finds alleviatior, or the disease falls away, and than must cease consequently the use of the Remedy. But as for the signs of renewing, he delivers them in a judicious order, as if he would prevent the incredulity of those which know not the power nor sphere of activity of the virtue and efficacy which God hath placed in natural Beings, when by the help of Art they are reduced to their universal Principle without loss of their seminal goodness: or to prevent also the astonishment of those which shall make use of it, since what ordinarily happens, in the taking of this Remedy, causes no little surprisal, when the person that uses these Remedies, sees in the first place all his nails fall of from feet and hands, and next all the hair of the body, and than the teeth; and last of all, the skin to shrink and wrinkle, and drying insensibly to fall as all the rest, which are all the signs he gives of internal renovation, by that which is performed outwardly: For, it is as if he would insinuate, and give us to understand, that of all necessity, the medicine must have penetrated through all the body, and replenished it with new vigour, since the external parts which are insensible, and as the excrements of our digestions fall of themselves without any pain: But you must note, that he causes the use of the Remedy to be intermitted, when the last sign, viz. the drying of the skin doth appear, the wrinkles and the falling thereof, because it is an universal sign, that the action of renewing hath sufficiently extended itself through the whole habit of the body, which the skin generally covers over, and that so it was necessary, that this old rind should fall, and another grow in the place, because the first was not sufficiently porous, or permeable, to 'cause the natural heat which is renewed, to drive outwardly all the superfluities of digestions, which are the occasional internal and external causes of most sicknesses in the human body.  
I know this Remedy, and the renewing and restoring virtues which are attributed to it, will pass for ridiculous amongst the vulgar sort of the learned, and even amongst those that pretend to the mysteries of Physic; partly, because Closet Philosophy is not capable to apprehended this great Arcanum Naturae; partly, because they will not, for the most part, be convinced by any proof or experimental demonstration. But I will, to convince them, bring here two remarkable examples; the one drawn from what naturally happens every year, by the renewing of some kind of creatures in one season of the year only; the other from a true History of what happened to one of my best friends, which took Quintessence of Balm Mint to a woman passed the age of sixty, which took some also; and finally, to a Hen which did eat Corn steeped in some drops of the same Quintessence.  
As for the first example, there is none but knows the renewing of the Stags-head, as also the skin of Serpents and Vipers; without mentioning that of the Bird, called by the Latins, Halcyo, or the Kings-Fisher, the History of whom Paracelsus makes in the Tract beforementioned. But of all those which agreed in the fact, very few do know, or care to know how, and by what means, or for what reason it is done. For first, as for the Serpents in general, it is to be considered, they remain hid under ground, or in the holes of Trees and Rocks, or lodged among rubbish and stones, from the end of Autumn, until very far in the Spring, and so during that time, they are as benumbed & dead; their skins become thick and hard, and loses even its porosity to preserve the better the Animal whom it incompasses; for, if there happened a continual transpiration, there would be also a deperdition of substance: now after the Serpents are in the Spring of the year got out of their holes, and have begun to feed, and live upon the tender ends of Herbs, in which is a renewing virtue: this creature being immediately excited by a pricking and shooting which she feels about the compass of the head, by reason of the Spirits heated and actuated by this natural remedy, she rubs and bestirs herself, until she hath got of her old skin from about her head, which she continues to do all the rest of the day, till she hath cast away all her old garment; which was not only needless, but want of porosity and transpirability might have suffocated her. Than doth she appear all glorious, and as it were renewed; which is perceived not only by the difference between the slow and lazy motion of those which are not renewed, from those which have cast their skins; whose motion is so quick and nimble, that easily they scape our sight. And moreover, the skin of the old ones is deformed, and of an earthly colour; whereas the other, to the contrary, is polished, fair, shining and well coloured. As for the Stags, the casting of their head is done in another way, and for another reason than that of the Serpents: for, that Creature doth not hid itself in the ground; nor renews not all its external parts, since he casts nothing of but his head in the Spring: but the reason is his being, during Winter, deprived of sufficient nourishment, and made unable to maintain this wondered production he bears upon the head since even he wants a due supply for his own subsistence and life; than say the Huntsmen, that the Stag (by a Gallicism) is fallen into poverty, which is perceived not only by his leanness and weakness, but chief also by the head which becomes dry, spongious and destituted of sap, because this Animal hath not a sufficient vigour, to impart a spirituous and saline nourishment to the head, by reason of its want of food, as we have said even now; now, it is this nourishment, which gives strength, vigour, and sustenance to the Stag's head; for which reason, when in the Spring, a good and juicy nourishment animates, and heats its body, it causes now vegetation in all its parts, and consequently, and chief, in the head, which makes him to cast it of. We shall say no more of this renovation, and of the virtue contained in the new Stags-head, and that which is already grown to consistency and perfection, because we have sufficiently made mention thereof in the Chemical preparation of Animals and their parts.  
But let us come now to the Experimental proof of Renovation begun by the use of a Quintessence, by the relation of the History we have promised above, and which happened thus. After one of my best friends had prepared a Quintessence of Balm mixed, and that all the tokens and alterations which Paracelsus requires, had succeeded according to his hopes, and the truth of the remedy, he could not have a full and true satisfaction in his mind, unless he made the proof of this great Arcanum; to be more fully and better persuaded of the verity of the thing, and the delivery of the Author he had followed: and as he knew that commonly experiments made upon other bodies will be defective, he made it upon himself, and an old woman-servant he had by him, of about 70. years of age, in the same house where he lived; and a Hen bred in the same place. He than for about 15 days, took every day fasting, a glass of white Wine coloured with this Remedy; and the very first day, the nails of hands and feet begun to separate themselves from the skin, without any grief or pain, and so continued still casting, until they fell of themselves without help. I confess unto you, that his constancy was not great enough, to go through all his Experiment, and that he thought himself sufficiently convinced by this that happened, without being obliged to try any further conclusions upon his own person. Therefore he gave every morning some of this Wine to this old Woman; who did drink not above 10. or 12. days, and before this time was expired, her monthly courses came back with a laudable colour, and broke out in a considerable quantity, enough to fright her, and make her believe it would be her death; not knowing she had took a remedy capable to renew her to youth; upon which account also, my friend durst not proceed further, as much by reason of the fear which had possessed the old Woman, as by reason of what had happened unto him. Having than thus experimented the Effects of his Medicine, both upon man and woman, he would know also, what operation it might have upon other Creatures; and so steeping some few grains of Corn in the Wine impregnated with the virtue of the Quintessence he gave them, for the space of eight days to an old Hen by herself; and about the sixth day, she began to cast her feathers by degrees, till at last she remained quite naked; but before the fifteenth came about, she beg●n to recover new feathers, and having got them again, they appeared fairer and better coloured than before; her crest did rise again, and she began to lay Eggs as before. Thus much I had to relate upon this subject, whereof I draw the following consequences.  
I believe, there is none of so perverted a reason and depraved intellectuals, which doth not easily conceive, that since Nature teaches us by all her operations, that to maintain life in living bodies, with all the necessary functions of the parts which constitute them, their porosity must be preserved; so must of necessity Art, which is but imitator of Nature, do the same to maintain and restore the health of Individuals, committed to her care and custody. Whence I do infer consequently, that the Physician and Chemical Artist, aught perpetually to endeavour, by the Anatomy which they make of natural Mixts, to discover that subtle, volatile, penetrating and active part, which is not corrosive, but to the contrary, friendly to our Nature, and may only advance her birth or delivery without constraint: And, as I know that there is nothing but the volatile sulphureous Salts, which may have the power of acting in the manner we have said; so must they apply all their understanding, to separate this amiable and friendly agent, and nevertheless very efficacious, and untie it as it were from the commerce of the gross and material body; if they will be the true imitators of Nature, which ever makes use of this same agent, to conduct all animated bodies to the perfection of their natural predestination, unless she be hindered by some occasional external or internal cause, which ordinarily does interrupt the order, oenonomy, and guidance of her secret motions, which preserves the lovely harmony of all animated compounds. This Paracelsus hath done, teaching us the manner how to prepare Liquors and Quintessences: because, this operations separates the subtle part from the gross; preserves & exalts the seminal faculties of the compound, until it hath rendered it capable to correct and amend the defects of natural functions; that imitating the example of this great searcher of Nature, and according to the Ideas by us given in this Discourse, before we come to the particulars of the parts of Vegetables, and all the operations to which they are liable by the processes of Chemistry; all those that shall really addict themselves to these noble operations, may be prevented with a general knowledge of their parts, whether gross or subtle, and conducted also and regulated in their judgement and actions, according to the notions and theorems we have imparted, which they may by the direction of their intentions appropriate to each Vegetable in particular, that so the Artist may satisfy the expectation others have of her, and himself also, to the illustrating and innobling his Profession; and, that which must be his principal end, to the preservation and restoration of his neighbour's health.    

Second Discourse of Syrups.  
WE have sufficiently, in my opinion, insinuated the various nature of Plants, and the difference of their parts, in the foregoing Discourse, to prepare the mind of our Artist, to an acknowledgement of that truth we are now to declare, in that which we now begin, to correct and reform; and, if it be possible, take away the abuse and evil preparation, which the greatest part of Apothecaries do practise, when they work upon Syrups, which are either plain or single, or compounded: and are nothing else, but Sugar or Honey boiled to a certain liquid consistency, either with distilled Waters or Juices, or with decoctions also of whole Plants, or of their own parts, as leaves, flowers, first-fruits, seeds and roots. But, as we have taught above, the divers nature of these parts, to be taken notice of by the Artist when he intends to distil them; so do we refer there also the Apothecary, which pretends to Chemistry to be instructed in the way of his operation, when he intends to make his Syrups either single or compounded. Nevertheless, as I know, that all Dispensatories are defective, and commit the same faults in the preparation of their Syrups, and that but one Hermetical Physician hath attempted to correct them; I think myself obliged to follow the example of Mr. Swelfer Physician to the Emperor, which hath made very learned Notes, upon all the defects of the ancient Pharmacy: but as he writes in Latin, and doth reason as an Hermetical Philosopher, I have thought myself obliged to direct into the right way, those which either through want of that language, or of skill in Chemistry, to apprehended the sense of so learned an Author, do stride, and go out of it: Moreover to exhort those, which are endowed with the Latin tongue, and have some persuasion of being skilled in the Mysteries of Chemistry, not to bury their talon, but rather improve it to the advancement and benefit of sick people, the discharge of their conscience, and particular benefit.  
We must notwithstanding set down here, some few examples of faults committed heretofore in this part of practice, prove the Error, want of a true apprehension of the things; and finally teach the way how to do better, adjoining positive reasons, which may have their foundation in the thing itself and the manner of working, and why that operation proves better, and is more successful.  
Before we come to the proof to which we have engaged ourselves, it is necessary we should show the scope both of ancient and modern Apothecaries in the composition of their Syrups, either single or compounded, whereof they have left us the descriptions in their Antidotaries and Dispensatories. All the true sons of Art, have from all time held this Maxim; that in all Remedies three conditions were required, viz. that they should be capable to operate quickly, safely, and pleasantly, citò, tutò, jucundè: Moreover, another of their endeavours was, that, what they did prepare, might preserve for some time its own virtue within itself, to be used when opportunity should offer. Upon this ground have they brought in Sugar and Honey, separated, or both together, in the composition of their Syrups, and other Remedies of the like nature. So than have they made use of these two Substances as of two Balsamic Salts, which might be fit to receive and preserve the virtue of distilled waters: as that of Rose-water in their Syrup, or Alexandrine Julip: that of the Juices of Plants or Fruits, as that of Wine, Vinegar, Juice of Quinces, Lemons, Oranges, Pomgranats, and many other, in those Syrups which they prescribed the Apothecary's shops to be still furnished with: that of the infusions of Woods, Roots, Seeds and Flowers, whereof they have made several prescriptions of Syrups: And finally, that of Decoctions of great store of all these things mixed together, as aromatic Substances, Flowers, mucilagenio●s Fruits, lacteous Seeds, slimy and jellyed Roots, and those that abound with volarile Salts, whereof they have givenus the method to prepare compounded Syrups. But, as the greatest part of those, who have pretended to will, and to be capable to teach Apothecaries, their Art and modus faciendi, have been ignorant themselves in the differences or distinguishing of their matter, and want of being versed in Chemical operations, have not known the several ways of extracting their virtue without loss; so is it not to be admired, if Apothecaries who have followed them, and every day yet follow them, are fallen into grosser Errors than themselves, since for the most part they perform but very imperfectly what they found in their Books.  
Our refuge than must be to Chemical Physic, which shall prescribe us the rules that from henceforth may hinder Physicians and Apothecaries, if they will be guided by them to commit the like faults, and if they benefit themselves by the examples and doctrine which we are about now to prescribe them, whereby methodically to prepare the single and compounded Syrups, without losing any pottion of that virtue which resides in volatile sulphureous Salt, and the mixed Salt of Mixts prescribed by their Dispensatories.  
We shall begin by plain Syrups, and that by degrees: and first, by those which are compounded of juices already depurated of themselves, or which may be separated without fear, that fermentation should be obnoxious to them, such as are acid juices. Than will we treat of such Syrups, as are made with the juices extracted from Plants, and those of two natures; viz. Some destituted of odour, and participating of a vitriolic tartarous taste; the other are odoriferous, and participating of a volatile sulphureous Salt: these two sorts of Juices need a quick and nimble Eye, and much industry of the Artist in the separation of their impurities, without any loss of their faculties and virtues, before Syrups are made of it; which without the Precepts of Chemistry, an Apothecary will never be able to perform, than will we end this matter, by demonstrating the faults hitherto committed, in the preparation of Compounded Syrups, whereof we will give some Examples, that all may be made more sensible and manifest, to him that hath a desire to improve his knowledge and skill in his Operation.  

The manner of preparing the Syrup called Acetosus Simplex, or Syrup of Vinegar, after the ancient and vulgar way.  
℞ lb u of clarified Sugar, lb iiij. of spring-water, and lb iij. good Whitewine Vinegar, boil all according to Art, into a Consistency of Syrup.  
It seems at first sight that this Prescription is all full of ingenuity, clear, and agreeable to the rules of Arr and Nature; but our Chemical examining thereof, will make it appear, that there are more faults therein than words, and that it is all full of absurdities, even unworthy of a Chemical Novice, and so by consequent much more of so famous and renowned an Arabic Physician as Mesue was, to whom the invention of this Syrup is attributed.  
But before we come to note the imperfections of this process, we must declare what virtues Mesue and his Sectators have attributed to this Syrup, and the Oxymel Simplex, and for which Diseases he destinated it, because it will not give a small light, to discover, how false and ill grounded are the indications which they have taken, want of knowing well the nature of things, and being versed in the Operations of Chemistry.  
They attribute, and not without some ground and reason, to this Syrup, the faculty and virtue of incising, attenuating, opening and mundifying; that of refrigerating and tempering the heats proceeding from choler, that of resisting to putrefaction and corruptions, and finally of expelling the Urine, and provoking sweat. I confess all these virtues may possibly be in this Syrup, when rightly prepared: but unless it be after our prescriptions declared hereafter, it will possess those eminent and signal virtues.  
I have taken the description of this Syrup from the Aupsburg Dispensatory, as the most correct and exact we have at this day; for had I taken it out of Banderon, or some other yet more ancient Author, I could show in it much greater and lesle tolerable absurdity, than those I am now to demonstrate. What, I beseech you, is there worse digested, than to prescribe to boil lb u Sugar, with lb three water, upon a fire of kindled and flaming Coals, and skimming perpetually to the consumption of half the substance, without a previous Clarification, and than to add iij. or iiij lb Vinegar, to reduce the whole into a Syrup, since Vinegar doth also participate of its impurities and froth, and so puts the Artist to a new skimming. This is, notwithstanding, the prescription of Baudero.  
Others have not sped better with their clarified Sugar, and deserve not lesle reprehension; for Experience itself doth contradict what they pretend to: For, this Axiom which saith, Frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora, aequè bene vel melius; shows evidently, that it is very ill done, to put lb iiij. of Water, with the Sugar and Vinegar, to reduce them to Syrup; since, besides that water is here altogether needless, I say even that for two reasons it is absolutely prejudicial: The first, because the ebullition of this Water causes a great loss of time, which a good Artist aught to value; the second, and which is yet much more considerable, is, because the Water doth in the action of boiling too long, carry away in its steem, the most subtle, volatile, and saline parts of the Vinegar, from which proceeds the incisive and aperitive virtue, which is proper and specifical to this Syrup. For, I would feign know, what lb iiij. of Water can avail to this Syrup, or what virtue communicate unto the same: For, if it be answered, To advance the depuration of the Sugar, and that it was the intention of Baudero: I will ask the reason also, why the Dispensatory of Augsburg, doth also prescribe the same lb iiij. of Water, since it prescribes to take clarified Sugar; which makes me to conclude, that neither the one nor the other had any reason for what they did. Therefore, those that will prepare this Syrup as it should be, with all the virtues and faculties necessary unto the same, to follow and answer the intention of Physicians, must proceed after the following rule.  
℞ an earthen white Dish, or Jugg-mettle glazed, which place upon a Kettle or Cauldron of boiling water, which we will call a boiling B. M. put in this Dish lb ij. fine Sugar in powder, upon which pour xviij. ℥ distilled Vinegar in a glass Cucurbit rectified in B. M. to draw thereof all the waterishness or phlegm, as we shall teach when we come to treat of Vinegar; stir the Sugar and distilled Vinegar together with a Spatula or Glass-spoon, until all be dissolved and reduced to a Syrup, which shall be of a just consistency, and long-lasting, and possess all the virtues required in the acetous plain Syrup. I leave now the Reader to his free choice and judgement, of making this Syrup after the ancient or modern way, and I know that the knowing Artist, will ever follow that reason and experience which guides him to operate citiùs, tutiùs, et jucundiùs; that is to say, in the quickest, safest and pleasantest manner: to show that Chemistry is, and ever shall be the fairest and best School of Pharmacy. To conclude this examination, note in the way, that ℥ ix. of clear Liquor by itself, or according to the prescriptions of Art, are sufficient to reduce lb i. to a consistency of Syrup, by a simple dissolution in the heat of the Vaporous Bath; that this may be as a general note, when we come to speak of the other Syrups, either plain or compounded, hereafter.  
The general method of making Syrups of Acid things, Fruits, as are those of Juice of Lemons, Oranges, Cherries, Pomegranates, Barberries, Quinces, Gooseberries, Strawberries, Apples, etc.  
WE have not much to note, upon the preparation of these Syrups, because the vulgar Pharmacy doth commit lesle faults in them; yet as there is some small observations we accounted necessary to the instructing of our Chemical Apothecary, we would not pass them by.  
Take than of all these Fruits which you please, and thereof express the Juice according to Art, and the nature of each in particular; with this precaution, to make use of no Metallick Vessel to receive them; taking also great care to separate the grains and seeds of these first-fruits, because some of them are better, and other mucilagineous and slimy; and so would impart an ill taste to the Juices, or a sliminess and viscosity, which would be prejudicial to the perfecting of the Syrup: And as for those Fruits which must be scraped, to express the Juice thereof, you must have Scrapers of Silver, or Letton well blanched and prepared; for, Iron doth easily communicate its taste and colour, to the substance of any acid Fruit, as also Copper or Letton. All this being exactly observed, let those Juices, which of themselves are liquid, to depurate, until they have deposited a sliminess, or a ground of certain Corpuscles, which are to be separated by filtration. But as touching the Juices of such Fruits, which are of a soft, slow, and viscous substance, they must be put in a cold place to settle, and, as it were, ferment a little, and than the purest Liquor so clarified of itself, and swimming above the rest, let be separated; because if you proceed otherwise, there will rather come a Jelly than a Syrup.  
After all these Juices have duly been prepared in this manner, as we have now deducted, they must be put in a Glass Cucurbit in B. M. and evaporated to the consumption of ⅓ p. or ¼ neither aught you to fear, that by this process any portion of the sharpness of the Juice should be lost, since to the contrary it will increase it; the acid or sharp quality remaining ever the last, and nothing vapours away but the phlegm, or unnecessary waterishness, and moreover this Operation will serve to separate the remainder of the feculencies abiding in the Juice: For it is a thing worthy to be noted, that two hours of digestion in B. M. will sooner depurate a Juice, than three days of insolation of the same; and, that which is yet more remarkable, the Juices so depurated will seldom viny, and may be much longer preserved than others, without any alteration: As for the preparation of the Syrup, you must follow the modus faciendi, which we have heretofore prescribed to the Acetous Syrup, viz. ℞ ℥ ix. of well prepared Juice, against lb j of powedered Sugar, or the same quantity of Sugar boiled into a solid Electuary or Rosat Sugar, dissolve them in the heat of a Vaporous Bath, in Earthen glazed, or Glass Vessels, noting still, when you work upon Acids, never to use Metal.   

The manner of preparing Syrups of the Juices of Plants, as well of those that are deprived of smell, as Odoriferous; with the necessary Notes for their Depuration.  
THere are three kinds of Plants which offer themselves here to our consideration, and by consequence three Examples to be propounded, to prepare well the Syrups thereof, with the preservation of their proper and essential virtue, which we will distribute into three Classes. The first shall be of inodorous juicy Plants, such as are the kinds of Sorrel, Chicory, or Endive, Fumitory, Mercury, Purslane, Borage, Bugloss, Carduus B. and other of the like nature. The second, shall be of those that are inodoriferous, and sometimes also odoriferous, and whereof the Juice is filled with a Spirit and Volatile Salt, very subtle, such as are Antiscorbutical Plants, as Cochlearia, Cresses, the kinds of Water-parsley, Mustard, Alexander, or Bell-rags, and Water-purstane, which is called also Beccabunga, or rather Beccapunga. The third, shall be of such Plants as are odoriferous and juicy, such as are Betony, Hyssop, Scordium, Smallage, Parsley, Eupatory, and others of the same Category.   

How the Juices and Syrups of Plants of the First Classis shall be prepared.  
TAke the Plant whereof you intent to extract the Juice, cut it small, and beaten it in a Marble or Stone-mortar, w●ing and express the Juice, with all the care and necessary observations, which we have hinted in our discourse above, where we treated of the distilled Waters of the same Plants, and after the Juice hath been well depurated in B. M. and a sufficient quantity of Phlegm or Water hath been extracted, as two parts from three by distillation; than to lib. 1. of this Juice so depurated, mix lib. 1. ss. of Sugar, and boil it together to a Consistency of Sugar. Rosat. Which decoct and reduce to a Syrup, with vi●or seven. ℥. of that water you have drawn out of the Juice by distillation in B. M. so shall you have a Syrup endowed with all the virtues of the Plant; and when you will prepare either Apozems or Juleps, you shall mix ℥ i or ℥ ij. of either of these Syrups, with iij. or iv. ℥ of its proper Water, which according to the virtue and quality of the Plant, you shall fit to the purpose of the disease. Nota, that these Juices so depurated by distillation may be kept one or two years without any corruption, because they are sufficiently filled with the Nitrotartarous Salt of these Plants: but they must nevertheless be covered, or filled up with Oil, to hinder the penetration of Air, which is the great Alterator of all things; and that they must also be kept in a place, neither too moist, nor too dry.   

How the Juices and Syrups of Plants of the second Classis shall be prepared.  
THE Juices of these Plants must be extracted with the same precautions we have taught, when we spoke of the spirits of Plants, their distilled Waters and their extracts, whereto we refer the Artist, to avoid needless and tedious repetitions. But as I have already often said, that Antiscorbutical Plants were composed of subtle parts, and had in themselves a saline Spirit, which is volatile, mercurial, and sulphureous, which easily vanishes and flies away: so must the Chemical Apothecary carefully and diligently work in their Preparation after he hath once begun, that by his carelessness he may not loose, what he aught with diligence and study to preserve, and can not more be recovered when once fled away. Here is than the only difference, between the preparation of these Juices and Syrups, and the foregoing. That when you distil them in B. M. you must have a judicious regard, to set a part ℥ v. of the first Water which will ascend out of every pound of Juice, because these ℥ v. shall have carried away with themselves the portion of the Spirit and volatile Salt of ℥ i Juice: than continued your distillation, until you have drawn away the half of the liquor or moisture of your Juice; than cease, and to lb i of this Juice, put lb i. ss. of Sugar boiled to a consistency of Sugar Rosat, and reduce it unto Syrup, by a simple dissolution in cold, with vi. or seven. ℥ of the spirituous and subtle Water which first ascended, and hath been kept for this purpose; so shall you have a Syrup filled with all the virtues of its Mixed, as easily it will appear, and manifestly, by the odour and the taste: but principally, by all the noble Effects it will produce in all Scorbutical diseases, whether you give it single or mixed, with the second Water you have preserved. You may also preserve these Juices for service, when there shall be need in the time that Plants are out of season and vigour, using such precaution and forecast as is in such a case required.   

How the Juices and Syrups of Plants of the third Classis, shall be prepared.  
WE will not here loose time with vain and empty repetitions, since it suffices us to say, that the Artist must duly prepare his Juice, to ground his operation upon, as we are now going to declare. When you have the Juice of any of these odoriferous Plants, you must depurate it by a single and slow digestion in B. M. to separate the feces and scum which swims on the top. This Juice being percolated cold through a Flannel, ℞ lb iiij. thereof, and place it in a Cucurbit, with a blind head over it, or in a double vessel exactly joined: put in this juice lb i. ss. of the tops and flowers of the same Plant, not beaten in the Mortar, but only cut very small with Scissors; than close the Vessels, and lute them with a bladder steeped in beaten whites of Eggs, and place it 24 hours in a slow heat of B. M. After which take away the covering of the Vessel, and apply to it a Head. Limbeck to extract out of this Juice impregnated with the new virtue and efficacy of it Plants ℥ xx. of spirituous and very odoriferous water, this ended, cease the fire, and express what remains in the bottom of the Cucurbit, and preserve it for this following purpose: Put the xx ℥ of odoriferous Water in a double Glass, or blind Head, to which you shall add ℥ x. more, of the new tops of the Plant upon which you work; which lute and cause to digest in the slow heat of B. M. during a natural day; than being let cool, express it softly, that it may not grow thick or muddy, and keep it till you have caused that which did remain with the grounds of your expression to boil, and clarified it with white of Eggs, and boiled with lb iij. of Sugar, into consistency of Lozenges, which you must melt in the cold, or only in lukewarm water, with the twenty ounces of your odoriferous Water, containing the Mumial and Balsamical virtue of the Plant; and thus shall you have a Syrup, in which nothing of what should be in shall be wanting, to follow clearly the intention of Art and Nature. But me thinks, I hear the most part of Apothecaries alleging, that this is a way to lengthen the method of making Syrups, and that no body will care for rewarding the trouble which they will be at, in this exact way of operation: Moreover, that they must be obliged to be at the charge of a Balneum Maris and Glass Vessels, which are necessary to digestion and distillation, that these Vessels are brickle; and that, all things thus considered and cast up together, the price of their remedies must than be set at higher rates: and besides this, that others which are not so circumspect, will give their Syrups at the common rates, and that people run most commonly where they found things cheaper, without examining the worth or goodness of them; and that this is the way to ruin their shops quickly, and loose customers. To all these objections, which are not without some ground, we answer, First, as concerning the Balneum Maris, it hath no such matter to be started at in itself, but the name, to such as know the nature thereof: for a Kettle only may be made use of to all the purposes and necessary uses of their shops. Secondly, Concerning the Vessels, What Artist is not obliged to be provided with them for other distillations, if they will duly discharge their Calling, or at lest make a show thereof? And if they fear breaking, they may have Cucurbits of Jugge-mettle, or white Earth for acid substances, and of Copper tinned for other matters; but this will not be without some inconveniency, in respect that they shall not be able to judge of the depuration of the substances, nor the remaining quantity or consistency, where these things are to be observed, by reason of the opacity of their Vessels. But the last consideration is prevalent over all the rest; and that is, that every one is obliged by the Oath he hath taken in his admission to the Profession of Pharmacy, to exercise it with all care and exactness,, and the discharge of his Conscience. This last scope than must prevail over all the rest, and be instead of a spur and bait of well doing: for thereby shall they found the recommendation of Physicians; and their candour and assiduity being known, will draw upon them the esteem and affections of such as do love the preservation of their present, and restoring of their past health. Let us than go on in discovering some more of the Errors of ancient Pharmacy, and being not contented to prove they have done ill, let us show how they may do better. To this end, we will deliver three examples more, of single Syrups, viz. of odoriferous Flowers, of Rinds of the same nature, and of aromatical Substances: That when Apothecaries shall prepare any Syrups of this kind, their shops may not be smelled, at three or four hundred yard's distance, which is an infallible token of the deperdition of the Essential virtue of the Volatile and Sulphurous parts of the Flowers, odoriferous Rinds, and aromatical Substances wrought upon: unless these Apothecaries by a vain and preposterous policy, and very prejudicial to the public and themselves, take a delight in having their shops smelled from a far of. And as contraries by the opposition of their contraries are more illustrated; we shall first declare, how the fault is committed, secondly, wherefore; to teach in the third place, and explain to the understanding Reader how to do better.   

The old process or manner of making Syrup of Orange Flowers.  
℞. lb ss. of new Flowers of Orange: infuse them in lb ij. of clear and clean warm Water, during 24 hours: after which make the expression thereof, than reiterate the same infusion twice, with lb ss. of new Flowers at each time; the expression and colature being done, boil ℥ xx. of this infusion in Syrup with lb i. of very white Sugar. Nota hear once for all, that the weight I understand here, is not the Physician's weight, but the ordinary one of Merchants of ℥ vi. to the lb. Before we show the deficiency of this prescription, we will relate the virtues attributed to the Syrup proceeding from the same, that we may the better make it plain who is in the wrong, who in the right. It is than attributed to this Syrup, marvellously to recreate the Heart and Brain, to restore Spirits, provoke Sweeting; and to be consequently very sovereign against malignant and pestilent diseases, because it drives the infection of this venom from the centre of the parts, where it lurketh to the circumference, and makes the spots to appear. All which may be true, if the Syrup be made according to due process. But the Physician is frustrated of these noble Effects, by the evil and wrong preparation which we have just now quoted; since nothing is left to the Syrup so prepared but an ungrateful bitterness, which proceeds from its material and gross Salt, instead of that pleasant quickness to the taste it aught to have; and that subtle and delicate steem which is discerned by the Smell: which is properly a token, that this Syrup is not deprived of its volatile sulphureous Salt, in which are placed all the virtues required and hoped from it. But the coction of this Syrup which cannot be performed without boiling, carries away all that subtle virtue which occasions it, not to answer the indications of the learned and experimented Physician, and much lesle the hope of the Patient.   

The Chemical and genuine Preparation of Orange-Flower Syrup.  
℞ lb. i ss. Orange-Flowers, gathered a little after the rising of the Sun, place them in a Glass Cucurbit, and besprinkle with ℥ ij. of good white Wine, and as much excellent Rose-water, cover the Vessel with its head Limbeck, exactly luted in the Joints, and being placed in B M. draw of from it, by distillation made with graduate fire, ℥ viij. of Spirit of spirituous Water, which will be very odoriferous and subtle, which keep by itself: than continued the fire, and draw a second Water, until your Flowers be almost dry, than cease the fire, and boil your remaining Flowers in lb ij. of common Water, to the consumption of lb j Express this decoction filled and impregnated with the extract and fixed Salt of the Flowers, clarify it with white of Eggs, and boil it to a consistency of Sugar Rosat with lib. j of Sugar, which you shall dissolve afterwards with ℥ viij. of the spirituous Water, and that in the cold: and you shall have the true Syrup of Orange-Flowers, truly impregnated with all their virtue. The second Water extracted will serve for a Cordial and Alexiterial Water, to mix with the Syrup, when the Physician shall prescribe it. And this Preparation may serve as a model, to prepare the Syrups of other Flowers, which are, or come ne'er to the nature of Orange-Flowers. We follow now, to give an example of the Syrup of odoriferous Rinds, and we take for our example that of Limon.   

The old way of Preparing Syrup of Lemons.  
℞ lb j of the outward Rind of new Lemons, ʒ ij. of grains of Scarlet or Kermes, and lb u of common Water; boil all together to the consumption of two p. Strain it, and add lb i. of Sugar, which reduce to the just consistency of a Syrup. Which aromatize with iv. grains of Musk. This is their manner of prescribing and operating, altogether unworthy of a true and good Physician, as we shall make appear by the virtues which they attribute to this Syrup, and by their ingenuous confession, that the good sent is altogether necessary to elevate it, and make it attain to that high degree of virtues which are by them attributed unto it, and are these; to strengthen the Stomach and Heart, to repel and correct putrid and corrupt humours of the Ventricle, to take away ill breath, to resist venomous and pestilential diseases, prevent or remedy the bearing and palpitation of the Heart, and dissipate sadness and melancholy. All these virtues are proper and essential to the volatile sulphureous Salt of Limon Rind, as most worthily doth witness its odour and pleasant taste.  
But let us see, how these pretended Masters imagine they can introduce and preserve this taste and smell in the Syrup which we speak of, or in a Julep of Sugar and Water, boiled together to a consistency of Syrup. They prescribe to put in the one or the other, a judicious quantity of the external Rind of Limon, without saying, whether it shall be done in cold or warmth; since, if they should even have this foresight, it would be to little purpose: for, if the Rind be put in warmth, the smell and volatile Spirit will immediately vanish away, and there shall remain but an odour and taste of Turpentine; if in cold, the viscosity and clamminess of the Syrup, loaded with the bitterness and extract of the Rind, shall not be able to receive, nor be capable to extract that virtue which is pretended to be introduced in it, though very subtle of itself. They had nevertheless done much better, if they had prescribed to the Apothecary, to express with his fingers from the Rind, the oleagineous part hidden in it, and impregnate therewith a quantity of Sugar very fine and finely powdered; until it gins to melt, and so to end the dissolution of this Sugar with a little juice of Lemons well filtrated; and thus aromatize their Syrup already boiled with this pleasant and odoriferous Liquor. But this manner of Preparation is not yet worthy an ingenuous Artist or Chemical Apothecary. He shall than proceed herein after the following manner.   

The manner of preparing artificially the Syrup of Limon-Rind.  
℞ lb ss. of the external thin Rind of new Lemons; cut it very small with a Knife or Scissors; and being placed in a Glass Cucurbite, besprinkle it with lb i. ss. of good white Wine, or, that which will be much better, in as much Malmesy or good Spanish Wine; keep it a while in digestion, and than extract by distillation, with those precautions we have already declared, ℥ x. or ℥ xij. of Spirituous Water, or a very subtle or odoriferous Spirit, without any other addition, if it be for Women, by reason of the Mother, which can neither endure the odour of Musk, nor that of Amber. But if it be for men or women not obnoxious to hysterical passions, put into the nose of the Limbeck you employ for this distillation, a knot of Silk-cloth, wherein is tied ℥ ss. of grain of Kermes not too old nor Wormeaten, viij. grains Ambergriece, and iv. grains of Musk: and so the first vapours which are very subtle, penetrating and dissolving, being condensed in Liquor which shall distil by this Nose, shall carry along with them the tincture, odour and virtue of these three Substances, and so impregnate and perfume all the rest. This done, put ℥ iij. more of Limon Rind, very superficial, thinly pared, and subtle, and very small shred to digest in cold in the spirituous water which you first drew: run without expression this maceration through a Linen clean and fine, and preserve it in a Vial well stopped, till you have boiled in lib. ij. of common Water the Rind which you had left from the distillation, and that of the expression also, until the Liquor be reduced to half, which than strain clarify, and boil to a Sugar Rosat, with lib. i. of very white Sugar, which afterwards you are to decoct in a consistency of Syrup, with the requisite quantity of spirituous essensified Water. This Syrup must be preserved carefully, because it is as useful in time of health as of sickness: for a spoonful of this Syrup mixed with white Wine, or Sugar and Water, composes a kind of pleasant and odoriferous Limonado; and those that will make this drink more acceptable, giving it a sharp pleasant quickness, may join to it the juice of Limon, or some drop of Spirit of Sulphur or of Vitriol, if it be in sickness, and that not without the prescription of a Physician. From the example of this Syrup, may be drawn the manner of making also that of Orange, nor lesle useful than the so e-going, and chief for women; and those that are subject to Indigestions and colics. We come now to the third example of our Aromatical Substances.   

The vulgar Preparation of Syrup of Cinnamon.  
℞ ℥ ij. ss. of fine and subtle Cinnamon. i e. of a penetrating and biting taste, make it into gross Powder, and digest it with lib. ij. of good Cinnamon Water, by the space of 24 hours in a Glass Cucurbite in a warm place; the Vessel being so well stopped, that nothing may transpire; than strain and express it, and put again ℥ ij. ss. more of new Cinnamon in infusion, as long as the first, which keep also; and thus continued and reiterate the same operation four times; keep this infusion impregnated with the virtues of the Cinnamon by itself; than take the Cinnamon remaining after the expressions, and infuse upon it lib. i of Malmsey, or some other Wine strong and generous; than extract all the Liquor by a strong expression, and join it to the preceding infusion, with ℥ ij. of very odoriferous Rose-water, and lib. i of Sugar, and boil them together in a well covered Pot, to the consistency of a Syrup.  
I know there is none so little acquainted with Cinnamon and the parts which administer and contain its virtue, as also of other Aromatical Substances, but chief, that of Cloves; who doth not admire, and pity this ridiculous and simple description, of one of the noblest and most excellent Syrups which an Apothecary can prepare or keep his shop furnished with, and which all the Authors of it do destinate to the refreshment and repairing of vital Spirits; to retrieve the vital heat, and restore it to the Heart and Stomach, when driven away from it by some mortal cold; correcting also the ill breath of the Mouth, and the corruption of the Ventricle; to help digestion; and finally, to repair and preserve all the strength of the body. I know, I say, that none never so little versed in the Art of distilling, and extracting the aethereal substance of aromatical bodies, but particularly of Cinnamon, cannot, but have an aversion to so defective a prescription, taken from a Dispensatory wherein so many grave Doctors have had a hand. All the virtues attributed to the Syrup of Cinnamon are real and true, provided they be preserved: But let us, I beseech you, examine a little, with what fine and judicious precaution, the Authors of this prescription have laboured to do it. They ordain to the Apothecary to boil this Syrup in an earthen Pot exactly stopped; but consider, that at the same time they prescribe the stopping of the Vessel, they would have the contained matter to be boiled to a consistency of Syrup, which cannot be done, but by the slow evaporation of the superfluous liquor, or by its ebullition. If than the cover of the Pot hath an edge inlaid in the other, and so just and exactly fitted and shut up, and the Joints so well luted, that nothing can transpire, the Artist or Apothecary shall never attain their end, which is to make a Syrup, according as they are prescribed to do, since there will be a perpetual circulation of vapours from the bottom to the top; for what shall rise from the bottom shall condense in the top of the cover, and thence fall back again, without any hopes to attain this way to the conslency of a Syrup. There must than of necessity be some expiration, and even some ebullition, to consume lb ij. ss of superfluous and superabounding liquor, whereby to give a body and consistency to the Syrup. Now, would it not be a very great damage, and a considerable loss, to let evaporate and fly away in the Air lb ij. ss. and more of a spirituous Water, of a very fragrant smell, very pleasant taste & great efficacy. Yet these erroneous processes and operations can only be corrected by the help of Chemistry, since it is by her means we come to know, that Cinnamon possesses in itself, as all other aromatical bodies, a volatile sulphureous Salt, so subtle, that the lest heat is capable to extract it and drive it away, if the Artist doth not observe to stop with a great exactness, as he aught to do, not only the joints of the Limbeck, but also of the nose wherein it joins with the mouth of the Recipient, otherwise he shall loose the most subtle and efficacious part of the saline Spirit of the Cinnamon, accompanied with that of the Malmsey, or whatsoever other Wine, the Artist doth make use of.  
Let us now prosecute to demonstrate the extreme impertinency of this description, by adding ℥ ij. of good Rose-water upon ℥ x. of Cinnamon, and lib. ij. of good Water of Cinnamon, and lib. i of Malmsey; and that which is yet more ridiculous, is, that the odour of this Water must vanish away with the subtle and volatile part of the other. But it may be objected to this, That Sugar, which is a vegetable Salt, of a median nature between fix and volatile, shall be capable to fix and detain by itself the volatile Salt of Cinnamon; and so without reason do we inveigh against this Syrup, since this uniting mean is capable to preserve the virtue of what enters in its composition. But though, this argument seem to be full of strength, and even hath very much in it, we will nevertheless illustrate the truth without destroying the same, and that by the following distinction. We do than distinguish between warm Sugar, and between Sugar cold; for we confess indeed, that Sugar reduced to a subtle Powder, is capable to receive in itself the aethereal Oils of aromatical Substances, and also all other distilled Oils, that it is even capable to unite them, and mix them indivisibly with the Spirits and Waters, which is none of the lest secrets of Chemistry: But we absolutely deny this union and mixture to be possible in warmth, even in the lest heat; and so much lesle by consequent in that heat which is requisite to the boiling of a Syrup, where it is necessary to evaporate above lib. ij. of superfluous liquor. The intention we had to elucidate truth more and more, hath obliged us to deduce this matter so much to the full, and to show evidently the absolute necessity of the intervention of Chemistry, which is the fittest Mistress to teach how truly to operate in all the Preparations of Pharmacy.   

The Preparation of Syrup of Cinnamon according to the Precepts and Prescriptions of Chemistry.  
THis Syrup may serve for a pattern and rule to make all other. Syrups of aromatical bodies, of which it would be needless to give the particular prescriptions, since this may be instar omnium.  
℞ ℥ x. of very good Cinnamon cut very small, and put in a Glass Cucurbite, upon which pour lb iij. of good Malmsey or Spanish Wine, or some other kind of generous and spirited Wine, and lb i of very good Rose-water, cover the Cucurbite with its Glass Body, the joints being exactly luted, put it in B. M. and adaptate thereto a Receiver, which you shall lute to the Nose of the Limbeck very exactly; give first a gentle fire of digestion the space of 12. hours; than increase, till the distilling drops follow close one the other, heeding nevertheless, that the Head of the Limbeck should not grow too hot: but may be so, as the hand may endure it. Continued thus until the Cinnamon in the bottom appears dry; the cease, and put by the Cinnamon. Reiterate your operation with like quantity of fresh Cinnamon, pouring upon it the Water first extracted, and distil as you did at first, reiterate it until the third time; and having ended, put your Water in a Bottle well stopped with waxed Cork, and cover it with a wet Bladder, jest that it should loose and exhale away the best and subtlest part of its virtue. Than take afterwards all the remaining Cinnamon, put it in a Cucurbite, and pour upon lb iiij. of common Water; cover it with its Head; lute, and distil in Sand, and draw of lb i ss. that in case any volatile and virtual substance should remain in the Cinnamon, it may be drawn of again without loss: This last Water shall serve in the Laboratory for the last lotion of Magisteries and Precipitates, as also for the extraction of some Tinctures. Strain and express all the liquor impregnated with the extract and fixed Salt of the Cinnamon, clarify, and than boil to the consistency of Lozenges, with lb ij. of refined Sugar, which you must dissolve in cold, with lb i. of the spirituous Water before received: This Syrup must immediately be put in a well stopped Bottle, that what you have preserved with so much labour, smay not be lost. It is a treasure and present remedy in all weaknese: but chief, in long and difficult travels of Women, where their strength is exhausted, and they consequently deprived of the best part of their Spirits and natural heat: and as there is no Vegetable that possesses more of Spirits than Cinnamon, and principally, being animated with the Spirits of Wine, all that virtue is found concentrated in this Syrup by an admirable harmony, so, that is capable to produce all the effects we have attributed unto it. The Dosis is from one half to one and two spoonfuls. They that shall desire to make this Syrup yet more excellent, must put in the mouth of the Limbeck ℈ i of Ambergrice mixed with ʒ i. of true wood of Aloes reduced to Powder, and shall distil over again lb ss. of their best Cinnamon Water, whereof they shall make the Syrup which will be much more efficacious.  
We will end this Discourse concerning Syrups, by the notes and observations we shall make upon compounded Syrups: because that as they are destinated to several ends, so are they compounded with different matters, which do require a different manner and way of preparation. But before we enter into our matter, we must say something that may affect the mind of the Reader, and open his understanding, whereby we may also instruct those that apply themselves to the study of the noblest Pharmacy. And to begin, I will say: that Natural Philosophers, which are the soundest Judges of things, do assure us, that all whatsoever receives, doth receive according to its proper way of receiving Secundum modum recipientis; and not according to the way of the thing received, Secundum modum recepti, which is to introduce some new quality in the Recipient. If this Philosophical Axiom is true in itself, as no body of sound judgement can doubt of it; it will chief appear to be so, and we will make it evident herein. Because no Apothecary can make a compounded Syrup, without extracting before hand the virtue and tinctures of the several ingredients which are to be received into the liquor, which is that which commonly Chemists do call their Menstruum: Now of whatsoever quality or nature that Menstruum be, it cannot take upon itself, nor be impregnated with the Tincture or Essence of any Vegetable, Animal, or Mineral whatsoever, but according to its own way or capacity of receiving, which cannot be otherwise disposed than by the weight of Nature, which is nothing else but the capacity, and sufficient quantity of the most subtle matter of the extracted body, whereof the Menstruum is impregnated; and when it is thus filled and satiated within, either cold or warm, all the power of Art cannot make it to take up more; because, as we have said, he is loaden according to the weight of Nature, which cannot be transgressed, unless with a design to loose all, or frustrate the operation: for, 
Est modus in rebus, sunt certi deni que fines:  
Quos ultra citraque nequit consistere rectum.   
For example. Take ℥ iv. of ordinary Salt, dissolve them in ℥ viij. of common Water warm, and you shall see the Water to take up but ℥ iij. of the Salt, and leave behind the fourth, and though you never boil or agitate so much the Water with the Salt, yet it shall not be capable to receive more; because if it appears dissolved in the heat, it sinks nevertheless afterwards to the bottom, and coagulates when the water is grown cold. But to prove more evidently, that the Water is naturally and sufficiently loaded; take a competent quantity of this Water so impregnated with Salt, that an Egg may swim in it, whereby you may immediately know, whether the Water is loaded according to the weight of Nature; for if it hath as much as it can be capable to receive, the Egg will swim above the Water; but, if it be not sufficiently loaden or impregnated, the Egg will immediarely sink to the bottom; because the Water is not sufficiently filled with the dissolved body of the Salt to hinder the sinking of that of the Egg. Another proof and experiment thereof, is made in the boiling of Hydromel or Mead; for, when the Water is not yet sufficiently loaded with the small bodies of Honey, the Egg will never swim above the Water; but to the contrary, will immediately sink to the bottom: but, when by reiterated experiments, you are come to bring the Egg to swim above Water, it is than a true sign of the sufficient boiling of the Mead, and that the Water is as much impregnated with Honey as it can bear, to have a pleasant and vinous drink thereof, after due fermentation; whereas if it be more loaded, the drink will prove clammy and cleaving to the lips, by reason of the overabundance of Honey; and if it be not enough, than it is defective, and wants its sufficiency of the body of Honey, to give it the taste and strength it aught to have; because the Spirits of Honey, which cause its goodness, are in too small a quantity to 'cause due fermentation. We say the same thing of Spirit of Wine, Aquavitae, plain and distilled Vinegar, corrosive Spirits of Salt, Nitre, Vitriol, or Copparis, all Strong-waters generally, Liquors or Menstrua's, which are capable to extract or dissolve any Body, Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral. For example, put Coral grossly powdered in a Matrass, and pour upon distilled Vinegar, by degrees, to the height of three or four fingers, you shall immediately perceive its action, and hear a certain noise in its ebullition, which causes the dissolution of the body of Coral; but when this ebullition and noise is ceased, filtrate the liquor which swims above, and put it upon new Coral in Powder, and you shall perceive not more action or noise; which evidently proves that liquor to be satiated with the body received, and uncapable to admit any more; Take also Water, Aquavitae, or Spirit of Wine, and put upon Saffron, until it be exhaled to a very high colour; than take afterwards new Saffron, and pour this tincture upon it, and you shall perceive, that this will extract not more, and that your Saffron will remain of the same colour as when you did put it in at first.  
It happens so to all Vegetable Bodies entering in the preparation of compounded Syrups, as Herbs, Flowers, Fruits, Seeds and Roots. All these bodies have a Salt in themselves, which though of a different nature, doth notwithstanding load or impregnate of its substance more or lesle Clammy, the Menstruum, which the Apothecary doth use, according to the Dispensatory from whence he hath his direction, proportionally to the weight of Nature; and when this Menstruum is once impregnated, with the virtue or essence of any of these things, to the concurrence and proportion of the weight of Nature, it is impossible it should attract to itself the tincture or, virtue of other bodies added to it afterwards, without some deperdition and loss: for the nature of these bodies will be either fixed or volatile; if fixed, the Menstruum is already loaded with some thing of like nature, and so this body shall never communicate its virtue to the decoction of the Syrup already sufficiently loaded: but, if the virtue of this body be volatile, it will needlessly evaporate during the ebullition of the superfluous liquor in the concocting of the Syrup.  
All what we have said here above, may sufficiently show the necessity of delivering our promised notes upon the compounded Syrups, and the examples of the dividing the matters which enter into the composition of these Syrups, to extract their essence and virtue, according to the several nature which is in them, whether it resides in the fixed part, or be found in the volatile.  
We shall than make use of the example of six kinds of Syrups, having six several uses, and consequently, compounded of different substances, and extracted with different Menstruums, to demonstrate the better the truth of all the possible means. These Syrups are; first, a Stomachal one, which is the compounded Syrup of Wormwood. Secondly, an aperitive Syrup, which is the acetous, or compounded Syrup of Vinegar. The third is, an hysterical Syrup, or good for the Mother, which is the compounded Syrup of Mugwort. The fourth, a cholagogick and hepatical Syrup, which is the compounded Syrup of Endive or Chicory, with Rhubarb. The fifth is, a thoracical or pectoral Syrup, dedicated to the diseases of the Breast, which is that of Hyssop. The sixth is, a purgative and phlegmagogical Syrup, which is the Syrup of Carthamie, or Bastard Saffron. We shall first deliver them according to the ancient dispensations, and than shall make our notes thereupon of their imperfection: after which shall follow our prescpition for preparing after the modern way, i e. Chemically and without defects.   

The old way of preparing the compounded Syrup of Wormwood.  
℞ lb. ss. of Absynthium Ponticum, or Romanum, ℥ ij. of read Roses, ʒ ij. of Indian Nard. Put it in maceration reduced to a gross Powder, in an earthen Vessel glazed, the space of 24 hours, with good old Claret Wine, and well depurated Juice of Quinces, ana lb iij. ℥ iv. After this, let all boil and percolate; and thereof with lb ij. of Sugar, make a Syrup according to Art  
This Syrup is none of the lest in an Apothecary's shop, provided it be well and duly prepared: for it is compounded of such things as may produce those effects attributed unto it by Authors, provided that by a gross and unpardonable ignorance, that which doth constitute its virtue be not lost: such as are the Spirit of the Claret Wine, the volatile, odoriferous, and subtle essence of the Wormwood, Roses, and Indian Nard. But we have already sufficiently said before, the reasons, why this common Preparation was erroneous, when we discoursed concerning plain Syrups; wherefore we will content ourselves, only to say, that no body can boil to a consistency the infusion of this Syrup with lib. ij. of Sugar, unless you evaporate first by coction and ebullition lib. 5. and more of the superfluous liquor, which cannot be done without the loss of the Spirit of Wine, and the volatile Sulphurous Salt of the ingredients, and so there shall remain only the sharpness of the Juice of Quinces, and the gross and material of this Remedy, and the manner of well operating without any loss of the best substance.   

How the compounded Syrup of Wormwood must rightly be prepared.  
℞ ℥ vi. of new Wormwood, ℥ iij. of Mint, ℥ i Galanga, ℥ ij. Calamus aromat. ℥ i ss. red-Roses, and ℥ ss. Indian Nard, which shred very small, and put in a Glass Cucurbite with lb iiij. of good Claret Wine; put all in B. M. with the requisite precautions to the work and distillation, and after 24. hours' infusion, extract ℥ xviij, of spirituous and odoriferous water, which put in a double Vessel, or blind Head, and add to it ℥ ij. ss. more of the tops of Wormwood, ʒ ij. of Cloves, and ℥ ss. of Nutmeg, and ʒ ij. of select Mastic, all reduced to subtle Powder; and after two days infusion in a vaporous bath, strain it in the cold, and filtrate the liquor, which you shall keep in a Vial, until you have boiled the remainder of your distillation and expression in a glazed Pot of Earth, to the consumption of half, which clarify, and boil afterwards to the consistency of Lozenges, to dissolve again in Syrup with the essensified water of the stomachal virtue of Wormwood and Aromatical Substances. If you will ●ender it more active yet, and ready to answer your indications, add to it Spirit of Vitriol, or of Salt, until it hath acquired a pleasant sharpness, much better than that which might have been left from the juice of Quinces, after so long unnecessary an ebullition.   

The ancient way of preparing your acetous Syrup, or the compounded Syrup of Vinegar.  
℞ Roots of Fennel, Smallage and endive, or Chicory ana ℥ iij. of the Seeds of the same ana ℥ i except Endive ℥ ss. boil all, shred and reduce it to a gross Powder in lb x. of Spring-water with a slow fire, to the consumption of one half, than in an Earthen Vessel glazed; reduce it to a Syrup with lb iij. of Sugar and lb ij. of very strong Vinegar: We have the same reasons to take and note the Errors, whereof was spoken above: For, who cannot (I beseech you) perceive the gross and plain absurdities herein obvious, to boil Seeds and Roots, compounded of Volatile and subtle parts, with a slow fire, and lb x. of water: and moreover, to join two pound of Vinegar to lb u of liquor, to destroy the most penetrative and active part of it, and upon whom depends all the incisive and aperitive virtue of this Syrup. Let us not grow tedious nevertheless, in repeating so often the same lesson: but show the way and means how to do better, since we have sufficiently explicated this matter here above in our preceding Notes upon the plain acetous Syrup.   

The Chemical Preparation of the compounded acetous Syrup.  
℞ Roots of Smallage, Chicory or Endive ana ℥ iij. Seeds of Anis, Fennel and Smallage ana ℥ i Endive ℥ ss. beaten the Seeds grossly, and shred the Roots very small, than put in a Glass Cucurbite & pour upon it lb ij. of distilled Vinegar well dephlegmated; distil it all in B. M. until you have drawn of all the Vinegar, and the substances be dry in the bottom; keep in a Vial the distilled Vinegar, which is impregnated with the volatile Salt of the Roots and Seeds, which communicate unto it its chief virtue of opening obstructions: draw of the remainder from the Cucurbite, and make it boil in lb iij. of common water, until a third part remains, which clarify, and boil to the consistency of Lozenges, with lb iij. refined Sugar: to dislolve afterwards in the lukewarm heat of the Bath, to a consistency of Syrup, with the Vinegar you had before drawn of by distillation. This Syrup is excellent for cleansing of the Ventricle in pituitous bodies, which for the most part is stuffed with slimy and mucilagionous substances, which spread over the internal tunicles, and hinder the digestion of meats and stomach, and are the occasional causes of bastard Fevers: it is also very good to open obstructions of the Reinss or Kidneys, Liver, and Spleen, by reason of the subulity of the Bohemian-tartar volatilised, in the distilled Vinegar, assisted with the subtle and penetrating virtue of the Volatile Salt of the Roots and S●eds.   

The ancient way of preparing the Syrup of Mugwort.  
THE Preparation of this Syrup is ordinarily prescribed as a Masterpiece for young Apothecasies to make trial of their skill: I believe nevertheless, more to try their skill and abilities in the knowledge of Plants, than preparing the Syrup with a true preservation of the virtue of its ingredients, which are indeed capable of producing noble effects, since it is, composed of Herbs, Roots, Seeds, and aromatical Substances, all-concurring to the same end; and all specifical remedies of the Mother, and fit to remove the suppression of Months, and cleanse, and as it were sweep the Womb of all the filth wherewith it might be infected, and free it from the pains which winds will sometimes 'cause in this part, which for the most part irritate it even to Convulsions, Suffocations, and Lipothymies.  
But all this shall never be performed, unless, by the help of Chemistry, all the subtle and penetrative virtue, which enters into this Syrup, be duly preserved.   

The Description of the said Syrup.  
℞ M. ij. Mugwort, after it is overgrown and yet in flower; Penyroyal, Calamint, Origan, Balm-Mint, Dittany of Crect, Persicary, Savin, Marjerom, Chamaedry, St. Johns-wort, Chamaepytis or Ground-Pine, Feverfew with its flower, small Centaury, Rhue, Betony, Bugloss, ana M. i Fennel roots, Kneeholm, Parsley, as Asparagus, Smallage, Pimpernel, Woodbine, Cyperus aromaticus, Madder, Iris, and Paeony ana ℥ i Juniper-berries, seeds of Lovage-Parsley, Smallage, Anis, Hi●h, wild Spikenard, Sneesing-wort, or Pepper-wort, Valerian, Costus amarus, Carpo Balsamum, C●bebs or Cardamom, aromatical Cassia Lignea, and Calamus, of all ana ℥ ss shred the Herbs and recent Roots, and reduce to gross Powder all the dry substances, and infuse and macerate 24 hours in pure water; than boil and evaporate to the consumption of the whole half, and removing the Vessel from the fire, when the decoction is grown lukewarm, rub and handle the substances with your hands; and having made an exact straining of all, boil it to a consistency of Syrup with lb iiij. Sugar. Nota, That the prescription runs, iteratively, that before the decoction be boiled with Sugar, it may very exactly and cleanly be strained and strained again, or that otherwise the Syrup will gather a Mother, and easily loose its clearness and colour; because they pretend not to clarify it, jest the white of Eggs should attract all the virtue of the decoction to themselves: and moreover, do ordain to put in the aromatical substances only towards the end of the ebullition, that the virtue of these volatile substances should not deperish by too long a coction. By which it appears, that these men only fail in their operations, for want of having been initiated in the Mysteries of Chemistry, whereby they should have been taught to reason with more judgement, and work with more circumspection. But let us come to the examination of this Preparation, and necessary notes for the instruction of the Chemical Apothecary; and only with three we shall sufficiently give to understand the impertinency of their proceeding: And first of all, To what conduces, I beseech you, that friction, and handling of the species, since they must be pressed, to extract by this violence all the liquor whereof they are imbibed and impregnated? To what purpose again this duplicated and triplicated colature? Since it shall never be able to purify the decoction, and that it is absolutely necessary to clarify it with whites of Eggs, to prepare therewith a Syrup, which may be pleasant to the sight and taste. The second ever is, that they will have the aromatical substances to be put in only towards the latter end of the decoction; jest, say they, their virtue which doth consist in very subtle parts should vapour away; not considering, that although the decoction might have received some virtue from the aromatical substances, no ebullition of them being previous, yet this virtue must vanish away, when this same decoction shall be boiled with Sugar, and so their precaution is both unjudicious and ignorant: But as for the third, is it, that nothing else but the aromatical substances are to be heeded ●n the preparation of this Syrup? Since all the Plants, all the Fruits, all the Roots and all the Seeds which enter into its composition are aromatical and odoriferous, and consequently filled with a Salt Spirit, and Sulphur very subtle; which is no lesle to be preserved than the virtue of the said aromatical substances, since these principles only give efficacy and power to the Syrup, to appease, as they pretend, all the irritations and exorbitancies of the Mother. It is not necessary, we should deliver a particular method o● preparing this Syrup according to Chemical directions, since we have enough taught and repeated the manner of doing it, in the others which we have before described, and chief, where we spoke of the compounded acetous Syrup: Those that shall prepare this Syrup, with those precautions and Chemical method which we have before insinuated, may boast they have made a Masterpiece of Pharmacy: Since it doth not suffice to know the Ingredients, and make thereof a pompous show; to neglect afterwards the preserving of the virtue of those things which enter into its composition, whereof for the most part, a great show is made before the Master Apothecaries.   

The vulgar preparation of the Syrup of Chicory with Rhubarb.  
Physicians do make use of this Syrup for a very solid reason, since it hath its ground and foundation in the nature of the thing, and the experiency of its virtues: for, nothing comes in the composition of this Syrup, which may not very well second their good intentions, and produce the good effects by them wished for and desired; provided it be made with the depurated juice of the Plants which do compose it; which by their bitter taste give a sufficient testimony of the essential Nitro-tartarous Salt abounding in them, which is both aperitive and diuretic; moreover, the aperitive Roots possess in themselves a Salt which is analogous to that of Plants; but, that which doth constitute its chief virtue is the Rhubarb, which is the root of one of the kinds of Lapathum, containing in itself a volatile, subtle and very efficacious Salt, a Balsamic and Conservative Sulphur of the faculties of the Stomach: which is proved by its taste and tingent colour, which not only communicates itself to Excrements and Urinal when well conditionated, but even carries the penetration of its tincture to the Eyes and the Nails. It would than be a very great damage to loose the virtues of this wondered root, or to neglect directions, how to extract them right, and preserve them carefully. This Syrup is used against Obstructions, Jaundice, Splenetical Diseases, Cachexy and impurities in the Entrails, debility of the Ventricle, Epilepsy or Falling-sickness in general; but principally, against that of Children, and finally it is employed, to expel by Stools and Urins, all what can be vitiated in us; and all this is true enough, because this Syrup must be filled with the essential Salt of Plants, and the volatile Salt of Roots accompanied with the Balsamic Sulphur of Rhubarb, which do correct all the defects of the Spleen and Stomach, the two parts which cause all the disorders which this Syrup can appease and resettle as is fitting.   

The Vulgar manner of this Process is than such.  
℞ domestical and wild Endive, ana M. ij. ss. Chicory and Dendelion ana M. ij Sowthistle, Hepatick Lettuce, Fumitory and Hops, ana M. i Barley whole ℥ ij. of eack kind of the Capillaries ana ℥ ij. ℥ ij. Alkakengi, Liquorish, Ceterach, Doddar anaʒ vi. Fennel Roots, smallage Asparagus ana ℥ ij. shred the herbs, & roots, & make them boil in lb thirty. water, to the consumption of one half, than boil this decoction to a Syrup with lb x. clarified Sugar, and in boiling add in a knot of clean linen, ℥ seven. ss. of excellent Rhubarb small shred, and ℈ ij. of Indian Nard; from time to time you must press the knot, and when the Syrup shall be boiled to a sufficient consistency, and put up in its Pot, hung the same knot therein, with your Rhubarb and Spike, the better to entertain its virtue.  
This is the common way of making this Syrup: to which vulgar Apothecaries have thought fit to join some other Observations to make it the better, which nevertheless, do not much surpass the other: for, though they imagine in them to have somewhat better mended the matter, they go nevertheless to work but blindly, and grope without being able to found out the true way, because they are not guided by the light of Chemistry. They say than, that the Barley must be macerated 24 hours with the Roots and dry Substances of this Composition, in such a quantity of water as is required, and that all the rest may be together boiled to the consumption of the one half. That the decoction must afterwards be percolated, and a part of it taken, wherein for 12 hours together, at lest, must be infused ℥ seven. ss. of Spikenard and Rhubarb, to extract the tincture and virtue thereof; after which, they must boil a little, than softly be expressed, and that this tincture must not be joined with the remainder, but when the other part of the decoction shall be boiled to a perfect consistency of Syrup, and to put there also the Rhubarb and Indian Nard in a knot of cloth, that they may communicate their virtue to the remainder of the Syrup; because otherwise it would not be perceived, that the suspension of this same knot in the Syrup might contribute to its virtue, and when all shall be put together, than must the Syrup be thickened by degrees, until it comes to a true and requisite consistency. It seems by this, that great care is taken in reformning the preparation of this Syrup: but it is very coorsely; for, Do they not judge, that this decoction is charged with the body of the Roots, and that of the Herbs, and so can take not more? neither extract well the Rhubarb, which is the basis and foundation of the virtue of this remedy? But yet, had they prescribed before to clarify this decoction, to divest her from the gross body, which the collature cannot take away; they should have shown some spark of judgement, which yet would be defective in this, that it might indeed thus extract better; but would not preserve the volatile part of the Rhubarb, nor the odour of the Spikenard, because before you can make a true Syrup, lb x. or lb xi. of water must first be evaporated away: which cannot be done but by the means we shall now prescribe.   

The right way of preparing Chemically the compounded Syrup of Chicory with Rhubarb.  
℞ enough of all juicy Plants which enter into the composition of this Syrup, to make lib viij. of the juice thereof, shred and bruise them in a stone Mortar, express the juice, and put it in B. M. in a Glass Cucurbite covered with its Head-Limbeck to make a due depuration thereof; keep the water extracted, run the juice through a Flannel, and put again in B. M. and add the Roots mundified and the Capillaries; than draw of lib. iiij. of water, which join to the first, than put the quantity of Rhubarb and Indian Nard, which you destinate to your Syrup: I do presuppose it to be ʒ ss upon each ounce of Syrup, which is one ounce to each pound, in a Matrass, and pour upon of the water extracted from the juices three fingers high above the matter, digest it during 12 days in a vaporous Bath to make the extraction thereof; percolate and squeeze softly this first expression, put the Rhubarb again in the Matrass with new water, and so continued till three reiterated times, and you shall have all the tincture of the Rhubarb, which you shall by settlement purify in B. M. by reason of the expression which ever transmits' some gross body and material. This done, decoct the rest of your juice, after you have strained and clarified it with the Sugar, and reduce it to a consistency of Lozenges, which with your tincture of Rhubarb dissolve in a true Syrup possessed with all the intended virtues, and which without loss of its faculties shall preserve it long, by reason of the great store of the Salts of Plants, and the true Balsamic Sulphur of Rhubarb, Nota, that ℥ ss of this Syrup is more efficacious than a whole ounce of that of the vulgar preparation.   

The manner of Preparing the compounded Syrup of Hyssop according to the method of the Ancients.  
℞ Hyssop not very much dried, Roots of Smallage, Fennel, Parsley, Liquorish ana ℥ x. French-Barley ℥ ss. Gum-Dragan, Seeds of Mallows and Quinces, anaʒ iij. Capillaries ʒ vi. Jujubes and Sebestens ana N. thirty. Raisins of the Sun stoned ℥ i ss. Figs and Dates something fat, ana N. x. decoct all in lib. viij. water until half be consumed away; reduce the rest in a consistency of Syrup after you have expressed it with lib. ij. Sugar refined.  
If in the fore going descriptions of Syrups we have noted some things improper and ill digested; this discovers yet much more the ignorance and supinity of vulgar Pharmacy. For, if we take the pains to examine throughly the ingredients wherewith it is compounded, we found nothing in it but an abyssus of mistakes and Chaos of Errors; and what I do yet found worst, is, that Chemistry here is at a nonplus, not knowing where to have her recourse and repair the defects of this practice: For, the Roots and Herbs yield already from themselves a decoction sufficiently course; the Fruits tender it clammy and viscous, but the Gum and Seeds shall tender it altogether muscilaginous; So, that it will ever be impossible to take a Syrup therewith; and, if any doth advance himself so much, as to boast that he may effect it—  
— Talem vix repperit unum,  
Millibus è multis hominum consultus Apollo.  
For, if he pretends to make his decoction superficially, without well concocting the Roots, Fruits, Seeds, and Gums, he shall frustrate the intention of the Authors and Compilers of this Prescription, and deprive the Syrup of the pretended virtue which is attributed unto it; and, if moreover, he decocts it as it must and aught to be, he shall loose the volatile part of the Roots, and chief of the Hyssop and Capillaries; but, if he doth clarify his decoction the whire of Eggs shall keep the Gums and Muscilagineous Substances. I know, moreover, that the vulgar of Apothecaries who prepare this Syrup, do pretend to have quitted themselves of their duty, when they have boiled the muscilagineous Substances in the decoction in a knot, which they afterwards draw back again without expression, and so is their decoction devested from the required virtue: moreover, what more ridiculous thing can there be, than to substitute the refined Sugar, or in cake, to common Sugar; for, I can satisfy myself with no reason I can imagine, unless it be to raise the price of the Syrup, and to abuse the vulgar and ignorant people. As than, this Syrup cannot possibly be well made according to this prescription, not more can it have the virtues which are attributed unto it, viz. to contribute to the cure of cold diseases in the Breast; where it is required to cleanse and attenuate the crass and clammy matter which doth obsess it, take away Obstructions, alleviate Hypochondriacal pains, and to be sovereign against the gravel. Now there is no body, that is so little acquainted with the Ingredients of this Syrup, who seethe not it is a manifest absurdity, to hope to open with viscosities and clammy glewing matters, which enter in the composition of this Syrup, to open Obstructions, which they would much sooner be capable to produce, than to remove. Therefore, whosoever requires a good pectoral Syrup, let him make it in the following manner.   

Pectoral Syrup of Hyssop very singular.  
℞ new Hyssop ℥ iiij. Roots of Smallage, Fennel, Parsley, Liquorish ana ℥ ij. shred and beaten it grossly, and than put in a Glass Cucurbite, and pour upon lb i. Juice of Hyssop: ℥ xij. Juice of Fennel, and lb ss. Juice of Ground-Ivy. Distil all in B. M. until the grounds look almost dry. Infuse again during the space of a natural day in your water ℥ i ss. fresh Hyssop,, and as much unprepared Squilla: ℥ i Fennel Roots, as much of the tops of Ground-Ivy: strain, express, and filtrate this infusion, and keep it by itself. After this, boil the matter remaining after distillation and expression in lb iv. water to half consumption; again, strain and clarify, than boil it, to a consistency of Lozenges with lb ij. ss. Sugar, which dissolve in Syrup with the essensified water of the Tincture and Salt of pectoral Plants. So shall you have a Syrup which will be of very great service and use.   

The vulgar way of Preparing the Syrup of Carthamy.  
IT seemeth that both ancient and modern Physicians have pretended only to show their great skill, both in the Theorical and Practical part of Physic, when they have heaped up great store of needless Ingredients for the composition of Waters, Electuaries and Opiates; but chief, in the descriptions which they have left us of their Magisterial Syrups. That of Carthamy or Bastard Saffron, the examination whereof we come now to handle, affords us a sufficient example thereof: For, I know not what Masterpiece they pretend to have made, in mixing often one with another such kinds of Drugs as are altogether different among themselves, and contradictory for the most part to their purposes: the Error of this is only occasioned by their ignorance in the different nature of Salts, and Spirits, and much more in the action and reaction of the one upon the other; as is daily seen in the laboratories of such as apply themselves to the Anatomy of natural Bodies, to learn by this way the manner of operating of Nature, and follow it close in the things which Art doth prescribe us: For, those which have either made formerly, or make daily Receipts of a foot and a half long, have in truth neither well conceived, nor well known by any experience, that, as Nature is but one and plain, so doth it but act plainly; and, so of necessity must the Physicians which are but her Agents and Apes, study to know the plain and specifical virtue of natural products, to use them with the same plainness, that so they may become the true imitators of Nature.  
Now have they not contented themselves to make a needless rhapsody: but, moreover, they have ordained the modus faciendi in so confused a manner, and so uncapable to extract the virtue of all these different species mixed together, that it even terrifies and moves to pity Artists, and as these Syrups are used yet in many places, though cut of for the future from the practice of more expert and illuminated Physicians: we have thought necessary to relate it here, thereby to guide to the true method of well making these Syrups, the Apothecaries not knowing and skilled in that mysteries of Chymisty.  
But, before we go further, let us explain the common way of operating.  
℞ therefore this compounded purging Syrup, of true Capillary, Hyssop, Thyme, Origan, Chamaedries or Germander, Chamaepitys or Ground-Ivy, Ceterach or Stone-wort, Bugloss ana M ss. Dodder, Alkekengi, Roots of Angelica, Liquorish, Fennel, Asparagues, ana ℥ i Palypody of the oak ℥ i ss. rind of tamarise ℥ ss. Annis, Fennel, Herb-William seeds, Dock seeds, ana ℥ i Carthami seeds slightly beaten ℥ iiij. Raisins of the Sun stoned ℥ ij. Boyl all these substances shred and grossly beaten together in lb vi. clear water, which reduce by boiling to a third, percolate this decoction, and put in warm to infusion ℥ i ss. Senne mundified, and ℥ ss. Agarick in Trochisks ʒ vi. select Rhubarb, and ʒ i Ginger: leave all to macerate during the space of a whole night, and the next day make a strong expression, than strain, and the straining decoct to a Syrup with lb i. refined Sugar, and add of violate and Rosat, both solutive Syrups, and of acetous plain Syrup ana ℥ ij. The use of this Syrup, is by vulgar Apothecaries assigned to the cure of inveterate Fevers, Quotidians and Quartans, to open Obstructions, which proceed from the clamminess and crassness of that humour called pituita, and to drive by the Belly the noxious serosities.  
I ask now, whether it be possible, that this decoction loaded with the substance of the first matters of this Syrup, and moreover reduced to a third, is capable to receive, much lesle to extract the virtue of Purgatives: and than, to what purpose, I beseech you, the addition of ℥ ij. of each of these Syrups prescribed, since a quantity of Sugar may be substituted in the place, and in their stead also; infusion of Violets may be added, and of Roses, and something of common Vinegar, or of distilled, as we shall say hereafter. But this is not all; but, besides this, must be considered the most important loss of volatile and sulphureous Salts, Herbs, Roots, and Seeds, which fly away, and evaporate by decoction. Let us than say, how the business may be mended, and let the following Syrup, be a rule and model for all other purging compounded Syrups.   

The true Chemical Preparation of the Syrup of Carthamy:  
℞ the true Capillary, Hyssop, Thyme, Origan, Germander, Ground-Ivy; Spleen-wort, Angelica root, Annis, Fennel, and Herb-William seeds, shred the Plants & Roots, and beaten to Powder the Seeds grossly; place all in a Cucurbite in B. M. with lb ij. water, and ℥ iiij. juice or infusion of Roses, as much of Violets, and ℥ i distilled Vinegar, cover the Cucurbit with its Limbeck-head, and draw of lb ss. of a spirituous and odoriferous water, which preserve. Add to this first decoction Bugloss, Dadder, Grains of Alkakengi, Liquorish Roots, Fennel, Asparagus, Polypody of the Oak, Tamarisk rind, Seed of Carthamy, and Raisins mundified, and add lb iij. of water more, boil all to the consumption of a third or half; percolate and express the remainder of the Ingredients. Clarify this decoction with whites of Eggs, and infuse in a slow warmth in this clarified decoction the Senne, Agarick in Trochisks, Rhubarb and Ginger, during, the space of 24 hours, after which you shall let it boil a little together, and than percolate; keep the colature by itself, and let boil once more the Purgative Species in lib. i new common water, to extract all the remaining virtue; percolate and express this last decoction, which join to the first extraction of your Purgarives, and clarify and concoct to the consistency of an Electuary with lib. ij. Sugar in Powder. After which, you shall bring your Syrup to a due consistency with the spirituous and aromatical water which you have drawn by distillation. In this manner shall you have a Purgative compounded Syrup, very pleasing, and full of the virtue of all its ingredients, and which for many years will keep without alteration; provided it be kept as all other Syrups, in a moderate place, neither hot nor cold; because from these two qualities, for the most part, proceeds the cause of fermentation, whereby they become sharp and acide, or from gathering of mother and rankness, which doth corrupt and spoil them.  
Thus much had we to say upon the subject of Plants; and these are the notes we thought necessary to observe, for such as will make good distilled waters and Syrups. What we have said, is sufficient to teach well, not only what is useful to these two Preparations: but may be also with great reason observed and made use of, to prepare all macerations, infusions, decoctions, digestions and ebullitions, of whatsoever the Physicians prescribe to Apothecaries for Apogems, Juleps, Potions, and other Preparations prescribed for the good of the Patient: And I know, that after Apothecaries have known what useful substance may by the action of heat be evaporated, they will study to preserve it the more, to advance in all things the good of their Neighbour, the discharge of their Conscience, and the honour and credit of Pharmacy: and moreover, they will know, that they could not receive these lights from any where else, but the Precepts of Chemistry.  
Now having thus given a general Idea of Integral Vegetables, and their constitutive parts, of what is fixed in them, and what volatile; and having given the necessary Notes, whereby a Chemical Artist may loose nothing of what he aught to preserve: it is time to come to the part which Nature and Art do furnish us with, in this ample family, and that we give a Section to each of the 14 subalternate Species, which are extracted from the principal Vegetable kind: that the example we shall give of Chemical Operations, which must be performed upon the same species of that subalternate gender, may be as a guide and beacon, whereby the Artist may be directed to operate upon all other species that are of a like nature.  
These subalternate kinds, as already we have said, are Roots, Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, Seeds, Rinds, Woods, Grains or Bays, Juices, Oils, distilled Sapritius, Rosins, Gum-Rosins, and other Gums. We will afford a Section to each of these kinds in particular, that if these kinds, though subalternate in themselves, have yet some other subordinated to them, we may nevertheless subdivide them, to give by this means, so much the more light to the Artist, because there is often a variety and difference found between the parts of the same kind, which by consequence require a different Operation. We will begin by the Roots.    

SECT. I Of Roots.  
ROots are the lower parts of Vegetables; and as it were, the shop and place of their first digestion: Now the digestion is, but the volatilization, or spiritualization of an aliment which in some kind was fixed: It seems than, that it was not without some ground of reason, that some have affirmed, that Roots were more fixed than any other part of the Plant, because they are nourished with a lesle elaborate nourishment than the rest. This indeed seems true, if you have respect to some peculiar kind of Roots, but not generally to all: for, some do possess the virtue of the whole Plant, so, that these are some Plants whereof the sole Root is of use for Physical Preparations, because searchers of Nature have found by experience, that the Salt Sulphur and Mercury of these Plants had its principal heat in the Root, as their tastle and odour may witness. And as some Roots are woody, nervous and knotty; so, there are others that are thin, soft, and spongious; some are mucilaginous and full of jelly, as others are lacteous and full of marrow: some are bitter, some sweet, some sharp and pleasant to the taste; as to the contrary, other sharp, biting, and even corrosive; finally, some are of a pleasant smell, others very unpleasant, and even offending the Brain and Breast, whereas the first do recreate and strengthen it.  
The end of our specificating all the differences, is only to give the better to the workman to understand, that he must not use the same way of Operation upon all Roots, before he hath maturely and judiciously examined of what parts they are composed, which is fixed, and which volatile, that after he shall have well conceived their nature, by the help of the external senses, he may conclude upon this knowledge, which way he may proceed in extracting their virtue: And, as we come to examine the particulars of Chemical Operations made upon Vegetables and their parts, we will follow with examples of the manner of working according to the diversity of Roots.  

EXAMPLE. I Of the Preparation of Odoriferous Roots, which abound in Spirit and Volatile Salt.  
WE will take for our first example of these Roots, that of Angelica, brought unto us from foreign parts, which is dry: For, as there is much virtue in this Root, and that it is one of the best Alexiteries: we have chosen it for a rule, upon which may be prepared the Roots of Calamus Aromaticus, Carlin-thistle, Lagwort, and Valerian, Pellitory of Spain, and others of the same nature, or in some way approaching, either by the smell or the taste.  
℞ then lb vi. of Bohemian Angelica Root, well-conditioned, i e. neither too Dry nor Wormeaten; shred it, and reduce it to gross Powder, which you shall put to digest by slow heat, in a double Glass Vessel or Blind-head, with lb xij. of distilled Rain-water, and as much white Wine, during the space of four natural days; After which put all in a Still-body, and give it fire by degrees, until the Spirits begin to ascend, and to condense and drop: than continued the fire in a well regulated equality, until you have extracted all the spirituous water; which will appear when that which comes of, shall have no more of taste or odour left.  
They that shall desire to separate the Spirit from the Water, must make the rectification of it in B. M. in a slow heat; and so shall they have a very subtle Spirit impregnated with the volatile Salt of Angelica Root, which is, of a very rare virtue in all Pestilential diseases and fits of the Mother. This Spirit is Diaphoretical, Diuretical, and Alexiterial. The dosis is from ℈ ss. to ʒ i. in Wine, Broth, or even in its own Water.  
The first Spirit being ascended, increase the fire, and extract the spirituous water, which shall follow until it comes out without taste or smell; throw away the remainder, because 'tis unprofitable: and preserve this water to mix some of its Spirit with it, or dissolve the extract of the Root from whence it hath been extracted. The dosis is from ℥ ss. to ℥ iiij.  
Most commonly there swims over the first distillation made per vesicam, an Aetherial Oil which must be separated by the Flannel, or Funnel, and carefully preserved; for it is a very noble Essence, to make thereof a potable and dissoluble Balsam in Liquors, or a Preservative Balsom in time of Plague. But, because it often happens, that this Oil sinks in the bottom of the Vessel which hath received the water, because the violence of the ebullition hath caused it to take along with itself a portion of the fixed Salt of the Root; it must also be separated with care, for it will not be inferior in virtue to that which swims above, though it be nevertheless something lesle subtle, and of lesle activity.  
But let us return to examine that which did remain in the Vessel after distillation, containing in itself the fixed Root of the Root and a portion of its Sulphur, which never parts from it, by reason of the strict union and tye they have together; this truth is justified by the colour of the remaining liquor and its taste: which would argue a great imprudence, and defect of knowledge and judgement in the Artist, if by his negligency and ignorance he should suffer a deperdition of that substance, which nature and his own senses make not only appear by the outward judgement, but is also really good in its self. Therefore must the Chemical Apothecary acknowledge, that this virtue cannot be concentrated but in that which he calls an Extract, which is to be made after the following method.  
Express and strain the whole, than clarify with whites of Eggs, and let run through the Flannel or the Hippocras Bag, and evaporate this liquor by a very gentle heat to the consistency of an extract, which may be called between the consistency of a mass of Pills, and a liquid Electuary, that it may be given either in Bolus or Pills, when the Physician shall prescribe; or, that it may be sooner dissolved in some appropriated liquor, according to the intention for which it is used. Now before we determine the Dosis of this Extract, we must say, by the way, that all Extracts which are made in this manner, are friendly to the Stomach, and do gently loosen the Belly, without interrupting the oeconomy of digestion, and making any superfluous or hurtful colliquation. And let this serve as a general Note for all the extracts which are made out of sulphurous and volatile Vegetables, after the Spirit, Oil, and Water is drawn from them. The dosis of this extract, as of others of the same nature, is from ʒ ss. to ℥ ss. either alone or dissolved, and mixed in its own water, or some other analogous liquor, and that to open gently the Patient's Belly, without any fear of those perturbations which do use to hap, by reason of the irritation and violence of ordinary Purgatives.  
And as nothing is to be lost of what possesses some virtue, you must dry the Cake remaining after expression, and calcine it in an Earthen Vessel, or Crucible not glazed, until the matter be reduced to grey Ashes, whereof make a Lie with distilled Rain-water, which filtrate and evaporate till it be dry, to extract the Salt of the Roots; which afterwards put in a Crucible, and heat, it glowing-red upon a fire of Coals without melting; than dissolve it in the last water extracted; filtrate and evaporate it to a skim, and let it shoot into Crystals in the cold, than draw the Salt which shall come pure and clean: and so continued until there be no more Crystallization. You may mix a portion of this Salt in its own water, to tender it lesle susceptible of alceration, you may also put another part in the extract, and it will increase the stomachal and cathartical virtue thereof. The rest you shall keep, to the end, that if you desire to reunite all the fixed and volatile virtues of the Root of Angelica in one body to make a Clyssus thereof (which is that substance properly which contains in itself, as in a compendium, all the virtues of a Mixed, the parts whereof have been severed and depurated) you may join again the rectified Spirit and aecherial Oil, by the uniting medium, which is the fixed Salt, without which it is impossible to make any union of the Oil and Spirit, because they are of a different nature, and will swim ever the one on the top of the other: but, when you have alkalized the subtle and rectified Spirit with the proper Alkali of the Plant, than shall you inseparably join the Oil, whereof is produced a marvellous substance: but, as for the Clyssus, there is no need of so much refining, mix only one part of fixed purified Salt, with 2 p. of distilled Oil, and 3 p. of the very subtle Spirit, and digest together in the vapour of a Bath in a circulatory Vessel, until all the substance be indissolubly joined and united together; which for the most part is performed within the time of a Philosophical Month, which is 40 days, or that which we commonly call the space of six weeks. This remedy thus prepared, may be given instead of the Spirit, Oil, Extract and Salt. Having all the Essential faculties of these four togther. The Dosis is from vi. grains to ℈ i in all diseases wherein Physicians do make use of the body of Angelica root, whereof it hath been prepared.   

How to prepare the Potable and Dissoluble Oil of the Root of Angelica.  
ALthough this Preparation be not very full of mystery, as it will seem to the Reader, yet is it not unworthy his consideration, since it will serve to demonstrate more and more the truth of what we have asserted heretofore, viz. that Salts are but close Spirits, and possess in themselves a hidden Sulphur, and, by consequence, a median nature between aqueous and oleaginous liquors, which cannot coagulate, much lesle join together without the help of Salt, which renders the Oil dissoluble and capable to be united to the water; and all other liquors of the like nature, which is not one of the lesle important secrets of Chemistry, though it s●ems in some manner despicable, by reason of its plainness: but, let no body despise this commendable plainness, since whosoever shall follow her, may boldly boast, that he is the best follower of Nature, whose chief beauty and secret admirable operations are never found in the confusion of things and imperfect mixtures, unless it be to contribute to generation of Monsters. Now, as our study must be, to tender things pleasant and easy, and, that those that want these noble remedies, are not still in places to come by Furnaces and Vessels, to unite the fixed Salt to the Oil of its subject; and moreover, this Salt is for the most part unpleasant, by reason of its lixivial and urinous taste: I have thought more fitting, to take of Sugar well refined and reduced to very small Powder; or, as they call it, Alkool, whereof you sh●ll fill an Ivory or Silver guilt Box, upon which you shall drop by drop let fall some of the distilled Oil of Angelica Roots, or some other, until the Sugar be sufficiently impregnated, and reduced to a consistency capable to be contained in the Box, although it were turned upside down. So shall you have an admirable Balsam, which by way of precaution, and for a Preservative, you may use in the time of Pestilence; yet, with this precaution, that it be so taken in a lesle dosis, than if you took it for a curative remedy. The dosis is from the bigness of a Pea to that of a small Nut. In Wine in the morning fasting, if it be for a Preservative; or in its own Spirit or Water for a curative remedy.  
Let no body wonder, that Sugar should 'cause Oil to mix well and dissolve in water, for Sugar is a Vegetable Salt, whose nature it is to work, so being mixed of Sulphur and Mercury, whereby it is rendered perceptible of Oil, whose nature it alters nevertheless so much, that it easily dissolves and unites itself with water, by reason of the saline substance of the said Sugar. These Balsams are properly such as you found in modern Authors: under the name of Elaeosaccharum.   

How the unctuous Balsam of the Oil of Angelica Root may be prepared.  
TO make this Balsam, choose an incorruptible substance, without either smell or colour, which might be capable to receive the Oil, and preserve its odour and virtue. Those that have addicted themselves to this operation, have much laboured and took great pains, before they could meet with a substance devested of colour and smell, and that should not turn to corruption in time. For some years, white Wax and Marrow, were two subjects used to this purpose; as also the fat or suet of Kid and of Pork, well prepared and washed: but this lasted very little, these substances becoming rank, of ill odour, and yellow. To make short, Chemists have exercised their wit further, and refining this process, made use of the Oil, which by expression is extracted from the Nutmeg, to make therewith the body of their Balsams; without losing, nevertheless, the subtle aethereal and odoriferous virtue of the Nutmegg, which is thus performed.  
℞ ℥ iiij. of very pure Oil of Nutmegg, and free from any other mixture; put it in a Matrass with a long Neck, or in a double Glass, or blind Head, and pour upon it tartarized Spirit of Wine, to the height of four fingers, than put in B. M. and with a gentle heat extract and digest, and when the Spirit shall be sufficiently impregnated with the tincture of the Oil; draw it of by inclination, and pour other, and reiterate until it takes no more of the tincture. Than put all what remains in a white Earthen dish, and wash with boiling water, until the whole mass becomes white and inodorous, and this will serve to make the Body of all unctuous Balsams, which contracts no ill quality, and will easily be impregnated, with the odour and virtue of odoriferous and aromatical Oils. But, because the eye as well as the smell must be pleased, the green colour is imparted to the Balsams of Plants, with the juices of some inodoriferous Herb, wherein the Body of the Balsams is put to boil, which you intent to have thus coloured: The Balsams of Oils of Roots and aromatical Substances are coloured with yellow Earth, when they come near that colour in their nature, and those of Flowers, with a little of fine Gum-lack, which the Painters are want to make use of. Now as this body of Balsams is dried, by reason of the extraction of its subtle and unctuous Oil, made by the help of tartarized Spirit of wine, there is no more to be done further, than to feed it again with a proportionate quantity of the Oil of Angelica Root, or some other aromatical Oil, to make the unctuous Balsam thereof, with whom the Nostrils and Temple of the Head, as also the back of the hand doth use in time of contagious diseases to be rubbed, to hinder ill smells and savours from invading the Brain, and to correct the malignity of those pestiferous and hurtful Spirits, which fill up the Air in such dangerous times, or, when there is a necessity to converse in places exposed to nauseous smells, or where sick people use to lie. But, before we proceed further, it will not be amiss, to direct the Artist what he is to do with the extraction made by him, out of the Oil of Nutmegg with Spirit of Wine. This Spirit must he draw of again in B. M. to the consistency of a Syrup or boiled Honey and so shall he obtain the extract of Nutmegg impregnated with the best of its corporeal substance; and a Spirit possessed with its Oil Spirit, and volatile Salt; if you please, you may keep some part of its extraction; for this shall be as a medium between the Extract, and Spirit, which hath been drawn of it, and may be made use of to the same purposes, because it possesses the same virtue and efficacy. The virtue of the Extract, Spirit and Tincture, refreshes and delights the Stomach, Brain, and Womb, corrects the ill smell of the breath, dissipates wind, helps digestion, strengthens the Embryo in the Womb, is good against Swoundings and beating of the Heart, opens and dissipates Obstructions of the Spleen, stops Lasks and Vomiting. And as I am a witness of the vulnerary virtue of Nutmegg; I think myself obliged for advancing public good, to relate here, what I have seen done in Germany, in the person of a Captain of Horse, filled all over the Body with wounds both of shot and Sword, and who nevertheless, had never felt any touch of Ague in all the time his wounds were about to be cured, not even when the suppuration was working. This will seem, without doubt, very strange and Paradoxical: But, when I have told you, that this Gentleman did ever wear about him Nutmegg, and assoon as he felt himself hurt, did eat a whole one; your admiration will cease, since the Balsamical virtue of Nutmegg, residing in its Oil and volatile Salt, being driven by the heat of the Stomach in all the parts of the Body, did correct the malignant and dangerous serosity, which is the occasional cause of pains, inflammations, and by consequence, Fevers, and finally, Death, in the greatest part of those which are hurt in some principal part of the body. Surgeons than must not so lightly fear vulnerary Potions, neither to make use of this Aromat in the Broths of their Patients, by reason of its too great pretended heat: to the contrary, the more expert and skilful they are, and guided by good judgement, they have their recourse to the same, as to a very safe refuge, which will never fail them; but chief, if they use externally as well as internally, the tincture extracted after the manner by us related here above. Let it not be objected to me, that I bring a personal example; since the same hath happened to several of his friends, though they were of a different temper, as they speak, and had been very ill and sick in the cure of several other wounds, because they made no use than of the said Nutmegg.  
I hope, this digression will not have proved unpleasant, since it is useful both to the general and private good; but, we will make appear, that Chemistry doth not content itself with the colour of unctuous Balsams, whereof we have made mention even now, since it hath found the secret to colour the body of Balsams, with the Magistery of the same Plants wherewith the Balsam is to be made; and it is thus performed.  
℞ Rhue or Margerum, or any other balsamic and odoriferous Plant, as much as you will, when they are yet in the vigour of their green, boil it in water sufficiently impregnated with the Oil of Bohemian-tartar, made per deliquium, or plain Bohemian-tartar dissolved; strain the coction, and pour upon it dissolution of Rock-Allom, made in distilled Rain-water, and the matter will precipitate itself toward the bottom, in the form of a green Pap: Separate the swimming liquor by filtration, than wash the filtrated matter with common water at first, and with the odoriferous distilled water of the Plant itself towards the end, until you have deprived it of all saline taste, which it may have received from the Salt of Bohemian-tartar and Allom: Evaporate afterwards with a gentle heat this Magistery, until it hath acquired the consistency of a very thick Pap, with which you shall tinge the white and inodorous Body of the Nutmegg, which you shall gently dry in the Air, to preserve for the making of your Balsam; or, if you add to it presently, the distilled Oil of the Plant, than will the Balsam be perfect, and keep its odour, and its colour as long as you can wish. But note, that you must not altogether dry the Magistery of Flowers or Herbs, before you colour the body of the Balsam; otherwise, there would be no union, nor perfect mixtion made, and by consequence, no colouring.  
The same operation we have described may be made upon Flower of Roses, Pionie, read Poppy, Iris, Scarlet-grain or Kermes, to make Magisteries thereof, which will be useful to colour the Balsams of Flowers without any foreign mixture.  
Before we end this discourse of Balsams, we will after the learned Sennertus, teach the manner how to prepare Balsams, as to the internal part in another way than with Sugar; which, though they be not so pleasant, yet will have not lesle, if not more virtue, and will contain, as in a small volume, the efficacy of the Mixed whereof they receive their composition. Take than ℥ i of the extract of the Plant, of its Root, Flower, or Seed; to which add ʒ ij. of select Manna, mix them together upon a gentle heat; and when the mixture is cooled, add ʒ i ss. of the distilled Oil of the Mixed, and so shall you have a Balsam which may be exhibited in Bolus, or mixed in Broths, or given in other liquors appropriated to the disease.   

EXAMPLE II Of the Root of Enula Campana.  
THis Root deserves very well we should speak of its Preparation, and make some necessary Observations to instruct thereby the Artist; for, besides, that it hath many virtues, and particular qualities, it will couduce to teach by the same method the Chemical Apothecary, what he is to do according to judgement and experience, in drawing from other Roots, as from this which is familiar with us, many good remedies to adorn and furnish his shop with, where Physicians may have their recourse when they need it, for the good of their Patients.  
We begin by the choosing of the time wherein this Root is to be taken out of the ground, that it may be abundantly furnished, of what we seek in it, which is a volatile spirituous and sulphureous Salt, manifesting itself by taste and odour. This Root than is to be pulled out of the ground in the beginning of the Spring, when it gins to bud and peep out of the Earth; for, if you delay longer, this virtue which is concentrated in the Root, and is the soul of Vegetation, explicates itself and shoots out, to declare the visible Character of its invisible Idea, given unto it by the Creator of Nature, and so doth exhausted itself from its own seminal virtue, to supply the beauty of perfect Vegetation.  
Having got a good quantity of Root thus qualified, and being yet tender and juicy, so that it may be cut in long slices or round pieces; wash it well, than slit the most likely and most tender Roots in long bits, of the length of the forefinger and bigness of the small; and cut the other in round pieces of the bigness of a Crown; than put them in a Glass Cucurbite in Sand with a sufficient quantity of clean water, cover it with a Head Limbeck, and fit to the same a Receiver, and exactly lute the Joints thereof; than give it a gradual fire, & distil it increasing still the heat, till what in the Vessel gins to boil, that the Roots may be well boiled. By this Operation many things are performed at once; for, when the Root is so boiled, as to be grown soft to the hand, you may with the remaining decoction in the Cucurbite boil Sugar to the consistency of a Sugar Rosat, therein to dip the long slices, after they have yielded their superfluous water upon a Sieve turned upside down; and so shall you have a liquid Preserve of Campana, which will keep long: if you boil further the Sugar, and put the Root once again in it, and dry it in a Stove, you shall have a dry and solid Preserve for such as will use it in travelling. Moreover, you may beaten the round pieces, after they are strained, and the liquor expressed in a Marble Mortar, and extract the pulp thereof, which preserve with Sugar boiled in Lozenges, and it will be a very good kind of Preserve also for its peculiar uses; but, which also will serve as a body, to receive other remedies for the Spleen and Breast, and so you may frame Opiates and Electuaries, which will be very excellent.  
But we keep that which is best for the end, which is the spirituous Water and volatile sulphurous Salt, extracted by distillation, during the boiling of the Root, and which should have been lost, had this decoction been made in an open Kettle or Vessel upon an open fire: and would be a great loss, and argue a defect of judgement, knowledge, and experience in the Artist: for, this distilled Water hath the same taste and smell as the Root, and by consequence, doth possess the best part of her virtue, because it is filled with a very excellent and subtle Salt volatile, which ascends into the Head of the Limbeck under the form of Snow, and cleaves to the sides thereof, when heat causes the Water to penetrate into the very centre of the Root, and when this Salt is freed from the mucilagineous substance of its body, it is sublimated by the fires activity into the Limbecks Head; it is true, that it doth not remain long there, being immediately dissolved by the aqueous ascending vapours, and carried along with them into the Recipient, and this Salt doth communicate to the Water its taste, odour, and efficacy. Let those which deny credit to my discourse, proceed in the work as I have just now related, and watch exactly when they shall observe the Limbecks Head to be full of white vapours, and some substance cleave to the sides of it; let them be provided with another equal Limbeck; than taking away the first, substitute a second in its room; and than will they found themselves convicted by their own senses of the truth I have asserted; for, the Spirit of this Salt, shall fill their Nose and Brain immediately with the genuine smell of the Enula Campana; and, if they apply a little of the sublimated Salt upon the tongue, they will confess, the very Plant not to have even had so subtle, penetrative, and efficacious a taste; so that it would be an irreparable damage, and a gross ignorance, to loose the principal and more virtual part of the subject which is wrought upon.  
Those that will make the Extract of the Enula, must dry it a little more than half; than reduce it to a gross Powder, and place it in a double Vessel of the Blind Head with subtle white Wine, to the heigh of four fingers, which they shall digest and extract in heat of ashes, until the Wine be impregnated of the taste, smell, and yellowish colour of the Root; than shall they draw again what is impregnated, and put new and fresh Wine until it attracts no more; than must be made an expression of the whole, which put in a Cucurbite in B. M. with the requisite precautions, to draw the Spirit and spirituous Water, until the remaining substance hath neither smell nor taste left; clarify after this what is left in the bottom of the Vessel, and evaporate in an Earthen dish in ashes until it comes to the consistence of an Extract, which shall possess in itself all the virtue of what is fixed in this Root: which is not despicable, because it opens the Belly and strengthens the Stomach. The dosis is from ʒ i to ℥ ss. and this extract is very efficacious to dissolve and evacuate the fixed, glutinous and tartateous substances lurking in the Ventricle, Spleen, or Breast: but chief, it conduces to the cure of Periodical Asthmas, provided you mix some Diaphoretical Antimony, or Volatile Sal of Karabe or yellow Amber, which will not fail to strengthen the Ventricle, and appease the motions and meteorical swell of the Spleen, which for the most part do oppress the Diaphragma, one of the chief Instruments and Organs of Respiration, and which causes the oppression of the Stomach, and shortness of breath.  
This Extract shall be a rule whereby to prepare those of Valerian Roots, Pellitory of Spain, Carline-thistle, and chief Contrayerval, which is a Root coming from Peru, and one of the most Sovereign remedies against Poison: but chief, in all Pestilential and Malignant Diseases, as Camp and Purpled Fevers, Measles and Small Pox, because it rids potently away the venom of it, and expels dangerous serosities by Sweat and Urin. It is marvellous also in corruptions of the Stomach, and chief Worms. There are even some, which believe, that its use is capable to dissipate the charm and poison of Philters, or amorous Potions. The Dosis of the Root in Powder is from ℈ ss. to ʒ i. in Wine or Cordial, or sudorific Waters, as that of Regina Prati, Carduus Benedictus, or Mead Sweet, and Sassefras. But the extract of it made by exact operation, and the Spirit drawn by distillation, are without compare much better than the material Body of the Root, and their Dosis lesle by half. I could not refrain from speaking something in my way concerning this noble Root, knowing that it is yet concealed to most of the French Apothecaries: and I make no question, but that those which by the order of Physicians shall make use of it, will found those effects to answer the virtues I have attributed unto the same.   

Of the Root of Consolida Major, or Great Comfrey and Satyrion.  
AFter I have spoken of Odoriferous and Aromatical Roots, which are of a high taste and full of sensible volatile Salt: we must speak afterwards of Mucilagineous and almost Insipid Roots; but, though they seem so to be tasteless, yet do they in sufficient abundance partake of much virtue; provided, the Artist may free and untie them of the clamminess and viscosity of their substance, to bring to light the Salt and Spirit in them contained, the quickness and efficacy whereof are as it were imprisoned and fettered by the ligaments of this clammy and agglutinating substance, which hinders them to produce within us, those noble effects which they are capable to produce, and which they conceal in their own centre. But to perform this, there is no way but by Chemical operation, which discovers the hidden virtues, and man feasts the mystery contained in each Mixt. We will begin with the preparation of the Great Consolida, or Comfrey, which though viscous and insipid, produces notwithstanding very rare effects outwardly and inwardly applied; for it is of a miraculous virtue, to dissolve all contusions, strengthen the sinewous parts of the Joints in all sort of luxations. But it is much more efficacious in plasters, with Powder of the Stone, called Ostoecola, both to hinder the accidents of fractures, as to generate the callus, necessary in the reuniting of broken Bones. And, if this Root doth produce so remarkable effects for the external parts; it is not lesle wondered to stop the spitting of Blood, whether occasioned by the rapture of some Vein, or proceeding from the erosion of the Vessels, which ordinarily happens in the Breast or Throat: Moreover, the use of it doth continued the healing of the several kinds of Hernia's: Provided at the same time the part affected be kept tied up with a good fillet, and every third day a Plaster or Cataplasma of the same Root be applied, with Croeus martis astringent, and dulcified Earth of Vitriol. This we have only mentioned, to let the Reader know, that this Root is full of a wondered virtue, if so be the Chemical Apothecary is capable to digest and extract it according to Art, separating the hurtful heterogeneities, which hinder this so considerable hidden virtue from being reduced into act, to bring to light the mystery of Nature, which every individual substance deeply hides in its centre. And to attain thereunto, he must proceed in this following manner.   

The manner of making the Extract or Blood of the Roots of Great Comfrey and of Satyrion.  
ALthough this extract or blood may be made with the Root only of the Great Comfrey, and would so contain much virtue: I found notwithstanding very necessary, to join unto it the Roots, Leaves & Flowers of Sarracene Comfrey, and those of Bugle or middle Comfrey; also of Prunella, or of small Comfrey and Seeds of St. Johns-wort; because the balsamic Salt of the Leaves, and the embryonated Sulphur of the Flowers, and Seeds, will infallibly contribute to the perfection of that remedy which we are about to describe.  
℞ lb ij. Roots of the Great Comfrey, and as much of the Roots, Herbs, and Flowers of the three other kinds; cleanse and pick, and than wash them well; and having beaten them in a Marble Mortar, with a Wooden Pestle, until all be reduced to a mash, add lb ss. Seeds of St. Johns-wort, reduced likewise to a Pap, by beating in the Mortar and sprinkling it with good white Wine; add to the whole, lb i of crumb of Rye-bread, and as much of Wheaten-bread; mix all together very well, than imbibe it again something more with a little of good white Wine, until it be converted to a kind of thick mash or pap; something clear: which put in a Matrass with a long Neck, stopped with another Matrass, whose Neck shall be inserted in the other, the length of four inches; lute the Joints very exactly, with beaten whites of Eggs, Linen, Bladder and quick Lime, as we have taught above, where we have treated of Lutation: Suspend the Vessel on a vaporous Bath, or put in the heat of Horse-dung to digest, or in some other analogous heat, and give it a slow and digestive heat, until the matter be changed into a kind of chyle, read and as high coloured as blood. Than let the Furnaces cool again; take away the Vessels, and run through new and clean Linen the matter which you must strongly express and strain. This expressed substance thus read and coloured, put in a vaporous Bath, to make a second digestion thereof, and a more exact purification; for, the liquor will much better clarify, and the feces and remaining impurities, will make a sediment in the bottom of the Vessel, which must be separated by a gentle inclination, until the liquor be clear, read, and transparent, so that no more impurities appear in the bottom. Put than this liquor so depurated in a Cucurbite, in the vaporous Bath or B. M. and draw of by distillation about the two third parts, and in the bottom will remain the true balsamic extract of those vulnerary Roots, which properly enough are called the Blood of the Great Comfrey: Of wondered virtue against all the kinds of Rupture, being ordered with the intimated precautions; it is also a most rare and excellent help to consolidate inward ulcers, but chief, those of the Breast: and also very good, being mighled in vulnerary Insections; as also to dip in the Linen or Tents, applied to the Orifice or Lips of Wounds. The dosis is from ℈ ss. to ʒ i. in the water drawn of by distillation, white Wine, or any other convenient liquor, such as are vulnerary Potions; but, you must continued for several days every day fasting; and even in inveterate diseases, it must be used during the space of a Philosophical Month, which is 40 days.  
This method of Preparation must be exactly followed, to make the extract or blood of Satyrion Roots: except only, that no other ingredient is to be added in the composition of it, but, that of Bread and Wine, with ʒ i. of very good Ambergrice, to each pound of the matter which is to be digested. The dosis is likewise the same with the former extract, both good to strengthen the Womb; and tender fruitful and apt for generation. It is also a very secure specific to put and restore again to their own temper all the parts designed to copulation, and the dependences of it. Those that to each pound of Satyrion Root, before they be put in digestion with the Bread and Wine, will add ʒ i ss. of Viper's flesh dried in B. M. will tender this remedy much more efficacious. And note, that these Roots must be taken up in the beginning of the Spring, and that you must only take that cod or swelling part which is smooth and full, and reject that which is rugged and soft, the signature of this Root doth evidently testify, that Nature hath furnished it with necessary virtues for the use of those parts whose figure it represents.   

Of the Root of Female Fern.  
THough this Root be very common, yet is it not made use of enough, considering the great virtues it doth possess. Now that which hindereth, for the most part, Physicians, from making legitimate Observations, of the particular and specifical virtue of things, is, that for the most part, they confounded them one with the other, which is the cause they cannot properly determinate, to which of the Ingredients they are to attribute the effects of those remedies which they have prescribed. But Chemical Philosophers proceed otherwise, and, as they know Nature to be but one and uncompounded, so will they follow this good Mother and Guide as near as it lieth in their power. And as by the senses they have discovered, that the Root of Female Fern hath in itself some coagulated viscosity, which testifies it to have much of a volatile sulphureous Salt, of a rare and noble virtue, easily discerned by its bitterness mixed with an astringency, but this virtue to be hidden under the shade of the body; so have they found it necessary to free it from its prison, by the means and help of Fermentation in the following manner.  
℞ XL. or L. lb. of this Root gathered in the beginning of the Spring, and than when it gins only to bud out in a small yellow shoot from the ground, that it may not have lost yet any part of its internal substance by vegetation; wash and cleanse it from all the Earth which cleaves to it, & separate it from all other superfluities; without taking away, nevertheless, that which already is budded out: shred it, and than beaten it well in a Marble or Stone-Mortar, than put it in a Fat of the bigness of about xv. or xx Buckets, and pour upon it xij. Buckets of warm Water: of a degree, as it were, to scald Chickens; and having well agitated the same, put two Buckets full thereof to ferment with Yeast, or ordinary Bread leaven, and a little Rye Flower: and when the liquor gins to stir or raise in boiling in the Buckets, pour it in the Cask, provided, the liquor also contained in it, be of a moderate heat, so, as without inconveniency the hand may be suffered in it; cover the Vessel, and let the ferment or leaven perform its action, after you have stirred all very well together; after which, distil the fermented liquor in a Still Body S. A. two days after fermentation is ceased. All being thus distilled, and your distillation continued until the matter yield not more of spirituous and saline taste; put again all what hath been distilled in a Stillatory Vessel, and rectify the Spirit, laying a side that which comes first, as the most efficacious and penetrative; and so the second and third, until it yields nothing more, but an inodorous and insipid Phlegm. This Spirit is a great opener and disopilator, dedicated in general, to open the Obstructions of the Entrailss; but specially, those of the Spleen and Matrix. The dosis is from ʒ ss to ʒ ij. and even to ℥ ss. in the last Water drawn often by rectification, or in Broths or white Wine. And the fermentation and distillation of this Root, must serve as a pattern for all other Roots either of the same nature, or coming near it.   

Of the Roots of Fal●p and Mechoacan.  
AS we have propounded to ourselves to afford examples of Roots that are different in their nature: we have thought fitting to take that of Jalap and of Mechoacan, because they are two purging Roots, both equally expelling serosities, and yet differing among themselves; for, the one is of a resinous quality, which is Jalap; and the other mucilaginous, mixed with rosin and a saline and insipid substance; in which, partly, is placed its purging faculty, provided, it be well extracted, and such is Mechoacan: for which cause, the Artist is obliged to use divers ways of Preparations, and different Menstruums to extract the virtues of these Roots, that they may be exhibited in a lesle dosis, and 'cause them work with lesle violence.   

To prepare the Magistery or Rosin of Jalap.  
THe Root of Jalap was first brought unto us from the India's, and is more or lesle full of virtue, according as it is more or lesle resinous, which Rosin is nothing else but a sulphureous volatile substance, more concocted and exalted than the volatile Salt, ordinarily found in other Roots, and as it is in this resinous and fat part of the Simple that the Purgative virtue is placed, and that nothing but the aetherial, volatile and sulphureous Spirits, are capable to extract and dissolve this Rosin; Chemical Artists do commonly use the rectified Spirit of Wine to make this Extraction, which is thus performed.  
℞ lb i of well chosen Jalap Root, viz. full of round blackish circles from distance to distance, till they meet in the centre, close and well compacted, and shining inwardly when it is broken; reduce it to subtle Powder with a Sieve, and having placed it in a Matrass, pour upon it Spirit of Wine well rectified and dephlegmated; digest it some days in Emberss, and when the Menstruum is sufficiently coloured, draw it of by inclination of the Vessel, and filtrate it, and continued this extraction until the Spirit of Wine tinges no more. Put all your tinctures filtrated in a Cucurbite, and draw of by distillation in B. M. the 3 parts of the Spirit, which will be useful yet for the like operation again; after this, draw your Cucurbite from the Balneum, and affuse upon the remaining liquor, about a pint of very clear water, which will precipitate the jalap Root to the bottom of the Vessel: because the Water weakening the Spirit of Wine which held the dissolved Rosin, and kept it flowing, causes it to loose its cold, and there being not strength and nimbleness enough in the Spirit to keep the solution, makes it precipitate and fall towards the bottom. Put again your Cucurbite in Balneos, and draw of the remaining Spirit of Wine mixed with the Water, and that for two reasons; the first, That you may not loose that portion of Spirit of Wine, which is still of use; and the second, because by that means you make yet as a second precipitation of Rosin, the Spirit of Wine holding yet some portion in itself, as it does evidently appear by the milky whiteness of the Water. Take the Rosin from the Cucurbite and put it in an Earthen Platter, and wash it three times with pure Water, to take away the tang of the Spirit of Wine, which every one is not equally pleased with; but you must wash it the fourth time with Rose-water and Cinnamon mixed together; than dry it gently in embers, and keep it for your use. The dosts of this Rosin is from iij. grains to xv. in Bolus, Conserve, or Jelly of Quinces and Goose-berries; it may be grinded also upon a Marblestone with three times as much of Cremor Tartari, until the whole be reduced to an impalpable Powder; than dissolve a dosis thereof in Water or Broth: but you must be very cautious, when you administer any of this Rosen, or of the others that are alike, and chief those that are of a purging faculty; because, that as their substance is not easily dissolved in aqueous liquors, but contrariwise, does re-incorporate when you think it to be more exactly mixed, and moreover, that the Stomach is filled most commonly with some moistness, you may have good reason to fear, jest this Rosen should unite again, and cleave to the sides of the Ventricle, in the passage of the Maw-gut, or in the Duodenum, which is for the most part the cause of after-purges, not properly to be imputed as an ill effect of the remedy, but to an accidental cause occasioned by unskilfulness in administering the same; for, when these Medicaments are well dissolved, and joined and allied to the aqueous liquor, by the means of some neutral body all fear is over. You must than make use of yolk of Eggs to dilute and dissolve purging Rosens, that they may the better incorporate and alloy either with the Ptisan or Broth wherein they are exhibited to the Patient: for, the reason of fearing these kinds of remedies never proceeded but from accidental causes; they, in themselves, and their operation, being in no wise dangerous, unless, when they are ill dissolved and united with the aqueous liquor: But, we thought very necessary to give this Advertisement in the way, by reason of those ill accidents which daily do hap thereby.   

To make the true Extract of Mechoacan.  
℞ lb i Mechoacan well chosen, not cariated or rotten, neither mixed with Briony-Root, which will easily be known and discovered by the sight and taste. By the sight, because Mechoacan Root hath circles from the centre to the circumference, which that of Briony hath not; and moreover, the taste doth yet better discover the truth, because, that of Mechoacan hath only a farinaceous and insipid taste: but, that of Briony pricks the tongue and throat, when long kept in the mouth: you must than take the whitest Mechoacan, and that which easily breaks without making any dust, by which the corruption and cariation is discovered. Put this Root thus well chosen, into very subtle Powder, and having placed it in a Cucurbite of Glass, pour upon it Spirit of Wine, not rectified, to the height of four fingers and more; cover the Cucurbite, with a Blind Head, and the Joynrs being well luted, digest the whole in heat of embers, until the Menstruum be sufficiently coloured, which draw of by inclination, and reaffund new Spirit, re-iterating so long, that your Menstruum will tinge no more; squeeze the Root hard, and filtrate all the Extractions, and distil in B. M. to draw of again the Spirit of Wine used for a Menstruum, until it be altogether insipid; than cease the fire and take the rosenous substance which will swim above what is left in the Vessel, and dry it in a small Platter with a slow fire in Sand: Put the liquor wherein the Rosen was contained in a leaded Earthen Pan, adding ʒ i. of Salt of Bohemian-tartar; and therein put also the Cakes left after expression, which let boil together to half-consumption; clarify this decoction with whites of Eggs, and run through the cloth, evaporate it softly in Sand, to the consistency of a liquid Extract; to which add the Rosen reduced to very subtle Powder, with three or four peeled Almonds, and ʒ ij. Sugar, and so keep this Extract for use whensoever there is occasion, or to adminster it in Pills. You must note in your way, that it is not without reason, I have prescribed the addition of Almonds and Sugar, when the Rosen shall be triturated. For, you must not think it only done, to hinder the sticking of it to the Mortar or Porphyry, as it serves also for that purpose: But it is moreover, that these two Substances may be as uniting mediums to join closely the Rosen with its Extract, and to facilitate also the dissolution thereof in aqueous liquors. This Extract is of singular efficacy to evacuate superfluous serosities from all the parts of the body, and lesle active and violent than the Rosen of Jalap, which is used to the same ends as this remedy. It is above all, a Specifical to purge the head, the nervous parts, and the breast; and therefore is very seasonably used in all Catharrous affections, Dropsies, and all Arthritical pains, but more particularly in Venerous diseases. The dosis is from vi. grains to thirty. either in Pills, or dissolved.   

Of the Roots used for the Extraction of Fecula's.  
WE cannot enough admire the long practised abuse, even by the wisest and most experimented Physicians, concerning Fecula's; and I wonder, that those which so often have advowed, confessed and taught, that all the virtue of Substances resides only in their Salts, but chief, of Vegetables: I wonder, I say, that these Chemical Physicians, should have made use of Fecula's, and attributed unto them the virtue of opening, dissolving, and penetreating even into the utmost digestions. And to prove the true ground of my wonder, you must know, that the Fecula's are nothing else, but the farinaceous and insipid part of the Root; and, to speak properly, as the white Starch of it: Now there is no body scarce, but knows, that a small quantity of the same will coagulate a great deal of water, and so consequently, must have the same operation in the Stomach, when the Fecula's are introduced in it, and the natural heat gins to act upon, as the lest heat doth upon white Starch. But to discover the better this mistake, I will deliver the most exact and artificial way of preparing Fecula's, to show even to the meanest apprehension, that I have asserted nothing against truth; and that I condemn this common abuse, grounded only upon reason and good experience.   

The manner of preparing Fecula's.  
FEcula's are commonly made out of five kinds of Roots chief, which are Arum, or Coockow-pint, Iris, Peony, Briony, and great Dragons. But it will suffice, to give an example of any of the five, which will be as a model for the rest, and all those that are of a like nature. First of all, the time wherein the Root must be gathered, is to be attended, when you will make the Fecula, and that is, when the Plant gins only to put out the lest bud, otherwise, no good could be done upon it. ℞ then Briony Root at such a time, and wash it exactly; than scrape the outside of the Root, and so get the substance by scraping very cleanly; than express hard the same, and let settle in the bottom of the Vessel a kind of white feculency, until the juice be all cleared, which draw of softly by pouring down: and as you will found a mucilagineous and yellowish substance, above the whitish Flower which settles in the bottom; you must pour upon it a little of lukewarm clear water, to make the separation thereof, by a slow and circulary agitation; that being ended, you must put this farinaceous Substance or white Starch in a Marble Mortar, and agitate the same with clear water, until it be as white as Milk, than percolate this white Water through a new Tamy somewhat close, that the grosser part may remain within; than cover the Platter, and suffer the Fecula to make a settlement, re-iterating this agitation with new Water three or four times, after which, you must separate the Water by a soft and slow inclination; than cover the Platter with a white Paper, bored through with many small holes of a Needle; than expose it to the Sun, until the Fecula be dry, which will be as white as any Starch, if you proceed in the operation with exactness and cleanliness.  
This is the manner of artificially preparing your Fecula's: but, it were to be wished, that they were endowed with the rare virtues attributed unto them; for, there is no judicious man, never so little initiated in the mysteries of Chemistry, who doth not conceive, that this earthly and feculent portion, which by its own weight is severed from the juice, is rather an excrement of the Root, than a substance containing its virtue; for, it is not with the family of Vegetables as with that of Minerals and Metals: Since Vegetables have only their virtue contained in a saline and volatile substance, whereas the Metals and Minerals are fixed in a manner; and, that in this fixed substance and their material and close centre, is placed their chief virtue. Now this saline substance is, without doubt, in the juice of the Plant; since it is a proper quality of Salts to dissolve themselves in Water, and if any part of it should remain amongst the Fecula's, the washing which are to be used with single pure Water to purify them, carry away, without any doubt, the remainder of their virtue; so, that there is nothing left but a subtle Earth, of a mere white Starch or Flower: It would than be much better, to use those Roots, whereof the Fecula's are extracted, after they have been dried, either whole, or cut in round slices; for, than may the Artist be confident, that their saline and mucilagineous virtue is concentrated in their own body by exsiccation, and, that nothing but the aqueous phlegmatic and unnecessary substance is vapoured away. I dare moreover affirm, that what is commonly thrown away after the expression of these Roots, is without compare, worth much more, than the feculas from them extracted It is much better to strain the juice and depurate it, and than evaporate it in B. M. to a consistency of inspissated juice or extract, to make use thereof in case of need, since it will be endowed with the virtue of the Root, and will not fail to produce the hoped for effects: with this I shall put an end to the exemplification of Roots, to come to the other parts of Plants, according to their Order.    

SECT. II Of Leaves.  
ALthough we have amply and generally spoken of Leaves of Vegetables, when we did handle their preparation, and their difference, in the beginning of this Chapter of Vegetables: yet, there remain many things to add, as much concerning the Distillation of their single Waters, as of their Spirits and Oils; for, as concerning their extraction and reduction into Salt, we have spoken enough of it heretofore; yet will we say something more particularly of it.  
We have sufficiently instructed the Artist how to proceed with odoriferous Plants; those that are acid and juicy, those we have called Antiscorbutic, which are juicy and biting, by reason of the volatile Salt contained in them, to draw out several kinds of preparation: but, we must teach here, the way to distil Plants for the general use of the Chemical Apothecary, according to the classis unto which they belong.  
To this end, the Artist shall have recourse to the Figure hereby annexed, for the erecting a Furnace fit for his use in the distilling of inodorous Plants, and not acid, such as are ladies-mantle, or Lions-foot, Borage, Bugloss, Cardnus Benedictus, Eye-bright, Fumitory, Lettuce, Mercury, Nightshade, Cowslip, Purslain, Dandelion or Taraxacon, Varvin, and all other Plants of this classis, or that are kin to it. To the end this Vessel may be used with some advantage, we must briefly explain the way how to do it, and the reasons why it is to be preferred to others. Those that have made use hitherto, and make yet daily, of the Leaden Bell, and its Vessel under, to distil the Waters of Plants and Flowers, could never hinder their Waters to contract an ill odour or burning smell, which is called Empyreuma, because they were impatient and overhasty in ruling their fire, and that they neglected to make use of some interposed Medium's, to hinder the too violent action of the fire, upon so ill fixed a matter as is in Vegetables: but, when Chemists came to discover this defect, they made it their study to prevent it. And to this purpose have they invented the construction of this Furnace by us represented, and likewise of the distillatory Vessel it contains, whereof follows the description.  
First of all, build a round Furnace of 2 ½ foot diameter, and as much in height, wherein is left room for an Ash-hole, and a focus for the coals to burn in; a foot higher than the grate of the focus, appropriate a Cauldron or Kettle made with Plates of eight inches deep, and of each side an inch lesle in breadth than the diameter of the Furnace, that it may receive heat from all parts; this Cauldron or Kettle must also have a brim three inches broad, to hold fast upon the sides of the Furnace, and supported under by two cross bars of Iron. This brim must have eight holes in it, of one inch diameter, equally distant one from the other, which may be made to open and shut, with the same mettle as the Cauldron is, that these holes may be instead of Registers whereby to increase and suppress the fire. This Vessel must have in the bottom two inches thick of Sand or Ashes, to place thereupon the second Cauldron, which must be of tinned Copper, 1½ inches lesle of each side than that of Iron which is destinated to receive it, and of five ½ inches height; this is the Vessel which must receive the Plant, Fruit or Flower which is to be distilled; or any other liquor, provided, it be not acid. This second Vessel is to be covered with its Head Limbeck, which must be capacious and rising in the way of an Arch-roof with two Channels or Noses, by which the Water is drawn of as it condenses in it; the remaining proportions may better be conceived by the Figure hereunto annexed; but we must, after this, speak of its usefulness.  
The chief end of the Artist in the construction of this Furnace, and its distillatory Vessel, hath without question been to hinder the Empyreumatical smell, which is ordinarily contracted by the too near action of the fire upon the Vessel containing the Plant, which is to be distilled: but, that cannot hap here for these following reasons; First, That the fire doth not immediately act upon the Vessel containing the distillable subject, since it meets the bottom of the first Cauldron which offers the first resistance; after this, the Sand or Ashes make the second, because either of these two substances breaks the action of that devouring agent, and so the bottom of the Copper Vessel receives only a temperate heat, and yet sufficient to 'cause all the moisture of the matter to be distilled in the Limbeck Head to ascend, and there to be converted into Water, which is received in appropriated Recipients, and fitted for that purpose: Secondly, the Artist is not tied to so great a care, nor so tedious an attendance: for, when he hath once put his distillation in a way, he may fill the focus with fuel or coals, without fear of any evil accident, provided he takes care to stop exactly the doors of the Focus and Ash-hole, and to leave no transpiration of Air to his Register, or at lest so little, that it may simply be capable to feed and entertain the fire in its degree, when the two Noses of the Limbeck do drop in an orderly way, and without intermission: for than is he assured that he need not heed the governing of the fire six, eight, or ten hours.  
But that which is yet more advantageous and considerable, is, that the Waters thus distilled, have all the requisite virtue in themselves, which doth consist in the essential Salt, or the volatile Salt of the Leaf or Plant whole with its Flower: but, you are to observe, that the matter to be distilled must be turned and stirred every four hours, if it be solid, raising softly the Limbecks Head by the string fastened to its pulley for greater facility. And when the Plant shall be wholly dried, it will be found voided of smell, dry, and easy to be crumbled; in such a wise, that it may easily be reduced to Powder with the finger's end, without any kind of burning at all; but contrariwise it preserves a green colour, more or lesle brown, or blackish, according as the Plant was juicy.  
This Vessel doth not only serve towards the distillation of Herbs, but is useful also, to that of their Juices; provided, they have been depurated in B. M. before they be put in the Still-Body, to avoid that the herbaceous odour, proceeding from the feces of the Plants, may not be communicated to their water: so shall you have a very good water, and the inspissated juice or Extract improperly called of the Plant. It conduces moreover, to the distillation of first-fruits, as to make the water of green Walnuts, Apples, Melons, Cucumbers, and other like Fruits. With it may also be distilled Milk, Sperm of Frogs, and Cowdung; whereof is made the Water called Mille Florum; finally herein, better than in any other Vessel, may be distilled the Flowers of Nenuphar, read Poppy, Elder, Beans, and Honey-suckle: and to end in a word, it is a Vessel which aught not to be wanting in a Chemical Laboratory, or the shop of an Apothecary curious of distillation.  
These Plants distilled in this manner, may easily be calcined, because they are very dry, and than their Salt be extracted, to join with the Water of the Plant; and so not only be made more full of virtue and efficacy, but also, fit to be better and longer preserved, without any alteration: which is the Apothecary's advantage, the satisfaction of the Physician, and the benefit of the Patient.  
We have yet to speak here of odoriferous Plants, which are Mercurial and Sulphureous, and which attain not to the true period of their virtue; but, when the outward heat of the Sun, and their internal Archaeus, hath concocted and digested rheir superfluous moisture, which was a hindrance to their perfection. This kind of Plant nevertheless, is, that which furnishes us with the largest and fairest harvest to provide the Shops of Apothecaries, and bestow their time with more advantage, and greater pleasure. The Plants of this Classis are, Wormwood, Sothernwood, male and female Anise, Dill, Chervile, Coriander, Fennel, Hyssop, Marjerom, Feverfew, Balm, Pennyroyal, Parsley, Rhue, Sabine, Scordium, or Water-Germander tansy, and all other odoriferous Plants which have some analogy or correspondency with those of this classis. The right time of gathering these Plants to enjoy their virtue, is, when they are fully blown, and the Seed gins to be framed in their ears, or heads: for it is the right time in which the Root is wholly exhausted, and that Nature doth aim at the concentring and uniting in the Seed, the virtue yet dissipated and dispersed in the stalk, leaf, and flowers, and in this embryonated Seed. But the Artist must necessarily prevent the cementration, otherwise, there would be little hopes to extract the virtue of these Plants, by help of distillation by Water as it is done in the ordinary way of distilling Spirits. The reason is, because, whatsoever is of a saline and volatile nature, is in a manner digested, concocted and fixed by the union of this spiritual substance into an Oyl-fat, clammy, and viscous, which doth not easily communicate itself to water, unless it be by disuniting its parts and bringing them to fermentation, if I may so speak: but it is unfit to labour in vain, since we can take these Plants in the nick of time that nature hath not yet brought that Vegetable to the height of its natural predestination, which is the perfection of the Seed, the spring of the perpetuation, and multiplication of beings.  
When you shall have any of these Plants gathered in the morning, a little after the rising of the Sun, in the state we have related above; cut it very small with Scissors, and put it in a Copper body filled ½ foot, near the brim, pour Water upon it to the same height, and apply the Moors-head, or Still; lute the Joints with Paper fillets pasted with Pap made of Flower and Water, than apply the fire to it, and leave the door of the Furnace and Registers open, until the drops begin to fall in the Recipient, and that you may not without burning your hand, grasp the Pipe which is between the Moores-head and the Still-body; than close exactly the Door and Registers, that the matter may not ascend in a body into the Moores-head, by too violent an ebullition: but, that the vapours may only be raised and carried to the Pipe (or Worm) which runs through the Fat wherein is the cold Water, which condenses them in a Liquor mixed with Water, Spirit, and an aetherial and subtle Oil, as is evidently to be seen in the Recipient where the spirituos Water bears up the Oil swimming over. The fire must be maintained in the same degree, until the Water issuing forth, be without odor and tasteless. After which, open the body, and take away the matter contained in the same, which strain, and squeeze the Herb; to put to dry and burn for the extraction of the Salt. But you must clatifie the decoction, & evaporate to a consistency of extract, which shall contain what is most fixed in the Plant: for, that which came out by distillation is of a volatile nature. You must let the Recipient, which contains the first part of what hath been extracted by distillation, be at rest, that the oleaginous substance may in time separate from the spirituous and aqueous, and gather above it; and this done, you must separate the Oil and Water by the help of a Cotton, which will draw it to itself, and 'cause it to run into the Vial, which shall be tied to the upper part of the Neck of the Recipient, as it will appear more clearly in the annexed Plate, in the figure adjoining to the Furnace and its Vessel: and when the Cotton shall draw not more, by reason of the sinking of the Oil; you must 'cause it to ascend, by pouring softly more Water of the same Plant, whereof the Oil is extracted, and so continued till all the Oil be separated from the Water. Having wrought upon a good Vegetable, and got good store of spirituous Water, you may rectify it, to possess the Spirit by itself, which will go forth first of all, and so continued your distillation, till the Water comes without any smell, and than keep it for use,  
This is the right method and way of Anatomising the Plants of this last classis, to extract their virtue, and all what may conduce in them to the use of Physic: It is also the true method whereby you may attain to the intimate knowledge of Plants: for, as they abound either in Oil, volatile, or fixed Salt, in Mercury or Spirit, the indication of their use for fixed or volatile maladies, i e. where appear either Obstructions or Colliquations, are to be taken: and I am confident, that Physicians will receive much more satisfaction this way, than if they singly argue and rely upon the first and second qualities; so vainly hitherto attributed unto them by modern and ancients Authors: whence it appears, that Chemistry is the true Key to open Natural Bodies, whereby to discover their virtues, & apply them next to the uses unto which by the Creator's Providence they have been destinated for the cure and easing of such maladies unto whom the infirmity of our nature hath subjected us.  
It is not a fit place for us to enlarge here upon the virtues of the Spirits, Oils or Essences, Extracts or Salts, of these kinds of Plants, because we intent only to show a general way of Operation, without coming to particulars: but he that desires to be better informed this way, let him consult the learned and excellent Dispensatory, of the experienced Schroderus, Ordinary Physician of the City of Frank fort on the Main: where, in a very complete Abbreviate, he will found an ingenuous description of the virtues of Plants, and all other natural products, handled; with an order and method worthy of so eminent an Author, to whom the Common-weal of Chemical Physic and Pharmacy hath no lesle obligation than the Galenick.  
We will put an end to this Section, by a description of the manner to be used in extracting the Oil of Plants, their volatile Salt, their Spirit and fixed Salt, without any addition; which is performed by a Retort in open fire in a close Reverberatory Furnace: taking now for an example, the Plant vulgarly called Tobacco. Were we in a time where this Plant should be lesle known, it would concern us to say somewhat of its original; but, there are so few that can be ignorant, that it is brought from the Indieses, that it would turn to importunity to the Reader, to speak any thing more thereof. Let us only mention in our way some of the names, because Authors who speak of it, have variously denominated the same. The Indian's call it Petum, or Petechenune, whence the vulgar name Petun amongst the French; and because Jean Nicot, Ambassador for the Crown of France in Portugal, was the first who did sand Seeds to the Queen, it was called the Queens-weed, (Herb a la Reyn,) and Nicotian. Others call it the Holy-weed, by reason of its wondered effects. And though this Plant be now cultivated in France, England, Germany, and the Low-countrieses, and doth prospero there very well; yet, that which comes directly from the Indieses, dried and prepared there, is much to be preferred before that which grows in our Clime: for, the Sun's heat is too weak with us, to digest the moisture contained in the same, and to prepare in it that volatile Salt and balsamic Sulphur, which does constitute the chief virtues of such remedies as are drawn out of it. Not, but that new and fresh gathered Tobacco, such as grows in our parts, may serve to make Salves, Plasters, Syrups, Honey, and the plain Balsam, so as it is described in modern Dispensatories, as also many other common remedies, mentioned in Authors, who have left upon record the praises of this wondered Plant. But, as we will anatomize this Plant without any addition, and give to understand, what are the best inward qualities of it: we think it fittest, to take well qualified Tobacco, such as that which is brought from the Plantation of Virginia in the West-India's. And I cannot but declare my wonder, that Physicians and Surgeons have not continued more to practise upon this Plant, and make use of it, as much inwardly as outwardly, since it produces effects, which are above the expectation of those which can dextrously apply the remedies it doth afford: but, that it may not longer lay buried in oblivion, you must distil it after this following manner.  
℞ lb iij. or iiij. of Virginia Tobacco, neither so phisticated nor corrupted; shred it grossly, and put it in a Glass Retort, which place in a Reverberatory Furnace, upon the cover of an Earthen pot turned upside down, and kept up upon two Iron-bars, putting a handful of Ashes or Sand upon the said Cover, to hinder the breaking of the Glass by the contiguity of the Earthen cover, whose encompassing is to the Retort instead of a Lute, and a medium interposed to break the violence of the fires action: cover the Furnace, and fit your Recipient to the neck of the Retort, lute the Joints thereof, with a good salted Lute, and let it dry gently; than give a gradual fire, and increase it by little and little, until the Recipient gins to be filled with clouds and vapours, at which time keep the fire in an equal temper, until the Glass gins to be freed from fumes; than give it the last and extreme degree of fire, which is, that of flame, that the matter may calcine, and no volatile, saline, or oleaginous substance may remain, and when the Recipient grows clear of itself, and that, though the fire doth continued its action, no vapour nor liquor comes out of the Retort, cease your operation: All being grown cold, open the Vessels, and pour what you found in the Recipient in a Glass Bottle, that the Spirit and and Oil may separate one from the other; after this, filtrate the Spirit with Paper, and the Oil shall remain in the Funnel with the Paper, which you must break with a little hole in the bottom, and so make the Oil drop in a Vial, than rectify the Spirit by separating the Phlegm.  
The Oil may be kept without rectification for outward uses: but, if you intent it for any internal use, you must rectify it in a Retort in Sand or Ashes; and to proceed more artificially, mix your Oil with the remaining matter left in your Vessel after the first distillation, until all be reduced to a mass or lump, whereof you may make Pellets of a competent bigness to be put in a new clean Retort: which afterwards placing in a Sand Furnace, draw of your Oil by a second distillation, which will yield the same: very pure and subtle; which than may be inwardly used for such purposes as we shall mention here-under.  
This done, put all what remained from the first and second distillation, in an Earthen Pot not glazed, or in a Crucible, to be calcined with a circular fire, until it be reduced to whitish or grayish Ashes, which you must put to digest in a Matrass in Ashes, with a sufficient quantity of Phlegm, which came out in the rectification of the Spirit, to dissolve therewith the Salt contained in these Ashes; filtrate this first solution, and pour new liquor upon the Ashes: and thus continued until the Water comes our tasteless, and insipid, as it was first put in: than put together all the filtrations, and 'cause them to evaporate in an Earthen Platter, to a skim in a boiling Bath, and so place it in a cold Cellar to shoot into Crystals, or dry it throughly in the same vapour, working it gently with a small wooden Spatula, and, when it is throughly dry, keep it for use in a well stopped Vial.  
We shall not labour here to make a description of the general virtues of Tobacco: for, there are so many modern Authors that have treated thereof, according to the rules of ordinary method, that it would be superfluous; I am only obliged to say, that I wonder how these Doctors, who know Tobacco only by the rind, and superficially by his first and second qualities, do stretch the passages which they found in Hypocrates and Galen, to bring them to their own sense; and make these two great Genius's of Physic to speak for and against Tobacco, without ever having the sight or knowledge of it, neither by its shape nor effects. Let us do otherwise, and show, that Chemical Physicians are not only contented with the superficies of things; but to the contrary, that they open them, to penetrate to their very centre, and discover what good virtue they do contain, and appropriate it afterwards to external and internal maladies, to which they found by reiterated experiences, noted with a solid judgement, that they did conduce.  
The Spirit of Tobacco is so full of volatile Salt, that it must insinuate thereby its virtue; it being the property of this Salt to deterge, attenuate and dissolve whatsoever is against Nature, of whatsoever quality, and in what part soever contained: wherefore this Spirit may successfully be used in the Asthma and other oppressions of the Breast, and the parts of it, proceeding most commonly from glutinous and tartarous matters, of which this Spirit is the true specifical dissolvent; it is taken in Hydromel, white Wine, Broth, distilled Waters, or incisive attenuating and pectoral decoctions. The dosis is from iij. drops to xv. or xx. according to the age and strength of the diseased Patient. It works chief by Spitting, Urines, and Sweats, provokes even sometimes Vomiting, if it meets the Stomach of the Patiented full of any mucilagineous matter, because this Spirit doth immediately act upon, elevates and ferments this hurtful lurking matter, and so quà data porta ruit: and if this Spirit is profitable, inwardly taken, its use is not lesle marvellous outwardly applied; for it hath not its like, to mundify sinewous and cancerous Ulcers; above all, it doth rarely well in the curing of Fistula's: It excels also above all other remedies, for fresh Wounds, and Contusions, if it be mixed with Urine to wash the parts, and afterwards applied warm upon the wounded part: and, for the last commendation of this Spirit, let us say, that Hartmannus, who was a very famous Physician, as much renowned for the Theory as the Practical part, hath found no other remedy against the Critalline, which is the most pernicious and dangerous accident which can hap in the French disease, than the Spirit of Tobacco, which appeases, as it were, miraculously the extreme pains of this pernicious disease; resolves powerfully that horrid venomous substance by which it is caused; and hinders, in a short time, the evil and mortal consequences which ever do accompany it.  
We have said, that some part of the Oil extracted from Tobacco by distillation, without rectifying, was to be kept, and that with much reason; because, as this Oil is not destinated to internal uses, so is there no need to purify it, with so much exactness: there is notwithstanding another reason yet more pressing and pertinent, which is, that rectification should deprive this Oil of the greatest part of the volatile Salt which it contains, and which is intimately joined to its Sulphur. The greatest external use of this Oil, is to consolidate new wounds, mundify and cure all evil Ulcers, and remove all accidents of contusions, because it potently resolves the extravassated blood, and so doth hinder the heat and inflammation, which are ever forerunners of suppuration, which this extravassated blood presupposes to be necessary: But it is never the intention of Nature, provided she be in time assisted by some balsamic remedy, such as is the unrectified Oil of Tobacco. It is also good for the Toothache, and to dissipate the chalky knots proceeding from the Gout, and Venery. Now, as it is both the volatile Salt and Oil which jointly produce these rate effects, it appears, that the unrectified is best for use; but, when you will make any internal use of this Oil, you must in a manner correct its empyreumatical odour, which is very unpleasant, and causes a rising of the Stomach, and that cannot be performed but by rectification: It may be with a very happy success employed against Suffocations and fits of the Mother, against rise, inflations, and irritations of the Spleen, which do cause short breath, by reason of the compression of the Diaphragma or Midriff. It may also be exhibited against intermittent Favours a little before the fit comes, in Water of small Centaury and ground Pine: But I rather advice, that the Clyssus, whereof we shall shortly speak, may be made use of for this purpose. As for the fits of the Mother, or other accidents thereof, you must use the Water of Pennyroyal or Savin: and for the Spleen, Water of Sassafras, or of juice of Chervil. This Oil is a very good antileptical remedy, provided, it be exhibited upon the fall of the Moon, in Camphired Theriacal Spirit, or in Volatile Spirit of Hartshorn, mixed of Lilly-Convallium and Balm. The dosis is from ij. drops to x. But you must note, that this Oil must be made soluble with Sugar powdered before you mix it with aqueous liquors. We have only to say a word more of the fixed Salt of Tobacco, which possesses all its virtues: for, besides that it is a mundifying skarrifier, very gentle in being applied upon the drivelling foul flesh of Ulcers, and upon the callous sides which hinder cicatrizing; moreover, it gently moves the belly, if it be taken in Broths: it is also contrary to Worms, and all other corruptions generated in the bottom of the Stomach and the Entrails. It is also diuretic and disopiling; removes all obstructions in the parts adjacent to the Ventricle, chief those of the Mesentery and Pancreas; it cleanses all the impurities of the Womb, if inwardly taken; and if you place the party diseased upon a close stool, and perfume her under with leaves of Tobacco, yielding a steem in the way of a vaporous Bath, having boiled the Tobacco before in Urinal and white Wine. The dosis of the Salt is from iiij. to xv. or xx. grains, in decoctions or appropriated to the malady for which it shall be used.  
But if the Artist will be at the trouble to make the clyssus or compound out of 3 principles of the Plant, which are, the Spirit or Mercury, the Oil or Sulphur, and the Salt mixed together, in such a proportion as we have already taught, and puts them to digest together, uncil the inseparable union of them be made, it will be without compare, a much more efficacious remedy, than any of the three principles separated: but the dosis must be lesle by half proportion.  
It may be, many will wonder, that I should attribute so many, and so different virtues to the remedies extracted from Tobacco: but I doubt not, their wonder will cease, when they shall take the pains, to make reflection upon the different uses which it is put to when the Plannis but newly gathered, or even in dried leaves, by the common people, and most Surgeons and Physicians: for, it is taken in smoke, in Masticatory and Powder, to provoke Sneezing; whereof the effects are various, according to the various constitution of those that use it: it inebriates some, it prevents drunkenness in others, causes vomiting, sleeping, watching; to be short, it seemeth, that this Plant (as in part it is true) hath some universal virtue, not to say divine: It is also to be considered, that there is some Chemical mystery hidden under the preparation of this leaf: for, though those that prepare it, are not always capable to give a reason of their proceeding, yet the Natural Philosopher doth ever found much to Philosophise upon; since there is an observation to be made in choosing the great middle leaves, rejecting the undermost, and cutting of all the shoots growing in the sides of the stalk of the Plant, with the buds or beginnings of the flowers, and cutting also the t●p of the stalk, and all the small leaves which grow on this and that side of the great ones, and of the stalk, to concentrate the spirituous and saline nourishment of the Plant, and preserve it for the sustenance and food of those 10. or 12. great principal leaves, which grow above the middle. There is also a nicety of constellation, whose observation is very necessary to gather Tobacco, as well as to sow it, if you intent to do something with it more than the vulgar. The seed of Tobacco is dedicated to the signs of Aquarius, and of Mars. It is to be sowed in the increase of the Moon in April, a little before the stepping of the Sun into the sign of Aries; and that with great reason and prudence, because it hath need of water and moderate heat in its beginning, which temper is scarce found in any other season of the year. It is gathered in the decrease of the Moon in August, when the Sun is in Leo, which is a constellation of dignity, strength, and virtue; and in a season, which may by its heat digest, as is required, the superfluous moisture of the Tobacco-leaves. But, that which deserves yet better our consideration, is, that the leaves, buds, and growing flowers are not useless, but contrariwise, are as a Balm, and a preparing and preserving Liquor, without which, the best conditioned leaves should Loose their vigour, strength and virtue, either by their too quick exsiccation, or their sudden corruption and putrefaction. The juice of these parts so gathered and cut, is extracted after they have been well beaten in a stony or wooden Mortar; than let them be boiled with sweet Spanish Wine, called decocted Wine, or with Malmsey, until all be well and curiously skimmed; after which, add some Salt, until the liquor hath acquired a taste and faltishness near unto that of the brine of the Sea, and at last throw into it Anise and Ginger very finely powdered; and let this liquor rest that it may depurate, and leave its seculency in the bottom of the Vessel: this done, put it in Glasses very well stopped; otherwise, all the virtue thereof▪ will fly away. With this liquor are the Tobacco-leaves to be seasoned, when they are gathered: for, they use to be dipped one after another in a Bucket filled with this liquor, made something more than lukewarm; for, were it boiling, the virtue thereof would fly into the air, by reason of its volatility: and besides, the too violent heat would bake the leaf dipped in it, and make it useless. After this, lay these leaves thus prepared one on the top of the other, and cover them of all sides, that they may lay to digest and ferment in a manner, until the liquor hath penetrated them in every part thereof, and that they begin to grow hot; than take one of these leaves, spread and expose it to the light, to see whether it hath begun to change colour or not, which colour must be ruddish or inclining towards a rusty read, and if you found it so, uncover quickly your Tobacco, separate the leaves; sow or join them together, and expose in a covered place, but open of all sides, to the free passage of the air, so ordered, as that it may always be shut up to the Sun and Rain, and, that so the leaves may temperately dry, until they be rolled up, or pressed whole in Boxes well wrapped up in their own leaves, and some other covering about, to keep their subtle and volatile virtue from exhaling, which defect makes the Tobacco commonly called stolen Tobacco, fit for nothing, unless it be restored to some proportion of its strength and virtue, by the decoction of some parcel of good Tobacco made in Spanish Wine; though some make use only of a little Beer, with a few Spices infused in it; and this is called, mended or restored Tobacco. I was the rather invited to describe this Preparation, to show the necessity of the choice in Tobacco for preparing of good remedies, and to give the more occasion to admire the wonders shut up by the Creator's hand in this Plant, which is not applied to that lawful use and purpose for which his infinite goodness hath produced it, namely, for the recovery and preservation of health; but to the contrary, is abused and turned to excesses, which do offend his Divine Majesty, wound and ruin man's health, and spoils families and civil society.   

SECT. III Of Flowers.  
Among that great number of Flowers, which the Vegetable Family supplies us with, with so fair so pleasant and so diverting a profusion; Nature seems to have bestowed no greater care upon any than the Rose, which may in a manner be called the Queen of Flowers, as much for the beauty and pleasingness of its colour and smell, as, because it is that which amongst all the Flowers, supplies both Physic and Pharmacy with the best employment. For one of the Authors, which hath with more exactness examined all what Ancient and Modern Physicians have drawn from the Rose either single or composite, reckons as much as 37 several operations, which this noble Flower lends to their Art: which makes me wonder how the Greeks should have been induced to give the name of Flower (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in their language) to the Rosemary Flower by Antonomasie, a kind of Rhetorical speech, and, as it were, by excellency; since this Flower doth not furnish so great a harvest of remedies as the Rose doth. Notwithstanding, as the Rosemary Flower is endowed as well as the Rose wi●h many excellent virtues, and is even more balsamic; we will make use of these two Flowers in the present Section, to teach Artists the manner of operating upon Flowers, that by the example of these two, they may proceed upon others of the like or approaching nature: For, as concerning other kinds of Flowers, we did sufficiently insinuate how they were to be wrought upon, when we spoke in general of Plants, in the beginning of the Chapter of Vegetables.  

Of the Rose, and of the several Chemical Preparations made by it.  
BEfore we begin to speak in particular of the several Operations which an Artist may make upon the Rose, it is necessary we should say something of its differences, and the election which he is to make of them, to attain the proposed end of his work: for Roses differ in virtue according to the more or lesle of their colour taste and smell. For example, Province Roses, or Read Roses, are higher in colour than the rest, of a more harsh and austere taste, their substance more compact and lesle alterable than that of the other kinds, which argues a better proportioned mixture of their Salt and Sulphur, wherefore they are more cephalick and stomachal, as the Physicians upon this account use them rather than others for Conserves and making of Vinegar: but chief to extract the tincture after they are dried, as we will teach hereafter. The pale kind of Roses, which are called common Roses among the cultivated and garden kind, are of a more penetrating and subtle smell than the Province, abound more in juice, and are sooner faded and altered; in so much, that they can scarce be dried; they have also a more saline and bitter taste which is a token of their purging and loosening or colliquative quality, as appears by their effects: wherefore they are most used for Distillations, Syrups, and Honeys, by reason of their abounding Mercury, of their Sulphur and Salt preponderated by their moisture, which renders them capable of a quick fermentation, and makes them easily to communicate their virtue, to such subjects as do participate of any of the three principles abounding in them.  
There is a third kind of Roses, which are called Damask Roses, or Musk Roses, of a very fragrant smell, and much lesle violently affecting the brain, than the Pale Roses, not making so strong a colliquation, when they are used in purging, & lesle prejudicial to women subject to fits of the Mother; which is the reason they are preferred to others, in the preparation of purging Syrups either single or compounded: but as these Muscat Roses are not found every where, and for the most part, but in the hands of curious persons which cultivate them, rather for the pleasure of sight and smell than Physical uses; it will be lawful to make use in their place of the Wild Roses, which being gathered in due season, will easily supply the effects of the other.  
The fourth kind of Roses employed by Physicians, are, the white Rose, only used for the Eyes and Women, for the reasons alleged already: we will not here waste frivolously our time in making a description of all the ordinary operations which the Rose yields to Pharmacy: We shall only say, what we think to be necessary for instructing the Chemical Apothecary, to draw from this lovely Flower the purest and best part of it, without loss of any of its virtues. But before we come to particulars, we must briefly indicate the time in which Roses are to be gathered, that you may found in them the advantages which Nature hath placed. To this end, when the Artist intends to make any use of Roses, he must 'cause them to be gathered a little after the break of day, when they have yet about themselves some small remains of the Balsamic moisture, which the cool of the night did as it were gather and concentrate, both without and within these Flowers: above all things, care must be taken, that it should not be after a Rainy-day; but chief, when you intent them either for conserve or drying: neither must they be gathered long after the rising of the Sun; because, that Planet seems greedily to suck the Balsam and Nectar of all the Flowers which are of an aetherial and delicate substance: and amongst all the rest, Roses are the most delicate; therefore those that intent to work upon them, must take their time opportunely, as we said just now.   

How to Extract the Tincture of Read Roses.  
HAving gathered your Read Roses, commonly called Province Roses, with the required care you must take of their white bottom, when they are not yet fully blown, but only pretty well advanced in their buds; neither must they be of the double kind, but single and ordinary Roses; you must, besides, let them dry in the shade between two Papers, that nothing but superfluous moisture may exhale; and, what shall be of odour and colour may be concentrated by a slow and moderate exsiccation: for, it is in that properly that consists the virtue required by Physicians in the tincture of Roses, which is thus made.  
℞ ℥ i of thus dried Roses, and put them in a Platter of Juggmettal, or white Earth, pour upon it as much boiling water as is required to moisten them, and when they are well soaked, pour upon it drop by drop, still turning the Roses, ℈ iiij. of good Spirit of Vitriol, or as much of acid Spirit of Sulphur, or Spirit of Salt, according to the indication taken of the disease and remedy; after which, pour upon the whole lb iiij. boiling water, and cover the Vessel until the liquor be cooled, which run through a Flannel or Filter. There may be added to each pound of Tincture, if the Physician prescribe it so, ℥ i or ℥ ij. of Sugar; and in case it agrees with the Patient's constitution. This Tincture is an excellent remedy to correct all defects of the Stomach, and chief, when out of order, by vomitings and lasks; when also digestion is depravated, and natural appetite to meat is defective; either by reason of some relaxation of the fibres of the Ventricle, or the dilatation of its Membranes: above all, it is a specifical remedy, in the disease called Colera morbus, or voiding of the Stomach both ways, provided the Patient drink it by very great draughts: for, the Balsamical virtue of the Rose, assisted by the Stomachical acidity of Vitriol, Sulphur or Salt, doth admirably settle again all the agitations and tempests of choler, and turns them to a gentle and pleasing calm: It is also a very pleasing and useful drink in all hot Fevers, either continual or intermittent: for, for the most part, these Fevers do proceed of some corruption generated in the Stomach, which hath produced an alteration in the ferment of digestion, which never fails to introduce the malignity of the conceived Ideas in the food of the Patient, and continually carries this venom, and conveys it in the Veins and Arteries, which causes the difference of Spirits, followed by the Fever and its redoubled fits. Now as this maxim in Physic and Philosophy is very true, that, Sublata causa tollit●r effectus, the cause being removed, the effect must cease; and these Fevers in their beginnings, are nothing else but the products and sequels of the corruption made in the Ventricle; it follows of necessity, that this cause being taken away, so must of necessity cease the Fever, which was only an effect thereof. And, as we have said heretofore, That the tincture of Roses did settle again the Stomach and its functions in their duty; so must the ordinary drink be made thereof, which Patients troubled with that kind of Fever are to take.  
This drink also is of no lesle efficacy against Dysentery, Lientery, and generally, all kinds of Lasks, which do cause in the Patiented a very importunate thirst and drought of mouth, which this tincture immediately allays, and, as it were, miraculously quenches.   

The manner of Extracting the Water, Oil, Spirit and Salt of Roses.  
WE will not repeat here, the reason why we do take the pale or common Roses, nor the time fittest for gathering them, having already spoken thereof in the beginning of this Section. Let us only say, how the Chemical Apothecary is to proceed, in drawing the virtues contained in the same. And to begin:  
℞ lb viij. of pale Roses, and pick them, separating the leaves from their stalks, which nevertheless, must not be thrown away, as is the common practice: but, contrariwise, left with the Roses because, that yellow substance which is in the midst of the Flower, contains a material Oil, which in the distillation ascends in the form of Butter swimming on the top of the water, drawing to its self the subtle and aetherial Oil of the leaves of the Rose, and fixing it; so, that thus proceeding, the Artist will found the double or triple part more of Oil than otherwise: put the Roses in a Body, whereof the Head, and Pipe or Worm passing through the Fat of Water to cool the ascending Spirits, be made of Tin, or at lest of Copper newly Tinned: because otherwise, the Oil would draw the taste and greenish colour of the Copper, by reason of its volatile Salt very penetrating and very active. Pour upon the Roses, which aught not by any means to be bruised, the fourth part of Rain-water, if it be possible, or of River water; than distil in the manner often already mentioned, Cease not your fire until you perceive by the sight, taste and smell, that the water issuing participates no more of Oil, being insipid and without smell; and when you perceive it to be so, open the Body of your Still, and empty it in a Cask whereof the Lie hath been newly taken away, and begin your distillation with new Roses, that you may not interrupt and loose the heat of your Furnace; and continued this operation until you have a sufficient store of Oil to do therewith, what we shall hereafter declare. And when you have gathered all your distilled Waters in a great large Glass Vessel, let them rest together, that the Oil may gather on the top, and so be drawn with a Silver Spoon: or, to proceed yet better, strain all your Waters through a Linen, spread over a 
* Un Carlee.  square Frame, and all the Oil will remain upon the Linen, which must be preserved in a very well stopped Bottle, by reason of the subtlety and activity of its parts. If you will preserve your Water as it is, you may, for it is good; but, you may nevertheless, make it better, and much more active, and efficacious, if you cohobate it twice over. lb viij. of Roses bruised in a Marble Mortar. And, if you demand the reason why we have said above, that they were to be left whole, and now we say, they aught to be bruised in a Mortar; the answer is, That in the first distillation, we had no further intention than to extract the Oil, without caring much for the goodness of the Water; and, that as the Artist must know, the Oil is confounded with the Salt and Spirit, by the mixture and contusion made in the Mortar, which would hinder it to ascend and be freed by the action of the fire in distilling, because the Spirit and Salt do invisibly keep it amongst themselves in the Water: upon which is grounded our prescription to bruise the Roses in the second distillation, intended only for the meliorating the Water, and communicating unto it a greater virtue.  
We return now to the remainder of our distillation left in the Cask; which must be strained through a course Linen Strainer, and the Cake left must be dried, and calcined, to extract, the Salt thereof in the manner above related when we spoke of the fixed Salt of Vegetables. But, as we will put the liquor come forth in the straining to ferment with new Roses; it might be asked, why we have ordered the distilled Roses to be strained before fermentation; and this question, being not without good grounds, must be answered and satisfied with pertinent reasons; by which it may appear, that we have not said it without very good grounds, and an absolute necessity: for, had the substance of the Roses been fermented, the fixed Salt which is in them should have been dissolved by the action of fermenting, and so volatilised, that all this saline substance should have been converted into Spirit, whereas the first distillation did extend not further (neither was intended) than to extract the aetherial Oil, and a portion of volatile Salt of the Flower. You must than moderately warm that which hath been strained, and put it to ferment with xx. or thirty. lb. of new whole Roses, with either Yeast or Leaven, observing all the requisites, and necessary precautions in this operation, which are sufficiently delivered in the beginning of this Chapter, to which we sand back our Artist; as also for what concerns distillation, and rectification of the Spirit to be extracted.   

The way of preparing the true Essence of Roses.  
THe example we are now to give, is not one of the lest mysteries of Chemistry, wherefore we will deliver it with all possible exactness, that the Artist may make use of it with delight and advantage. To this end, take ℥ iiij. of Salt of Roses, and put them in a small Cucurbite, and pour upon lb ss. of the best Spirit of Roses: than apply a Head to your Cucurbite, and lute exactly the Joints thereof, and draw of the Spirit in the slow heat of B. M. that it may become alkoholisated, that is to say, well dephlegmed; for than nothing but the pure and mere aethrial substance will ascend, and the Salt keep all the Phlegmatic part. But this subtiliating of the Spirit is not yet sufficient; for, it is required besides, that this Spirit be impregnated with the purest and subtlest portion of the fixed Salt upon which it was distilled, and this is that Spirit which Chemists do call alkalizated, as if they should say, a Spirit participating of the Salt Alkali of its Plant; a name given by the Arabians, to all kinds of Salts extracted from Vegetables or their parts, by the help of calcination and elixiviation. Put than the Salt remaining after the alkoholized Spirit in a Crucible, and dry it by moderate degrees to the fire, until it grows read; and above all, take great care that it should not melt, and when it is moderately cooled, put it in the Cucurbite, and the spirit being poured upon it, distil as at first; and so continued and reiterate three times, drying the Salt, and distilling the Spirit, to acuate it, and furnish it with a sufficient portion of its own Salt, which will be an uniting mean to join and mix them indivisibly together, and to frame thereof an admirable Essence, as much for its sweetness and perfume as for its medicinal virtues, which do far transcend all other operations of Vegetables. Now the chief of all this mystery, is, the Alkalisation of the Spirit; wherefore the Artist must have a very exact regard, to make it with all requisite punctuality. To make the mixture of these two bodies with a requisite proportion, you must put one part of the aetherial most pure and most subtle Oil, and pour upon it three parts of the alkalized Spirit, and you shall see them instantly unite together in a wondered manner; and so shall you have an Essence fit to be mixed to all kind of liquors, which infinitely recreates the senses by its pleasant smell. And if you join to it the Essence of good Ambergrice, and Limon Rind, it will prove a Cordial and Cephalick remedy, not to be paralleled by any other, as much for the excellency of its smell, as for the subtle & efficacious virtues of the ingredients which compose the same, and are very penetrating, capable of raising up again the Spirits dulled and extenuated, by soporiferous and lethargic affections, which most commonly strike to the Brain, and benumb its affections; as also it is of great virtue in all failing of the Spirits and passions of the Heart; whether this Essence be given in Broth, Wine, or Cordial Water, or even any drops be let down between the teeth if they be closed, and thrusted with a Feather or a little Cotton in the Nostrils: The ordinary dosis of these Essences is from ij. to vi. drops viij. or x. in any of the aforementioned Vehicles.  
In this very manner may be prepared all the Essences of such Vegetables, as yield an aetherial Oil, and may be fermented to extract the Spirit; whether those Plants be odoriferous or no. For those which we do not like for the smell, have notwithstanding their profitable uses, and specifical virtues, for some part or other of the human body. But, as there are some substances extracted from Vegetables or some other bodies, which do yield notwithstanding Oils of very great virtue, but would afford much more, were they converted into Essences, as are Gums, Resins, and yellow Amber; we will say here only in few words, that alkalized Spirit of Wine may be made use of to essencificate them, or the Spirit of some other Plant which may have a correspondency with the Disease or affected part. And this shall suffice for the Rose. We come now to the Rosemary, which may be used in the same manner, and according to the same directions, and so have we no more to add here, but only the manner of preparing the Water, called of S. Elizabeth, or Isabelle, Queen of Hungary, which is in truth a worthy noble remedy.   

To make the Queen of Hungary's Water with the Flowers of Rosemary.  
℞ ℥ xx. of Rosemary Flowers, gathered a little after the rising of the Sun, put them in a double Vessel, and pour on them ℥ thirty. of alkoholized Spirit of Wine; lute exactly the Joints where they meet, and put in digestion to extract in a very slow heat of the vaporous Bath, during three natural days: let the Vessel cool before you open it; after that, draw the Tincture and strain the Flowers: filtrate and keep by itself one part of this Balsamic Tincture, to use both internally and externally; for it hath as much if not more virtue than the Water, but is not so pleasant nor subtle. You must distil the other part in B. M. in a heat so well graduated, that the heat of the Limbeck may not contract any heat at all, and that the Artist may distinctly reckon two or three, between the falling of each drop, and so continued till you have reduced the Tincture to the consistency of an Extract. You must exactly stop the Bottle in which you put this Water, because it is extraordinarily subtle. Zapata, an Italian, both Physician and Chirurgeon, doth attribute to the remedies extracted from Rosemary almost innumerable virtues, and that with much reason; for, this Plant is full of a volatile Salt and Sulphur, two of the chiefest agents of Nature: but chief, when their virtue is animated by the subtlety of the Spirit of Wine, which doth in a moment penetrate from the centre of the Stomach to the circumference of the Body, and doth inspire a new vigour into all the functions of our life. All the virtues of this Balsamic Tincture Water and Extract, can scarce be worthily enough described and magnified. For, what I beseech you, can be more wondered at and magnified, than the restoring of the Queen of Hungary, by the help of this Water, when she was sick with Palsy and Gout, and grown so decayed, that she had no motion of the body free from impediment, and that, being 72 years of age; and yet this subtle and balsamic Spirit proved to have so noble irradiating a virtue, that she was restored to a very great degree of health and vigour; insomuch, that she did not appear to have been above five and twenty years old: and the King of Poland, taken with her beauty and youthfulness, courted her to his wife. This is a remarkable effect of this remedy as to the internal virtue, which we own to the faith of History: But I must also relate here another external cure, to prove more and more the noble and excellent virtue of this Water, by what happened to a Serving-Maid in my own house; which by falling upon the hindg of a Door, had received a great bruise in the Forehead; and having on a sudden repercuted the tumour raised in the place, by binding hard upon it Linen dipped in fair Water, with a piece of Gold put upon it, took away all outward sign of any hurt; but, the accidents which followed a little after, made it sufficiently appear, that there was blood shed under the Pericranium: for she soon after grew heavy and sleepy, did stagger as Drunkards use to do, and spoke nothing but idly, without feeling, with all this, any sharp pain, and leaving any outward token of her Disease, which occasioned me to apply a cross-folded Linen dipped in this Water of the Queen of Hungary upon the place where she had received the contusion, and to make her take a good spoonful of it inwardly, which did put her in a slumber, or rather sleep, for the space of one hour; and when she awoke again, she said, she found herself cured, and immediately walked and recovered her perfect Senses: but, that by which her cure did much better appear to be true, was, that all her Forehead, Nose, and the parts about the Eyes, did appear of a colour as of Marbled Paper; because, the blood which had settled under the Skull or Pericranium, and did 'cause all the former accidents, had been digested, and as it were dissolved, by the subtle and penetrating virtue of this admirable Water: so, that after this, she needed no more but the application of a second folded Linen, which perfected the cure, without ever any accident since. I have yet many other Experiments and Observations made of the noble Effects of this Water: but, it suffices to have spoken generally of the virtues and dosis of the Tincture, Water, and Extract. They are in truth specifical remedies, and chief dedicated to the Brain, Womb, and all Diseases incident unto it; as Apoplexy, Palsy, Epilepsy, Vertigo's, and other like Diseases. They strengthen the sight, and do correct the ill savour of breath, corroborated the Stomach, remove the obstructions of Liver, Spleen, and the Mother; are wondered against Jaundice, and a sure remedy against the Whites; finally cherishes the Heart and all it functions, repairs decayed Memory, and preserves in an equal state and vigour both internal and external Senses, either inwardly taken, or outwardly applied. The dosis of the Tincture and the Water, is from ℈ i to ℈ iiij. in white Wine, Broths, or some other appropriated liquor to the disease. But you must note, that in case you exhibit these remedies in Broth, you must expect to mix them, until the Broth be of a temperate heat to be taken, otherwise all the virtue would be lost and vapour away, by reason of its too great subtlety. The dosis of the Extract is from ʒ ss. to ʒ i. either alone or mixed with some Conserve, or dissolved in white Wine, or some distilled Water. This remedy is so necessary by reason of the accidents happening every moment in a family, as hurting, burning, over-weariness, and colds, that it would be almost necessary to have it still at hand, to prevent by a ready help and sure assistance, the evil consequences and great griefs which ordinarily follow the beginning of these Diseases. Principiis obsta: serò medicina paratur, Dum mala per long as invaluêre moras.    

SECT. IV. Of Fruits.  
First-fruits are that part of Vegetables which are lesle regarded and made use of in Chemical Pharmacy: wherefore, we shall have little to say concerning their Preparation. Since we found Coloquint only worth our taking notice, and bestowing of our pains. And, as it is a Purgative often used, and in whose correction hitherto much error is committed; we shall set forth only here what Reason and Experience have taught us upon that subject.  
Though the most famous Chemical Authors have prescribed to make the Extract of Coloquint with Spirit of Wine, yet do I differ from them in judgement in this particular. Because the Fruit of Coloquints is volatile, and hath a subtle and dangerous Salt in itself, which causes strange colliquations, and corrodes the Stomach and Guts, as it plainly appears, when this unsafe remedy hath caused any hyper-catharrs or over-purging. Now the Spirit of Wine draws from the substance of the Coloquint, nothing else but the volatile and hurtful Salt, without touching the fixed part at all, which is that that truly purges the serosities, clammy substances and mucosities of the body: Moreover, the Spirit of Wine doth so subtilise and attenuate the Body of the Colloquint, that it carries it into the very Veins and Arteries, whence it attracts the best and purest part of the blood. The Artist than must found out some way to correct and extract this purging Fruit, that it may yield its faculty very conducing to that end, without any hurt or danger. But it must be performed by a Menstruum, differing in nature from Spirit of Wine, that it may fix in some manner the malignant volatility, which predominates in this Fruit, and causes all its ill effects; wherefore the corrective and Menstruum of Coloquint, must of necessity be distilled Vinegar, provided, it be assisted and animated with a fixed penetrating and subtle Salt, which may act upon this volatile part, and altar its nature: this Salt is that of Bohemian-tartar, according to Sennertus his preparation, as we will teach when we come to teach the Operations upon Tartar. For we regard very little here, the pretended correction of ancient and new Dispensatories, which rest only in the pulverisation and mixture of Aromatical Substances and Gum Dragant, to hinder the dangerous effects of Coloquint. The manner than of the true Extract is this.  

How to prepare truly the Extract of Coloquints.  
℞ Coloquint of the whitest and lightest you can found; separate the Seed contained in the pulp or flesh of the dried Coloquint, because some are afraid of its violent operation: But, because it can proceed from no other cause, but its volatile sulphureous Salt, in which consists all the venomous and hurtful quality; and, that we teach here, how to fix and correct it; we shall also take the half of the Seed to the double of the Pulp to make our Extract; reduce all to gross Powder, which pour in the Matrass, and imbibe by little and little with good distilled Vinegar, impregnated with ℥ ss. of the prepared Bohemian-tartar, according to Sennertus' way for every pound of Vinegar, and when all is well soaked, pour over of the same Vinegar about four finger's height, and put it to digest in Ashes to a moderate heat the space of 8 days, agitating and stirring the Glass 3 or 4 times every day at the lest; observing also, that your vessel be not filled above half, because this Fruit having been much contracted in the former drying of it, when it comes to resume its ordinary bulk in the Menstruum, it swelleth extraordinarily, and so might endanger the breaking of the Vessel, and loss of the substance and labour, when you should lest think of it; having than laid it thus 8 days, strain and percolate the liquor, and put the Cake again in new digestion as before. The liquor you must only filtrate through a Linen; and, if there remains any substance of the Body, join it again to the new digestion, and reiterate three times the operation of straining, percolating, filtrating and digesting in embers, and, so shall you be sure to have extracted and corrected all what was good and bad in the Coloquint: Evaporate after this all your Digestions to a consistency of Extract; whereof keep one half, to exhibit with some good Mercurial Preparation in Venerous diseases; as also in Dropsies, and Arthritical Diseases, provided, your Patient be of a strong and robust constitution: The dosis is from grain ij. to ℈ ss. and a whole ℈. If it be exhibited without Mercury, you must prescribe after it a small draught of Malmsey, Spanish Wine, strong Mead, or some other good generous Wine; or give it in the same. But, if there be any Mercury incorporated with the Extract, you must prescribe a small Broth after, wherein you have mixed X grains of Coral, and as much of powdered Mace. But in case, you desire to give the Extract of Coloquint in a larger dosis, and without any danger of doing hurt; you must pursue and complete the due preparation of this Extract: Put it than in a Matrass, and to each dragm of the same add ℈ i of soluble Magistery of Coral, and circulate it one whole Month in a Matrass doubled, or Pelican, well luted; having first poured upon it Spirit of tartarized Wine to the eminency of four fingers; the circulation must be performed in a slow heat of B. M. And when it is ended, all must be poured in a Glass Cucurbite, adding to it the weight of ʒ i. of Nutmeg-Oyl made by expression, well mixed and united with ʒ ij. of Sugar in Powder; put this Cucurbite in B. M. and draw of the Spirit of Wine by distillation, and when no more Spirit ascends, increase a little the fire, and evaporate all this mixture to the consistency of an Extract, which may be made in Pills: so shall you have a purging Extract perfectly corrected, and of safe use in all cases where Coloquint is want to be recommended by Physical Authors: but chief, in all diseases of the Brain, Nerves, Joints, and Lungs: and, therefore no scruple is to be made in exhibiting this Extract or Magistery so prepared to persons affected with either Apoplexy, Epilepsy, Vertigo's or swimming of the Head, but chief, in all accidents of Venerial diseases: The dosis is from vi. grains to ℈ i and ʒ ss. in the Pap of a roasted Apple, or some pleasing Jelly: It might also be dissolved in Spanish Wine; but it may contract an ungrateful bitterness, therefore some such vinous Liquors o● Broths are rather to be taken after, according to the constitution of the Patient, and the nature of the disease. But, as those which apply themselves to Chemical Physic, and consequently, to the reading of Authors treating thereof, shall found in Rullandus, and several others, mention made of a Specifical Spirit against several obstinate diseases, to whom the name of Spiritus vitae aureus Rullandi is attributed, and yet the description thereof is not to be found in the Author itself, and what others do deliver of it, is but conjectural; I have thought it necessary, to ease the mind of Artists upon this matter, to join my own opinion to that of others for their satisfaction. They that maintain this Spirit to be made out of Coloquint, say, that one of the conditions of it was to Purge without Vomit; and that, by consequence, this remedy could not proceed, but from this fruit, which is the only Vegetable purging with so small a dosis, and chief, being exalted by the help of Spirit of Wine: for, had this Medicine been both Purging and Vomiting at once they would have all attributed its virtue to some Antimonial Preparation; but as it is not Emetik, the most judicious have believed, that it was Spirit of Wine impregnated by a long digestion and Circulation with the virtue of Trochisks Alhandal, which are nothing else but prepared Coloquint. Others do maintain the contrary, amongst whom Franciscus Antonius, a London Physician, is none of the lest considerable: for, they will have it to be a preparation of Potable Gold, or some other tincture extracted from this noble metal; and allege for their reason, that Coloquint being a Vegetable cannot extend so far its virtue, as are those attributed by Rullandus to this his Preparation in the Centuries of his Observations; and, that none but a Mineral remedy, or Metallick one, can be capable of this Universality of action: and moreover, that it is not without reason or mystery, that this Author gives unto it the name of Golden Spirit of Life, or spiritus Vitae de auratus: seeming to be willing by this denomination, to insinuate what he would have concealed in his writings. Though it seems, that the reasons alleged of both sides are valuable; yet I am forced to subscribe to the first opinion, which holds for Coloquint; because I am informed by several very ancient and creditable Physicians, who profess to have it from young Rullandus, that the Spirit which his Father used, and whereof he relates the Histories in his Centuries, was nothing else but the Tincture of Trochisks Alhandal: But, that the time, Menstruum, weight of the Trochisks, and their Preparation, was to be observed; and, as this remedy is full of many noble virtues, I have thought myself obliged to set it here, though it be not so well corrected as the last Extract, whereof we have given the description, since the acid and fixative Spirit hath not been used, but for the Preparation of Trochisks; and, that the Salt which did accompany it was an Alkali, which deads' and blunts the malignant action of the volatile Salt of Coloquint; it is nevertheless to be considered, that the Menstruum used in the preparation of the Spiritus vitae deauratus is impregnated with the purest parts of this Salt Alkali, since it must be the Spirit of Wine alkalized, which shall extract the Trochisks Alhandal, and that by consequence it shall correct the malignity thereof, by the help of this Salt, and the long reiterated digestion: which is thus performed.   

The manner of Preparing the Spiritus vitae aureus, Rullandi.  
THe Golden Spirit of life of Rullandus. ℞ very white and light Coloquint, cleanse it exactly from all its seed, and shred and cut it as small as you can with Scissors; than reduce it to Powder, having first anointed your Pestle with expressed Oil of Nutmeg, or Oil of Mastic drawn by distillation; searce the Powder, and with good distilled Vinegar, reduce it to a Paste in a Mortar; than frame this Paste into Pills, or Trochisks, having first anointed your hands with the said Oils; dry these Trochisks or Pellets in the shade, between two Papers, and reduce them to Powder again: and beaten them the second time in a Mortar with the same Menstruum of Vinegar; frame your Pills or Trochisks, and dry them, and so reiterate the third time; and, thus shall you have your Trochisks Alhandal fit for all uses and appositions, and much safer than those that are prepared after the old way with the mucilage of Gum-Dragant.  
℞ ℥ i of these Trochisks reduced to very subtle Powder, and put them in a circulatory Vessel, or a double Vessel (de encontre), pour upon it lb i. alkalized Spirit of Wine; stop exactly the Joints of the Vessels, and expose your matter to digest and extract, to the reverberation of the Sun's rays during the space of 15 days; this time ended, open the Vessel, and add ℥ ss of these Trochisks in Powder, than stop it and put it again as long a time in digestion; open your Vessel again, and add for the third and last time ʒ ij. of the same Trochisks reduced to Powder, and continued the same digestion for 15 days more. This ended, strain or percolate the liquor, and squeeze the remaining matter, than filtrate the Tincture by a Paper, and you shall have the Golden Spirit of Life of Rullandus, in its perfection, which you may make use of in such cases and diseases as you shall found related in his Centuries, or in all other diseases wherein we have already said, that the Extract was useful and conducing. The dosis is from ʒ i to ʒ vi. and even to ℥ i if it be used in liquor: but, if you draw back the Spirit of Wine, and reduce this Liquor to an Extract: the dosis than must be from vi. grains to xxiv.  
We could have added to this Section of Fruits, several other Operations drawn from these Mixts, as the burning Spirit of Pears or Apples, and several other first-fruits of this nature: but, as no body is ignorant, that the juices of these first-fruits will ferment of themselves; and, that Art contributes no more to it than the bore distillation, to draw the Spirit thereof: I have thought it unnecessary, to deliver particularly the manner of it here, since we shall furnish a sufficient example, when we come to teach of the Anatomy of Wine, in the Section of Juices. It seems also, that we should have been obliged, to declare in this Section, how the burning Spirits of Elderberries and Dane-wort, of black Cherries, Strawberries, Raspeses, Goosberries, and other like first-fruits should be made: But, as we reserve the example of their fermentations, where we shall speak of Juniper-berries, we refer to deliver ourselves here fully to the Artist there. There is only a warning to be given concerning these first-fruits, that the Juniper-berries are to be distilled before fermentation, because they have in themselves great store of aetherial Oil, which must be extracted before they ferment; but, that as these other first-fruits are only juicy and without any portion of Oil, unless it be that which is concentrated in their Seed, so is it not necessary to distil them before fermentation.    

SECT. V Of Seeds, or Berries and their Seeds.  
WE have already given a general Idea of the Composition of Seeds and their difference, when we did treat of Vegetables in general; we have also insinuated, as it were, the manner of distilling them, to extract their virtue; but, as we know by our own experience, that these general Maxims do not enough design the work; we must particularise the Operations, according to the division we shall make of this universal genus in four other subalternate kinds, which will be, The insipid and inodorous Seeds; the odoriferous and aromatical; the inodorous, but of a subtle and biting taste; and finally, those which have scarce any smell, unless they be rubbed or squeezed, and are endowed with a Honey-taste mixed with some Balsamic and Aromatical favour. For the first, we shall take the Wheat, Rye, and Barley, to make their Anatomy, and Extract out of them the true Aquavitae: For the second, we shall take the Seeds of Anise, Fennel, and Parssey, from whom we shall extract a spirituous Water, and aetherial Oil: For the third, we will take the Mustardseed, or Garden-Cresses, which we put into fermentation to distil thereof a volatile Spirit, and which we will distil also without addition by Retort, to extract the volatile Salt, the gross Oil, and the acid biting and mercurial Spirit: For the fourth, we will take Juniper-berties, whereof we will prepare several differing remedies, and very useful to Physic and Pharmacy.  
I doubt not, but many will think it to be a very common theme to insert here the Anatomy of Wheat, or Corn, Rye, and Ba●ley; because as these eeds are very common, it would seem I should bring in some more rate Subjects for my purpose: but let them seriously consider, and make a due reflection upon their daily food, that they should not be displeased to be taught, what portion of Spirit of life is contained in the Bread they eat, and without the daily use of which they cannot be; and, though the vain babbling of some, who pretending much to Philosophy, and thinking to have search Nature throughly, make a great noise, and seem to be sufficiently satisfied, with saying, That digestion is performed by the proper heat of the Stomach; without showing in what manner this heat doth act upon the matters which it is to digest: that, besides, this digestion produces a chyle as white as any Cream, without explaining at all by what means it is performed, and, that they infatuate by these empty words, the minds of those which apply themselves to common Physic and its parts: It concerns our duty and public safety, to give to understand, that all these defects do proceed only from the ignorance of Chemistry, which would have taught them as we are going to show; That the fermentation artificially used in the Corn, is the same which the Stomach uses in the Ventricle: and consequently, the Chemical Artist may make a real and true demonstration thereof, without any need of opening or anatomising any living Animal to be surer of it. For we will give to understand, by the action of fermentation and the Spirit we shall extract thereof, that it is in vain to use so many words as there are daily made about heat and cold, and the first and second qualities of Mixts; which are properly Chimera's filling the mind with unnecessary terms, and dulling our natural light, discouraging many from the earnest search of Physical truths, to acquire thereby the knowledge of several noble remedies, which would be profitable to the Members of Civil Society: This truth was illustrated two years ago in the Royal Garden established for the culture of Medicinal Plants, and the Theorical Lectures of Chemistry, and demonstration of its Operations, which I than was appointed to make by order of the King's first Physician M. Vallot: for, when I came to speak of fermentation and its wondered effects, and was about to prove the truth of my reasoning by an operation which I made upon Seeds: the most part of the Auditors, which had been prepossessed with a doctrine relying only upon words, but voided of effects, went away, as if what I said than, and did demonstrate, had been some trivial and too familiar a business: though none of them could understand or apprehended this manner of Philosophy, neither conceive the great mysteries which Nature hath been pleased to reveal to us, when she made obvious to our eyes natural fermentations, which aught to be our true model, to attain to the perfection of artificial ones; as we will make appear in the sequel.  

Of Ferment and its Action, and how the Fermentation of Corn is to be performed; as also of Rye and Barley, to extract the burning Spirit thereof.  
ALthough the art of baking Bread, and brewing Beer, seems for the present vile and abject; yet nevertheless, there be many learned persons, and even of those which will be accounted searchers of Nature, and versed in her mysteries, that feed upon both, without ever having made a judicious reflection, why these aliments do nourish and sustain them, much lesle, what portion of them is converted into their substance for the preserving of their life. Though such a study should be the chief employment of those that undertake to treat of Nature and its Products: and, as we have so often said, that Chemistry only can introduce Man into Nature's Closet and Sanctuary, there to discover her naked and hidden beauty; so will we endeavour to clear this truth, and explain it more essentially here than any where else. By the description we intent to make of the Introduction of the Leven and Ferment in those substances by which we are nourished, which doth evidence and manifest unto us by its action, what portion of vital spirituous and celestial substance there is in the matters which are employed daily by us for the preservation of our life. Now we must of necessity have recourse to the inventor of Leven, if we pretend to found its original any any where else, than in the hand of God himself, and the nature of Light and Spirits: since the action of ferment is all divine; it is properly that fire of Heaven which ancient Poets have adumbrated in the theft of Prometheus, and which since hath been instrumental in the propagation of all Arts, since it is the only sharpener of Spirits, which illuminates and guides them to the noblest knowledge. For if any do attribute the knowledge of Leven to Tradition, we must return to the first Inventor which can be no body else, but our first Parent, who had his knowledge by infusion; and if we attribute it to Chance, it must of necessity follow, that the first discoverer should have found by accident some fermented matter which should have made him conceive, that the substance acting in this fermented body, did open and dilatate it, and introduce in it several qualities by the alteration caused by the ferment, which occasioned him to take notice of some new productions, and as a kind of new generation in the fermented subject. Now it is not possible for any man to have all these considerations, and make these reflections, without a previous tincture, or acquired and adopted knowledge of natural Philosophy. And so by the help of either of these two guides, he must have extricated by the help of the External Senses, that which his Internal had preconceived, or, what is yet truer, his smell and taste must have invited him to meditate thereupon, since there is no fermentation, without some spirituous subtle and penetrative odour, which suggests immediately to our reason this conclusion, that such an effect cannot be produced, but by a celestial agent, and of an igneous nature; moreover, the taste doth meet with a certain biting acidity, which is neither harsh nor corrosive: but, to the contrary, pleasant and evincing clearly that there is some very subtle Spirit hidden therein: which must of necessity have obliged him who found out the first use of Leven, to make his Experiment of this fermented matter, with the mixture of some other that should naturally incline to fermentation, and so came to discover the effect thereof, which since hath spread and communicated itself to Posterity. Nevertheless, which way soever men came first to the knowledge of ferment and its action; we must refer the praise and glory of the invention to the Author of Nature, and the Creator of all natural productions; since those that have applied themselves to seek its original, and the way of its operation have manifestly been convinced, that it had a source and original above Nature itself, since all what the sublimest wits have ever been capable to say of it, hath never been sufficient to express its Essence; they contenting themselves only to say, That as God and his Attributes are the same thing, of which the human mind can only conceive the existency, and whereof also we can affirm nothing but by Negatives: so likewise, the deepest Philosophers acknowledge Ferment and its action: but, they could never come to give an exact definition of what it is, and the manner of its action. For we found in holy Writ, that Moses hath employed no other term but God's fiat, let the thing be, to express the mind and will of God, which made, as it were, created things issue from Himself, as very well hath noted one of the most learned Physicians of our age, when he he saith, That God in the work of Creation, did in a manner open and explicate Himself, as in a Book, in which he hath left his Picture drawn in most beautiful and visible Characters; as if God had lodged and placed himself amongst the Beings or created Substances; that they may the better partake of his goodness. Now as the intention of the Creation was to 'cause a duration and perpetuity of created substances, by a long sequel of generations; God placed the ferment or leven in the confused mass of the Chaos, to introduce in it by his Omnipotency the Seeds of all sublunary things, whereof he had the Ideas in himself from all Eternity. By which we know Ferment to be nothing else, but a spark of celestial and divine light, harbouring in all individual Substances, which nevertheless doth not appear to the Internal Senses, much lesle to the External, and yet notwithstanding doth work perpetually, and reduce all things from power into act, to convey them to the end of their natural predestination. We have no more at present to say upon this matter, but, that our ignorance causes here admiration; and, that we are forced to departed from contemplation, and stoop to action, according to the measure of knowledge which God hath permitted us, that is, to imitate, though a far of, and at a great distance the mysteries of natural fermentations by artificial ones.  
To attain than to the perfect way of this noble operation, you must prepare a portion of the Seed which you are to ferment, that it may entirely be disposed to receive the ferment; and, be capable besides, to introduce it in a great quantity of the like unprepared Seed, which is thus performed. Choose the time of the Vernal Equinox for this preparation; because, than Nature is in a kind of motion, to make all things bud and germinate in the renewing of the year: wherefore she makes use to this end of all the astrations or influences of the Stars; which by means of the vernal Rain, impregnated with a very subtle and efficacious. Spirit and Salt, which renders it penetrative and permeable, more than at any other time of the year, doth soecundate the Earth. Take than lb L. of Wheat, Rye, or Barley, and put it to soak in a wooden Tub in Rain-water gathered in the Vernal Equinox; or, if the season will not afford it, in good Riverwater; let there be no more water than what is sufficient to soak well your Grain, and leave it so during 24 hours, than let the water run away, by a hole which is to be under the Tub; after which, take away your Grain from the Tub, and put it in an aired place, but not exposed to winds; make an heap thereof of the height of one foot and an half; cover it with a Linen cloth first, and a Woollen one thereupon, and so let it lie together and softly contract a heat▪ until you found that the Grain hath begun to germinate, or bud and shoot out a small filament white and very thin, as if it were white Silk; than uncover your grain, because, that filament witnesses that the heat hath already sufficiently excited the internal and fermentative Spirit of the Grain, to reduce it from power into act, by the means of that spirituous substance which it had drawn from the water, that had roused and excited this Internal Spirit, which before did lie Dormant, and concentrated in itself: for, if you did let it lie longer covered, it would absolutely ferment, and turn to putrefaction, which would spoil all the inmost part of the heap, and convert it into a confuse and shapeless mass, which would degenerate into Earth, and become as a ground and place of nourishment to the other part of the Grain in the Superficies; and in a short time would grow and be converted into grass, by reason of the excess and abundance of water, and the precipitation of the heat. Now to prevent all these accidents, you must spread your Malt or germinated Corn in a well aired place, and permeable to the wind, it must not be higher than half a finger's breadth, that it should the sooner be dried; so shall the air and wind dissipate the superfluous humidity, and concentrate this vital and spermatick power, which otherways would have vanished away, and been lost and dissipated by the excess of heat and moisture. When you begin to perceive the grain to grow dry in the superficies, stir it often, to hasten the exsiccation of it; and, that the Spirit that was already in action, may recoil and concentrate itself again in its own body; which doth not cease, nevertheless, to retain a disposition more inclinable to the production of its own Spirit, than all other Grain which hath not been so prepared. And as I have said, that the Grain had sucked the spiritual and subtle part of the water, which was as its own preservative Salt; we must insist a little more in explicating this mystery for the instruction, and in the behalf, of such as are not yet acquainted with the noble actions of Nature, and the ways she uses in her operations: Besides, that it will bring some light to what we have already said above, of Ferment and its action. To conceive this the better, it must be observed, that Nature hath placed in every Individual Substance a kind of magnetism, which causes it with a quick and sudden earnestness, to attract whatsoever is analogous to its Internal Spirit, from the things with which it is joined. Now this Internal Spirit is shut up, as invisible, in the visible body of the sulphureous volatile Salt contained in the kernel or gross body of the Seed, which, to speak properly, is the soul and life of the thing: so that, when this Grain soaks in the Vernal Rain-water impregnated with the invisible Seeds of all things, it attracts potently and greedily, what is most fitting and analogous to advance itself to that perfection to which it was destinated by Nature. And, when it is filled with it, it gins to conceive a heat in itself, and to ferment, whereby to produce the bud or germane, which is the principal of all vegetation: which would act and extend its power further, if the Artist did not check and draw back this stirred power, which, unless hindered, would pass into action. But the clearest and most natural proof we can bring, that the Grain hath attracted the saline and spirituous portion of the water, is, that this water in a very short time will turn to corruption, and doth contract a putrescency and ill smell above all others, which doth so offend and irritate the Brain and the Organs of Respiration, that it will almost choke those that come near unto it. They that in March and September use to go by the doors of Brewing-houses, may best give testimony to this truth: for, those two seasons being the time they prepare greater store of Malt for brewing of their Beer, and the waters lying still in their houses and the street, they produce a most abominable and nauseous smell. And they that have wrought with Equinoxial water, and preserved full Casks thereof, know that it never corrupts, and can keep without corruption whole years, which is not so with the Rain-water of other seasons of the year. By which it evidently appears, that this long preservation cannot proceed, but from the saline Spirit, which the Stars had as it were darted with their influences into this water; and that, as the Corn hath attracted it by its magnetism to help germination; so the water being deprived thereof, could not preserve itself without alteration, corruption, and putrefaction.  
Take lb xij. ss. of this Grain so germinated, or Malt, being dried, and put it to lb thirty seven. ss. of Wheat, Rye, or Barley, severally, or all the three kinds together; and let it be grossly grounded, as Brewers do their Malt for Beer: Having thus your Meal prepared, put half of it in a Cask, newly emptied from Wine, and as much in another; pour upon it half boiling water with Buckets, and stir incessantly your Meal with a wooden Shovel, or any like Instrument, and a four-pinned wooden Fork, to moisten throughly your Meal, and make as it were a dissolution of the internal substance of the Grain; and, when you have put 8 or 10 Buckets of scalding water in the degree aforementioned, and that the Meal is well mixed and allayed, add some cold water, until all be reduced to so moderate a heat, that the hand may be suffered therein without hurt or inconveniency: that done, proportion to every Tun of Liquor half a Bucket full of Yeast of Beer, which shall be unto it instead of a Leven or Ferment; because this Yeast is nothing else but fermented Flower, which the action of fermentative Spirit expels out of the Cask as unnecessary, superfluous and full of feculency, having preserved yet in itself the fermenting power, which it is capable to introduce in the matter which is to be fermented. Having diligently and exactly agitated and mixed the Leven with the matter, you must cover the Tuns with wooden covers, & put on the top a Linen four-folded cloth, and thereupon a Rugg, and look from time to time if the fermentation gins, which shall be noted by the rising of the grossest part of the Corn above the Liquor, and a swelling round about in the figure of an Hemisphery: Things being thus prepared, take care the matter should not run over, and make too quick an ebullition, which is a token of too much heat or too much leven; and, in such case, take away two Buckets full of it, or pour upon it a Bucket of cold water, and than let it work of itself. That which is most worthy of a Physical Philosopher's consideration, and more to be admired in the working of this fermentation, is, that when that round swelling in the shape of an hemisphery is form; and, that the Ferment hath raised the gross body of the Grain to the superficies, than appears the wise Providence of the Great Master of Fermentations; for it serves as a Bulwark and defence against the eruption of Spirits, which act upon the matter from the centre to the circumference, and play under this incrustation, until they have dissolved and volatilised all the parts of the body, upon which they act, except the uppermost skin, which is about this incrustation, which cleaves by intervals, and discovers under it a Cream as white as Snow, that dilatates itself and frames bubbles: which breaking, affects the Nostrils with a spirituous penetrating vapour, subtle and biting, that tickles the Nose, and would in a short time stupefy and inebriate; if you held your Nose over the Vessel, just as the volatile and narcotick vapour of Wine would do, when it gins to ferment in the Vessel. Now as we have engaged by the Fermentation we would describe, to show the nature of that which is performed in man's stomach; for a greater evidence of this truth, we will make a parallel betwixt both: for, as it is evident, that purity is separated from impurity; and that the substances which did seem to be heterogeneous become homogeneous by the action of the Ferment, which dissolves the substance of the Grain, and mixes it with the water, to altar its taste and odour by communicating the Spirit unto it; the same is performed in the Ventricle, where all whatsoever we swallow of a liquid and solid substance, doth mix and coalesce together to become one mass of the same nature, though it should seem that what we have taken in, should be of very different kinds and qualities, as hard and soft, salt and sweet, harsh and and spiced, fat and Oily, the acidity of the Stomach, and whatsoever else of several substances meet there: all that, I say, makes an uniform chyle, by the help of the volatile Spirit, lurking in the bottom of the Stomach, and of an acid nature, as is also aliment of Leven. But, that which doth yet more illustrate this conformity and likeness of fermentation, is, the smell, which by eructations or belchings is brought some few hours after meals to the mouth and nostrils, which do represent the taste and smell of what hath been eaten and drunk; and chief, after drinking new Wine or new Beer, the belchings in their smell yield by their exhalation, a fermentative and tickling Spirit, like unto that we have mentioned above, which cannot better be apprehended, than by comparing those bubbles, which are form in the purest part of the chyle of our fermentation of Grain, which sand forth this subtle and tickling Spirit that doth invade the Nostrils; for the same happens in the Stomach, and when the eruption of these bubbles is made, it forces the action of belching, and than appears to the sense the taste and smell of what predominates in the chyle. All what we have now said, doth show how much it doth import, that as a Physician should be well skilled in the good fermentation and its effects, since from her doth depend the preservation of our health: so must he also be well versed in the contrary disposition of it, which is for the most part the occasional internal cause of all diseases; a truth confirmed by Hypocrates himself, when in his Aphorisms he saith, That the sour or acid belchings of sick persons recovering, are of a good presage; which signifies no more in substance, but, that the Stomach gins to recover its strength, and the digestion to be well performed, because the fermentative natural acid hath recovered the upper hand; whereby it may safely be concluded, and with great reason, that all things will go better and better.  
But we return to our Fermentation, which, during this digression, we left in its progress; the knowledge whereof is of no small importance. We say than, that when the Artist sees, that what was lifted up by the action of the Spirit, is fallen again to the bottom of the Vessel; and knows by the taste, that the swimming liquor on the top hath acquired a taste between sweet, acid, and pricking; and moreover, that its smell evidences the light to have contracted a vinous and spirituous odour, which doth recreate the Senses, is of a subtle nature, and happens for the most part towards the fourth or fifth day; than must you anoint the bottom of the Vessel to be used in the distillation of hot Spirits, with a piece of Bacon, to hinder the matter in the bottom to cleave unto it, and contract an adust taste or empyreumatical smell noxious to the Spirit; after this, agitate your fermentation with a wooden Spatula, to 'cause the substance in the bottom equally to mix with the liquor, whereof your Vessel must be filled, till it reach half foot near to the top; and continually stir it, until it be sufficiently heated by the fire, to raise up all the body; than without danger may you close up the Vessel with its Moors-head or Still, luting the Joints and quickening the fire, until you can not longer endure your hand to put upon the Still-head without burning; than you must exactly close the door of the Furnace and its Registers with great care and precaution, and so patiently expect until the Spirits begin to ascend in a vapour into the Worm or Pipe, where they are condensated in a spirituous burning liquor, which falls by drops into the Recipient. You must entertain the fire in that degree, until the liquor coming forth be totally insipid; than open the Vessel, and draw out the matter to fill it with new; and so continued till you have distilled all what was fermented. That done, put into the Vessel again all the distilled liquor, and throw into it two pound of new and warm white loaf of Bread, or toast it in want of new; because the Bread attracts to itself all what may be of ill favour in the first distillation; than cover the Vessel, and give it a regular fire, according to the best judgement, until the Spirit gins to distil, as we have already taught; and so continued until the phlegm ascends, which may easily be perceived by the taste. So shall you found after this rectification an Aqua vitae or hot Spirit, of very good taste and odour, and little inferior to that which is extracted from Wine, though the Grain of itself be flat and without taste, which illustrates so much the better the wondered effects of Art and Nature, and verifies the saying of that learned Roman Philosopher Morienus, Quod est occultum fiat manifestum, etc. è contra: which can never be done but by the help of ferment which penetrates into the most inward parts of Mixts, and discovers unto us there, that which our Intellect or Senses should never have found otherwise.  
They that will subtilise this Spirit by a third distillation, may do it, and add upon the whole a Bucket full of Wine-lees: than will it become so subtle, and so delicate, that the most skilful may be deceived in their differencing it from Spirit of Wine, either by the taste or smell. It may than be applied to all such operations, wherein Aqua vitae, and Spirit of Wine are necessary; which will be very useful to those that apply themselves to Chemical practice, in such places where there are no Vineyards, or Aqua vitae is at a dear rate. I do nevertheless advice, to keep the Spirit of Wine in Chemical operations, because it is ever more pleasant, subtle, and penetrative: but, when you are destitute of it, you may lawfully substitute this Spirit, in the composition of all such remedies, where Aqua vitae is necessary. We shall not mention here the virtues of this Spirit; because, besides that it is commonly known for a great warmer, restorer; and strengthener; we purpose to speak thereof when we shall treat of the Spirit of Wine. We must nevertheless add something more in the behalf of curious Artists, which have a mind to make this Spirit, and yet live in such Countries where they know not what belongs to the making of Beer, and by consequence have no Ferment or Yeast, which proceeds from that liquor to raise the fermentation of Meal. Now there is no place in the world where Bread is not made, and consequently, where there is not Leven or Ferment, wherewith the Dow is raised in making of the Bread; wherefore let them take lb ss. of ordinary Leven, which shall be mixed with lb ij. of Meal in xv. or xx lb. of lukewarm water; than let the Vessel containing all this be covered, and the fermentation of this Liquor be patiently expected, and when you see it begin, and the Meal to rise up on the top, and the Liquor to swell, than introduce this Liquor in any matter which is to be fermented, and you shall perceive the effects as we have already spoken of to follow, but not so quickly as if Beer-yest had been made use of.  
We have but one thing more to add, which is, that to stir up the fermentation of Meal or Grains, you must put some of that which hath already been prepared: but you must know, that the Artist shall not extract so much Spirit, that it shall not be so subtle nor so delicate, nor have so kind a taste: and moreover, that which is more important, is, that fermentations shall not succeed so well, as when this Grain is joined to the other, which makes it fit for fermentation, and that when it hath duly been so performed, all the distillations are much more successful, because this Grain, which hath been opened by its preparation rises up easily, and draws up to, and with itself, that which hath not been prepared. And if I am asked, why I have not prescribed prepared pure Grain to be made use of; I shall answer, that it would be unfit, because the Ferment would too soon volatilize the same, and so the most subtle part of the Spirit should vanish and loose itself before it could be distilled: and moreover, that the matter would too soon ascend the Still-head, by its quick ebullition, and come forth in body and not in spirituous vapour, as it often happens with such as are not yet well versed and experimented in the distillation of fermented matters.   

The Preparation of the Spirituous Water and Aetherial Oil of Aniseeds, Fennel, Parsley, and the like.  
YOu must take one of these Seeds, the freshest you can procure it, and put thereof 4.6. or 8. lb. grossly powdered in your Stillatory Vessel according to its bigness and the quantity of water which it may contain, and pour upon it River or Rain-water, till it comes to ½ foot near the brim of the Vessel: which being shut, administer a graduate fire, till the drops begin to fall into the Recipient; than stop your Furnace and continued your distillation, until the water comes away without any smell, and no Oily substance be seen to swim on the top; than cease the fire and open your Vessel, and drawing the matter wrought upon, substitute new whilst the Furnace is burning: but you must have before separated the Oil from the Water, to pour it afresh upon the new Seed; for, by this way shall you procure much more Oil in the second than in the first distillation, and as these Seeds are commonly rather distilled for their Oils sake than their water, this part must therefore also be more heeded. The Oil must be separated with Cotton, as you shall be directed in the figure described by the Vesica or distilling Vessels for Spirits in the Chapter of Vessels. And if the Oil should not be flowing, but congealed, as it happens to the Oil of Anise, you must strain the Water through a clean Linen, and the Oil will remain above it, as we have said above, when we spoke of the Oil of Roses. It must only be noted, in the way, that some Authors will have these Seeds to be digested, before they come to be distilled, pretending that they will yield much more Oil to the Artist, because the body of the Seed will be more opened: but they do not observe that these Seeds do abound in volatile Salt, which is of a median nature, so that the Water cannot attract it to itself, by the length of digestion; which will hap otherwise, if the distillation be begun immediately after the Water and Seed be mixed together: It is true, that if digestion doth precede, that the Water thereof will be all spirituous, and of much more efficacy than without it: but it will yield much more Oil according to the rule of our prescription. We shall say nothing of the virtue of these Oils and Essences so improperly called, not more than of their dosis; for so many others have fully treated of this Subject, that it would prove but a tedious repetition.   

The Preparation of Seeds of Garden Cresses, Mustard, and other of the like Nature.  
ALthough these Seeds have in themselves great store of most subtle, volatile, and most penetrating Salt, as may be concluded from their taste; yet fermentation doth not 'cause them to yield a hot burning Spirit, as many other Vegetables: but it opens them, and rarefies nevertheless in such a manner, that all the Salt and Oil which these Seeds have in themselves, and wherein all their virtue is placed, ascends in Vapours and Spirits, which being condensed into Liquor, fall again into the Recipient, with so subtle and penetrative a smell, that it invades the Eyes and Nostrils, and passes into all the conduits of the Brain, with as much quickness as the most subtle volatile Spirit of Urinal might do. It is not necessary we should repeat here, the process of Fermentation and Distillation; it will only suffice, to give the necessary precautions for the work, because these Seeds are of a different nature from the other, by reason of the subtlety of their volatile Salt. There must than a special care be had, that the Vessel wherein the fermentation is performed, be not above half full, that the matter may not rise too high in the action of the Ferment; the same precaution must be used in the Stillatory Vessel not to fill it above half, to lure it exactly, and regulate the fire with a clear judgement, and an orderly assiduity, otherwise all would ascend in substance in the Still-head. The Spirits may be rectified in B. M. if they are desired more purified and more subtle than by the Vesica or ordinary Stillatory; they are true diuretical and aperitive remedies; above all, to remove the Obstructions of the Spleen: they are moreover true specificks against the Scurvy: the dosis and virtue whereof hath been specified above, when we spoke of Antiscorbutical Plants, whither we refer the Artist for his better information.  
But as the Oils and Spirits of these Seeds may be extracted without addition; and that moreover it is necessary to distil them in this manner for external uses: We say the right way of operating to be this: fill two parts of a Glass Retort with any one of these Seeds, but chief of Mustard, by reason of the singular virtues of its Oil: than place it in a Furnace upon an Earthen cover turned upside down, filled with Sand, which will be unto it instead of a Lute; than cover the Furnace, and fit a large Receiver to the Neck of the Retort, and lute it with quick Lime and whites of Eggs, and give it a regulate fire, until the drops begin to fall, keeping it in that tenor until the Oil gins to appear; than increase the fire by little and little, and urge it until the Receiver, which was dark with fumes, gins to clear again of itself, which is a manifest sign, that the action of the fire hath driven into the Recipient all the vapourable substance contained in the Seed, and so consequently that no more is to be expected. This operation is commonly ended in the space of 12 hours. All the Vessels being cold, take the Receiver of from the Retort, and separate the Substances that will be found therein, which you may rectify if you will: but as they are only intended for outward applications, it will not be very necessary: but if you intent to rectify them, leave the Spirit and Oil together, and infuse them in a low Cucurbite, which being covered with its Head, put it in ashes, and give it a graduate fire, until the volatile Salt and Spirit begin to appear in the Still-head; than keep the fire only in an equal tenor, until the Phlegm gins to ascend, which the taste will discover: for the volatile Spirit which is actuated by the same Salt, is extraordinary biting, subtle, and penetrating, and the Phlegm hath only an acid and almost insipid taste: this done, change the Recipient, and strengthen the fire to make the Oil ascend, and so continued till nothing more comes away; than separate the Oil from the Phlegm, put the distilled and rectified matters in Glass Vials, exactly stopped by reason of the subtlety of this Spirit and its volatile Salt. The Spirit doth wonders being applied upon starved Limbs, well fermented with Spirit of Wine, and fresh stolen; than make a lineament with Vnguentum Martiatum, Mans-fat, and the Oil of Mustardseed, applied upon it; which will raise up again natural heat in the part, and attract the Spirits of other parts more remote; and the itchings and vellications of the skin forerunning the total recovery, being felt by the Patient, will be a sufficient testimony thereof: thence it may be concluded, that it will be of a Sovereign efficacy, in all benumming of Sinews, their shrinking looseness, which are the occasion of Palsy, or Contraction of Limbs; provided the Spirit of this Seed made by fermentation be exhibited, and that the Patient be made to sweated after. The Oil unrectified, does mundify, cleanses and flesh's again the most filthy and malignant ulcers, dissolves the knots and hardnesses of Gout and venereous diseases; but you must at the same time make use, and even a little before, of the internal remedies, such as we shall teach hereafter to extract out of Mercury and Antimony.  
We shall not speak here of the dosis, not excellent virtues of the Spirit extracted by fermentation, from these kinds of Seeds; because we have already sufficiently instructed the Artist of it, when we spoke of the virtue and dosis of the Plant called Cochlearia: I will only add this, that where this Plant shall fail, you may substitute the Spirit of the Seed of Garden Cresses, which will produce the same effects, and be useful in the same diseases: but it would be better nevertheless, to distil the Plant whole, when it is only between Flower and Seed.   

The manner of Extracting from Juniper-berries, all the good and virtue contained in them, for the use of Chemical Pharmacy.  
ALthough this Plant be common, it deserves nevertheless no common or mean Eulogies, by reason of those excellent remedies it affords to Physicians by the help and industry of Chemists: for whosoever will consider that shrub with a disquisitive and Philosophical Eye, shall be forced to acknowledge, that it contains some extraordinary virtue, both because it doth resist the injury of Winter, and all its storms; and by reason of the length of time which Nature doth bestow in bringing its Berries to maturation; whence we are necessarily persuaded, that there is in this shrub some intrinsecal Balsom, which doth maintain and preserve the same, and yet hardly and with difficulty shows itself in the fruit; since two reiterated visits of the Sun are necessary, and the maturation of two years, before the Juniper-berry be fit to be gathered with all its requisite perfections. We shall than Anatomize all the parts which this admirable Plant doth furnish us withal, being thereunto invited by those excellent remedies it doth administer unto us; although we be bound to speak also of other parts than the Seed, which is the proper subject of this Section. We shall than, first of all, speak of the Wood, which doth yield an acid Spirit, an Oil and a Salt. Secondly, we shall speak of its Berries, which before fermentation do yield a spirituous Water, an aetherial Oil, and a cordial and alexiterial Extract; and after fermentation, a hot burning Spirit, a purging and diuretical Extract, and than we will teach the Preparation of the true Tincture and Elixir of the Berry, to conclude finally by the Gum; whereof an Oil for the Sinews, and an anodine Balsam is extracted.  
The Juniper-wood must be gathered with its leaves or pricky excrescence, and its Berries, whether ripe or not: and shred or cut in small pieces, so as they may be put in a capacious earthen Retort; which being placed in a close Reverberatory Furnace, the Recipient being fitted with all requisite and necessary precautions, a gradual fire must be given to it, and so continued until it hath driven out all the Oil or Spirit contained in the Wood, the true token whereof is, when the Receiver doth grow clear of its self; the time of this operation will not last above 12. or 15. hours at most. The Vessels being cooled, separate the Oil from the Spirit; the Spirit will remain reddish, because it is impregnated with the tincture of the Oil communicated to the same by the volatile Salt of the Plant: if you will rectify it in Sands or Ashes, you shall have a very pure acid Spirit, provokeing Sweat, and diuretical: The dosis is from ℈ i to ʒ i. in Wine, or some convenient decoction; it hath as much, if not more virtue than the Spirit of Guaiacum, for venerial diseases: but above all things, it is singular in the bites of Vipers, Serpents, or other venomous creatures, if it be given in the same dosis, and the wound be washed with it, and with new stolen; it is not requisite to rectify the Oil extracted from the Wood, because it is not inwardly used: It is exceeding good to hinder the accidents of cutting of Sinews, and bites of any creatures when provoked, because the volatile Salt contained in it, doth penetrate to the deepest part of the wounds, where it corrects the malignant impression of venom, and hinders its progress and further spreading: But the Patient must take at the same time Spirit of Juniper-wood, in warm Wine, with xx grains of scraped Nutmeg. The Oil moreover, is singular to appease the pain of rotten Teeth: it equals the virtue of Guaiacum for the cure of old Ulcers; chief if they be seated near the Joints where many sinews do concentrate, many gristles, and cartilages, which do feed for the most part Ulcers with their jellly, slime, and viscous superfluous moisture hindering consolidation: this Oil doth digest and consume all these substances against Nature, and restores a good ground, which doth afterwards cicatrize and fill up the Ulcer, and so brings it to a perfect cure.  
Having wrought upon the Wood, let us go on upon the Fruit, which are the Berries containing the Seeds in a glutinous and viscous body, covered and wrapped up in a thin outward skin black and smooth; when the Berry hath attained its perfect ripeness, which comes to pass the second year after its production, about the midst of September, which is the true time of gathering; the Sun being in the sign of Virgo: For anticipating that time the Berry would not yet prove sufficiently ripe, neither have in itself, that sweet bitterness, and Balsamical Honey, which contains its volatile Salt, and by consequence, its Spirit; when you have a sufficient quantity of these Berries so conditionated; viz. very black and smooth, odoriferous, if they be rubbed and crushed, and that the Oil remains in the nail, and strikes the Nostril in the bruising thereof, having their internal substance of the consistency of Honey and viscous, with small grains within the flesh, which are the Seed thereof; and when you masticate it, tasting at first with a sweet and balsamic taste, which by degrees degenerates into no unpleasant bitterness. It will seem perhaps, that we have enlarged ourselves too much upon the qualities which this fruit must have; but as the virtue of the prepared substance depends on the goodness and qualities thereof, so was it necessary to declare it at large, that the Artist may not loose both time and matter in vain, as it is too usual a thing to do.  
℞ lb viij. of Juniper-berries thus qualified, as we have said; beaten them in a brazen Mortar, with a great wooden Pestle, until you found them to be all mashed; than put them in a Still Body, and pour upon them either Rain or Riverwater, until it comes ½ foot near the brim; than cover and lute it, and give it fire according to the Rules of Art and good Judgement, and so distil a spirituous Water &c aetherial Oil, which will swim above: observing still that you must not take of your eye from the Recipient, when the Water and Oil begin to ascend into the Neck of the Recipient: for as this distillation is only intended to extract the Oil, you might loose it all by your own fault; because if the Water did overpower, all the Oil would vanish: and to prevent this loss, you must watch carefully to substitute another Receiver when the Oil doth begin to reach within three or four fingers of the Orifice of the first Recipient: and so continued your distillation, until no more Oil appears on the Water, when you receive or put for trial your Water in a Spoon. This operation aught to be continued in this manner, until you have made an end of all your Berries, re-affunding still your distilled Water upon each distillation, after you have separated the Oil with a Cotton. But if you will make the simple Extract, the Honey or Theriack of the Germane with these Berries, you must strain and percolate some part of these distillations being warmed, and slowly evaporate them to the consistency of a thick Syrup, or liquid Extract. If it be objected, That the Oil is already separated from it, and that consequently, the virtue of it will be abated, the answer is easy: for you are to consider, that the Oil would be evaporated nevertheless, during the coction and evaporation, as is sufficiently witnessed by its smell spreading about, when the Extract is made before the Oil be separated.  
Take all what remains from all the Distillations, without separating any thing, and join to it the Cake remaining from the expression of the Extract; fill the Still-body full of it to warm, and so by it communicate the heart to the remainder: which, I suppose, to be put in a Cask or Barrel for fermentation: introduce the Leven or ferment into it with the circumstances and requisite precautions, and so leave it four or five days; after which you shall distil it at several times, until you have made an end of extracting all the Spirit: the which rectify in the same Still-body (viz. the Vesica) with lb vi. of new select and bruised Juniper-berries, and you shall have a burning Spirit, of very excellent and particular virtues: separate the first Spirit by itself, as also the second and the third, to be made use of in such cases as we shall say hereafter.  
And to let you know, that Chemistry loses nothing of what may be made use of, percolate and strain the remainder of the fermented distillation, and being warmed, run it through a Hippocras Bag, or a Flannel; than evaporate it to the consistency of a liquid Extract, which is one of the sweetest and gentlest Purges that may be used: This Purgative faculty will perchance, and not without reason, make some to wonder at it: But we will remove this scruple, giving to understand that the action of the ferment hath dissolved and united with the Water the best part of the fixed Salt of these Berries, and as fix Salts loosen the Belly; it is the same also, which being predominant in this Extract, doth 'cause its purging virtue.  
This done, dry the Cake remaining from all the expressions, and calcine it, to make a Lie thereof, and extract the Salt thereof according to the method which we have formerly declared, than reverberate it in the Crucible without melting, and dissolve it in the last distilled Juniper-Water; than filtrate and evaporate it to a skin, and 'cause it to shoot into Crystals, which preserve for your use. Thus much we had to say upon Juniper-berries: it remains only to speak of the Virtue and Doses of those noble Preparations, which this Seed doth furnish us with, and to give you a description of an Elixir or Tincture of Juniper-berries, which is a most accomplished remedy, whereof we shall also say the use and proprieties.  
We will give to Juniper-berries in general, the virtues which they deserve, before we come to the particular proprieties of each of the remedies thereof extracted; that this general Application may serve, to make the better our Observations, when there shall be occasion to use those remedies. And in the first place, we say, that the principal use of these Berries is to incite, attenuate and dissipate in general: But they are particularly used to provoke Urine and Sweat, to move and bring forth Lunary Purgations, remove obstructions of the Spleen, correct affections of the Brain, Sinews, Breast, and cure Coughs, dissipate Winds in the lower parts of the Belly and Colic; and above all, to dissolve and evacuate the viscous and slimy substances, and Sand in the Bladder and Kidneys: They are also most useful to use as a Preservative in time of contagious Diseases, either eaten, or used by the way of a Perfume, to correct the venenosity and malignant disposition of the Air.  
It is now very easy to apply to every one of the Remedies prepared their proper virtue, for it is common to all, since they were extracted from that body which contained them, except the last Extract, which is purging, for the reasons before declared. The aetherial Oil of Iuniper is a Sovereign Remedy to provoke Urine, and appease all pains of the Colic; it is also an excellent Topical Remedy in all cold affections of the Sinews; as also in the pricking or cutting of Sinews, by reason of its penetrative quality, but chief its Balsamic virtue. The dosis is from iij. drops to xv. or xx. in white Wine, or its own Water. The spirituous water which is extracted at the same time as the Oil, is diuretical and diaphoretical: The dosis is from ℥ i to iiij. or ℥ u but it hath quite another operation, when exalted with some drops of its Oil mixed with Sugar in Powder, to make them dissoluble and mixed together. As for the Extract made before the Fermentation, it is a very good Remedy of itself to strengthen the Breast and Stomach, a very excellent diuretical, and safe alexitery; therefore it is made use of instead of common boiled and skimmed or depurated Honey, to receive the Powders which enter in that excellent composition, and famous antidote, called Orvietan: It is a body of a wondered use also for the composition and incorporating of Substances that are destinated for Opiates, or liquid Electuaries, against the Plague, all other contagious diseases, and the venereous disease and its branches: The dosis is from ʒ ss. to ℥ ss. But the Spirit is an agent far surpassing all what we have said, for it penetrates as in a moment the whole body: so that it may be employed in all diseases wherein the Berries do conduce. And to prove manifestly its penetrating and balsamic virtue, this is a token, That a Patient taking never so little of it, shall be sure that the first Urine which comes from him, will have a very pleasant smell of Iris, or Violets: The dosis is from ʒ ss. to ʒ ij. in Broths, white Wine, or its own Water: The dosis of the other unrectified Spirits of the second and third distillation, may be augmented in proportion to the subtlety of their parts. The Purgative Extract is wondered, to receive in itself the other purging Remedies either Rosins or Magisteries, Extracts or Powders to prepare thereof some compounded Electuary, which with its purgative faculty preserves and advances the virtue of those things that were mixed with it. The dosis of this Extract is from ʒ ij. to ℥ i either dissolved, or taken in bolus; the quantity cannot be prejudicial, as is that of other purging medicines, because it will never 'cause any Hypercatharsis or over-purging, neither make any dangerous Colliquation: but it loosens simply and softly the Belly, by a natural detersion of all the Excrements contained in the Entrails, which is a very requisite virtue in many stubborn and obstinate constipations or bindings. There remains only the fixed Salt to speak of, which is diuretical and loosening, of the weight from ℈ i to ʒ i. in Broths or its own Water, or what is yet better, in bolus, in the purging Extract. This Salt is also capable long to preserve the virtue of its Water, if you dissolve ʒ i. or ij. in each pint.   

To prepare the Elixir of Juniper-berries.  
℞ Juniper-berries very ripe and very smooth, and choose the biggest and smoothest, till you have got lb i. which coursely bruise in a Marble Mortar with a wooden Pestle; put them in a Glass-body double (or Blind-head) and pour upon it the juice of Parietary and Goldenrod, or Virga Aurea, ana lb ij. cover the Vessel with its Blind-head, and digest all in B. M. during three days; than having uncovered it, percolate and strain, and distil the Expression in Balneo with a soft and slow fire, until there remains an Extract of middle consistency, which put in a Pelican, or some other circulatory Vessel, with lb i. of the best Spirit of Juniper-berries; than lute it, and put it to digest and circulate for the space of 8 days in the heat of a vaporous Bath: that time over, let the Vessels cool, than filtrate the liquor very pure, and you shall have the Elixir or true Tincture of Juniper-berries; which is a very Sovereign Remedy either to preserve, or to cure, in Plague and other pestilential and malignant diseases: but this Elixir is peculiarly dedicated to the Kidneys and Bladder, not only to evacuate what is viscous and sandy in them: but moreover also to remove the seminary thereof, and hinder by a constant use of this noble remedy, that there should be not further spreading nor generation of them. It is also a Stomachical and Hysterical Specific, which by its heat and Alexiterial Balsamical and Cordial virtue doth dissipate, whatsoever may 'cause evil alterations in the Ventricle or Womb. The dosis is from ½ spoonful to 1. or 2.  
We have no more to speak of Iuniper, but concerning its Gum or Rosin, which is a very good Perfume against all defluxions of the Brain, if you receive the smoke in your hair and round about the Neck, as in the stopping of the Nose, or impediment in the motion of the Neck, or when the Almonds are swelled, and the free swallowing hindered; you must also perfume with it the Linen which are put about the Neck, and the Head. But the best of all, is, that this Rosin, which commonly is called Varnish, or Juniper-Gum, yields an Oil by distillation, which is wondered in external use for all affections of Sinews, against the cold, and the in potency of parts which are fallen into some Resolution or Palsy, against all shrinking of Limbs, and generally, all cold Aches in all parts of the Body, whereof no evident cause can be given, and no swelling nor redness appears outwardly. It is also very efficacious to dissipate all cold cedemas, or cold swell. And is thus done:  
℞ Gum of Iuniper Coals and decrepited Salt, ana equal parts; reduce them to a gross Powder, and being well mixed together, put it in a Glass Retort, and place it in a close Reverberatory: fit a Receiver to it, which being well luted, cover the Furnace, and give it a gradual fire, which increase till nothing more comes forth, and the Recipient grows clear, which for the most part happens within the space 12. or 15. hours. Separate the two substances which are in the Recipient; for the one is aqueous and acid, which proceeds from the Salt, and the volatile part of the Gum of Iuniper, with a small portion of its Mercurial Spirit which also are acid: the other substance is oleagineous, inflammable and sulphureous in some part, yet crass and viscous: therefore must this Oil be rectified in Sand in a Glass Retort with Salt of Bohemian-tartar, and so shall you have a clear, subtle, and penetrative Oil, capable of all the noble effects we have attributed unto it.    

SECT. VI Of. Rinds.  
WE shall have only two examples to give upon the Rinds in general, the one upon Limon-Rind and Orange-peel, which are volatile, and must be distilled in a peculiar manner, and with notes that are of concernment, and which the Artist must attend with care: the other shall be upon Rind of Guaiacum, which is more condensed and fixed, that these two extremes being opposed and compared together, may clear the better the understanding in the apprehending of the truth of things.  
To apprehended the better for what reason we are induced to distil these volatile Rinds, or Peels, otherwise than the Flowers which are no lesle volatile, we must take notice of the taste and smell of these two Rinds, when they are yet tender, recent, and smooth, and compare them with the taste and smell of the same, when the fruit hath been kept, the Rind is faded, grown rugged and half dry; for it will appear, that when new and fresh, these Rinds will yield a pleasant taste and smell, which subtly ascends and insinuates itself into the Brain, recreates and strengthens it: whereas when the fruit is old and withered, and its Rind shrunk in its self; the taste is unpleasant and bitter, biting too much, and destituted of that vivacity and pleasant steam, which it had before; which is, that notwithstanding, that aught chief to be preserved, if you will have any good success in the Remedies prepared therewith. To attain unto it, choose the time wherein you may have store of new Lemons and Oranges in great quantity, and at a cheap rate, and pair the Rind very thin, until you have ij. or iij. lb. which shred in small pieces, and put in a Glass Cucurbite with clear water, until it swims ½ foot above the Rind; and distil it in Sand with a moderate fire at first, which increase by degrees, so long that the liquor dropping comes out without taste or smell, and no Oily substance appears above the stilling water. So shall you found an aetherial and subtle Oil, which shall have all the delicacy and virtue of the Limon or Orange-Peel Peel, which keep for your use in Glass Vials exactly stopped. It might be here objected unto me, that I otherwise proceed than those Authors, which formerly have prescribed the manner of distilling those Oils: since I desire they may be distilled assoon as the Rind is separated from the Fruit; whereas others do prescribe to digest and ferment the same, to purchase a greater store thereof. To which we answer, that we have not here regard to the quantity, which aught to be the lest care of the Artist, when he perceives it may bring an alteration to the substance, and diminish the virtue: for as we have noted above, that the steam of these rinds is so subtle, that it cannot but with difficulty be preserved with its own subject, so shall it with much more reason vanish away, when it is separated from it: and although it be true, that the quantity of distilled Oil will be greater, when the Rind hath been left in digestion and fermentation for some time; nevertheless ʒ i. of that distilled according to our direction, will without comparison exceed in goodness and virtue ℥ i of the other. They that desire to have yet lesle of Oil, but will at the same time have an excellent Spirit out of the said Rinds, must distil them with good and quick white Wine, and so shall they have a Spirit which will not be much inferior to the Oil, which we have mentioned above, when we spoke of the Syrups made out of these Rinds, which will occasion us to say no more for the present.  

To make the Elixir of Limon and Orange Peel.  
TAke the outward Peel of either of these two first-fruits, which being cut very small, put in a double Vessel (or blind body) to the quantity of ℥ ij. adding ℈ i of Ambergrice, and vi. grains of Oriental Musk grinded with ʒ ij. of fine powdered Sugar, pour upon this ℥ viij. of the purest Spirit extracted with white Wine from either of these Rinds; stop and lute well your Vessel, and put it to digest in a vaporous Bath to a slow heat the space of three natural days; than let it cool, and percolate and strain the contained matter, than filtrate it in a close Vessel, that nothing of the virtue may breathe away or evaporate: preserve this Elixir carefully, for it is a choice cordial remedy, which hath few equals in great failing of the Heart and Spirits, and chief in sudden accidents, after violent exercise, or after sharp and quick pains. Both are very good for men or women with Amber and Musk, except those which are subject to hysterial Passions; for which reason you must not be unprovided of some without Musk or Amber for the fits of the Mother. The Elixir of Orange Peel is of much more efficacy than that of Limon for women, to whom it cannot enough be recommended for the great help and benefit they may receive from it in the time of their travels. The dosis of this Remedy is from ℈ i to ʒ i. either by itself, or mixed with Wine, Broth, or some distilled Water appropriated to the disease or Remedy.   

How the Spirit, Oil, and Salt, Extract Tincture and Magistery, of Rind of Guaiacum is to be prepared.  
℞ of Rind of Guaiacum the heaviest, most compacted, and most streaked with black lines, as you can meet with; powder it grossly, and put it in a Retort of Jugge-mettal, which place in a Reverberatory close Furnace, which we have called above, a Common Furnace: to the Neck of which fit a capacious Recipient, the Joints whereof you shall lute with Salted lute; cover the Furnace and let the lute dry, and give it a gradual fire, until you see the white vapours to appear, and perceive small drops of a reddish Oil to mix with the veins which the Spirit doth make in the Recipient; than increase the fire, even to flame, until the Recipient grows clearer of itself. You must expect until the next day to open your Vessels, and you shall found in the Retort the remainder of the Rinds converted into Coals, which you must calcine and reverberate in a Pot not leaded with an open fire, to convert them to Ashes, whereof draw the Salt by elixiviation, filtration, and evaporation, according to the manner which we have already so many times declared. This Salt must ever be mixed in all the Purgatives which you exhibit to those that have a touch of venereous diseases; for besides that it quickens and helps the virtue of those Purgatives, it purges of itself, and is one of the Antivenerian Specificks. There is two Substances found in the Recipient, one aqueous mercurial and acid, which is the Spirit of this Rind; the other is a crass and heavy Oil, which sinks under this Spirit, by reason of the great quantity of volatile Salt, which cleaves intimately to the sulphureous Oil, and also because a portion of the fixed Salt, which by the violence of fire was volatilised lies confounded in this Oil; you must separate the Oil from the Spirit by filtration with Paper upon the Funnel, and the Oil will remain above the Paper, bored with small holes to make the Oil flow in the Bottle appointed to receive it. This Oil and Spirit may be externally applied without rectification: for you may put a little of the Spirit in liquid fomentations, for the washing of cancerous, slimy, fistulous, and corroding ulcers, and principally those which are caused by the venenosity of the Pox: to apply the Oil afterwards, either by itself, or mixed with some unctuous body, which blunts the edge of it, that otherwise would become too painful. The virtue of this Oil cannot sufficiently be extolled for the cure of all old ulcers, and to dissipate Nodus', but above all, to hasten and to bring to pass the exfoliation of Bones, provided you mix with it a little of the distilled Oil of Euphorbium. But if you will use this Spirit and Oil internally, you must rectify the Spirit in Sand in a Limbeck; and as it is an acid Spirit, the Artist must be warned, that the Phlegm doth ascend the first, and that the biting acid Spirit ascends the last; therefore must he separate the Phlegm, and put a new Recipient when he shall perceive by the taste, that the drops which begin to fall are acid. This Spirit doth powerfully withstand the venomous quality of the Pox, expelling the same wheresoever it meets with it, by the way of Urines, Sweats, or insensible transpiration, provided it be impregnated with its Oil, which possesses the best and greatest part of the volatile Salt of our Rind, from which it must not be deprived if you will preserve its virtue. To this end, it must be rectified in a Retort with the Ashes remaining after the extraction of the Salt, and the Oil shall ascend fair, clear, and subtle, devested for the most part of its empyreumatical odour, which it had contracted in the first distillation: for these Ashes mixed with the Oil, will retain in themselves all the impurity and grossness, but not keep the volatile Salt, which is the active and virtual principle, not only of this Oil but also of the efficacy and power of all sublunary Substances, because it is the last shelter and bond of the ferment and internal fire of all Mixts; in which resides the power and energy of all their actions: therefore, Artists must not wonder, if we so often do repeat the virtues of this Salt, and recommend unto them the preservation thereof with so much earnestness, considering we do it not by a vain ostentation, nor to fall into needless repetitions, which are never to be born with, but when absolutely necessary, as it is now for the present here in this place.  
The general virtues of this Spirit and Oil are to provoke abundantly Urine and Sweat; and by this means to mundify and depurate the mass of the blood from all its impurities, to resist the corruption of the parts, and preserve their use, as the effects thereof make it appear in all diseases of the Joints, running Gouts, Dropsy, Cath●rres, and all other diseases which draw their original from the viscosity and sliminess of tartareous and fixed matters: they are above all Specificks against Venereous Diseases, and all their dependences. The dosis of the Spirit is from ℈ i to ʒ i. in Sassafras water, or decoction of China Root, or Sarzaparilla. The Oil from ij. drops to vi. or viij. Which before you mix with the Spirit or other Liquors must be distempered with Sugar. Some are of opinion, that the Oil of Guaiacum is that which Rullandus doth call Heraclea, in the Centuries of his Observations, where he relates so many wondered effects thereof: which I am the more inclinable to believe, considering that a Tailor of Paris, by name le Cerf, hath been capable to raise unto himself a credit and reputation by the sole use of Oil of Guaiacum. Others do make use of this Oil for the cure of Epilepsy, as also to help men in travel, and to bring forth the Child either dead or alive, as likewise the Afterburthen: It is not to be forgotten also, that this Oil doth in an instant appease the pain of cariated Teeth; for the volatile Salt doth immediately penetrate to the small Nerve, which lies at the Root of the Teeth, and stupifies and cauterises it in a manner, taking away its sensibility. Besides the medicinal virtues of the Spirit, it is also useful in Chemical operations for the dissolution of Pearls, Coral, Crayfish-stones, (Crabs-eyes) and the like: but that which hinders most its use, is, that it always leaves some Empyreuma or ill savour.   

To prepare the Extract of Guaiacum Rind, and its Tincture.  
TAke of the best Rind of Guaiacum you can meet with, reduce it to a subtle powder, and put it in a Matrass, and pour upon it Alkool of Wine, till it swims above the height of four inches; than digest it in Sand, and make an Extract thereof; separate the tincture, and so continued with new Spirit till it yields no more of tincture: than filtrate all the tinctures, and in a vaporous Bath draw of half of the Menstrue again; keep by itself lb ss. of this tincture, which is a good and quick sudorific: The dosis is from half a spoonful to one and two spoonfuls in warm Wine or Water of Sassafras. Than take half of the remaining Substance, and precipitate it with common Water, and you shall have a Rosin, which you may prepare as that of Jalap: The dosis is from x to xx Grains, in bolus, in its own Extract: this is a Specific against the Pox, working insensibly. Evaporate the remainder in B. M. to the consistency of an Extract. The dosis being from ℈ i to ʒ i it produces the same effects as the Rosin or Magistery doth.    

SECT. VII. Of Woods.  
THE Woods used in Physic are differing, in whose number we will rank also all the species of it which are ordinarily employed, to make Infusions and Decoctions, according to the various intentions of those which do employ them: but Chemical Pharmacy works in a different manner upon woods, according to the diversity of their nature: for some of them are gummy, resinous and fat, pressed and compacted, and others more saline, and consequently, of easier Extraction; there is extracted from them by the help of spagyrical operation, Extracts, Waters, Spirits, Oils and Salts; whereof according to the diversity of their substance more or lesle pressed and compacted, we are to give examples: and for this purpose shall choose for the subject of our work the Lignum Aloes, Lignum Rhodium, so called in the shops, Lignum Nephriticum, and Sassafras, because the examples of all these four will be sufficient and serve instead of all the rest: for as concerning Guaiacum, Box, and other like, we have given you the method thereof in the distillation of Juniper-wood, and of Rind of Guaiacum, whereunto we refer the Reader for his direction of the work, and for the virtues to such Authors as have written thereof.  

The manner of preparing the Extract and Essence of Lignum Aloes.  
WE have said above, that Woods were of a different nature, and that for this reason we were obliged to give several examples of them: this we shall declare by the due preparation and extraction of Lignum Aloes, which is one of the best that is to be found in shops; in so much, that the Germane do give it the name of Lignum Paradisi, Wood of Paradise, by reason of the noble and great virtues it doth possess: It will than suffice for a pattern and example of making all the Extracts and Essences of precious and aromatical Woods, because these two preparations are made without any loss of its virtues.  
To make the Extract, ℞ lb ss. of the true Wood of Aloes, the tokens whereof are, that it be Blackish and of Purple colour, intermixed with veins of an Ash-gray colour, heavy, and bitter; and the chief token, when you put a small piece upon a hot glowing coal, that it should yield a gummy and resinous fat moisture, the smoke whereof should at first by't and seize upon the Nostril, but towards the end yield a pleasant and sweet odour, as is that of Benjuin and Peruvian Balsam: and moreover, leave upon the coal after its burning some marks of a kind of liquation; this Wood must be grossly scraped, and put in a Retort moistened with a little Spirit of Wine; than the Retort placed in Ashes, adapt a Receiver, lute it, and give it a regulate fire, and with good judgement to avoid the Empyreuma or smoky taste, and so draw softly the aetherial and subtle Oil of this Wood, which will ascend with the Spirit of Wine; and when the veins shall cease to appear in the Recipient, and that the matter remains dry, cease the fire, and put the remainder in a Blind Matrass, and pour upon it Alkool of Wine to extract all its Resinous substance; the Wood being well opened by this digestion, pour all into a Cucurbite, and distil with requisite precautions about the third part of the Spirit by itself: which done, cease the fire, and filtrate the remaining Spirit, to add other Wood to it until it draws not more either of taste or colour: than percolate and strain the whole, and filtrate it, to draw of the Spirit from it to the consistency of a liquid Extract, which keep by itself, and boil the remaining Wood in the distilled Dew or Rain-water, straining the decoction which must be clarified with whites of Eggs, and evaporated also to the consistency of a liquid Extract: warm those two Extracts and join them together, to draw yet a little more of their moisture away, and reduce them to a mass of more solid Extract, to which shall be joined half of the first extracted Oil, being first tempered, and made dissoluble with powdered Sugar. Keep this Extract for its uses in a Box of Silver, shutting with a screw, that the subtle and operative part of it may not exhale.  
Take the Spirit which you kept in the distillation of the extraction of the Wood; put therein ℥ i. more of the best Wood of Aloes reduced to a subtle powder, which you shall digest and extract in a vaporous Bath during the space of six natural days in a Blind Matrass, this done, express and percolate the cold liquor, and filtrate it in a covered Funnel; join to this Liquor the rest of the Oil which you kept with twice as much of the Salt of the Wood, or prepared Salt of Bohemian-tartar, according to the method of Sennertus, whereof we have already spoken, and so shall you have the true Essence of Lignum Aloes, impregnated with all the virtues and powers, of the Mixed whereof it was extracted. The dosis of the Extract is from iiij. to x▪ grains in Bolus, or dissolved with some specifical burning Spirit: for besides, that it would not dissolve in aqueous Liquor, it should come short of the virtue; and though it should hap to dissolve, there would be a precipitation made of the resinous and fat substance, which would never incorporate with the Water, and debilitate the remedy instead of increasing its virtue. The dosis of the Essence is from iv. to x. drops to be exhibited to the Patient in burning or hot Spirits of Iuniper, black Cherries, or Elixir Vitae of Mathiolus, and not in aqueous liquors for the reasons alleged above: but because there are many tender and delicate persons, which cannot endure the taste and strength of these Spirits; the Extract or Essence may be mixed with a spoonful of convenient Syrup, of somewhat a thick consistency: for the Sugar keeps back the Water and hinders its action upon the resinous substance of the Extract or Essence. These two remedies are two specifical comforters of all the principal parts contained in the lower-most, middlemost, and uppermost ventricle; it recreates the vital Spirits and animal Spirits of the Brain and Womb: therefore it is excellent against all infirmities of these two parts: they are also very good to strengthen the digestive faculty of the Stomach, kill by the bitterness of their Salt and Spirit the Worms which breed in the Ventricle, and extirpate totally the seminary thereof, as much in aged persons, as young children, except that a regard must be had to the dosis.   

To prepare the Water and Oil of Lignum Rhodium.  
WE bring this Wood for an example, to evidence that it is necessary for a Chemical Artist, to work upon all kind of Substances to extract their virtue, without any deperdition of their pleasantness, for it would be very easy to distil this Wood, by a Retort in open fire: but its pleasant smell should be lost; and besides, the Spirit and Oil which should be extracted that way, would not have the same proprieties, with those of the Water and Oil extracted by the method which we are now about to teach; and because the Lignum Rhodium is a heavy Wood, fat and compacted; it must be opened before you can by distillation extract the central virtue of it: Therefore procure above the quantity of xx lb. to be scraped, and put them above six weeks in Rain-water to steep, with lb iiij. of Bohemian-tartar in powder, to volatilize in a manner, the most first parts of the Wood: this time being expired, put the fourth part of this infusion, with the fourth part of the Wood in a Still-body (or Vesica) and pour more Rain or Riverwater, till it comes ½ foot near the brim; cover it with a Head, and give a gradual convenient fire, having fitted to it a pretty big Recipient, until the Water in dropping down appears to have no more of Oil in it. We have said it should be a capacious Recipent, because that little of Oil which it yields towards the end would be lost in new Recipients, whereas in a capacious Recipient, the last Oil joins and unites itself to that which issued out before. But it is to be noted yet, that what doth distil aught to be somewhat warm, which is quite contrary to the common practice in distilling of hot and volatile spirits, for the Oils must be separated from their bodies by a strong ebullition, driving the same upwards, and raising it with the aqueous vapours; but the heat must again be temperated, jest the Phlegm should ascend in too great abundance with the Spirit; and moreover, whereas in Spirits the Water above the Worm must be kept very cool, it must not be renewed in the distillation of Oils. We did purpose to set these two Notes at large, because the observation of them is of absolute necessity in the work. The Water must be separated from the Oil, which will be clear, fair, and yellow, and of a good smell: and thus continued your distillation till all be ended. This Oil is excellent for perfumes outwardly: it may also be inwardly applied, reduced to Sugar, Oil, or Elaeosaccharum to dissolve in its Water, or some diuretical Water, for the cleansing of the Kidneys and Bladder from Slime and Sand; it may also be used with very good success in Gargles to absterge and cure Ulcers in the mouth, and wash and mundify them in other parts of the body, and particularly in the parts appointed for generation.   

To make the Extract of Nephritical Wood, or Lignum Nephriticum.  
THis Wood is brought from New-Spain, is tender and dry, though heavy, by which it appears to be more Saline than Oily, and therefore communicates easily its virtue to Water, which it dies of a yellow-brown colour, in decoction appearing somewhat bluish in the Surface. We have chosen this Wood to show its difference from others; for although it be inodorous & insipid, it is nevertheless endowed with much virtue, and expels powerfully by Urines, whether simply infused in cold Water to drink the colature thereof, or mixed alone with white Wine; or whether a decoction be made thereof, which is very insipid. In this manner it conduces very much to help those that are troubled with the Stone, Gravel, or stopping of Water. But above all, it is considerable in decoctions against the Pox and Scurvy, for it frees easily and powerfully the Patient from the venom of these two diseases; and, because this Wood is not to be found every where, we have thought it necessary to teach the manner of its extract, whereby the Artist may regulate himself in all other Woods, which shall be of this kind. Scrape lb vi. of this Wood, and make a decoction with Roots of Restabovis, Hundred headed-thistle, or Sea-holy; ana lb iij. and lb i. of Virga-aurea, or Goldenrod in lb thirty. of River or Rain-water, till ½ be consumed: than percolate and express it, and make a second decoction of the cake remaining after the expression in lb xx. of fresh Water, than percolate and strain it, and so continued until the decoction takes no more colour: which done, clarify all the decoctions, and run them through the bag, and evaporate it in a slow heat without ebullition, to the consistency of a liquid Extract; to which add the Salt extracted from the remains of your Extraction. This Extract is an excellent diuretic aperitive Remedy, which may be exhibited from ℈ i to ʒ i. in Broths, white Wine, or decoction of Lignum Nephriticum, when those which are troubled with Gravel, Stops of Water, or Nephritical Colic are in the half Bath: but with this precaution, that they take before and tender again a Turpentine clyster.   

To make the Spirituous water and Oil of Sassafras.  
THe Sassafras Wood or Pavame comes from Florida, and differs yet much in nature from the abovementioned Woods; for it is very odoriferous; and being never so little warmed by rubbing, it sends forth Spirits which affect the smell with much pleasure, and shows this Tree to be very pregnant and full of volatile Salt, whence it is evident, that it hath much virtue. The smallest is to be chosen for distillation, and must have yet its Rind about him, and if it were possible, some of the Root with its Rind; because the Rind possesses more of the aetherial Oil, or volatile Salt and Spirit, than the internal substance of the Wood, which is light and spongious, as the subtle and aromatical taste of the Rind, resembling that of Fennel, doth testify: And as we said, that the Lignum Rhodium must be opened to volatilize it; here we must proceed in a quite contrary method, for we must distil the Sassafras assoon as it is cut in pieces, and that in a Still-body with Rain-water: but if you desire to have an excellent Water, and little of Oil, you must distil it with white Wine: but if you only aim at the Oil which is very excellent, have only Water. The Oil of Sassafras sinks in the bottom of the Water, as that of all aromatical Substances. The spirituous Water is excellent against all kind of obstructions, and chief those of the Spleen, which it alleviates more than any other remedy. It is also excellent for the Stomach, strengthening the digestive heat, and correcting the crudity of aliments, it wonderfully helps the Wind Colic. It is an infallible Sudorific or Diuretic; for it will never miss of its effect by the two natural ways, because if the Patient will not admit of much covering, and that the sweat by this means remains concentrated, the virtue of the medicament will never fail to show itself by Urins: because the actions of Spirits and volatile Salts, can never be hindered; therefore is this spirituous Water very specific in venerial diseases, as also in scurbutick dispositions. The dosis of this remedy is from i to ℥ vi. either by itself or mixed in white Wine. The tincture which the Artist will draw from Sassafras, with white Wine, in B. M. in a Blind-head, may legitimately be substituted to the spirituous Water, when he shall be in haste and forced to make use of it: ℥ ss. of Sassafras is enough for lb i of Wine; but the dosis must be double of the Water. Now as the Oil is more subtle than the Water, because it is only made of a little Sulphur very subtle, and all the remainder is only volatile Salt, so aught it also to be lesle: for it must not be exhibited, but from the quantity of iij. to x. drops, reduced to a dissolubility with Sugar in powder, whether it be given in its own Water, that of Cinnamon, white Wine, or Broth, for all the diseases we have intimated here above: but above all, in difficult Travels of women, whether the Child be dead or alive: as also to expel the Afterburthen, and purge the woman in Travel, without much griping: for this Oil strengthens the Womb, and makes it discharge with more ease, and in lesle time, those superfluities wherewith it was encumbered since Childbearing. Finally, this praise may lawfully be given to Sassafras, that it is a kind of Vegetable Panacea, since the Remedies extracted from it may be administered in all kind of diseases; and moreover its constant use may make either sex fruitful, but chief the female kind; for it heats, and softly and naturally strengthens all the internal parts; but chief those that conduce to generation.       
FINIS.   

A Table of all the Heads of the Principal Matters contained in this Treatise.  

A Table of the first Book.  
Preface. Concerning Chemistry in general. page 1.  
Introduction. 

Containing several questions touching the Nature of Chemistry. page 5  
Quest. 1. Of the Names given to Chemistry. ibid.  
Quest. 2. Whether Chemistry aught to be called Art or Science, and its definition. page 6  
Quest. 3. Of the end of Chemistry page 10     

BOOK I of the first Part. OF the Principles or Elements of Natural Bodies.  
CHAP. I Of the Universal Spirit page 13  
CHAP. II Of several Substances which are found after the dissolution and Anatomy of the Body or Compound p. 17  
CHAP. III Of each Principle in particular. 

Sect. 1 Whether the five Principles remaining after the dissolution of the Mixed, are artificial or natural p. 21  
Sect. 2. Of Phlegm p. 23  
Sect. 3 Of the Spirit p. 24  
Sect. 4. Of the Sulphur p. 26  
Sect. 5. Of Salt p. 27  
Sect. 6. Of the Earth p. 29    
CHAP. IV. Of Elements in general and particular p. 30 

Sect. 1. Of Elements in general p. 31  
Sect. 2. Of the Element of fire p. 35  
Sect. 3 Of the Element of air p. 38  
Sect. 4. Of the Element of water p. 41  
Sect. 5. Of the Element of earth p. 42    
CHAP. V Of the Principles of Destruction. 

Sect. 1 Of the order of this Chapter p. 43  
Sect. 2. Of the principles of life before composition p. 44  
Sect. 3 Of the principles of death p. 46     

A Table of the second Book. BOOK. II of the first Part.  
OF Purity and Impurity p. 49  
CHAP. I What is meant by Purity and Impurity ibid.  
CHAP. II How Purity and Impurity do enter into the composition of all things p. 51  
CHAP. III How the impurity of all things is to be separated from the same p. 53  
CHAP. IV. Of pure substances extracted out of mixed bodies p. 55  
CHAP. V Of the natural Generation and Corruption of Mixts, and their diversity p. 56 

Sect. 1. Of the Order of Matters contained in this Chapter ibid.  
Sect. 2. Of the Alteration Generation and Corruption of Natural things p. 57  
Sect. 3 Of the difference of mixed Bodies in general p. 59  
Sect. 4. Of the diversity of perfect Mixts p. 61  
Sect. 5. Of the middle Minerals or Marcassites p. 63  
Sect. 6. Of Metals p. 65  
Sect. 7. Of Stones p. 68  
Sect. 8. Of other Mixed both Animate and Inanimate p. 69    
CHAP. VI How Chemistry operates upon all these Mixed to extract their Purity and reject Impurity p. 70   

A Table of the first Part of the Second Book.  
PART. II COncerning this Abbreviation or Compendious Treatise of Chemistry p. 71  
BOOK. I Of the necessary terms to understand and perform all Chemical operations p. 72  
CHAP. I Of the several species of Solutions and Coagulations p. 74  
CHAP. II Of the several degrees of heat and fire p. 81  
CHAP. III Of the variety of vessels p. 85  
CHAP. IV. Of the variety of all kind of Furnaces p. 89  
CHAP. V Of Lutations p. 96  
CHAP. VI Of the explanation of characters, and terms used by Chemical Authors p. 99   

A Table of the II BOOK of the II PART. BOOK. II of the II PART.  
OF Chemical operations p. 100  
CHAP. I Of necessary observations for separating and purifying the five first Substances, after they are extracted from the Compounds p. 101  
CHAP. II An Apology in the behalf of remedies Chemically prepared according to Art p. 107  
CHAP. III Of the faculties of Mixts, and the several degrees of their qualities p. 113  
CHAP. IV. Of the order intended in the description of Chemical operations p. 116  
CHAP. V Of Dew and Rain p. 117  
CHAP. VI Of Honey and Wax p. 119  
CHAP. VI How to extract the principles of Honey ibid.  
CHAP. VI To make the Vinous Hydromel, and the Honey Vinegar p. 120  
CHAP. VI To make the Tincture of Honey p. 121  
CHAP. VI To extract the Oil of Wax p. 123  
CHAP. VII. Of Manna p. 124  
CHAP. VII. How to prepare the Spirit of Manna p. 125  
CHAP. VIII. Of Animals p. 112  
CHAP. VIII. Of Man p. 128  
CHAP. VIII. Of Hair ibid.  
CHAP. VIII. Of Milk p. 129  
CHAP. VIII. Of the Afterburthen p. 130  
CHAP. VIII. Of Urine p. 131  
CHAP. VIII. To prepare igneous Spirit of Urine and its volatile Salt p. 132  
CHAP. VIII. To prepare the Water, Oil, Salt, volatile and fixed spirit p. 134  
CHAP. VIII. Of human blood p. 134  
CHAP. VIII. To prepare and make the salt and Elixir of the stone in the Bladder p. 136  
CHAP. VIII. Of human flesh and its preparations p. 137  
CHAP. VIII. Preparation of modern Mummy p. 139  
CHAP. VIII. To make the modern mummial balsom p. 139  
CHAP. VIII. How to prepare and distil human fat p. 141  
CHAP. VIII. To make the spirit, oil, and volatile salt of man's bones and skull p. 142  
CHAP. VIII. The manner of rightly preparing the remedies extracted out of Hartshorn p. 144  
CHAP. VIII. How to distil Hartshorn yet tender, and the water of Stags-head p. 145  
CHAP. VIII. Philosophical preparation of Hartshorn p. 146  
CHAP. VIII. The manner of preparing the spirit, oil, and volatile salt of Hartshorn p. 147  
CHAP. VIII. To prepare the tincture of volatile salt of Hartshorn p. 151  
CHAP. VIII. Preparations made of Vipers p. 152  
CHAP. VIII. How to dry Vipers, to make the powder and trochisks thereof p. 153  
CHAP. VIII. How to prepare the spirit, oil, and volatile salt, volatile fixed salt, the sublimation of the same, and the fixed Salt of Vipers p. 155  
CHAP. VIII. How to stay, fix, and purify the volatile salts. p. 157  
CHAP. VIII. How to sublimate again the volatile salt fixed p. 158  
CHAP. VIII. How to prepare the Essence of Vipers, with their true volatile salt p. 159  
CHAP. VIII. How to make the plain theriacal salt, impregnated with the alexiterial and confortative virtue of Vipers p. 159  
CHAP. VIII. The preparation of another theriacal salt, much more specifical than the foregoing p. 160  
CHAP. IX. Of Vegetables and their Chemical preparation p. 161  
CHAP. IX. First discourse concerning distilled waters p. 162  
CHAP. IX. The preparation of nitrous juicy plants, to draw the juice, liquor, water, extract, nitro-tartarous essential and fixed salt thereof p. 167  
CHAP. IX. Preparation of the juicy plants, impregnated with an essential volatile salt, to draw the water, spirit, juice, liquor, essential volatile salt, extract and fixed salt p. 171  
CHAP. IX. How to prepare the spirit of jucy plants, impregnated with an essential volatile salt p. 171  
CHAP. IX. The manner of preparing the liquors of plants and their quintessences p. 177  
CHAP. IX. Of the virtue and use of the liquor of Plants p. 179  
CHAP. IX. Of the virtue and use of the quintessence of plants p. 181 

The second Discourse.  
Of Syrups p. 187  
How to make the plain acetous syrup or syrup of vinegar after the ordinary and ancient way p. 190  
The manner of duly preparing the syrups of acid juices of first-fruits, as of Lemons, Oranges, Cherries, Pomegranates, etc. p. 192  
How to prepare the syrups of juices extracted from plants, both odoriferous and inodoriferous, with the necessary notes to be observed in their depuration p. 194  
How to prepare the juices and syrups of the plants of the first classis ibid.  
How to prepare the juices and syrups of plants of the second p. 195  
How those of the third p. 196  
The old way of preparing the syrup of Orange-flowers p. 198  
How to prepare correctly and chemically the same syrup p. 199  
The old way of preparing the syrup of rind of lemons p. 200  
How to prepare it better according to art p. 201  
The vulgar way of preparing syrup of Cinnamon p. 202  
How to prepare the same according to the rules of Chemistry p. 205  
The old way of preparing the syrup of Wormwood p. 209  
How to prepare the same more correctly pawn 210  
How the Ancients did prepare the acetous syrup, or compounded syrup of Vinegar p. 211  
How to prepare the same Chemically ibid.  
How the ancients did prepare the syrup of Mugwort p. 212  
Description of the same Chymicalcally ibid.  
How the syrup of Chicory compounded with Rhubarb is commonly prepared p. 214  
How to prepare better the same S. A. p. 215  
The preparation of compounded syrup of Hyssop, according to ancient practice p. 217  
The Chemical preparation of the syrup of Chicory with Rhubarb ibid.  
Pectoral syrup of Hyssop very good p. 219  
How the syrup of Carthamy hath been vulgarly prepared ibid.  
The right way of preparing the same p. 221   

SECT. I  
Concerning Roots p. 223 

Example 1.  
Of the preparation of odoriferous Roots abounding in spirit and volatile salt p. 224  
How the potable and dissoluble balsom of the oil of Angelica-root is to be prepared p. 227  
How the unctuous balsom of the oil of Angelica-root is prepared pawn 229   

Example 2.  
Of the root Enula Campana p. 232  
Of the root of the great Consolida and Satyrion p. 236  
How to prepare the extract or blood of the great Consolida and Satyrion roots p. 237  
Of the root of female Fern p. 239  
Of the roots of Jalap and Mechoacan, and how to prepare the Magistery or Rosin of Jalap p. 240  
To prepare the right extract of Mechoacan pawn 242  
Of the roots whereof Fecula's are extracted pawn 244  
How to prepare the same ibid.     

SECT II  
Of Leaves p. 246  
Of odoriferous Plants ibid.  
Of Tobacco and the anatomy thereof p. 252  
The virtues of such preparations as are made out of the same p. 253   

SECT. III  
Of Flowers p. 260  
Of the Rose, and such preparations as Chemistry makes out of the same. ibid.  
How to prepare the Tincture of read Roses p. 262  
The manner of extracting the Water, Oil, Spirit, and Salt of Roses p. 264  
The manner of preparing the true Essence of Roses p. 266  
To make the Queen of Hungary's Water with Rosemary-flowers p. 268   

SECT. IV.  
Of Fruits p. 270  
How to prepare rightly the extract of Coloquint p. 271  
The preparation of the golden Spirit of life of Rulandus 274   

SECT. V  
Of Berries, and Seeds p. 276  
Of Ferment its action, and how the Fermentation of Grains is to be prepared to extract the burning spirit thereof p. 278  
How the spirituous water, and etherial Oil of Seeds, Anise, Fennel, Parsley, etc. is to be prepared p. 288  
How to work upon the Seeds of Garden-Cresses, Mustard, etc. p. 289  
How to extract out of Juniper-berries what i● more profitable and useful in them for Chemical Pharmacy p. 292  
The distillation of Iuniper Wood p. 293  
The distillation of Juniper-berries p. 294  
To prepare the Elixir of Iuniper Berries p. 298  
Distillation of the Gum of Iuniper p. 299   

SECT. VI  
Of Rinds p. 300  
To prepare the Elixir of Limon and Orange-Rinds p. 301  
How the Spirit, Oil, Salt, Extract, Tincture, and Magistery of the Rind of Guaiacum, and rind of the same, is to be prepared p. 302   

SECT. VII.  
Of Woods p. 305  
How the Extract and Essence of Aloes-Wood is to be prepared p. 306  
How to prepare the Water and Oil of Rose-wood p. 308  
The Extract of Nephretick Wood p. 309  
The spirituous Water and Oil of Sassafras-Wood p. 310     
FINIS.   

A COMPLETE BODY OF Chemistry:  
Teaching the whole Practice thereof by the most exact Preparation of Animals, Vegetables and Minerals, preserving their essential Virtues.  
By Nicasius le Febure, Royal Professor in Chemistry to his Majesty of England, and Apothecary in Ordinary to His Honourable Household.  
Rendered into English by P. D. C. Esq. one of the Gentlemen of his Majesty's Privy Chamber.  
The second Part.  
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Ratcliff for Octavian Pulleyn Junior, and are to be sold at the sign of the Bible in St. Paul's Churchyard near the little North-door. 1664.   

A Compendious BODY of Chemistry.  

CHAP. IX. Of VEGETABLES, and their Chemical preparation.  

SECTION VIII. Of Juices and Liquors.  
THE Juice of Plants which is their nutriment, has the same analogy with Vegetables, as blood with Animals: Now as there are needless or hurtful superfluities, resulting from the elaboration and assimilation of the blood, when appropriated to the substance of animals, such as excrements, urine, sweat, fat, slime, stones and vitriolated humours, nitrous, aluminous, acide, bitter, sharp Juice, and others also of a mixed nature, whereof the animal disburthens itself, either gently and naturally, or violently; so likewise in Vegetables, are found juices of several relishes, which analogically do answer to these excrements: such as oils, Resinous and clammy substances, gums and viscosities, tartarous and saltish emanations. There is nevertheless this difference, that animals have conveyances fitted and appropriated by Nature for the disburthening of their superfluities: which is not so in the plants, unless we will attribute it to their porosity, through which they do exhale and evaporate both good and bad smells, as the most subtle, fine and volatile part of their contents, the grossest remaining in the body of the Vegetable; upon which account they need the hand and industry of the Artist to separate and disunite them: it seems nevertheless that some of these Substances strive naturally to free and set themselves at liberty: for experience teaches, that as soon as some part of their rind is opened by incision, humours will flow from thence abundantly, and therefore observe four sorts of Species: First, the aqueous substances, which are juices or water, as that which flows from the Birch-tree and the Vine. Secondly, the terestrial, which are gums. Thirdly, the Sulphureous, which are Oils; Balsams, Resins and resinated gums: Fourthly, Salinous substances, as Bohemian-tartar and Sugar. But as all this we have said; evidences those substances to be naturally parts of plants, to each of whom we have also designed a peculiar Section, to teach the Chemical Apothecary what operations he may perform upon the same: Our intention is to speak in this present Section, of such juices only as Nature and Art do furnish us with, viz. Wine, Vinegar, and their Bohemian-tartar; Opium, which is the condensated juice of Poppy; and Elaterium, which is the juice of the wild Cucumber: These three examples will suffice, because there will occur enough in them whereby to ground our observations both upon the Theory of these matters in general, and the practice of their working in particular: and withal to instruct the Artst in all other operations analogical.  

The Anatomy of Wine.  
WINE is the juice of the fruit of the Vine, exhaled by fermentation, which by Paracelsus is called The blood of the Earth, the juice of the Prince of all Vegetables, the Sovereign Cordial, thought also by some to be the juice of Raymond Lul, his great Lunaria: others call it again, the juice of Janu's plant, and of the great Vegetable: but leaving all these names, let us come to the anatomy of the thing itself, and of its parts. Wine than, first of all, does yield by the help of Distillation, a most subtle and incorruptible essence, commonly called aqua vitae, burning water, spirit of Wine, heavenly Sulphur, Bezoartick vegetable Sulphur, Heavenly Menstruum, Celestial water, the Heaven of Raymond Lul, the Philosophers Rey, an aethereal body consisting of fire and water, the volatile Balsam of the Catholic or universal Liquor, and finally the Quintessence of Wine. In the second place, it yields in the separation, great store of insipid and corruptible water, which is called its Phlegm. Thirdly, there cometh a certain fumous or smoking Spirit, which is nothing else but the grosser part of the volatile salt of Wine, reduced into vapour, and ascending under the form of a whitish smoke. In the fourth place follows, a certain fat, unctuous and combustible oil, but in very small quantity; and fifthly, from the thick and black substance left in the bottom, is extracted, a penetrating, subtle and fixed lixivial salt after calcination; and finally in the sixth place, after the salt is extracted, there remains a muddy, insipid, and needless earth.  
We have said the Wine was made such only by the help of fermentation, and therefore are bound to illustrate it by proof, which we hope easily to perform: since none that hath converse with wine can be ignorant, that Must or wine in the Must was never Wine, and that no body gives it ever the name of Wine, but after Fermentation is ended: but there is another more Philosophical proof, and more satisfactory to the mind of a Chemical Artist, who knows that all whatsoever is wine and is called so, yields its Spirit before the phlegm; and that in the distillation of Must, improperly and commonly called sweet Wine before fermentation, there comes nothing but an insipid mere water, resembling that of Rain; which is a convincing proof since it falls under sensible demonstration; for after the distillation is performed, there remains a pleasant extract of a sweet and saccharing taste, containing in itself the essential and volatile Salt of Must, and ●●d its heavenly Sulphur, uncapable now of action, being too much restrained, and deprived of sufficient humour or moisture to reduce his power into act: but if you restore unto it a sufficient portion of water, and can dextrously introduce a spark of Oil there in, by the help of some fit and appropriated Ferment, it will work again in a short time, and make it appear, that his fermentation only can perfect and make the wine. For all the Mass will ferment, and the liquor by this means contract the taste, strength, pleasantness and all other perfections of Wine, by which it evidently appears, that Art is capable in some way to imitate Nature, and that amongst all other Arts, Chemistry alone can attain to the Theory and practice of this Artificial Fermentation.  
Now it is not enough to have described the six parts or substances which Wine affords in general, unless we come to its particular anatomy: they that will please their eye, must take good wine, clear defecated and subtle, of a generous and strong complexion, and distil it in B.M. in a great glass Cucurbit, that they may the better examine, with the eye which all the substances shall ascend: for when the pure Spirit rises, the veins will scarce appear in the Still head, so subtle they are; and when they are totally deprived of phlegm, they ascend not in a strait line, but are crooked and winding: but when the phlegm gins to mix with them they become more strait & visible, by reason of the weight of water which more visibly doth incorporate with them; when this comes to pass, the Cucurbite or glasse-body must be exposed to a Sand-furnace something warm: but the moisture must be wiped of from the vessels first, and a graduated fire administered, to perform thus the whole anatomy of Wine, for the satisfaction of the Artist. But because this process is slow and tedious, and that the Laboratory of the Chemical Apothecary, aught to be furnished with great store of Spirit of wine of all sorts, being the chief menstruum of all, and the more conformable to our nature, for the execution of the finest operations; we think fit to deliver a more compendious and quick Method of distilling Wine; as a ground to explain afterwards all the processes of work which may be done upon it, to tender it useful to all preparations whatsoever, which the same Art will take in hand.   

To extract the Spirit of Wine.  
FILL up your (Vesica) or glasse-body, half a foot near to the mouth with a good strong and generous wine, well defecated, than cover it with a Head, and lute it, administering a soft and gentle fire, until the drops begin to fall, and the pipe of the Moors head grows so hot, that your hand cannot rest upon it without burning: than stop the Furnace on all sides, and keep the water in the Tun (through which passes the neck or worm) very cool, guiding the fire so judiciously and so moderately, than whatever falls into the recipient may fall always cold; for in doing so you spare the trouble of a Rectification, because phlegm cannot easily ascend and mix itself with the Spirit, when the heat is well proportioned and fitted to the work: the first Spirit drawn must ever be laid by itself, as the most pure and most subtle; and the distillation continued, until the distilling liquor grows insipid: this phlegmatic Spirit which comes last, must be mixed again with the next wine you are to distil, and so proceed until you have a sufficient quantity of Spirit or aqua vitae drawn, to supply a rectification in the same glasse-body; But now in this part of the operation, above all things the fire must be heeded, and skilfully governed, and cold water timely supplied and often changed, because it easily will contract heat, the vapours of these fiery Spirits being much hotter than those of gross bodies. That which remains after the distillation of Wine must not be thrown away; but to the contrary evaporated to the consistency of a black and clammy extract, much like unto pitch, which must be distilled in a Retort, with open fire, and thence will come forth an acid and sharp volatile Spirit, and a black and ponderous Oil, all participating much of Empyelum, and having a strong fiery smell, what remains in the Retort must be calcined in a crucible or a glazed earthen pot until it comes to a perfect white; than lixiviate it, and filtrate, evaporate and dry to a Sun, which is to be reverberated in the Crucible unto redness, without putting nevertheless the matter therein contained in fusion, than expose it to the air to dissolve it and subtiliate the parts thereof; and so will it divest itself with many more viscous and clammy feculenceys that are to be separated afterwards by alteration, than evaporate or separate the water from this Salt again upon ashes, and being dry, gloom it in a Crucible without melting, and expose again to the air until dissolution, than filtrate, evaporate and dry again, and so proceed reiterating till seven times, or what would yet be better, until the salt leaves no more seculenceys in the filtration, and that when you shall extract the moistness of the dissolution in B. M. to the fourth part, you have a clear crystalline white and transparent Salt: than may you confidently boast you have a true salt of Wine, which to a diligent, curious and knowing Artist, may serve as a Key to open all natural bodies, after the same hath been acuted with its Spirits, and made capable to fly and ascend with the same: for than will they not only penetrate into the bodies of Vegetables and Animals, but even also will act upon Minerals and Metals, provided they have been first destroyed and made fit to be extracted by this noble Menstruum, which we above all things do recommend, to such as have a desire of success in Chemical Operations.   

To prepare the Alkool of Wine.  
THE Chemical Laboratory, which is the true shop of a good Apothecary, must be furnished with store of very subtle and very pure Spirit of Wine, whom the Authors use to call Alkool of Wine; and as it requires both time and store of charges to bring to perfection, I have given the Model of a Vessel capable at once, and with an easy charge to perform this operation, without the trouble of so many reiterated distillations, which to do the work exactly were necessary before this useful invention; because the Vessels wherein the cohobations required for rectification and alkoolization were made, being too low, it caused the phlegm still to be more with the Spirit; but in this Vessel of invention, it is impossible the phlegm should ever ascend, let the heat of the fire never be given so great: as it is evident in the latter end of the distillation of Spirit of Wine made in your Vesica or still glasse-body; for when the phlegm gins to overpower the Spirit, being in greater quantity, the heat of the fire must be increased in a double, yea a triple proportion to 'cause the remaining Spirit to rise, which is in nothing inferior in purity, quickness and subtlety to the other that first ascended, as it is made evident by experience, and by the proofs and notes of its perfection: which are, that this Spirit being set on a flame in a silver Spoon, or of any other Metal, it flies and consumes all away without leaving so much as a drop of phlegm, or sign of moisture in the bottom of the Spoon: The second note is, that a piece of paper or Cotton, or rag of linen being dipped in this Spirit and set on a flame, it doth not only all vapour and consume away, but moreover inflames and kindles the body which first it had moistened, provided it has been well dried before. The third and the best note and an infallible one, is, when the finest Gunpowder well dried is moistened and imbibed with this Spirit, if you see it on a flame it will at last consume also the powder; for than it is a true concluding sign, that no portion of phlegm remains mixed therein: for did there remain never so little the Gunpowder would never take fire, wherefore this operation saves much time and labour; For when all the Spirit of what was put by the Artist in the glasse-still body is ascended, let him only fill a crooked pipe or Spoon with water, and insert it in the Vessel by the small channel it has in the side, and thus shall he empty the still body to the very bottom, without being put to the trouble to take of the Lute of any part of the structure of the Vessel, and by the same channel or conduit may fill up again the same glasse-body with new aqua vitae by a Funnel, and so may he almost continued unabrùptedly day and night his work without any trouble, provided he takes care to supply the fire as it shall waste and consume away. And if the Artist shall propose to make yet a more subtle and refined Spirit of Wine, more penetrating and active than the former, let him put in the bottom of the body of our Vessel or Engine of Sal 🜿. very dry, and pour upon some rectified Spirit of Wine, luting all the joints after commissures of the Vessels with a Hog or Neat's bladder dipped in white of eggs well beaten, than administer the fire until he has drawn again all the pure Spirit, which will have a most pleasing taste and fragrancy than the former, and be very apt to make therewith those impregnations and imbibitions of Salt, whereof we have spoken here above, as also for the extraction of many fine and excellent Tinctures. There are some which call this Spirit so alkolizated upon Salt of Tartar Tartarizated Spirit of Wine, but very improperly: for the true Spirit of this nature can be no other, than that through which has been wrought the most subtle pure and refined part of the Salt of Wine: which is a very painful operation, and deserving rather the care and industry even of the most consummated in the practice and mysteries of Chemistry, than the impatience and unskilfulness of those which are but Novices and young Practitioners in the operations of this noble Art  
It remains only we should speak now of the great and wondered virtues of this noble Spirit, which can never be commended or praised enough by any body; howsoever ignorant babblers, who are not acquainted with it, may speak to the contrary: for it a most penetrative and incorruptible Spirit, potently resisting to putrefaction, and to all injuries of cold and frost: and▪ I let you judge and consider, whether there must not be a capacity in this Spirit to preserve living bodies and their parts, being duly and judiciously administered; since it preserves dead bodies; whereof those which keep therein for several years abortive faetus 's may be sufficient witnesses, as likewise Surgeons, who so usefully and successfully apply it for stopping the progress of Gangrenes and other accidents tending to corruption of the parts of the body. It revives and awakes the vital and animal faculties: and therefore produces sometimes surprising effects in Apoplexies, Lethargies, Epilepsies, and all other soporiferous affections of the body, where the passage of Spirits is obstructed by some gross clamminess and viscosity stopping the sinews which are the Organs of sense and motion: for this Spirit penetrates in a moment even as light, dissolves and eats whatsoever was the cause of obstruction, and causes life and all its functions which were as buried and suffocated, to shine and appear again; But if it has any considerable virtues in internal applications, it shows not less estimable ones in external: for by its fiery and Celestial quality it dissipates and resolves all cold and schirrous tumours, opens the pores and drives or exhales the windy vapours which sometimes are raised between the spaces of the Muscles, causing very sharp pains, it hinders the coagulating of the blood in all manner of contusions, and so prevents all manner of accidents which commonly use to follow them: as swelling, pains, corruption of the extravasated blood, which of necessity without this help must putrify, and would afterwards come to suppuration, were all those ill consequences and symptoms not hindered by this Spirit. But above all, this Spirit is a wondered Specific against all manner of burn, the grief whereof it allays, and takes away the wildfire from it, with such a sudden help and quickness, that no penetration or ill impression can hap in the parts offended where it is applied, not even so much as blisters or rising pustulas in the flesh, provided it be put upon before the skin gins to peel of, and before any other Remedy be made use of. But I want words to express further the worth and virtue of this Heavenly Balsam: wherefore, I leave the rest to the experience of such as will make use of it; which I may safely and on my conscience assure, that they shall never be deceived in the use thereof.  
But as the young Artists might easily mistake, and equivocate in the rare appellation of Spirit of Wine alkoolizated, which for abreviations sake is writ alkolized, confounding it with Spirit of wine alhalized, it is necessary to show in wherein they differ, and to teach the way how to prepare the last in a more exact and artificial way than any hath done hitherto: but before we come to the description thereof we will show the difference between both: which consists in this, that alkolized Spirit of wine, is nothing else but the said Spirit pure and divested of all phlegm, as we have described it above: but Alhalized Spirit of wine, is a Spirit impregnated with its own salt, which is prepared two several ways: the first by the help of its essential salt, which is Tartar, and this cannot very properly be called Alkalized; because Alkali signifies a fix salt made by calcination; but when the Artist has attained the skill to impregnate the Spirit of wine with its Alkali, it is than properly that he may call it Alkalized Spirit of wine: for that which is prepared with Tartar, is more conveniently named Spirit of wine acuated with his own Bohemian-tartar, or Bohemian-tartar sated. I cannot bury in silence the error of those who pretend by a single dissolution to unite the very pure Spirit of wine and its purified Alkali together, to make therewith their Alkalibed spirit of wine: since those that are acquainted with the nature of salts Alkali, and that of Alkohol of wine, know that they work not one upon the other, if the salt be very dry, and the spirit very pure, but if the salt participates of the lest moisture, or that in the spirit there remains yet any small portion of phlegm, than will there hap some small dissolution of the salt, but there will be no union made of either with other, because they are of a quite different nature, the one being aethereal and combustible, the other a salt dissoluble in water: those that know what belongs to true Chemical Philosophy, can be competent Judges of what we have said, and will confess that not without reason we have insisted a little on the elucidation thereof, not to prejudice the Chemical Artist.   

How to prepare the Tartarized Spirit of Wine.  
℞ lb ij. OF Spirit of Wine of the first distillation, pour it in a glass Retort, wherein you have put ℥ j ☿ very pure and clean reduced to a gross powder, put your Retort B. M. filled with moistened sawing of wood, and only four fingers high of water in the bottom, the vapour whereof will gently entertain the heat and moistness of the sawdust: administer moderate and soft fire, that the drops falling into the Recipient which must be exactly luted, may follow gently one another and without hear, so that between the falling of each drop there may be an interval of four pulsations or beat of the pulse, or telling slowly four; as soon as the phlegm is perceived to come forth, you must give over: and if any should hap to have ascended with the spirit, it must be separated by rectification. This operation must be thrice reiterated, taking still ℥ j of fresh ☿. & observing the same degree of heat: to conclude, desiccate well the ℥ iij. ☿. which you may use often in your distillation: put your distilled spirit in a Retort, and add to it those ℥ iij. ☿. reduced to powder, and above all things well dried; fit immediately to it a Recipient and lute it exactly, than distil in ashes softly, until you see the drops cease to fall; than by degrees increase the fire, even until nothing more will come forth; than shall you have the tartarized spirit of Wine, or acuated with its Bohemian-tartar, being an operative and diuretic Spirit, but above all a most excellent menstruum for the extraction of several noble and useful Medicinal Tinctures. And you are to note, that on the top of each of these distillations there will swim a small portion of Oil which must be taken of every time, because it is the true essence or oil of Wine, and a very high Cordial. But if you will have a Spitit yet more penetrating, more active and more subtle than this last, calcine your Bohemian-tartar remaining after these distillations, with ℥ xij. more of very pure ☿. in an earthen glazed pot with a circular fire, or (🜂 rotae) until it has contracted a mixture of blue, white and read colour; and whilst it is yet warm, beaten it to powder in a brazen Mortar heated with its iron Pestle; and immediately throw the powder in a double Vessel, and by little and little impregnate or inbibe it with your tartarized spirit of Wine; and when the spirit hath sufficiently penetrated all the whole Mass, pour on more to the height of four or five fingers: than stop the necks of your double Vessel where the joints meet and lute them very exactly with a Bladder, whites of egg and quick lime, and place your Vessel to digest in B. M. with Sawdust, the space of six weeks, in a moderate heat imitating that of man's body: This time being over, take away the upper part of your double Vessel and apply nimbly a Chaptial or Still-head, which luted, continued the fire, but of somewhat stronger a degree, and distil the spirit from it till it leaves the bottom dry; than about the end give a very quick fire, and you may than boast of having a tartarizated, and in some kind an alkalized spirit of Wine, of a sweet and pleasing fragrancy, resembling that of the flowered Vine; because the internal Sulphur of the calcined Salt has in a manner dulled and deadened the edge and quickness of this Spirit, which is very effectual to draw the Tinctures, and make the extracts of all Purgatives, whose untipenesse it corrects with all other peccant qualities, digesting the same and altering for the best, by the help of that Celestial fire which it conceals and possesses in its entrails: whence proceeds also the virtue it has to preserve the vigour and faculties of all Animals, Vegetables, Minerals and Metals. It is one of the great Arcana in the practice of Physic, and chief in tartarous Diseases proceeding from obstructions of a fix and tenacious Salt, formed in the entrails, because in the coction the stomach is destituted of that subtle, volatile and energetic Spirit, which is capable either to expel them by insensible transpiration, or eject them by Urine and Sweat: whence it comes to pass that this Spirit is of a sovereign efficacy in Scorbutical and all other Diseases of the Spleen and hypocondrical affections, of Asthmas or short breath, and Cachexye or depraved disposition of the entrails. It causes also sleep, administered with a little of the Tincture of Saffron. The Dosis is from ℈ ij. to ʒ j in Wine, Broth, Decoctions, or any other appropriated Liquors according to the intention of the Physician; we leave all the other preparations which may be made of Wine and of its Spirit, to the examination and curiosity of the Son of Art; holding it sufficient to have insinuated all the necessary Methods, from which we may fetch the Rules of not erring in his beginnings and first preparations, as also the Method of attempting further, when he shall have a mind to satisfy himself about any remarkable operations, which he shall meet with in the most famous and celebrated Authors.   

Of the Anatomy of Vinegar.  
THE name of Vinegar doth sufficiently evince that the subject of this work must be acid Wine; but use has prevailed that the name of Vinegar should be given to all acid Liquors, made out of Beer, Cider, or Perry: but in all Chemical operations Wine-vinegar alone is to be used, being the most excellent of all other Vinegars, because it proceeds from an alteration of the Prince of Vegetables, which abounds most in vitriolic and acid salt which is its Bohemian-tartar: and when the Wine is rob and deprived of the purest part of its spiritual and igneous Sulphur, than the predominant Bohemian-tartar changes all the remaining liquor into Vinegar: a speculation of very great importance, and very well worth consideration; for Paracelsus makes use in his books of Archidoxa of the comparison of the Sphere of Activity of Vinegrifical Ferment (if I may use this barbarous word) to prove the strength and virtue of transmutative Tinctures: and the learned Van Helmont cannot found a better proof for the secret action and hidden intrinsecal power of fire, light, and the internal Ferment of mixed bodies, than by comparing that Ferment with the leaves of bread, and the Ferment of the stomach: But moreover, he relates a story concerning the strength and power of Spirits impregnated with the Ferment of Vinegar, which is that, if you fill with River water a Cask of Oak very dry, wherein for some time before has been put good Wine-vinegar, and expose the same to the beams of the Sun, during the heat of the Dog-days, than the fermentative spirit of Vinegar shall transmute and change by his magisterial ting and transmutative virtue all this quantity of water into Vinegar; a thing that will appear very possible if we reflect upon this, that one pound or two of dough having in it the principle of leaven, are capable to turn a hundred pound of wrought dough, not only into leaven, but to convert them also into spirits Animal & water: Now the Cask is made of boards or planks of Oak, which is a tree altogether of a vitriolic nature, and whereof by distillation a very potent, acid or sharp spirit may be drawn; but that which is the chief of all, is, that the pores of this wood are filled with the most subtle parts of the Spirit and salt of the Vinegar which it contained before, which retains still in, and with itself the Character and power to convert into vinegas all such liquors as be put in the Cask, provided it be assisted with the Suns or any other constant and continued heat that may supply its room and office. But that which he notes of more wonder, is, that this Vinegar of water was all spiritual; for whereas the vinegar of Wine, sends forth in the distillation his phlegm first of all, and yields but towards the end his spirit: the vinegar of Water contrariwise, doth still sand forth and yield spirit equally from the beginning of the distillation to the end, and still with the same strength and dissolutive virtue.   

The manner of distilling Vinegar.  
CHOOSE of the strongest and best Vinegar you can meet with, and put it in glass bodies or Cucurbits till they be half full, than cover them with their heads and place it in sand, making but a plain lute with a filter of wet paper: the administer the fire, and the first thing that shall ascend will be the phlegm, which is an evident proof that Vinegar is nothing else but a wine, which the salt and acid Spirit prevailing over the aethereal and subtle sulphur hath fixed. From time to time you must examine the taste of the falling drops, that you may change your Recipient as soon as the drops shall grow acid, and so drive the fire with an equal heat until all the spirit of the Vinegar be drawn, which commonly is called distilled Vinegar: You must note to cease the fire when there is but little of Vinegar left; otherwise that which is in the bottom of the Cucuribite would burn, and so communicate an ill empyrematical smell to the spirit of Wine: but to prevent this accident, warm Vinegar to pour again into the Cucurbite, which may be done for three ends: First to exhale and vapour away some part of the phlegm of Vinegar; Secondly, to hinder by the heat, that the glasse-body should not break; and in the third place, that the new Vinegar may dissolve the gross and feculent one which is in the bottom of the Cucurbite, and so shall the distillation go on without contracting any empyreuma add losing any time or heat of the Furnaces. But they who intent to make a very strong Vinegar for metallic operations, have no need of all these precautions, because it is even necessary to drive the salt which is found in the remainder of the Vinegar into a Spirit, to make it penetrate the better into the bodies or calpes of Metals: wherefore there aught to be no fear of heightening the fire towards the end, until all the reddish fumes or vapour be over, with this caution nevertheless, that the Vessels must be well luted, which are to suffer such violent fire, because the last spirits are very penetrating and subtle; and as distilled Vinegar is a menstruum of much use in Chemical operations, so is it requisite that the Artists Laboratory be well provided with these three kinds, viz. acid phlegm, spirit of Vinegar without Empyreuma, and this last driven with the intensest fire, that he may be still supplied wherewithal both to prepare Remedies and satisfy his Curiosity, in Philosophical trials and Experiments, which daily he is invited to make for the satisfaction of his mind, and to prove whether his reasoning is answered by success, and know whether all what we have delivered by Authors is true or false. Distilled Vinegar hath no very great use in Physic, unless applied as a dissolvent for the preparation of other Remedies; or to make Syrups, as we have said above, or to prepare Bezoartick Vinegars, and Remedies against the Plague: for it is endowed with an incising and attenuating virtue, and therefore is Diuretic, Aperitive and Sudorisick; it is even Alexiterial and cures the biting of Serpents, because it kills by the subtlety of its acid spirit, the volative salt of the spittle and venom of these creatures: it produces the same effect on tart, hot and corrosive gums and all condensated Juices which are deemed venomous and of a dangevous quality: Wherhfore it is employed by Chemists as the true Correctives of Remedies prepared therewith.   

To prepare the Radical or alkalized Vinegar.  
℞ lb v. or vj. lb. OF very strong distilled Vinegar well dephlegmated, wherein you shall dissolve lb j of Crystals of Vinegar, which are nothing else but its own Bohemian-tartar well purified, which by some is called its essential salt, and by others its volatile salt, but improperly enough: digest them together for the space of fifteen days in a double (or circulatory) Vessel in the heat of a vapory Bath, in Sawdust or minced straw, which done, put all in a Retort, and distil upon sand till it be dry, augmenting the fire towards the end, that the spirits of this subtle and acid Bohemian-tartar may be joined to the distilled Vinegar; calcine to whiteness the remaining matter in the Retort, and add to it lb ij. more of ☿ very well depurated; put all these calcined salts in a Retort, and distil your Vinegar thereupon so often by reiterated cohobations in sand-fire, that the spirit of Vinegar may incorporate and carry along with him the greatest part of the fixed salt, which for the most part is not performed until the eleventh or twelfth cohobation, so shall you have a true alkalized Vinegar, fit to dissolve in a very short time all manner of stones and shells: as likewise to extract and penetrate the bodies of all Minerals and Metals; they that will be at the trouble to prepare it so, and use it dexterously, will found out more and more to how many rare effects this Spirit is conducing.   

Another very subtle Spirit of Vinegar.  
DISTILY in B. M. lb. xv. of very good Vinegar well depurated, and extract shortly thereof about lb x ij. of phlegm, put the remainder in a Retort and distil upon sand with a graduate fire until the remaining matter be very dry; than cohobate the same spirit drawn of upon his own feces four or five times; after which make a past of lb φ. of the Crystals of tartar of the Vinegar, ℥ iiij. of Sal. ☿. with lb φ. of Bolus reduced to powder, a little of very good distilled Vinegar; and having made this paste into Pills of a fit bigness to be put in a Retort of glass or stone mettle, place it in a close Reverbatory, and fit thereto the Recipient, wherein lies the first distilled Vinegar joined with its Crystals by cohobation, and give a gradual fire until all the spirits are driven out by the strong expression of the fire: after all is cooled, open the Vessels, and rectify your distillation in a sand-Furnace; and thus shall you obtain a spirit of Vinegar not inferior to the foregoing: but contrariwise yet more subtle, and consequently more capable of performing all the effects hoped for.   

How to prepare the Crystals of Vinegar or its subtle Bohemian-tartar:  
EVaporate in the vaporors' heat of B. M. xj. or L. pints of strong Vinegar very pure and defecated, until it has attained a consistence of decocted Honey: than put it in a cold place or Cellar to shoot Crystals, and draw after some time the Liquor which lies under by inclination letting it run softly, until the Crystals be quite separated: the remaining thick and blackish liquor dissolve in acid phlegm of Vinegar; than strain it through a Hose to defecate it; than again evaporate the liquor strained in B. M. to the same consistence as you did before, and let it shoot again Crystals for a second time, and separate the superfluous residence fit for nothing else but to be calcined with Bohemian-tartar, to draw the salt thereof; than put your Crystals together and dissolve in a slow heat of Balneo in a sufficient quantity of good distilled Vinegar, filtrate the dissolution warm, than put it in the cold to shoot Crystals, and so continued this work of evaporating and chrystalizing: until you have extracted all the essential Salt; which you must dissolve, filtrate and chrystalize in this manner three or four times, that you may have it very clear and depurated: this Salt is useful to make the true Radical Vinegar; and moreover, it is a very pure and subtle Bohemian-tartar, which may be given in broths to cleanse the stomach from viscous and clammy impurities lying in its bottom and about the sides of it, by which the appetite is called away; it is also good to open disopilate and cleanse the passages of urine, which it provokes gently, as it doth sweated also: The Dosis is from ℈ φ. to ℈ ij. and ℥ j   

Of Bohemian-tartar, and the preparations extracted from it.  
PARACELSUS and his followers have so much made mention of Bohemian-tartar in their Write, that it is enough to confounded the mind of their Readers, because they make no distinction between microcosmical Bohemian-tartar, Tartar of Aliment, and Tartar Remedy. We will than succinctly explain the difference which is between them, to ease the search and labour of the studious Son of Art  
Tartar in the Paracelsian Physic is called whatsoever is capable to coagulate in the form of a stone, or is already so coaguted; But nevertheless, by microcosmical Bohemian-tartar, or that which is engendered in man, called Microcosm or little World, is to be understood a viscous and clammy matter, which by want of digestion is framed in our bodies, and has in itself an immediate or proximate virtue of harding and coagulating, and consequently of causing obstructions, by reason that it wants a fermentative Spirit, capable of driving them by the natural passages and emunctories, from the centre of the body towards its circumference, and from thence to expel them sensibly or insensibly by the pores: the defect of transpiration being the cause of the most part of internal Diseases not less than external.  
For the evils and accidents, whereof the Root or seminary lies within ourselves, aught not to be imputed to the vice of Aliments, as the most learned Van Helmont doth very well prove in his Tract entitled Alimenta Tartari insontia. Now the Paracelsian opinion is the cause why the name of Bohemian-tartar has been given to the Terrestrial and essential Salt which is extracted from some Plants; whether it naturally separates its self from their Juices, or whether it be performed by Art, we have declared above in the beginning of the Chapter of Vegetables, the manner of separating the Tartars or essential salts of Plants: but as we can but intellectually conceive the help of Reason and comparing things together, the manner of that which is separated naturally by its own internal working, we will declare our conceit thereof, agreeing with the most judicious Authors.  
The Artist to apprehended and conceive the better the original of Bohemian-tartar whereof we are to speak, aught to call to mind, that the Principles of things are but crude and undigested in their original, and as it were but crude and homogeneal in this disposition of their Chaos: but afterwards by maturation there is a separation made of the gross parts from those that are more pure and subtle: the gross parts naturally do incline to the elementary state which is aqueous and terrestrial; but those that are subtle do exalt, and to speak more properly, spiritualise themselves, by the power and strength of their internal Principle or Archaeus, which contains in its self the ferment and Spirit, by whom they are also reduced to the other elementary state which is Aereous and fiery, that is to say, participating of the aethereal and Celestial nature. Which Philosophical consideration, if it may be suitable to any subject, it cannot be applied more lawfully to any thing than to Wine: for when the Must is newly drawn of from the Grape, it is a true Chaos, until the eternal Archaeus or Principle hath raised up and excited the fermentative Spirit, which causes the separation of the subtle parts from the gross, and ceases not from its work until it has brought the substances into which it works to the highest pitch of their natural Predestination, which is the fiery and Celestial part of Wine: and that which is grosser, doth return as by a Reinundation to that aqueous, earthly and saline nature which creates Tartar, which is an essential, permanent and incorruptible Salt in its self, but on whom Art and fire may imprint several alterations, because it contains very Rare and remarkable Virtues, of near resemblance to the nature and Power of Spirits, by the help of its salt and sulphur, which it possesses abundantly. But let us now from this Theorical Speculation come to the practice by which we are instructed in the manner of purifying Bohemian-tartar, its Dissillation, Salsification, and the Extraction of the Tincture of the internal Salt of its sulphur.   

The Purification of Tartar.  
TARTAR may be purified by a simple washing of warm water to take away the salt and terrestrial dregss which it always hath in its self, and by which it is ordinarily assisted and accompanied in its coagulation: To perform than this Purification, beaten to powder either Germane Bohemian-tartar, or Bohemian-tartar of Monipellier, and having put it in an earthen Pan, pour on it some water a little more than lukewarm, half a foot high, than stir it with a Pestle that the water may take the substance and muddiness of the Bohemian-tartar, than let the fallen parts fettle again, and pour out the water by inclination, and reiterate three times this Lotion with warm water, and thrice with cold, and so shall you have a Bohemian-tartar something pure, which you may use well enough in Decoctions, Infusions or Macerations where there shall be need, either for ordinary work or some prescription of the Physicians. But this way of Purifying is too course, and savours rather common and vulgar Pharmacy than Chemical, which aught totally to separate purity from impurity: The Artist than shall thus proceed,, to make what they call Inshops, Crystals and Cremor Tartari, which to speak properly, are nothing else but well purified Bohemian-tartar, beaten to subtle powder lb thirty. or XL. of good ☿. well shining and glistering in the breaking thereof, compacted, Crystalline and weighty: boil lb CC. of Rain, or good and pure River water, in which throw the ☿ by degrees, and it will soon dissolve therein: than presently strain that Liquor through two great Hippocras bags, hanging over some great Tub very well cleansed, and when all hath run stir continually the said Liquor with Pestles until it be totally cooled, than let it rest, and two hours after you shall found that the pure and finest Bohemian-tartar shall be sunk in the bottom of the Tub in the form of an impalpable and shining Powder, which may without scruple be used in stead of the Crystal, or what improperly is called Cremor Tartari, because some have supposed that the crust which remains on the top of the Liquor after it is drawn, was of a more subtle quality than the Crystals which are found in the bottom, or stick on the sides of the Vessel, though it be the same thing; since that crust or pretended Cremor, is nothing else but the coagulation of the purified Bohemian-tartar in the superfices of the water by the cold air. But above all this, there is yet one stronger Reason, why this Bohemian-tartar thus purified should be preferred to the Crystals or Cremor Tartari, which is ordinarily found in the Drugster's and Grocer's shops, which is that those who purify the Bohemian-tartar in places where it is plentiful and cheap, do put in the water which must dissolve in Quicklime with their Bohemian-tartar, and that for two reasons; the first, because the Bohemian-tartar should sooner and more easily be dissolved; the second, that the Lime may precipitate to the bottom, and draw along with itself all the Feces and clammy viscosities which cause the impurity of Bohemian-tartar, and hinder the Crystals to become either so white or so pure; But in using this Method, they do not consider the great harm which may proceed, and proceeds from thence daily: for besides that time doth in some manner fix the essential salt of the Bohemian-tartar, and makes it less easy to be dissolved in broths and other Liquors, it doth besides imprint into it a noxious quality which offends the stomach, and heats extraordinarily the breast, and is prejudious to the whole habit of body of those that use often to take it, so that the good intention of Physicians is not followed: for whereas they intent to prescribe an Aperitive and Disopilative Remedy, it proves often to be coagulating and Fixative by reason of the Petrifick Idea which is unspeakable from the salt of Lime mixed and united with that of the Tartar. But this I only say by the by, that the Apothecaries may themselves take the pains to prepare their Remedies, whereof they are accountable unto God, the credit of Physicians, and to their Neighbour.  
The Virtues of this purified Bohemian-tartar, are first and chief to dissolve and attenuate the gross and tartarous Humours, which cause the obstructions of the first Region of the Belly: wherefore it may be usefully administered also to open those of the Liver, Spleen, Mesentery, Pancreas and Kidneys; above all things it is to be recommended in Diseases proceeding from Melancholy, and all Hypocondrical fits and affections: All Authors seem to agreed in affirming that it is an universal Digestive; and for this reason make it ever a forerunner of Purgation, to attenuate and prepare that which by the Purgative must be evacuated. It is also a very convenient Remedy for all such as are naturally caustick and close in their bodies; for it will open and gently lose the Belly, without offending either the stomach or digestive Faculty; The Dosis is from ℈ i to ℥ j or i j in broth, or some aperitive or digestive Decoction. But because this Remedy is destinated to open the obstructions of the Spleen and Liver, and that Iron or Steel, is one of the choicest Specificks which may be made use of for this purpose, Chemical Artists have found a way to unite and associate the Steel and Tartar together, by their Reciprocal action working one upon the other in their dissolution, which is thus performed.   

To prepare the Martial or chalybeated Tartar.  
℞ lb j of purified Bohemian-tartar in the manner as we just now have taught, with which you shall mix ℥ ij. of cleansed filing of Needles: boil in an earthen glazed Pot lb viij. of Rain-water very clear, or rather distilled, and pour in it softly the mixture of Bohemian-tartar and filing, and let them boil together as long as you would to make a soft Egg, than run it through a woollen strainer, and agitate the Liquor until it be cooled; and you shall have a Powder of Martial or Chalybeated Bohemian-tartar of a greenish colour, and shining when dry, and without compare more aperitive than the purified Bohemian-tartar which hath been described before: For it has in it the Vitriol of Mars, which the sharpness of the Bohemian-tartar hath drawn as the greenish colour doth evidence: It is administered in the same Liquors, but the Dosis must be less: for the Dosis of this must not exceed ℈ φ. to 32. in all the Diseases and obstructions wherein we have said the other was useful.   

The distillation of Bohemian-tartar, and how to extract both the Spirit and the Oil thereof.  
℞ lb vj. of ☿ purified by dissolution and filtration, put them in a Glazen well-luted Retort, than fit it in a close Reverberatory, and join to the neek of it a large Recipient, whose Joints must be well luted with Saltedearth, or mixed with a little of the caput mortuum of aquae fortis; let the Lute dry, and than apply a gradual fire, until you see white vapours begin to ascend, and read veins to wander about the inside of the Recipient; than increase the fire and continued even with flame of a very dry wood, until the Recipient grows clear again of itself, in the greatest and intensest action of the fire: the Furnace and Vessels being cooled, take of gently by degrees the Lute from the Recipient, by pouring warm water upon it, than take away the Recipient, and separate the distilled matter, part whereof is aqueous, Mercurial, subtle and spirituous, of a sharp, biting and penetrating taste, which is a token of its volatile salt, and the rest a blackish and heavy Oil of an Empyreumatical smell as well as the Spirit, having also a sharp and biting taste, though inflammable as other distilled Oils, which shows also that this Oil contains in itself store of volatile salt which is not separated from its sulphur, by reason of the strict union between them both: This separation is performed in the same manner as we have related above. After this the Spirit must be rectified in ashes, with this Note, that as Bohemian-tartar is a salt which has its original from Wine, so likewise the spirit it yields is of a very resembling nature: that is to say, that the spirit of Bohemian-tartar is not of the nature of acid Spirits, which yield their spirit the last: but contrariwise, it has two kinds of spirits in itself, the best and noblest whereof ascends the first, and this is the volatile Spirit, the phlegm follows after; and for the last follows an acid or strong Spirit which hitherto hath found no great use in Physic. The Oil may be kept without Rectifying to use externally: But if in case you will make it more Penetrative, more Dissolutive and Resolutive, you must also Rectify it upon some of the remaining matter after Distillation, and you shall have an Oil capable of producing such effects as we shall attribute unto it hereafter.  
In the next place, you must join again what remains from the rectification of the Oil of Bohemian-tartar, to what is left in the Retort after distillation, and calcine it again in open fire in an earthen Pot not glazed, until all appears white, and this dissolve in warm water and make a Lie therewith, running it three or four times, until the water can attract no more of the virtue or taste thereof: then filtrate all your Elixivations and evaporate gently, without any violent ebullition, until the top of the Liquor gins to contract a skin; than move the remaining matter, and have a great care to gather all what you see stick in every part of the Vessel, and to hinder the coagulation thereof in the bottom of the Vessel, because it would prove very difficult to take it of afterwards: continued your care and work without interruption, until all be converted into a dry and white salt, which is the true fixed salt of Bohemian-tartar; to be preserved in a very dry Bottle exactly stopped with a Cork dipped in wax, that it return not to a Liquor, which properly is called Oleum tartari per deliquium, being nothing else but the Liquor of the salt of Tartar dissolved, and according to our Great Paracelsus, the water or Liquor of Tartar. But when you have occasion to use either this Oil of Bohemian-tartar or dissolved Salt, you must let one half of it lie in an earthen or stone-metal Pan, this Salt being the most penetrative of all calcined salts or Alkali, penetrating even through glazed earthen Vessels: wherefore I have thought fit to give this warning, that the Artist may not be deceived herein. Some may perhaps wonder that we did prescribe above, to take well purified ☿ wherewith to make this Distillation; since all other Authors seem to be contented with Bohemian-tartar as it comes from the Cask, provided it be pure and clean; whom we must satisfy, and show that it is not without Reason and very good grounds that we have said it. We have showed above why it was necessary to depurate the Bohemian-tartar, by reason viz. of its Feces, and earth, and some other adventitious mixtures, which are ever found in this matter. Now all these impurities are capable of being calcined in the distillation, and do communicate their ill taste and smell to the spirit of the Bohemian-tartar, which commonly is attributed to the fire or Empyreuma: a reason why this Spirit is very little made use of internally, though one of the best Remedies in Physic. Let those whom this truth will not persuade, compare the penetrating and subtle taste of the purified spirit of Bohemian-tartar with that which is not purified, and they will know, that with very good reason we have been obliged to correct and redress this mistake, the cause sometimes of much more evil than is thought of, because these Heterogenities have in themselves some noxious quality, which not only communicates itself to the Spirit, but very intimately mixes with the salt, and imprints and stamps in it an evil Idea, which cannot be corrected in the preparation of Remedies which the Artist is obliged to make; and consequently may often 'cause very dangerous accidents, which will elude the guess and suspicion of the Physician.  
Now let us come to the virtues of Spirit ☿ its distilled and inflammable Oil, its salt, Oil per deliquium, or with it dissolved Salt.  
This Spirit being prepared as we have taught, and rectified in B. M. in a very clear Vessel, is one of the Noblest Remedies which Chemistry can yield: for it has the virtue and power to incise or cut, attenuate, resolve whatsoever doth cause any obstruction in the Viscera; it is moreover capable to penetrate into the most remote parts of the body, by reason of its great subtlety: for it expels all superfluities in digestions, by Urine and by Sweat: wherefore it may with very good success be given in Dropsies, Gouts, and all arthritical Diseases, Palsy, Scorbute, Measles, Itch, Scab, and scrarches, and all contraction of Limbs: the Dosis is from ℈ φ. to ℈ ij. and a whole dram, in broths, white Wine or some other appropriated Decoctions, according to the Disease, and the indication of the skilful and expert Physician. We have said that a portion of the distilled Oil could be kept without Rectification, and that not without reason: for this Oil abounds with internal salt, which remains in the bottom whilst the Rectification proceeds: and this salt it is which by its active and penetrative virtue causes those noble effects which this Oil doth produce, in the cure of the Scurf, Tetters, and corroding and sharp running Humours. For as we have said, that the volatile Salts bear an antipathy to sharp and corroding one's, by which both scurf and Tetters are produced; so is it likewise the volatile salt of the sulphur in the Oil which kills the acidity or sharpness, dries and restores the skin to its natural state; and this Oil is not useful only to such a purpose, but even works miraculously in resolving Tophus 's and knots about the Joints of Gouty persons and infected with a touch of the Pox, provided they have been purged before with some good preparation of Mercury, joined to a well corrected extract of Coloquint. The rectified Oil is to be outwardly used, but with precaution and care, by reason of its penetrability and great activity: but it may be mixed in such Ointments as shall be prepared for ordinary scabs, scabs called Canine, and all manner of Venerean scabs internally: It is exhibited for the wind-Colick in white Wine, and spirit of Elderberries, against fits suffocations of the Mother: The Dosis is from ij. drops to vj. The salt of Tartar is of itself a potent Agent, and which should produce unexpected effects, were it not so unpleasant to take, by reason of its lixivial and urinous taste: for it is the most subtle and penetrating of all the fixed salts, both used as a Remedy, as also a very useful and convenient ingredient in the separation of several other excellent Medicines: they that will use it without correction, may administer it from gr. vj. to thirty. in Broths or Decoctions, to evacuate and expel by stool and Urine all such matter as causes the itching and all eruptions of the skin, scratches, itches, scurf; provided, that at the same time some Ointment be made use of wherein is distilled oil of Bohemian-tartar, and a little salt of Saturn. But we will deliver the manner how to cleanse it and take away its ill taste, rendering it Purgative, which of itself will be a very good Remedy, and an Instrument besides for the performance of many noble operations in the hand of skilful and knowing Artists, who by meditation, study and labour shall attain to the mysteries which it possesses: The Oil of Tartar per deliquium, is of wondered effect in the extraction of all the purging Vegetables; For when the Menstruums that are employed therein are impregnated and acuated with a small proportion of this Liquor, they penetrate into the very centre of Bodies, extract their virtues, and correct at the same time the noxious quality which may be in them, and that by means of the heavenly and Magical Fire, which the salt of Tartar has borrowed from the light and the Ayr. This Oil may likewise be given internally in the same manner, and for the same diseases as the Salt; The Dosis is from iv. to xx. drops. It is also one of the principal Agents of a Chemical Laboratory to make Precipitations therewith, and to prepare the vitriolated Tartar.   

To prepare the vitriolated Bohemian-tartar, or Magistery thereof.  
℞ lb j of Oil of ☿. per deliquium very clear and pure: Note that when the salt is very pure, and has been resolved in a clean place, add the Liquor well filtrated, that this Oil is of a greenish colour: put it in a Cucurbit or Glasse-body of about a cubit high and of a narrow entrance: pour upon softly and drop by drop of Oil of Vitriol, or the spirit thereof well Rectified, until all ebullition or noise doth cease, the weight of the oil or spirit of Vitriol may be stinted at lb q. or thereabout, but the best way is to proceed as we have said: than place a Still-head over the Cucurbit, and draw of all the moisture which swims above the Magistery, until it comes to a consistency of a pre●ty thick pap; this done, put it in a white or bottle metal earthen Vessel, and dry it wholly to the vapour of a boiling Bath, agitating and stir●ing continually the same with a Spatula of Glass, not of Metal: for this salt would extract the taste and tincture thereof; Put this Magistery in a Glasse-Viol very exactly stopped: It is one of the best digestives can be given to prepare the Patient's body to Purgation: for it dissolves all tartarous matters which are the cause of obstructions; above all, it is of singular efficacy against the splenetical and hypocondrical obstructions, and of the Meseraick veins, against all Aguish distempers, but chief fits of the Quartain; It provokes menstrual Purgations when suppressed, and accelerates them when Retarded.   

How to prepare the 🝆 ☿ of Sennertus, or the Purgative salt of Tartar.  
℞ lb ij. of very pure and defecated salt of ☿. and put it in a Glasscucurbit; pour upon it 2 pints or lb iiij. of well dephlegmated stilled Vinegar, stir up the whole together until the salt be well dissolved; place your Cucurbit in ashes, and draw the moisture or liquor thereof, which shall come of tastlesse as Rain-water: than continued to distil softly your salt with pints of new distilled Vinegar, and to draw of the Vinegar on ashes so long until you shall found it to come of with the same strength as when you did pour it on; which will hap after you have proceeded thus, ●bout twenty times: the salt remaining after all this work is very black; but it has no more its lixivial, harsh, biting and urinous taste; but contrariwise a savour not unpleasant, participating of saltishness and acidity: the change which happens in the taste of this Salt proves the truth of what we have asserted above, that the acid substances and salts Alkali, convert one another in a neutral substance, which is not more either the one or the other, and yet possesses a more excellent and less hurtful virtue, than the bodies out of which they have been compounded, as it evidently appears in the example of vitriolated Bohemian-tartar; for the Oil of Vitriol is a very strong Corrosive, and as an all-consuming fire, and the oil of Bohemian-tartar is of a sharp, biting and urinous taste, very unpleasant, and nevertheless the result of both makes a very pleafing Magistery by its acidity, participating no more of the quality of either of the bodies whereof it is compounded, unless it be its penetrating, subtle and dissolving quality: this appears moreover, in that the Vinegar loses all its acidity, and turns to insipid water, and this volatile acid salt of the Vinegar checks and turns the edge and ill taste of the salt of Bohemian-tartar, to make it become a very good Remedy; towards the last time that you draw of the Vinegar, you must drive this salt with a pretty strong fire, that no moisture may remain with it: dissolve the same in alkohol of wine, and filtrate, to separate from it the blackness it has contracted: than put it in B. M. and draw of again the spirit of Wine from it till it be dry, dissolve, filtrate, and draw again until the 4th. time, but the 5th. time put your Vessel in ashes, and cohobate again the spirit of Wine thereon, and continued these cohobations, giving still more and more a stronger fire towards the latter end, until the salt becomes white: than put it after in a moist and clean place in a Glass-vessel, and it will easily dissolve into a read Liquor, which is to be filtrated, and part of it kept in Liquor, and the other evaporated into salt, which must be dried and put into a narrow-neck Viol., very well stopped, if you will prepare it without dissolving. We cannot choose but recommend this Salt in the highest manner to all Practitioners of Physic, considering the wondered effects it is able to produce; for it is beyond all Remedies, to open the obstructions of all parts of the body, and to evacuate softly all matters incumbering the functions of Nature; and chief in all Chronical diseases and desperate: for it purges softly and without violence through all the Emunctories: The Dosis is from five grains to twenty if it be dry: or from ten drops to thirty, if dissolved to Liquor; it is to be administered in Chicken broth or Veal boiled with Parsley and Scorzonera Roots, or in white Wine wherein Damask Raisins have been steeped, with a little quanity of good Cinnamon: the Remedy must be taken fasting in the morning, and if necessity does require it, it may be reiterated about five in the afternoon.   

To prepare the Tincture of Tartar.  
℞ lb j of salt ☿, very pure, and having placed it in a Germane Crucible, which best resists the fire of a violent melting heat, put your Crucible in a Wind-furnace upon an earthen foot or brick; cover it with a cover made for the purpose, and fill up all over the Furnace with coals, and the fire being kindled, open the doors of the Wind-furnace successfully one after another, and place the Pipes or wind-drawers above the roof or vault of the Furnace, that the fire may be concentrated to melt the better this Salt, which requires a more violent and stronger heat than Gold: and when you shall perceive that the salt is fully melted, and flows as water amidst the flames, take away the cover and continued the fire until it has got a bluish colour, and gins also to grow read and greenish: for than is it a true sign that the internal sulphur of this admirable Salt is opened, and as it were drawn from its centre by the extremity of the fires action; and therefore must you often take a trial with an Iron Spatula or Slice well cleansed and dry, of the colour of the Salt; because if there did remain the lest moisture in it, it would 'cause the salt to fly and break the Crucible, you must than be very careful to heat the slice before you put it in the melted salt; Than assoon as the Artist shall perceive by the colour, that the salt is sufficiently opened, let him throw it in a brazen Mortar both warm and clean; otherwise the extreme heat of the melted salt would crack it, and being coagulated beaten the Mass into Powder with a hot Pestle; and put the Powder also in a heated and dry Matraff, and pour upon by little and little Alkohol of Wine, until it has attained to the height of four fingers above the Salt, and cover the Matraff with another smaller, the neck whereof may be inserted in the biggest about three inches: well lute the Joints with a Swine's bladder dipped in white of Eggs, and place your Matraff in his capsula upon sand already heated, and raise the fire gradually until the spirit of Wine gins to boil; continued the fire in the same pitch three or four days, and the spirit of Wine shall come forth with an oriental Ruby-colour and yield a pleasant and fragrant smell, like unto that of the flowered Vine: filtrate the Liquor and put in other in the room, and so continued till the Alkohol of Wine colours not longer; put all the filtrated Tinctures into a Cucurbit, and draw of again three parts of the Menstruum, and the remainder shall be a real and true tincture of the first salt of Bohemian-tartar; the colour whereof proceeds from the internal sulphur of the said Salt, which doth communicate unto it very great and efficacious Virtues against several obstinate and as it were desperate Diseases: For this Tincture strengtheneth all the natural faculties, and sets them again in the just and true execution of their functions, whereof the malignity & length of the disease had made them swerve: for it keeps the body soluble, provokes urine and sweat in great abundance; therefore its continued use doth wonderfully operate in all melancholic affections, hydocondrical and scorbutical diseases, Dropsies, and generally all obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Mesentery, Pancreas and Meseraick veins: above all, it shows its virtue and its strength upon the bodies of those whose blood is infected in the Mass with Venerean impurities: for it doth not only strengthen the vital and animal faculties, which the venom of those impurities seizes upon and destroys by degrees, but it hinders also the progress thereof, and rectifies the Mass, the mass of the blood, and frees it from those impure and noxious serosities which cause all ill symptoms and effects of this desperate and filthy Disease; it must be used for the most part during the space of a Philosophical month, which is forty days: The Dosis from iiij. to xx. drops in Broth, Wine or some convenient Decoction appropriated to the malady: But you must have a care above all things, not to mingle it with acid Liquors, because they would kill the volatile part thereof, by which the best effects are produced.   

How to prepare the dissoluble Glass of Bohemian-tartar, and to extract the Tincture thereof.  
WE have showed in the foregoing operation the manner of extracting the central Sulphur of the Sal ☿, to whom we have assigned many noble Qualities: But we think it also necessary to evince, that salts Alkali are not only the dissolvents of Sulphurs', but also their Extractors: To illustrate this Assertion by a demonstrative Example; We will take the Calcination, vitrification and extraction of pebble stones, by the help of Bohemian-tartar and Alkohol of Wine. And we must let the Reader know, what kind of stones are to be chosen, which may yield the solar embryonated Sulphur contained in them, and when the salt draws to its self, to impart afterwards to the spirit of Wine, which is no small mystery in Chemistry. To bring than this operation to pass, Take pebbles out of Brooks, or Rivulets falling from Mountains, that are rocky and full of woods, and if it be possible where some adjacent ground may contain metallic veins, and where the waters and small Rivers may abound most with Trout well spotted with read Purple spots, high in colour; for this will be an infallible sign, that the pebble stones contained in those Brooks or neighbouring Grounds, contain in themselves embryonated Metals, which before and after Calcination begin to appear: before by external marks and streaks, which are read, green, blue, Purple veins, and mixed with some other colours arguing their metallic Tincture: and besides, because that even inwardly are not only found superficial spots and colours, but in some also are found small scales and grains of perfect and true Metal, holding proof as gold and silver upon the touchstone, as I have oftentimes made the trial myself upon stones which were brought from about Cled●n.  
To begin than this operation: Fill a great Crucible with such stones, and in a Wind-furnace bring them to a full redness; and being thus fire-red, throw them in a Basin half full of fresh water, by which means they become brickle and easy to be reduced to Powder in a Mortar; after which, you must grinned them on a Porphurie Morter or Sea-scale— until it be reduced to Alkohol, or impalpable Powder, which having well dried, mix it in a hot Mortar with five times as much of salt of Bohemian-tartar, very pure and very dry; you must have at lest lb j of this mixture in a great Germane Crucible, so capacious, as that the half or two of it may remain empty, to give way to the raising and boiling up of the matter; whilst it is melting in the extreme heat of the wind-Oven, your care also must be whilst it runs in the Crucible, to draw of with the point of some Iron Instrument some of the melted matter, to try if it be reduced into the substance or form of a green, yellowish-glass, clear and transparent, but you must sound the Crucible to the very bottom, to try also whether all the Powder or dust of the stones be melted, and united with the Salt; which if you found to be so, take of immediately the Crucible from the fire, and throw the vitrified matter or Glass in a very hot Mortar, and with a hot Pestle also stirring it well, to reduce it to Powder; for if you did give it the lest leisure to cool, it would immediately be resolved into a viscous or clammy Liquor, which should shut up the Sulphur, and hinder that the Alkohol of Wine might not have its operation upon it; Heat the Matrass beyou put in the dust of this Resoluble Glass, and pour thereon by degrees of very subtle spirit of Wine, until it be moistened and penetrated on all sides; than pour of the same Spirit three or four fingers high above the matter: put the Vessel in sand already warm, and apply a competent fire to it to bring the Spirit to a simpering: the Vessels must be covered and stopped with the same precautions as in the foregoing Tincture. The Extraction being made, and the Alkohol of Wine loaden with a fine read colour, draw it back and filtrate, than pour on new, and so continued to digest, extract, and filtrate until the Spirit takes no more colour. All these Tinctures join together, and draw back the Spirit in B. M. with a slow heat, until you see a very read Tincture, of a very good smell, and a fiery, penetrating and piercing taste, than cease the fire and draw the Tincture, which you are to put in a Viol of a very narrow neck, stopped if possible with a glazen stople exactly fitted, or with Cork steeped in melted wax, and a double wet bladder over. This noble and excellent Tincture preserves its colour & virtue, much longer than that which is extracted from mere salt of reverberated Bohemian-tartar, because the salt hath drawn from the pebbles their metallic Sulphur, which is of a solar nature: now the salt cannot retain this Sulphur when it is put to digest with pure spirit of Wine, because the Sulphur immediately is communicated to the spirit of Wine, which is an aethereal and volatile Sulphur, which by the mutual analogy and sympathy they have together, extracts and draws it from the centre of the lest part of the salt. This Tincture hath a more diffuse and general virtue than the foregoing: therefore it may be exhibited not only in all diseases, for which we have mentioned the other to be fit and useful, but it may moreover be administered in all intermittent Fevers, and chief in the Quartane; as also in all Chronical Diseases, which for the most part propagate themselves, by reason of the depravation of the internal Faculties, which this Remedy repairs insensibly, as by a Miracle. Above all, it is to be used in obstructions of the Kidneys and Bladder, whether proceeding from viscosity of clammy humours or sand: or whether also the Disease be occasioned by the imitation of the Archaeus of those parts, which is immediately allayed by the eradiation of the virtue of that solar Sulphur shining in this Tincture. We should never make an end, should we relate here of all what both ancient and modern Authors have operated upon Tartar, or what our own experience hath drawn from it. It suffices that we have sufficiently enlightened the Artist, to guide himself both in the Theorical and practical Part of the preparation of this Noble and miraculous Salt; which conceals and contracts in itself the greatest part of the mysteries both of Art and Nature, unto which the Artist will never fail to attain, if he learneth to choose well his Wine, Vinegar and Bohemian-tartar, and applies himself with industry to the Work and study of it: which two things are the main props of all Chemical Curiosity.   

Of Opium, which is the condensed juice of Poppy.  
OPIUM is one of the chief stumbling stones of those which are Sectators of the pure Galenical Physic, and have ever avoided to set their foot in the sanctuary of Chemistry: which Aversion can only proceed of their want of knowledge in natural things, and a true experience of their Virtues: For ut ignoti nulla cupido, ita nec cura; and as nothing else but Nature itself and natural Philosophy, which is Chemistry, can have persuaded by diligent search and labour, and reiterated Experiments, that Opium is not ro be feared nor rejected from amongst Remedies, whether it be raw and crude as it is brought to us from the East, or prepared according to the Rules and Prescriptions of Chemistry: So is it not to be wondered at, if they that call themselves Christians, and yet have never been searchers of Nature, do every day despise what they never knew, but by the Teaching and Reasoning of some Professor who has only read that Opium was unfit to be used, and that it was condemned by Pliny and by Galen; which is too sufficient an Authority (in their Judgements) to be condemned by such as openly profess and make it a scruple of Conscience, not to follow blindly their Masters; and swear as they say, in verba Magistri. But that which is yet much more to be wondered at, is, that they will by a sovereign and Magisterial Authority establish in their Hearers a Belief and Assent of their Doctrine, without being obliged to prove it by effects and real Demonstration; and the worst of all yet is, that they will treat injuriously such as are not willing to condescend to their Opinion: Though these last, either Ancient or Modern Writers, are grounded upon the Basis of true and solid Reason, whose right foundation is Experience. For it is not enough for a Chemical Philosopher to say, that Opium may be prepared and corrected in such a manner, as it may inoffensively be inwardly taken: Since this were not better than tacitly to confess, that it is naught and dangerous of its own nature; But a true Naturalist must search the reason of things in their very spring; to examine if that which produces the controverted quality, is of itself good or bad. Now all those that are versed in the History of Plants, know that the Poppy, from which Opium is taken, is a plant which in all times has had its use and credit in Physic; and likewise the Opium, as without controversy it is proved by the Syrups which are compounded therewith, by the seed put in Emulsions, and by the Opium itself, which without any due preparation, is used in the composition of Electuaries in all dispensatories, and whence they have the name of Opiates: Whence it is plain, that the Poppy hath at all times been allowed amongst the best Practitioners, in the number of Remedies. Which thing to examine a little more strictly, I shall entreat all impartial and unprejudicated Judges to consider, that the syrup of white Poppy, that of the red-flower Poppy, and all the kinds of Diacodium, are nothing else but Extracts, or Juices of Poppy mixed with sugar to reduce them into Syrups, which are every day made use of in all kind of diseases, whereto they are proper, with very good success: and whosoever will make a judicious and unprejudicated reflection upon Opium, which is the Maslak of the Turks, or the Meconium of Latins, shall found that whatsoever efficacy and virtue is in these two condensed Juices, comes but from the same spring from which both the Syrups and Diacodium did originally derive theirs. For whether it be that the water draws the virtue of the heads of Poppy which contain its imperfect seed, and that this virtue be also concentrated in the Syrup: it is likewise the same virtue which is extracted from these heads of Poppy by their bore incision, which occasion those drops that by little and little are condensed, and yield that thick and condensated Juice which is the true Opium or Maslak of the Turks. Or whether also this expression draws the virtue of the Juice of Leaves or tender heads of Poppy, which make the Meconium or grosser Opium; We must acknowledge, that either the Poppy and its preparations are to be banished from the use of Physic; or if the Decoctions, Syrups, and Diacodium continued to be in use, than the Opium or even the Meconium cannot be rejected, since they proceed from the same Plant: and that these Juices thickened and condensated, have nothing else in themselves, but contractedly what the foresaid Remedies contain and afford in a larger bulk and proportion of matter. But if any body would object, that the Decoction and Sugar only, take what is good in the Poppy, and that the hurtful part remains behind, we must have recourse to the anatomy of the Plant to answer this objection; and say, that this Plant is compounded of gross and subtle parts: that the gross are the herb and juice which easily is drawn from it and in good quantity; that in this Juice are invisibly contained the subtle parts, which are an external and material Sulphur, unseparably mixed with another internal Sulphur, and with volatile, mercurial and sulphureous Salt, which are folded in and shut up in the gross and tenacious Mass of the substance which constitutes the Opium, and hath much of gross salt and terrestrious or earthly parts in itself, but chief Meconium. Now as Poppy is not yet ripe nor well digested when employed to make Syrups, Opium and Meconium, so as the sulphur cannot yet sufficiently be concentrated in the seed, to hinder the predominancy of the salt, which is so mixed with it as to be yet embryonated, and so dissolved and united to the water which is added in the composition of the Decoction, or the water of its own Juice; an evident proof, that the same virtue which is diffused in the Decoction, whereof Syrups are made and all the kinds of Diacodium, is more contracted and united in the Juice, which naturally comes forth out of the heads of Poppy whereof the Opium is made by Incisions, or extracted by expression, as the Meconium is. All this we have said above, tends only to show, that it is a wrong and injury done to the Art, to use with Authority and great commendations those common Remedies which by coarse and rude preparations are taken from the Poppy, and for the most part distaste the Patient by their quantity and unpleasantness; and to forbidden obstinately those which are invented by Chemical Physicians, who have moreover separated the purity from its impurity, and so judiciously with so much Art, have redressed and corrected all the defects which might be attributed to Opium; and that besides, they prescribe it in a very little Dosis and small proportion; they have so much altered the case and odour thereof, that those which without being acquainted with it, take upon themselves to traduce and cry it down, would be much put to it to know it, if laid before them without being told, or put in some suspicion or guests thereof by having some small light from Chemistry, which might best of all teach them. But to add yet more weight to what we have said, let us join Experience to Ratiocination: for that true Touchstone will teach us, that whole Nations use every day Opium or Maslak very pure and unmixed without interruption, for the richer sort, and Meconium for the meaner sort of people, and that without any previous preparation, and in a very excessive Dosis, since they take it from ℈ ꝭ. at lest to ʒ. i. wholly, without receiving thereby any hurt or prejudice, have only a kind of giddiness in the Head as if they were drunk; which hath made the proverbial Reproach, You have taken Opium: as if we should say amongst us, You are drunk. To confirm this Assertion, we have all the most authentic Records and famous Relations of those that have traveled in the Indieses and the Levant; chief amongst the Mahometans: who all believe that Opium doth raise their Spirits, makes them more courageous and bold, and causes them to undervalue dangers and perils. The Indian's take it to hinder sadness, and prevent melancholy from seizing upon them; as also to be more enabled to satisfy longer the lust and luxurious inclination of the Indian women. It is true, that the same Authors do tell us, that if those that are not accustomed to it would at first undertake to use as much at once, as those that by custom have made it familiar to their nature, they may fall in very dangerous and sad accidents, and run even hazard of their lives: but that aught not to bring a prejudice and aspersion upon Opium to reject it absolutely, since the hurful quality with which it is upbraided, proceeds only from the excess made by them that take it without having been acquainted with it before, and habituated their bodies to the same by little and little: just as if Wine should therefore be dis-esteemed, because some body may be dis-ordered by it, either by an over-proportion of what he takes, or because he is altogether unacquainted with it. Do we not see that Tobacco either taken in smoke, chawed, or in sneezing-pouder, causes very ill and surprising symptoms in all those which are not accustomed unto it, bringing a sudden giddiness upon them; vomiting, cold sweats, even as if they were at deaths-door; and yet nevertheless when they have made it habitual, some are so wedded to the use of it, that they can by no means be taken from it, or deprived of that comfort. Therefore we must never rashly give our Judgement of the ill effects which are produced by the excessive use of any thing, otherwise we must condemn the best things that are sought for and appointed for the preservation of our life, witness this Axiom in Physic which saith, that Omnis repletio mala, panis autem pessima; and thus much had we to say concerning Opium, and those which daily make use thereof with very good success in their practice, to master Diseases and correct their most dangerous and troublesome accidents. We will only add to this before we come to the practical part, a word very considerable; and it is this, That I believe to have found the reason why Opium doth not make so great an impression upon the Eastern people, according to my Judgement as upon Europaeans: Because these drink Wine or some other fermented Liquor for the most part, such as are Cider, Beer, etc. and the others drink none but commonly water. Now the fermented Liquors do exalt the Narcotick and Soporifick sulphur of the Opium, and by the subtlety of their spirits convey it into the very Veins and Arteries, where it makes, or is capable to make (I say Opium) many dangerous impressions, being taken in too great a Dosis; or not prepared with all the exactness acquired. I conclude than, this Theorical Discourse of Opium by the protestation I make, to have exposed none but of the best and most exact preparation, according to the prescription of the most learned and famous Practitioners of our Age, and that in greater quantity than any Apothecary of France since 30 years has done, without ever seeing any ill accident to hap contrariwise; I have seen so many, so admirable, and so laudable effects, that I will be ready all my life-time to acknowledge in thankfulness, and to praise those to whom I am obliged for the knowledge of this Heavenly Remedy: The preparation whereof follows, according as study, labour and experience have taught it me.   

The common preparation of Opium.  
I Do not question, but some carping Critic will say, that I have omitted in the foregoing Discourse, the Dispute of Controversy ordinarily raised in the Schools, between those that maintain Opium to be cold, because it was the opinion of ancient Physicians, and others, who affirm it to be hot: because their sense, and the experience of its effects, seem to force us to entertain this this opinion, and to assent unto Truth. We would have handled Question pro and con, had it not been that we profess Chemical Philosophy; whose prescription it is, we should attend the things and not the words, and not judge of the truth thereof by the several imaginary degrees of their qualities; but rather dive into the knowledge of the internal essence of mixts by their Anatomy, which gives a true light, and discovers unto us what Principle it is which predominates in natural bodies, that from thence we may fetch the true Indication of their peculiar proprieties, and the uses whereunto they aught to be applied.  
To perform this Creditably, we must begin in the choice of Opium or Meconium; for it were pity the Artist should ill bestow his time and his materials: Therefore, he must have the capacity to judge betwixt good and bad ones, and the ability to discern between the sophisticated, adulterated, and that which is not legitimate and skilfully prepared; Nam bonum à malo, falsum à vero discernere periti est Artificis. But as the true and right Maslak of the Turks can but difficultly and rarely be met with, whose qualities are a very strong and unpleasant smell, of a yellow colour, inclining somewhat to the redness of Lion's hair, very bitter, biting and fiery in the palate, and upon the Tongue, so that it seems to set it on a flame, being compacted and well united in a heap, as a small Cake consisting of many small grains of several colours, because in gathering the drops flowing from the Incision made in the Poppy-heads, there will ever some corn of the seed be mixed with the flowing Liquor: It it necessary we should give some notes of Direction to choose the best and purest of that which is called Meconium, drawn by Expression from the juice of Poppy-heads bruised, or by the mixtue of the juice of the leaves: it were to be wished, that those from whom we have it, would be contented with this corpse preparation without super-adding other Juices to increase the Mass: for the Cakes of Opium which are brought from Anatolia, are ordinarily of the weight of ℥ iiij. or lb φ. at the most, whereas those that come from Alexandria, Egypt, Venice and Marsilia, are for the most part of a pound weight, whereby it is easy to discover that those who drive a trade of it, do increase the weight thereof at lest of one half part.  
The Sophistication of it is performed three several ways: The first is, with juice of Glaucium or Apple of Love; but this Cheat is easily discovered with dissolving it in a little water, which immediately turns yellow as if Saffron had been in it. The second is done with juice of Endive and wild-Lettice, but this also is known, in that when you cut the Cakes of Opium or Meconium, the inside is rougher and lesle smooth, and has a more mixed odour, obscurer and more difficult to be discerned. The third and last way of disguise is done with Gum, which also is very easy to be discovered, for the Cake is more brickle and more shining; and moreover, this is the worst sort of all having much less strength and virtue. By which it may be evident, that the true notes of Opium can be no other than those we have already assigned, except that the Meconium which is the most common sort amongst us, is more compact and united, more black and strong in smell: but it is not so bitter, harsh and biting in the mouth, by reason of the other parts of the Poppy mixed with it, which are not yet exalted, nor their volatile salt concocted, as is the juice proceeding from the head alone, either by incisions or Expressions. The Artist than having chosen his Opium such as he aught to have, must cut it in very slender slices, which he shall sprinkle in an Iron-pan with good Rose-vinegar until the Opium be reduced to pap with the Vinegar, by agitating and stirring of it with an Iron-slice; than put the pan on a very small fire, and so by degrees dry the Opium without increasing the fire to prevent burning, until it be wholly dry and be crumbled from its lump, and reduced to a powder and making no more smokes. This pure and single operation produces two considerable effects: The first, that by its slow and moderate exhalation and the continual agitation of its external sulphur, it drives away the impure and undigested Opium, by which all those disorders which commonly hap and are feared, be produced. The second is, that it corrects and fires in a manner the volatile salt of the same by the acid spirit of the Vinegar: and that moreover, it changes also the bitterness and the ill taste thereof: The Chemical Apothecary shall keep this Opium thus corrected in his shop, to use in the composition of all such ordinary Remedies when that Ingredient is required; as also to make therewith the most exact and Philosophical preparations, according to the prescription which we will give hereunder.   

To make the Extract of plain Opium.  
PUT in a Matrasse ℥ iiij. of prepared Opium, prepared after the way above related, in very small powder, pouring upon good distilled Vinegar the height of four fingers: stir very well the same, and than put your Matrass to digest in sand or ashes to extract the Tincture of Opium, which will separate from its gross and earthly parts, wherein the greatest part of its impure and inquinated sulphur lies lurking; when the distilled Vinegar shall be well impregnated with the colour of the Opium, draw it of by Inclination and with a care of not troubling the grounds; than pour again new Vinegar, stir and extract, and so proceed until the spirit of Vinegar comes of no more coloured than when poured on: filtrate these Tinctures, and lay aside that which shall remain in the Bag, and dry it, to use the same as we shall immediately direct. Evaporate softly in sand all the Tinctures to a consistence of Honey boiled into a thick Syrup, which you shall keep; than take the remainder of your Extraction of the Opium made with distilled Vinegar; which having dried, put in a Matrass, and pour upon ratified spirit of Wine a●●ated with ʒ j of the salt of Tartar of Senne●tus, to every ℥ iiij. of Spirit, that this Menstruum thus animated, may extract the remaining internal sulphur of the Opium, which the spirit of Vinegar could not do, and may at the same time also digest its unripeness: continued these extractions in B. M. until the spirit take not more of the colour; filtrate the Tinctures, and draw of again the spirit of Wine in the same Balneo (which will serve anew for like operations) to a consistency of decocted Honey; than join the two Extracts together, and go on in evaporating till they attain to the true consistency of a solid Extract which may be framed into Pills, so shall you have a Body of extract of Opium depurated and corrected, which will serve to make all the other compounded extracts of Opium, which by excellency are called Laudanum; as if one should say, a Remedy which cannot be exalted or praised enough, and exceeds even all kind of praise, as the Rare and admirable effects which it daily produces in the hands of the most skilful and excellent Practitioners do sufficiently witness every day. This general Extract of Opium may already in a manner be called Laudanum, since it is the ground and foundation of all others, and that without any either danger or scruple it may be used in many Occurrences, chief when the Chemical Apothecary shall be yet unprovided of the other kinds of Laudanum, which are more exalted, and admit of some other Ingredients in their composition appropriated to the disease in hand, or intended for help or ease of some particular part of the body.  
Before we attribute any virtue to this plain Laudanum or Extract of Opium, we are obliged to prove that it is not capable of any of those ill effects, which the most circumspect and less venturous are afraid will hap from the use of Opium: which ill effects are, as they say, that Opium suspends and doth suppress the excretion of Excrements and stops the passages of Urine, benumbs and enervates the limbs, changes the natural complexion into a leaden colour of the face, causes cold sweats, short breath and difficult Respiration, and in progress of time a perturbation of the Senses and Spirit, makes drowsy and stupifies all the animal and vital Faculties. But we have showed that whole Nations make use of crude Opium without any Corrective, and yet never fall into any of those so decantated accidents, except giddiness, whereof they are as easily freed after the first impression is past, as those that have been inebriated with Beer, Wine or aqua vitae. Wherhfore we may conclude with much more reason, that well depurated and well corrected Opium after the way we have taught, shall not be capable to produce any of the evil symptoms which commonly are feared from it, provided that those who shall prescribe it either to sound or diseased bodies, exceed not the judicious Dosis, which at first must ever be small, to avoid the surprisal of those accidents which might be occasioned by the too great quantity: And moreover, considering that it is ever easy to add, but very difficult, if not impossible to diminish it when once let down into the stomach, let this be said by the by upon the precautions of the Dosis, which aught to be from gr. j to iiij. and vj. gr. We add now the singular and noble Virtues wherewith this excellent Remedy is endowed: which are first to appease all irritations, intestine, seditious and violent commotions of the body, disquietings, rages, fury and madness of the Archaeus, which is the principal Director of the Spirit of Life, and consequently of health and sickness; restablishing again peace and concord, and maintaining it between the Motor and motions of the Body: so that after it has softly appeased the pain and allayed the grief, it procures a soft and pleasant sleep, which restores nature to its self, and repairs the strength of weak Patients brought low and attenuated by reason of pain, disquiet and want of sleep, and so without doubt is at lest half of the Cure of the Disease of what nature soever it be: for somnus reparat vires, fessaque membra levat, by which we may conclude, that, Natura corroborata est omnium morburum medicatrix, for which truly I can have a proof from Paracelsus out of the fifth book of his Archidoxa, in the Chapter where he treats of the specific Anodine, of which we have been moved to speak by several causes, having had sometimes in hand such kind of Diseases, as all our Arcana's have failed us in the cure of them, except the only specific Anodine which has produced wondered effects, by us the less admired at, because we know that by the course and Law of Nature water does quench fire, and that in the same manner the Anodine extinguishes in all ages the pains of Diseases, and that for several Reasons which we now omit. For that which sleeps is at rest, naturally commits no fault: If than the Paroxysm is set asleep, it cannnt be felt, but if it be awaked his operation goes on and will be felt. And in this Remedy have we one comfort more, that sleep takes away and dispels much grief, pain and melancholy. But it is to be noted here, that it is not necessary the man should sleep, but on the disease itself; wherefore we frame a Specific which encounters the disease alone, and combats not the whole man; as it must be understood of Fevers, where it is necessary to make use thereof; for are there things hurtful to the whole man and divisible in the diseased man: which makes us to set upon the disease, and so prepare the Specific that it may have no operation upon the Body. These are the words of that Great Philosopher the wondered Paracelsus, after which he delivers the preparation of Laudanum, in the manner which followeth.   

Laudanum, or the specific Anodine of Paracelsus.  
℞ Of corrected Opium ℥ j Juice of sharp Orange and Quinces well depurated ana ℥ vj. Cinnament and Cloves ana ℥ φ. Beaten all to powder and mix it in a double Vessel, and digest either in the Sun or Horse-dung the space of a month; this done, express the Species, and put the Liquor again in your double or circulary Vessel, with addition of ℈ ss Musk, ℈ iij. Ambergrease, ℥ ss. Saffron, ℈ ss. Salt of Coral and as much of Pearls; put all this again to digest in the manner aforesaid during one month; than opening the Vessel express the Liquor and reduce it into a liquid Extract, to which you shall add towards the end ℈ j ss. of Quintessence of Gold; than evaporate your matter till it comes to a fit consistency to make Pills: The Dosis whereof of from gr. φ. to iij. or iiij. gr. Which is (says he) the true Specific Anodine, taking away and appeasing all inward and outward pains, so that none of the members is sensible thereof. You see that Paracelsus doth make use of acid Liquors for the dissolution and digestion of Opium, which is the Basis & Ground of this admirable Remedy, to which he had recourse in the most urgent and difficult Diseases. I cannot but add here yet what he says in praise of Anodins and Soporiferous Remedies in General, when he speaks of the Embryonated Sulphur in the first Book of his Physic, or Treatise of natural things: What Arcanum aught the Physician more earnestly wish for, than that which may assuage all griefs, and alloy all heats: for he that shall enjoy it shall be possessor of no less knowledge than Apollo himself, Machaon or Podalyrius, which is an Hyperbolical way of expression he has to extol the Somniferous Remedies or Anodins.  
And though the foregoing Laudanum be indifferently fit to be used by either Sex: it is necessary nevertheless we should give a description of an Hysterical Anodine for such Women as are troubled with fits of the Mother, and wherein no Must must be mixed; for Ambergrease is not so hurtful and contrary to them, unless joined with Musk or Civet, though many are of a contrary persuasion. This kind of Laudanum is prepared as followeth.   

Hysterical Laudanum for Woman's use.  
℞ ℥ ij. of Karabe or white Amber such as Beads use to be of to ℥ φ of very fine Myrrh ʒ j of the inward and dissoluble substance of Castor; reduce all to powder and make the Extract thereof in B. M. in a circulatory Vessel with alkalized spirit of Wine, and changing with new Menstruum so long that the Species remain without colour in the Vessel: than filtrate all the Tinctures and draw of your Spirit again in the vapour of Balneo till you have your Liquor in the consistency of a Syrup; which you are to circulate during the space of fifteen days with ℥ ij. of Spirit of ♀. drawn in the manner we shall teach when we come to speak of Metals: draw of again the Spirit in ashes; than join to the remaining substance ℥ j of extract of plain Opium, dissolved in ℥ iij. of juice of Orange well depurated; put it to evaporate on ashes in a slow fire until the whole be reduced to a solid Extract, that may be framed into Pills▪ The Mass or Body of your Laudanum of all kinds must be kept in a Bladder anointed with oil or aromatical Essences, as Cloves, Cinnament, Nutmeg for the plain Laudanum, and that of Paracelsus, and with that Carabe or of Pennyroyal for hysterical Laudanum: and put the Mass so folded in a tin or silver Box. This kind of Laudanum may freely and without scruple be administered to Women or Maids without any fear of provoking the fits: but contrariwise this Remedy shall correct all the impurity and whatsoever is amiss in this part; it is also Specific for either Sex against all diseases of the Brain proceeding from what cause soever: but principally it is very recommendable to remove the hurtful and sickly Ideas of Epilepticks, and hinder the accidents of Epilepsy caused by the rising of the Mother; and let no body fear in any wise that this Medicament should stop the lunary courses of Women or their purgations in Childbed; but to the contrary it will never fail to expel them, having first restored the natural functions and brought them again to their duty by procuring rest, having first allayed all griefs and conciliated sleep: but that which above all is furprising and less conceivable is, that the same Extract doth also without any danger and trouble stop the immoderate courses of Women, because they proceed for the most part from certain harsh and noxious Serosities which are by it composed, sweetened and tempered in such a manner, that this Remedy never disappoints the hope of the Physician or expectation of the Patient. It is also of singular use in all other bloody Fluxes or Haemorragies arising from what cause soever, as I am myself in several occurrences an eyewitness thereof. The Dosis is from gr. j to gr. iiij. for the most. But you are to note what it will sooner operate dissolved in some Liquor, than exhibited in Pills.   

Laudanum against Dysentery and all sort of Fluxes immoderate, as also against Agues.  
℞ Root of Asclepias or Centauria Imperatoria or 
* Or false pellitory of Spain.  Masterwort, Angelica, Carline or Zonera dried in the shade, Zedoaria, Bistorta, or Snakeweed, Tormentil ʒ ij. Viper's flesh ʒ iij. Sanguis Draconis very fine, or in drops ʒ j ss. Camphire ʒ j Chincinna Rind and Misseltoe of Oak ana ℥ ss. Reduce all to powders which digest in B M. in a double Vessel circulatory with Alkohol of Wine four fingers high: the Spirit being well tincted pour it out by inclination, and so continued your Extractions, until all the Tincture and virtue of the Species be extracted; than strain and filtrate the Tinctures, adding thereto ℥ j of plain extract of Opium, ʒ j extract of Saffron, ℈ iiij. of dissolved Magistery of read Coral, as much of Pearls, and ʒ φ. of very good Ambergrease, dissolved with ℈ ij. of oil of Macis made by expression, united or incorporated to ʒ j of fine Sugar in powder: put all these in a Cucurbit to the vapour of Balneo, and having applied a Head and exactly luted the joints, give a moderate fire to draw from it a Sudorific, Cardiack and Alexiterial Spitit which has scarce its like: Than reduce by degrees the whole into a Mass which you shall keep for use in a Bladder anointed with oil of Cloves. This Laudanum is a Treasure for such as shall have it in their possession in places where Dysentery, Lientery and malignant Fluxes shall rage's, as it commonly doth in Armies. Moreover, it is a sovereign Cordial and preservative in all dangerous Agues, as well intermittent as continual, in immoderate watch, importunate griefs and wearisome prickings of the Cramp, or Tenasmus. Those that shall make use of this noble Remedy must not fear to take of it before puring, upon pretence you should (as the Proverb says) shut up the Wolf in the sheep-fold; for there must ever a greater care be had to ease the pains and procure the rest of the Patient, than to the malignity of what is peccant or defective in quality of quantity; considering that even after this the Patient undergoes more cheerfully the trouble of purging, because he is refreshed with rest and his strength increased. This Laudanum produces also wondered effects in all Collicks in general, and particularly in that which is called Convolvulus or the twitching of the Guts, which is nothing else but a motion against the nature of the entrails carried upwards from the lower parts, whereas natural motion which is called Peristatick or consecutive, is performed from the upward parts tending downwards; and as the cause of the disease is only either an irritation of the Spirits, or the malignity of matters kept in, this Remecy cures both at the same time, though it seems incredible to the apprehensions of those who condemn this practice; Sed canis allatrat lunae, nec luna movetur. It is also very useful and singular for all Fevers, because it brings their crisis by Sweat and Urines after rest; And moreover comforts and strengthens the Ventricle and digestive Faculty which always in Fevers is depraved, & chief in Tertians, double-tertians, double-quartans, which oftentimes are too lasting for poor Patients, and throws them often from one gulf and danger into another; that is to say, from a Fever into a Dropsy. The Dosis is from gr. j to iiij. with observation ever to administer before it a Clyster made only with new stolen or Urine, if the Patient be sick of a Fever, and not to give any in the day of the Paroxysm or Aguish fit, unless it be in continual Fevers and in all the kinds of malignant ones, with this caution nevertheless, that it must be before the fit seizes upon the Patient, if it be every day.   

Of the Elaterium, or condensated juice of wild-Cucumber.  
ELaterium is a very bitter Juice taken from the fruit of wild Cucumber, before it be broken and hath shed its seed, that is to say a little before it be ripe, which juice is afterwards evaporated and condensed in a thick Extract, which is said to be one of the juices which preserves itself the longest in its taste and virtue: for some are of opinion that it lasts above two years before it loses any of its Faculties. By that which hath been already said above touching the unripeness of Opium, we may easily conjecture that this also is not without its defects, since it is drawn from a froth not yet brought to full perfection and maturity; and therefore that it is necessary to correct it if we will have it to produce some effect, not hurtful in respect of its purgative verrue which is very violent, insomuch that it is capable to 'cause abortion or miscarrying in women; but as this violence and its immaturity may be corrected, and that it is a good Remedy capable of producing many good effects, to evacuate Venerean Sweats, and Dropsical waters, we have thought fitting first to show the way of purifying this condensed Juice; than in the second place, to reach how to make thereof a legitimate Extract, which may without any danger be made use of in many stubborn and obstinate diseases: this Remedy having in itself great plenty of volatile Salt, and a Sulphur which preserves its exemplum from corruption, communicating unto it a colliquative and purgative virtue.   

Cleansing and depuration of the Elaterium.  
THE Artist must dissolve what quantity he pleases of this Juice in a sufficient quantity of phlegm of Vitriol sharpened with a portion of its acid Spirit; than digest them together the space of six weeks in the heat of Balneo; after this time strain and express the dissolution, than filtrate it to separate all the crass and heterogeneal impurities; after this evaporate the filtration in ashes in a moderate fire, until it comes to the consistency of an Extract, which will be the depurated Elaterium, and in part corrected by reason of the acidity of Vitriol which has blunted the too active virtue thereof already, capable in this state to be an Ingredient in Venerean Pills, or pills for the Pox; if so be the bodies that are to be purged be very strong, and that some aromatical drugs be joined to it to prevent its hurtfulness to the stomach or the neighbouring parts. The Dosis is from gr. j to vj. But we must show another way better and more capable to act upon the sulphur of this Juice and its terrestrial salt, crude and undigested salt, to bring it to maturation, and make this Remedy more useful to such as may have need thereof: which is performed in the follwing manner.   

How the Extract of Elaterium is to be made.  
PUT at much as you will of depurated Elaterium in a double or circulatory Glasse-vessel, and pour upon of very pure spirit of Wine, acuated with ℈ j of Salt of Sennerius, for each ʒ of Spirit till your Glass be half full; than having luted it very exactly, place it in a vaporous Bath in sawing of wood, or Sawdust of a moderate hear, during the space or three whole weeks; this time being over, open the Vessel and filtrate the Tincture, to which join ℈ j of dissoluble Magistery of Coral, ℈ φ. of oil of Nutmegs expressed and tempered with Sugar in powder, this proportion to each ℥ j of Ela●erium; than draw back the Spirit in a vaporous Bath to a consistency of a soft Extract, which afterwards put in a wooden Bowl or white or grey earthen dish, and softly evaporate the same in ashes to the consistency of a mass fit to work into Pills, which are to be preserved in a Bladder anointed with oil of Cloves. This Extract is a great and a very sovereign Remedy to evacuate all superfluous and malignant Serosities which do infect the sinews and membranous parts: wherefore it may be with very good success administered in all diseases of the Joints, Atrophie's, Leucophlegmaty, Gout, Pox, Dropsy and all like affections: but chief when some excellent Arcanum is mixed therewith drawn from Mercury, as we shall hereafter teach the manner of it. The Dosis is from gr. ij. to xij. provided the Patient remember to take the evening of that day in which he is purged, a Julep with ℥ iiij. of water of the juice of Chicory, ℥ j ss. of Syrup of Gillyflower, and u or vj. drops of very good volatile Spirit of Venus.    

SECTION IX. Of Oil.  
THE Physicians which have written of Pharmacy, have ever made use of the bore name of Ojle, or common oil, when they would denote that oil which is drawn from Olives by expression; which name it may vindicate with a very good Title to its self, in regard it is not only of very great use in Physic outwardly applied, but because also it is a good Aliment and Remedy inwardly applied. And as this Section is dedicated to speak of Oil, we will choose none other but that which the Ancient and Modern Physicians have made use of; considering also that Chemistry works only upon natural products to correct their defects and exalt them in virtue; therefore we shall have nothing else to do here upon Oil, than to separate some gross and undigested moistness which hinders its penetration, and so to tender it more subtle and more active: for oil of Olive to speak properly, is nothing else but the imperfect and undigested Sulphur of that fruit, which abounds with much volatile Salt mixed with a fat viscosity, as it appears by its congelation, it curdling in the cold, and its inflammation. We shall than only make two preparations thereof, which shall be a type and model whereby to work upon all other sorts of Oil when the Artist hath a mind to depurate them, and tender them more subtle and more penetrating. The first shall be that operation by which is made that oil which is called The Philosopher's Oil, which operation is very suitable to the work: for he that was the first Inventor of it, could not be otherwise than very well acquainted with the Rarest secrets of the noblest Philosophy, having joined therein Practice to Theory, and left us as the first-fruits of his study and his work, the manner of making an Oil, which is wondered in its virtues. The second operation will be the manner of distilling common oil, to tender it more durable and less obnoxious to fuliginous emanations, that it may be more usefully employed to the service of those Lamps, with which Chemists are used to entertain the heat of their Lamp-furnace: as also to use upon several occasions where it may be serviceable, both for inward and outward diseases.  

How the Oil of Philosophers is to be prepared.  
TAke old Tiles or Bricks, and having broken them into small pieces of the bigness of a Philberd, heat them glowing read in a Wind-furnace with coal, stratum super stratum, ordering it so that the first and last bed be of coals: and when they are come to the highest colour of redness, have a pewter or brass Basin with a cover well fitted to shut it close and put out the flame, when the pieces of brick or tile shall be thrown glowing hot in the oil, which you may take of about the quan●tty of lb 〈◊〉 or vj. o● old clear oil; these pieces of brick or tile must be taken with pincers, and one after another be put in the oil, and the cover applied to quench the flame which will rise, until all your oil be spent and dried up: than grinned to powder these pieces so imbibed and impregnated with oil, and mix to them equal weight of decrepitated Salt, or as much of the caput mortuum of aqua fortis, or Colchotar; than having put the matter in a well-luted Retort in a close Reverberatory Furnace, fit it to a large Receiver also well luted; cover the Furnace, than give it fire by degrees, until the drops begin to follow one after another, and that the oil comes into the Recipient in shapes of vapours and obscure clouds; than increase it, and entertain it even with flame of very dry wood until the Recipient gins to grow clean of itself at which sign cease the fire and let all cool: and the Vessels being open, you shall know that what was almost without odour and insipid has much altered its nature; for the volatile salt of the oil is so much exalted and changed, that it is almost impossible to hold the Nose over the Recipient by reason of the subtle spirits of this Salt, which gives to this distilled oil an unpleasant odour. The one half of the oil may be laid aside without Rectifying, for it may be useful in many occurrences were there is no necessity to have it so subtle. Take afterwards the other half and mix it with common ashes or Colchotar until it be reduced to a paste which you shall model into Pills, and put into a Glass Retort, whose neck inwardly must be very well cleansed; than place it in a Sand-Furnace with its Recipient, and give a gradual fire, continuing until you have drawn of all the Oil which shall be very subtle and fluid, and penetrating with a wonderful activity.  
These two oils are good applied outwardly: but if you intent to use it inwardly, take lb ss. of Rectified oil, and mix it with as much salt of Bohemian-tartar, and lb ij. white Wine; put all this mixture into a low Cucurbit, where you must have a Head or Still very fitly and exactly jointed, and so likewise luted; and give it a convenient fire until all the vapours begin to rise, which will be mingled with oil, water and spirit; continued your fire until no part of the oil more shall ascend; than separate the remaining oil in the Cucurbit, and add it to that of the first distillation which has not been rectified, so shall you have the true Philisophersoyle so called: and which being brought to this height and perfection of sobtilty deserves well that appellation, by reason of its Rare Virtue and the noble effects it produces, both inwardly and outwardly.  
The first Oil drawn and not Rectified, doth dissolve, digest, mollify and bring to maturation all schirrous and hard Tumours, and chief such as grow without pain; Resolves potently all flatuous & cold Oedema's or waterish swell and all other hard and cold tumours, in whatsoever place of the body seated, peculiarly those that are about the joints, whose action they check and suspend. The second oil which hath been rectified, is also very good to the same purpose, for it digests with much more speed: above all, it hath a wondered operation to dissipate all Tophus's, Schirrosities and Nodosities, and cold gout, mixed with a little spirit of salt, and very subtle spirit of wine. This mixture is also very salutiferous to all those that have any member fallen into Atrophy, or benumbed with Palsy; for it doth insinuate itself into the parts, and consumes and dissipates the slime, which did hinder the illustration and flowing of the spirits upon the parts by their obstruction, or rather resuscitates life, and reanimates the spirits in the members already deprived of it, and as it were half dead. But there is no comparison between the first and second, and the third sort; for it is so subtle, that even as if it were light itself, it penetrates the parts in an instant; wheresore they that shall make use of it, must proceed with judgement, and observe the true proportion; for it it be inwardly administered against Plague, or wind Colic, the Dosis must none exceed eight drops at the most: and for the Plague it must be exhibited in the distillation of Roots of Lagworth or butter-burr with white wine; and for the Colic in Sassafras, distilled water; there must also a precaution be used, when it shall be outwardly applied; for if it be used for the cold gout, there must be Camphire dissolved in it; and it must be applied upon the part only with a feather, and the same not stroked above three times with it; But this is not yet the best use and talon of this oil, which seems particularly to be dedicated to the Matrix: all the bad Symptoms and irritations whereof it doth alloy, in case it be internally administered in Savine or matricarial mother, it removes all the obstructions thereof, drives away all impurities, if applied to the neck of it, where it is immediately volatized, by reason of the opening of the Uterus or Womb, to expel thence whatsoever is hurtful: It may be made also to penetrate in the very body of the womb, with an instrument made for the purpose, having a channel or conduct-pipe proportioned to the neck of the Matrix; the end whereof must be very round, and perforated with many holes; and in the cavity of it, a round ball, (but opened also in the top, to contain the oil, and exhale it) which being exactly fitted to the pipe, may be conveyed by a screw, and made to ascend from the bottom by degrees, till it come to the top, where this subtle oil will be volatized by the heat of the Matrix working upon it, and thus receiving the vapours thereof, whereby all defects will be corrected: this description will suffice for those that are acquainted with the mysteries of our Art; for to say more, would neither be necessary nor lawful. I shall end with only saying, That this Oil matures and ripens, in a very short time, all kind of Abscesses, Botches and Boils; but above all, the Pestilential sore, if it be outwardly applied thereupon, at the same time that it is inwardly exhibited to the Patient, he being very carefully covered to be brought to sweated.   

How the Oil must be defecated.  
MIX lb viij. of the Oil very clear with lb ij. of salt ☿ in a glass retort; and being put in sand, distil it slowly with a gradual heat, until nothing more comes from it; than draw of the salt again from within the retort with warm water, filtrate and evaporate till it be dry, than in a Crucible make it glowing; and when it shall almost be cooled again, grinned it to powder in a warm mortar, and mix it again in the retort with the Oil already dissolved, and draw of again upon sand as before, which you must reiterate to a third time, to have a very subtle oil, and lasting to the Lamp, not easy to be put out, if you have only care of the weak, yielding a lesle thick and black smoke, and by consequence lesle soot; but it is not only fit for those purposes, but moreover very good to resolve and mollify, as the foregoing oil, to which in a manner it may be substituted, when there shall be any need of it for external applications or outward griefs, in delicate and squeamish Patients which are not capable to bear the unpleasant smell of the Philosopher's oil; but it is not so penetrating and so efficacious. It may also be used in the boiling of Plasters and Ointments, because it doth not partake any more of this excrementitious moisture, which doth, for the most part, 'cause the putrefaction and colliquation frequent in wounds and ulcers.    

SECTION X. Of Gummy Drops or Resins.  
GUmmy drops or Resins are substances proceeding from fat and oleaginous vegetables, and coming forth out of the same either spontaneously and naturally, or after some incision made in the plant; their consistency is various; for some are soft, and others hard; the soft are all kinds of Turpentine, and soft pitch or tar; the hard are, gum. Elemi, Aninae, tacamacha, olibanum, or Frankincense, and all other the like kinds. We will give two examples of the manner of distilling; the one of soft or liquid Resin, the other of solid; which shall be common Turpentine, or Venice and Gum. Elemi; that by the manner of Working upon these, the Artist may be instructed how to proceed upon all others.  

Of the Distillation of Common Turpentine.  
WE rather choose to take Common Turpentine, than a more subtle kind, because this in a manner is more natural, and more fully possesses the mercurial and balsamic parts, than the other sorts: It is this which Paracelsus calls Resina de botin; and though some are of Opinion that it is inferior, and yields in virtue to that of Cyprus or Venice, we are nevertheless of another judgement; for although the other be clearer and more pure, this hath, notwithstanding, some volatile mercurial salt, which is not abundantly found in others; the process thereof working upon it, is as followeth. Put lb vi. of Common Turpentine, which is the gum of the Larix tree orshrub, in a great and capacious retort of glass, in which the two third parts must temain voided of matter or thereabouts, because the heat causes the Turpentine to rise, and so if lesle crowded, might run in the body out of the neck of the retort, instead of rising in cloud and vapours as it aught to do: which to procure, you must put in the empty space of the retort above the Turpentine, a good handful of Flax or Tow, that it might hinder the ebullition and rising of the matter: Put your retort in sand, and having fitted it to a receiver, whose joints are to be luted with paper and meal-pap, give it first a slow fi●e, until the drops of the acide and mercurial spirit begin to fall, and keep it in this tune, until you perceive that the ethereal and subtle oil gins to drop, and a small cloudy and white vapour gins to appear, and condense itself into a subtle oil in the recipient; than increase the fire by little and little, until the drops and white cloud do cease, which is a Token that the yellow will quickly follow; wherefore than change your Recipient, that you may have all these substances severed: Continued your fire increasing, until the falling drops begin to be of a very deep yellow; which when you see, change again your Recipient, and give the last degree of fire, that all the body of the Turpentine may rise into vapours, which will condense into a balsamic oil of a tenacious and slow substance, and as read as blood; so shall you have wrought all the substance of this Resin in four several liquors differing not in colour only, but also in virtue; for there is an aqueous liquor swimming above the ethereal and subtle oil, which is commonly called Spirit of Turpentine, but improperly; for Chemists do never call spirit, whatsoever is fat, unctuous and inflammable: this spirit is nothing else properly, but the volatile and mercurial salt of Turpentine; for it is acide and sharp, and a philosophical dissolvent of Crystals, Stones and Shells, as some will have; but as there are many others, which in worth and virtue for this purpose challenge the precedency of it, we are not of their opinion, but we may nevertheless say in truth, that this spirit deserves some kind of esteem, by reason of its balsamic astriction, which doth no hurt or prejudice to the nervous and membranous parts, as all other acide or sharp spirits, not partaking of this balsamic virtue, do: for though the Dogmatics think to correct Turpentine with their pretended lotion: the truth is, doing thus, they take away from it all the purest of its detersive and mundifying faculty: for as the ethereal and subtle oil which Turpentine contains in itself, doth lenify, and sweetens by its balsamic quality, so likewise doth at the same time that subtle and detersive salt, mundifying strongly, and being, as it were, a precursor to the other, which sweetens and tempers that, which the first had as it were irritated. Thence must the Artist conclude, that this spirit is good and useful to cleanse the viscosities, impurities, and other ill dispositions of the lungs, ureteries, spermatick vessels, and kernels of the prostatae and parastatae, when any irritation of those parts doth hap, or any other unclean matter lies lurking in the sinuosities and secret corners of those parts, which can neither be removed nor corrected by the help of mundifying and balsamical remedies, capable of keeping and preserving their strength without any alteration, to convey it along with themselves into the parts which are in need of it; for we must make a general note of very great importance for that part of Physic, which is to take indication of the effects of Remedies, chief of those that are to be employed for the diseases of the kidneys and bladder; for all those Medicaments which are endowed with a sulphureous, balsamic and volatile salt, preserve their inviolable virtue in the digestion itself, and carry it even into the diseased parts, as the odour and smell of the urine doth witness, not lesle than the colour, by which it evidently appears, that no ill alteration is made by it; but that contrariwise, the Remedy hath overcome and had the victory, since it hath passed through so many places without suffering corruption; but instead thereof, hath rather advanced to some a greater degree of perfection by natural heat: For the Urine of such as have taken Turpentine, or its ethereal oil, hath an evident smell of Violet or Iris root: and to give a more convincing proof thereof, you must know, that it is not the Turpentine only which produces this good and pleasant smell: for the Nutmeg, Macis, Cloves, juniper berries, Parsley, Fennel, dock-roots or carrots, Parsnips, do all communicate the same smell of Violet to Urine, by reason of their balsamic and sulphureous volatile virtue, which is exalted and improved by the spirit and salt of the urine; a mystery not worthy of small consideration for such as will take the pains to examine Remedies by the effects of natural digestions, to know how far may extend the sphere of their activity. But that which is yet more to be wondered at, is, that Turpentine dissolved in a clyster, by the vertne of its ethereal oil, penetrats thorough all the membranous and nervous parts, where it imprints the character of its own virtue, and forces an assent to this truth by the pleasant smell it leaves in the Urine, by which it appears, that there is no danger to administer Turpentine, or any remedies in the composition whereof it enters to wounded persons, either by the mouth or by glisters, because the effect thereof can never be but very successful and redound to the good of the Patient, and reputation of the Physician or Surgeon; it must also be acknowledged, that as those substances which exalt themselves into a good smell, give a testimony thereby of the good they are capable to do: so contrariwise, those who degenerate into an ill smell, and disturb the Oeconomy of the kidneys and bladder, show that they have some ill quality in themselves, which is to be shunned, as much as the other embraced and put in use. We thought ourselves obliged to say this, that those who are ever in fear of hot or cold qualities, without examining the specific virtue of the mixed, they will employ, may more and more shake of and root out their prejudicated opinions.  
The virtue of the ethereal oil of Turpentine, called commonly, but improperly, essence or spirit of Turpentine is gre●t: for it subtly penetrates, cuts, resolves, and attenuates the mus●il●gineous and tartarous viscosities of the kidneys and bladder, and provokes urine: it is also singular against the Cough, and other affections of the Lungs, proceeding from some tartarous matter, against obstructions of the spleen and mother, against strangury and difficulty of urine, to expel the sand in kidneys or bladder, against Gonorrheas, and finally against ulcers of the neck of the bladder, and all the other parts of generation being infected with the venerosity of Venerean diseases; the Dosis is from iv. drops to xx. in appropriated liquours.  
The yellow oil, and balsom, which is nothing else but the read oil, differ not very much in virtue, therefore they may either jointly or severally be applied; for they do heat, attenuate, mundify and consolidate equally; which makes them very useful and fit to be employed with very good success for restoring members benumbed or contracted by cold and frost, for schirrous tumours, old running and rotten sores, gangreen, chilblains, whose sores it cures and consolidates speedily and perfectly, but the balsom sooner than the oil.  
But because the Aethereal oil which is drawn from common Turpentine is not so subtle, nor pleasing to the smell or taste, as that which is distilled from the Venetian in a cucurbite, we must teach how the Artist shall well and exactly perform this operation. To this end must he take lb viij. of Venice Turpentine of the clearest, most florid and odoriferous: for all these marks betoken that it is new, and consequently better; put it than in the cucurbit or glass body with one head; and pour upon it 12. pints of rose water and viij. pints of white wine, adding thereto thirty. lemons cut in thin slices, than cover your vessel and give a fire of the tenor of that with which you distil Aqua vitae, and thus with one operation shall you perform 3. things: for in the first place you shall draw an ethereal very subtle oil, and of great efficacy, and fragrous smell: secondly you shall have a very excellent diuretical spirit: and in the third place a water which may be used to administer the oil in it, being first mixed with a little sugar in powder, and may be used in the same distillation. I do not question but that many will say that this is a very chargeable way of procuring oil of Turpentine, and that so much trouble is needless, since one pound of it may be had cheapter than Venice Turpentine does cost. But let those that be of this opinion consult their own reason, and consider the smell and virtue of the one and the other; let them make trial thereof, and they will than perceive the difference between both: therefore I exhort the Chemical Apothecary never to regard cost or labour, because either of these two spared will load his conscience, or lessen his reputation. Our Artist than to proceed, must be careful to change the recipient, when there shall be about lb iv. or u of liquor in it, to save the trouble of rectifying the spirit; and the distillation being ended, and the vessels cooled, he will find the mass of Colophony in the bottom of it, which is nothing else than the body of the Turpentine deprived of its ethereal oil; it must be slowly melted in water, to strain it afterwards through a cloth or tamy, to purify and sever it from the slices of Lemon. And as Colophony is nothing but a portion of the resin, so may it lawfully challenge the same virtues, except that it is not so penetrating or active; for it heats and dries, agglutinates and consolidates, and as it easily melts and incorporates with unctuous and fat substances, so is the principal use of it to bear a part in the composition of plasters and salves; it may also be used in Opiat's instead of decocted Turpentine: but I rather advice that Turpentine should be used, which has neither been boiled nor distilled, that the balsamic faculty thereof may be in it still.   

How Gum Elemy is to be distilled.  
THAT which in the shops is called gum Elemy, is the drop or resin of a kind of Cedar which grows in Ethiopia: the best is that which is of clear and whitish colour, mixed with some small yellow parts or streaks, reduced into a mass, and being made to burn or flame, yields a smell which is not unpleasant. You must beat your gum Elemy into powder, and mix with 3. parts of pounded bricks and 1. of decrepitated salt, and put all in a retort, which must be placed in a reverberatory close furnace, upon an earthen pot-cover turned upside down, with a little sand on it, than fit to it exactly a receiver, and give it a gradual fire, until it yields no more oil, a part of which may be kept without rectifying: but distil the other mixed with iij. p. of decrepitated salt, and make your rectification of it in a retort, in sand. Either of these two oils is not to be taken inwardly; but they are specific and singular for all diseases and griefs of sinews, chiefly against palsy and contraction of nerves, which renders the parts lame and useless. They attenuate, resolve and dissipate all catarrhous, flatuous, and dolorisick matter; for this Gum is very balsamic. Upon the same manner and method may be distilled the oil Tacamalaca, Animae, and Caranna, because all these roots come very near to that of Elemy.    

SECTION. XI. Of gum resins, etc.  
GUM refines participate and come near the nature of gums, in that they are nothing else but the drop of certain trees, and may with great ease be dissolved in oil, and in water also, but more difficulty, because they participate more of the sulphureous oily and inflammable substance, than of the saline which is the soon dissoluble in water. They that come near this category or are in it, are Camphir, Mastic, Laudanum, Benjuin, Styrax, mirth, and others which it would be needesse here to rehearse: we will than declare a method of the work that may be made upon the chief and most useful of them.  
Gums so properly called, are nothing else but concrete liquors easily dissolved in water or other waterish and moist menstruums, as wine and vinegar: they are of 2. kinds: the first do consist of a volatile salt, predominant and somewhat sulphureous, and of a gummy viscous and clamy juice, proceeding from plants, shrubs and feculaceous trees, as Ammoniak, Galbanum, Opopanax, Euphorbium, Sagapenum, Assa faetida, and several others: the second are purely gummous and muscilagineous, proceeding also from some plants and fruit trees, as gum Arabic, gum of plum and cherry trees, and Tragacinth: these cannot suffer distillation, having none or little of salt and sulphur in themselves.  

The distillation of Laudanum.  
THOUGH this gum be not much in use, yet it has many excellent proprieties, and I can say confidently, that it is but want of having made the anatomy of it, and of experience, that it has been so much neglected: for it is impossible that those that are better acquainted with it should not make use of it: it is a gum resin gathered upon the leaves of a shrub called Cistus Ledon; the best is that which is of a blackish green, easy to crumble, and yet as easily made into pills, working it between the fingers, inflammable, and yielding a sweet and pleasant smell in the burning. But there is this considerable in it, that though Laudanum be inflammable, yet will it not easily mix with oils or other fat and unctuous substances: their use is that it abounds with volatile salt, and a portion of herbaceous extract which hinders its union and causes it to crumble: and this is a note of its principal virtue, because this sulphureous salt ascends in the distillation and is turned into an oil, which is a specific for many diseases; it is thus prepared.  
℞. lb. 1. Laudanum made in rolls, and not of that which is in mass or lump, powder it and mix with lb iij. of Bol, reduced in Lump with Aquae vitae; work all this into pellets, which after they are gently dried, put in a retort, and place it in sand, joining to it a fit recipient well luted; than give a gradual fire, and continued it till all the liquor be come forth; and the vessels being cooled, take out what you found in the recipient, and sever the oil from the spirit by a funnel, and keep it for use; you may give from ij. drops of the oil and xij. of the spirit, in a little warm wine, to open and attenuate the gross matters whereby cathart's are generated: it is also a commendable remedy against Dysentery: but it is a true specific to alloy the fits and irritations of the Mother, if the same dosis be administered in mguwort or mother-wort water, or pennyroyal.   

How to work upon Benjuin.  
BENJUIN is one of the best and noblest gums which is found in the Kingdom of vegetables, as much for its sweet and pleasant smell, which outwardly is used in perfumes, as principally for the essential virtues it possesses in itself, proceeding from the abundance of volatile sulphureous salt, whereof we shall give an evident proof by the following operations: for it might very well be said, to speak properly of Benjuin, that it is a dry balsom; it is brought from Samaria and Zion, and grows on tall trees whereof in convenient time the rind is opened, to give way to this precious gum; the best is that which in some kind is transparent, mixed with white grains and streaks, in a yellowish read mass or lump, apt to crumble, not very heavy, melting easily, and of a very sweet and pleasant odour. We shall give the process of the following operations upon it for the satisfaction of the Artist, viz. Of drawing the tincture Magistery, flowers, oil, manna or Crystal, and Mercurial spirit, and that balsom or gross oil of it.   

To make the tincture and Magistery of Benjuin.  
℞ ℥. 11 BENJUIN of the best note, reduce it to a very subtle powder, which being seared through a silk Tamy that all the heterogeneous substances may be separated, put this powder in a Matrass and pour upon it ℥ vi. of Alkohal of wine prepared upon salt of ♀ because if there was the lest of phlegm mingled with it, the operation might be checked thereby: agitate nimbly the matter and keep the matresse in a little of lukewarm water, and the Benjuin will dissolve in a very short time, which is an infallible argument to prove that this refine contains a very pure and subtle sulphureous volatile salt: for if it held a gross and unctuos sulphur, the Alkohal of wine could make but a simple extraction of it, and not an entire and perfect dissolution: if it also did particpate of a gross and earthly mucilage, it would by no means hold proportion nor agreed in matter with the cleanliness and subtlety of our vital spirit, neither with that of the spirit of wine. For as the remedies extracted from Benjuin are made use of for the diseases of the breast and lungs, it must follow of all necessity, that the matter whereof they are extracted is composed of very subtle, volatile and balsamic parts, that they may be guided and appropriated by the help of the Archaeus to the disgestions of the diseased parts, servata & illibata suae virtutis potestate. The dissolution which shall be read and transparent, must be filtrated in a very dry Vial: for if there was the lest moisture or aquosity, it would instantly turn the tincture into white, and precipitate it to a Magistery. Keep half of the tincture in a vial by itself, which must be very well stopped, to use upon occasion. But if you will have very well depurated Benjuin, precipitate the other part of the dissolution in very clear common water; and when you have drawn of the spirit of wine again, in a small cucurbit in the vapour of Balneo, the Magistery will be left in the bottom, than draw of the water by inclination, and wash this pure Benjuin with rose water, and dry it softly; we will give it the name of Magistery, though somewhat improperly, because many Authors have so. The Tincture is not much more properly so named; for it is, to say truth, but a dissolution: the virtue whereof is nevertheless increased, by reason of the excellency and nobleness of the Menstruum; wherefore it may lawfully be used both inwardly and outwardly. Outwardly applied, it is a wondered Cosmetick, cleansing the skin both of the hands and face beyond any other, taking away all spots, dries pimples in the face, and takes them away, as all other tumours, buds or rednesses in the skin, resolving patiently all harsh and malignant serosities which the outward air hinders from transpiring, because the face is not covered as are the other parts of the body; and the matter being thus kept in between the flesh and skin, it causes those several defects of it. To make a right use of this Tincture, apply it towards bedtime upon all the places where you found need, and the next day wash the place with Barleywater wherein Veal hath boiled, which you shall turn to a milk colour, with some few drops of the Tincture of Benjuin, and than sweep either face or hands (as you have applied it) with a very dry and soft linen cloth. But besides this outward use in repairing such defects of the skin, if after being raised, you use at any time washing with the white water made by this Tincture, it will prevent for the future all pimples, raising of the skin, or redness which often happens by ill preparation of the soap-ball, and the lixivial salt, which has ever something of fieryness that enters in the composition of it. Inwardly it may be given for Asthmas and Short-breath; and to physical persons, or such as are troubled with old Coughs, from ij. drops to x. or xij. in a new raw egg, or a spoonful of Syrup of Hyssop, made after the description which we have given above; it may be given in the morning fasting, and the evening two hours before supper. As for the Magistery, it may also be administered in new laid eggs, or some pectoral Conserve, from iv. grains to xv. and xx. for those which are offended by the smell and taste of spirit of wine: It may also be mixed in Electuaries and Tablets; they that will make good washing-balls, and such as may never endanger by any ill accident the skin of those they will trim, must prepare and wash carefully their soap, to divest it from the ill quality of the lixivial salt, and leave in it only the mundifying and abstersive virtue; and when it is brought to that pass, wash it, and feed it a good while with tincture of Benjuin, adding thereto ℥ s. of the Magistery to each pound of soap, after which they shall frame their balls of the bigness of ℥ ij. and let them dry softly; add if they are pleased to add a little of Musk and ambergris, they may boast to have washing-balls better for the perfume and sweetness, and more useful for preserving and cleansing the skin both of face and hands, than those of Bolonia so much accounted of.   

To make the Flowers of Benjuin.  
As Benjuin Flowers are excellent in their Virtue, so must an Artist be careful to bestow upon them a good preparation: for which reason, we shall demonstrate two ways thereof: The first more plain, because it may be done at all times, as necessity shall require. The second to be reserved, when we shall treat of the Distillation of Benjuin. As for this first manner, take only a good German Crucible, round and something high, wherein put ℥ ij. of Bnjuin reduced to powder, place it in sand upon a Capsula, and cover it with a long sharp cap of a good double blue paper, strong and well stiffened, the said cap being proportionated in its basis to the orifice or mouth of the Crucible: After this, give your fire by degree, and when you perceive the vapours of the Benjuin beginning to rise, take away the said cap, and put a new one of the same matter and proportion in the room, that you may have time to take away with a feather the flowers sublimated in the first, and loose not those which shall rise while the Crucible shall remain uncovered; and this work continued till all the volatile sulphureous salt of the Benjuin be sublimated in flowers; they are to be given from three grains to half a scruple in the same manner, and for the same diseases, as the tincture and magistery: it is by this operation that our Artist shall clearly know, that Benjuin possesses a volatile sulphureous Salt, very subtle and penetrating: for as soon as there is heat enough to drive it out from its body, it invades the nose, eyes and breast, which it irritates in such a wise, as to provoke sneesing, tears and coughing, by reason of that spirituous and subtle quickness of the salt, wherein lies all the power and activity of the Benjuin.   

The Distillation of it.  
YIelds many fine preparations at once, provided the Artist be skilful and vigilant, and not sparing of what is useful and necessary to do it punctually and to the purpose; for the Chemical Apothecary must not entertain a false persuasion, as many have done, and do yet at this day, that it is enough to take the bottom and dregss of the Drugsters-box, to perform his operation withal, being a very great absurdity to yield to this persuasion; considering, that besides that the drugs can never give what they have not, because the salt and spirit lies ever hidden in the purest part; it should moreover run this hazard, that all the virtue and goodness thereof might be overcome and absorbed by the heterogenity of the impure: They than that will duly quit themselves of their duty in the profession of Spagyrical Pharmacy, must have as great a regard in the well choosing of their Stuffs, as if they were to work their Masterpiece; because that besides they should loose the distillable matter, they would also trifle away their time, and spend it vainly with their fire and vessels: Let this be said once for all by the by, but chief in this place, where it is absolutely required, that the matter we work upon be cleanly, that something analogous' may also come forth out of the same: for in the first place there will be drawn a spirit of wine, impregnated with a portion of the volatile, sulphureous and spiritual salt of the Bejuin. Secondly, There shall come forth the purest of the said volatile salt, which will cleave to the neck of the retort: And in the third place, a fat and butyrous matter, which is nothing else but the grossest part of the salt and sulphur. Fourthly, There shall distil from it some small quantity of Mercurial acid spirit. Fifthly, A little of yellow oil of Hyacinth colour, of a very good smell, and finally at the giving of the last fire, there will come forth a Balsam somewhat blackish in colour.  
To perform this ample distillation artificially and methodically, choose lb j of the most pure and excellent Benjuin, reduce it to powder, and put it to digest in a double or circulatory vessel in the vapour of Balneo with lb iv. of Alcohol of Wine, during the space of five natural days; which elapsed, pour all in a great glass retort; in which you shall put lb j of pure and clean sand, and lbs. lbs. of scales of iron, such as they fall from the Anvil, all these matters not filling above a third part of the vessel, which must have a long and broad neck, and the Orifice of a Thumb-Diameter, than place it in ashes mixed with sand, fitting to it a middle size recipient dry and clean; the joints of which will be sufficiently luted with plain bladder steeped in water, that it may be removed with more ease when you are obliged to change your recipient: all these circumstances being exactly observed, give the fire slowly by degrees, so as the drops may follow slowly on the other without heating the recipient, and having a care not to make more haste; otherwise you should ruin all your work; for as our experienced Paracelsus saith, Omnis praecipitatio a Diabolo: above all things than, our Artist must be patiented and judicious, unless he will be compelled to be so to his cost and confusion after this due warning: and when he shall guests that all the spirit of wine is almost all come forth, he must have a particular care of increasing gently the fire, and taking notice when the flowers or crystal shall begin to coagulate themselves in the neck of the retort, to change than the recipient which must not be luted, because it must often be taken of either, to take away the flowers and crystals which are gathered there, or to draw them with a stick, made for the purpose, from the neck of the retort, jest they should stop it altogether, which would 'cause the breaking of the retort, the vapours having no free passage left to come forth: when all the first flowers, which are the whitest and subtlest, shall be drawn of, and the butyrous substance gins to appear, than must you again lute the retort to your recipient with a bladder, and increase a little the fire, that all the acid and mercurialliquor may follow the burter; that done, change again your Recipient, to receive the true Benjuin oil, which will be of a yellow colour, somewhat resembling Hyacinth, but there will be but very little of it, and of a fragrant odour: the Artist therefore must take care to observe the change of colour: for where the drops appear read, it is the true instant of time to substitute a new Recipient, to receive a thick and dark Balsam by the last action and expression of the fire. It remains only now to say something of the uses and virtues of the several substances, which the Benjuin doth furnish us with in this distillation: and to begin by the spirit, we say that the same alone, without mixture or adding any more of our gum resin above described, may serve for a very excellent Cosmetick, because already filled and impregnated with part of the volatile salt, which is properly the substance in which the detersive, mundifying and resolutive strength and faculty of the Benjuin is placed; it hath even a more penetrating virtue than the tincture, and that because the tincture is laden with the unctuous body of the Benjuin, which stops the pores, and dries the skin. This spirit is also more potent and capable to draw the true tincture of Benjuin: but not of corporeal or upprepared Benjuin, but of that which is devested of its subtle and gross oil, and its acid spirit: for you must take ℥ ij. of the flowers crystals of Benjuin, and ℥ s. of the butyrous matter, which must be put in a double or digesting vessel, pouring upon ℥ ij. of the aforesaid spirit, and so let them digest some space of time together, and the spirit shall be tinged with a yellow colour, which will be nothing else but the extract and addition of the volatile salt and sulphur graduated and exalted to the highest degree of their perfection: filtrate the liquor, and you shall found in the bottom of the vessel, a white gum, which may be of very good use in perfumes. This tincture hath in a Compendium all the noble virtues of the Benjuin: the Dosis is from two drops to xij. in sassafras water, Syrup of Hyssop, or some Conserve in Bolus, for all diseases and griefs of the breast above rehearsed. But as we promised above, that we would here exhibit the method to make Benjuin Flowers in greater quantity and lesle time, than those which may be made by sublimation in the Crucible, we will teach how to perform it; and it is only thus: Dissolve ℥ j of the first butter of Benjuin, and of the whirest, which immediately follows the crystals or flowers in boiling water, and filtrate very quickly the liquor through grey paper, and the flowers will instantly be coagulated, even under the hand: than draw back again the whitish water by inclination, and let it settle, and you shall have in the bottom a magistery of no lesle efficacy, than that which is made by precipitation of the Tincture, or gross dissolution: let the flowers dry, and the magistery slowly and leisurely between the double paper, and keep it for use. The crystals which are properly the flowers and volatile salt of the Benjuin, are sudorific, and a great specific against the great Pox, if it be given from vj. gr. to xx. in a glass of tincture of sassafras made with white wine, or in a glass of decoction of salsaperilla, china & guajacum rind. for it is a searcher, which in an interim penetrates the whole body; it may also be exhibited in a lesle Dosis, as the first sublimated flowers: the oil is an excellent vulnerary, and noble perfume. The blackish balsom which is clammy and viscous, is a great Mundifier of ulcers, wherefore it may very conveniently be mixed with ointments and plasters: some mix it amongst Peruvian Balsam, to falsify and increase its quantity; and it is o●● of the falsifications of most difficult discovery; The Benjuin yields so little of an acid spirit, that it is not worthy mentioning its use; nevertheless it may be applied to the same purposes, as we have said above, the spirit of Turpentine would serve: they that are moved with a curiosity to make an excellent mixture of unctuous perfume for skins and gloves, may dissolve butter of Benjuin, and some part of the flowers in oil of Ben. it will make a very good and fit body to receive the Muse, Ambergris and Civet, according to the proportion they will allow, and the strength of scent they intent to give to their skins.   

To prepare an excellent Angelical Water, and the Mass or Past, which is called the Spanish Past.  
℞ ℥ iv. OF very pure Benjuin, ℥ j of Styrax in drops, ℥ j of good Cloves, ℥ ij. of Ambergreese, ℥ j of Levantine Musk, and ℈ j of very fine Civet; grinned and beaten all to a very subtle powder in a Ma●ble Mortar; add to it the superficial and subtle rind of xij. Citrons or Lemons, and put all in a double or digestive vessel, and pour on it lb j ss. of very good Rose-water, and as much Muscat Wine very clear, or some other white Wine clear, odoriferous and quick; cover your vessel with its blind head, and place it in B.M. giving a fire of digestion for viij. days, if it be winter; or expose the sam● vessel in the reverberation of the Solar rays, if summer: than opening your vessel, put aside the water which you shall found coloured, and of a very excellent odour to perfume Table-linnen, for the use of day or night, as also to make a vaporous Cassolet, by exhaling a little of the same water in the place appointed to eat, sleep, or entertain company at your choice. But you must heat the Mass of Passed which is settled in the bottom, to malax and work it together with your hands anointed with Orange or Jelsemin oil, or Orange-flower, Cloves, Cinnament, according as they that will make use of it, are better pleased with either of these smells: for in this respect the capriccio's and humour's are as various, as in matters of taste: there may also (if it be for a sick body) a respect be had to the intention of the Physician, and that of th● Patient, because the same smells will restore and comfort the one, & offend the other, and chief among women; therefore you may herein use your own discretion, and therefore as well add as diminish of your own Ingredients, according to the necessity and circumstances. The mass being thus by malaxation rendered soft and tractable, you may frame it into braceles smelling or sweet pasts, or perpetual Cassolets, which are made in the manner following: Have a silver Box with a double bottom, the one distant from the other the thickness of a thumb, let there be within or without the box a channel or pipe running through the second bottom, that you may inject such water as you think fit, in the void space which is between the two bottoms. This Box thus framed, must be filled with the Past or Odoriferous mass, the height of a thumb; than shut it up with a cover fitted to it in a convexe figure or dome-like, boren with holes all about to transmit the vaporous petsume and exhalation the easier: and when you will ser this Cassolet to work, fit the bottom with Rose-water, Wine, or Plain water, according as your design is either strongly or softly to affect the smell, and thus set on a moderate fire, which will act slowly upon the presumed Mass, and raise by little and little its pleasant fragrancy, gently, and without interruption; you may also dissolve, in all kind of performances which you will make of this past in oil of Ben. giving it such a colour as you shall like best, as also increase or lessen the strength and sweetness of the perfume, mote or lesle, according as you shall make your mixture. Let no body think, we run here out of our Text, in teaching the Dosis or mixture of perfumes, but be persuaded rather, that they are absolutely essential to our Treatise, since there hap pen many accidents in the life of man, to which no remedy can be applied but by the smell, so that this example which we have given of preparing one, which is both pleasant and useful, may be a rule and a pattern to prepare those which shall only be intended for physical use, and the help of sick Patients.   

Of Camphire.  
MAny have thought Camphire to be a bituminous substance; but they that have more truly writ concerning their Indian Travels in the East Country and China, do teach us, that it is a resinous drop or gum; the best kind whereof comes from Borneo; and that which follows in goodness, from the kingdom of China and the Province of Chineseo, distilling from a great tree somewhat like unto our Walnut in the body or stock, whereof it gathers to a head. The Indian Physicians are not of the opinion of those that fear the use thereof, by reason of the cold quality which is attributed to it; for they use it with very great success, as a true divine remedy; and certainly we must acknowledge Camphire to be one of the most wondered productions of nature, and the nearest of all resembling light; for as we have often said, that the volatile Salt is the last fold and cover that wraps the spirit, and that spirit is nothing else but a concretion of light, and light nothing else but an invisible fire, and a true emanation of the Divinity itself; so can we say, that Camphire is the only natural production, wherein the hand of nature has more excellently discovered one of its noblest operations, in separating a pure, volatile, sulphureous salt from a substance which seems to be altogether uncapable thereof; and what is more to be wondered at, is, that the skill of the most knowing Artist cannot imitate but at a very great distance this natural preparation; since the most perfect masterpieces of their Art, are only volatile salts, which for the most part they compare to Camphire, when they think to have brought them to the highest piece of their perfection, but they never come near to the subtlety, quickness, transparency and whiteness of this unparallelled mixed, nature it seems intending to have itself alone all the glory of its perfection, nobleness and virtue: for when ever Chemical Artists have endeavoured to raise and exalt this gum to an oil, or some other analogical liquor, it has ever returned to a body again, vanished away, or lost the purest or noblest part of its strength or efficacy; we must than rather set here as admirers, than operarors, since there is nothing in this substance to be corrected, and that Camphire of itself is sufficiently pure, subtle and volatile, to be reduced from power into act, without vainly endeavouring by an ignorant and proud temerity to correct a thing which God hath created, and nature produced with so many perfections. To prove our Assertion, it will be necessary to give here the character and notes of true Camphire, teach one of the noblest uses of it, and make some observations thereupon, before we come to any of the true operations usually made upon this noble Resin: the Camphire than aught to be very white, transparent as crystal, very pure, without spot and mixture of any adventitious substance, of a quick and penetrating smell, crumbling betwixt the fingers, and almost not to be quenched whence once kindled, for it burns in the water itself: and to discover the better, if it be sophisticated, have a Rye-loaf coming just from the Oven, open it, and make a hole in the middle, in which put a piece of Camphire of the bigness of a Walnut, than clap the pieces again close together, and let it so stand a while warm, and this trial will evidently make appear the truth of the substance or sophistication; for if the Camphire be pure, it will all melt and vanish away; but if mixed with any heterogeneous matter, it will burn; or to speak more properly, the Camphire will vanish away, and the gross matter which did falsify it, shall appear in substance whole in the bread, and as it were roasted and dried up: but to declare yet more evidently the volatile quality of this mixed, and its subtle and penetrative virtue, we must say that it is an approved remedy against Tertian Agues, if in a knot of Taffata you put some of the purest about the neck of the patiented from ℈ s. to ℈ tv. according to age, letting the same hung upon the breast, towards the upper Orifice of the stomach, where the first sensations of joy or grief are raifed: The knot must be worn nine days, without intermission, and the ninth day thrown, without examing what remains in, in a running water, and that without omitting any of these circumstances, if you look for a recovery. But some may perhaps object, that this number of nine is superstitious, as also the condition not to look in the knot, and likewise to throw it in running water: To which we answer, That all these observations are necessary, purely physical and suitable to the nature of the Remedy and disease; for though Camphire be very volatile, yet must there be a more violent heat than that of man to volatilize it under the space of nine days: and it is requisite it should be volatilised to produce its effect, which is performed by the smell of the Patient, who breaths and draws it continually, by which means this volatile Salt makes an impression upon the natural spirits, which drive away by degrees by a sensible transpiration or insensible, or by urine, the ferment of the Ague, and by this slow operation destroys the action and violence thereof: As for not looking in the knot, and throwing of it into running water, it is an observation depending on a higher and more abstruse Philosophy, which shall tell you that as the Camphire hath blotted out, and defaced the Character and Idea of the Ague by the irradiation of its magnetical virtue, so hath the spirit of life imprinted the Character and Idea of the disease in the knot whence the remedy did flow, and therefore must this Idea be removed as far as is possible from the formerly sick person, jest the irradiation and flowing of the subtle spirits, which do continually proceed from their bodies, may 'cause the said spirits to be touched again, and infected by the venom and contagion of the Idea of the sickness, which the water carries away, and destroys, and overcomes in such a manner that the Patient becomes wholly freed and exempted from it without any fear of Relapse; for there is no body can be ignorant, that a Candle newly put out, can easily be kindled again, if another burning be brought near unto it, though kept at some distance, and not touching it with her flame; the same will hap to them that shall have the curiosity to look into the knot, after they have removed it from their neck, and have neglected to throw it at the same instant in the running water. We might also found another Reason in the strength of imagination working in the Patient; but though that may do very much, it would be needless, since we shall evidence hereafter, that Remedies prepared out of Camphire, work the same effect when taken inwardly.  
We must come now to the necessary marks, for proof of what we have said above: For the trial of Camphire in new Rye-bread, and the cure of the Tertian Ague, are infallible signs of its subtlety and quick penetration, whereby it appears that those that believe it to be cold, are possessed with a false and vain Philosophy, taken from old Authors who had no skill or knowledge thereof, further than what a hearsay could suggest them, wherein they are followed by their disciples: But, say they, Camphire cannot be otherwise than cold, because it hinders generation, and doth even hinder erection, and all other irritations necessary to the act of it. But suppose it to be as true as it is false, it doth not follow therefore that Camphire should be cold: and granting that any body making a trial thereof, and by long use of it both inwardly and outwardly, that effect of impotency and barrenness should follow in him: it would much rather be an argument of its heat, and of the subtle quickness of its volatile sulphureous Salt, keeping still the pores open, and continually resolving either sensibly or insensibly the spirituous exhalations, which are absolutely necessary to the act of generation and conception: the old Romans knew better than these Chimerical Philosophers, that those substances which have a quick and penetrating smell do enervate, since by one of their Laws of the xii. Tables, they did forbidden their Soldiers, Mentham in bello nec edere nec cedere. Is it not also a daily experiment, that Agnus Castus and Rew decrease the seed, hinder erection and the heats of lust, by the same reason as Camphire, though held by every body for hot remedies? which are proof more than invincible of the weakness of this insipid Doctrine, which always cleaves to the appearances and outward effects of things, without reflecting and turning the edge, of their speculation upon the true cause. Chemistry is only capable of this noble and discerning knowledge; upon which ground Chemical Physicians have found it expedient to make use of Champhire in pestilential and malignant diseases, as also in Agues, whether they administer it inwardly, or apply it outwardly in Epithems and Frontals. But above all things, it is used with a wondered success in Suffocations and Fits of the Mother, if you burn ℈ j or ʒs. even to a ʒj. in a glass of balm water, or for want of it, in plain water, by which it appears evidently, that it is the mere virtue of Camphire which produces the effect. We would not forbear to clear this truth by this our Narrative, to remove the scruple of those who fear to make use of Camphire; for as I am very well persuaded of its real virtue by experience, I thought myself obliged to recommend the use thereof, that the public may not be frustrated of the good and advantage it may receive by it. When we have said, that our Artist could not much operate upon Camphire without destroying it, we have said truth; for he can add nothing to its perfection, and can but waste much of its substance, always useful and full of virtue: there is nevertheless some little operation necessary to reduce it into liquor, and mix it indivisibly with other substances, which cannot easily keep it, unless you proceed in your work with circumspection and method; and because some hitherto have thought it impossible to reduce the substance of it into oil, we will show nevertheless that Labour improbus ownia vincit; but it shall yield but a little quantity and proportion. We will propound two examples, the one of Camphire oil without addition of other oil; the other with addition of two necessary oils which will increase more and more its virtue.   

How to work the plain oil of Camphire.  
℞ lbs. lbs. OF Camphire reduced to powder, and mix it with lb is. of Bol. than put this mixture in a glass retort, and distil in sand with a well graduated fire, and the Camphire will come forth in the form of Butter. Take of this butyrous substance, and mix it with its double weight of Bohemian-tartar very well calcinated; put this mixture in a Cucurbite, and pour upon it spirit of Wine, the height of three or four fingers, and distil it in B.M. with all requisite precautions. But above all things, you must have a careful eye to observe when the Camphire shall begin to sublimate: for as soon as you see it appear in the still head, take away the fire, and let the vessels cool: But the spirit of wine you shall found in the Recipient in a narrow neck bottle, and pour upon distilled rain-water, till you see the mixture of both turn as white as milk; so the spirit of Wine being weakened by the mixture of water, you shall perceive the Oil of Camphire, which was incorporated incordorated and united to this ethereal spirit, to swim over the liquor. Continued in the same manner to pour spirit of Wine upon the matter remaining in the Cucurbite, and distil with the same circumspection as before, until no more of the oil doth separate and rise above the spirit of Wine and rain-water mixed. You may keep of this spirit of Wine impregnated with the oil of Camphire; for it is the true Camphorated spirit of Wine, and not that wherein Camphire hath merely been dissolved. There is most commonly but the eight part of Camphire converted into oil: This oil is an excellent Remedy, for it resists putrefaction and venoms; wherefore it may be exhibited in Plagues, malignant diseases, and continual or intermittent Fevers: The Dosis is from one drop to six in some appropriated liquor: the camphorated spirit of Wine, is impregnated with the same virtues, but the Dosis must be bigger; for it may be given from ℈ s. to ʒj. inwardly; and the outward use is no way lesle wondered: for the oil and spirit are good to stop the Gangreen, & appease the toothache, as likewise to alloy the grief of the Gout, particularly Sciatick. Note also, that you must not loose the spirit of wine mixed with the stilled rain-water, but draw it of by distillation in B.M. since it may be used again, either for this same operation, or for some others: you must not neither loose the salt of Bohemian-tartar which remains in the Cucurbite, dissolve it only with warm water, filtrate, evaporate and dry it, to use it to all other purposes as before.   

The manner of preparing compounded oil of Camphire.  
PUT in a Matrass about lib. j of spirit of Niter, ℥ vj. of Camphire; stop the Matrass with another, that the neck of one may get into the other; lute the joints with bladder and whites of eggs, than put it to digest in the vapour of Balneo, until the Camphire be resolved into an oil which shall swim above the spirit, than separate this oil, and mix it with ℥ iv. of rectified oil of Amber, and as much juniper oil; digest them together that they may unite, than distil in ashes by a retort three times consecutively; after which rectify upon Choliotar of Vitriol, until the oil comes forth clear, depurated and fluid, and the Camphire wholly deprived from body, and turned into an oil; it is a sudorific very secure to expel the malignity of the plague, Spotted Fevers, and poison itself: it is also a preservative Remedy in time of Plague, both inwardly and outwardly applied: if inwardly, this oil must be reduced in a dissoluble Balsam with sugar in powder, and every morning must you take three drops in a little wine: But outwardly, rub your Temples and Wrists at the beating of the Artery, and thus shall it act concurrenly both within and without; and so shall this noble remedy sufficiently strengthen spirits, that they may not be infected by the venom and poison of the plague. But the use of this oil cannot sufficiently be recommended for those that are subject to Hysterical passions: for this Remedy penetrates as in a moment, and appeases all the irritations of the mother; the Dosis is from 11. drops to vj. or viij. But you must note moreover, that this oil is a very notable Specific in the Epilepsy, both in young and old, and chifly in that kind which proceeds from the mother.   

The manner of distilling the Gum Ammoniack.  
WE take this Gum for an example of the distillation of other Gums, because it is endowed with many noble medicinal faculties, and abounds more than the others in spirit, and in oil: This Gum is taken from a feculaceous plant growing in that part of Africa where formerly was the Temple of Jupiter Ammon, whence it had also the name, to draw an oil and spirit from it, which may be recommendable by their virtue; it must be very well chosen. The chief Notes of good Ammoniack, are, that it be yellow outwardly, and white inwardly, as Crumbs or Grains Olibanum, of a smell drawing to that of Castoreum, bitter in taste, and easily growing soft, if wrought a while between the fingers. But this Gum well chosen in a glass retort filled to a third part, and fit it in an Iron-pot so adapted in the furnace, that you may have Registers in the Corners; the bottom of the retort must not touch the iron, but it must be propped with three pieces of earth, as if it were a Trefoot, that the oil and spirit may contract no Empyreuma or smoakish taste, if it be possible; cover the pot with its own covering, and lute it so, that nothing but the warm air may encompass the retort, to expel the vapours into the Recipient, which must be exactly luted without fillets of linen dipped in whites of eggs, and strewed powder of quick lime; graduate this fire as you shall see occasion, and continued your distillation, till nothing more comes out; and when all is cooled, separate the oil from the acid liquor, and rectify each by itself in ashes, to apply to their uses: The oil and spirit may be taken inwardly from iv. drops to xv. and xx. in white Wine or Sassafras, or a little Centaury water, to open obstructions of the parts of the inward ventricle, and chief of the Spleen. It is also a specific Remedy to resolve and evacuate by seat and urine, the flime and tartarous Viscosities which created and 'cause pains in the joints, wherefore it may freely be given to those that are subject to the Gout and Rheumatism, as those likewise whose breast is laden with clamminess and thick phlegms hindering the motion of the lungs: The spirit above all, is of singular use to free the Matrix from its impurities, as also to cleanse the kidneys and bladder from slime and sand; the oil is also excellent to apply outwardly upon the Region of the Spleen, whereby to sustain it, and restore to its natural state, when it is grown schirrous and hard: It is likewise very efficacious to resolve Tophused, Hardnesses and Callosities of the feet and hands of such as have been troubled with the Gout in those parts of the body. It is also one of the best remedies that can be applied to the King's Evil, provided the Patient may be purged at the same time alternatively with some good Antimonial and Mercurial remedy. And thus shall we conclude this Chapter of Vegetables, in which we think to have sufficiently instructed the Artist with a method to guide him in such works as he shall found himself obliged to undertake upon substances, whereof this noble and ample family of Nature doth consist, whether led by a mean curiosity to increase his knowledge and experience, or to prepare remedies which he may use and dedicated to the public good and service. We must follow the same Rules and Precepts upon Minerals, which we will, God willing, perform in the following Chapter, with all the intelligibility and punctuality possible and requisite.     

CHAP. X. Of Minerals and their Chemical Preparation.  
WE are at last arrived to the last Chapter of our Chemical Treatise, which will contain the manner of working, which our Artist is to follow as a Model and Example in any operation he will undertake upon any part of the Minerals Family, the proper part and task as some are of opinion, of Chemistry. Fow although we have showed how many noble Remedies this Art may extract from Animals and Vegetables, yet all that seems but a play in respect of the operations which must be performed, to open and disunite what Nature hath so strongly bound, and as it were fixed in the substances whereof Minerals do consist and are composed. All this will better appear when we come to speak of it particularly: for though in the Theorical part of this Treatise we have already spoken of their generation, yet it is necessary that we should make a subdivision of this ample and numerous Head, and declare the Subalternate genders it contains, as also the Species whereof they consist; and that also we make a description of their original, assign their definitions, and declare their constitutive parts, that thereby the truth and nobleness of Substances may better be conceived, as also the difficulty of their Works, which must needs astonish and confounded those that pretend to the Name and Title of Naturalists or searchers of Nature, and yet are ignorant of the most part of her noblest and choicest actions: For what could she produce more perfect, and less corruptible than Gold, more white than Pearls, more resplendent and shining than Ruby and Diamond, more wondered than the Loadstone, and more capable of surprising and puzzling the Judgement and Learning of these conceited and unexperienced Philosophers, than all the substances whereof this family of Minerals is composed? But that which is not less strange, and yet is a particular weakness of ignorance, is, That these learned One's are not contented to neglect the Anatomy and search of Minerals, but give themselves a liberty and freedom to despise and calumniate both dead and living, who led by a noble desire of Knowledge have applied, and do apply themselves to so necessary a work, and of so great advantage for the improvement of Physic, and think to have sufficiently done when they advance and declare, that all these mineral Bodies have no correspondence or analogy either with Man or the dseases which seize on him, and hinder the joy of his life: But we shall in the sequel of this Discourse, God willing, evince the contrary, and evidently show, that the ignorance only of the noblest handling of Physic, and their uncapacity of undertaking the work, have been the occasion of their contradictions, which are but vain and importunate, since Physic, Pharmacy and Surgery, cannot at all be without those noble Remedies that are extracted from Minerals by the operations of Chemistry.  
The Mineral Kingdom contains under itself several Families or Subalternate Genders, which are first Earth's containing several kinds or Species, but chief those wherein from all time hath shined and been conspicuous some particular virtue; those which are properly called Mineral and Medicinal Earth's, are all the kinds of Bolus, as Armenian or oriental, and common, all the sigillated Earth's, as that of Turkey or of the Island Lemnos, the Silesian and that of Blois in France, Chalk, Plaster, Ochre, read earth and Tripoli.  
Secondly, This Kingdom contains Mineralstones, divided into precious, and less precious: the precious are, Amethyst, Cordaline, Topaz, Granate, Hyacinth, oriental Ruby, Saphir, Emerald; to which, though improperly enough is added the Pearl, Coral, oriental and occidental Bezoar; and amongst all these which we have related, Physic and Pharmacy do by excellency name the precious fragments, Granate, Hyacinth, Saphire, Emerald and Cornaline. The less precious are, Hail stone, All baster, Alumen plumum or feather? d Alum, Lapis Armenius or the Armenian-stone, Lapis calaminaris or Bery stall, Emathite or bloodstone, Lapis Judaicus, Lapis Lazali, Linx stone, Loadstone, Marble, Nephritick-stone, Osteocella— Pumicestone, Slate, Serpentine-stone, Peable, Smiris or Emerod, Lapis specularis, Sponge and Chalk.  
In the third Classis are the Metals, and those Substances which have any resemblance or affinity with them, and the natural or artificial Excrements of Metals. The Metals are, Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, ●inne and Lead. The substances of near affinity, Mercu●y or Quicksilver, Cinnabar or Vermilion and Antimony. The natural excrements of Metals are, Marcassites or middle minerals: as Zinck, Bismuthum, Cobolt, and metallic and natural cadmia. Artificial, are the two kinds of Litha●g, Pompholix, and ●utty.  
The fourth place in this Mineral-Kingdom is assigned to Salts, whereof there are two sorts, Natural and Artificial: Natural are the common salt, salt Gem and Vitriol; Artificial are, Alloms, Armoniac and Salt pe●er which may also be called Natural.  
In the fifth and last place, Minerals contain under them the sulphureous mixts, which are Sulphur or Brimstone, Arsenic, Auripigmentum, Realgar, Ambergris, Karabe or yellow Amber, Spermaceti, Asphaltum, Naptha, Petroly, Sea-coal, Jet, which some would have to be black Karabe or Amber.  
We will choose in each of these Subalternate Families what is more considerable in them, and will allow to each of the Substances a particular Section by itself; in which as much as in us lies, we shall explicate the nature of it, and upon each of these declare the noblest and chiefest manner of working which our study and experience hath gained us; that both the knowledge of the thing and the operation upon it, may serve to our Artist as a Guide and a Rule, as much to help them in the internal and external knowledge of Minerals, as a Model for all Chemical and Physical operations, which are necessary to draw from them those precious and noble Remedies that God and Nature have placed in it: For as concerning vulgar and mechanical operations which are performed upon the mines of Metals and Minerals, they that have any curiosity in this particular, may found them in such Authors as have written thereof fundamentally and ex professo. Let no body also look here or seek for Sophistications, white or read works upon Metals; for besides that they do not belong to a Discourse of Medicinal and Pharmaceutick Chemistry, it sufficeth to our Artist, and serves well enough his turn if he knows enough of it, to take heed and beware himself of the ordinary Cheat of those who do profess it, and who are but too numerous at this day; but moreover, we should do a prejudice to the public, in teaching that which is but too much practised by wicked and lewd idle persons, though well principled and virtuous men might make no ill use thereof.  

SECTION I Of Earth's.  
WE begin by the Earth, as being the principle of all Physical Generations; for it is the common Mother, not only of Animals and Vegetables, but it is also much more properly of Minerals, since her bosom is as it were their matrix, in the Centre whereof they are bred and generated. We do not pretend to speak here of Earth as it is a simple and pure Element, not to be conceived but intellectually; we will neither treat of it as of the Earth which is impregnated with the soul of the World, and which though dead of itself lives nevertheless with an invisible life, which the universal Spirit does continually infuse in it, to advance in her entrails the production of Minerals, in her surface the Vegetables, and supply the necessity of Animals which seem to be Masters of all the rest: for we have already treated of this noble and ample Matrix in the Theorical part of this Treatise. Wherhfore we dedicated this Section to mineral Earth's which are endowed with some physical Virtue, to the end to teach the Spagyrical way of the extracting of this virtue, and separating it by the operations of Chemistry; and even if this virtue cannot be separated without alteration of its Subject, or its only essential Faculties, to preserve and even increase them by an addition of what may concur with the intention and answer to the indication of the Artist that intends the use of them. These kinds of Earth's have been declared by several names for three principal Reasons: the first for the place of their original: the second for the Matrix which has supplied them and given them their colour: the third by reason of certain Characters or figures impressed upon them. This is called the Lemniac, Maltha and Turkish Earth. This the golden Mine or Solar Earth, the silver Mine or Lunar Earth, the Venerean, Saturnine, etc. and finally, the terra Sigillata or sealed Earth, according to the place from whence it comes.  
We shall not speak here of the mineral Earth's or mines of Metals, not more than of Marcassites, middle-Minerals, or Vitriolic and Sulphurated Earth's; when we come to treat of Metals and their original in the following Sections we shall be obliged to speak thereof. Our Discourse than here shall only be of Bolus 's and Earth's so properly called, that what we shall deliver, may be as a Light and Direction to handle all other sorts of Earth's that shall have some resemblance and analogy with these.  

Of Terra Sigillata or sealed Earth.  
BEfore we speak of the choosing of these Earth's, and design particularly the marks of their goodness and Virtue, we must make a small mental reflection upon the cause and reason of their chief Virtue. We have already so often said, that Light is the spring and source of all good impressions, that we need not farther insist thereon, being it is of absolute necessity that this Light should have transmitted her Rays into the very centre of these Earth's, since we found in them a Cardiack, Cephalick, Hepatick, Stomachical virtue, which could not be unless this Earth were impregnated with some vitriol, or Solar, Martial or Lunary Sulphur, which are nevertheless only embryonated in the same, as we will make it appear in the sequel of this Discourse; For these Earth's being only found in such places where perfect or imperfect Metals are extracted, so are they more or less pure, more or less efficatious and full of virtue, according as they partake of the purity or impurity of Vitriol and Sulphur, which are the principles of Metals found in the place of their birth and original.  
The most excellent of all these Earth's is that which is digged in the Island of Lemnos by order of the Grand Signior every year, and thence carried to Constantinople, to be distributed afterwards through Europe at his pleasure: The second in order and goodness, is that which is found about the Town Striga in Silesia, where they have begun to give it a Seal, viz. two Sols: some call it the fat of Gold or axungia Solis, because impregnated with a solar Sulphur, and it is of a reddish colour; there is also a second or inferior kind which is grey or whitish, called also the fat of silver or axungia Lunae, because impregnated with a Lunar Sulphur. That which is Solar is dedicated to the Heart and the diseases thereof, as the Lunar to the Brain and Liver. The third kind of Earth in goodness is that of Blois, and all the sorts of Earth that come nigh to it; the choice of either of them depends upon two chief notes: first, it must be apt to stick and cleave easily to the Tongue when touched by it; secondly, the wet or spittle that sticks upon, or any other moist liquor, must immediately rise in small pustuls or bubbles, and make a kind of ebullition, or any parcel thrown in water must immediately put it to a boiling; and as we said that these earth's did partake of a solar Virtue, by reason of embryonated mineral sulphur which is in them; so may we also affirm that they are Remedies purely natural, and capable to show their virtue as they come from the hands of Nature without necessitating Art to contribute any help of its own: contrariwise, it should seem that Art here would but injure and offend Nature, since these earth's have much more virtue before the common preparation thereof pretended by vulgar Pharmacy, which are to wash & triturate them upon a Marble or Porphyry; which in effect doth nothing else, but take away from them that vitriolic embryonated portion in which doth consist their virtue and efficacy. But there is a Spagyric preparation better able to draw their purest and most efficacious substance, and thus more pleasantly and in a less Dosis it may be exhibited to Patients. The general and particular virtues of Earth's and Bolus 's are to desiccate and astringe, resist putrefaction and venom, resolve coagulated and congealed blood, strengthen the Heart and Brain, and by sweat purify the mass of the Blood; wherefore with great success and advantage they may be given in Plague, malignant Fevers, Diarrhea's, Dysentery and bites of venomous Creatures. Their external use is to apply upon festered and desperate wounds, and to stop Hemorrhages or issues of blood.   

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

Of Bolus.  
BOLUS is a knd of reddish earth, which partakes and is impregnated of the vapours of some Ours or veins of Iron, which is Mars, and participates something of the solar nature. It is vulgarly called in shops Bole-Armeniack, or oriental and fine, because it comes from the oriental parts of Armenia. The best is that which is pure, not mixed with Sand, which insensibly melts away as lime after it has been wetted, or like butter in the mouth is very astringent, and easily and quickly sticks to the lips and tongue. The chief virtues of it are, strongly to desiccate and dry, to astringe and strengthen; wherefore it is very useful in stopping of Fluxes, hindering colliquations and resisting putrefaction and venoms, which makes it to be employed in Diarrhea's, Lientery, Dysentery, immoderate courses, whether white or read, spitting of blood, bleeding of the Nose and stopping the blood in Wounds. It may also be mixed in Cataplasms, Unguents, Salves and astringent powders for outward applications. Bolus may be distilled in the same manner as the sigilled Earth and applied to the same uses. But because Bolus of itself is already an excellent Earth, we must teach our Artist how to improve and meliorate it, not by a separation of its parts, but rather adding some Substances which shall increase its virtue, according to the Indication which may engage him to make use thereof; for as this Earth is dry and voided of all moisture, so doth it attract to its self the Spirits and Salts of any Liquor mixed with much eagerness, and keeps them to its self till the heat of the Patient's stomach calls them forth by making separation thereof. We will deliver four several descriptions, that upon the model of it others may be prepared. The first shall be to make it more astringent, and capable of producing its effect sooner and more safely in outward applications. The second, to tender it more efficacious for dissolving congealed and coagulated blood in the body, whereby to corroborated Nature, and help it to expel and evacuate that blood so dissolved, either by Sweat or Urine. The third will increase its astringency for inward applications, to make it sooner stop the Fluxes and looseness of the Belly, Dysentery and immoderate Courses. The fourth will tender it more fit to produce very remarkable effects in pestilential diseases and all malignant Fevers, where strength doth fail by the sharpness and abundance of the venom, which of necessity must be brought to transpiration, and expelled from the centre of the Patient's body to the circumference and outward parts by the help of this prepared earth, which retains in itself the best, subtlest and purest of the liquor wherewith it has been impregnated.   

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

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

Preparation of Bolus against Dysentery and Diarrhea's.  
℞ Bistorta Roots or Snakeweed, Sorrel, Cynoglosse or Dogs-tongue, Lapathum acutum, Plantain, Tormentil, ana ℥ j φ. fresh and recent Herbs of Plaintain, Millesolium, Pyrola or Winter-green, new-gathered leaves of the ends of Oak-branches ana Man. ij. pick all these, wash and shred, and boil in an earthen pot in sand, with lb j of phlegm of Vitriol, and lb iij. of water of Knotgrass till it be reduced to a third part; than strain and percolate it cleanly, and with this liquor sprinkle and moisten lb ss. of Bolus; and continued moistening and desiccating until the whole Decoction be spent; and thus shall you have a wondered Bolus to stop Dysentery and all kind of Lasks of immoderate loosnesses of the belly, without any fear of shutting (as the Proverb says) the Wolf in the sheep-fold: For this Remedy performs its action by strengthening, corrects merely the irritation or weakness and relaxation of the Maw-gut, and restores the Ventricle in a condition and sufficient strength to retain and digest the aliments and meats injected. The Dosis is from u gr. to ℈ ij. with half as much salt of Coral made in Pills with vitriolated Conserves of Roses, or mingled with some stomachical Decoction or in Broth; but it is much better given in Bolus, that it may have so much more leisure to tang in the stomach, and impress better there the character and irradiation of its virtue.   

Preparation of Bolus against Pestilential and contagious Diseases.  
℞ Scordium and Rhew, ana Man. ij. upper rind of Oranges and Lemons ana ℥ ij. Angelica, Carline-thistle and Contrayerva Roots ana ℥ j shred small the Plants and Rinds, and reduce to course powder the Roots, than put in a Matrass with lb j ss. of Spanish Wine, and applying thereon a Blindhead, put it to digest in a vaporous Bath the space of three natural days, which expired let the Vessels grow cold; than express the Species and filtrate the liquor, with which imbibe lb s. of oriental Bolus reduced to powder and divided in four equal parts: but because it would be damage to loose the water, which by an ordinary way of exsiccation would vapour away in the air, draw of the water again in B. M. till the mass remains dry in a Cucurbite fitted with its Still head, and that four times reiterated; having so many times moistened your Bolus, which afterwards keep in powder in a bottle well stopped; You must also preserve curiously the water: for as the Bolus hath preserved the centrical virtue, and taken to himself the Extract of those Ingredients which increase its Cardiack and alexiterial Virtue, so hath the water drawn what was spirituous and volatile in the same, which is not of lesser importance than the rest. This antipestilential Bolus may be given from u gr. to thirty. with half as much Viper's flesh in a spoonful or two of the water drawn of from the preparation in all pestilential and malignant diseases, but chief against the plague, and even this admirable Remedy may generally be used against all poisons.  
These are the four kinds of preparations whereof we thought ourselves engaged to speak, that they may be as Models and Examples to perform others, according to those Indications which Physicians careful of the recovery of their Patients shall take. The Chemical Artist may distil the Bolus in the same manner as we have taught above the sigillated Earth was to be distilled and appropriated to the extract thereof, according to the virtues whereof the Bolus is possessed, observing the same Rules and Dosis as in the Remedies extracted from sigillated Earth, as we have sufficiently declared above.    

SECTION II Of Stones.  
BEfore we deliver the definition of Stones, and describe the operations performed upon some of them, we have thought it not unfit to speak something of the essence or mineral Spirit which rules in the Earth, in whose bosom it gins and ends the generation both of stones and of all other mineral Bodies. Now this essence or Spirit is voided of action, unless assisted by the water which is to it instead of a Vehicle, to convey and carry it in its soft and fluid body into the very bowels of the Earth. This mineral essence seems to be nothing else but the universal spirit of the Spirit of the World, impregnated by the light of all the mineral Ideas, which it doth impress and communicate to the water, that she may be capable to produce the first-fruits of the mineral Kingdom in the several matrices of the earth, according to the Genus and species of this essence, differing in nomination, though one and the same in essence: for according as it is metalline, petrifying, saline, bituminous and earthly, it produces the variety of substances depending of each of these subalternate genders, and according to the predominant character and Idea, the mineral substances are pure or impure, fix or volatile, and so of all the other proprieties and faculties of these Mixts.  
This being so, it is not difficult to conceive that stones in general are nothing else but terrestrial hard bodies, not ductile, apt to crumble, and coagulated by the power and strength of the Lapidifick Ferment: We have hinted above the difference and variety of stones: there remains no more to do at present, but to choose those we intent to give for an example & pattern of the operations which generally may be performed upon all others. We will than select for the subjects of such preparations as may be wrought upon stones, First the Emerald; secondly the Crystal; thirdly the Coral; fourthly Lapis Judaicus; fifthly Chalk, and finally the Limestone. But as there are general observations which may be given for all stones in general, we must speak something thereof, because it will much help our Artist to facilitate and explain the meaning of all what we shall hereafter say, not only of stones, but also of all other Minerals and of Metals themselves. They that will have a very exact knowledge of stones, may have recourse to that learned Book which Boetius Van Bood, Physician to the Emperor Rudolphus II hath writ, and he shall fully be satisfied as touching this matter: for our intent is only to anatomize here those we have named; because they will be sufficient to instruct the Chemical Apothecary how to work upon all others that have a relation or conformity to them.  
First than we say, that our Artist must consider, that as the body of precious or not precious stones is harder and more fix than that of Animals and Vegetables; so must he go to work and proceed in another way in their anatomy, and use different Menstruums to extract and dissolve them: and moreover, that these Menstruums shall not act for the most part upon such fix and solid bodies as these are, unless they be calcined beforehand, either by themselves or mixed with Salt or Brimstone, to penetrate the hardness and compactness of their bodies, and tender them porous, so as the liquors which shall be used in their extraction or dissolution, may more easily and usefully perform their action upon them. Calcination is one of the principal operations made upon stone, either to make them fit for Medicinal uses, or to open them and tender them capable of the most exact Chemical operations. This dispositive or preparatory Calcination is threefold: for it is either mere ignition, as when common Lime is burned; secondly, ignition with an extinction of the matter in some Liquor, to disunite it by this reiterated action, and so reduce it into Powder or Calx. The third Calcination is performed with common salt, Saltpetre or Brimstone. Solution follows Calcination, and is made with several different Menstruums, according to the greater or less fixity found in the dissoluble Bodies; the chief and most usually employed are Vinegar, either simply distilled, or alkalized, the spirit of therebinthinated Vinegar, and the vinegar of Honey, spirit of Vitriol and of Salt, and oil of Sulphur or Brimstone made per Campanam; but the spirit of Venus goeth in virtue and activity beyond all the foresaid Menstruums, to extract or dissolve all manner of calcined or uncalcined stones; we will show the preparation of it in the Section of Metals. After dissolution follows coagulation, which is performed two ways: either drawing of the Menstruum by evaporation or by distillation, and than what remains is a salt; or else it is made by precipitation, and the remaining powder is properly called a Magistery.  
There is besides Edulcoration and putrification made by ablutions, solutions and coagulations often repeated: and for the last operation, liquation or solution of the salts which have been extracted from the stones, in a Liquor commonly called Oleum per deliquium, or oil of Deficiency; it is made in some moist place upom some Table or square of Marble or Glass; and the Crown and perfection of all the work, is the volatization of the liquor or salt of a stone by the help of some good Cordial Menstruum, which is not to be performed but by digestion and reiterated distillation; for in every one of these operations, there ascends still a portion of salt with the Menstruum; and if the Menstruum be left impregnated with this salt, it is called the Elixir of the stone: but if it be drawn of with a soft and gentle heat, that which remains in the bottom of the Vessel in the form of an oil is called the essence of the stone.  
Thus by this gradation of operations stones are converted into Salts, Magistery, Liquor, Elixir and Essence: But before we put an end to these general hints, we will give a general process upon all kind of stones, to reduce them into Salt and Essence with less work and less toil, which is performed in the following manner.  
Reduce to an impalpable powder such kind of stone as you shall think fit to take by one of the three Calcinations we have mentioned above, than grinned this subtle powder on a Porphyry stone of a Sea-shell, with equal weight of Bay or Seasalt well dried; put that mixture in a Crucible, which you shall cover and lute exactly: the Lute being dry, put it in a Potters-furnace at the same time as he gins to bake his pots, and there let it stand twenty four hours: after which take out your Vessel and open it, and the matter which you shall found in it, dissolve with warm distilled rain-water in a glazed earthen pan; stir and triturate it nimbly with a Glass or wooden pestle; pour the dissolution in another pan also glazed, and thus proceed grinding; stirring and dissolving in new warm water, until the Calx of the stone remains indissoluble in the bottom: than dry it and reiterate the same operation with dried salt, until all the body of the Calx be reduced and converted into a slimy fat and glewing substance among the body of the warm water: than being settled again, separate the clear water which swims above the slimy grounds of setlement by inclination; and put all these waters in a glass Cucurbite in sand; give it a competent fire, and draw of by evaporation or distillation the half part thereof: than pour upon the liquor remaining in the Cucurbite oil of Bohemian-tartar drawn by deficiency or per deliquium, drop by drop until this liquor becomes as white as milk; than filter this white water, to separate the part thereof which you shall found precipitated; and thus continued to precipitate and filtrate until the water remains clear. Than put together all the slimy parts remaining in the bottom of the Pans with that which is in the Filter, and wash it with pure lukewarm Fountain water, until the water comes our as voided of taste as when it was poured on, which will be a sure token that the remaining matter is destitute of all saltishness; than separate the water thereof with as much exactness and care as you can, and put this matter in a Cucurbite, pouring upon it very good distilled Vinegar four fingers high; put all in ashes to digest, until the Vinegar hath lost its sharpness and is become sweet; than draw it of by inclination, and pour fresh Vinegar thereon at the same height, and thus proceed &, go on, until the distilled Vinegar changes no more its taste: than join all these extractions and dissolutions, filtrate and evaporate in sand slowly without boiling until all be dry, and you shall have the salt of the stone of a grayish colour, which grinned and put in a Matrass, and pour upon tartarizated spirit of Wine the height of four fingers: stop your Vessel with a Blindhead and extract the Tincture thereof in B. M. and when the Spirit shall appear coloured, separate it and supply with new until it takes no more colour; than filtrate all the Tinctures, and draw of softly the spirit in a vaporous Balneo, until the essence of the stone remains in the bottom in the consistency of a clear Syrup. This is the general method of working upon stones of what virtue or quality soever: and whensoever our Artst hath made any Essence of this kind, he shall repair to such Authors as have particularly treated of that stone and of its virtues, and so shall be capable to apply them to their right use. We may only add the genetal Dosis of these noble Remedies, which is from j or ij. drops to viij. or x. in the morning fasting, in Broth, Wine, Decoction, or some distilled water specific and appropriated to the Disease and Remedy; and let this be said in the way concerning stones in general; we come now to the particular operations which we propound for a Pattern and Model in particular.  

Of the Emerald, and its Chemical preparation.  
THE Emerald is a precious stone, transparent and very fair by reason of its pleasant green colour, the softest and most brickle of all others. The best Emeralds are the Oriental, both in regard their green is deeper and more pleasant to the eye, and because they are of greater virtue; the meanest are those which are brought from Peru and found in Europe. After that the fragments of Emerald have been purely calcined by ignition and extraction in water of juice of Bugloss, and than triturated or ground to an Alkohol upon the Porphyry stone with the same water and dried, it may be administered in Bolus or Pill, with Conserve of Marigold flower from iiij. gr. to x. against all manner of Lasks of the Belly and bloody Fluxes: but chief against Dysentery, either proceeding from erosion of the Entrails, or from some malignant matter: it is also a fit Remedy against the biting of venomous Creatures, Plague, pestilential Fevers and all others that partake of malignancy. There are many other noble virtues attributed to the Emerald being whole and unprepared: but they only respect outward application, such as to hung it on the neck against the Falling-ficknesse; Tie it to the Thigh for advancing delivery in Childbed; apply it on the belly to prevent miscarrying, stop the bleeding of the Nose with keeping it in the mouth; as likewise bloody Flux, and emrod's applied upon the Lungs: it is also said to recreate both outward and inward senses worn on the finger, and to expel fear and terror of ill Visions. There are some Authors who deliver as an undoubted truth, it will oftentimes break being worn by too lascivious a person, and who unboundedly will abandon himself to Venery. So much have we thought fit summarily to say, that it may appear what experience hath found out towards the efficacy of precious stones, which have all in themselves some portion of very pure metallic Sulphur, which communicates Virtues and Faculties unto them of much more extent than that of Animals and Vegetables. And what is this Sulphur else but the purest part of condensed light? which yields a continual irradiation of its virtue without any lessening or diminution, by reason of the magnetical virtue of the stone, which perpetually attracts its like from the uppermost Heaven; as it appears yet better by the oriental Saphire, and the efficacy is wondered against the Plague, insomuch as if the Patient hath many boiles or sores on his body at once, none of them will break or run, but that about which a circle or ring hath been made with a Saphire touching the skin: and moreover, the scarification shall never surpass the bounds, which the virtue of the stone seems to have prescribed and limited unto it. But let us come to the Chemical preparation, by which the salt Tincture and Elixir or Essence are extracted.   

Of the Chemical Preparation of Emerald.  
TAke fragments of Emerald the greenest and cleanest you can meet with, beaten them to powder in a steel-Mortar, and searce the powder through a fine linen Searcer fitted in a Box, which in the French shops is called Cicotriner; or it is as good to triturate them into an impalpable powder, which put in a Matrass, pouring upon it of the volatile spirit of Urine having yet its phlegm, to draw the colour, and the spirit being sufficiently coloured, draw it of and pour on other until it takes no more colour; than filtrate the Tincture through a Cotten, and put them into a Cucurbite to draw of the Spirit, till you have the bottom in the consistency of an extract, upon which pour very good spirit of Wine; than stopping the Vessel with a Blindhead, lute it, and in the vapour of Balneo put it to extract, digest and circulate until the spirit be tinged with a high green, after this draw back again the half or two thirds of the spirit with a slow heat, and you shall have an Elixir or essence of Emerald left, which is a sovereign Remedy against Dysentery and all other kinds of flux of the belly, read and white Courses of Women, emrod's and Hemorrhagy. It is of no lesle use against all affections of the brain, and passions of the heart, chief against swooning, weakness and palpitation; as also Melancholy, Frenzy, Hebetation or weakening of the functions of the Spirits proceeding from some long and perilous disease. For besides this Centrical and luminous Sulphur whence all these noble virtues are derived, there remains besides in this Elixir a certain portion of the volatile salt of Urine, which cleaves to this Sulphur by the help of the spirit of Wine, framing together an essence capable of all these virtues which we have attributed unto it. The Dosis is from ij. drops unto x. in Liquor appropriated to the diseases of the Head, Heart and lower Ventricle.   

Of Crystal, and its Chemical preparation.  
CRYSTAL is a transparent stone, having some likeness unto congealed water reduced into lucid and transparent Ice; so that what the Greeks call Crystal, we call it congealed. We shall not here insist long upon any debate to prove that Crystal is nothing else but mere congealed water, since to discover the untruth of that opinion, it will suffice to say, that Crystal doth not melt, but being calcined turns into Calx and Salt by the strength of the Spirit, by which it hath been coagulated of a very pure Earth and a little proportion of water, which by help of the salt it had in itself, impregnared with the petrifying Idea and ferment, hath dissolved the said earth. Neither shall we speak of that Hexagonal figure which the outside of the Crystal doth ever represent, but shall only say that the circular figure is the perfectest of all others, and that Hexagonal comes the nearest to it: and that as the crystal is one of the most pure and perfect substances, therefore also it comes nearer to the spherical or circular figure. Crystal is found in Portugal, in the Island of Cyprus, Germany, Hungary and Bohemia: it is not difficult to our Artist to make his choice thereof, by reason of the transparency of the matter; it being sufficient to choose that which is more compacted, purest and clearest; and to prepare it a little better than usually, it must be made in a gross powder, and heated to redness in a Crucible with a wind furnace, and when it is glowing read, pour in radish water, or water of roots of Restabovis, or Restharrow, somewhat sharpened or acuated with a little spirit of salt; and this ignition and extinction continued three or four times, than grinned it on a Porphyry to implacable powder, with the same water that was used for the extinction of it; ane thus being dried, keep it for use. Crystal hath an astringent virtue, therefore it is good for stopping of a Lask, and against Dysentery, against Colic, Cholera Morbus, white and read corses of women, Gonorrhea's, and V●en, run, it increases milk in the breast, expels and dissolves all tartarous preternatural substance in all parts of the body: above all, it dissolves Tophus' and hardnesses in limbs proceeding from the gout. But it's principal use is to expel clammy humours and sand from the kidneys and bladder: the dosis from ℈ j to ℈ ij. in bolus, in some conserve of Eglantine, or Parsley-water, if it be for nephritical passions, and so in other conserveses or appropriated waters, according to the prudence of the skilful and expert Physician, and the diseases he takes in hand.   

The Chemical Preparation of Crystal.  
BEfore we come to the exact and perfect preparation of the Elixir and essence of Crystal, we must premise an instantaneous operation, in respect of the other, whereby our Artist may ever be in readiness to secure and assist those that shall have need of this remedy, according to the order and prescription of Physicians: To this end, take equal parts of Parsley, Nettle, radish water, as also of Restabovis or Restharrow, acuated with spirit of Vitriol, or oil of Sulphur per campanam; put all these waters in a well glazed earthen pan, and having brought to ignition in a wind furnace as many ounces of Crystal as there are pints of these waters, let the Crystal be only grossly beaten, and when it is glowing hot and read, extinguish it in the said waters, and so reiterate this ignition and extinction ten or twelve times, that so the waters may draw to themselves the best part of the Salt of Crystal: than filtrate the liquor remaining, and add two ounces of white sugar-candy to powder to each pound, and thus shall you have a quick and easy remedy at hand, to administer to those that shall found themselves persecuted with the pains of gravel. The Dosis is from half an ounce to three in broths or decoction of roots of Onions, or Restharrow, and Virga aurea or golden rod, made with equal parts of White wine and water; and note, that the Patient must be in a half bath, when he takes this remedy, and be prepared with a clyster of Turpentine taken and given back before he enters into the Bath.   

The Preparation of Salt of Crystal.  
DRY the remainder of the foregoing Preparation, and grinned it to a very subtle powder upon a Porphyry, than flux it in a Crucible, equal weight of very pure Salt-Peter; and when it shall wholly flow, throw in it by degrees and small parcels, the crystal powder well dried, and leave them so together by infusion five hours; this done, dissolve that which remains in the Crucible with distilled rain-water, to wash away the remaining Salt-Peter; than dry gently the Caly, and put it in a Matrass, pouring upon it very good distilled Vinegar, three times cohobated upon burning Nettles; and continued this dissolution, till the vinegar draws not more; than filtrate all the dissolutions, and evaporate until they be dry, and you shall found in the bottom of the vessel a greyish salt, which you must dissolve again in the same Menstruum, filtrate and evaporate to purify it; and thus you may keep it, either dry as a salt, or dissolve it in liquor in a cold Cellar, and you shall have that which is improperly called the oil of Crystal. The dosis of the Salt is from iv. gr. to xuj. in appropriated liquors, and with requisite precautions; and the dosis of the liquor is somewhat stronger, by reason of the moistness which the salt hath attracted to itself, by which it is reduced ro liquor. You must turn back to what we have said of the Virtues of prepared Crystal, to judge of the Salt and Liquor: Noting this nevertheless, that they are principally and more properly used against Podagrical diseases, and specifical for kidney and bladder.   

How the Elixir or Essence of Crystal is to be prepared.  
℞ OF the purest rock-chrystal, reduce it to a corpse powder, and place it in a Crucible in a wind furnace, and being read hot, quench it a glassed pan full of very good distilled vinegar, and reiterate this ignition and extinction three times, or which is better, till the Crystal turns of itself into a calp as small as sands, than dry this calp, and mix it with equal weight of flowers of brimstone, and calcine them together in a Crucible till all the brimstone be spent; this calcination reiterate three times, than mix the remainder in the Crucible with its double weight of very fine Salt-Peter, which must be set in a fusion and flux, and therefore the Crucible very good for the space of xij. hours: and if the Crucible should hap to crack, have an eye presently to supply it with another, which therefore you must have ready at hand, rebaked, and kept warm under the grate of your wind furnace, that it may out of hand be trusted to a great fire without danger of breaking; the time being expired, and the calcination over, grinned the remaining matter on a porphyry stone, ℥ iv. at a time, and add to it by little and little very good distilled vinegar to the quantity of ℥ x. and thus continued till you have a pound of the grinded matter, which put in a new large Matrass, and pour on it of new distilled vinegar pure and strong; stop the vessel with its blind head, luted with quick lime and beaten whites of eggs; than put to digest in B. M. the space of two natural days with a moderate heat, and in the end you shall found the vinegar tinged with a very high blood-red colour; open the vessels, and filtrate the liquor, and put it in a Cucurbite in B. M. to draw all the liquor till the grounds remain dry; which take afterwards, and put on a Matble-stone in a cold cellar, or some other moist place to resolve them into a read liquor, which you are to receive in a glass cup or dosis, cooperating still carefully, whether the drops as they fall be read, because the essence of the crystal is only in them which hold forth that colour; for when the colour alters, it is a manifest sign that the fixed salt of the Salt-Peter dissolves itself; wherefore you must keep apart the first liquor, without much heeding the other: let this read liquor settle during some days, and draw by inclination the pure part from the impure, which preserve in a strong vial; and when you will use it, take ℥ j thereof, and mix it with another ounce of good white Wine in a Vial, and shake it together; than let it settle the space of twenty four hours and there will be yet a new defecation; pour the clear and read thereof not stirred in three pound of white wine, to which this liquor will cleave without leaving or separating any impurity; this mixture must be administered three times a day to such as are tormented with the stone, gravel or nephritical Fits, and those also which have already some disposition towards the gout, and found any weakness or impediment in their limbs: but chief to those which are troubled with Tophus' and Hardnesses, by reason of the Bohemian-tartar coagulated towards the extremities. The dosis is ℥ iv. or ℥ v. in a glass, the first time in the morning fasting, the second two or three hours after twelve, and the third about bedtime: The use of it must not be intermitted during the space of a philosophical month, which is forty days, to perfect the recovery; and if during this interval the belly doth not perform its office, take no purging medicine, but it will suffice if every other day the Patient takes a plain clyster of fresh stolen, or urine without any addition to it, and the next day ℈ j of the liquor of ☿ of Sennertus in chicken or veal broth, where you have boiled Parsley and Scorzonera roots. But if any by prevention only will take some of essencified wine, a glass in the morning fasting will suffice for the space of fifteen days, twice in the year; viz. viij. days before the two Eqninoxes of March and September, and viij, days after: and in so so doing you shall doubtless reap the fruit of your hopes.   

Of Coral, and its Chemical Preparation.  
WE put Coral and its peparation in the rank of stones, as much by reason of the analogy of its stony substance, as because the operations which are made upon it have a great resemblance with those performed upon stones, both in respect of the manner of working, and the Menstruums which Artists do use both to dissolve and to extract it. The work we shall teach here upon Coral may be a pattern for Pearls, all kind of stones proceeding from Animals, and from shells: for it would but prove tedious to repeat so often the same thing, since both the manner of working and Menstruums are like in the one and the other.  
We shall not loose time here in frivolous debates about the opinion of ancient and modern Writers concerning the generation of Coral, to know whether it was Plant-like, of a soft or hard branch before extracted out of the Sea, because all this makes little for our purpose, it will suffice if we can but in a guess say most probably what it is, delivering the differences and teaching the choice thereof, and principally how it is best reduced into useful Remedies.  
Coral is nothing else but a strong shrub found growing upon stones in the bottom of the Sea. There are several differences of it by reason of the variety of colours, and the more or less compactedness and hardness of its substance; but waving all other kinds, we purpose only to treat here of read Coral, which must be of a close substance compacted, dry and hard, high in colour, pure and clean, such having more virtue, and possessing in it as in a compendium all the efficacy and essential faculties, which the other kinds may be endowed with. But here some body might move a question, Why read is preferable to all the rest? to which the answer is not difficult, since this redness is an external sign of the intrinsecal virtue of the mineral Sulphur, which is one of the principles of Coral, and from which are derived the chief virtues of it being of a Solar nature; which is the cause also that all Artists have at all times sought with great study, care and diligence the way how to extract the true Tincture of Coral, being one of the chief Remedies which Chemical Physic doth afford; for if any thinks to be capable of giving a reason for this redness by the first and second qualities of substances, certainly he will fall short of his purpose, since we can assign no better reason than the Will of the Almighty Creator, who hath imparted to things such colours as he hath been pleased with, and hath so wisely implanted them in their seminaries, that their internal archeus or natural and innate Architectonical spirit can never swerve from them nor forsake them but by Error or uncapacity and unfitness of the matter, the ordinary causes of generation of Monsters, which very unjustly are attributed to an error and blemish of Nature.   

The Chemical preparation of Coral.  
AS Coral possesses many singular and noble virtues, so have our Artists in all times sought the possible ways of opening its body with great variety of Menstruum's, to extract from the centre of this mixed the noble Remedies which Nature hath implanted in it. I can even say that there is no natural product upon which so many, either vegetable or mineral Liquors have been tried; and to prove the truth of this Assertion I shall only here rehearse some of the principal, which are all manner of distilled Vinegars, Juices of Berberries, Lemon, Quinces, Orange, spirit of dew and Honey, acid or sharp spirit of Turpentine, the liquor or Birch-tree, the spirits of Guajacum, Box, Iuniper, tops of Alder and Service-tree; spirits of Bohemian-tartar, Salt, Vitriol, Sulphur or Brimstone, the tempered spirit of Wine acuated with those salts, the burning spirit of Coral itself, the vinegar or acid Spirit of the same, and finally the spirit and phlegm of Saturn; but above all, the most active and efficacious is the spirit of Venus. whereof we have already spoken somewhere else, and will give a description in the Section of Metals.  
I have not thought it out of purpose to intimate the variety of these Menstruums, to make it appear more evidently how many operations have been begun and finished upon Coral; and that when the Chemical Apothecary shall consult any of the Authors that have treated or it, and finding so great a difference shall doubt to which part he may best and more safely incline, he may have a guide herein and be conducted through this Labyrinth by the thread of Experience which we ourselves have made thereof. Wherhfore we will give examples how to extract in the best manner the salt of Coral and false Magistery; than how to make the true which aught to be dissoluble; and in the third place we will give the method of extracting the Tincture thereof, and finally how the true Syrup is to be made, and that he may have a true and full Idea of the virtues of Coral, and affix it to one of these four Remedies, according to their corporeity, spirituality and their Dosis. We have thought fit to prefix the general and particular virtues, which both Ancient and Modern Writers have attributed to Coral, which are these: The general virtues are to be astringent, cool and dry, strengthen and corroborated the heart, ventricle, liver, and purify the mass of the blood, whence it is given against the Plague, venoms and malignant Fevers. It cheers up the internal senses, as also the external; stops all kind of Fluxes of the Belly, Womb and privy parts. Paracelsus saith, That Coral of a high colour worn about the body as a preservative, frees the party from fear of Witchcraft, Incantation, Poison, Epilepsy, Melancholy, danger of evil Spirits, or touch of Thunder.   

How to prepare rightly the salt of Coral.  
TAke as much well chosen read Coral as you will, dry, hard, and of a high-coloured read; beaten it in a brazen Mortar well cleansed with its Pestle to a course powder, and thereof put ℥ iiij. in a Matrass, and gently pour upon strong and pure distilled Vinegar: I say gently and by degrees, because if it were poured too much at a time, there would immediately arise a sudden ebullition by the action of the Dissolvent upon the dissoluble Body, and so part of the dissolution should run danger to be cast away; therefore must you act with prudence and patience until the violent action of the Spirit be allayed, than may you continued boldly your pouring of the Vinegar all at once to the height of four fingers: and having placed your Matrass in ashes or sand, stir it often until the Vinegar shows no more action or is grown altogether insipid, which is than a clear testimony that all its sharpness is lost by the action it has upon the substance of the Coral; after this draw by inclination this Spirit so impregnated of the Coralline salt, and pour on fresh to continued your extraction: and thus digest, extract, and draw of until no more of the dissoluble substance of the Coral be left; than filtrate all the dissolutions being cold, because if you did it whilst they be warm, the heat would make some small terrestrial corpuscles to penetrate through the Filtre, which would hinder the purity and Dissolubility of the salt; all these dissolutions being filtrated, put them in a Cucurbite in Sand, and draw of the moistness with a moderate heat until a white Ring appears about the Vessel: than cease the fire, for this is a sign that the Liquor is too much loaden; touch not the Vessel till all be cold, because it would hinder the chrystallization of the salt which makes it more easy to dissolve and more pleasant to sight; the remaining Liquor separate by inclination to continued the evaporation of it in a Dish till in the bottom appears a dry salt, but it will never be so fine nor so good as the first. But it may be objected, that the evaporation of the Menstruum could sooner be performed in Dishes or an earthen Pan than in a Cucurbite covered with its Still-head; which I grant, but deny that it could be so cleanly done: for it would be impossible for the Artist to hinder the dust of the coals which must continually be stirred in a Laboratory from spoiling and defiling the Salt; and above all things cleanliness in Chemical operations is to be studied. There is nevertheless another Chemical Philosophical Reason which may oblige him to draw of the Menstruum in a Blindhead covered with its Still, viz. That he may know by this way when the spirit of Vinegar shall be altogether changed, and that which drops down becomes altogether insipid and as voided of salt as Rain-water; moreover, this water which he draws of is not useless, since it is much better than many other distilled Waters to make Juleps thereof in burning Fevers: For in this Water remains hidden a Spirit imperceptible to the taste, but very subtle and capable of doing much good to sick persons: secondly, the salt of Coral will be finer and purer, and likewise of more virtue, because by this slow distillation it gets more subtlety and refinedness, which becomes more capable of producing its efficacy.  
Here we must resolve a difficulty of great importance; which is, that almost all the Authors which have treated of the Practice of Chemistry do prescribe, that after the salt of Coral and all others have been prepared and drawn with distilled Vinegar, they should be dulcorated by several dissolutions and evaporations, lest the sharpness remaining in those Salts be hurtful and of prejudice to the bodies of sick Patients, wherein to speak truth, they are much deceived and are to be blamed: for that salt which they pretend to take away is absolutely necessary; and I am bold to say, that even in case they could remove and wash it of by this way which they propound, that, what should remain, would absolutely be useless, not to say hurtful. For as Vinegar is but a fixed Wine by the predominancy of a Tartarous acid Salt over the sulphureous volatile spirit of the Wine, we must acknowledge that it is nothing else but a liquid Bohemian-tartar, yet involved in many impurities: but the Vinegar being distilled, it turns to a liquid Bohemian-tartar more refined and more subtiliated, which can have no more of danger in it than the Cremor Tartari, unless it were by reason of its phlegm. Now after this Spirit has dissolved the Coral, and that the Artist draws of this phlegm, the subtle Bohemian-tartar of the fixed Wine joins and incorporates with the Coral, and frames that which is called Salt of Coral, whose only virtue proceeds from the union of this volatilised Bohemian-tartar joined with the Coral, because it is this Salt which conveys the Coral into the last digestions of the body, and drives away the sensible and insensible transpiration, and by Urines all the peccant humours and impurities against Nature harbouring in the Mass of the blood. But for a clearer proof we will set this truth before your eyes in the immediately following Preparation.   

How to make the false Magistery of Coral.  
YOU must dissolve the Coral in distilled Vinegar, in the same manner as we have prescribed for the extraction of the Salt, and filtrate the dissolution, out of which draw back again the two third parts of the menstruum by distillation, and the Vessels being cooled, set the remaining liquor in a Glass or white earthen dish, and pour upon drop by drop dissolved salt of Bohemian-tartar, which improperly is called Oleum ☿ per deliquium; and you shall found a white coagulation, which is nothing else but the earthly and stony substance of the Coral returned to a body which leaves and forsakes its dissolvent, which is this sharp salt of Vinegar. Now all the lixivial salts which are made by Calcination do kill the sharp ones, which causes the dissolvent to quit the Body which it had dissolved, and so it is restored to its self again and precipitated wanting that subtle Salt which did tender it visible in the Liquor; after this pour what swims above this white substance, and put clear water upon to edulcorate it, and so continued doing till the water comes of as tasteless and insipid as when it was poured on; than dry gently this white substance, and you shall have that which is pretended to be Magistery of Coral, which is (to say the truth) nothing else but a fixed and astringent earth, much worse and lesle safe than plain Coral prepared, or purely reduced to a very subtle powder. For they that shall say to commend this Magistery that it conduces to laskes of the belly, and strengthens the weak and debilitated stomach, and consequently aught not to be prescribed out of the Rank and Commerce of useful Remedies, must know, that the efficient cause of Lasks or Fluxes and loosnesses of the belly, and debility of stomach, is for the most part nothing else but a harsh serosity sharp and full of malignity, which causes an ill colliquation not only of nutriment, but also of the very substance of the parts: and the powder of Coral shall be capable sooner to remedy that than the pretended Magistery, because this acid against Nature shall act upon and destroy it, as by experience it is ●een, that Coral sweetens Vinegar, and that so the cause being removed the effect must cease. But it will be much better to make use of the salt of Coral, wheresoever there shall be occasion of using a Remedy, because that besides it shall correct this malignant acidity, it will expel and evacuate by Sweats and Urines those substances which have been altered and colliquated, and consequently that effect which is intended by the Physician shall never fail to come to pass. But this pretended Magistery can never be well used in such a case, because it is fixed, and the distilled Vinegar, or even corrosive Spirits can have no action upon it: by which it appears that it is unsufficient and uncapable to destroy or altar that sharpness agarnst Nature, by which the looseness of the belly and relaxation or weakness of stomach is wrought, and therefore it is altogether unprofitable in the use of Physic. But it will perhaps be urged again, that it may also be precipitated without spirit of Vitriol with its own oil, or oil of Sulphur, or spirit of Salt, and that it will thus be mended and exalted, which we deny again; for, were there any good to be expected from these Magisteries, it would be from that which is precipitated with liquor of ☿ rather than with these Spirits, because it would yet be more fixed than the other, and so consequently lesle capable of action. But we need not speak any more of this, since Paracelsus in his sixth Book of his Archidoxas saith, That a true Magistery must almost in an instant penetrate our whole body by the quickness and subtlety of its parts: by which it may manifestly appear to be something else than these fixed Earth's uncapable of all action, much lesle of penetration, being destitute of all manner of salt and spirit, from the activity whereof all actions and powers are depending. And this shall suffice upon this Subjectr let us come to the true manner of preparing a Magistery answerable to its name, that is to say, a Magisterial and principal Remedy.   

How to prepare the true Magistery of Coral.  
WE shall not use in this operation a simple distilled Vinegar, neither the body of any Salt to open and penetrate the body of the Coral, without imbezlingits power and seminal Faculties: contrariwise we shall preserve them and rather increase by the help of a volatile Spirit, penetrating, active, and not working as Corrosives which cause indeed a dissolution of substances, but altar and destroy the virtues thereof; it is that wondered Spirit of ♀ we make use of to prepare a true penetrative and dissoluble Magistery; for this true Philosophical Vinegar shall reduce the Coral as it were to its first Being, or to a spermatick Juice, without altering nevertheless the goodness of its principiant Sulphur, because this noble Dissolvent is drawn of again with the same taste, virtue and dissolutive Faculty which it had before its action upon Coral, and may be afterwards yet employed for the like operation or any other whatsoever, which is none of the lest Mysteries of Art and Nature; for the discovery of which we are beholding to that wondered Germane Physician Zwelferus yet living, who together with the invention of this secret, hath imparted us the manner how to use it.  
To attain than to the Art of making a perfect Magistery; Choose ℥ iiij. of the best read Coral you can meet with and reduce it to powder, which being put in a large and Capacious Matrass, pour upon softly and by degrees for fear of violent ebullitions ℥ xx. of well rectified spirit of ♀; and all its action being ceased and allayed, put the Matrass to digest in a vaporous Bath the space of a Natural day; which being over, filtrate all the Liquor, and you shall found all the Coral to be dissolved, and that the residency remaining in the Filter is nothing else but a fat and muddy earth, which contains the impurities and feces of Coral; put the Filtration in a Cucurbite in B. M. cover it with its Head, and draw of again your Spirit with so proportionate a heat that the drops may but follow one another: and thus continued till the matter remains in the bottom of the Vessel half dry; than cease the fire and put up the Spirit in a Vial for it is as good as before. After this wash what is remaining in the Filter with ℥ viij. of Spanish Scorzonera water, mixed with as much of second Cinnamon water; for some part of the Magistery yet remaining behind will dissolve in these Waters; filtrate them and dissolve the substance remaining in the Cucurbite; and if this proportion of water should not suffice, take lb φ. more to perfect the Solution, which filtrate very cleanly, and put all the filtrations in a Cucurbite, than cover it and place in B. M. drawing of all the waters to a dry bottom, so shall you have a Cephalick and Cordial Water, excellent against Epilepsies and Convulsions both of young and old; and in the bottom of your Vessel shall you have a true Magistery, melting presently, and suddenly in the mouth and in all manner of Liquors, endowed with almost innumerable virtues. The Dosis must be from u gr. to xx. in Broths, Wine, or the very water extracted from it. It is one of the most sovereign of Cordials, and a Specific against Melancholy and Madness; it is likewise an excellent Remedy against Scurvy, for it cleanses all the mass of the blood by all the several natural emunctories, and almost insensibly; finally it is a true preservative against malignant Diseases, because it strengthens so wonderfully the Ventricle that it hinders totally their seminary; and as the Venerean Pox hath its only original from and its seat in the corruption of the blood, which by progress of time infects all the other parts, by reason of the venenosity which serosities convey with that universal Aliment; so there is nothing that will better either stop or hinder it than this noble and admirable Magistery, because it corrects or evacuates sensibly or insensibly whatsoever does foment or entertains corruption in the mass of the blood.   

Of the Tincture of Coral.  
THere is nothing so common in the Mouths and Write of Chemical Artists as Tincture of Coral, and scarce any that hath meddled with the Art, but pretends to have the surest process and way of making it, and moreover to have wrought miracles therewith; but there is a vast difference between words and deeds: for it is easy to speak boastingly, but hard to prove this truth by reality. Now as all Authors, but chief Paracelsus, do attribute to this Remedy extraordinary Virtues, so is it very fitting to be prepared against the Delusions and surprisal of those who pretend to the Art of making of it, and who keep it as a particular knowledge and select to themselves, being not willing to impart so much as the manner of their preparation and extraction, much lesle the matter out of which they take their Menstruum, whereof they make use in the drawing of this Tincture. The truth is, it is not without grounds we may suspect their capacity; for they that boast themselves with the knowledge of making this Tincture, are oftentimes altogether ignorant what Tincture is, or what Menstruum. Let than all those that will atrain to the truth of it know, that the greatest part of these pretended Tinctures, are nothing else but dissolutions of the body of Coral if it be whole and without previous Calcination; or the only exaltation and rubification of the Menstruum employed about the Coral calcined by a simple Reverberation, or with addition of some salts; for calcinated and Reverberated salts communicate themselves to the Liquors used for Extraction, and so do exalt and colour with read the volatile salt of the Menstruum, by which the most part of those which hitherto have believed to have made the true Tincture of Coral are deceived; But the truth is easily discovered by precipitating or evaporating of the same; for by these two actions the salt or body of the Coral is discovered, which was before invisibly dispersed through the Menstruum. Now the Tincture of Coral must be free from all these mistakes; it must be pure, it must be simple, not loaded with any other substance or body, because the internal sulphurs of things have a great irradiation and large extent in their virtue, but scarce are comprehensible and brought under the senses by their corporeity. Moreover, the first or second Menstruums which are employed, must not be capable of themselves to contract any colour, though long kept in digestion without addition of any other mixture. Our Artist being sure and well resolved in all these particulars, if with these precautions he draws any Tincture from Coral, he may be very confident it is true, and that it shall produce those effects which Authors do attribute unto it. I can give not better nor more Philosophical description thereof than that which follows.   

True process of the Tincture of Coral.  
TO arrive to the perfection of so noble a Medicine time and matter must not be spared, and moreover it must not be undertaken by a Novice in Chemistry, nor thought to be performed by him at the first brunt; for he must be capable of Distilling, Digesting, Cohobating, Rectifying, Extracting, and all with Judgement and proportion. Wherhfore we will begin by the Preparation of necessary Menstruums for the first and second Extraction, and the Chemical Artist must well consider these two Menstruums, for they are not without a Mystery.   

The first Menstruum.  
℞ lb iiij. of Bohemian-tartar of Montpellier well cleansed and purified, as we have intimated in the preparation of Bohemian-tartar; reduce it to a subtle powder, and mix exactly with lb j of green Vitriol of Martial nature: put this mixture in a large and capacious Matrass, and pour upon lb iij. of phlegm of Vitriol impregnated with its volatile sulphurous Spirit; this done, stop the Vessel with its Blindhead exactly fitted and luted, and put it in digestion in cut or shred straw in a vaporous Bath to a moderate heat during the space of seven days; that being ended, have a Cucurbite well luted up to the middle with a good Lute capable of resisting the fire, and well dried, which accommodate in a Reverberatory Furnace, leaving four Registers in the corners of the Furnace for the regulating of the fire; pour in this Cucurbite what hath been digested, and immediately cover it with its Limbeck-head or Still, luted as is convenient, and fit to it a Recipient with the joints also luted: than give it a gradual fire gentle and moderate until the drops begin to follow, than entertain the fire in that degree until the Still drops not more, at which sign increase the fire by degrees until all the vapours be over, and the Still-head gins of itself to grow clear, than cease the fire and let all cool. Separate from the distilled Liquor the oil of Bohemian-tartar by filtration, and rectify the Spirit on ashes to a dry bottom, and so shall you have the first Menstruum to extract Corals without any previous Calcination. But before we proceed further, we must give to our Artist warning not to loose the matter remaining in the bottom of the Cucurbite after the first distillation: contrariwise he must dissolve it in distilled Rain-water, he must filtrate and evaporate it slowly to a dry bottom, and he shall have a vitriolate Bohemian-tartar not to be despised: for it is a great opener & disopilative for all the obstructions of the Ventricle. The Dosis from iv. gr. to ℈ ss. in Broths, white Wine, or some decoction of Scolopendra or Spleenwort & Chichory or Parfly Roots.   

The second Menstruum.  
THis Menstruum is ordinarily called Aqua temperata, temperate Water, as also the sweet or dulcified spirit of Salt: for it is made of equal parts of very pure Alkoholized spirit of Wine and spirit of Salt very well dephlegmated, which you must mix together by degrees; than distil and bring over the Helm in ashes four or five times, or what is yet better, until they be inseparably conjoined and united together by reiterated distillation: this being performed, you shall have a very good preservative and curative of the Plague and all contagious diseases, because it hinders all manner of corruption, preserves the natural parts in their equal temper and necessary vigour; this also is the Menstruum which shall be used to keep in itself the internal sulphur of Coral, which the first Menstruum did yet hid, or the shadow of the Body.   

To make the Tincture of Coral thus.  
℞ As much of the fairest and reddest Coral you can meet with, and reduce it cleanly to a very subtle powder, which put in a Matrass and pour upon of the first Menstruum about ℥ j or ij. at once, stirring it nimbly, than begin again to pour fresh Menstruum, and stir until your matter be covered with it the height of four inches; stop your Vessel with a Blindhead, and put to digest in a vaporous Bath in shred straw during the space of three weeks, with a heat a little more than lukewarm, after this open the Vessels, draw of the read Tincture by inclination, and keep in a Vial; than reaffund new Menstruum upon the remaining body of the Coral, and continued the digestion and extraction until the Menstruum takes no more of the colour: than join all the Tinctures and filtrate them, and having put them in a Cucurbite on sand draw of the liquor to a dry bottom in a moderate heat, and you shall found in the bottom of the Glass a read powder, which hides in its centre the internal sulphur of the Coral, which constitutes its colour and virtue: put this powder in a circulatory Vessel called a Pelican, and pour upon it of the second Menstruum called temperate water the height of vj. fingers; lute exactly the upper orifice of the Vessel; after you have stopped it with a Glass-stople, place it in Balneo and keep in digestion during the space of one Philosophical Month, and this sweet and pleasant Menstruum will draw to its self this wondered Sulphur, and take a very pleasant colour. This done, cease the fire, open the vessel and filtrate the Tincture, to separate the feculency and sediment which remains in the bottom of the Pelican; put than the filtration in a Cucurbite, and draw of the two thirds or half of the Menstruum, and keep choicely the remainder, as one of the principal Remedies of a Spagyrical shop. Let not our Artist presume to cut of any part, or shorten the space of forty days, though he perceives his Menstruum to be tincted: for the circulation must perform the extraction, exaltation and union, which operations do require not lesle time; for the Chemical Apothecary which desires to be successful in his work, aught to follow the motion of Nature which works nothing but slowly, and must ever have in his remembrance the saying of our great Master Paracelsus, that omnis praecipitatio à Diabolo; and that he that doth well, hath ever done soon enough.  
But before we prescribe the Dosis and virtues of this Tincture, we must satisfy Man's minds, that it is not only good in opinion and fancy, but in reality. To this end let us make a judicious reflection both upon the matter and the Menstruums. There is no body but knows and confesses that Coral hath many singular noble virtues, so that both ancient and modern Authors have all unanimously acknowledged, that this virtue resided in its redness, and have all striven to find out some liquor analogous to our Nature wherewith to extract it. This is plain in our process; for the Ingredients we employ for the distillation of the first Menstruum, are good and harmless each of them asunder; but besides there is a mystical and philosophical union made of them by the distillation and digestion that hath been previous, so that the sharpness of the Vitriol hath been moderated and sweetened by the Bohemian-tartar, and by their action and reaction each upon the other, and thus of this match doth result a Spirit friendly to Nature and free from corrosiveness, which may take away all fear that it might have altered the seminal principles of Coral: contrariwise, it only has freed them from the commerce of the matter whereby they were fettered, and rather exalted them to a perfection than debased their worth. As for the second Menstruum, I believe there is no body will take upon him to say aught against it, since the spirit of Wine and that of Salt are two real conservative Balsom's, not only of living bodies but even of dead ones, while they are yet asunder: But who shall not admire the wondered secrets of Art and Nature, capable to make an union of the subtlest and most volatile of all Spirits, with one of the most fix, and thereof make a neutral and middle compound, which hath nothing left either of the taste, or any other quality of the two taken asunder! so that I conclude that this Tincture cannot be but one of the most excellent Remedies which Chemistry can afford, and therefore hath it this prerogative to be one of the first and principal of all Remedies to purify the mass of the blood from all the impurities by which it may be tainted: either Leprosy, Venerean Pox, or Scorbute; it strengthens the Heart, cheers the Senses, drives away Melancholy, hinders sad Dreams, stops Hemorrhagies, alleys inward pains, strengthens the Stomach, appeases the irritation of the Mother, corrects ●oding vapours of the Spleen, removes obstructions of the Liver, Mesentery and Pancreas or sweet bread, provokes and stops monthly Courses, purges and cleanses the Kidneys and Bladder, and strengthens the Brain and all the functions of the Body and Mind: briefly, I should never have done to rehearse here all what ancient and modern Writers have said in praise of this Tincture; and to speak ingenuously, nothing but great matters can be expected from all the Remedies which are made by volatile Spirits animated with the strength and virtue of internal Sulphurs' of things, and chief those that are of a Solar Nature, because these noble Medicines do in an instant as the light penetrate into our last digestions, and as they go imprint in all the parts the stamp and Character and the Idea of their Balsamic virtue, which causes them to remove and drive away all the impurities which the vice of digestions had left in them. This Tincture may be used by the way of a preservative morning and evening in old Wine, or Hydromel or mead old and well digested in Broth, or some proper water to the end which is intended. The Dosis from j drop to iiij. and for the cure of Diseases, it must be given to the sick in ordinary or Chronical Diseases from j drop to x. in Menstruum analogical and proportionate to the Disease, and that during the space of forty days, because that interval is sufficient to renew and repair the whole Body in the most obstinate Diseases, and so proportionally under that time according to the exigency of the distemper and malady; therefore we must leave it to the judgement of the Physician; but because all are not capable of preparing this Remedy, and knowing the Genius of our Nation to be too impatient to allow themselves the requisite time whereby they may possess the Tinctures and Arcana's: I have thought it fitting to join and teach here the manner of preparing a Syrup of Coral, by a quick and easy way, and which may be made use of instead of this Tincture; but with much difference of virtue; and I know not whether Apothecaries will take the pains and be at the necessary charge of the confection of this Syrup, though to speak truth, it may prove the best piece of their furniture; yet I have some hopes that those that are careful and do intent the good and advantage of their Neighbour, and discharge honestly the trust of their employment, shall furnish themselves with the one and the other of these two Remedies.   

To prepare the true Syrup of Coral.  
THis Syrup is commonly used to strengthen the vital and animal faculties, and as it is its chief scope, so will we give a description thereof which will in its contents follow the intention of the Physician; nevertheless some other liquor may be substituted, when the Physician intends to specify and tender it more particular to some proper use, as Cinnamon in water, juice of Pomegranate and Quinces, juice of Melissa or Balm and Cochlearia or Scurvygrass, and so of many others according to the Indication which shall be taken by the Artist; this nevertheless may be used in the room of all the others, because as it generally doth strengthen Nature and its functions, so is it capable to correct all the particular vices thereof.  
To this end take some of the uppermost rind of Lemmon and Orange ana ℥ iij. shred them very small and put in a Cucurbite, pour upon it lb j ss. very good Spanish Wine or some other generous Wine; put in the nose of the Still a knot of ℈ ij. of grains of Kermes wrapped in silk Tiffany, with ℈ j of the best Saffron, ℈ φ. of the best Ambergris in powder exactly mixed with the other two bodies, cover your Cucurbite with a Still head, and having luted exactly the joints thereof, as also the Recipient which you shall fit thereunto, place it in Sand and give fire by degrees and very slowly, until you have extracted about xij. or xv. ℥. of Spirit. Than take ℥ ij. of dissoluble Magistery of Coral, and dissolve it in ℥ x. of this distilled Spirit, adding lb j of very fine Sugar reduced to an impalpable powder, stir all together and place it in a circulatory Vessel well lu●ed to the slow heat of a vaporous Bath, as long as there shall be need to perfect the dissolution: than let the Vessel cool and put the Syrup in a well stopped Vial, and you shall have a sovereign Remedy against all weaknesses of stomach, all diseases of the spleen, and above all a great chearer of the Heart and Brain. To know the noble uses of this Syrup, and wherein it may be employed with success, you must recall to mind what we have said concerning the virtues attributed to Coral, and its Salt, true Magistery and Tincture. The Dosis shall be from ℈ j to ℥ j either alone or in some convenient liquor. We shall deliver here no other Example for working upon Pearls than this we have done upon Coral; For an Artist be he never so little skilful, cannot but know the difference which must be made in working upon that precious and costly matter; and if he needs some other preparation, let him consult with those who have written about it more punctually.   

Of the Lapis Judaicus, and its Chemical preparation.  
THe Lapis Judaicus is of the form, shape and bigness of an Olive, soft and easy to crumble, it is streaked with lines or rays equally distant one from the other as if they had been framed with a turn, it is of a white ash-colour; it is called Lapis Judaicus, because found in Judea; there is some also found in Silesia in Germany. Some will make it distinguishable into male and female, and appoint the female to be used for the Bladder, the male for the Kidneys, but all that is nothing else but a mere Chimaera: wherefore we will loose no time upon this speculation, to bestow it the better upon some useful matter, viz. the preparation thereof which will be a pattern and model for preparing also the Linx-stone and Sponges. Take than as much of Lapis Judaicus as you please, and reduce it to a gross powder, and mix with equal weight of beaten sulphur or Brimstone, than put all in an earthen pot not glazed or in a Crucible, and calcine it by degrees with a circular fire until the Brimstone takes fire and be fully consumed, than put the calcined matter in a Matrass and pour upon spirit of vinegar of Honey four inches high, than put it to dissolve and digest in ashes, slacking often the Vessel, and when the Menstruum shall be well coloured draw it out by inclination and pour fresh upon it, reiterating this process three times, that the salt contained in the matter may be all extracted, than filtrate the dissolutions, putting them in a Cucurbite, and evaporate slowly in sand to a dry bottom, and thus shall you have the salt of the Lapis Judaicus, which afterwards you must purify by several reiterated dissolutions, filtrations, evaporations and coagulations until it be pure and clean: But note, that if you evacuate the Menstruum with whom you make your purification with a little of spirit of Salt, your work will proceed more speedily, and the salt shall be more efficacious and of a better taste; this salt may be kept for twenty uses either dry or dissolved, and this dissolution is properly that which they call the oil of Lapis Judaicus, in case it be given dry in Broths, in white Wine, or some water or diuretical Decoctions. The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to xij. and if the liquor be given dissolved in the same Menstruums in a double proportion, by reason of the moistness drawn from the salt (which increases the weight) the virtue of the Salt and Liquor is to remove all difficulties of Urinal, proceeding of obstructions caused by tarrarous, slimy, muscilagineous, sandy & stony matters which are found in the Kidneys, Ureteries or Bladder. These Remedies also drive away the gravel and small stones from all other places where they use to grow for the most part.   

Of Talk and its Chemical Preparation.  
THere are many who set no difference between the specular or shining stone which the ancients did call Selenite, or Lunary and Talk, but they mistake very much: for it is a stone differing from the other by its inclination to friability, its green colour and fixedness. There are two kinds of Talk, the white viz. and the coloured: the white differs again in its kind; for there is the Venetian Talk which is greenish and breaks in thin scales, being esteemed the best and the purest. There is also the Moscovian, not so much valued as that which comes from Venice, but it has not a despicable quality, though it seems something lesle pure. The second kind of Talk is coloured and is read and black, wherereof Paracelsus makes mention in his Chronicles of Carinthia; Chemical Authors use sometimes in an enigmatical Language to call Talk the Star of the Earth.  
We shall give an Example of such operations as may be made upon a coloured and uncoloured Talk, that we may not be reproached, the neglect and passing by of a stone, the preparation whereof hath tormented so much and so violently torments yet every day, the brain of those which labour in the extraction of its oil, which hath ever been the Idol of the most famous Courtesans, for the help they pretend to receive from it in the preservation and increase of their beauty. I am nevertheless rather of their mind who believe that the oil of Talk of ancient Philosophers is an operation upon Luna or silver; or even the great work in white, which possesses the highest lustre of white that it is possible to see in any substance, and must infallibly be capable of performing that which is hoped from this Oil of Talk so much cried up hitherto.  
The principal operation made upon Talk is the calcination of it; for this stone being of extraordinary fixedness, it must be the scope of our Artist to open it by this first preparation: and those that have kept pretty big lumps of Venetian Talk six entire weeks in a Glass-house fire, without finding any alteration in its weight, colour or aptness to crumble, are capable to deter and astonish any that takes in hand this work, to reduce it in some unctuous matter, and make that noble white thereof which Ladies do with so much curiosity and at so great charges seek for; and as there is none of them which call themselves Chemists, and pretend any thing to the knowledge of this noble Art, who doth not boast to have some secret Receipt thereupon; we shall nevertheless ingeniously confess, that this matter is too fixed to pretend any liquid substance from it, unless it be by the help of some salts capable to penetrate this stone: for I found no experience or Reason that can convince me to the contrary, after I have tried the invincible fixedness of the true Talk, whensoever I went about to calcinate it without any addition. But making use of some Salts and Spirits, I do not deny but that a good Losmetick may be made to change and whiten the skin: But it cannot be avoided that the sulphur of this stone should ever keep with itself some portion of the fatness of the salt or Saline spirit which returns to a Body. Therefore great discretion and heed aught to be had in making use of these things, jest the skin be worn out and ulcerated, instead of smoothing and rendering it fair, delicate and white.   

The Chemical preparation of Venetian Talk.  
TAke of true Venetian Talk, pure, clean, and of a greenish colour and reduce lb φ. in very subtle powder in an iron Mortar, made almost glowing hot in a good fire, as also the end of the Pestle to be used, or which is yet the best way; file it with a soft File into a very subtle and small powder; mix diligently this lb ss. of Talk in powder with lb j of very white Bohemian-tartar and very dry, than put this mixture in a great Crucible in a Wind-furnace, and calcine it with a fire of the last and utmost degree during the space of xij. or xuj. hours, which time expired, beaten the mass to powder in a hot glowing Mortar, rhen put the powder in a grey or white earthen pan in a Cellar, to convert the salt of Bohemian-tartar into Liquor, and let it run in a small Dish by the mouth of the pan: all the salt being separated, dry the remaining substance, and with four times as much weight of very pure Saltpetre put the whole in a new strong Crucible able to bear the violence of the fire; put this Crucible in a wind-Furnace, and give it fire by degrees until you bring it to the highest pitch, and your Talk will melt into a very white and almost transparent Mass. This Mass put in a cool and moist place, and it will dissolve in time into an unctuous and glutinous liquor. Which Liquor is to be used for taking away and blotting out of all spots, roughness and scurf and excrescences of the face and skin, in the shoulders, breast, arms and hands; but this Liquor must be dextrously and discreetly applied with a Pincel and very superficially; and above all care must be taken that it should not lie long upon the part, which must immediately be washed with water of white Lilies, Bean-flowers, or Nenuphar flowers water turned white with some few drops of Tincture of Benjuin.  
But when you will use this unctuous Liquor without any fear of danger, put some part in a Matrass and pour upon alkoholized spirit of Wine, and digest together in a heat of Horse-dung or vaporous Balneo during the space of three weeks, than draw of the spirit by distillation in the same Bath, and cohobate at lest twenty times, adding every time ℥ iiij. of new spirit of Wine; and so shall you kill all the corrosiveness which was remaining in the Liquor, and have a substance fit than any other whatsoever to clear and whiten the skin, provided that the hands and face or other parts be well and duly cleansed before with some good past, before you make any application of the Liquor.   

To prepare a cream of Talk, of lesser trouble and work than the forementioned.  
TAke q. v. of Talk reduced into a very subtle powder, which sprinkle two or three times with some excellent distilled Vinegar in a Glass Dish, and that until it be reduced to a kind of past, which stir with a Glass spatula two or three hours, increase the Vinegar gently by degrees until you have poured enough for the Talk ro swim in it boiling, than put the Dish in sand, and give it a gradual fire until the matter boils, and insensibly will raise on the top thereof a fat scum, which you must very carefully gather with a Scimmer, and thus continued till no more will rise: after this evaporate gently the superfluous moistness of the Vinegar, and keep the remainder for use, as being one of the best Cosmeticks of the world. And if you will use it to wash the face or other parts, dissolve and mix some part thereof with phlegm of spirit of Salt, and immediately apply a Pomander or Ointment made with marrow of sheep's Trotters, Sperma ceti. Virgin wax, and a little Pork suet well washed; in this Pomander mix some of the cream of Talk, and a few Benjuin flowers, and the clearness, whiteness and pureness of the part anointed therewith shall last above a fortnight.   

The Chemical preparation of read Talk.  
IT is not sufficient to have showed some kind of preparation upon the white Talk, which conduces only for outward beautifying, but we will also deliver the manner of making a good inward Remedy with read Talk. For as this stone hath a mineral sulphur in its centre which participates of the Solar Nature, so must we work its extraction by the salts which are capable to open the bodies and penetrate them, to seek therein the hidden and as it were imprisoned virtue thereof.  
To this end, ℞ ℥ iiij. of read Talk, and reduce it to a subtle powder in a read hot Mortar, mixing this powder with as much well prepared salt of Tartar according to Sennertus' prescription, as we have taught heretofore; put this mixture in a Crucible, and calcine it together in a wind-Furnace during the space of twelve hours, which done, reduce to powder in a hot Mortar the matter you shall found in the Crucible, and put this matter in a Matrass, pouring upon it tartarized spirit of Wine four fingers high; digest them together in the vaporous Bath, until the spirit hath got a high and read Tincture, than draw it of by inclination, and pour on new spirit. Thus continuing to digest and extract until the spirit takes no more colour, than filtrate all the Tinctures and put in a Cucurbite, to draw of the three parts of the spirit in a slow heat of Balneo, and so shall you have a Tincture inwardly loaded with the internal sulphur of read Talk, which is a preservative and curative Remedy of the Plague and of all other malignant Diseases; this Tincture is given from iij. drops to xij. in Wine or Broth for preservative, and if for curative Remedy it be administered to sick persons, the Dosis may be increased of a just half proportion, and given in small Centaury, Scordium, Germander water: It is a sovereign Cordial, a Cephalick and wondered Stomachick, which leaves no impurity in the ultimate digestions, but drives it away by insensible transpiration, by Urine, or by Sweatman   

Of the Calk or Stare-lime-stone, and its Chemical Preparation.  
THE vulgar preparation of Quicklime made by violent calcination of ordinary Quarry-stones, or great Flintstones, is so common and known by all persons, by the frequent and necessary use of it in buildings, that it would be superfluous for us to say any thing thereof. It suffices us to say by the by, that it hath very little use in Pharmacy, but in some other preparations besides and after calcination: for Quicklime hath no other virtue outwardly applied, than to discover an ingenuous Caustick and corrosive nature: but being prepared as we shall teach hereafter, it becomes capable of supplying Remedies altogether unknown to the vulgar, both inwardly and outwardly applied.   

How the water of quick and prepared Lime is to be made.  
℞ lb iiij. of good and well calcined Quicklime, in whole lumps as much as is possible, such being lesle offended by the outward impression of the air and water, and whole in its virtue; put it in a great Basin and pour upon it Rain or River water half a foot high; let it be softly dissolved, and agitate it from time to time with a wooden Spatula or Slice, and the water being well loaded and impregnated with the salt of the Lime, filtrate it and keep it for use. And thus reiterate dissolving with new water three times, filtrating and keeping asunder. Than put the remaining Lime upon a Filter in Trochisk's to dry; it is that which in shops is called prepared Calx or Lime, which is to dry softly without any biting or mordacity: wherefore it is most excellent for the cure and cicatrizing of malignant Ulcers, and principally those that participate of venerean infection; it is also very good for the cure of burn, and may be employed in Liniments, Ointments, Plasters, and all Epulotick and desiccative powders, used for Ulcers which are difficult to close again.  
The first, second and third water of the quicklime, which were kept each by themselves, may also be employed severally according as need shall require: for they are the ground and chief Ingredient of Waters used against Gangrenes, and for the Pin and Web and other sore diseases in the eyes. It may be so applied even without any other addition, to wash putrid, foul and corroding Ulcers; and the best guide therein may be the experience of the Chirurgeon, whether the first, second or third is to be used, according as he shall discover by the appearing signs, the malignancy of the Ulcer to be greater or lesle.   

To prepare the plain Water against Gangrenes, and other symptoms and accidents thereof.  
WE must confess that this Water is one of the best Remedies which at this day are in the possessiion of Surgery to prevent the sad accidents of Gangrenes and their sequel; and being this Remedy is so useful to public advantage, I would not hold it longer in silence; though it will not perhaps please too many who keep it still by them as a grand secret; but this noble Medicament owning its invention to the search of Chemistry, so is it just that by the benefit of the same and the ingenuity of this Treatise it should be communicated to all Members and Practitioners of Surgery which are not yet acquainted with the same, that they may Charitably bestow it for the help and cure of poor sick Patients: for it is a great Gift and benefit of God, to be purchased almost without charge, and easily to be found every where, wherefore also it aught to be liberally dispensed and imparted to such poor Patients as shall be in want of it. All the secret thereof doth only consist in mixing with greater or lesser proportion, sublimate corrosive Mercury in either of the three Waters, according as it is intended and desired to be more or lesle strong and violent; and so the Dosis of the mixture depends upon the judgement and skll of the Chirurgeon who intends the use of it, for preventing the accidents of Gangrenes or to stop it, and prevent the increase and progress of the same, when it hath already seized upon and deadened some part of the flesh: for the spirits and hidden fire which are in this Water, animate and vivify again the natural heat, call back the vanished Spirits, already banished by the beginning of corruption and mortification, and by their subtlety and quick penetration separate the dead flesh from the quick. But in the mean while it must be observed, to mix diligently in this miraculous Water ℥ ij. or iij. of excellent spirit of Wine freed and depurated of all its phlegm, which may have two very considerable and principal ends. The first is, to tender this water more active and penetrating when necessity doth urge, and the danger is at hand; The second, that the spirit of Wine may unite itself to the salts and spirits of the quicklime and the corrosive Sublimate, and so kill and temperate them, that they may in no wise be noxious and hurtful to the nervous or sinuous and membranous parts, which remain bore during and after the action and time of using the Remedy: and it belongs only to such as are well skilled and versed in the knowledge of the action and reaction of Spirits and Salts with and against each other, to give a solid and pertinent reason of those effects that are produced by this admirable Remedy, after the mixture of the Calx and quicklime sublimate and spirit of Wine. This water thus composed is not useful only to such purposes as we have said above: but it is also singular in all Wounds and Shots where there is any breaking of bones, and a great heat with much pain, provided in the beginning you add the juice of a dozen River-Crawfishes pounded alive, and sprinkled with a little phlegm of Allom.  
But there is another Water yet against Gangrenes, Ulcers and sores of the eyes, besides that we have already taught, the description whereof we will give for the sake both of Surgeons and their Patients, though held very secret by those who daily use it with great applause and success: after which we will give the description of the Ophthalmick-water, and the distillation of the true Spirit of quicklime, which is none of the lest Masterpieces of of our Art   

The wondered and true Water against Gangrenes.  
℞ lb xx. of Rain or River water, put them in a great pewter Bason, and throw therein iiij. pound of good unmixed or unalter'd quicklime, and let it by a slow ebullition softly quench itself without agitation, and when you shall perceive the extinction to be performed; and that the boiling and working of the Lime is over, add thereto ℥ ij. of Arsenic in powder, and ℥. j of good well chosen Mastic also in powder, stir all together and mingle it conveniently with a wooden Spatula or Slice, than let it settle until the matter be well gathered in the bottom, and the water swimming over very clear: than pour out all the clear, decanting it softly without stirring the bottom, and filtrate the remainder to join both again in a grey earthen Pan, adding to it ℥. ij. of corrosive Sublimate in powder, ℥ vj. very good spirit of wine well dephlegmated, and ʒ ij. good spirit of Vitriol; put all this mixture being yet unsettled in Glass bottles and keep it for use. If you make use of this water for any other purpose than for sore eyes, you must shake it and mix the bottom with the clear, and so use it against the Gangrene and all its accidents, the cure of old running sores, cancerous, sinuous and malignant Ulcers; against all preternatural and painful outward heat, and against all external inflammations; against Phlegmon's, Erysipela's, burn and even arthritical pains proceeding from hot causes, and finally against inflamed and dolorous wounds. If it seems to be too strong or violent, let it be tempered by adding a greater quantity of spirit of Wine, or phlegm of Vitriol or Allom. But if you will use it for Ophthalmies, and small sores in the corners of the eyes or in the eyelids, you may temper it with water of juice of Plantain, or of great Celandine, or even with phlegm of Allom: but above all things, take care that the water you do use for the eyes be well filtrated, and that no part of the settling in the bottom of the Glass should be mixed with it; the application of this water is commonly made with fillets of linen cloth, and I may confidently assure, that those that shall make use thereof, will found it an infallible and sure Remedy and almost of a wondered success in all the particulars we have spoken of.   

The manner of preparing the Ophthalmick water.  
℞ One part of the first water of quicklime, two of the second, and iij. p. of the third, mix them together and dissolve therein ʒ i, of salt Armoniac to each pound of water; put this dissolution in a brass copper or Basin, and let it stand therein the space of xij. or xv. hours, or until it be tinged with an oriental saphirine colour, than filtrate exactly and keep it for use in a Bottle. This water is unparallelled for all diseases and blemishes of the eyes whatsoever without reference to their original: for the salt of the Lime joined with the volatile salt of Urine, constituting the virtue of salt Armoniac, draws a subtle Vitriol from the Brass or Copper, which are found inseparably joined and united together in the water, and do communicate unto it a refrigerating, cooling, cleansing and desiccative quality. I will say more yet, that these three Salts so united, are capable to blunt, kill and destroy all the malignancy of those harsh, corroding and biting Salts which are mixed in the serosity of the blood, and are the true occasional cause not only of the grief, inflammation and sores in the eyes; but moreover of all itching, eruptions and Ulcers growing outwardly, and generated in the body of man: wherefore this water aught and may not only be used against the several griefs incident to the eyes, but against Itchings, Scabs, and Ulcers also. And in case it had drawn too much of the salts in respect of delicate and tender persons, or for the quick and nice sense of some parts of the body, it may be allayed and sweetened by adding Eyebright, Euphrase, Fennel, Rose or Plantain water.   

To make the spirit or true Magistery of Quicklime.  
TAke as much as you please of the best quicklime you can meet with, reduce it to very small powder and grinned it upon a Porphyry to an Alkohol, or impalpable powder, than put it in a Cucurbite and pour upon it by degrees very gently of the subtle and purest alkohol of Wine, as much as the Calx or Lime will be capable to drink: for you must have a special care not to drown the Lime, but let there be only so much of this Spirit, that the Lime may thereby be satiated without humectation, or appearing in any wise above it; than having applied a Still-head to the Cucurbite, lute the joints exactly with a triple Bladder moistened in the whites of Eggs, and strewed with quicklime, both of it and the Recipient, than place your Vessel in B. M. and draw of again the spirit with a slow heat to a dry bottom, and having cooled the Vessels, open them, and pour again the same Spirit upon the Lime remaining in the bottom of your Cucurbite, and go on thus distilling and cohobating with the same care and precautions until the tenth time, that by these reiterated imbibitions the internal fire wherein the Spirit, Arcana or Magistery of the Lime doth reside, may be increased and exalted: and that no body may be mistaken herein, it is absolutely necessary to observe all the things we have said, otherwise the Artist may endanger the loss of his time, vessels, and matter. These ten Cohobations being thus performed, take the Lime out from your Vessel and grinned it most subtly, duly and without intermission upon the Porphyry, and add thereto the tenth part of its weight of very pure and dry salt of Bohemian-tartar, and as much of the Caput Mortuum of the Bohemian-tartar remaining after the salt hath been drawn by Elixiviation: But th' Caput mortuum must be newly dried and heated before you mix it with the rest, and the mixture being nimbly and exactly performed, put all these matters in a well luted Retort, the matter not exceeding the third part of the empty space and capaciousness of it: than place it in a close Reverberatory Furnace, and to the neck thereof fit a Recipient, to which may be fitted a Funnel or Pipe of a fingers bore, and four inches long about the middle of the neck receiving the Retort, so that the end of the Retort's neck may just meet with the upper part of the said Canal or Pipe, that the drops of phlegm falling may directly join to the small Recipient, that is to be fitted to the said Canal or Pipe. But you must note, that you must put before in the body of the great Recipient before you lute it, ℥ ij. or iij. of alkoholized spirit of Wine deprived of all phlegm. The Vessels being exactly luted together as much ss it may be, and the Lute dry, begin to give your fire by degrees, until that little phlegm which is about the matter be driven out, and the Artist perceiving that no drops more do fall, and that a white vapour is issuing out of the neck of the Retort, and as a small cloud creeping along the channel of the great Recipient, where it is attracted by the spirit of Wine being in the bottom of the Recipient as by a Loadstone; than let him increase and quicken the fire more and more until all the vapours be over. The Vessels than being cooled, take of the Lute and open them, pour away the phlegm as useless, and preserve the spirit you shall found in the great Recipient, to rectify it and separate from it the spirit of Wine if it be possible: but in case they be so united as to ascend together in the neck of the Still, put this spirit in a Glass dish somewhat thick, and warmed a little before hand, and set it on fire with a little kindled paper; the spirit of Wine will consume and burn away, and the spirit of the Lime remain in the Dish; which preserve very carefully as one of the most wondered Agents which Nature and Art can afford, as learnedly says Basilius Valentinus, speaking of the quicklime. This Spirit is one of the best, the most present and safest Remedies that can be given against all kinds of Gout: for it insensibly dissolves and consumes all tartarous matters coagulated in any part whatsoever of the body, by the potent virtue and sudden penetration of the internal fire contained ie it; it is given from j drop to u in three fingers height of warm wine in the morning fasting; than let the Patient expect the operation thereof warm between two sheets, whether Nature determines its action by Urine or Sweat, in a condition to help and advance the Remedy; otherwise it doth act for the most part by insensible transpiration.  
There is also a very efficacious Remedy prepared with this wondered Spirit against the Stone and Gravel, with one part of stones of 
* It may Crabs eyes, so called in the shops.  Crawfish and two parts of Calx of Rock crystal, digested and dissolved in six times their weight of spirit of quicklime, and so often distilled and cohobated in the heat of ashes, that all or the most part thereof be turned into liquor: of which you must give also in a small Glass of warm Wine from j drop to u in the morning fasting, to cure radically all those that shall found themselves touched with those diseases: for it cleanses so well all the passages and conveyances of Urine from that ill ferment, that from that time forward not new matter can be generated or gathered there: this Spirit dissolves and turns into Liquor all stones of what hardness and roughness soever; and contrariwise by the action and virtue of its fire fixes the most volatile Spirits; so that those which shall use it either for Remedy or for a Dissolvent, may very well be cast into astonishment and wonder that Nature should have hid so high a mystery in so vile and so contemptible a subject as quicklime is: which hath caused Paracelsus to say by an act of reflection and great wonder, that some do throw away and kick with the feet such a stone or flint, as would be to him of a greater Revenue than a Cow, did he know the mysteries which God and Nature hath concealed and laid therein.    

SECTION III Of Metals.  
METALS are hard bodies, ductile and malleable, proceeding from a saline and Mercurial juice, coagulated in the earth by the strength & virtue of the heat of its own sulphur. Now as we have said above, that all things had their original from light, which by its ejaculation and irradiation did imprint and stamp the Idea and Character of its virtue in water as in a general and convenient Matrix, to enable her afterwards to supply both matter and Form, Body and Spirit, Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, all physical generations: so can we now more pathetically and particularly give to understand the generation of Metals, because the water being once stamped with the Character of Light, and having received the Spirit and Salt which flow from the same Spring, the internal Sulphur gins immediately to concoct, digest and ripen the Embryos by him precipitated, whether animal, vegetable or mineral: and the water being furnished with this fermentative and generative principle, yet undeterminated and apt to be made any thing, is conveyed and driven into all the general and particular Matrices, which do determine and modify it according to the Idea and Character of their natural predestination in their Creation; For as God hath once created all substances, so has he given them means of succession, and perpetuating and preserving themselves, which is nothing else but that which we call Nature. Now assoon as the water is received in a metallic Matrix or in a place fitted and destinated by Nature to the generating of Metals, the spirit of Salt which is in the water yet undetermined and of a general inclination, receives the vitriolic stamp, character and Idea, which is the first determination to Metallick nature, and the internal sulphur of this embryonated Vitriol, works without any interruption to digest, ripen, and concoct and coagulate the water by him impregnated; so that the first visible principle of Metals is a Vitriol more or less pure, and more or less mixed with metallic seeds, according as the Matrix, water and salt are found to be pure or mixed. And thus the Archaeus which directs metallic productions, doth lead and guide them safely and by a gradation altogether surprising, and wondered to the scope and end of their Natural predestination. For it alters and changes the Vitriol into sulphur of a Metallick nature, as it is proved be the examining of Marcassites, which do already by their weight appear to be metallic, as also by their hardness and colour, and have nevertheless in them no more than a Vitriol altered and modified by the action of the fire of its sulphur, as it may be proved by their Anatomy made by the help of air and fire, which the Artist doth make use of to decoct and bring them again to their first visible matter, which is nothing else but a Sulphur and Vitriol, though these Marcassites contain also in themselves some embryonated Metals, as it appears by the digestion and maturation of them made by fire, Salts and Spirits, after which Metals of divers kind and different nature may be extracted, and so illud quod occullum erat fi● manifestum; in so much as plausibly and lawfully Marcassites may be called the Rudiments and imperfect seeds of Metals: which makes me wish that pure Legitimate and true Marcassites of all Metals and each in particular might be recovered, that the chemical Artist might have opportunity to open them, and anatomize with much more ease before Nature hath raised them to the last and highest point of their perfection, which is their coagulation, hardening and fixation: for it would save much charge and labour, because there would be no necessity of making the reinundation of metallic Bodies, to seek into the very centre of their secondary principles, that virtue which God and Nature have planted in them.  
Thus much we thought fitting to say as a preliminary Introduction to the description of each Metal in particular, and of the operations which we will teach upon every one of them, which will be enough to guide and be instead of models to Artists, towards reasoning and working more exactly upon the family of Metals. Metals are divided into three Classes, and that with much reason, partly for the disparity and conformity of their hardness, partly for the resemblance of their preparations. The first Classis contains the noblest Metals, which are Gold and Silver or Sol and Luna, ☉ and ☽ by the reason of the great correspondency which is found between those two potent Luminaries and those two noble Metals: for what the Sun and Moon are in Heaven, the same are the Heart and Brain in Animals, and the Gold and Silver amongst Minerals and Metals. The second Classis contains the two inferior and lesle noble Metals and the hardest, Copper and Iron, or Venus and Mars, ♀ and ♂, by reason of the analogy which is found between those two Planets and those two Metals, and the mutual and reciprocal love also which is between those two celestial Bodies; Venus commands over the parts destinated to generation, and all the functions of the Kidneys and Bladder: and Mars sends its influences upon the Liver, the Cystis Fellis or gallbladder, Spleen and adjacent parts of the Ventricle. The third Classis contains the two other lesle noble Metals, which are softer and sweeter than the rest, viz. Led and Tin, or Saturn and Jupiter, ♄ and ♃, by reason of the resemblance which is between these two Metals, who Command upon the Spleen and Matrix of the Microcosm: But of this we will speak more fully when we treat of each Metal asunder. It is only requisite to subjoin here in general terms all the operations commonly made upon Metals, to tender them useful to Physic.  
The first preparation which our Artist is bound to take in hand upon the Body of Metals, is Purification. The second is their Calcination, which is performed five several ways; The first of which is Immersion, where Menstruum's or appropriated Dissolvents are used. The second is that which is called vaporous or illinition, which is performed by vapour or illinition or aspersion of the Dissolvent. The third is Amalgama, made by the mixture of the Metal with ♉ or Quicksilver. The fourth is Cementation, performed by putting the Metals stratu super stra●um, or by stratification with Saline or sulphureous substances, either to correct their defect, or to straighten or compress, or to open the Metals. The fifth is Reverberation, performed by a flaming fire, until the Metal be reduced to a Calx capable of answering the design and intention of the Artist. The third preparation of Metals is Extraction, or to say better, the maturation and exaltation of the purest part, and of what is most concocted and digested in the internal sulphur of Metals, from whence the Tincture proceeds. The fourth is Volatilization, which is nothing else but a total alteration of the metallic nature, so as the Artist may be capable to subtiliate them in such manner as that they may ascend or fly, that is to say, be turned into a Spirit or Oil not reducible again afterwards into Metal, which is none of the lest operations of Chemistry. The fifth is Sublimation, by which Metals are meteorized and reduced into vapours, which stick as flowers in the receiving Vessels: some are of opinion, that this work is capable to better and maturate or ripen ignoble Metals, and not without some ground. The sixth is the Salsification of Metals, which is the reduction of their body into Salt, a thing not of so easy performance as many Artists have imagined, because some think to have done enough, if they have dissolved the Metals with some Saline Menstruum, and after that coagulated and chrystallized in a dissoluble substance, which is only to speak properly, the vitriol of the Metals joined to the saline substance of the Spirit made use of for their dissolution, and returned to a body again with the Calx of the Metal. In the seventh place is Mercurification, or the pretended reduction of the solid and compact bodies of Metals in a Qucksilver or flowing Mercury, much like unto the common or vulgar Mercury, which I am also of opinion to be but a mistake introduced amongst Artists, and crept in only by want of true understanding of the meaning of Writers: for they pretend that when ancient Authors have said, that the Bodies of metals were to be reduced into Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, this last was to be understood of a flowing Quicksilver: But the meaning of these Philosophers to my best apprehension, when they have spoken of reducing their Bodies into Mercury, was only to bring them again as near as could be to their Universality, that is to say, reducing them to a Spirit coming near the nature of the volatile sulphureous Salts which are the last shelter and covering of the Spirit invisible in itself and of coagulated light: for as the volatile salt of Vegetable seeds, contains in its self the seminal principle and the whole virtue of the plant; so likewise the Mercury or true spirit of metallic bodies contains in itself their sperm, their ingress and Tincture, and by consequence all the virtue which it did possess, and all its power and activity since the first moment of its coagulation, to the last of its fixation: Wherhfore it must be the chief scope of an Artist, to endeavour by his study and industrious working to reduce the King of Metals to that height of perfection, whereby to fit it and apply afterwards to the rooting out of the most obstinate diseases: but let him reject far from himself those pretended seekers of flowing Mercury, because besides that the search and curiosity of it is useless and beyond Human reach: it is besides an occasion of wasting both the precious Time and Estate of those that give up themselves to it, and makes them loose opportunities of discovering several other things useful to them in particular, and next to their Neighbour and Civil Society.  

Of Gold and its Chemical preparation.  
GOLD is the noblest, the most solid and fix of all Metals; of a yellowish colour, compacted, and of an almost indivisible union in its substance, which shows him to be compounded of salt, sulphur and mercury brought to the highest degree of digestion, and for that reason most fix and intimately united together. Chemists do give unto it the name of Sol, sun, and attribute also to it the same Character Θ, because it hath, say they, a sympathy and correspondency, both with the Sun of the great World, and of the little world which is man's Heart, and therefore do they ascribe unto it the virtue and faculty of curing all fainting and weaknesses; they believe it finally to be the true and lawful Restorer of the Balsamic Faculties and natural hear, and the sovereign Remedy against Deliquium's and swoonings, loss of Spirits and wasting of radical moisture. But there is an abuse and mistake in vulgar Pharmacy introduced by the Arabes, which do mingle Leafgold in their Confections and Cordial powders, as if the digestive heat of the stomach and the moisture of imperfect Chyle were capable to altar in any wise the solidity of this noble Metal; for besides that no humour analogous to Aqua Regia can be found in the Ventricle which might be capable of dissolving Gold, yet supposing it might be performed by some ill fermentation of superfluous aliments, it could not but 'cause mortal pains, and make such ulcerations and preternatural colliquations, that they would infallibly destroy the subject wherein they should be, rather than meliorate and restore the vital and animal Faculties as it is pretended. But some perhaps will object, That though Gold be not dissolved in the Ventricle, it is not altogether without some good use, by reason of the irradiations and emanations of its virtue which it sends to the Heart in respect of their mutual sympathy; To which I answer, That it will suffice for the same reason to carry it above the body, and thus make an outward application of it more easy and in greater quantity than what can be swallowed; and so would it prove much more beneficial than being inwardly taken in small quantity, and moreover there would be no loss of it; which makes us conclude that unless Gold be prepared and opened in such a manner, as that our digestive heat may be capable to appropriate its virtue unto its self by the help of the volatile sulphureous Salts, which are mingled in the aliments of the body either dry or moist, or unless Art hath already so reduced this metal into Medicine, by the assistance of Salts and Spirits which may be analogous to those of orature and free from corrosiveness, that it may be rendered fit to be conveyed and driven by the Director of our natural Functions into our very last digestions, thereby to correct all the defects it shall meet with, and purify by the impression of its Cordial and Solar Virtue the whole mass of the venal and arterial blood, otherwise no good is to be hoped or expected from it; but contrariwise some ill effect, being uncapable to produce any other in case it be prepared with corrosive Salts or Spirits: and being not dissolved nor opened, it is unfit to do any good.  
They that will choose well their Gold for Chemical preparations, must take it of the purest and of that which hath received the less alloy; for to make any difference between the Indian Gold and that of Arabia, Hungary, Bohemia or Germany, is a very needless Nicety, since by the ordinary purifications it may be brought to the highest degree of purity and goodness; and those are the following.  
First, There is a purification made of Gold, to take away the superficial settling or foulness; Secondly, That which is done to take away some portion of one or more imperfect metals, which were mingled either in the Mint or by the Goldsmiths, or finally brought from the Mine. For the first purification wash the Gold in a crude Lie, or water impregnated with Tartar and common Salt, which is called a Bullitory, or make it boil and wash in aqua fortis something weak or mixed with phlegm of Allom, Salt-peter or Vitriol, these three Lotions are sufficient for the first intention.  
But when some part of imperfect metals is mixed with the Gold, the separation cannot be made but by dividing the metals asunder, which cannot be done but by their dissolution, which is called Immersive calcination, or by the destruction of the imperfect metal, as when Gold is purified by Lead or Antimony, or cemented with substances capable to corrode and destroy the imperfect metals mixed with the Gold.  
As for the dissolution, which is immersive Calcination, it is performed with ij. iij. or iv. p. of Regal water, the distillation whereof we will teach when we shall Discourse of Salts: for the Regal water will only dissolve the Gold, and the other metals remain in the bottom of the Vessel, chief if silver be predominant, because the Regal water touches in no way the silver: the dissolution being made, filtrate it, and gently pour it out by decantation, than precipitate with oil of ☿ per deliquium, or spirit of volatile Armoniac Salt, or spirit of Urine, or throwing it in some proportion of quicksilver, which will gather to its self the Gold which was dispersed in the dissolution, or by evaporating the dissolving water: finally, which way soever you reduce the Gold to Calx, there remains no more to be done after than to melt it in a Crucible with a little Borax, and cast it into Ingots, and you shall have purified Gold.  
But if you will only put it in the Capel, and drive it with Lead to separate the heterogeneous metals, you must make your Capel with Bean ashes, putting ij. or iij. p. of Lead, which with violence of fire and bellow's must be driven, as we shall more fully deduct when we treat of the purifying of Silver. But because the Capel doth not take away wholly the suspicion of some remaining part of silver being yet intimately mixed with the Gold: Artists have not found a better way to purify it totally than to melt it with Antimony, because the sulphur of that mineral doth absolutely corrode and destroy, not only all imperfect metals which might be mixed with the Gold, but it also destroys totally the finest silver, be it in never so little a quantity, if the purification be reiterated three times: which being done you may confidently say that the Gold is very pure, and that there can be no finer, and it is thus performed: Take as much Gold as you will, and add thereto u or vj. parts of crude Antimony, put them in a good Crucible to melt together in a wind-Furnace, and when the matter flows, throw in about ℥ j of pure Saltpetre very pure and dry mixed with ʒ j or iij. of filing of Iron, and when all is well melted and flowing together glowing, and of a colour tending towards Partridge eyes (as they call it) throw the matter in a sharp earthen Vessel, such as is fit to make Regulus (of the figure of an inverted Pyramid) being hot and first anointed with it with a piece of wax down to the bottom, and when it is full with the melted matter, knock gently with a Hammer on the brims of your Vessel until a crust and thick skin covers over the matter, that being a great help to make the Regulus fall to the bottom and separate the feces and scum from the pure part: the matter being cooled, separate the Regulus from the scum, and mix it again a second time with p. ij. of Antimony crude, reduced to powder, and melt as before, and about the end of the melting of the matter throw a little Saltpetre and filing of Iron, to separate the rest of the Regulus from the scum or feces, in the impurity whereof some part of the Gold might remain yet hidden, and this work may be reiterated even to the third time, that no portion of Regulus may remain untouched, and by consequence the Artist may rest secure that no part of the Gold is left in it. Than reduce your solar Regulus in course powder, and place it in a good Crucible in a wind Furnace, and give it fire on all sides, above, beneath and in the sides, to drive the Antimony by smoke: you may also add to it the help of bellows to advance the work and so give it fire, continuing to blow until all the substance of the Antimony be exhaled into vapours, and the Gold remaineth pure and clean in the bottom of the Crucible. They that will not be at so much trouble, may make use of the Regulus of Antimony ready prepared to purify their Gold: but the first way is the best, because the Regulus is already divested of the greatest part of his external sulphur, which is the fittest for corroding the imperfect metals mixed with the Gold.  
It remains we should speak of the third way of purifying Gold, which is Cementation, being nothing else but putting the Gold beaten into thin plates stratified in a Crucible, or unglazed earthen pot of a convenient bigness with common or Regal Cement, and the plates thus well fitted, giving a circular fire by degrees the space of three or four hours, than increasing it during the space of six hours more, in such a manner as the Pot or Crucible may become glowing read at the end of the operation of the fire. And thus shall you found the plates of Gold purged of all that imperfect metal which might have been lurking in them, the matter of the Cement having destroyed, burned and calcined the metal; than grinned the mass found in the Crucible, and wash the plates, to purify them afterwards by melting with a little of Saltpetre and Borax, or with corrosive Sublimate.   

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

To make the Regal Cement, unto which only Gold doth resist.  
℞ ℥ iiij. of Brick dust, Armoniac Gem, and common salt dried, ana ℥ j mix them together being reduced to powder and make a past thereof with Urine, and with this make your Cementation, stratifying it with the plates of Metal. There are yet several kinds of Cements more or less corroding the Artists intention; there are also some that are only straightening and fixative, but as they do not belong to our present purpose, nor concern any ways the preparation of Gold for Physic, we think it unnecessary to mention them here, leaving to the Curiosity of those that will inquire after, to search for them in such Authors as have purposely treated of Metallurgy.   

Of the Calcination of Gold whereby to open it.  
IT is not enough for an Artist to have purified his Gold, and severed from it all kind of heterogeneous substance; For as Gold is a solid, compact, close and fixed Body, it must be open, that his endeavours in dissolving the same to extract the substance he seeks for, may not be frustrated; and this he cannot attain but by Amalgamatory, Cementatory and dissolutive Calcination, all which do prepare and reduce to powder and Calx, which afterwards may be put to a Reverberatory calcination; we shall treat of each as briefly as may be that the Artist may be instructed without confusion.  
That Calcination which is performed by Amalgamation of the Gold with Mercury or quick silver is free from suspicion of any violent Corrosion, which may impart to the Gold any kind of hidden corrosiveness, as it is generally feared all salts and corrosive spirits will do: though we must confess however, that neither spirits nor salts can be capable to communicate any ill quality to Gold; neither divest him of the character of being a metallic body, unless they be extraordinary salts and spirits, and to the knowledge of whom those Authors which have left us any thing by writing have not attained, or in case they have said any thing of it, it hath been in so obscure and enigmatical terms as it is plain to be seen, that either they would not be understood by others, or could not understand themselves: for there is not one Artist but knows that water and fire can purge the calx of Gold from those impressions of corrosive salts and spirits, either by Lotion or Reverberation: wherefore it must remove all occasion of fear from such as would entertain any scruple in this particular. For all what in past-time Artists have done, or do at the present, is to no other end and design than to open the body of Gold, and tender it capable of being dissolved and extracted without any Corrosive. We will deliver in the following Discourse, the surest way and method which practice and study hath brought to our knowledge, leaving the rest to the disquisition of such as will make a further progress in this Work.   

Amalgamation of Gold and Mercury.  
Beaten in very thin plates Gold three times refined by Antimony, and being cut very small with shears or scissors, put some part of the Gold in a small Crucible, and heat it read hot, and at the same time put in another Crucible ℥ vj. of crude Mercury, and place it also to the fire until it gins to smoke, than pour it upon the Gold thus read, and stir them both nimbly together with a small stick of wood, and when all is reduced to a convenient smoothness, throw it in a Dish half full of water; this done throw away the first water and pour new fresh water upon the Amalgam. and stir and wash it therein to separate and cleanse away all the blackness and fuliginosity thereof, and thus proceed until the water comes of from it as clean as it was poured on; this done, put this Amalgama which is tractable and unctuous in a small Retort, to the neck whereof fit a Recipient with water; place this Retort between four bricks, & give it an open fire by degrees, until all the Mercury be come over the Helm into the Recipient, and the Gold remains pure and open in the bottom of the Retort; but that cannot be done neither at the first nor second time; contrariwise, the amalgamation and distillation must be reiterated successively at lest xx. or thirty. times, even until the Gold remains open, spongious, and capable of being reduced to powder of itself. Now as that requires a toilsome and tedious operation; Artists have found a way to separate and discontinue in a lesle time and with much more speed the parts of Gold after amalgamation, which is performed by cementing it with common salt desiccated, or powder of Brimstone; for the Amalgam being grounded with double its weight of salt and brimstone, it discontinues or separates its parts into particles or atoms so small, that it enables the fire afterwards joined to those matters to calcine it with much more ease, and thus it is much sooner reduced into subtle powder and so well opened, that it is capable afterwards of being reverberated, and brought by the sole action of fire to a fitting state of Rarity, and requisite spungeousness, which is thus performed.   

The Calcinatory cementation of Gold.  
THough we have spoken above of the cementation of Gold, our Artist shall remember that it was only to teach how to try and purify the same: but what we are now about to teach, is to the end of Calcining and opening its Body as we have already said; the Artist than shall thus proceed therein. Let him take the Amalgam after it is well washed and dried with a clean linen cloth, so that all moisture be taken of, and press and wring it as much as he can through a piece of chamoy skin, to separate from it the superfluous Mercury, than let him weigh the remainder, and grinned it on a Porphyry stone with double its weight of sulphurvivium or quick-brimstone powdered, and that until the Brimstone and Amalgam be so exactly united and commixed that you may distinguish neither of the substances, than put this powder in a Crucible of an indifferent bigness, that none of the Gold may be lost by the cracking and working of the Brimstone; cover also exactly the Crucible with a cover having a hole in the top, of the bigness of a writing Qui●; than lute the cover of the Crucible and give it a circular fire by degrees until it gins to grow read hot, and the Brimstone taking fire evaporate by the hole in the Cover; this done, which you shall know by the cessation of the flame, draw the Crucible from the fire and open it, and you shall found the Gold swollen up, and so discontinued and dis-jointed in its parts, that it seems to be a Sponge: this grinned afterwards with three times its weight of common Salt well desiccated, or stratify it only in a Crucible, to which put a cover without hole, and having luted it, put it in a circulatory fire, which increase by degrees until the Crucible becomes read, than cease the fire, and the Crucible being grown cold, take the matter and grinned it, or work on a Marble mortar to dissolve the salt, and thus shall you have your Gold in very subtle powder or Calx. Than reiterate this Amalgamation and both Cementations with Brimstone and Salt, each of them seven times, which are in all 21 operations, and so shall you have a powder or Calx of Gold capable of being exposed to Reverberation, as we shall now declare.   

The Reverberation of Gold.  
TAke the prepared calx of Gold as it is taught above, and put it upon a flat Tile of some stone of sufficient hardness to endure well the fire, cover the Gold with a Muffel, which is an Instrument used by Goldsmiths to perfect the melting of their work when loaden with enamel; cover the Muffel with good, dry and well seasoned Charcoal all about except towards the forepart, where it will suffice to have only a small Iron-plate, which may be removed at will that the Gold may be stirred sometimes with a small clean and well polished Iron rod, than kindle the fire and continued it until the calx of Gold be very much subtilitated and open, and exalted to a read purple colour: than may you say confidently you have a true calx of Gold which is in a fit capacity and condition to be extracted and dissolved, when you have compassed the knowledge of those sweet and gentle Menstruums (capable to effect it) who may have some analogy and sympathy with our natural spirits and radical moisture: for until this true dissolution and radical extraction of Gold be thus attained unto, I give no heed or belief to the pretended Remedies which are prepared for Gold by any other way, and commonly are called potable Gold, Tincture etc. For I could not yet have the fortune to see any of the liquor or substance which was not again reducible to a metallic Body, which condition doth absolutely contradict the sense and opinion of ancient Writers concerning this matter; not that I deny it absolutely possible to dissolve and extract the Tincture of Gold: but I rather choose to make use of other strengthening and cordial Remedies, until by my own experience, or the communication of some other more fortunate than myself and more knowing, either by his own study or the manuduction of some friend, I may be persuaded of the truth of this matter. But because there are some very noble and curious preparations for the dissolution, precipitation and extraction of Gold, which are capable to bring our Artist to much knowledge, and raise his thoughts to the meditation and disquisition of some better matters, and that these preparations are part of Remedies not to be despised and undervalved; I have thought it necessary to deliver here the process thereof, as also of a Solar Sublimation which is admired by some, and pretended to be a very good Tincture.   

To prepare the Crocus and Tincture of Gold.  
TAke ℥ φ. of Gold refined by Antimony and beaten it into very thin plates or leaves, than put it in a Cucurbite with ℥ x. of very good well refined Saltpetre, ℥ viij. Roch Allom and ℥ v. of very pure common salt, pour upon this ℥ iiij. or u of distilled Rain-water, than put the Cucurbite in sand and give it a fire to 'cause the whole to boil, and thus continued till all the Gold be dissolved, which will be perceived in the colour of the water remaining tinged with a very fair yellow, and when no more dissoluble substance shall appear in the bottom of the Vessel, than continued the fire something more slowly and evaporate the water to a dry bottom, and in it will remain a high coloured Mass containing in itself the dissolved Gold, and diffused before through the whole substance of those salts. Take half of this Mass, reduce it to powder which pour in a Matrass, and put upon alkoholizate spirit of Wine three fingers high, put a Blindhead upon the Vessel containing your matter, and place in sand, giving it a fire of digestion and extraction, and in a short time the Spirit will be tinged with a very pleasant yellow colour; this Spirit having laid in digestion the space of three days, you must filtrate it and pour on fresh at the same height, and continued the digestion of it, till it hath attained the same colour of the first spirit already drawn of, and so proceed in this digestion and extraction until the third or fourth time, or rather until the Spirit takes no more Tincture; than join all these Tinctures together, and being filtrated put them in a very clean and dry Cucurbite, which place in B. M. to draw of with a slow heat by distillation the three parts of the Spirit, and you shall have in the bottom a yellow Tincture containing the best part of the Gold dissolved and extracted in and by the salts, so open and united to this Spirit that it forsakes it in no wise, unless it be to coagulate itself in the form of a yellowish salt when the spirit is too much loaded with it; for this coagulation doth not hinder it from having still its colour, and a bitter harshness, which shows the Gold to have divested its Body so far as to become an analogous' substance to its vitriolic principle, whereof it hath the cast and relish. I do not deny but that this Gold may be in a manner reduced to a body again; but I deny that it may be altogether brought to it: and that since the most pure spirit of Wine hath been capable to extract it from the salts that had dissolved it by the only help of Rain-water, part of this Gold must of necessity be so altered, as to have been brought some part of the way towards its first matter. Wherhfore I do not altogether reject the inward use of this Tincture of Gold, though it hath not yet attained all the perfection which the true Tincture or true potable Gold aught to have: for as I am convinced by the experience of many of my Friends, and my own in particular, I cannot contradict it, since we make use every day with very good success of the dissolutions and salts of other metals, though yet reducible to a metallic Body, as it appears in the Remedies taken from Mars and Saturn, which have also in them this sweet vitriolic and Pontic Salt according to their respective propriety and Nature, as Gold also hath its bitterness; And nevertheless, the taste of these preparations which are made upon Mars and Saturn, are commonly taken by us for concluding Tokens of their virtue and of those good effects we hope from them, which makes me not to be averse to recommend the use of this Tincture, provided it be administered in a convenient time in a proper Menstruum, and the Dosis be exactly observed according to age, strength and the exigency of the Disease; The Dosis must be from gut. ss. to iij. or iv. in Wine, Broth, Scorzonera Root-water, Buck-horn or Balm-water. The Diseases for which it is most proper, are all those that have some virulent quality or some malignancy; all those wherein strength or spirits does fail or is impaired; the Patient must be covered after he hath taken it, and so expect the most calmly and patiently he can the effects which this Remedy will produce, which most commonly hap by Sweat, sometimes also by Urines and Stools; for as it naturally doth strengthen all the natural Functions, so doth it drive away all the evil and heterogeneous matter which it meets with in the body, by those Emunctories which Nature hath prepared for that end, when the impurities are too gross and cannot penetrate from the Centre to the circumference by sensible or insensible transpiration.   

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

Solar Diaphoretic, Cordial Powder.  
TAke of solar Crocus ʒ j of very good Saffron ℈ ij. Bezoar mineral ℈ iiij. Viper's flesh ʒ iij. dissoluble Magistery of Pearls and Coral anaʒ ij. Ambergris allayed with a little oil of Cinnamon and of the outward rind of Lemon, and ground with ʒ j sug. ℈ j of oriental Musk dissolved with spirit of Roses gr. x. grinned each of these substances and triturate them severally; than mingle together and keep in a silver Box, shutting it very close with a screw, or in a Glass Viol. well stopped, to use it when occasion doth require, as a sovereign high Cordial and wondered Sudorific. The Dosis of which is from vj. gr. to twenty-four. in Conserves, gelleys, Cordial waters, Wine, or finally Broth, as it will suit best with the nature of the Disease, and agreed with the constitution of the Patient. It is an unparallelled Remedy in all pestilential maladies, malignant Fevers, Measles, Small pox; and moreover, it is generally good where there is any necessity or occasion of repairing strength.   

To make the sublimation of Sol.  
TO attain to the perfection of this work, take good Regal water, such as we shall teach hereunder how to make when we shall treat of Saltpetre, ℥ iij. and being put in a Matrass of a sufficient capacity, dissolve in this Menstruum ℥ ss. of laminated or Leafgold very thin, refined by Antimony and cut very small, than place it in ashes to make the dissolution perfect, which done, pour your dissolution in a small Retort and place it in sand, fitting to it a Recipient, and draw of softly about the fifth part of the Menstruum again, or a little more, than cease the fire, and pour upon the matter remaining in the bottom of your Retort ℥ iij. of new Regal water, and go on in drawing it of by distillation as before, and thus proceed with new water to the fourth time: but at the fourth time let the bottom of your Retort be somewhat near the bottom of the Vessel wherein the sand is held, that there be no more than a finger thick of sand interposed, wherein to give it a more intense fire towards the latter end of your operation, that some part of the Sol may be sublimated with the Armoniac salt of the Regal water: for all the liquid Menstruum being ascended and passed through the neck of the Retort, the violence of the fire dexterously given by the Artist towards the end doth raise the salts of the Regal water which the Gold had kept, and reincorporated to its self in the bottom of the Retort, which sublimate themselves towards the neck of the same, and carry along with them that portion of Gold that was most open, which some think to be the sulphur or soul of the Gold, though in this mistaken, because some may be yet brought again to a metallic Body, though not all: wherefore some virtue is also to be expected from these Crystals or Flowers as read as Saffron, which are found in the upper part of the Retort and in its neck, in case the Artist hath well observed the requsite circumstances, in this most curious operation and pleasant to behold. Now the Armoniac salt which sublimates and elevates its self in this operation, is of a volatile sulphureous nature, and consequently carries up along with its self the most subtle parts of the sulphur of Gold, which the high and intense colour of the sublimation testifies, and the diminished weight of the Gold remaining in the bottom. Take than all this sublimated matter and put it in a small Matrass, and pour upon an inch high of Tartarizated spirit of Wine, which will immediately be tinged with a very fair yellow colour, than put this Matrass stopped with a fitting Blindhead in a vaporous Balneo to digest, that the purest part of the sublimated matter may be extracted, which may be performed in the space of three natural days, than filtrate this Tincture and keep it for use. As for the Body remaining in the bottom of the Matrass or the Filter, it must be joined again with the Gold left in the Retort after sublimation, and melted together in a Crucible with a little Borax or salt ☿, than by the weight of it you may judge of the decrease of the Gold, which may also be kept for other uses by reason of its purity. As for this Tincture it may very lawfully be used in Physic, having nothing in itself that may tender it unacceptable: for if you narrowly consider what ascended in the sublimation, you shall know it to be only the purest part of the Armoniac salt, which was one of the Ingredients of the Regal water, being of itself a volatile sulphureous Salt friendly to Nature, Diuretical, Disopilative and Sudorific or Diophoretical; and moreover, ennobled and animated, and loaden with the solar Sulphur, which it hath carried up along with itself. Moreover, the Menstruum used in the dissolution and extraction is a true preservative Balsam, and the purest of all Spirits, powerful enough to stir the action of the other two substances, and tender the penetrative into our very last digestions, to correct the defects and viciousness thereof, and drive away all impure superfluities from the habit of the body, which for the most part are the occasional causes of our Diseases; wherefore it may be administered from j drop to vj. in all malignant diseases, and chief in those that require speedy help by insensible transpiration, Sweats or Urines; it is a very special Remedy in all Leptosies, venereous Diseases, Scorbute & all its dependences: and if you will use it for a preventive Remedy, when you found the body heavy and untoward, itching by fits, full of repletion, and troubled with spontaneous weariness, you may take a Dosis thereof answerable to the age and years of the Patient, to the sex and strength of the Person, either in Broth, white Wine, or some Cordial water; than being well covered expect patiently the sweeting fit, which will not miss coming, or if you cannot conveniently expect, endure this Remedy; it will not fail to expel superfluous humours by Urine, for it is only this superfluity and abundance of serosities which filleth up the veins and Arteries, causing a pricking in the ends of the fingers and exciting headache, and grief in the other lower parts of the body, irritating and stretching beyond measure the membranous and Nervous parts thereof.   

Of Silver and its Chemical Preparation.  
SILVER is the second of Metals in Rank and Dignity, lesle fix than Gold, because its principal Vitriol (if I may so say) is not digested and united by a perfect union and fixation with i●s sulphur, which causes it to yield more easily and quickly than Gold in nitrous, vitriolic and aluminous Menstruums, by reason of this indigest Vitriol remaining in it. Chemists do call it Lune or Brain, because it hath some sympathy with the Celestial Moon or Luna, and with the brain in Man; for which cause the Remedies extracted from the same, are dedicated to strengthen the head and animal Spirits: so that it is said to be a Specific Remedy for the cure of the chief affections and diseases of the Head; such as are Apoplexy, Epilepsey, Maniack-passion, and other distempers whose original and spring is in the Brain.  
The choice of Silver for Chemical operations is not very important, because very little is found with an original purity, which renders it the more beholding to Chemistry, without which it cannot even be separated from its impurities contracted in the matrix of the Earth, or accidentally by allay; for it is not sufficiently depurated either in the hands of Goldsmiths or Mint-masters: for as to cleanse it from its outward soil and impurities, it is easily performed by boiling the same in water impregnated with Tartar and common Salt; after it hath been nealed or made glowing read in the fire, and thence cast into Urine and than Water, thus shall it be very pure in what concerns the outside: but if you will further purify it from its alloy, or allowance in the Mint, you must make use of dissolution which is the immersive Calcination, and melt it by drying in a Cupel with Lead purposely made for this operation of purifying Silver, and that before you expose it to other Calcinations which must be previous to the preparations of this Metal, that it may thereby be made fitting for dissolution and extraction of its Tincture, the three principal whereof are, immersive Calcination, Amalgation, and Cementation; for very seldom reverberating Calcination is made use of, because Silver having lesle fixity than Gold, it needs not consequently any long and powerful action of the fire to become sufficiently opened. As for the first separation of such impurities and Metals as are mixed in Silver, you must dissolve it in three or four parts of aqua fortis, made with Vitriol and Saltpetre as we shall teach hereafter; than precipitate it in a Calx or powder with salt, water, viz. water in which you have dissolved common salt, as much as the water can bear, which is also called amongst the Artists Pontic or Marine water; or put small Copper plates in the said dissolution, and weaken the aqua fortis with common water, and the Copper will draw and gather to itself all the Silver in form of a white powder; but which way soever you make this precipitation of Silver, you must afterwards by several reiterated Lotions edulcorate the powder or calx of Silver with common water, and than dry the same. But because this Calx is not yet free from some mixture, it is necessary to Cupell it, and drive it with three or four times as much of Lead upon the said Cupel, being covered with a piece of wood dry, and adapted to the proportion of the hollow, with good coals fitted about, and blown with a great quickness and violence of fire, till the Lead vanishing hath carried away in its vapouring all the impurities and heterogeneous metallic mixture of the Silver, or that the Led be all drunk up by the Cupel, or converted on the top of it in a scum or excrement of calcinated Lead, which is commonly called Litharg, more or lesle read and high in colour, according as it hath more or lesle participated of the heat of the fire. The most remarkable thing in this operation is, that the Silver being once refined and purified, it grows hard in the midst of the most violent fire, though a little before it did run like water, whilst the Lead was yet Master over it, and some mixture of impurity did remain.  
The Silver thus left upon the Cupel is very pure, and cannot be suspected to be guilty of any bad mixture; this is that which Artists call highly Refined, and silver of Cupel: Take than of this q. s. and having made it into very thin plates or small filing, put in a Matrass, and pour it upon three times its weight of good aq. fortis, or what would yet be better, of good spirit of Niter, put it in sand or ashes to digest and accelerate the dissolution, and being ended, decant it in a small Cucurbite, to separate what impurities might remain in the bottom of the Matrass; after this draw of half of the Menstruum again in ashes and let the Vessel cool, and the next morning shall you found your Silver reduced into Crystals, which according to some are called the vitriol of Silver; these dry gently and keep in a well stopped viol, to administer to such as are sick with some Cephalick disease, to purge them: The Dosis must be from ij. gr. to x. in Broth, or some opening Cephalick Decoction; they purge very gently, and do powerfully disburden the Head of all bad and noxious humours.  
After this precipitate the liquor which swum above the Crystals with salt water, to have the calx of Lune or Silver, which edulcorate and dry, to make therewith the following preparations: and this is that which Writers call calcined Silver, or calx of Lune. We will give three Examples of the Extraction of Tincture of Silver, which is called potable Lune or Silver, to make the Artist the better to apprehended the manner of working, because the Menstruums, as also the manner of the work, are differing one from the other.   

The first preparation of the Tincture of Lune.  
TO attain to the perfection of this Tincture, there must first a Menstruum be prepared for its Extraction, which is to be made in this following manner. Take j p. of very pure Armoniac salt, and ij. p. of Minium, which is nothing else but calcinated Lead, and turned to redness by Reverberation; having mixed these two substances together put them in a Retort in sand, and having fitted to it and luted exactly a Recipient, give it fire by degrees, which continued until the drops and vapours be over: But take care that the neck of your Retort be above an inch Diameter in breadth, that in case any sublimation happens, the matter may have a free passage into the Recipient, and not stop the neck of the Retort to the danger of its breaking: the Vessel being cooled, pour the distilled liquor into a Cucurbite, and rectify this spirit in ashes, to reduce it to a greater purity; After this, take some part of the calx of Lime made with spirit of Niter precipitated with salt-water, edulcorated and dried; put it in a circulatory or digesting Vessel, pouring upon it vj. p. of the above said Spirit, and digest it in a vaporous Balneo with a slow heat, and you shall see in a short time this Spirit to become tinged with a fair blue, which being somewhat high in colour, decant it, and put new in the place, and so continued until the Menstruum takes no more colour, than put all the Tinctures together and filtrate them, and draw of the said Menstruum again to a dry bottom; and you shall have in the bottom of the Vessel a powder of the smell of Urine, upon which pour distilled Rain water three fingers high, and draw it of again by distillation, and thus proceed with new distilled Rain water, until the Lunar powder hath totally lost her ill smell, and the ill-savouring taste of Urine which the Armoniac salt had raised in it; and the powder being thus prepared and well dried, put it in a circulatory Vessel, and pour upon it very well alkoholizate spirit of Wine three inches high; stop the Vessel very exactly and place in in a vaporous Balneo to extract and circulate, until it hath got a very high blue colour; than cease the fire, filtrate the Tincture, and draw of half of the Menstruum in Balneo, keeping the remainder very choicely: for it is the true essence of Silver, very excellent against all affections of the Brain, particularly against madness or maniacal passion, Apoplexy, Epilepsey and Palsy, given from j drop to vj. seven. or viij. in convenient Liquors, as are the spirit of black Cherries, or of Elderberries.   

The second preparation of the Tincture of Lune.  
THE process of the Tincture is much more philosophical than the foregoing, which must oblige the Artist to stick close to his work and proceed in it judiciously; and as we have spoken above of the Cementatory Calcination of Silver, so have we deferred to teach here the best method of that Operation, as we will keep the Amalgamatory for the subsequent.  
℞ Silver of Cupel, and having beaten it into very thin plates, put them in a Crucible or Cementing Box, stratified with very dry vitriolated Tarrar, prepared with very pure salt of Tartars and well rectified oil of Vitriol, beginning your stratification by the Salt, and ending so the last bed or lay; lute the Crucible or Box, and let the Lute dry, than place the Vessel in a circular fire, begun slowly, and thus continued during the space of four hours, which being over, let the Crucible grow cold, than open it to take the Silver which you shall found calcinated and brickle, of a Glass colour; reduce it to powder, and if any remains which is not yet sufficiently calcined, reiterate the Cementation, with new, and join all together. Put this green powder in a Cucurbite, pouring upon it good distilled vinegar the height of three fingers; than place the Vessel in ashes to a moderate heat, and so leave it viij. or x. days in this tenor of heat continually, that it may dissolve and extract the Tincture of Silver; and when the spirit of Vinegar shall be tinged with a fine Emerald green, separate it and pour on new, until this Spirit takes no more of the green colour; than put all the Tinctures together and filtrate them. You shall found in the bottom of the Vessel a yellowish sediment, which is the remainder of the Silver, and its earth divested of sulphur.  
But all the Extractions filtrated in a Cucurbite in B. M. and draw of the Menstruum thereof by Distillation in a graduate heat till it comes to a pretty thick consistency of Syrup, upon which pour spirit of Wine twice rectified upon salt of Tartar four fingers high; cover the Cucurbite with its Blindhead, and put the matters to circulate in a vaporous Balneo in sawdust, regulating the heat thereof as near as it is possible to the proportion of the human Body, or man's stomach, during the space of forty natural days, which is the Philosophical Month, than take out the Vessel, and if you found any defecation made in the bottom, decant or separate the impurity by inclination, or filtrate the spirit of Wine loaden and impregnated with the centrical sulphur of Lune, which is of a very pleasant green colour; put the filtration in a Cucurbite in Balneo, and draw of back again the two thirds or three parts of the spirit, and you shall have the true Elixir of Lune in a green liquor, which keep in a well stopped Viol for use. The virtues of it are alike, or rather more excellent and more in number than those of the foregoing essence: for it is a Rare Remedy to evacuate insensibly dropsical swell: The Dosis is from j drop to viij. in Broth, Cephalick and operative Waters, or even in white Wine.   

The third preparation of Lunar Tincture.  
WE have received in this third Tincture to give a place to the description of the Amalgamatory calcination of Silver, for avoiding of unnecessary repetitions, and that also the Artist may better conceive under one Tenor the operation of this last process upon Lune. Take than very fine Silver in leaves, and heat it moderately in a Crucible on burning or kindled coals, having at the same time as much weight as the Silver is of running Mercury in another Crucible, which heat also until it gins to smoke, than join both these together, and stir them well until they be reduced to a well incorporated Amalgame and something unctuous; to which add a fourth part of its weight of well desiccated common salt, and having put it in the Crucible again, give it a gradual circulatory fire, increasing they by little and little until all the Mercury be vapoured away; than the Crucible being cold, grinned the matter remaining in it on a Marble stone, and wash it with distilled Rain-water to separate the saltness thereof, and dry the calx remaining after Lotion; weigh and put it in a Matrass, and pour on it three times its weight of spirit of Niter, digesting them together to a full dissolution, than pour this liquor into a small Cucurbite, and draw of the Menstruum again in ashes to a dry bottom: than pour on it distilled Rain-water, and draw it of again by distillation, and thus reiterate with new water, until the calx of Lune hath altogether lost that acrimony which it had contracted by its Dissolvent: that done, and the calx being very dry, put it in a Matrass, and pour upon it spirit of ♀. Venus or Copper four fingers high, and put it to digest and extract in ashes in a slow heat; and note, that your Matrass must be stopped with a Blindhead, and well luted by reason of the nimbleness and subtlety of the Spirit; let it thus remain in digestion during the space of 15 days without discontinuing the heat, than filtrate the Tincture which will be blue; and go on in this digestion and extraction until the Menstruum takes no more of the colour, and all the Tinctures being drawn and filtrated, put them in B.M. in a Cucurbite, to draw of again the Menstruum to the consistency of a thick Syrup, upon which pour of the spirit of Wine acuated with the sixteenth part of its weight of volatile salt of Urine, and put a Blindhead upon your Cucurbite, and having luted it very exactly place it in a vaporous Bath, & give it a very slow and moderate heat during the space of three weeks; and the spirit will take a very pleasant blue colour, by the extraction it makes of the centrinal sulphur of Lune; this done, filtrate the Tincture, in case any impurity hath gathered to a head, than draw of again the two thirds of the Menstruum in B.M. in a very gentle heat, and there will remain a true Antiepileptical Essence, and the true Specific against all maladies of the Brain, by us already related: The Dosis must be from j drop to viij. and x. in the Flower of Lime-tree-water, or an Emulsion made with the same water, and Peony seeds or some other Vehicle appropriated to the Disease, and taste of the Patient.   

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

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

To prepare the astringent Crocus Martis.  
WE will deliver two ways of preparing this Crocus, the one by Reverberation for the inward parts; and the other by dissolution for outward applications. For the first, Take equal parts of Filing of Steel and common Salt, and grinned them on a Marble stone together until they be well mingled and incorporated, than spread this matter on a Tile to dry, having some edge in the sides to hinder the matter falling, and place it in a Reverberatory Furnace, and give it a flaming fire which may gently touch, and as it were only lick over the matter during the space of thirty. hours: which being over, wash the so reverberated matter with distilled Rain-water and dry it, to put it a second time to the Reverberatory, that it may be more subtilitated and open, until the Filing or Steel dust be changed into a high and read astringent powder, which is that Chemists do call Crocus or Saffron of Mars, having given this name to such preparations of Metals and Minerals that are reduced into a read powder, by Distillation or Reverberation. This Crocus being well opened by the action of fire, grinned it on a Porphyry stone with water of Plantain juice or Lady's mantle water, until it be reduced to an Alkohol, and than put it in small Trochisks on paper to dry cleanly, and so keep for use. This Crocus Martis is inwardly used where there is need of an astringent desiccative Remedy: as in Dysentery, Lientery, heat of Urine, Gonorrhaea and spitting of blood; The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to ʒ s. in Conserve of Roses in Bolus, or preserved Comfrey Root or Decoction of Plantain, Goldenrod, or Ladies-mantle, a little of syrup of dried Roses, or a little of that of Berberries.  
As for the second kind of Crocus which is astringent, and to be employed to outward uses, it is made with any kind of acid or corrosive Liquor, as the common aqua fortis, spirit of Nitre, Salt, Vitriol, Allom and Armoniac salt; we will only take for our model here aqua fortis made with equal parts of Allom and Vitriol, in which the Filing of Steel must be dissolved, of which take ℥ iiij. and pour it by ʒ ss. at once in lb j of this aqua fortis: for if the Menstruum was poured upon the Filing, there would such an ebullition be made, and so sudden a calefaction of the matter and Vessel, that either the one would be wasted, or the other break; and if also too much Filing were put at once in the Menstruum, it would sand up sudden and noxious vapours, which would 'cause a suffocation of breast, or stopping of breath to the Artist; wherefore the Menstruum must be put into a Cucurbite somewhat high that nothing may be lost by ebullition, which it is altogether impossible to hinder or prevent by any other means, than pouring a little of Filing at once; ℥ iiij. of Filing being all spent and put in by the Artist, if the Menstruum be not altogether spent and drunk up, he may put as much Filing more as it can bear and he thinks fitring; for it must be made so thick as that the Menstruum and Filing make but one past of an indifferent consistency, which put in a Matrass having something a broad and large neck; and being placed on a round plate of earth or a piece of brick with a little Lute, you shall give it a circular fire by degrees to exhale the Menstruum: than increase it until the Matrass becomes read on all sides, and being cooled, you shall found in it an astringent Crocus of Mars, of a high read, very useful and excellent for outward applications, viz. to dry Wounds and Ulcers, and stop Hemorrhagy; it is of this Crocus that Surgeons must always make use in Salves and Liniments. We have this more nevertheless to say of it, that if the Artist puts only ℥ j of Filing of Steel upon ℥ vj. of aqua fortis, and evaporate it in a Matrass in sand to a dry bottom, he will have a Crocus easily dissoluble of itself, being put in a Cellar or some other moist and cold place, into a read Liquor, which is a sovereign Remedy to mundify rotten, corroding and running Ulcers: as also those which have contracted a Callus or soreness in the brim, and abound with superfluities of spongious and corrupted flesh: for it consumes all preternatural exerescencies by the activity of the spirits and salts which are dissolved, and renders the Ulcer capable of cicatrisation by the astringent Faculty of its vitriolic Earth.   

How the Crocus Martis aperitive is to be prepared.  
WE will deliver two manners of preparing this aperitive Crocus of Mars, as we have showed two for the astringent Crocus. The first manner is by taking lb j of Filing or dust of Needles very clean, which put in a stone earthen Pan very flat, than by degrees and gently moisten it with Dew-water, if your work falls in May, else Rain-water of the vernal Equinox, until the Filing begin to crumble, at which sign proceed not further jest you should drown your matter; for when it is only moistened in the form of a past or crumbs, it ferments and grows hot of itself with water, as by the touch and smell it may easily be noted: for there is a certain saline Spirit hidden in these waters which penetrates the Steel, and insensibly dissolves it: wherefore it must immediately be dried in the Sun, and being dry, grinded on a Marble, and so moistened again without drowning, and in less than three or four days all the Filing will be converted into a black powder, which will begin to draw to a Violet purple colour in the superficies, and by a small taste of ink, or somewhat vitriolic, showeth, that the water gins to make the reincrudation of the metal into his seminal principles, which are Sulphur and Vitriol; for when the water is put upon it, it sends forth a sulphureous odour, and the taste doth manifestly declare and discover the Vitriol. Note, that your matter must be grinded on the Marble as often as you dry it, and if you will discharge the parr of a careful Artist, you may make three exsiccations every day, and end the operation in three weeks, otherwise you must bestow at lest a month or six weeks, before the body of this metal may be reduced to an impalpable powder, which is coloured with a brown purple Violet, which having got, put it in a crude Iron Pot or Cauldron, and upon open fire Reverberate, stirring it still with a Rod or slice of Iron, and as soon as it gins to grow read, take it away, and you shall have the aperitive Reverberated Crocus of Mars in a fair read brown colour. But it is much better not to reverberate it, because this heat may 'cause the Vitriol that begun to be framed in the Crocus, to exhale away, and this vitriolic salt only constitutes its aperitive virtue. The Dosis of this Crocus must be from iij. gr. to xx. and thirty. provided it be given by degrees, and the stomach used to it by little an little; it is administered in Opiates and Conserves or mixed amongst aromatical Powders; it must be taken fasting,, or the stomach being empty three or four hours before meals, and the Patient must walk after in some smooth and pleasant place; after the walk take a Btoth of Veal and Chicken made with Parsly and Spanish Scorzonera Roors. This Remedy is useful for all Chronical Diseases, Cachexy, Leucophlegmacy, and all other Diseases proceeding from splenetical obstructions, or obstructions of the Liver, Mesentery and Pancreas; but there are alsome other Martial Remedies more quick and efficacious in their operation, as we will show hereafter.  
The second manner of preparing the opening Crocus Martis is this. Take a bar of good Steel and make it glowing in a Smith's Forge, in that degree of heat which they call so ering heat, which is a kind of half-fusion, and being thus, have a great Pan full of water, over which you shall hold your Steel, and apply close to it a cake of Brimstone, which will melt the Steel, and drop by drop precipitate it in the water in small grains; continued this work until you have a sufficient quantity of the Steel in grain, which must be separated from the Brimstone that fell dropping along with the Steel in the water, than beaten it in an Iron mortar to powder, which must be run through a delicate sieve or Tamy, than prepared on a Porphyry stone, or Sea-shel with some opening water, until it be reduced to an Alkohol, the half whereof must be framed into Trochisks, when dried and so kept; this is called prepared Steel. Than take the other half and reverberate it in an Iron Cauldron with naked fire, as we have said above, until it hath attained a read purple colour, without fear of consuming the vitriolic faculty; but contrariwise it will open more and more, this preparation being different from that of the foregoing Crocus; the Dosis is the same with the other, the precautions the same, and the use of it for the same Diseases; some there are that even do prefer it to the other preparations, but I am of a contrary mind.   

How the Vitriol of Mars is to be prepared.  
TAke Filing or dust of Needles very clean, and put it in a Glass Cucurbite, pouring by degrees upon it acid or sharp spirit of Vitriol, not altogether deprived of its phlegm; stir both together with an Iron slice, pouring as much of it as that the matter may be well imbided and satiated therewith, and have a special care not to break the Cucurbite, and immediately pour upon distilled Rain-water, or Rain-water taken up in the Equinox without distilling, which may be almost boiling hot, to the height of four fingers, place the Cucurbite in sand already heated, and there leave it in digestion and dissolution the space of xij. hours; which done, filtrate the warm Liquor and put it to evaporate gently to the consumption of one half in the vapour of a boiling Balneo, and than place it in a cold Room to shoot Crystals, which you shall find the next morning bright and green round about the Vessel, which put between two papers, and dry in a slow and gentle heat; and if you desire a greater quantity, purse the same work upon the remaining dust or Filing with the spirit of Vitriol; than with warm water filtrate, evaporate and crystallise until the whole body of the metal be converted into Vitriol, or a little of earthly sediment remains if the Filing were pure: But the quantity of your Vitriol will go much beyond the weight of the Filing, exceeding sometimes even to a third part: by which the Artist may be taught that it is but a Recorporification of Vitriol, having resumed his vitriolic Idea and Character by the help of Mars, as being a body which was once vitriol: but we must confess, that this Vitriol surpasses much in excellency the common Vitriol, out of which the spirit used in this Work hath been distilled: for the recorporified Spirits have a great sphere of activity, and do much more powerfully work, than the matters purely and merely naturally. This Vitriol hath more efficacy and acts with much more quickness than the aperitive Crocus, in all the Diseases which we have before mentioned, but the Dosis is much less: for it is given beginning with one gr. and so continuing by degrees till you come to viij. x. and xij. gr. either in Bolus in some Preserve, or in Broth. But you must note, that the use of Remedies extracted from the Mars, must be long continued and taken still, increasing from j gr. to ij. until at last it gins to raise and provoke the stomach and 'cause a nauseousness; than go back from ij. gr. or somewhat more, because it appears that Nature is than in the right time of bringing the Remedy to a desired success without much violence, if it be not increased: You must note besides, that those that use Steel-Remedies, aught to be purged every fourth day, in case the Remedy itself doth not provoke Nature, and every other day the belly must be opened by a clyster of pure new made stolen: for as the Steel hath a dissopilating and opening Vitriol, so hath it likewise a constipating and drying earth; wherefore every fourth or fifth day infuse ʒ ij. Sennae with ℈ j vitriolated Bohemian-tartar in Veal or Chicken Broth, to carry away and drive out of the body those matters which the Remedy hath made fit for evacuation. Those that desire to have a very fine and useful Crocus Martis, must calcine ℥ iiij. of this vitriol of Mars in a Crucible with open fire, until it be converted into a fair subtle read powder, having no ill or unsavoury taste, and fit to be given to the most delicate Palates, in Bolus, Lozenges; or Opiates from u gr. to thirty. with the same observations and precautions as are hinted above.   

To make the Extract or Syrup of Mars.  
℞ lb ss. of Filing of Needles very prue and clena, mix it with lb of good white Bohemian-tartar of Montpellier reduced to subtle powder; than fill up the third part of some Iron Cauldron of reasonable bigness with water, and put it on the bore fire, but your water must be Dew-water; or water taken up in the vernal Equinox, or distilled Rain-water, make it boil, and when it is thus ready, pour into it gently and by degrees the Steel and Tartar mixed together, not above ℥ j at once, by reason of the ebullition and working up which happens in the dissolution of the matter at first; than all being put in the Vessel, stir it continually in the bottom with an Iron Ladle, to raise up in the uppermost part of the water amongst the walmes, that which would otherwise settle in the bottom, and by this means hasten and ease the dissolution thereof: you must also keep in a pot by itself upon the fire, some of the water, like unto that wherewith the dissolution is made, that it may be restored warm in the place of the other, that the action of the fire causes to evaporate away, which must be repaired from time to time, jest the Bohemian-tartar should too much coagulate, by want of moisture, or burn in the bottom or about the Vessel; and moreover, have a care that the Menstruum may be in sufficient quantity to dissolve well the Bohemian-tartar, which by its acidity doth work upon the Mars and dissolves it; keep the fire going still, stirring and renewing with new water, until the Artist sees that the Liquor contained in the Pot or Cauldron be quite altered, and become thick and of the colour of a whitish grey, having brown and blackish veins about it; and moreover, the matter gathers a smell and odour as of sulphur of Mars, which is something unpleasant and nauseous; but the last and most concluding sign of the end and perfection of the operation and the dissolution of the Steels is the taste: for filtrating some small quantity of the Liquor, when the above mentioned begin to appear, if the Liquor be of a brown read colour, and hath a taste of Ink, and Vitriol between acid and bitter; than must you fill up wholly the Vessel with boiling water, and filtrate it being yet warm, putting the same as it is filtered in another Iron Vessel, wherein you 'cause it gently and without boiling to evaporate away; and thus go on filtrating and evaporating, until the Liquor be reduced to the consistency of a Syrup or half Extract, which you may know when a thin skin shall rise above the evaporating Liquor; than draw the Vessel of from the fire, and your matter being cooled, put it In a white earthen Pot to keep for the time of use. It will not be very difficult to persuade the less knowing, that Exttact or Syrup, is one of the best Remedies produced by the Art of Chemistry; for it is known to all, that Bohemian-tartar is a friendly Salt to our Nature, and of itself a great opener and disopilative Remedy; there are also very few but know, that Physicians have in all Ages made use both of crude and prepared Steel, or its Crocus to open obstructions, and for the cure of chronical and obstinate Diseases, which have seated in the Region of the Ventricle, Liver, Spleen and other adjacent parts: But I can very sincerely say, that all what we have delivered above, must give way to this Martial Extract; for after that Bohemian-tartar is once intimately united to the Mars, and that both have acted and reacted one upon another in such a manner, that the one hath lost its great a cidity, and the other its metallic corporeity as it hath happened in this operation, a third substance results from thence endowed with all necessary qualifications, to act according to the intent of the Physician, Citò tutò, jucundè: for this admirable Remedy can never be hurtful, but always profitable and good, as we ourselves have found it by experience, in the cure of many great and dangerous maladies made by the due administration of this noble Medicine; which is given very fortunately and with a surprising and unconceivable success, in the beginning of the swell of Dropsies, against the schirrous Tumours of the Spleen, against all obstructions of the parts of the inferior Ventricle, against the pains of the Reins and Bladder, against the evil fermentations of the stomach, against Worms in young and old, the seminary whereof it doth radically extirpate; against intermittent Fevers, chief those which Physicians call Stomach Fevers; and to be short, generally against all coagulations of tartarous matters in whatsoever part of the body seated. The Dosis is from u drops to Lx. in Broth, aperitive Decoctions, or specific Waters appropriated to the most apparent and predominanting Disease.   

To prepare the Salt of Mars.  
℞ lb ss. of Filing of Steel very small and clean, and being put in a stone Dish or Pan, sprinkle them with very good distilled Vinegat until it is become a Paste, which dry after to the steam or vapour of B. M. and when it shall be sufficiently dry, grinned it upon Marble, and moisten it again with the same Vinegar; than dry, grinned and moisten again so often, as you may at last discern by the taste in your matter a sweetish taste, predominating in the body of your Mars; than put this powder in a Cucurbite, and pour upon it phlegm of Vinegar half a foot high, and place the Cucurbite in sand, and 'cause the liquor therein to boil, that the extraction of your salt of Mars may be the better perfected; but have a care to put still new warm phlegm of vinegar in the place of that which in the boiling vapours away; and when you see your Menstruum sufficiently impregnated, filtrate it being cold that it may come away the purer; the filtrated Liquor put in B. M. and draw of ij. or iij. p. of the Liquor in the heat thereof; than place your Cucurbite in a cold place or Cellar to make the salt shoot into Crystals; separate the Liquor swimming over the Crystals, than evaporate again and turn to crystallise; and this work continued till it will yield no more Crystals; than dry them all, and being dry put in a double or circulatory Vessel, and pour upon alkohol of Wine three fingers high, stopping and shutting closely the joints of the Vessel; and so putting it in a vaporous Balneo to digest with a slow heat during the space of seven natural days; which being passed, unstop the Vessel and put a Still-head upon it to draw of the spirit of Wine in the same heat, and in the bottom you will found a salt of Mars very pleasant, and without compare to remove obstructions, chief for weak and tender bodies; it is good in general against all melancholic affections, and griefs of the Reins and Bladder, but it is particularly dedicated to the relief of dropsical Bodies, and fits or obstructions of the Mother. The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to xx. in Broth or Decoctions, or appropriated waters according to the Disease.   

To make the astringent Tincture of Mars.  
℞ ℥ iiij. of Filing of Needles very pure and clean, and having put them in a glass Cucurbite, pour upon spirit of ♀ or Copper until they be sufficiedtly moistened and begin to cleave together; than cover the Cucurbite with a Still-head, and draw of the spirit in a slow heat in ashes to a dry bottom; and if what you have drawn hath any taste, cohobate it again; if not, moisten it again with new spirit of Venus, and dry as before, and go on thus doing three times, or until your Mars. be changed into a very subtle and read Crocus; than grinned it on a Porphyry stone and put again in a Cucurbite, and pour upon of the same spirit of ♀ four fingers high, and having adapted to it the double Pan or Blindhead, place it in B. M. to extract, until the Spirit be turned very read; than separate the Tincture, and pour again new Menstruum, and go on thus doing so long as it will take colour; this done, put all the Tinctures together and filtrate them, draw of the spirit of Venus in B. M. until it hath got the consistency of a thick Syrup, upon which pour spirit of Wine three fingers high, which digest in the vapour of Balneo and let extract; than filtrate and extract with the same Menstruum until no more will come▪ and having filtrated all the Tinctures, draw of three parts of the Liquor, and you shall have an astringent Tincture of Mars remaining, which is none of the lest secrets in Physic, and worthy the Closet of a curious Artist. This Tincture is administered by drops, from iiij. to xv. and xx. in Decoction of Plantain, or water of the juice thereof; it may also be given in water sharpened with juice of a Pomegranate. It hath the virtue to stop all immoderate fluxes of the Belly, to correct and alloy the griefs and irritations of the Pylorus or Blind-gut, cure Dysentery and Lientery, as also read and white fluxes of Women, and the hemorrhoidal also; finally it dries Gonorrhoea and cures heat of Urine, and stops all manner of Hemorrhagy.   

To make the aperitive Tincture of Mars.  
℞ ℥ ij. of Vitriol of Mars prepared in the manner we have taught here above, reduce it to powder, and mix with it equal weight of salt ☿ of Sennertus, made in powder also in a Marble Mortar, and you shall wonder that on a sudden this wondered Salt shall draw the soul of Mars or his sulphur out of the Centre of its vitriol; for although this salt be white and the vitriol likewise, it is no unpleasant surprisal to behold in an instant a read to predominate higher in colour than that of the Saffron; this Mass must be stirred and agitated, and it will soon be reduced to a Pap, than expose it to the moist air that the whole may be resolved into a Liquor, which is already of itself an aperitive and disopilai ve Remedy, which may be given against all manner of obstructions, and against the coagulation of Bohemian-tartar in man's body, from vj. drups to xv. in Broth or aperitive Decoctions. But this substance is yet too course, and will show that our Art is capable to bring substances to the highest pitch of their perfection, and the last degree of their subtlety. To this end weigh the read matter, after it hath been mixed in a Marble mortar; and note the weight, weigh it also after its dissolution in the air, to draw of by distillation in B. M. the weight of the moisture it hath attracted from the air, and to pour upon it as much of the spirit of ♀ as this moisture doth weigh, than digest them in the vaporous Bath together, in a digesting or double Vessel the space 24 hours, after which draw of the spirit with a Still-head to a consistency of Syrup somewhat thick, upon which pout tartarized spirit of Wine four fingers high, than close up the Vessel with a Blindhead and digest it three natural days; at the end whereof filtrate the Tincture cold, and draw of the half or two parts of the Menstruum in Balneo in a slow heat, and so shall you have one of the noblest Remedies which the matter helped by Art can ever bring to pass, as much for his virtue as for his pleasantness of taste. This noble Tincture doth eat up and resolve all manner of tartarousnesse in man's body, which wheresover it coagulates, is the spring and cause of all obstructions: wherefore it may securely be administered in all the maladies, where it is necessary to open and expel superfluities. But the most wondered thing of all is, that it hath or bears no weight upon the stomach, as for the most part are all the Remedies taken from Mars; contrariwise, it strengthens the Ventricle, and purifies it from the coagulated clammy humours and viscosities, which for the most part 'cause the loss of appetite; it is moreover a great Antiscorbutic, because it disburthens the Spleen, purifies the mass of the blood of those gross and earthly impurities, whereby all the evil accidents of this pernicious Disease are occasioned. The Dosis must be from u drops to xx, and thirty. in appropriated Liquors, so many times mentioned by us above.   

How the read Crystals of Mars are to be prepared.  
MAke first a very good aqua fortis with equal parts of Vitriol and Saltpetre; the description whereof we shall give in the Chapter of Salts. Of this ℞ lb j and therein dissolve ℥ iii!. of very pure and dry Saltpetre; than put ℥ vj. of Steel in whole pieces, as big as the finger, and two inches long, in the bottom of a Cucurbite placed in ashes, and having poured the aqua fortis let it act and work thereupon; But note, that the Cucurbite must be big and capacious, and that it is not without reason we prescribe to put Steel in whole pieces, and not Filing; for the Vessel would too suddenly contract a heat, and cause too sudden an ebullition, what care and precaution soever could be taken by the Artist; but when it is in body, the Menstruum or dissolving spirit cannot penetrate it, neither work upon it but gently and by measure. We thus altar the manner of our work and Processes, the better to prepare the judgement of the Artist against such accidents which may hap in the working; to hasten the dissolution, give a slow heat to the ashes; and when all the action of the Dissolvent or Menstruum is passed over, pour in the Cucurbite lb ij. φ. of good distilled vinegar something warm: but you must pour it in gently, and softly stir the matter in the bottom; but if by chance some small piece of the Steel was found left there, take it away before you pour the vinegar; than digest this Solution three continual days in B. M. and it will become very read, than filtrate through a paper and evaporate in B. M. to draw of the two parts of the Menstruum by distillation, and placing the Cucurbite in a cold place, it will shoot into read Crystals, having yet in them some kind of impurity; put them together aside and evaporate the remaining Liquor, to draw of from it what may turn again into Crystals; than put all the Crystals together, and dissolve them in a sufficient quantity of distilled vinegar; filtrate the Solution, and draw half of the Menstruum in the flow heat of B. M. than put it in a cold place to shoot into Crystals; and so go on in dissolving, filtrating, distilling and chrystallizing until your Crystals be very fair, read and transparent, and that not more feces or separation of impurities will settle in the bottom of the Vessel where the chrystallization is made; dry the Crystals in a slow heat between two papers, and put them in a glass Viol. to keep for use. This Salt is a very subtle and pleasant Aperitive, which is administered in Broths or Apozema's, or even may be given as a true Martial Bohemian-tartar, without any danger of the aqua fortis used in the dissolution; for it is to be known, that all the corrosion of the spirit of aqua fortis is blunted and deadened by its own action upon the Steel, as it may be perceived by the pleasing taste of the Crystals resulting thereof. The Dosis must be from vj. gr. to xx. and thirty. and if the Artist be curious, he may take ℥ ij. of the Crystals, and as much of very fair Armomoniack salt, and grinned and mix them together, and being put in a luted Matrass, place it in sand, so as it may lie but a finger's breadth from the Iron vessel containing the sand; than by a gradual fire, drive it so high that the Armoniac salt may sublimate and carry along with itself the sulphur of Mars, and so shall he have Flowers very read and efficacious for a Diaphoretic and Diuretical Remedy against intermittent Agues, and chief against Tertians and Quartains; and if you have sublimated of these Flowers in any considerable quantity, you may dissolve one part thereof in warm water, to separate the salt from it by edulcoration and lotion, and you shall have the true sulphur or Mars in its perfection, which you may use as a sovereign Diaphoretic. The Dosis of the Flowers is from ij. gr. to x. or xij. and of the Sulphur from j gr. to vj. in Bolus or convenient Liquors.   

Of Copper and its Chemical Preparation.  
COppet is the second of the less noble of the hard metals of the second Classis; it is according to Paracelsus compounded of a purple Sulphur, read Salt, and yellow Mercury. But as we have said of Iron, so may we of Copper, that it hath much vitriol in itself, and less of earth than Iron, and by consequence less impurity. It is amongst Chemists called Venus ♀, because it receives the influences of that Planet, and relates to the parts in Man dedicated to generation. The general virtues of Copper are, to strengthen the spermatical and generative parts, both in male and female, insomuch as that the Ancients and Hypocrates himself and his successors after him have had it in great esteem, and made very frequent use of it though in a rude and coarse way, being not yet assisted with the light of Chemistry, which doth from this metal draw admirable Remedies, and particularly that wondered Spirit of ♀ Venus, whereof we have spoken above, and whereto we are already come.  
We could very well lay down and deliver here all the manners of calcining Copper, either by Dissolution, Illinition or Cementation; but as all these operations do rather relate to the metallic than Physical part, we will not insist on it to pursue incessantly and with less intermission, our purpose of discovering the noble Remedies which metals do afford us; we will than first speak of the preparation of green Copper or Verdegrease, which is more full of mystery than is commonly imagined, though this operation be common, and performed only by the Women and Maids at Montpellier.   

The preparation of green Copper, or Verdegrease.  
GReen Copper to speak properly, is nothing else but the volatilization of Copper in very subtle Vitriol, by the help of Bohemian-tartar contained in the husks and recrements of the Grape after the Wine is expressed and squeezed out of it. But this operation cannot be performed in all places where Wine doth grow, which must give a Chemical Artist occasion to reason thereupon, and seek after the cause, in examining the matter which produces this green, which are the copper and the cakes of the husks of Wine. Now all kind of Grape hath its recrement after expression, and yet all expression of Grapes is not capable to reduce the copper in green, as this is that comes from Montpell●er and the adjacent parts, and therefore consequently there must be something in that Grape of Montpellier capable to work upon and extract sooner than others, the vitriol of Copper without corrosion, which cannot be done but by the help of a subtle and active Bohemian-tartar, which penetrates the copper and changes it into green, and yet this Bohemian-tartar is undiscernible and imperceptible in the recrements of the Grape; but after the copper is stratified with this expression, and put in a convenient place, the inward fire and fermentative spirit of these cakes of Grapes excites and stirs up a heat, which brings it from power to act, and doth volatilize the Bohemian-tartar contained thereunder, changing it into a subtle spirit not altogether Wine or vinous, neither yet become vinegar, so that it doth possess volatile sulphureous qualities, and yet hath in its self a Saline, Mercurial and acid Spirit, which acts upon the Copper, and turns it into that substance we call green Copper, being the ground and Basis of our spirit of V●nus. It is not without reason we have made this digressive Discourse upon green Copper, made with the Recrements or expression of Wine about Montpellier, for it altogether differs from that which is made with Vinegar and Copper shut up in Barrels; for we know that Lanquadock and Provence Wine, and chief that which grows about Montpellier doth yield great store of Bohemian-tartar very pure, and very excellent both for Physical Remedies and Chemical Operations: Now it is only the subtlest part of that matter which Nature intends for Bohemian-tartar, that volatilises itself, and without any violent corrosion works upon the Copper; for it is rather performed by an amicable and friendly kind of dissolution: But Vinegar doth operate more violently, and doth not join nor unite itself to the substance of the Copper, as this middle Spirit doth; which truth will be made manifest by the extraction thereof, which we will teach, its chrystallization and distillation, by the Discourse we shall annex unto it for the greater instruction and satisfaction of curious Artists and searchers of Nature.   

To make the volatile Vitriol of ♀.  
WE have showed above, that green Copper was nothing else but an open Copper dissolved, and as it were volatilised by the tartarous fermentative spirit of the recrements of the expression of Wine; and we have said somewhere else, when we spoke of Vinegar and its distillation, that its spirit was also nothing else but a kind of subtiliated Bohemian-tartar, spiritualised and made volatile. This granted, we shall easily make our Artist conceive that the extraction of green Copper, which we now are about to teach, is but a sequel and dependence to bring this Agent and Patient to a more subtle volatilization; that after we have converted the green Copper into a clear, blue, subtle, and as it were already volatile vitriol, we may afterwards by distillation bring it to one of the most quick and wondered Spirits hitherto used, either in Physic for the cure of Maladies, or in Chemistry for the dissolution of Bodies, and being a mean of uniting and joining together several substances which seem altogether to be heterogeneous, and uncapable of being brought together without the help of this wondered Spirit, which proceeds from the volatile vitriol of green Copper, which is thus prepared.  
Take lb iiij. of good green copper or Verdegrease of Montpellier, and being made into a very subtle Powder, put it in a glass Cucurbite, and pour upon it good distilled Vinegar six inches high, stir it often with a wooden Slice, the Cucurbite being placed in s●nd, and the Menstruum being tinged with a very high green; decant it clear of the matter, & pour on again fresh vinegar, which digest and stir as before, and decant when it is sufficiently coloured; this repeat four times, and if the Menstruum be not much tinged the fourth time, boil all together in a copper Cauldron, until it hath extracted and dissolved what it can get from the remainder of the green Copper: finally, you shall thus continued to proceed with new distilled vinegar until all your matter be dissolved, the utmost remainder of which will not extend to above ℥ iiij. or u of feces and earthly sediment, which hath no metallic quality at all, except you find it in some small pieces of Copper Plates, which by the negligence of those who scrape the substance dissolved by fermentation do remain in it, but all the remainders is but mere earth.  
All these Tinctures than must be joined together, and filtrated cold through Paper, and the filtration put to evaporate in an earthen stone Pan, in a slow beaten in the vapour of B. M. than digest again that which after filtration is left in new distilled vinegar, filtrate it and join to the other Tincture, and thus go on until all be run cold through the Filter to a clear Liquor, and as green as Emerald; and when you shall see the evaporating Liquor to begin to contract a skin in the upper part, put the Pan wherein it is in a cold place, and let it rest there until the next day, and you shall found in the bottom and sides of the Vessel Crystals of fair blue Vitriol, which having put between two Papers, dry in a very slow and moderate heat; for the Sun is even capable to deprive this Vitriol from its best spirit, so volatile it is; wherefore the Artist must be very circumspect and wary in this particular, jest otherwise he be taught to become so at his own charge and by his own experience. And if the last Crystals, or even the first extracted, were not very fair, blue and transparent, let them be dissolved in new distilled vinegar, and let there be no more than the just or fitting quantity to dissolve them cold; let the dissolution rest without stirring 24 hours, that in case there be any atoms of feculent matter separated and raised in the first evaporation, they may settle again. The clear Tincture shall be very softly drawn of by decantation without stirring the bottom; and when you come near unto it, filtrate the remainder through Paper; and if there be any considerable substance remaining in the Filter, dissolve it in new distilled vinegar, than filtrate the Tincture, which join with the remainder, and evaporate to half consumption as gently and slowly as you can, than put it to shoot into Crystals, and you shall have them in great perfection; dry them with the precaution and care we have already hinted above, and end the rest of your operation in the same manner likewise: all being dry, you shall found as much Vitriol as you have dissolved of green Copper, if you have proceeded exactly and even, you shall found more; for all the saline, acid, tartarous substance of the vinegar, is joined to the Vitriol, and causes even its chrystallization; for all the evaporating steem though it hath the smell of vinegar, is nevertheless altogether insipid, and hath no more of taste than Rain-water when distilled it drops out of the nose of the Limbeck. So that they which desire to be yet more accurate and successful in their operation, must proceed in the dissolution of their Crystals in new distilled vinegar, until they can discover by trying a distillation in B. M. or at the most in ashes, whether the vinegar ascending be yet insipid, which if he find to be so, let him go on in the Dissolution, Filtration, Evaporation and Chrystallization, until the vinegar come out with the same strength and acidity as it was poured in. This being so, you have attained the true Point of requisite perfection which this noble Vitriol must be brought unto; than dry it very slowly and gently between two Papers, to make the spirit thereof as we shall immediately teach, after it hath beed digested three several times with very good alkaholized spirit of Wine, three fingers high above it, in a double or digesting Vessel the space of 24 hours, and after that this spirit hath been drawn of every time in B. M. to open it more and more, that it may be endowed with those Virtues and Perfections, which do shine and are required in the Spirit drawn from it.   

The Distillation of the Spirit of ♀.  
THis is the Operation wherein a Chemical Artist hath need of all his Patience and Judgement, if he will successfully perform this intended Distillation, which will be to him a guide and a Pattern whereupon to proceed in all others, by reason of the great volatility of the matter he works upon. Let him than take his Vitriol when it is very dry, and reduce it to powder in a Marble Morter, than put it in a Retort with a long neck and wide mouth, and all that matter being put in, let him be careful to cleanse the uppermost part of the Retort, and the whole neck with a Feather tied to a small stick, that he may not be deceived in believing that the greenness he shall perceive in the distilling drops should have contracted their colour of Vitriol which might have been left there when it was poured in the Retort. After this he shall place his Retort in a close Reverberatory Furnace, leaving four Registers on the corners of the roof of the Furnace, and another in the middle, to be able to govern the fire with more command and better moderation; wherefore these Registers must be stopped with close and well-fitted stoples. Than let him fit a very capacious and large Glass Recipient very clean and dry to the neck of the Retort, and stop the joining parts with a wet Bladder, and lute them moreover with Quicklime and whites of Eggs, as we have often repeated in this Treatise; and when the Lute is dry, let him begin to give his fire judiciously and slowly, forbearing all hastiness; and rather expecting with an exemplary Patience that the matter should by degrees drive and sand up its vapours, which shall thicken and condense themselves in the neck of the Retort, and fall by clear and limpid drops into the Recipient: for the nose or mouth of the Retort must at lest advance four fingers deep in the body of the Recipient, that he may discern the diversity of colour of the distilling drops; not so much to feed and satisfy his own curiosity, though it be a very pleasant diversion, as to regulate the better his fire, which in this Operation is one of the most important considerations; because if he never so little increases the fire without necessity, it may occasion the loss of the whole substance, and the breaking of the Vessels; wherefore he must be here vety vigilant to do nothing whereby he may receive a prejudice, a thing generally to be observed in all other distillations of Salts, whereof our Artist intends to draw the Spirits. We thought fitting to describe this circumstance of the Work with all imaginable punctuality, that in case any by too much haste and precipitancy comes to miscarry, he may not lay the fault upon us. This tenor and state of heat is he to keep so long as the drops shall fall clear, and not to urge his fire by any means: for the drops will fall fast enough, if slowly you reckon six between the interval of every falling drop. But when the drops begin to turn green, and the white vapours to appear in the Recipient, and condense themselves into Spirit and in a subtle Liquor which frames in the glass Filaments and winding veins about the said Recipient, it is a token that the volatile Spirit gins to manifest itself abundantly, and that you must than go on slowly and avoid all precipitancy and over-haste, for the Recipient grows hot by the heat of the vapours and the afflux of the Spirits. The clear drops last about four or five hours, the green and first volatile vapours as much. That being over, you must begin to increase and urge the fire, and the Recipient will totally fill itself with very white vapours, which will continued increasing still the fire more and more the space of five or six hours, and towards the end by the intense and vehement action of the fire, yellow drops will fall, which by little and little will turn to a redness, which is an absolute token of the end of the operation, lasting for the most part twelve or fifteen hours, according to the greater or lesser quantity of matter in the Retort. The vessels being grown cold, take of the Lute, joining the Recipient to the Retort, and pour the yellowish Spirit, which hath a strong sulphureous smell in a Cucurbite; which having placed in B. M. and luted exactly a Still-head to it, as also the Matrass, which is to be applied to the nose of the Limbeck, give a fire proportionable to the volatility of the matter; for this Spirit riseth as easily and nimbly as spirit of Wine; but the fire about the end must be a little more urged, and the whole substance will ascend leaving a dry bottom into a volatile and very penetrating Spirit, possessing more virtues than can be expressed, whether used as a bore Remedy, or as a preparation to other Medicaments; this noble Spirit opening and dissolving bodies without corrosion or alteration of their seminal powers and faculties, and that which is more surprising and above all to be admired is, that this Noble and Wondered Spirit keeps the same virtue in Physic, and the same dissolutive faculty, after it hath served to the dissolution and preparation of many different substances, either Stones or Metals. We will not affirm nevertheless, or contend that this Spirit remains unalterable: But this we can, that the experience we have had hitherto, has never discovered unto us that he can loose any part of his acting faculty: contrariwise having drawn it of by distillation, it hath ever kept in our hands the same strength and vigour it had done before, either used upon the same matter or upon another, as those will most certainly find that shall employ it in their operations. It is a sovereign Remedy against Epilepsies of what kind soever, Apoplexy, all irritations of the Mother, all Hypochondriac and melancholy Diseases, inveterated griefs and pains in the head, and all scorbutic maladies; It is admirable from j drop to x. in appropriated Liquors; but the most judicious Dosis in all Liquors is to a pleasant acidity. We cannot forbear to insert here the very same words which Doctor Zwelfer, Physician to his Imperial Majesty, hath in that Appendix, which discovered this Treasure unto us; where he concludes the praises he hath given to this Spirit by these words: Et ut summatim dicam, tanquam expertus in multis affectibus, qui Herculea etiam remedia rident, & contemnunt, ad hunc sp. tanquam asylum si quis accurrerit, medicamentum reperiet qu●vis precio redimendum; Hoc fruere lector amice secreto, & favore mei pro fideli communicatione benevole persevera. This is in few words the sense and testimony of this expert Physician; wherefore I do yet insist after him, and advice earnestly all Physicians and Artists not to neglect the practice of the Remedy and Dissolvent, both concentred and joined in one substance.  
But though we have herein taught the noblest Remedy that can be extracted from Copper, it is nevertheless necessary to teach the workings of some useful Operations in Physic and Chirurgery, that when the Chemical Apothecary shall meet with them in any Author, he may be able to prepare them, that the Physician, when he shall found a fit and convenient way, may make use thereof, for the preservation and recovery of Patients.   

To prepare the vitriol of ♀, with the Narcotick Sulphur, and Crocus thereof.  
A Amongst the several preparations made upon Copper, none requires or contains so many operations for the manner of the Work, nor so many useful Remedies at once as this we are now about to teach; for which reason we have chosen it to inform the better our Artist by the same, what he may be able to perform upon Metals, to reduce them to their Principles by a gradation of operations: For as we have said that Metals were once Vitriol, so have they been also Sulphur before they were altogether coagulated and hardened into a metallic Body, which is the cause that Art is necessitated to make use of Sulphur as a middle substance to divest Metals from their Body, and reduce them into Vitriol, which is thus prepared.  
Take Copper in Plates and cut it in small pieces, which may conveniently be stratified in a great Crucible with Brimstone reduced to powder, beginning to stratify by a lay of Brimstone, and than putting one of Copper, and thus continuing to stratify till the last lay be also of Brimstone; the Crucible being full, which must be covered with a Cover, having a hole in the middle of a bigness to run through it a Goose-quill, lute both Crucible and Cover with a good Lute not apt to crack, and let it dry gently; when it is well dried, place it in a Circular fire, and for the space of an hour give it a graduate fire by little and little, that the Brimstone may softly melt and penetrate the plates of Copper before it takes flame, because it will calcine it much better in this manner; than bring the fire nearer from the Crucible, and increase it by degrees until the Brimstone takes flame, and gins to sand it out under the form of a Pyramid by the hole of the Cover; than bring the fire close by, and without adding any more, encompass and cover with it the Crucible, for the addition of more fire would be unnecessary, since the flame of the Brimstone coming to cease, the first calcination which is the scope of your operation is performed; therefore nothing more remains to be done, than to let the Crucible cool to draw your Copper out of it, which is raised and become spongious and brickle as Glass, and read when grounded to powder; they that will have but a course Crocus of ♀, may take this calcined Copper, which in the shops is called as ustum, grinned it to powder and Reverberate it three times 24 hours, and they will have a read powder very open, and a fit Ingredient for Salves and Plasters; as for the true proportion of the said Crocus, we will teach it hereafter. But there is one thing to be noted here, and not to be passed by, which is, that the plates of Copper must three times be made read hot in a Crucible in a wind-Furnace, and as many times quenched in Urine, because this opens them and prepares to Calcination, insomuch as all the rest of the Operation is performed with much more ease.  
Take than this Copper thus calcined, reduce it to Powder, and for ever lb▪ add ℥ j φ. or ℥ ij. of pulverised Brimstone, which must be exactly mixed: and having fitted an earthen Pot not glazed upon the Furnace, so as to be fast and stable, and fit to be heated by the bottom with moderation and increasing of the fire, put the said Powder in, and give it a graduate fire, continually stirring with a Scraper of Copper or Iron, that the Powder may not stick to the Pot, having a special care to burn away all the Brimstone, and if the matter crumbles, cease the fire, and after it is grown cold grinned it with the same weight of Brimstone, and thus seven time a together repeat this Calcination, or, which may be a surer and better way, as much as there will be need, and until the Artist perceives trying by the taste that the powder of the calcined Copper is altogether vitriolic, and that being tried with distilled Rain-water, the water takes both the colour and taste of Vitriol; that being so, put all the said powder in an earthen stone Pan, and softly by degrees pour upon it scalding distilled Rain-water, and nimbly stir it, and that a great while before you put it in digestion in sand, to extract all the vitriol from it; otherwise the Powder would harden and crumble so, as it were impossible to mix it well with the water, and the extraction or dissolution of the Vitriol would not follow, and so should you be put to begin your operation again. The water being tinged with a fair blue colour, filtrate and evaporate it till it gins to skin; than put the Vessel in a cold place, to stand there until the Crystals of ♀ are framed; than separate the liquor swimming above, and evaporate again, and crystallise, proceeding and reiterating this Work until no Crystals more will rise; than dry them gently, and keep for the following preparations. This Vitriol may nevertheless without further preparation be employed in a small Dosis against Vices and Diseases of the Stomach and Brain; it kills Worms, and strengthens the Brain against Convulsions, and the assaules of growing Epilepsies, it is also specifical to cleanse the Matrix; some hold it as a grand secret to dissolve a little of it in water against the burning and intemperate heat of the spermatical and other adjacent parts, and so use it for injections, wherein they are much in the right; but for all that, they aught not to deprive the Public and all Practitioners of Physic and Chirurgery of this Remedy (by concealing it to themselves) which produces so Rare Effects, because this Vitriol possesses in itself a very good portion of that sulphur of ♀, which is capable to appease the irritation of those parts; and the salt of it is a great detersive and present Refrigerative. The Dosis inwards is from iiij. gr. to xv. and for Injections the weight of ʒ j in lb j of Plantain water mixed with a little of the clarified juice of Housleek, or the great Sempervivum.   

Preparation of the Narcotick Sulphur of the Vitriol of ♀.  
℞ lb φ. of Vitriol of ♀. ℥ iiij. of Filing of Steel, mix them together by long trituration in an Iron Mortar, than put the powder in a Matrass of smooth Glass and very strong; moisten this matter by degrees with very good distilled Vinegar, until the whole mass be well saturated, yet without overflowing of the moisture; the Matrass must be somewhat broad in the neck, that the evaporation of the moisture may the better be performed; than place the Matrass in sand, leaving but half a finger's space between the bottom of the Vessel containing the sand in the bottom of the Matrass, give fire and gently evaporate the Menstruum, than increase the fire so much as the bottom of the Matrass may grow read, if it be possible; than cease the fire and let the Vessel cool, and break it to take away the mass remaining in the bottom, which will be of a read brownish colour, make it in very subtle powder, and put it in a larger Matrass, sprinkle upon it good distilled vinegar, stirring the matter still, until it swims above the matter the height of four fingers; than put it to digest and extract in sand, and stir it often; it will become read and fair, and the vinegar being well tinged, separate it and put new, and thus go on till your powder yields no more colour; than filtrate all the Tinctures, and slowly evaporate to the gentle vapour of Balneo, until your Liquor be reduced to a third part; which precipitate with oil of ☿ made per deliquium, until all the sulphur be separated from it; For the salt of ☿ attracts to itself, and unites itself in the Liquor to the salt of Vitriol, and the sulphur being no more mixed with its salt, precipitates and separates itself from the moisture, and falls in the bottom of the Vessel; let the sulphur settle, and decant and draw of what shall remain swimming above, and pour upon the sulphur, lukewarm distilled Rain-water to edulcoration, and thus continued it till the water coming from it be insipid, than dry this sulphur very slowly, and keep it in a Glass Viol for use. This Sulphur may be given in Bolus or dissolution, in some Hysterical or Antiepileptical Water, from gr j to vj. against all the affections of the Uterus or Mother, Sympathetick and Idiopathetick Epilepsy. This Sulphur is an Ingredient of the Laudanum without Opium of Hanrmannus. But the Tincture of this Sulphur hath quite another efficacy, than when it is yet in Body, and is thus prepared.   

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

To prepare the Crocus of Vitriol of Venus.  
℞ lb j of this Vitriol, and being put in a Cucurbite, place it in a close Reverberatory, and fit to it a large Recipient, which being exactly luted, give to it a gradual fire, and keep it 48 hours with coals: than after this use very dry wood to give it the last degree of flaming sire the space of 12 whole hours, and thus shall you be sure to have extracted the phlegm, volatile spirit, acid and corrosive Spirit, or Oil so improperly called of the vitriol of Venus, and to find in the bottom of the Retort an astringent Crocus, high and subtle, which some do call the Caput mortuum of this Vitriol. There are some who prescribe to put this Vitriol in a Crucible, to calcine and reduce it to a Crocus, but I am of a contrary opinion, and cannot endure that an Artist should loose what is the best and most full of virtue in his substances upon which he doth work; for Calcination being performed in a Crucible, it must of necessity follow, that all what is found condensed in the Recipient after distillation, doth exhale and vapour away to nothing; but it must not be so, since the Crocus found in the Retort after this distillation, is not inferior, but rather purer and better than that made in the Crucible; if all the Liquor be rectified in ashes or sand to a dry bottom without any distinction or separation of substances, it is a specifical Spirit against Cephalick and Uterine Diseases; being mixed in Julaps or Apozem's to a pleasant acidity, or used in the ordinary drink of the Patient. As concerning the Crocus, it is an infallible Remedy to stop the Blood, and to dry and cicatrize Wounds and Ulcers. It is moreover a Specific internally applied in Opiates, and externally by Injection, for the cure of Gonorrhaea's and heat of Urine. It is also an excellent Remedy against immoderate looseness of the belly, Dysentery, Lientery, spitting of blood, if it be exhibited from gr. iiij. to xv. or xx. in Conserve of Roses, the Patient being purged beforehand with a good Tincture of Rhubarb, prepared with water of juice of Chicory or Endive; it is also with this Vitriol that the true sympathetical Powder is prepared, which is capable to cure sundry Wounds without applying any other apparel than a mere Filter dipped in common water; provided, the dresser hath some of the blood or gore of the Patient, and that the Linen into which it is received be put in a very close Box, where some of this Vitriol be put also, gently dried in warm air, or in a place which is fit insensibly to deprive it of its phlegm, and reduce it of itself into powder; It stops also all kinds of Hemorrhagies, if the same order and method is observed with them as in the cure of Wounds.  
Some Authors are also of opinion that this Vitriol may be sublimated with Armoniac salt, to reduce it in fluid Mercury, and than concocted and precipitated without addition, to prepare a Specific and altogether extraordinary Remedy therewith for the Pox or Neapolitan Disease and all its dependencies. They that will make trial thereof shall find the Processes and method of working in Authors which have treated of it; it sufficeth us to have insinuated the manner of the best operation upon Copper, being certain that he that can perform what we have taught, shall never fail to bring to pass such other operations as he shall undertake upon this Metal.   

Of Lead and its Chemical Preparation.  
WE are now come to the third and last Classis or form of Metals, containing the lesle noble and softer, which are Led or ♄ Saturn, and Tin or ♃ Jupiter. We will speak first of the Lead, because all the operations performed upon Lead may be a Rule for those upon Tin; for the same Menstruum is made use of, and the same manner of operation is required in both.  
Lead is the vilest and most abject of all Metals, consisting of an indigested Sulphur, an aluminous salt more than vitriolic, and a Mercury coming very near the nature of Antimony. It is called Saturn, by reason of the sympathy it hath with that Celestial Planet, as also its relation to the Spleen, which is called the Saturn of the Microcosm, to which it is dedicated. Lead is generally astringent, cooling and thickening, etc. It restores flesh about Wounds and Ulcers, and cicatrizeth them; it cools the Venerean heats, and quenches amorous fires, appeases the pains and heat of Ulcers, and dissolves Tumours occasioned by serosities lurking between the skin and the body. But all this is nothing in respect of the virtues it is endowed with, when it is well and artificially opened and prepared by the operations of Chemistry, as it will appear hereunder.   

General preparations to open Lead.  
AS we have still begun by the purification of Mixts upon which our work was intended, so must we more particularly take care of the purgation of Lead, since it is the courfest and impurest of Metals; wherefore, when Artists will employ it in any Operations, they must before all things melt it in an Iron pot, and when it is in full fusion, throw upon it by intervals small pieces of Wax, which insensibly will waste away, and when he seethe the Lead bright and with a fair aspect, and to be very clear under the uppermost or specifical skim, let him remove the said skim, and throw it in clean water, to put afterwards to such uses as he intends.  
This Led so purified must be reduced into calx, if you intent to extract the virtue of it; for though this Metal be soft and of easy fusion, yet must it be calcined to be opened, not only to advance the operation of such Menstruums as shall be made use of, but also that the extracted substance may be so much more efficacious and full of virtue. This Calcination is performed several ways: for there is an incineration, which reduces Lead to grey ashes or calx, which is brought to pass only by stirring melted Lead in an earthen pot made read hot in the fire. There is moreover a Reverberatory Calcination, when this first Calx is reverberated in a Reverberatory Furnace with flaming fire, so ordered nevertheless that it should not melt; and when the Calx hath changed colour and gins to grow yellow, it becomes a fit colour for Painters, which they call Macicot; but if it goes to the height of an Orange read, it is called Minium in the shops. The third Calcination is that which is performed in the purification of Gold and Silver by the Cupel, where the Lead which remains and flies not away in vapours, is calcined and changed as into a yellow, read or white skin or froth, which is called Lytharg. The fourth is the Cementatory Calcination, which is performed by cutting pieees of sheet or tally Led, and stratifying them with Brimstone, and calcining it afterwards, as we have showed of Copper, and when the calcined Lead is washed, dried and reduced to powder, it is that which in shops is called Plumbum ustum, or burned and calcined Lead. The fifth and last calcination of Lead, is that which they call Vaporous Calcination, which is performed by suspending plates of Lead upon a Spirit or sharp Liquor, the vapour whereof doth by degrees calcine the Lead, and reduces it into that substance which is called white Lead or Ceruse. The Artist must choose of all these Calxes of Lead which he likes best to prepare the following Remedies: but he must not deliberate or stick at taking those which by the action of fire are more open, such as are Minium and Lytharg, since he shall much better therewith attain his desired ends. We will first teach to prepare well the Liquor and salt of Saturn, which is also called its Sugar, by reason of its aluminous sweetness, as also the false and true Magistery, the Cremor, butter, or nutritum of Saturn, the Balsam of Saturn, the spirit, yellow and read oil of Saturn; all which processes and manner of working we will deliver one after the other.   

To prepare the Sugar or Salt of ♄.  
℞ lb ss. of Minium; and as much of Lytharg, reduce it to a subtle powder, and put it in a Cucurbite of stone or glass Metal, and pour thereon very good distilled vinegar, four or five inches high, than place the Cucurbite in sand, and give a sufficient fire to 'cause the vinegar to boil; but note, that you must continually stir the matter with a wooden Slice as soon as you have put in the vinegar, or otherwise it will too soon settle in the bottom of the Vessel, and grow into a hard stony and compacted mass, which cannot be well distempered afterwards, and will stop the pores of the bottom of the Vessel, which will occasion the breaking of it by the action of the heat finding the free passage stopped. These Calxes of Saturn must be kept boiling 8 or 10 hours, renewing still distilled warm vinegar, as the first does vapour away; than filtrate all the dissoved matter warm, and lay aside a fourth part of the filtrated liquor, which is called liquor of ♄. But pour the remainder in a Tin Scillet or Basin, and put in a cold place the space of 24 hours, and you shall find all this liquor almost changed into a white crystalline Salt, which at first is sweet in taste, and of a vitriolic sharpness at last; the superfluous liquor decant by inclination, and evaporate to half the consumption, and put it also in Tin to shoot into Crystals, thus continuing until it yields no more Crystals; mix the remainder with the liquor set apart before, if it be clean; if nor, run it through a linen, and mix and digest together to unite them the better; dry afterwards between a double paper the salt of ♄ in a temperate heat, and keep it for use. If the reason be asked, why we 'cause the dissolution of Lead to be put in a Tin Bason; We answer, because this Metal hath in itself a sharp coagulating, Spirit, which causes all the matter which is fit to shoot into Crystals in this liquor, to turn sooner, and take body better than it would do in another Vessel, as experience will teach those that shall make proof thereof.  
It is a very strange thing that all Ancient Authors, and even the most part of Modern, have so much equivocated upon the virtue of this Salt of Saturn; for they will have it to be cold inwardly taken, and to hinder the act of generation, and yet do attribute to the Spirit which is drawn from this salt by distillation, an active, subtle and penetrative virtue, which drives away by sweats the malignancy of pestilential and venomous Diseases; and affirm moreover, that it is a specific against the Neapolitan Disease, which are things repugnant and dissonant to Reason; but all this mistake and confusion proceeds only from that Ancient Authors have unn●nimoufly delivered, that Lead was very terrestrious and consequently cold; moreover, Vinegar is an Ingredient of its preparation, which is also cold according to their saying; but, both they and Modern Artists should have considered that Lead is a metal that hath much Sulphur, and is called Aurum Leprosum leprous gold, and though very unripe and earthly, yet it is never without some portion in itself of the two noblest Metals, indivisibly mixed in the Chaotical (if I may so say) and undigested matter of Lead, which gives and communicates unto it much virtue; it must also be remembered, that the external fire employed in the calcination of ♄, doth potently stir up its internal fire, which concocts and digests all the unripeness or pretended immaturities, driving away what is there of impurity, and exalting and perfecting more and more the seeds of that purity which are enclosed in it: which makes me to pronounce boldly, that the salt of Saturn is a very good Medicine against all Agues, either continual or intermittent; it is also a specific in diseases of the Spleen, and all vapours arising from it; it may also be given against diseases of the Breast, dissolved in juice of Scabious water with equal weight of purified Niter; the Crystals are very good against Asthmas or short breath. The Dosis of salt of ♄ is from ij. to xx. gr. in appropriated Liquors, or in Bolus in some Conserve or Jelly. The Nitrous salt of ♄ is from iiij. gr. to ʒ s. but if the said salt is so efficacious for internal Diseases, it is no lesle for external; for this wondered metallic Mummy cannot enough be esteemed, this Balsam and sweet Salt which kills all corrosive, harsh and biting salts, which cause the pains of Wounds and Ulcers, whereby the grief and inflammation of the parts is excited, and from which flow all other accidents; it resolves and mollifies hard and schirrous Tumours, takes away the ill-favoured colour and lividity of bruises and contusions, and hinders extravasated blood from turning to corruption, and coming to suppuration; it is an imparalleld Remedy to take away the itching and inflammation of the eyes, it is mixed in all Salves, Liniments, Plasters and Collyries, by reason of the noble effects it uses to produce.   

The use of the Liquor of ♄, and how to make with it the false Magistery, Cremor, Butter and Nutritum.  
WE have said here above, that the Artist was to lay aside some part of the dissolution of the calx of Lead for his use, which is very considerable; for this Liquor may be made use of being mixed with common water, to make a Saturnine Extract, which is endowed with wondered Virtues to resolve, dry, temper and refresh all the external parts any wise offended, dipping Fillets in it, and wrapping about the members after they have been dressed and fitted by the Chirurgeon; it hinders all inflammations, and assuages all swell; so that I advice the careful Surgeon which minds the good of his wounded Patients, and his Reputation, never to be without this Liquor.  
Put of this Liquor in a Dish, and pour upon it oil of ☿ made per deliquium, and immediately a salt of ♄ will precipitate itself into a very white powder, which is that improperly called the Magistery of Saturn, being to speak properly, nothing else but a very subtle Ceruse; for when the salt of the vinegar which is acid, and holds the Lead in dissolution, comes to loose this acidity wherein consists it dissolutive strength, by the action of the salt of ☿ which is lixivial, the Lead must of all necessity fall down, having nothing more to uphold it. This Precipitate must be washed to a sweetness in common water; and the last time with very good Rose water, and dried afterwards gently; it is a very fair white for Pomatums, which may also be used in Salves and Collyrie's, for it is an excellent desiccative, acting gently and inoffensively.  
To make the Cremor, Butter or Nutritum of Saturn, grinned only in a Brass mortar liquor of ♄ with oil of Olives, or Roses, putting a little of each of the substances one after the other, and stirring them nimbly and strongly together, until all be united and formed into a substance like unto Cream or butter, called Nutritum in the shops; if you make use of oil of Olives, this Lineament will be very white; but if whey or oil of Roses, it will become yellow, the acid of the liquor having in some kind resuscitated and revived the colour of the Rose, which was hidden, and as it were buried under the greeness of the oil. It is a sovereign Remedy against breaking of the skin by bruises or otherwise, Itch, Scab, inflammations of Boils, Botches, Erisipela's; for besides that it doth dry powerfully, it deads' also and mortifies the ill Ferment which is in the part, and causes all the irritations and accidents thereof; it doth wonders against burn, and to alloy the grief of hot Gouts, without giving any occasion to fear it should strike the humour in by the pretended coldness which is attributed unto it; contrariwise it may be used with confidence, since all the Remedies taken out of Lead do work by the subtlety of their parts, and resolve all superfluities; as also kill and mortify all the acidity, malignant and preternatural acrimony which causes the tension, inflammation and grief of the parts.   

To prepare the Right Magistery of ♄  
℞ ℥ ij. of Ceruse, and having made it into very small powder, put the same in a Matrass, pouring upon it ℥ vj. of the spirit of ♂ by little and little, and stir them together that the spirit may reach to the bottom; place the Matrass in B. M. and keep it there warm in digestion the space of 12 hours, than filtrate softly the dissolution, and let the filtration rest one night in a cold place, after which you will find it coagulated into white Crystals; separate the superfluous liquor, and draw the spirit in Balneo by distillation to a dry bottom, and you shall have in the bottom of your Vessel the Magistery of ♄ dissoluble in all kinds of Liquors, like unto the first which was in Crystals in respect of its virtue, which you must dry in a slow heat between two papers. This Magistery may be administered in all Diseases, wherein we have said the salt of ♄ to be good and conducible, and we shall find from it much better and quicker effects, than those we have attributed to the Salt made with vinegar; but the Dosis of it is lesle: for it sufficeth to give of this Magistery from ij. gr. to xij. Note, that the spirit of Venus which you have made use of in this Operation, drawn of again by distillation, is good yet for the same operation, and any other to which it might be employed, for it doth not loose of its action or virtue for Physical uses, nor power and efficacy for distillation and extraction of Tinctures.   

To make the Balsam of ♄  
℞ ℥ ij. of good salt of ♄, in subtle and light Crystals, and being reduced to powder, put it in a Matrass, pouring upon it ℥ iiij. of aetherial oil of Turpentine, well distilled, which commonly is called Essence; the preparation whereof we have taught above, but not of that spurious oil of Tar sold in Grocer's shops: digest these two matters in ashes in a moderate heat, and stir them five or six times a day, until the oil hath contracted a very fine read colour; than add ℥ s. of Camphire, and leave them together in digestion 24 hours, until the Camphire be dissolved and united to this excellent Balsam, which must be filtrated in a glass Funnel through a little Cotten and kept in a Viol for use. This Balsam is endowed with very great virtues, which makes it worthy of the Closet of Chemical Artists, and the practice of the most skilful Surgeons; for it cures the most inveterate Ulcers, dissolves and resolves all swell, revives and animates again starved members, cures green and new Wounds, and hinders bad accidents thereof, doth wonders in the cure of Fistula's, growing Cancer or Morphew; finally, it is one of the best and safest Remedies used at this Day by the skilfullest Germane Practitioners.   

To prepare the Spirit, yellow and read oil of the salt of ♄  
℞ lb j of salt of ♄, very subtle and crystalline, dissolve it seven times consecutively with the best distilled vinegar, and evaporate as many times; than put it in the Canicular or hottest days of the year, in a very cold Cellar to dissolve in liquor; this Liquor put in a Retort placed in a Reverberatory Furnace upon an earthen pot, cover turned upside down, having about one inch thick of sand or ashes between the bottom and Retort; fit to the neck a very capacious Recipient, the joints whereof must be luted with all possible care, and the Lute being well dried, give fire to it with the same care, circumspection and Rules of fire, as we prescribed in the distillation of the spirit of ☿, and when you shall see heavy and read drops to fall down, and that the Recipient grows clear of itself, cease the fire; there is ordinarily 20 or 24 hours required for this operation. That which after distillation is found in the Recipient, contains four several Liquors, viz. a volatile and subtle Spirit, a yellow Oil, a Phlegm, and a read Oil; make the rectification and separation thereof in a Retort very clean, in B. M. or ashes; than change the Recipient to separate the said Liquors, according to the following Notes and Direction. The volatile and aetherial spirit passeth through the neck of the Retort, without framing any veins therein; the yellow oil follows after, which frames obliqne and winding veins; wherefore as soon as this sign doth appear, the Recipient must be changed. The phlegm follows after the yellow oil, in strait and direct veins, and the read and slow oil remains in the bottom of the Retort.  
The volatile spirit of ♄ is a wondered Sudorific; wherefore it is excellent against the Plague, Madness, Palsy, Epilepsy and remainders of Apoplexy, afflicting the body or mind, and sometimes both, as also in malignant and burning Fevers and Pox; the Dosis must be from iiij. drops to xx. in Decoctions, or waters appropriated to the nature of the Disease.  
Digest the yellow oil upon calx of Gold well opened, or upon Crocus of Θ in a slow heat of the vaporous Balneo, in a circulatory Vessel Hermetically sealed, and it will become as read as blood. It is a great Arcanum or secret Remedy against all griefs of the Heart and Brain, being administered from j drop to iv. in spirit of Lillyconvally, or good Sack.  
The read Oil is a miraculous Balsam, being circulated with equal parts of oil of Camphire and tartarized spirit of Wine, the space of 15 days, after which the spirit of Wine must be drawn again in a slow heat of Balneo, and there remains a Balsamic Essence, which cures plain Wounds from one day to another, being only slightly rubbed with a Feather dipped therein, It may be made use of in the cure of all the same Diseases, to which we have said that the Balsam of ♄ did conduce; for it is the true Balsam and Mummy impregnated with the sulphur of ♄.   

Of Tin and its Chemical Preparation.  
TIN is the second Metal of the last form, and one of the lesle noble, though it hath many good qualities, both for Physic and Metallick. It is a white and soft Metal shining with a brightness mixed with some blackish gloominess, consisting of a more pure Mercury than that of the hard Metals, but softer and more volatile; it is nevertheless more fixed than that of Lead, and hath a white undigested and unripe sulphur; this Metal hath very little of salt, which is for the most part the bond and union between the Mercury and Sulphur of Bodies, whence proceeds its porosity and harshness. Hermetical Philosophers call it ♃ Jupiter, by reason of its congruity with that Plant, in the great World, and the virtual sympathy it hath by the Remedies extracted from it with the Liver and Womb, to whom it is particularly dedicated in Man the little World.  
It is not necessary for us here to repeat unnecessarily the manner of extracting the salt, and making the false and true Magistery of ♃ Jupiter, since it is the same way we have taught upon ♄. We are only to give notice, that the calx of ♃ must be Reverberated, taking it as it is already prepared for Potters to use, and that the space of two days, whereby to open it as it is fitting; otherwise very little salt will come of it. The Salt and true Magistery are specifical Remedies and singular against suffocations and fits of the Mother, which are wonderfully allayed by it, whether administered inwardly, or outwardly applied. They are also admirable Topicals for the cure of putrid, stinking, hollow, fistulous and cancerous Ulcers, and against Wolves. The Dosis inwardly taken is from j gr. to vj. in Bolus, in some Conserve of Balm, or Flowers of Penyroyal, the spirit of Elderberries, or spirit of Karabe or yellow Amber. But let the Artist be very wary, in purging those Women that have made use of this Remedy, with some gentle and convenient Purgation which irritates not the Womb; otherwise he must begin a new. Wherhfore let him have a special care, not to stir the serosity of this dangerous Animal, after it is once quieted and laid asleep by the eradiating virtue of the metallic or mineral Sulphurs'; and as he knows and is sufficiently instructed, that the Anodyne virtue proceeds from this (Mineral) Family, let him make use of purgative Remedies, and those Diuretical, etc. Diaphoretical preparations which it doth so plentifully yield, and that have neither smell nor taste, that can irritate and provoke afresh this delicate and ticklish part.   

The distillation of Tin, yielding several noble Remedies, both against internal and external Diseases.  
WE are engaged to give here the manner of an operation upon ♃ which contains several very useful Remedies, and very considerable observations, whether in respect of the work, or of the matters which are made use of, and whereby the Artist may be taught to penetrate further into the knowledge of several other and better things, whilst he is in the way towards this.  
℞ ℥ iiij. of very small filled Tin, and being mixed in a Marble mortar with ʒ xij. of corrosive sublimate Mercury, put this powder in a Retort with a very large neck, and having placed it in sand, about half an inch thick upon the bottom of the Dish that contains it, give it a convenient fire, and you shall first draw a Spirit continually smoking; than afterwards it will yield a Butter, or a kind of corrosive Icy Oil. And in the third place, the Mercury will be revivifyed or quickened again abundantly, being not longer stayed or coagulated by the spirits of those salts which have forsaken it, to work upon the body of the Tin; this done, increase the fire downwards, and give it a fire of suppression, and all the substance of ♃ will ascend in the neck of the Retort, under the form of a grey Gum very hard, so that in the bottom will remain very few read feces; reduce immediately this Gum into powder, otherwise it would quickly grow moist in the air, and put it in a Cellar upon a sheet of white Latin, being edged about, and a small gutter or mouth, by which the moistness and coolness of the Cellar having reduced it into a yellow Oil, it may run and be received in a Dish of glass or stone metal, fitted under the same to be as a Recipient. This Oil in Chirurgery is an admirable Medicine to eat up proud flesh, and the hard or thick skin of Ulcers; but the Surgeon must handle it with dexterity and judgement; for it must only be applied with a Pencil very gently, by reason of its penetrating subtlety, though it be not so corrosive as the Butter which comes forth after the Spirit; and is a true Caustick that must also be used with discretion, when applied to hinder the progress of some dangerous gangrening, and to make Issues or sudden Cauteries; as likewise to accelerate the exsoliation of Bones, and the separation of rotten parts and the Exostoses caused by Nodus' in the Pox. But there may be an excellent jovial Diaphoretical made out of this oil or Butter, dissolving it with distilled Rain-water; for as you shall be stirring, and the water shall dissolve the Salts of the corrosive Sublimate which kept the Tin in dissolution, it will immediately fall and precipitate itself in a white powder in the bottom of the Vessel, which must be dried and edulcorated, and you shall have in it no despicable Diaphoretic; which may be administered from ij. gr. to viij in Conserves, Confections or Preserves, or in appropriated Waters or Spirits, for such as are troubled with superfluous serosities, and chief in accidents and cases of the great Pox; as likewise most specially for Women troubled with slackness or too much moistness of the Womb. And as we have often said, that the Chemical Artist must be cautious not to loose or waste any of the substances he prepares; but contrariwise, must know them throughly as much as it is possible, to be capable to employ them usefully according to the virtue which is in them; he must take that read matter, which after distillation is found in the bottom of the Retort, and join it with what remains after the resolution of the Gum in a Cellar upon a leaf or plate of white Latin, which are nothing else but the sulphur and salt of the Mercury and Tin; the separation whereof he is to make by the help of distilled Rain-water, which dissolving the salt, the sulphur sinks downward, the liquor whereof is to be separated, filtrated and evaporated in salt, which dissolve again, filtrate and coagulate, and thus continued until it be clear, fair and green as an Emerald; as for the Sulphur, it must be edulcorated, dried gently, and kept for use. The Salt is diuretical and aperitive, and is administered from j gr. to iiij. in Broth or white Wine, to cleanse the Womb and those parts which have any relation to it. The Sulphur is a good Sudorific and Anodyne. The Dosis from j gr. or φ to gr. iij. in Emulsions made with the seeds of Lemon, Carduus Benedictus or holy Thistle, and white Poppy with Cordial Waters; it is a specific Remedy for Women troubled with diseases of the Mother; the Spirit always steaming, which was the first drawn, is also a very strange substance; for besides that it will not be kept in by any Vessel, without yielding continually white vapours, and without any sensible diminution of its weight or virtue; it is so active, subtle and penetrating, that it stops and pets at a stand, not only Gangrenes and Wolves, the offending parts being only rubbed with it, but even can hinder the progress and running of the Sphacelus which is a rottenness of the bones; in which Cure, it goes even beyond the water of Quicklime, whereof we have spoken, and taught the making above. Besides all what we have said, there is a Noble Preparation yet to be made with this Spirit; which is, to take as much as you will of it, and put it in a Matrass broad at the neck, and softly by little and little and by intervals pour upon it Tincture of salt ♀, immediately will rise a fermentation with several bubbles, which break with some kind of noise and smoke or steem; you must go on in pouring of this Tincture till the noise and bubbles do cease; place afterwards the Vessel in warm ashes, and the matter will turn into a coagulated substance black as pitch, to which giving a fire of sublimation, you shall have white Crystals melting as Wax, which are a very good cure of scrofulous and cancerous Ulcers, as also any ill remainders of the Pox, because they cauterize almost without pain to the very bottom of the Ulcers, and 'cause the separation of dead flesh or scar, leaving the Ulcer without malignity, which must afterwards be filled with the Balsam of Sulphur, and the Plaster of Rullandus called Diasulphuris. With this we put an end to Metals, to come to Minerals which are next kin to them.    

SECTION IV. Of half or semi Metals, and middle or mean Minerals, which come the nearest to the nature of Metals.  
WE bring in this Section those substances which follow more immediately, and have a greater affinity and correspondency with Metals, which some call semi-Metals, middle-Minerals, and sometimes also Marcassites; but this last appellation is only proper to Antimony, and not to Quicksilver; but the Quicksilver and Antimony are the matter and subject of this Section; for we will not speak of Mineral Cinnabar by itself on purpose, since we are to mention it when we come hereafter to treat of Cinnabar or Artificial Vermilion, which is a sublimation of Mercury and Sulphur, or Brimstone and Quicksilver.  

Of Quick-filver or Mercury, and its Chemical Preparation.  
MERCURY is a mineral volatile Liquor, which greedily sticks to Metals, and above all to Gold. It is also called Quick-filver, and sometimes found running and pure in Ours, but very seldom; for it is for the most part drawn by Revivification from a mineral Earth, vulgarly called Cinnabar. The choice of it is much to be heeded, because it is not equally good, but accordingly proves more or lesle useful in Chemical Operations; for Mercury may hold something of the foulness and impurity of his Matrix, which is the place of its formation and original, either by reason of the earthly Recrements and other filth which do pollute and defile it, or by reason of some impure mixture, or amalgamation and sophisticating of the Merchants who use to cell it.  
As for the choice to be made of it by reason of its original, that which grows near Ours of the most pure and noble Metals, and chief those of Gold, is to be preferred; wherefore that which comes from Spain and from the Ours of Hungary, is ever to be chosen before any other. The matters which naturally corrupt and deprave Mercury, are Arsenic, Antimony, Led and Cadmia; but there is besides an artificial Sophistication, very hard to be discovered and discerned, either by sight or weight; for it is mixed with some part of Lead or Bismuthum, squeezed through Leather, so as nothing remains behind; yet this Cheat may be discovered and found out two several ways: the first by distilling it in a Retort; for if no dregss or impurity remains in the bottom of it, it is a sign that the Quicksilver is pure; the second is by evaporating of it in a silver Spoon in open fire; for if the Mercury leaves only a yellowish or white spot, it is a sign of its purity; but if it leaves a brown, black or obscure, it is a sign of its foulness, and of being sophisticated. There are yet nevertheless some other ways of depurating it wholly, which we will place amongst the preparations of Mercury.  
The general virtues of it cannot very well be described, having not yet been sufficiently tried; for it may be said with truth, that they never were yet discovered by any to the bottom: thus much nevertheless may be said, that Mercury is an internal cleanser or Mundificative of the whole mass of the blood, and that it expels from it whatsoever the depravation of digestion and evil fermentation may have contracted and mixed in it of dangerous and hurtful humours; but particularly it cleanseth the body from the venomous infection of the Pox; kills and expels worms, advances and hastens difficult birth; but in outward applications cures all manner of Scabs and Itch, destroys all manner of Vermin, and dissolves hard swell and Tumours; hung to the neck, it is a preservative from Plague; and some are even of opinion that it may hinder Witchcraft, Charms and Incantations; finally, it may be said with much reason, that except it be Antimony, there is no substance under the Sun of so general a virtue, nor yielding so many different Remedies against all Diseases; for it supplies us with Vomitives, Purgatives, Diaphoreticks, Lenitives, as it will appear when we come to particularise the several descriptions, and the several processes and Operations incident to the preparation thereof. But we must advertise our Artist, that Quicksilver is called ♀ Mercury, by reason of the correspondence which is between that Planet and this semi-Metal; and that as Mercury is an inconstant and changing Planet, so likewise this Mineral makes himself all to all, hot with the hot, cold with the cold substances, and so of the rest. Some give it the Rule of, and place it over the Lungs; and others subject unto it the inferior Ventricle, as also the uppermost or whole belly: but I hold of a more universal Opinion, and say, that I believe Mercury universally to work upon all man's body, and to drive away generally all Diseases and griefs from it, of what nature soever; since we see that Remedies taken from Mercury are a cure of Leprosy and Pox, which are diseases and a corruption of the whole substance. I leave nevertheless those that will descent from me, in the freedom of their Judgement.  
The general preparations made upon Mercury, are, Purification, Calcination, Precipitation, Sublimation, Distillation, Extraction, Liquation, Resolution into Liquor, and Salification. We will give some Examples of the Work which all these general Operations do require, that they may be a Model and Introduction to the Artist, to possess the whole Harvest of Remedies, which Mercury will yield to such as will take the pains to examine and anatomize it; for as it is a Proteus which takes all sorts of forms, and changes himself into all manner of colours, it would never be done, if we would heap here all the observations, and relate all the particulars, which both by reading and our practice we have discovered in the Nature of this Mineral.   

The purification of Mercury.  
WE shall not spend time here in making a long description of all the Lotions, Frixions and Agirations, with which some have pretended to cleanse and purify Mercury of its natural impurities, and the spots of sophistication, because they are not the right means to deprive it of its filth and foulness; it will suffice only if we show the manner of Revivifying and Extracting it from artificial Cinnabar by the help of Filing of Iron, since it is the surest way for obtaining very pure and clean Mercury to use afterwards towards all such preparations as the Artist will take in hand.   

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

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

To make the Precipitate of Mercury without addition.  
℞ A double Vessel called Infernus, a Hell by Artists, flat and broad in the bottom, and throw in it ij. iij. or iiij. ℥ of Mercury, purified and cleansed in the manner by us delivered above; stop the upper part of it with a single paper, and place it in sand very equally in its poise or Equilibrium, so as the Mercury may be evenly spread upon the whole surface of the bottom of the Vessel, lying no thicker in one part than in the other, that the fire might equally work upon the whole substance of the Mercury at the same time. Begin your fire at first slowly, and increase by degrees until the whole Mercury be changed, calcined or precipitated into a read powder as mineral Cinnabar, very bright, shining and sparkling to the eye. Digest it the space of three weeks with alkohol of Wine, and kindle it seven times over, by which the concoction and fixation of it will be perfected; it is an universal Mercurial Remedy against all Agues, but particularly a true Specific against the Pox which it radically cures, if it be administered seven times to the Patient to provoke sweeting, for it is an infallible Sudorific; it kills also the worms in the stomach, and those which are generated in the Guts and Intestines. The Dosis must be from ij. gr. to viij. in some Conserve, Confection or Cordial Extract; the Patient must keep his bed when he uses it, and must take care of being well covered, expecting patiently till the sweeting comes, which will not fail to bring along with it the hoped for and desired success. But the Artist must not grow faint and weary in this operation though it be long and tedious; he must besides take care to rule the fire with judgement and discretion; otherwise he will be put often to begin anew, because if there be any fault in ordering well the fire, the Vessel will break. This Operation is slow and tedious by reason of its length, for it cannot be perfected under six weeks, yea two, three or four months, according as the Artist shall take care to prepare ill or well his Mercury, and govern well his fire with care and assiduity.   

To make the Solar or Lunar Precipitate.  
THere is no need here to repeat any thing of the manner of the Vessel: we only advice our Artist to note that he may make this operation, as also the foregoing in a plain Matrass, without making use of a Hell: for that kind of Vessel being rare, it would put a needless difficulty and rub upon the Work; Yet let the Matrass however be flat and plain in the bottom, and stopped in the mouth only with a wooden pin which may easily be taken away, to throw down again the Mercury which may have raised its self by sublimating into the neck of the Vessel. We have no more to do here than to add the Doses of the Metals which are intended to be added to the Mercury, to communicate unto it some other virtue than that it hath already from itself: for as we have said, there may be gold or silver added, or both together▪ If it be gold alone, after it hath been three times purged by Antimony, it must be made into an Amalgam with viij. p. of Mercury purified, and this Amalgam put in the Vessel and there concocted, as hath been said above. If it be silver, it may be mixed ij. p. upon viij. but let it be very pure silver of Capel made in leaves or very subtle calx, that it may be the better amalgamed and incorporated with the Mercury, and than concoct it in the Vessel, as hath been said; and if the Artist hath any desire to communicate to the Mercury the properties of both Luminaries, he shall make his Amalgam with i p. of gold, and ij. p. of silver, melted with vj. p. of very pure and clean Regulus of Antimony, with seven. p. of purified Meerury, to be concocted according to Art The Solar Precipirate is given from j gr. to vj. in the same Vehicles and Ingredients we have already said, and for the same Diseases; except that it hath this virtue more, to be specificated for strengthening and corroborating the Heart, and to drive away all weaknesses and griefs from it. The Lunar Precipitate is also as it were specificated, and destinated to the Head, besides the general virtues it hath of itself; But neither of them are to be compared in strength or virtue to the last, which receives a mixture of Gold, Silver, Antomony and Mercury; for it is an universal Remedy and a kind of true Panacea: insomuch, that one of the most learned and most renowned amongst Chemical Authors, doth not think amiss to give it the name of Physical Gold, or Medicorum aurum, and the comfort of Patients. The Dosis of the Lunar Precipitate is from j gr. to xij. They that will make use of it also for a Preventive of Diseases, when they find themselves loaded and filled with impure serosities, proceeding from superfluities of digestion, may take vj. gr. thereof fasting, and keep themselves well covered to expect sweat; and than after having taken a good Broth or Biscuit dipped in Wine, shall 'cause their sweat to be well wiped of, keeping their Chamber for that whole day; after which they will find themselves so altered and so much lighter, that they may be half better disposed for all functions. This much we had to say concerning these Precipitates without addition of Salts and Spirits: but as their preparation is long and tedious, and that all Artists are not capable or fitted for these high Operations, it is necessary we should give a description of some other Precipitates of Mercury, which may be made in less time, and never fail. It is true, that their virtue is neither so great, nor so extensive; they may in a manner be substituted to the foregoing, provided their Dosis be regulated with more circumspection, and the use thereof duplicated and more often reiterated.   

To make a very excellent fix Precipitate.  
℞ ℥ iij. of purified Mercury, ℥ ij. of yellow Brimstone, ℥ j ss. of Armoniac salt very pure: mix and pound all in a Marble mortar so long that none of the Mercury will more appear, though being rubbed on the palm of the hand; this mixture put in a Viol or Matrass in sand and give it a sublimatory fire; the sublimation being ended break the Vessel, and separate cleanly the sublimed matter, and pound it again, and mix with the matter left in the bottom of the Vessel; than begin to sublimate again, and thus do four times: but at the fourth time, give it a good fire towards the end, until the bottom of the Matrass or Viol. grows read hot; wherefore the Artist must leave lesle sand in the bottom of the pan than at other times; the matter being cooled, keep that you shall find in the bottom of the Vessel, and preserve it as a very good Medicament, having the virtue to expel from the body sound or sick, all what may be noxious to it, by sensible or insensible transpiration; it is given from four gr. to twenty in Treacle, or extract of Iuniper berries.   

To make the Precipitate called Arcanum Corallinum.  
℞ ℥ iij. of purified Mercury, and having put it in a Matrass, pour upon it ℥ iiij. φ. of spirit of Niter, and therein dissolve it in a slow heat of ashes, and being all dissolved, put the Vessel in sand under a Chimney; but let the neck of the Matrass be short, and cut away to facilitate the vapouring of the spirit; give it a gradual fire until the Mercury be dry, than cease the fire, and let the Matrass grow cold; if it be shivered or broken, draw the mass in it again and bray it in a Marble mortar; than pour the powder in a new Matrass: but if the first be yet whole, you may use it to go on in your operation; for you have no more to do, than to pour again as much spirit of Niter as before in one of the said Vessels, and put it in ashes to digest until the mass or powder be dissolved; than place it again in sand, and evaporate the spirit of Niter to a dry bottom; this done, begin again for the third time with as much spirit of Niter, and place the Vessel in sand after dissolution; and when you perceive all the spirit to be vapoured away, increase the fire, and go on until you find the Mercury to be changed into a read powder; but if you will be more secure of your work, bray the mass you shall find in the Matrass after the evaporating of the spirit of Niter in a Marble mortar, and put the powder in a Crucible, which by degrees you shall bring to be read hot in an open fire, and when you see your powder of a fine read coralline colour, and insipid or tastelesse, than take of the Crucible from the fire, and let the powder cool, which afterwards put in a Marble mortar, and moisten it with alkoholized spirit of Wine, poured on it till it swims over half a finger high; than giving fire to it, exhale it to a dry bottom, thus continuing and repeating seven times, and than may you be sure to have a purgative Precipitate capable of working many noble effects, and without any corrosion. The Dosis must be from ij. gr. to x. in purgative Extracts, or a little of the mass of Angelic Pills. It is a real and true Arcanum against the Pox and all its dependences and evil symptoms: for it equally and universally purges away all what is hurtful & superfluous; wherefore it is good against Dropsy, Gout, venomous Plague, Agues, and to resolve Fluxions and Catarrhs. As for outward applications, no Remedy surpasses it for the cure of malignant and corrosive Ulcers; it is also very good against Itch, Scabs and all eruptions in the skin, if ʒ j or ℈ ij. be mixed in Pomatum, and the pulses in the Head, Wrist and Feet be rubbed or anointed therewith.  
We shall not loose time here in describing the several white, red, scarlet, yellow, green Precipitates, and of several other colours which are made with spirit of Niter, aqua Regalis, aqua fortis, spirit of Salt and other Resolvers, and precipitated with spirit of Salt, Sea-water, spirit of Urine, Urine, Tincture of Smiris or Emrill stone and many other substances, because such operations are of little Art, and require little of observation: wherefore we refer the Artist to his own already acquired experience or the reading of such Authors as have fully treated of Mercury, being contented to have taught what is noblest and most worthy of observation in the preparation of Precipitates.   

The sublimation of Mercury.  
THis word Sublimation may generally be taken for all kind of Distillation, since it denotes and signifies nothing else but the raising up of vapours and exhalations of the matters upward: but here it is taken in somewhat a stricter sense; for it signifies nothing else but the raising or lifting up of the body of Mercury into vapours or exhalations, which are thickened and condensated upwards in a hard and compact body, sticking to the sides of the Vessels in which the Mercury is put after it is dissolved, mixed, or as it were united with Salts, Spirits of Brimstone; we will give some few examples of this Work, that our Artist may punctually and knowingly put it in practice with all requisite and due observations.   

To make the Corrosive Sublimate.  
℞ lb ss. of purified Mercury, dissolve it in a Matrass with ʒ iiij. of good aqua fortis, than put it in sand, and softly evaporate away the aqua fortis to a dry bottom; than cease the fire, and breaking the Vessels after they be cold, weigh the mass, and having brayed it in a Marble mortar with an equal weight of Vitriol, calcined to whiteness, and as much desiccated salt, put the mixture in a Cucurbite or Matrass, or between two earthen pots, and place either of these which you will use in sand near the bottom plate; if it be a Cucurbite, let it be low and cover it with its Head; if a Matrass, stop it with paper only; and if two earthen pots, let the uppermost which is turned the bottom upwards, have a hole in the middle of it, to evaporate the moisture of the Salts, and when you see white and dry vapours come away through the same, stop it also with paper: give it a sublimatory fire by degrees, until all the substance of the Mercury be ascended, which will coagulate into a crystalline matter to the top of the Vessels, containing in itself many of the corrosive spirits of the salts you have made use of; if you will have a very pure and very corrosive Sublimate, bray that which is sublimated with ℥ xij. more of desiccated salt, and ℥ iiij. of Vitriol calcined to redness, and sublime it for the second time, and continued to the third with as much desiccated salt without addition of Vitriol; and for the last, bray it alone again and sublimate in sand in a Viol or Matrass, and so shall you have a sublimate Corrosive Mercury very pure, and fit not only to prepare with it the sublimated sweat Mercury, but to serve also for many noble Chemical Preparations; the true Artist must have a care to prepare himself the corrosive sublimate which he intends to use, not trusting to that which is sold at the Grocers, which hath yet too much of impurity, and is sometimes mixed with Arsenical substances, because they are cheap in those places where those sublimates are want to be prepared in quantity: yet nevertheless there are marks to know and choose the same, which are a stinking arsenical smell, cleaving strongly to the fingers if you do but touch it, and moreover, the revivification of it; But it is as soon done to prepare it yourself, to avoid all suspicion; wherefore my advice to the Artist is, not to trust at all to that which is bought.   

To prepare the Mercury dulcis, or sweet Sublimate.  
BEfore we deliver any thing of the manner of the work of this Operation, we must as much as lies in our power, give to understand how the sweetening of Corrosives is made, that the Artist may the better ratiocinate upon his own work, and so avoid all error, or at lest know when he commits any, how to satisfy himself and others in the reason thereof. To this end he must consider, that what causes the Mercury to become corrosive, which of his nature is not, are the spirits of Salt, Vitriol and Niter, employed for the mortification and sublimation of the same: Now as long as those spirits remain united to the substance of the Mercury, they are capable and in power to act by reason of their acrimony; but if any thing is offered to corrode and work upon them which doth glut and enervate the same, than they loose that great activity they had, and leave the Mercury insipid, as it was before these spirits were united to it. This evidently appears by the revivification of a corrosive Sublimate, with quicklime and salt ☿. for these salts which are Alkaly's do kill and altar the nature of the other salts which are acid, sharp and corrosive, and so these spirits not being able longer to detain the Mercury, it is raised by the action of fire, and returns to its first nature of flowing and insipid quicksilver in the Recipient: But it is otherwise in sublimation: for the acrimony of these spiritualised and recorporified salts with Mercury, spend most part of the extent of their activity upon the quick Mercury, which is added to the corrosive sublimate; for they work upon to mortify and dead it, but in so doing they dead themselves; and if any portion be yet left behind, the fire doth make an end of driving it away by its action, during the three sublimations which commonly are made use of for the sweetening of it totally, and it is thus performed.  
℞ ℥ xij. of a corrosive sublimate, bray it in a Marble mortar, and when it is turned to powder, add to it by little and little ʒ viij. of purified Mercury; stir and triturate these together until the Mercury be so deadened and mortified, that no living atom of it more doth appear; put the powder in a Viol or Matrasse in sand, with a thumbs thickness of sand only under the Vessel, and give it a gradual fire the space of ten hours, or until the Artist sees that the Mercury is wholly ascended and sublimated in the top of the Vessel; than ceasing the fire let your Vessel cool, and break it, to take the Mercury which you shall find sublimated in a compacted and close crystalline substance, that hath almost already lost its corrosive faculty, for the reasons before alleged. Bray it and sublimate again for the second time; and thus continued a third, and than shall you have that they call Mercurius dulcis, or sweet Mercury, sweet Sublimate, the sweet and mitigated Eagle, the tamed Dragon, which is that famous Panchymagog of Quercetanus; to be short, it is so known a Remedy, that it is vain to say it is good against all Venereal Diseases, and safely given to kill worms in small Children: The Dosis is from gr. iiij. to ʒ ss. without any danger but of provoking salivation, which it doth easily: but in case it be mixed with Purgatives, as Electuaries, Jellies or Extracts, and the Patient doth take a clear Broth, or a glass of Ptisan after he hath swallowed it, he needs not be any more in fear of this great accident. But the Artist must note, that neither Mercury, nor any of its preparations aught to be brayed in mortars, or with pestles of metal, because it easily sticks too and incorporates with metals. The Opiates or Electuaries also wherein is put the Mercury, must not be chewed; but they must be swallowed in Bolus with wafel Bread, or some Conserve of Sweetmeats, that none may remain in the mouth or throat, because it is the occasional cause of Salivation; it is also for the same reason that Mercurial Remedies aught not to be dissolved nor mingled with Liquors to give the Patients to drink, because by reason of their weight they ordinarily remain in the bottom of the Cup, or their substance sticks and cleaves to the mouth, throat or along the gullet, and so causes salivation.   

To sublimate Cinnabar, or Vermilion.  
WE have deferred above to speak of mineral Cinnabar, with a purpose to mention it in this place: and to satisfy the Artificers mind upon this subject, he must know that mineral Cinnabar is nothing else than Mercury or Quicksilver, raised and sublimated by internal heat of the Earth in mines, which made a portion of mineral and embryonated Sulphur, predominant in the same mine to ascend with it: and according to the purity of the earth, stone, sand or place where this mercury and sulphur are sublimated and coagulated into Cinnabar; this mixed is also more or less pure, as it appears by the mineral Cinnabar of Corinthia, which is much purer, and abounds much more in Quicksilver than that of Hungary, which is much earthlier, and hath more of stones and sands than of mercury and sulphur, and the mercury which may be extracted out of this Cinnabar, is not much purer than that which may be extracted from artificial Cinnabar, unless out of this respect, that it proceeds from places which abound with golden Ours: but if our Artist can recover none, let him not be put to a stand therefore, provided he takes care to purify it well; and the first purification is made by sublimation with common sulphur or Brimstone, in this manner.  
℞ lb ss. of sulphur or Brimstone, and with a moderate fire melt it in a well glazed earthen pan, and when it is all well melted, squeeze ℥ x. of ordinary Quicksilver through a Chamoy Leather to separate the parts of it, and make as it were a very subtle Rain thereof, which immediately and suddenly mingle with a wooden pestle and incorporate to the melted Brimstone, and thus continued squeezing the mercury and agitating, until it be all swallowed by the Brimstone; which being grown cold will turn to a black mass, which bray and reduce to powder between two earthen pots, exactly luted together mouth to mouth, the uppermost having a hole in the middle of the bigness of a Quill, place this pot upon two bars of Iron, and give it a circular fire, beginning under the bats by degrees, and stop the upper hole of the pot with a little piece of paper, and when you perceive the exhaling vapour to begin to turn from yellow to read sticking to the paper, than stop it more exactly, and give it a good strong fire for the space of three or four hours, than cease and let the Vessels cool, and you shall find in your pot the Mercury sublimated into a read and shining lump or mass, which is that we call artificial Cinnabar; which may be used for a Perfume to provoke the fluxing of the mouth, for it is not fit to be used internally; but we have described it, that the Artist may better conceive the manner and action of the sublimation made naturally in the earth, and to teach him how to work and prepare it with Sulphur, as well as with Salts.   

To prepare the silvered and pearled flowers of Mercury.  
ALthough this Operation be long and laborious, it deserves nevertheless our teaching, not only by reason of the virtue of these mercurial Flowers, but also chief in respect of the modus faciendi, which is sufficient to instruct an Artist, and lead him to that patience which is required in the preparation of those Arcana's which are extracted from Mercury, so often recommended by our incomparable Paracelsus.  
To peform than this Operation, ℞ first lb j of common salt, and as much Saltpetre, which being reduced to a powder, mix with lb vj. of common Bolus also in powder, and by little and little moisten this mixture to knead and reduce it to a mass or lump, of a fitting consistency to frame Pellers therewith, which must be very well dried either in the Sun, or upon an Oven where bread is daily baked. Out of these must be extracted an aqua Regalis, after the method and way we shall teach in the Chapter of Salts. Dissolve ℥ x. of well purified Mercury in lb j of this Regal water, and draw of again the two parts thereof, or three in ashes, and the Vessel being cold, take away the Limbeck or still Head, and you will find the Mercury changed into Crystals in the bottom of the Cucurbite, which separate from the Liquor and edulcorate; than put it in a double or digesting Vessel, and pour upon it tartarized spirit of Wine three fingers high; than luting it very exactly, put it in putrefaction in B. M. the space of 40 days, which is a Philosophical month. This time being expired, pour all what is in the Vessel into a Retort, and place it in sand; than draw of the spirit of Wine with a very slow heat, and when it is all come over the Helm, increase the fire for four or five hours, and some part of the Mercury will sublimate itself, and the other part remain in the bottom of the Retort in the form of a read Precipitate; break the Vessel and join these two substances together, braying them in a Marble mortar, and the powder thereof put in a Matrass, pouring upon it very good distilled vinegar two fingers high; put this Matrass in digestion in B. M. or in sand or ashes, and give it a gradual fire 24 hours, or until the substance of this Sublimare or Precipitate be dissolved, which filtrate warm in a glass Vessel very clean, and the Menstruum will immediately grow clear, and the substance of the Mercury coagulate into Flowers, which resemble white, flat and shining silk, cotton or flakes of snow, in colour as fair-shining and well polished silver: separate these Flowers with a silver-spoon, and put them to dry upon filtrating paper fourfold doubled, without pressing or crushing them, that in drying they loose not their lustre and beauty. Continued the same dissolution with fresh Vinegar in the remaining matter, than filtrare and coagulate until it be all converted to Flowers, which are a very excellent purgative Remedy against all Venereal Diseases, Worms, intermittent Fevers, Leprosy, and all manner of Scabs and Itch; The Dosis is from ij. to viij. grains; they must be reduced to Pills with extract of Liquorish to administer so to the Patient, giving to drink over it a glass of some Decoction appropriated to the Disease, or prescribing a Broth to be taken immediately.   

The distillation of Mercury.  
ALmost all Authors put the distillation of Butter of Antitimony in the same rank and order as that of Mercury, but with very little ground and reason: for though the corrosive Sublimate be made use of in this distillation, the butter which proceeds from it. is nothing else but a dissolved and depurated Antimony by the saline Spirits, which had coagulated the Mercury into Sublimate; but that which invincibly proves and makes good this truth, is, that when Antimony is deprived of his saline spirits by affusion of water, it turns to a precipitate or powder, which is easily converted again into Regulus by fusion with a little of Bohemian-tartar, and that the Sublimate also returns into quick Mercury if the butter be made with Regulus, or is sublimated into Cinnabar, if it be done with crude Antimony, because it hath yet in its self its gross and external sulphur. But here our intention is only to treat of the distillation of Quicksilver not prepared before, for after preparation, and teach to extract from it several noble Remedies, which are used for the cure of the most stubborn, obstinate, and radicated Diseases.   

The distillation of spirit of Mercury without addition.  
THis Operation is harder than the following, because the parts of the quicksilver are not discontinued in it, nor opened by the temperation or addition of salts or spirits, and moreover hath received yet no impression from their mixture, which is the cause that many do set a greater value upon this Spirit than upon on the following, and attribute unto it more virtue and efficacy; it is thus performed.  
First, You must have a Furnace on which a Crucible must be placed, so as to rise half a foot above the grate of it, upon this Crucible lute an earthen stone Cucurbite of one foot and a half high, opened in the top and bottom equally, in the bottom to receive the sides of the Crucible within, and in the top, to he fitted for a great and capacious glass still-Head, there must also be a small hole of two inches square above the side to which the Crucible is joined, having a very exact stopple fitted to it, that by the same the Mercury may be thrown into the Crucible: the joints both of the Crucible and Cucurbite where they meet in the bottom must be exactly luted, with a Lute not subject to crack, and the joints of the Cucurbite and still-Head with a bladder & whites of Eggs; this done, give your fire gently so as to heat your Vessels by degrees, and increase it until the bottom of the Crucible be turned read; than, having at hand purified Mercury, pour about ʒij. at every time into the Crucible, by the square hole of the Cucurbite, which stop without delay, & the Mercury will pass through the Helm in vapours, which partly will turn again into the body of flowing Mercury, and partly into a clear Liquor, but in small quantity, proceed thus pouring and putting new Mercury, until you have enough of this Spirit for your use. Note, that you may change the Recipient and substitute another in the place to take away from it the distilled Liquor, and separate the quicksilver to put in your distillation, being as good as the other that never was yet used. Rectify this spirit in Balneo M. or ashes, and keep for use. It is a searcher, penetrating through all the body, and driving away all impurities from it, either by sensible or undiscernible transpiration, and chief by sweats. The malignant and foul Ulcers may also be washed with it, chief those that proceed from the venom and infection of the Pox; we shall make a more exact application of the same again, after we have delivered the description of the two following Spirits.   

To prepare the white and Diaphoretical spirit of Mercury.  
ALthough some give the name of Oil to these Preparations, it is improperly, since nothing can lawfully be called Oil but what is fat and inflammable, but not any aqueous substance; for which cause we have rather chosen to keep the name of Spirit, as best expressing the nature of the thing; this Spirit is thus prepared.  
Take lb ij. of prepared corrosive Sublimate, such as we have taught to make above; reduce it to a very subtle powder upon a Marble stone, and mix it with three times as much read clay, and knead or work it with a little of distilled Rain-water into a lump, whereof you may make pellets fit to pass through the neck of a Retort; 'cause them wholly to dry in the shade, and than put them into the Retort, to which, after you have placed it in sand, fit a capacious and well luted Recipient: but Note, that the neck of the Retort must be above an inch diameter in the mouth, both to give way to the pellets to pass, and also to facilitate the success of the operation, which would be endangered, if the matter by sublimation did stop the neck of the Retort before all the aqueous and watery vapours are come forth, which might 'cause the Retort and perhaps also the Recipient to break. The Lute being very dry, give it a gradual fire the space of two or three hours, and there will come forth an excellent Spirit, which put by itself; and if any Mercury be sublimated, incorporate and work it again with new read Clay, and proceed as before, until you have turned all this Sublimate into Spirit, which mix altogether, than rectify and keep for use in a well stopped Viol; the Virtues and Dosis we will deliver in the following Preparation.   

To make the read and Diaphoretical spirit of Mercury.  
THis Spirit being of more toil in the preparation than the former, so hath it also much more of virtue; and I say, that in case there should be any danger in the use of these Remedies, there should be much lesle even however in this whereof we are about now to teach the preparation, because the ♂. or Iron which is made use of doth abate and slacken very much the acrimony and sharpness of the spirits of the Sublimate: but there is no doubt at all to be made for the safe use and goodness of these excellent Medicines, which are corrected by fire and given in so small a Dosis, by reason of their subtle and quick penetration, so as no body aught to fear the effects thereof, which can be but useful and commendable. It is thus performed.  
℞ lb j of good corrosive Sublimate, and as much of Filing of Needles very pure, clean and small; grinned the Sublimate very well, than add the Filing to it, and this mixture put in a Cellar or some other cool place upon a glass Table, that hath an edge and a small Conduit in it, under which a Dish is to be placed, that shall receive a yellow Liquor proceeding from the dissolution of these two substances, which you are to preserve carefully; and when it is all done, take the remainder, and having put it in a glass Cucurbite, pour upon it distilled Rain-water half a foot high to draw the salt thereof; digest it in ashes, and stir often the matter, and after three days filtrate the dissolution and evaporate into salt, which dissolve; again filtrate, evaporate and crystallise until it be very pure, than dry it and make it into powder, which mingle with the yellow Liquor kept before, and it will grow as read as Saffron; pour it all into a low glass Cucurbite, upon which fit a still-Head with a short and big Nose, to which having fitted a proportionate Recipient, and luted the joints, make the distillation in sand, giving fire by degrees; there will come forth first a phlegm, and when you see that yellow vapours begin to appear, change your Recipient and increase the fire, and this yellow vapour will condensate itself into a read Liquor, which will partly fall into the Recipient, and the remainder which will be too thick, shall stick to the body and Nose of the Limbeck; this done, let the Vessels cool, and take away the still-Head, to which with the phlegm that came forth at first from the sides and brims of the Cucurbite, where some part of this read substance is stuck fast, pour again upon its own Caput Mortuum in the bottom of the Cucurbite, in case it be not broken, if so, than take another: but leave what is in the Limbeck and its Nose, because after you shall have luted the Vessels and begun your fire to reiterate the distillation, as soon as the Limbeck feels the hear, and that the vapours begin to ascend, that which is in the still-Head will resolve itself into Liquor, and flow in the Recipient; as soon as all the read Liquor is ascended and come over the Helm, change your Recipient to increase the phlegm, after which more read Liquor will yet ascend, which receive by itself and join to the other; reiterate these distillations and cohobations until no more of read Liquor will ascend. Than put it all in a double or circulatory Vessel, and pour upon it alkohol of Wine three fingers high; digest and circulate it in a vaporous Balneo the space of three weeks; after which take away the Blind-head, and put a still in lieu of it, and draw of the spirit of Wine in the gentle heat of B. M. keeping the read Spirit remaining in a strong Viol well stopped, as one of the best Remedies prepared from Mercury. Both these Spirits are of a very great and commendable use in Physic; but that which is read, is yet much more to be esteemed, and above any of the other. All of them do equally expel and drive away by sweat whatsoever may be hurtful or offensive to the body, and disturb the oeconomy of life and health; they cure also several Diseases, upon which other Remedies could have no power. It may be truly said that these Spirits, but chief the read, are the true Specificks against inveterate Pocks, which may be tried by their use: for the pustles or pimples vanish away of themselves, the Nodus 's and hardnesses insensibly decay; night-pains and aches do cease, and the putrid, noisome and open Ulcers are cleansed and consolidated without application of any external Remedy. The Dosis must be from j drop to iv. at the most in Theriacal water, or Camphyred Theriacal Spirit, spirit of Life of Paracelsus, spirit of Guajacum, spirit of Diatrion, or mixtum simplex of the same Paracelsus, or even in Tincture of Sassafras and China Root made with white Wine. I doubt not but most who shall read this, may be of a different sentiment from mine; believing that I produce impossibilities upon the Stage of Chemistry, and follow the tract of all the rest, by attributing so many virtues to the preparations of Mercury turned into Spirit; but I am not at all amazed at it; for those who pass this Censure and Judgement cannot certainly be acquainted with the subtle and fermentaive action of Mercury, and with those Remedies it yields. What change and alteration doth it not produce in man's body being only applied outwardly in Frictions, Perfumes and Plasters? What doth it not perform in Baths? What strange effects doth it not produce in Pills? and all this whilst yet cloyed with a Body, or only altered by the intervention of salts and spirits; What than may not be hoped from it, when it is brought to a further digestion, and turned to a liquid spirituous substance which may be mixed with potable Liquors! for than it is capable to be volatilised by natural heat, and its virtue brought from the Centre to the Circumference, and so penetrates all parts and carries along with it by sweat, whatsoever impurities and evil humours it meets with, whether a matter ripe for Diseases, or only a superfluity of digestions. But to stop the mouths of the Detractors and obstinate unbelievers, I find myself obliged to relate here the History of a Person eminent both in condition and place, who is yet living; having been actually blind in former time, and now cured by a Mercurial Remedy, yet in powder, and not brought to the perfection of a Spirit; and that which is more to be considered in this cure, is, that there was no other Remedy used but of one grain and half of this prepared Mercury blown with a Quill in the Nostrils, which in a very short time did produce surprising effects! for his Head swelled in an extraordinary manner; than did he spit, drivel, shed tears, blow his Nose, sneeze, vomit, piss, had copious and large stools, & sweated likewise, and all this in less than eight hours; after which those violent symptoms did cease, and relent by degrees. But that which is more wondered, is, that the very next day he began to see, though somewhat confusedly, and from day to day after that, began to distinguish objects, and finally was totally cured, and enjoys joys now one of the best and steadiest eye-sights a man can have, and since that hath performed many remarkable services to the Crown of France. The same Person which cured him, did also cure the most desperate Pocks with the fame Remedy, given in the same quantity, and blown in the Nostrils. Where is now (I beseech you) that Medicine that shall produce the like effects, even at a great distance? This Relation is so true, that to justify it, I can produce many a witness of Credit and Repute; wherefore I think no body shall judge it more strange, that I should attribute to the foregoing preparations, virtues and effects of far inferior difficulty and worth; which makes me conclude here in a profound admiration of the supreme Wisdom, and with scorn of human ignorance, saying, That the age of Man is too short to go through the exact Anatomy of Mercury, and draw all the noble Remedies which God and Nature have placed in this Heteroclit and neutral Mixed, which hath not its like in all created substances or sublunary Being's.   

To make a sweet Oil of Mercury.  
WE have yet two distinctions more of Mercury to describe, because the processes of it are differing from the rest, and the Menstruums also, that our Artist thereby may the better be informed, and more exactly conceive whatsoever the most learned and experimented amongst ancient Writers have left upon Record, for the preparation of the great Arcana's. The first is made thus.  
℞ q. v. of corrosive Sublimate made with Salt, Vitriol and Saltpetre, and thrice sublimated with new Vitriol, and salt that hath been in fluxion or fusion, and taking at every time, half of the Caput Mortuum remaining after sublimation, and half of new matter. Put this Sublimate in subtle powder, and pour upon it very good distilled Vinegar three fingers high; digest and dissolve them together; than separate the dissolution, and reaffund new Vinegar, thus continuing until all the Sublimate be dissolved; put all these dissolutions in a Cucurbite, and draw of the Menstruum again in a sand-fire, well graduated to a dry bottom: than take of the matter, and having put it in a double digesting Glass, pour upon it spirit of Wine very much alkoholized; stop the Glass with its Blindhead, and lute it exactly, than put it in digestion in a vaporous Balneo the space of three weeks, or until the matter be opened and becomes viscuous and clammy: than draw of the spirit of Wine in a heat proportionate to its nature: this done, put the Vessel in sand, and distil it with the highest degree of fire which it is capable to receive, and at last it will yield a liquor as white as milk: cohobate that which is come forth upon the matter remaining in the bottom, and reiterate the distillation and you shall have a sweet and fragrant Oil, voided of all corrosive quality. They that know the action and reaction of Salts and Spirits, shall not find this change from corrosive to sweet impossible: for these mixtures, these actions, these digestions, these dissolutions and distillations, do produce new beings, which the Artist should never have hoped for, as very well saith the most profound Philosopher and Physician Van Helmont. Distillatio parit novum ens.  
This Oil or Liquor cures all internal Ulcers, and drives away by sweat all impurities which are the spring of Diseases; above all, it is an admirable Specific against Ulcers in the Throat, those of the Reins and the Bladder. The Dosis may be from j drop to three in some appropriated Liquor. But if the Artist will perfect a true Magistery or Elixir of Mercury, let him digest the calx of Gold well opened in this Oil, during the space of six whole weeks in a circulatory Vessel, and he will have an inestimable Remedy, much exalted in Virtue, and the Dosis whereof exceeds not from half a grain to two for the most.   

To prepare the Astrum Mercurij, or star of Mercury.  
℞ lb j ss. of quick Mercury, seven times sublimated with salt, Saltpetre and Vitriol, and as many times revivified with quicklime, put it in a Cucurbite, and pour upon it ℥ xij. of very good spirit of Niter; cover the Cucurbite with its Blindhead, and let them dissolve in the slow heat of ashes, if need be, or place the Cucurbite in sand after the total dissolution of the Mercury, and draw the spirit from it to a dry bottom: than reduce to powder the remaining lump on a Marble mortar; this powder put in a new Cucurbite, pour upon it very good Vinegar four inches high, cover the Cucurbite with its Blindhead, and put it in sand, let the matter digest and boil the space of 24 hours, than taking of the Blindhead, put a still in the place, and draw of the Vinegar to a dry bottom, and thus draw it three times; Beaten the lump to powder, and distil seven times upon it distilled Rain-water, or so long till the lump hath no taste of the vinegar left at all; than beaten it again to powder, and put it to digest, for the last time in a double Vessel, with its equal weight of true alkohol of Wine; cover it with the Blindhead, and being well luted, place it in a vaporous Balneo with shred straw, and so digest it during six weeks in an equal and continued heat. This done, pour all the matter into a Retort, and distil it in ashes mingled with sand in a graduate heat, until even by increasing of the fire nothing more will come forth; open the Vessels after they are cooled, and pour what you find in the Recipient into a Cucurbite; draw of the spirit of Wine in a slow heat of B. M. and you shall find in the bottom of the Vessel an Oil or precious Liquor of a very good smell, which is called Astrum Mercurij, or the star of Mercury, not to be given to sick persons but from j drop to iij. in appropriated Liquors. We shall relate the virtues of it after we have taught the extraction of salt of Mercury, because it hath the same proprieties and efficacy.   

To make the Salt of Mercury.  
TAke what was left after the distillation of astrum Mercurij, put it in a double Vessel, and pour upon it some of the said astrum or star of Mercury; put them together in digestion in ashes to a moderate heat the space of three days, after which separate the extraction by decantation, that no impurity may go along with it, pour upon it a good quantity of very subtle spirit of Wine, circulate them together the space of xv. days in a well stopped Vessel, after that draw of the spirit of Wine in B. M. and cause the Oil to ascend in ashes, and you shall have the precious salt of Mercury in the bottom of the Vessel; keep both these excellent and noble Remedies for use. They are both a very secret and specific Remedy to cleanse, and rectify the whole mass of the blood: upon which account they are wondered for the cure of Leprosy and Pocks. They also cure all manner of never so malignant and inveterate Ulcers; and carry away and cleanse easily all manner of scurf in the Head, scab and itch; the Dosis of the Salt is equal with that of the Liquor. Their working is by transpiration and sweat. We will not speak of the Liquation or Resolution of Mercury, though we did promise' above to give an Example thereof, because this operation hath an affinity and dependence on the two last distillations by us described: wherefore nothing remains for us to treat of, but of the Extraction whereby the sulphur of Mercury may be procured: for we have showed above how the salt thereof is to be made.   

Tincture of Mercury, which is called The Sulphur thereof.  
℞ j p. of read Precipitate made with spirit of Niter, bray it in a Mortar, with ij. p. of desiccated salt, and iij. p. of Vitriol desiccated also to whiteness; put this mixture in a Matrass, and sublime it in sand, with a strong and violent fire towards the end. Put this sublimate in a double or digesting Vessel, pouring upon it good distilled Vinegar four fingers high, cover it with its Blind-head, and put it in ashes to digest the space of three weeks, and the Vinegar will take a yellow▪ Tincture; this draw of by decanting the Vessel, and put new vinegar in the place; and thus proceed extracting and digesting with new Menstruum, until it takes colour not more. Filtrate all these Tinctures, and pour them in a Cucurbite, which place in sand, and by distillation draw of all the Liquor to a dry bottom, and in the bottom of the Cucurbite you shall find the sulphur of Mercury in a read powder, which keep in a glass Viol. for use. Paracelsus gives very great Eulogiums and commendations to this Sulphur, and attributes unto it the virtue of curing the Gout, Epilepsy, and the great Pocks radically, and without any fear of relapse; the sensible effects thereof are Urines and Sweats; otherwise it works by a gentle, natural and insensible transpiration. The Dosis may be from j gr. to iij. in some Conserve or Cordial Confection, or even in Extract of Iuniper.  
Though we have already warned before all Chemical Artists in the Theorical part of this Treatise, not to make any use of Chemical Remedies, unless they have prepared them themselves, or be very well acquainted with, and dare trust to the experience, knowledge and conscience of those from whose hands they will take them. We think ourselves nevertheless yet obliged to say somewhat more of this matter here, chief by reason of those pernicious accidents we have seen to hap to several persons of all conditions, for having trusted and having admitted Mercurial Remedies not rightly prepared: it is therefore much safer to abstain from their use and administration, than to hazard a repenting for all your life, either in your own person, or of those which you shall expose to danger and torment by an ill prepared and dangerous Remedy, which makes me to advice and counsel those, that are not yet sufficiently instructed in the Theorical and practical part of Chemistry, not to venture upon the preparation of the great Mercurial Remedies, until they have attained to a sufficient and exact knowledge of the materials they are to handle and work upon; and to a happy and long experience of the goodness of Remedies by them prepared: and since we have the injunction of our great Master Hypocrates, to make our experiments upon a vile subject, even in trying the virtue of a Root or a Plant: how much more are we to be circumspect, when we go about to use Remedies extracted from Metals or Minerals, when their virtue and activity is not yet come fully to our discovery and knowledge. Here than must we proceed warily, and sound the depth before we enter this Ford, jest we forfeit our Reputation, and endanger the life of the Patient. For although the Processes and Operations seem to be plainly delivered and easy enough to practise, yet the ill choice of materials, the action of the fire, the want of Vessels, some mistake or inadvertency, some neglect or impatience of the Artist familiar enough to the French Nation; do very much altar the nature of things, and imprints in it new faculties, and quite different from those we do expect. Let than every body work with knowledge, prudence and circumspection, with conscience and very long patience, if they will attain to the possession of those great Remedies, which Mercury and Antimony, of which last we are now to treat of, do yield.   

Of Antimony and its Chemical Preparation.  
AS Antimony is the stumbling stone of many of those which profess Physic, and they that are not acquainted with it, will traduce it as the vain Idol of Chemists and Chemistry; so must we with all possible endeavour make it appear, that it is with very just reason and good purpose, that Artists have Antimony in esteem, since it is grounded upon their knowledge of its nature, they having not, as the Traducers and Dissamators thereof do, been contented with the Rind and superficial examination of the same; but contrariwise, having opened and anatomised it, to extract those wondered Remedies which daily do produce such noble effects, to the great praise and exaltation of Chemistry, and the discredit of those who publicly profess their defaming by invectives, and ridiculous calumnies against such as daily use it with skill and knowledge, order and Method, and consequently with desired success.  
But to clear more this truth which we have laid, we must in few words declare the nature of Antimony, and of what substance it is made of, to make it obvious and plain, and evident to the lest capacity, that those that have an aversion and hatred for it, do only condemn it for want of true knowledge, both of the substance and first preparation thereof, as we will declare in the sequel of this Discourse.  
Antimony than is nothing else but a Marcassite, mean or middle Mineral, which nature had destined to a metallic production; but hath fainted in the way, want of not having in itself the necessary dispositions to attain to that perfection; or because it was prematurely snatched away and torn of from its matrix, as an unripe fruit plucked of from the tree; or finally, by reason of the terrestrial impurity of its mixture, and the disproportion and indigestion of its principles.  
But to let the Reader better understand, this we say, let the Artist know, that Antimony doth first of all consist of a mineral sulphur, partly very pure and answering the nature of that of Gold, whose foundation is in its redness and is fix; and it is in the centre of this Solar sulphur that all the wonders of Antimony are placed; the other part of this sulphur is impure, dissipable by fire, and volatile as common Brimstone, and to this Sulphur are commonly referred and attributed the violent and raging operations, when it is not well and duly corrected, or ill and negligently separated. Secondly, This Mineral is compounded of a metallic Mercury in abundance, which is nevertheless indigested and suliginous; but yet more concocted and coagulated than quicksilver, because it participates of the Saturnine nature: finally, the third constituting part or principle of our Antimony, is a gross and earthly substance which it holds from its matrix, containing very little of sensible salt, though salt was the first cause of its production: but the nature of it is changed by reason of the several alterations and disguises it hath suffered by the concoction and digestion of its centrical fire.  
By which description of Antimony and its constituting parts is plain to be seen, that it is nothing else but a gathering and conjunction of Vitriol, Sulphur and Mercury of the nature of Lead met together, and that by consequence it cannot be dangerous or condemnable in itself, since every day these three substances are used by themselves, and taken apart in Physic, either as they grow naturally, or prepared; and wherefore than should not crude and prepared Antimony be made use of also? But it will be objected unto me, That the most famous and celebrated Authors which have written of Antimony, call it a Poison, and say, that it doth participate of some mixture of Realgar and Arsenic; To which we answer, that Led, Quicksilver and Brimstone, participate also of the same mixture, and yet are not banished from the commerce of Physic: since even Realgar and Arsenic are made use of, after the malignancy of their salt and sulphur hath been corrected by the ministry of fire, and of the spirits that are capable of this operation, so that they may be inwardly administered, supplying us also with the best Topical Remedies against all dangerous and malignant Ulcers. But it is quite otherwise of Antimony, which daily is administered by the mouth wholly raw, and without any accident even to sucking Children: and moreover, made to boil in the weight of lb ss. in Decoctions against the Pocks, and also put in cold infusion of water to open the body and remove obstructions in the Entrails. Let than our Artist know, that when ever Ancient or Modern Authors which have treated concerning Antimony, have said it was a Poison, it is to be understood only comparatively between the common preparations of Antimony not yet sufficiently corrected, and so consequently causing violent Vomits and Stools, with those they describe that are harmless and of no danger, but which only do strengthen Nature, and help it to expel insensibly whatever is noxious and hurtful to it. Wherhfore let us conclude this small preliminary Discourse of Antimony, by the words which Zwelferus hath to this purpose in the Appendix inserted to the end of his Notes upon the Pharmacopea of Aufburg, in praise of this noble Mineral, and against the unlearned and ignorant Despisers thereof. Cum stibij vel antimonij nomen apud aliquos artis pulcherrima osores, praesertim ignorantes, tam malè audiat, ut qui solummodò ore illud excidere permittit, mox ex medentium coetu proscriptus ad veneficos amandetur; quia tamen hoc de antimonio judicium, non in alia officina, quam cerebri ad Lunae crescentis & de crescentis mutabilitatem tornati excuditur; & vix alius de eo magis perversè & perfricta fronte loquitur, quàm qui minimam ejus habet cognitionem; Idoirco nullo canum similium hoc sidus allatrantium, convitio à veri tramite dimotus, hoc in praesens asserere non erubesco: antimonium verè unam & principalem esse columnam universae Medicinae; Quipè ex eo tanquam Proteo, diversis duntaxat praeparationibus, dioersa●um operationum medicamenta saluberrima, utpotè antiloimica, antivenerea, diaphoretica, purgantia & vomitoria blanda, sanguinem viversum mundificantia, vulnera●ia, pectoralia, imo universale medicamem seu Panacea ipsa, erui possunt. Nec constat ex vegetabilibus unicum emeticum, quod minore cum periculo exhiberi possit, quam antimonium dext●è & debitè praparatum; nunquam enim tormina ventr●●, Hypercatharsin, fluxumque nimium colliquantium causabit, etiamsi aqua frigida superbibatur. We should think it superfluous to say any more of it: wherefore we will come now to the choice of Antimony, and the several denominations given unto it, by those that would keep secret the mysteries, and hid the preparation thereof, that it may be a Key to the Artist for understanding other aenigmas and dark Riddles, and explicating of their mysterious Hieroglyphics.  
Chemical Philosophers do characterise this Mineral with a Figure representing the round World, and a cross on the top thereof thus antimony to denote, that as the mystery of the Cross doth purify, and heal the soul from all spiritual filth and leprosy; so Antimony and its Remedies well and duly prepared, do cleanse and free the body from all impurities, which breed and entertain the Diseases whereby it is tormented and afflicted. They call it by several enigmatical names, as the Wolf, because it consumes and devours all metals, Gold excepted; Others name it the P●oteus, because it turns itself into all Forms, and takes all manner of colours, by the assistance of Vulcan, which is the fire, Others call it the Root of Metals, both because it is found often near their Ours, and that many are of opinion it is the rudiment and principle of Metals: it is moreover denominated the sacred Lead, the Lead of the Philosophers and of the Wise, because so it hath some analogy and affinity to the nature of Saturn, which devoured his children as he devours Metals, and because also some do take it for the subject matter of the great Work of Philosophers, and of their Quintessence: Basilius Valentinus calls it the Eastern Lion, Paracelsus the Read Lion, and Glauber describes it as the first Being of Gold.  
All Authors are agreed that the Hungarian Antimony, or Transylvanian is to be chosen for the noblest and highest operations, because it is the purest, and participates more of the Solar nature, and so its internal sulphur is much more exalted. It is found nevertheless in many other places, and chief in Germany, and France hath some which is not altogether despicable. So that those which cannot come at that Antimony which is digged about golden Ours, must take and choose in lieu of it to supply their work, a clear, pure and shining Antimony, with clear and bright faces or glittering flaws: if it be mineral, mixed with a kind of changing and playing colour, as that in Doves necks, or the changes of the Opal or the Rainbow, which are all signs of the predominancy and abundance of its sulphur: but if it be common Antimony that hath beem melted already, that which has the longest streaks or shining and sparkling lines, or flaws with the same's notes of colour, which we have recommended in the other, is to be preferred. They that will try it further to be surer of it, must take ʒ j of Antimony made into very small powder, and temper or sprinkle it with very good spirit of Vinegar; than let it dry or evaporate in the fire upon a small Iron plate, or some small piece of an earthen pot, with this caution nevertheless, neither to flow, or melt in the fire: and if the powder remains of a read colour, it is an assured sign of the goodness and abundance of its sulphur. But we hold the best trial of Antimony to be its reduction into Regulus by the help of Mars and Niter, without any mixture of Bohemian-tartar, by reason of its Alkali which dissolves sulphurs: for that which yields the greatest quantity of Regulus and the purest, is the best, since the Regulus is nothing else but a well purified Antimony.   

The general preparations of Antimony.  
BEfore we come to the particular Operations which are made upon Antimony, we have thought it necessary to give first a general Idea of such preparations as are made upon this noble Mineral; the harvest of them being so great, that to describe what Modern and Ancient Authors have delivered of it, and what by our own experience we are confirmed in, would require endless Volumes, the virtues of Antimony being bottomless and innumerable, as by the sequel we shall make it appear. We shall than restrain and couch up ourselves according to our wont custom, with some examples of each of the most general Operations, by which the Artist will be guided and ruled to perform such others, as the necessity of Patients or his own curiosity shall prompt him to undertake, that he may not come short of giving or receiving the satisfaction he looks for.  
The general preparations than made upon Antimony, are: First, Calcination; secondly, Sublimation; thirdly, Distillation; fourthly, Liquation or Resolution; fifthly, Extraction; sixthly, Infusion; seventhly, Salification; some do add in the eighth place, Mercurification: but we will omit that, having made a hundred successesse trials, by which we could never be convinced of the truth thereof; wherefore we abstain from it upon the same account, and for the same reason we have hinted, speaking of the mercury of Metals; and further, knowing full well that Paracelsus and others, understand nothing else by the mercury of Antimony, than it's well prepared Regulus, without any diminution or loss of its Solar or Central sulphur, though we deny not the possibility thereof: But we will impose upon no body, nor be the cause of any loss of time upon Processes and Operations that have never, nor never shall hit or succeed right. The Calcination is twofold, dry and moist: the dry yields the Glass, Crocus or Saffron, Diaphoretick Remedies and Regulus; the moist gives the Precipitates. Sublimation makes the Flowers, Cinnabar or Vermilion. The Distillation draws Vinegars, Oils and Spirits. Extraction communicates Sulphurs' and Tinctures. Infusion gives emetical Wines and Ophthalmical Waters; and the Salification, Salt.   

The particular preparations of Antimony, and how the Glass of Antimony is to be made by plain distillation.  
THere are so many descriptions of the manner of preparing the Glass of Antimony, that Artists are confounded in this particular, and hardly know how to choose the best: but as we are sufficiently instructed, both by Theory and practice, that the best is that which is made without addition or mixture, we will exemplify and propound for a pattern the preparation of this, because whosoever can perform it exactly, shall never be put to seek in executing the others, the melting, clarification, and diaphaneity whereof is much easier, by reason of the union of several salts, by which the fluxion is sacilitated and becomes both quicker and cleanlier; this Glass without addition is thus made.  
Take well chosen Antimony, and being made into very small powder, calcine it in a very large and capacious earthen Dish, not glazed or varnished, upon a slow fire, stirring continually with an Iron Spatula or Slice; this Calcination is to be made in a place where the air may freely pass thorough, and the Artist must stand above the wind, that he may receive no inconveniency by the vapours exhaling from the pure sulphur of Antimony, nor oppress or suffocate his breast; above all things great care must be had not to make too big a fire, otherwise the excrementitious moisture being too suddenly driven away, the melting and vitrification thereof would be hindered; after you have kept this Antimony three or four hours upon the fire, and that you shall see it begin to crumble itself and gather up together, draw the Vessel of from the fire, and pour the matter upon a Porphyry stone, whereafter it is grown cold you may reduce it into alkohol; than begin anew to calcine with a little more fire than at the first time, and thus proceed three or four times, increasing still the fire at every time that you bray your Antimony, and you will have an antimonial Calx of a whitish grey, which you may use to make your Glass therewith; as also to prepare an excellent Diaphoretic against the Plague and malignant Fevers: to attain to this, Reverberate part of this calx in a Crucible in open fire, until from white it turns to yellow; and if the calx do hap to crumble during the Reverberation, take it immediately of from the fire, and bray it again, and thus go on until all the external sulphur be evaporated, and the internal gins to appear and manifest its self by its yellow colour, which it yields when it is come to this pass; put it in a Matrass, and pour upon it very good spirit of Wine, and digest them together the space of fifteen days, which being over, kindle of this spirit seven time upon your Diaphoretic to fix it the better. The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to xij. in some Conserve of Marigold flowers.  
But to perform the Vitrification, take lb ss. of the prepared calx, and add to it ℥ s, of crude Antimony in powder, to facilitate and advance the fusion, which you must make in a wind Furnace in a Crucible of very strong matter, capable to resist the fire, and last in it, and when you shall perceive your matter in the Crucible to flow clear and bright, try with a small sharp Iron which may be clean, and expose it between your sight and the light, and if it be read or transparent as a Granate or Ruby, pour it into a brass Bason, or a Copper, or brass dressing plate well scoured, and made warm before the Glass be thrown upon it, and thus shall you have a pure Glass, read and transparent, which may be used for many noble and useful preparations, which we will place in their Rank and Order, according to the Rank and Classis of their general preparation, wherefore an Artist must never be unprovided of it.   

To make the Crocus or antimonial Saffron, which is called Crocus Metallorum.  
WE will give three descriptions of this Operation: the first more slight, common and easy; the other something more intricate, and the third more laborious; that as the work and preparation of it is various, and for different reasons, so the Artist may be instructed in the one and the other, to be the more capable thereby to satisfy himself and others.   

The first Crocus Metallorum.  
WE have in general recommended to the Artst, to have a special care of the choice and purity of his materials: but he must be more circumspect than ever in all the Antimonial Operations, because from thence depends very much, as also from his prudence and knowledge, the good or the bad success of his Operation.  
Wherhfore let him take well chosen Antimony, and well depurated Saltpetre to make all the following preparations: for as Niter is called the Soap of the wise, so must it be pure and clean to perform that cleansing, and that action which Authors hope to find in it. ℞. than well chosen Antimony and well purified Sulphur ana equal parts, beaten them to powder each apart, than mix and put them in a brass Mortar covered with an earthen-pot cover, or with a round Tile, having a hole in it of the bigness of a Thumb in diameter, through which it may be set on fire with a small kindled coal; this Operation which is called Fulguration, Fulmination and Detonation, must be made in an open place, and you must get agove the wind, jest you be overcome by the smoke which is noisome and dangerous, by reason of the corrosion of the nitrous Spirit, and the inflammation of the external sulphur of Antimony. When the Mortar is grown cold, draw of the matter from it which will be of two kinds: the uppermost participating of Saltpetre, Sulphur and Antimony; the undermost, which is in a compacted and close lump of Liver-colour and resembling unto it, for which reason it is called Hepar antimonij, or Liver of Antimony, is properly nothing else but an instantaneous, imperfect and opacous vitrification of Antimony, by the calcination which the Saltpetre performs in a moment. These two matters are to be put together in a brass Mortar, and triturated to a subtle powder, which must be washed in warm water, to separate the fatness thereof; set the first Lotion aside for the use we shay say hereafter, and continuing the trituration, lotion and effusion of the Liquor loaden with the subtlest powder, until all the body of this Hepar or Liver of Antimony be transfused with the water into an impalpable powder; separate the said water, and dry the powder gently by evaporation, and you shall have that which commonly is called Crocus Metallorum, or Saffron of Metals.  
If the first Lotion be filtrated, and this clear water precipitated with distilled Vinegar, there falls a read powder in the bottom, which is called Sulphur auratum diaphoreticum, diaphoretic golden Sulphur, but very improperly, because it is nothing else but a portion of the external sulphur of Antimony, which the fixed salt of the Niter did keep dissolved and hidden in itself, and has been made corporeal and visible by the help of the distilled vinegar, because all whatsoever is dissolved by the salts alkali, is precipitated by acid spirits; and contrariwise, all what is dissolved by acid spirits, is precipitated by alkaly's. But let it not be fancied that this pretended golden Sulphur be Diaphoretic; nor let the Author's word be taken for a warrant in this matter: for it will deceive, unless you give it in a very small Dosis, which shall not work, and if the Dosis be increased it will 'cause exceeding and violent vomiting: for it is nothing else but a very subtle Crocus metallorum, wherewith many do prepare their Emetical Wine.   

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

The third Crocus Metallorum.  
THe manner of working this third preparation is quite differing from the two former, but not less to be valued: for it requires a longer Calcination, and consequently a better and more exact maturation of the undigested parts of Antimony, by the help of the salts and fire: and you must proceed thus.  
℞ Will chosen Antimony, well depurated Saltpetre, and common Salt, well cleansed and desiccated ana equal parts, reduce them into powder by themselves, than mix them, the mixture put in a well luted Crucible, covered with a Cover, bored in the middle with a hole of the bigness of the small finger's end, that the vapours may exhale through it; put this Crucible upon a thick Tile or Brick in a wiped Oven, and lay round about it black and quick coals up to the top of the Cover that it may be heated by degrees, and when it is once heated, and that the vapours of the salt and antimonial Sulphur begin to rise through the hole, increase the fire, and open all the doors of the wind-Oven, adding to it also, if need be, the air of the bellowss, that the matters may flow very well in the Crucible, and thus continued till the smoke or vapours begin to cease, and even than continued a quarter of an hour longer; than let the Crucible was cold and break it afterwards, and you shall find your Antimony turned into a kind of Regulus, read as Vermilion under the salts, which as scums and dross does lie above it; break it with a Hammer, and reduce it to powder without any Lotion, and keep for use as one of the best kinds of Crocus Metallorum, to make Emetical Wine; they attribute unto it the faculty of working more downwards than upwards, though it excites also vomiting, but with less violence.  
These three Crocus' may equally and promiscuously be used where the one fails instead of the other, since they have the same virtue, only that they work more or less violently, which inconveniency may be prevented and remedied by diminishing the Dosis. Their faculties are, to expel the Headache which proceeds from impurities of the stomach; as also to help the Epilepsy, pleurisy, Melancholy, Madness, and to help those that have running pains, and voluntary or spontaneous weariness; they are also extraordinary good Remedies in all Fevers, as much continual as intermittent. Their operation is wondered against Plague, arthritical pains, coagulation of blood. They are never administered in substance, but their virtue is extracted by infusion or ebullition, and when haste requires, with some fermented Liquor, as Wine, Hydromel or Mead, Cider, Beer; The Dosis may be from iij. gr. to viij. x. and xij. Moreover, they prove admirable Remedies in Glisters, if the infusion thereof be put, from ℈ j to iiij. in Meat, Broth, or some Emollient or softening or Carminative Decoction.  
Thus much we had to say of that preparation which is called Crocus, by reason of some resemblance in colour with Saffron, which hath a Solar Tincture, but their virtues not analogal to that noble spice of the Philosophers: wherefore it is but improperly that they are called Saffron of Metals: for the true Sons of Art will only impart this name to that noble and excellent preparation of Metals, by which they are reduced to a saffranous, sweet and pleasant powder, which is their mere volatile sulphur, capable of all the virtues and qualities of Saffron: as to procure sleep, mitigate pains, strengthen the Heart and all the functions of Life, open obstructions, serve as a consolidative Balsam, and hinder the accidents of Wounds, maturate, ripen and dissolve the hardnesses and Nodus', all which virtues are attributed to vegetable Saffron, though weakly: but the true Saffron of Metals, which is the true Philosophical Crocus, doth eminently and perfectly contain and possess all these Virtues we have related: for it provokes sleep, and allays all griefs, because it be calms all the irritations and rage of the internal Archaeus, and corrects all the defects and deviations thereof, strengthens all natural weaknesses, removes all obstructions from the entrails very efficaciously, and in a short time: it stops also and appeases all colliquations of humours and immoderate Fluxes; finally, cures inwardly and outwardly all kind of malignant, cancerous fistulous Ulcers; and to say in a word, remedies all Diseases to which human Nature is subjected; because it is a true volatile Sulphur, which consumes and gently drives away by the power of its heat and internal light, all the impurities and evil humours which lay lurking in the superfluities of the last digestions. But this place doth not allow us to say more, our design being only to inform the Sons of Art, that than they will become capable of seeking this noble and divine Crocus, when in earnest they shall apply themselves to the love and true worship of their Creator, that by the help and assistance of his Light, they may penetrate into the most abstruse Closet of those high mysteries of Art and Nature, which are contained in the true Crocus of Philosophers.   

The manner of preparing Diaphoretical Antimony.  
IF we did recommend the purification of Saltpetre for the Crocus Metallorum, we have reason to do it much more for the preparation of this Diaphoretical; for as this Remedy is excellent, so must the Artist study with all his power to prepare it with all requisite dircumstances; and the chief point of this Operation doth consist in the goodness, purity and sincerity of the Niter, because by him the impure sulphur of Antimony is to be expelled, and it is he that must digest, ripen and fix the indigestion of its Mercury, as we shall make appear in the progress of the Operation; which is thus prepared.  
℞ ij. p. of very pure and dry Saltpetre, and j pawn of well chosen Antimony, beaten them each asunder into very small powder, and mix them to the other: than fit a strong earthen pot not glazed, or a good Crucible upon a round Tile in a wind Furnace, and cover it, encompassing the same with kindled Charcoal almost to the top, that the Vessel may be heated by degrees, and when it is grown read all about, blow in it to get out the filth or ashes if any be fallen in, than pour half a spoonful of this mixture, and cover the pot with a well and exactly fitted Covering; as soon as the matter touches the Pot it presently kindles, and the Saltpetre doth forcibly carry away with it the impure sulphur of Antimony; and what remains after this detonation or fulguration, doth fix itself in the bottom of the Vessel by the action of the fixed salt of Niter, and the activity of the fire; thus proceed till you have made an end of calcining your Antimony, putting it thus by little and little in your Vessel: which done, add another parcel more of very dry Niter to what is in the Vessel, that it may flow with the matter, and perfect the Coction and fixation of it by the penetration and action of the spirits of Niter, which by their subtlety and quickness insinuate themselves in and amongst the lest atoms of Antimony; and thus concoct, wash, and fix it in a white and b●uisable substance after it has been edulcorated and desiccated. Keep up the fire one or two hours more, after you have put in the last parcel of Saltpetre, than cease and let the matters cool in the Vessel: you must carefully remove all the filth and impurity which might remain about the Pot, before you put it to soak in a pan full of boiling water, which by degrees shall dissolve the fixed Niter, which makes part of the lump remaining in the pot with the Antimony; and when this lump is totally dissolved, stir that remainder in the bottom of the Vessel with a good Pestle; and when the water appears milk-white, pour it in another Vessel, and than grinned in a Marble mortar what remains in the Pan, and continued still to wash it with the same water, until all the antimonial substance be converted into an alkohol, as we have already taught in the first preparation of the Crocus Metallorum; and if you intent to have sooner done, break the pot or Crucible as soon as it comes from the fire, and draw out the matter from it, which bray on a Marble mortar, and wash it with lb ij. or iij. of water only, until it be all converted into alkohol. Draw of this first water by decantation as soon as it is settled, and lay it by itself; than pour new upon what remains, and thus go on, until the water comes of from it tastelesse; which done, dry the Diaphoretic and keep it for use.  
It was not without reason we have said, that the first water wherein the fixed Niter was dissolved is to be set apart; because the nature of this salt is altered by the sulphur of Antimony, and is become of the condition of alkali and lixivial Salt, whose quality and essence is subtle, penetrating and igneous rather than corrosive, which is the reason it has dissolved the purest portion of the antimonial Regulus impregnated with its fix and solar Sulphur, very well concocted and digested by the action of the fire and Niter; and though this water appears clear, yet it hath contracted a weight: wherefore this water must be precipitated with distilled Vinegar, and it shall immediately turn as white as Milk, because the Diaphoretic which was hidden in the dissolution of it doth manifest itself, and with no unpleasant smell; but contrariwise hath the very smell of Cream and sowrish Whey, whilst it is edulcorating, and after the desiccation is made to keep it for use; and as we have said, that the precipitate of this Diaphoretic was of a very good smell, by reason of the fixedness of its internal sulphur, so must we make it appear, that that which is prepared out of the pretended Sulphur auratum or golden Sulphur, whereof we have spoken above, with distilled Vinegar, hath a very unpleasant smell, because it is nothing else but the external, impure, and volatile sulphur which the salt had drawn to its self, being not sufficient to draw it and expel away, much less to fix it, the parts of Niter and Antimony to make the Crocus Metallorum being but equal, whereas in the preparation of the Diaphoretic, there is first ij. p. of Niter against j pawn of Antimony, and that moreover j pawn is added after the Fulguration or Detonation is ended, which doth perfect the maturation and fixation of all the crude and indigested remaining matter. We have thought necessary to say so much to inform the Sons of Art, that whatsoever must fix a substance, aught ever to be in triple proportion to what is to be fixed; and contrariwise, what is to be volatilised, must in the same proportion be less, than what is to act and work upon it; and sometimes the proportion is quadruplicated: as ℥ iiij. of spirit to volatilize ℥ j of salt, and ℥ iiij. of salt to fix ℥ j of spirit; which observation passes for a fundamental Axiom in Chemistry. The Dosis of this Diaphoreticks in Body and gross substance, is from gr. iiij. to thirty. and of the Precipitate, from gr. iij. to xx. The virtue of both is very estimable and of high value in Physic; for though we call them fixed, it is only comparatively to other antimonial Remedies which provoke violent Vomitings and Purgation: for the Diaphoretick works by an irradiation of virtue and-efficacy almost inconceivable, because it strengthens gently and naturally the internal Archaeus, which is the principal Director of all the functions of Life, either in health or sickness: wherefore the use of it must be continued without interruption during the space of a Philosophical month, because during that time, it is capable to altar and change for the better, whatsoever is hurtful and hinders the liberty of the actions of this principal and real Archaeus. But if it be applied and appropriated to particular Diseases, as also to parts of the body, we shall be bold to say, that the Diaphoretical Antimony is an unparallelled Remedy, to resist the corruption which may breed and lurk in the body, mundifying and rectifying the whole mass of the blood, and being capable to open the most inveterate obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Mesentery, Pancreas, and all other parts besides: it removes the stopping of Courses, cures Greensickness, Dropsy, Hypocondrical Melancholy, Pocks and all the accidents thereof; mundifies and cures inward and outward Ulcers, breaks inward Impostumes without danger: and finally, is singular against malignant and spotted Fevers, Measles, and small Pocks. And though this Diaphoretical be a general Remedy, there are some nevertheless which think to particularise and tender it specifical to certain parts of the Body, and Diseases, adding Metals, as Gold, Silver, Tin, Copper, or Steel to the Antimony, or its Regulus before it be calcined with Niter, and thus pretend to tender it Cordial, Cephalick, Stomachick, Splenetic or Hepatick; but our opinion is, that those Metals are not opened enough for this plain antimonial Fusion, to commuicate so easily their virtue which doth properly lurk in a central sulphur, not so easily extracted; and as Antimony is a Mineral, whose sulphur is less close and fixed, let us content ourselves with what Nature and Art have so bountifully supplied us with, and with so ample and so diffused a virtue.   

Of the Regulus of Antimony.  
WE have already said above, that the Regulus of Antimony is nothing else but depurated Antimony: but that purification aught to be made without Tartar, because the alkali which results from the Bohemian-tartar and Niter is a mixed salt, which doth extract and dissolve the most fix and inward sulphurs of Mixts, as it appears by the feces and skim swimming above the Regulus made with Tartar, which are high in colour, and by the small quantity of Regulus extracted this way. But it may be said, that it is not so much the true Artist's part to seek for quantity as quality; and that although he may attain to more by another manner of working, yet aught he to prefer and acquiesce in that which yields lest, because it is thought to be more pure and more open. To answer this Objection, we must lay first for a Foundation, that Steel is to be used for making of the Regulus, to make it good; that Iron or Steel are capable agents to attract to themselves the impure and combustible sulphur of Antimony, by reason of the siccity, porosity, and terrestreity of the Iron which longs to supply himself of what he finds to be destituted of, attracting it from every subject or substance wherein he can find it: as we have in some manner made manifest when we described the purification of Iron, and the turning of it into Steel, by the help of the fat, volatile and unctuous sulphur of Ox-hornes. Moreover, Niter doth 'cause a sudden inflammation, and a fusion, which raises up by an ebullition, and as it were an instantaneous fermentation, all the Iron or Mars, the terrestrial impurities and external sulphur of Antimony, insomuch as the only Reguline and Mercurial part of Antimony, remains in fusion in the bottom of the Crucible, possessing in itself the fixed and solar Sulphur, which by sympathy and analogy of substance hath attracted the soul of Mars, which is its pure sulphur. Thus must the Artist consider, that in the operation the pure part of the Antimony is preserved, and that we deprive it of its impurity; and moreover, that we add yet to this part another Sulphur, which hath no less efficacy than that which is contained in it: whereas Bohemian-tartar never fails to dissolve and extract the pure part and its sulphur, which must of necessity be well preserved, if you will have the other operations resulting from it, to succeed with that virtue and efficacy which is desired, of which nothing can be the cause but this pure Mercury and its sulphur; all which reasons invite us to give you the description of this following Regulus.   

The best preparation of Regulus of Antimony.  
℞ lb ss. of ends of Horse-nails, or lb φ. of Filing of Iron or Steel very pure and clean, put in a good Crucible, something big and deep, and place it in a wind-Oven upon a round bottom or Tile, called by the French Culotte, already mentioned above; cover it with a piece of Brick, and bury it in Charcoal mixed with kindled coals, that they may take fire by degrees, and so by little and little season the Crucible; and when the fire is well kindled, and that the Artist shall see the Iron or Steel to be in a very read and clear ignition, so as to draw near the white glowing; add than to it lb j of well chosen Antimony in powder, than cover again the Crucible with the Brick and coals, to advance the Fusion and union of the two matters, and as soon as you shall by frequent inspection perceive them in that state, make ready your Cornet or casting Vessel for Regulus, if you have any, keeping it warm and besmearing it with Wax in the sides towards the bottom, and throw in the Crucible ℥ iij. or iiij. of Niter in gross powder, very dry and somewhat warmed, that it may the sooner take flame with the sulphur of Antimony, that the fusion thereof may be quicker and cleaner; for as soon as the Crucible is touched by the Niter, there follows immediately an ebullition of the matters with a noise and sparkling, caused by the internal air of the Niter and the mixture of the Sulphur with the Iron or Mars: But the Artist must have a special care to have his Pincers in readiness to draw the Crucible, and pour the melted matter into the Regulus Pot, as soon as the ebullition is over; otherwise there would a crusty substance gather on the top, which might hinder the casting of it, and is of very hard and difficult fusion: As soon as the matters are in the Regulus pot, strike upon the brims of it with a Pestle or Hammer, to 'cause the Regulus the better to separate itself; but if you want this Vessel for casting your Regulus, you need only draw your Crucible from the fire, and striking softly upon the brims of it, let it cool. It would nevertheless be necessary to be furnished with this Vessel in a Laboratory, because you might thereby preserve your Crucible from the necessity of being broken, and so preserve them for other fusions and the purification of your Regulus, besides that it will save much time and fire, which otherwise must be unnecessarily spent; for your four melt or fusions may be made consecutively in one and the same Crucible: either of these two Vessels being cooled, either turn upside down the Crucible and stamp or beaten it against the ground to make the Regulus come out, or break the Crucible, and therein shall you find an uniform lump seemingly: but knock upon it about the middle, and the Regulus which is in the bottom will forsake the feces that are uppermost, and are nothing else but the Iron Sulphur, and terrestrial impurities of the Antimony, with very little remaining of the Nitres, which also frame by themselves a kind of close compacted lump, which every day dissolves itself in the air into a dry powder, resembling smutty and terrestrious Filing of Iron. The Regulus being not pure enough in the first melting, you must therefore beaten it to powder, & add to it ℥ iij. of antimony in powder to accelerate the melting thereof, and put it in a new Crucible, and 'cause it again to flow in a wind-Furnace, and when it shall be in fusion, throw into it ℥ ij. or iij. of very dry Niter and warmed into a powder, and there will hap yet a small ebullition; throw it immediately into the casting Vessel, & knock upon it; separate the Regulus from the blackish and impure dregss, and it will come out twice as pure and white; proceed thus the third time, and the dregss will be either more grey or whitish, which is a sign that it gins to draw nearer the state of its purity: wherefore proceed to the fourth fusion, and always with new Niter dry and warm, giving a very strong fire this last time that the Niter may be in very good fusion, and draw to the colour of a Partridges eye; cast it quickly, & with nimbleness stir the casting Vessel, being first well warmed, and turn it round, and you shall have a stellate or starry Antimony to the very Centre, white as silver, and flowing already something of its solar Tincture: for the Niter which was in fluxion on the top of it is all yellow, an infallible sign with the star which appears on the top of it, that the Regulus hath attained the true point of its purity and perfection, to be freely used in the preparation of those noble Remedies which it is capable to yield.  
If the Artist will raise his curiosity so high, he may frame Cups and Pots with this Regulus, as also Pellets or small Globes, and he will have that which they call Pocula perpetua, and Pilulae perpetuae, the Purgative and Emetic virtue whereof is never exhausted; though Wine be every day put in infusion in the Cups, or the Pellets or Globes swallowed down every day, which may be taken up again after evacuation, and being washed, made use of with as much efficacy as before, as by daily experience it is found true, which doth evidently prove that Antimony doth as much or more participate as any other Mixed, of light and heavenly Fire, whose virtue never decreaseth, though he imparts every day his Rays and bountiful warmth: so is it only by an emanation or irradiation of the inward virtue that these Cups and Pills do work, and it is also by irradiation and influence from above of the igneous and sulphurous quality of their substance, that their virtue is miraculously, as it were repaired, and again supplied.   diagram 
The Calcination of Antimony by the Sun.  


a the Table.  
b the Glass with its upholder by which ye may raise it higher or lower.  
c the Stone or Plate on which the Antimony in powder is tayd.  
d the Artist the orders the Glass & stirs about the Antimony.  
e the light that is centered by the Glass.     

The Solar Calcination of Antimony.  
WE have demonstrated above, that antimonial Calcination made with Niter, were opened by it, purified and fixed, which could not be done unless this salt did partake altogether of the nature of Light, which is found to be corporified in it: but we must show patherically here, that the Sun, Father and spring of the Light, by whom Niter is generated, doth purify and six Antimony much better, and with more efficacy than Niter can do; which is a kind of Calcination Philosophical indeed, and worthy a son of Art, whose curiosity leads him to search and pry into the wonders of Art and Nature; But those that are ignorant of the noble Works and rare Effects of Magical and Celestial Fire, drawn from the Rays of the Sun by the help of a Refracting or burning Glass, shall scarce believe that which we have to say, and are to demonstrate upon this Subject.  
For this noble and miraculous Fire preserves and increases the substance of Antimony, whereas common fire and salts do altar and destroy it, which truth we make good thus: Take xij. grains of Antimony, either mineral or common, grinned it into an impalpable powder, and calcine it in common fire, or by salt, it yields a smoky vapour of an unpleasant smell and colour, which is heavy: for if this smoke was kept in a sublimatory Vessel, there would be found Flowers, which are nothing else but meteorized antimony, as we will make it plain when we come to speak of the sublimation of this Mineral; which is the cause that the Antimony is found to be decreased of five or six grains, when the Calcination is driven and brought up to a grey or white powder, which has yet a purging and emetical quality: but if you calcine the same weight and proportion of Antimony with a Refracting or burning-Glass, which doth concentrate the light of the Sunbeams to make it work upon the matter, this Mineral doth yield also vapours as when it is calcined by common fire, and consequently it were rational that it should decrease to the same proportion; but it happens otherwise: for the Calcination being often reiterated, and the Antimony turned into a white powder, you shall find it to weigh xv. grains instead of xij. that were taken at first, and consequently it is increased in double proportion almost, whereas the vapours which it hath exhaled should have decreased it as much: but that which is yet more to be admired, and less conceivable, is, that these xv. grains of white powder are neither vomitive nor purging, but contrariwise diaphoretical and Cordial; which doth cast into admiration not without reason, the most curious and intelligent searchers of Nature, and the wisest Physicians. But this Wonder shall cease as soon as we begin to apprehended and to know, that Light is that miraculous Fire which constitutes the principle of Antimony, and it is the same now that hath prepared it. By which it appears that this noble Mineral hath a kind of natural Magnes in itself, which makes it capable to attract from the highest Heavens this noble kin and similar light, by which it is produced and supplied with its virtue. This Solar Calcination is than performed in the following manner.  
Let the Artist have a burning-Glass of three or four foot Diameter, made with two concave pieces of Glass joined together, the two concavites within looking one towards another, the convexity without, and let there be a hole to fill up the concave space with clear water; for this Glass will concentrate more beams, and calcine better than if it was all of one piece, and broader in Diameter. The pieces must be well glued together with Ichthyocolla or Fish glue, that the water may not come out again; it also must be fitted upon a Pedestal or Foot, wherein is a Screw to raise and depress it according as occasion shall require; it must have moreover a pair of green glass Spectacles to help the sight and enable the Artist to lead the edge of the Sun beams upon the Antimony, and move it as it goes on calcining; otherwise the vivacious quickness of this light should impair and ruin the sight; place the Antimony upon a well polished Porphyry stone very smooth, and have a grinding stone ready at hand to grinned it when it is turned into crumbs. The Antimony must be made into the subtlest powder that can be: and a great care must be taken in guiding the light, stirring the matter and grinding it, and so proceed till it be reduced into a white powder, which gathers itself no more into crumbs, neither yields any smoke or exhalation when the light is directed upon it, or when it is put upon a read glowing piece of Iron, which is an argument of its fixedness. The Stellat or starry Regulus may much better be calcined in the common Antimony, and the Diaphoretical Remedy prepared therewith, shall prove much more efficacious and better. The Dosis may be from ij. grains to xij. to be used in all the Diseases we have rehearsed above, and experience will make it manifest, that this Remedy is comparably better and of more excellency than the common Diaphoretic. The Figure here annexed will demonstrate all what belongs to this Operation much more natively and plainly than our Pen can represent it; and so put we an end to the products of the dry Calcination of Antimony, and come to the moist Calcination, which is Precipitation.   

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

The first Precipitate of Antimony.  
℞ As much as you will of well chosen Antimony, make it into course powder, and throw it in a long, broad neck Matrass, and by little and little pour upon it good Regal water, agitating and stirring softly the matter, until the Menstruum goes above it three fingers high, but take care in the working of the Dissolvent; put the Vessel to digest in ashes in an equal heat, until you see the Antimony fallen to the bottom in the form of a white Calx; than pour all into a Retort, and draw of the Regal water by distillation in sand, until the said powder in the bottom becomes very dry; than digest it in distilled Rain-water, and edulcorate it well with new water, than dry it gently; after this, having put the same in a Crucible, reverberate it for the space of six, seven or eight hours, or until the colour be changed and exalted into a read: if you will spare fire and labour, you may put this Calx in a Crucible covered and well luted, and put it in a Potter's Furnace to reverberate during the time his work is a baking. This Precipitate doth very happily and successfully purge the yellow and mordicant, or harsh serosities, lurking for the most part in the bottom of the stomach and adjacent parts, which it does very well both upwards and downwards, not that it is of itself violent or purging: for it doth otherwise operate in those that are not stuffed with those superfluous serosities, and have no vice or defectuosity in the fermentation of the Ventricle: for it works with them by Sweats, Urine, or insensible transpiration. The Dosis may be from gr. j to viij▪ in cordial Conserves, or jelly of some. Fruit.   

The second Antimonial Precipitate.  
℞ As much as you will of well chosen Antimony, grinned it to powder and put it in a Matrass, and pour upon it Regulus water two inches high; put the Vessel to digest in ashes, and stir it from time to time to facilitate and advance the dissolution: than draw of the dissolution by decantation very cleanly, or filtrate it in a glass Furnace with Glass grossly beaten: this filtration pour into a Retort, and distil softly in sand to a dry bottom; pour upon the remaining powder distilled Rain-water, and digest it in B. M. until it hath contracted a read Tincture; separate the Tincture, and proceed in the digestion and extraction with new water, until it draws no more colour; all these Tinctures gather together and filtrate, than draw of the water again in ashes by a slow distillation in a Cucurbite to a dry bottom: pour upon the remainders very good distilled Vinegar, and extact with it again until it will take not more of the colour; filtrate the Tincture, and throw away the white remaining feces: draw of the Vinegar in ashes flowly to a dry bottom, or rather to the consistency of a thick Syrup, upon which pour tartarized spirit of Wine; lute well the Vessel with its Blindhead, and put it to digest and extract in the vaporous Balneo during three weeks, and you shall have a faif and read Tincture, which you must filtrate again and throw away the feces; than draw of the spirit of Wine in the slow heat of B. M. to a dry bottom, and you shall have a Powder or Precipitate, which is none of the lest preparations which Antimony doth yield. It is a sovereign Remedy against the Pocks and Scurvy; but above all it excels all other things to dissolve congealed blood, and resolve and evacuate all inward Impostumes, and the matter contained in them without any danger. The Dosis must be from gr. ss. to iv. or u in some appropriated water, or some cordial and stomachical Spirit, or in Bolus in some Confection or Conserve.   

The sublimation of Antimony.  
THis is one of the most necessary operations to open the Body of antimony, and to begin the maturation of the crude and indigested substances that are hid in it. And the Son of Art must know, that when Paracelsus speaks of reducing Antimony into alkohol by the preparation of his Lili; that his meaning is not to have it ground upon the Marble stone to reduce it into an impalpable powder; but that he understands another much more Philosophical Trituration, which is the meteorizing and exalting of it into vapours by the help of fire, which is nothing else but its sublimation; for you must observe, that this great and wondered Artist requires that all the Body of Antimony should pass, without leaving behind the lest small portihn of its sulphur and Mercury, which it can do by no other way but sublimation. The sublimation yields also the Flowers of Cinnabar, whereof we shall speak hereafter.   

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

Flowers of the Regulus of Antimony.  
WE take for this Operation Regulus of antimony, because it is already deprived of the most part of his impure and foul sulphur; and moreover, because the salt armoniac added in this Operation, carries only along with it the purest sulphur and Mercury of the antimony. ℞ then lb ss. of fair antimonial Regulus, and as much of very pure armoniac salt, make them into powder each severally, and mix them exactly; than put them in a Retort in sand, cover it with its still-Head; and fit a Matrass to it for Recipient, lute and give it fire until all what may ascend be ascended. Than take the Flowers which will be of a yellow colour, and edulcorate them with distilled Rain-water, and you shall have an excellent Remedy, much less violent than the plain Flowers; it is administered to mad or maniack melancholy People, and those that are disturbed with Quartan agues. The Dosis aught to be from ij. grains to vj. in Conserve of Roses, or infusion in some fermented Liquor.  
Note, that if you put in fluxion the plain antimonial Flowers, with the double proportion of their weight of very pure Saltpetre, in a Crucible in the open fire, and edulcorate them afterwards, than digest them in spirit of Wine the space of fifteen days, and than set the spirit of Wine burning upon them, there remains a Diaphoretical powder, which is miraculous for purifying the blood; the Dosis of which is from iv. to x. or xij. grains. But as the plain and white Flowers of antimony, are an admirable Remedy in the most rooted Diseases, and that their violence hinders the free and more frequent use thereof, we think fit to give some Directions for the true correction of the same.   

The correction of the Antimonial Flowers.  
℞ ℥ j Of very subtle and white antimonial Flowers, mix them with ℥ j ss. of the salt Tartar of Sennertus, put this mixture in a good Crucible, and with a strong fire melt than in a wind-Furnace, and they will turn to a read lump: which reduce to powder in a hot Mortar, adding to it dissoluble Magistery of Pearls and Coral, of each ʒ j ss. put this powder in a Matrass, and pour upon it aromatized spirit of Wine four fingers high, and having stopped the Matrass with another opposite or a Blindhead, let it gently digest in ashes the space of three natural days, than pour all into a small Cucurbite, and draw of the spirit of Wine to a dry bottom, in the slow heat of B. M. and you shall have a well corrected and pleasant Antimony, which keep for use in a well stopped Viol, otherwise it would melt and dissolve in the air. It is exhibited in Conserve or in Wine, from iv. grains to xuj. against all inveterate Diseases, chief against the strongest and most stubborn impressions of Melancholy, intermittent Fevers, and all kind of obstructions. It works variously according to the matters it meets with in the stomach: for it sometimes provoks vomiting, but not always; it purges by Stools, Urines: but the chief and best operation thereof is performed by insensible transpiration, because it strengthens by the irradiation and emanation of its virtue all the natural digestions, and causes the internal Archaeus to drive away or expel from the Centre to the Circumference, all what is hurtful and obstructive to the oeconomy of Health and Life.   

How to prepare the Aromatized Spirit of Wine.  
℞ Galanga, Gloves, Cinnamon, Mace anaʒ ij. Saffron ʒ j ss. Lignum aloes ʒ j Ambergreese ℈ i, and Musk vj. grains, reduce all to powder and mix them; than extract their Tinctures in a Blindhead or double Vessel with good alkoholized spirit of Wine; draw of the Tincture and proceed in the extraction, until the spirit of Wine draws no more, join all together, and keep it in a bottle as a great Cordial and strengthener of the brain and stomach; as likewise to help digestion, and to correct Chemical Remedies, and particularly those that are extracted from Mercury and Antimony. We will not speak here of the Cinnabar or Vermilion of Antimony, though performed by sublimation, because we intent to speak of it hereafter, when we shall come to treat of the distillation of antimonial Butter, and the glasical Oil of this Mineral; for these operations cannot be made asunder.   

The distillation of Antimony, which yields the Vinegar or acid Spirit, the Oil and Spirit of Antimony.  
THE Son of Art must here be armed with patience for the distillation of this antimonial Vinegar; for besides that very little can be extracted, much time must be spent besides in the Operation, and much heed and circumspection used; but as he shall find in Authors that this acid doth extract its own Body, it is necessary he should be taught a good mechanical way to make the distillation thereof: which is performed in the following manner.   

The distillation of Antimonial Vinegar.  
℞ Mineral Antimony coarsely beaten to powder, and put about ℥ j in earthen pots made in the form of small Cupels, which must be placed Checkerwise one above the other, in the lower part of a capacious earthen Retort cut in two pieces, and having fitted again the upper part to it, lute it well, and bind with a thick wire; than place it in a close Reverberatory, and having fitted to it a large Recipient, give it a good fire the space of twenty four hours, as you would do for the distillation of the spirits of Salt or Vitriol; than cease the fire, and opening the Vessels, keep the acid spirit which is come forth but in very little quantity; than put new antimony in the small Cupels and begin anew, and thus proceed until you have enough of this spirit for the work you intent, or for physical uses. But you must ever set apart the Mineral antimony after it hath been distilled, and expose it to open air: for it will attract from the heavenly influence of the stars and the spirit of the air, enough to supply again a new distillation at the end of six weeks or two months; and thus lb seven. or viij. of Mineral antimony will suffice for the distillation of this Spirit, and you will never be unprovided for your use in the same Operation. This acid Spirit is used for extracting the Tincture of its own Body: wherefore the Artist must not be mistaken when he reads in the most famous Writers, and celebrated Authors which have treated of Antimony, that it is to be extracted with distilled Vinegar, for he must not understand this of common Vinegar; but he must know that their meaning is of vinegar extracted from Antimony without addition. This acid is singular to cool all intempery of the parts of the Body, and chief ebullitions of blood, wherefore it is with a very happy success administered in continual Fevers, malignant, hot and putrid Agues; for it penetrates the body, and gives a great refreshment to poor Patients, you must mix some of it with hallelujah water, or only with common water, and a little of the syrup of juice of hallelujah or Woodsorrel. The Dosis must be to a pleasant sharpness and acidity; Besides its internal use, it is wondered outwardly applied: for it takes away the fire and inflammation of burn made with Gunpowder, if it be mixed with salt of ♄ in water, and applied with wet Fillets, or be made into a Nutritum or Lineament with Oil, to anoint therewith the burnt parts, and thus you shall not fail to see some very notable Effects of   

The distillation of Oil or Balsam of Antimony.  
℞ Equal parts of white Sugar-candy and well chosen Antimony, grinned them each severally, and being exactly mingled, put them in a Retort, and put over M j of very clean Hemp, to hinder the body of the matter to rise and pass in the Recipient, when it gins to feel the heat and make an ebullition, which cannot otherwise be hindered than by this Tow. The Retort, place in a close Reverberatory, and fit to the same a good Recipient, beginning the fire slowly, and increasing it by degrees, until you see no more drops nor vapours come over the Helm. Let the Vessels cool, and pour in a Matrass what you shall find in the Recipient, add to it tartarized spirit of Wine three fingers high, and digest them together in the vaporous Balneo the space of three or four days, filtrate all in the cold through a Cotton in a small Cucurbite, which having placed in B. M. draw of the spirit of Wine, keep this Oil or Balsam in a Viol for use: for it is an excellent Balsam, and almost miraculous for the sudden cure of new Wounds, Ulcers, Contusions, if it be only applied upon, or in the same with Feathers or Cotton. But it is besides a surprising Remedy against intermittent Fevers, and chief against quartans; for the cure of which are prepared the following Pills.   

Pills against Agues.  
℞ ℥ j of antimonian Balsam, ℥ s. of Aloes purified by the juice of Carduus Benedictus, and reduced into an Extract, ʒ ij. of Ambergrease, ʒ j of Tincture of good Saffron, thickened and evaporated into a thick syrup: reduce all into a lump or mass sit for Pills, which some do call mercurial Laudawm, and good against Agues. The Dosis must be from iiij. gr. to xuj. in Conserve of Marigold Flowers, or Roses: they gently purge downwards, and sometimes provoke sweat, or work by insensible transpiration.   

Distillation of the Butter or icy Oil of Antimony.  
IT is necessary we should deliver some Notes upon this Operation before we describe it: for it hath been made so many ways, and Authors entertain to this day so various opinions about it, that an Artist will be much put to it, to know what to believe. For they have first been of opinion, that the sublimated Mercury did contribute very much to the purging virtue of such Remedies as are prepared with this Oil, and that the substance of the Mercury did come over the Helm and make part of this Oil, which nevertheless is neither true nor probable, as the sublimation of Mercury with Sulphur and Antimony doth peremtorily evince, even as the remainder of the Mercury which is vivified again into a Body of running Quicksilver, either in the Retort or Recipient. But if this Oil be made with the Regulus of the Antimony, there is no sublimation at all, because the Regulus is devested of its external and coarse Sulphur; but all the Mercury is quickened again in its own weight, except the spirits of those Salts that have forsaken him to work upon the Antimony, and dissolved it to convert it into Butter. But the proof is more convincing yet, if the Sons of Art will take the pains to receive that Emetical powder, which is made from this Butter into a Regulus by the help of Salt, Tartar and Niter, by which it appears that this powder is nothing else but pure Antimony. And the last and surest proof is, that this Butter of Antimony may be prepared without the mixture of sublimate Mercury: for if you take only Vitriol, common salt, and Antimony, you may draw an icy Oil which will be of the same nature of that which is prepared with Sublimate, except that it shall not be so subtle and penetrative, the spirits of the gross substances being not so capable of penetrating or well dissolving the Antimony, as are the spirits coagulated with corrosive Sublimate. The second Note is concerning the Dosis of the Sublimate: for some do take equal parts, others the double, and others more or less; but as a true Son of Art must perform his operations without Hesitancy, and with a real knowledge of the matters he works upon, and of their reciprocal action, he must lay as an indubitable Axiom and truth, that the Dissolvent which is the Agent, must ever be predominant in weight over the dissoluble substance, and so he shall never fail to work with success, if he takes three parts to one. Some do rank this Work amongst the Mercurial Operations, and do call it Mercurius vitae, or Life Mercury, but we did choose to put it amongst the preparations of Antimony, for the reasons above declared. It is thus prepared.  
℞ lb j of well chosen Antimony, and lb iij. of corrosive Sublimate, very pure and crystalline, put them into powder, each severally, and mingle them together; than having poured this mixture into a Retort, three parts whereof at lest of the four must be voided, and fit a Recipient with a narrow Neck, that the Nose of the Retort may not come into this Neck above an inch, for the need there is to 'cause the icy Oil to melt and flow when it coagulates itself in the said neck of the Retort or of the Recipient; lute the joints only with paper and Meal-pap, and give it an open fire gently by degrees, until the vapours and drops begin to ascend, and so keep it in that state until some matter gins to sublimate on the top of the Retort, for it is a sign that the Cinnabar and Vermilion gins to rise; than take of the Recipient, and substitute another, because that which should still down, might in some kind spoil and prejudice that which should be contained in the first: this done, increase the fire vigorously, and even encompass the Retort to the top with burning coals, placing them above gently, to drive all the sublimation into the neck of the Retort, and the rest of the Mercury which shall not have sulphur enough to be coagulated into Cinnabar shall quicken again, as it will appear; after the sublimation is ended, separate the Cinnabar from the running Mercury, and keep this last for the same uses as you do common Quicksilver. But the Cinnabar may be used for preparing Trochisks, to perfume those that shall be in a course of cure of the Pocks. They are also used in Pills in Venerean Diseases, and all the dependences of it, because this Antimonian Sulphur which hath cleft to the Mercury, and hath coagulated it, is of a much more exalted Virtue than common Sulphur, insomuch as the one joined to the other, doth purify together the mass of the blood, and hinder all corruptions which may be generated in the parts dedicated to copulation. The Dosis must be from vj. grains to xx. in Pills or Bolus, with Chian Turpentine, Peruvian Balsam, or extract of yellow Amber or Karabe.  
Pour the icy or glacial Oil which is in the first Recipient into another Retort, after you have caused it to melt in a flow heat; the Funnel also must be hot that nothing may coagulate, make all what is in the neck of the Retort which receives the substance to flow, that there may be nothing in it but very pure; this Retort place in sand, apply a Recipient to it, which may be dry and clean, and rectify it in a graduate heat until nothing more will flow from it, and if the encompassing air should hap to congeal the distilsing Liquor, 'cause it to melt with a well kindled coal, drawn by degrees near the neck of the Recipient and the Retort. The Rectification being ended, put the third part of what is distilled in a Viol, which shall be the ice or glacial Oil of Antimony or its Butter, which hath no other use but for outward applications, to hinder Gangrenes and the growing of dead flesh, the dead part being only rubbed and besmeared over, either with Cotton wool or a Pencil. The same may be done also upon pestilential Boils, which it will dead immediately, so as the scar easily will separate from it, without any greater mortification of the flesh; and moreover the cure is far easier: this Oil chief is very useful for Surgeons to make Cauteries or Issues on a sudden, hinder the rottenness of bones and advance the exfoliation, wherefore it is also a very convenient Caustick to bring to perfection the cure of moist and weeping Fistula's; the two other parts are fit for Emetical powder and mineral Bezoar, as we shall say hereafter.   

How the Emetical Powder is to be prepared.  
℞ Halfpenny of what was left of your glacial oil of Antimony, and 'cause it to melt if it be coagulated; if not, pour it just as it is in a pan, where there may be about lb iij. of distilled Rain-water, and it will immediately precipitate into a Body white as snow, because the salts which did hold fast the Reguline and Mercurial part of the Antimony in the dissolution, join now to the water which is their Dissolvent, and so forsake the Body of the Antimony, even as they had forsaken the sublimate Mercury in the foregoing distillation. The precipitation being ended, stir all with a wooden Pestle very clean, to join exactly the saline spirits with the water, than let it rest, and the water being very clear, separate as much as you can by decantation without stirring the bottom and keep the water by itself; than pour new water until the pan be full, and so proceed in the Lotion till the water comes of insipid; than separate all the water by filtration, and dry the powder betwixt two papers very slowly, and so shall you have an Emetical powder white and pure, which by some is called powder of Algarot, from Algorotto an Italian, which is said to be the Inventor thereof: other's improperly and falsely call it Mercurius Vitae, or Life Mercury. Some others do honour this Powder with the name of Angelic powder, or of the white Eagle, by reason of its rare and precious virtues. The Dosis may be from ij. gr. to seven. or viij. It is ordinarily used to cleanse and purge away all the hurtful and peccant humours and matters from the body, and chief in the first Region, which this powder doth evacuate by vomiting and stools; wherefore it is often used in the Plague and malignant Fevers, diseases in the Head, Pocks, running pains, cure of malignant Ulcers and Dropsy, wherein it works for the most part without provoking to vomit.  
We have said, that the first water in which the precipitation hath been made was to be set apart, because it is impregnated with the virtue of those spirits of salts which were used in the sublimation of Mercury, and are discovered by their sharp and acid taste. If the water be drawn of by distillation in sand, until it be reduced to three or four ℥ of Liquor, you shall have that which by Hermetical Philosophers is called Philosophical spirit of Vitriol, very efficacious and of singular virtue to put in Julaps and Drinks of feverish persons, and of such as are troubled with Migraines: but above all it is of wondered virtue for inveterate pains of the Pocks, because it evacuates and drives away sufficiently those malignant and sharp serosities which do prick the membranes and all the nervous and sinuous parts of the Body. And if it be not distilled, this water must be kept and mixed in the Drink of such as are afflicted with the Pocks or Dropsy, to such a proportion as to give it a pleasant sharpness, and you shall see unexpected effects, because these saline Spirits have kept yet in themselves some Character and Idea of the virtue and efficacy, both of Mercury and Antimony. They that will prepare a less violent Emetical powder, and a more efficacious Mineral Bezoar, must distil their glacial oil with good antimonial Regulus, but they shall than have no Cinnabar.   

Preparation of the Mineral Bezoar.  
℞ The last parcel of your antimonial Butter; which having weiged, put it in a capacious Matrass, and than throw upon it its equal weight of very good spirit of Niter, drop by drop in the beginning, by reason of the quick action of this Spirit upon the matter, and of the subtle and strong vapours issuing upon a sudden from the Vessel, which might be hurtful to the Artist; thus proceed by little and little until you have put all in; and after the dissolution is ended, & the Liquor gins to look clear and defecated, pour it into a Cucurbite, which place in sand under a Chimney, and let the spirit vapour away to a dry bottom: which done, pour again as much spirit of Niter as before, but than the action will cease, because the foam and froth of the Dragon is already mortified by the spirit of the infernal Cerberus; make it likewise evaporate to a dry bottom, and pour again the same weight (of spirit of Niter) for the third and last time, and evaporate it also, until what remains in the bottom of the Cucurbite becomes fair, white, dry, brickle and insipid; but in case there should remain yet some pleasant sharpness in it, it can be of on prejudice: wherefore it will be needless to increase and urge the fire higher, but contrariwise take of the Vessel and let the matter cool, which is your Mineral Bezoar; this put in a Viol to keep for use. It is a great Alexitery, which works against all manner of venom, and from this excellent virtue it took the name of Bezoar by excellency, to which was superadded the name of Mineral, to difference it from animal Bezoar, to which is attributed also a great power and faculty to resist poison; but it comes in no way near the goodness or virtue of our Antimonial Remedy, which possesses yet many other virtues and essential proprieties, by reason of the solar Sulphur which is in it, the efficacy whereof is not to be exhausted: for this Rare Medicine doth potently expel by Sweat and Urine, but chief by insensible transpiration, all the hurtful and poisonous humours lurking in the bodies both of healthful and sick persons, and especially in all Diseases where sweat is absolutely necessary. Briefly, I can affirm with a constant truth, that whosoever will make use of it, shall never found himself soon or late disappointed of the benefit and help which he expects. In case the Disease proceeds from the waters and superfluous malignant serosities of the body, such as are those that are predominant in Pocks, Scurvy, Itch and scabs of the skin; the Dosis is to be from ij. grains to xij. and if necessity requires, it may even extend to twenty. But those that intent to make use of it, must have a care to prescribe to their Patient's Broths of Veal and Chicken made with Scorzonera Roots, and keep their bodies soluble with Glisters of plain newly made Urine, putting every third day in the Broths of their Patient, which is to be taken fasting, ℈ j or ʒ φ. of salt of Bohemian-tartar of Seunertus. But the Artist must know that mineral Bezoar, is properly nothing else but a diaphoretical Antimony, fixed by the spirit of Niter, being before an antimony reduced to Liquor by the ministry of saline Spirits, and so it needed to fix it an ingenuous and fiery Liquor, as the body of Niter doth fix the gross body of antimony, and that as the Diaphoretic is purer and more subtle, so doth it also work quicker and in a less Dosis; they that desire to make use of it, shall have recourse to what we have plainly and without disguise delivered of the virtues of diaphoretical Antimony, And as this Remedy is universal, so may it also be specificated, and appropriated to some parts, adding any of the Metals, as Gold, Silver, Copper or Tin; the eighth part whereof may be added with the Regulus, and fixed with a triple of pure Niter, or distilling the same Regulus with three times as much of corrosive Sublimate, and making thereof the glacial Oil, which the Artist may fix with three several Solutions and Extractions of the spirit of Niter, and he shall procure by this way that which is called Diaphoretic, or Solar, Lunar, Venerean, Jov●al Bezoar, the description whereof is found in Authors: it sufficeth here to have taught the manner of operation, which is common to all these preparations.   

How to prepare the water or Spirit of compounded Antimony.  
℞ Of well chosen Antimony, common Sulphur or Brimstone, and well purified Niter ana equal parts; put them into powder severally, and than mingle together. This done, have an earthen Retort, in the back of which be a gutter or conduit four inches long, and of an inch broad in diameter; this Retort place in a close Reverberatory, so as to be encompassed and walled in on all sides, except four Registers to draw the fire, and the end of the conduit to throw in the matter; fit to it a very capacious Recipient wherein must be lb j of water, and lute it exactly, put the fire under the Retort, and by degrees let it grow read hot; than begin to throw in ʒ j of the mixed matter by the conduit, and stop it immediately, and the Recipient will soon be filled with vapours and clouds arising from the inflamed matter; be careful not to throw above dram j at once of this matter, otherwise you would 'cause all your Vessels to fly into the air, by the violence of so sudden an inflammation: wherefore I do advice the Artist to make use in this Operation of a first Recipient of stone metal with three conduits, the first whereof shall receive the neck of the Retort, and the two others, each a great and capacious glass body called in French Bellon, that so the vapours may find more room to extend themselves in their going out, and neither the Artist nor the Operation may run any hazard. Keep up the fire to maintain the redness of the Vessel, and throw in new matter, as soon as the Recipients shall grow clearer of themselves, and go on thus until you think you have a sufficient quantity of distilled Liquor. The Vessels being grown cold, draw the Liquor out of the Recipient and filtrate it, and distil of from it in sand with a slow heat; the water which you had put in the Recipient, which will carry away with it the greatest part of the Empyreuma of the spirit, ke●p for use. This Remedy doth attenuate, cut, subtiliate, digests and dissolves all manner of tartarous, slimy, thick and viscous matter, in whatsoever part of the body it be found, be it never so strongly rooted and incorporated in it, expelling the same by the appropriated Emunctories, as by Stools, Urines, sweat, and spitting. Wherhfore it is of singular virtue against obstructions of Liver, Spleen, Mesentery, Pancreas, Matrix and Hypocondra's, but chief if it be actuated with the salt of Mars. It is administered during the space of six weeks, in spring water with a little Sugar, to a pleasant acidity and sharpness, so that from it is made a kind of true mineral Water, whereof sick Patients may drink as much as they please. This same Operation may be performed with Bohemian-tartar also, instead of Brimstone: but this last will be more unpleasant in taste than the other.   

Liquation or resolution of Antimony.  
THis Operation is nothing else but the resolution in the moist air, or in a Cellar, of the skin or feces of Regulus made with Tartar, or you must calcine Antimony, Niter and Tartar together, and expose to the air, or put it in a cold Cellar what you find in the Retort. The union of these three substances flows into a thick and blackish read Liquor, which hath no other use than to cleanse and cure corroding and faetid Ulcers, and chief fistulous and hollow ones. For the salts do cleanse and mundify, and the sulphur of Antimony is the consolidative Balsam.   

The extraction of Antimony.  
WE are now at last arrived to the true volatilization of Antimony, to extract the Sulphurs' and Tinctures thereof, which are two of the choicest preparations that can be made of it; wherefore we would advice the Son of Art not to be too forward and hasty in this work, but to work punctually as Art shall require, if he will attain to the desired end. We shall than first of all give a description of the strong Lie, with which the sulphur of Antimony is to be extracted; after ●hich we shall teach the Extraction itself; and in the third place the fixation of the said sulphur of Antimony. Than we will speak of the Tinctures, and of the ways of extracting the same, giving two several examples thereof, to instruct the better the Son of Art how to proceed in these preparations, which are of the first and highest importance, by reason of their eminent virtues and their great essicacy.   

Description of the strong Lie, by which the extraction of the sulphur of Antimony is performed.  
℞ Salt of Bohemian-tartar, Pot-ashes, quick lime and burnt Allom, ana equal parts, beaten to powder each severally, than mix them with double their weight of fire ashes, which put in a raw, course linen cloth upon an inverted sieve, placed upon a large earthen Pan; than pour upon it Rain-water somewhat more than lukewarm, cohobate the water ten or twelve times to impregnate it well with the salts; than filtrate it through paper, that no impurity may remain with it. Mercury may be purified with it, as well as the sulphur of Antimony extracted, which is performed in the following manner.   

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

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

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

The first Antimonial Tincture.  
WE have taught heretofore the true correction of Antimony, and the way to deprive it from all the foul and impure sulphur which is in it, when we shown the manner of preparing the Glass thereof without addition, wherefore we shall not repeat it over again here. It will suffice to advice the Artist, to take lb φ. of that Glass made without addition, fair, read, and transparent as an oriental Granate, and beaten it to an impalpable powder, grinding it upon the Porphyry stone; this powder put in a Matrass, and pour upon it spirit of Venus four fingers high; stir it nimbly in the beginning, than put it to digest, dissolve and extract in ashes in a slow heat, and your spirit in three or four days will contract a fair, read colour higher than Burgundy Wine; draw of this spirit by decantation, and pour new in the room, to extract again the space of three days, and thus proceed three times; than filtrate the Tinctures, and put in a Cucurbite in B. M. and draw of the Menstruum in a slow heat to the consistency of a thick Syrup, upon which pour three fingers high of good alkohol of Wine, and stop the Cucurbite with its Blind-head and lute it well; than put this Vessel in a vaporous Balneo, and let it extract, circulate and exalt there; the spirit will by degrees be impregnated with the centrical and solar sulphur of Antimony; when it is well and sufficiently coloured, take it away, and put new in the room, and thus continued until the spirit of Wine tinges no more, than join together and filtrate all the Tinctures; the filtrated Tincture put in a Cucurbite in the vapour of Balneo, and draw of three parts of the liquor, and keep the rest as an excellent and noble Tincture endowed with infinite virtues; for it is a sovereign Remedy against all inveterate obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, and all other parts of the inferior belly or ventricle, as also against abstructions of the Lungs, stopping of monthly Courses, Greensickness, both kinds of Jaundice, Dropsy, Ptysick, Asthma or short breath, pleurisy, Cachexy, Hypocondrical Melancholy; against all manner of Ulcers both internal and external, Leprosy, Plague, Pocks both great and small, all kind of Itch and Scabs, Measles, and generally whatsoever obstructs or disorders the course of health. It purges and drives away whatsoever is hurtful to the body by Sweats, Urine, spitting or salivation, and insensible transpiration. The Dosis may be from ij. to ix. or x. drops in Spanish Wine, or some other analogous Liquor, as strong Hydromel, Mead or Malmesy; they that will make use of this Remedy must take it in the bed, and patiently expect sweats; the use may be reiterated every third day for those that are actually sick, and once in a month for those that take it by prevention, and to unburthen Nature from the superfluities of ill digestions. And as these Tinctures can hardly be transported from place to place without danger, the rest of the spirit of Wine may be evaporated to a consistency of concocted Honey, adding to it ℥ ij. of powder of Hartshorn, philosophically prepared to every ℥ j of the thick Syrup, and so shall you have an admirable Confection or Electuary, which may be sent and transporthed everywhere; the Dosis whereof may be from iiij. to xx. grains, drinking upon it the same Liquors above mentioned, or this Confection shall be mingled with a spoonful of one of the said Liquors or Drinks, and a Glass of the said Drinks over it, observing the same prescriptions as before.   

The second Antimonial Tincture.  
TO attain to the preparation of this Tincture, make first your Menstruum; for whose composition ℞ well chosen Vitriol, common Salt very pure, and quicklime, ana lb j salt Armoniac ℥ iiij. put them each severally into powder, and having mixed them, throw in [a Cucurbite], pouring over it lib. iij. of good distilled Vinegar; stop the Cucurbite with its Blind-head and lute it, and so make the digestion thereof with a slow heat the space of a natural day; which done, put all in a Retort, and by a very well regulated and graduated fire, draw the spirit thereof in 24 or 30. hours. Weigh what is come over the Helm in liquor, and add as much of dry common salt to it, and rectify it in a regulate heat, so as all what shall distil may come away fair and clear from it, and nothing of muddiness.  
Than ℞ lb j of antimonial Glass made without addition, and grounded to an alkohol upon the Porphyry stone; put it in a large Matrass, and pour upon it your distilled Spirit, stir them together, and put them in digestion and dissolution in ashes in an equal heat, and the Glass being dissolved, pour of all what is clear and defecated by inclination, and filtrate the remainder: than put all in a Cucurbite, cover it with a Still-head, lute and place your Vessel in B. M. to draw of the Menstruum to a dry bottom in a moderate heat; there will settle in the bottom of the Cucurbite a thick, slow, viscous and blackish matter, which put in the cold Cellar upon a square Glass or Table, to make it flow and dissolve into an Oil, or to speak more properly, into a read liquor, which will leave some feces on the glass Table. This read liquor pour into a small Cucurbite, and draw of the moisture from it in ashes till the matter be dry, which take away immediately without delay before the air hath got and insinuated itself into it, and put it in a Pelican or double digesting Vessel, and pour upon it of the best alkohol of Wine, dephlegmated upon calcined Bohemian-tartar, lute the joints and passages of the Vessel, and put it to digest in the vaporous Balneo in sawdust, until the spirit be tinged with a fair, read, high colour, which draw of and put new spirit in the place, and thus go on until the spirit of Wine takes no more Tincture, filtrate all the Tinctures, and draw of the two thirds of the Menstruum in the slowest heat of B. M. and keep the rest which is the Tincture, as a rich Treasure for health. It is fit and useful for all the Diseases, to which we related above that the first was proper, with the same precautions and the same Dosis.  
But Note, that the Artist must not throw away the remainder of these two Tinctures: but rather keep them to extract the salt thereof, as we shall teach in its place. The Artist must also know, that the read liquor prepared in the cold Cellar, is one of the best Balsams in the World for curing of Wounds, and all kind of malignant Ulcers be they never so dangerous, but chief those that are pocky, and against Nodus'; wherefore let him keep some portion by itself, to have his recourse unto it when there is need.   

The infusion of Antimony.  
THe infusion of prepared or unprepared Antimony is no very mysterious business, wherefore we shall make but a short reflection upon it, and only say that this Operation produces Emetical Wines and Ophthalmick Water. Now Emetical Wine hath several demonstrations in Writers; for some call it aqua Benedicta or holy Water. Emetical, antimonial Wine, sacred Wine, and so●● other names: Some have also made use of matters variously prepared to make this Remedy, as likewise of various Menstruums; for they have taken sometimes antimonial Glass, sometimes Flowers, sometimes Crocus Metallorum, Emetical powder, and even crude Antimony; the virtues of these various preparations hath been extracted, either with Wine, Vinegar, Mead or Hydromel, Beer, Cider, or aqua vitae. Moreover, they have made Extracts, Electuaries, Lozenges and Syrups, so that they have been disguised under any disguise at the arbitrement of the Author or liking of the Patient; The Artist might of all these materials and Menstruums choose which he likes best; but our advice is still that he should choose the best prepared matter, and that which hath less of impure sulphur in it: Wherhfore let him take of the Glass made without addition, and that he may be yet surer of his way, we shall teach the manner of yet better correcting it, and preparing therewith some infusions and preparations, by which it shall appear, that those that cast a disreputation upon antimonial Remedies, were never well acquainted with them, since they may be made more secure and pleasant than the easiest and gentlest purge which may be taken out of Vegetables; and as we have said that Wine did tender Antimony too volatile, we will nevertheless show that it may be extracted with Wine, and yet at the same time deprived from that volatile spirit, which exalts it and advances too quickly its operation.   

The correction of antimonial Glass, or Emetical powder corrected.  
℞ lb xij. of antimonial Glass made without addition, and ℥ iij. ss. of very pure and dry Saltpetre, beaten them each severally to powder, than mingle exactly together; after this, put a small earthen pot not glazed in a Furnace upon a round T●e, encompass it with fire and coals, administering your heat by degrees until it grows read hot, than throw your mixture by spoonfuls therein, and when all the matter is in, let it grow glowing hot without melting, than remove away the pot and take up the lump, which shall be of a yellowish colour, beaten i● to powder in a hot Mortar, this powder throw in in a Chopine or almost a pint of distilled Rain-water, and stir it without delay, that the Niter might quickly be dissolved, than draw of immediately the water, and dry the remaining powder, observing this, that you mingle not the coursest part of the powder in the bottom of the Vessel, but content yourself with the subtlest part thereof; and so shall you have so gentle an Emetical powder, and so well corrected, that it may be given either in infusion or Syrup, and even in Wine to sucking Children and aged persons, without any fear of the lest accident. The Dosis for Children is from iij. to ix. gr. in infusion in boiling Wine in proportionate quantity, which must be filtrated in the morning, and so administered to the Patient. The Dosis for strong and more aged persons is from viij. grains to ℈ j with the same method and observation. But if you will do better, prepare therewith the following Syrup.   

The true antimonial Syrup.  
℞ ℥ j of this Emetical powder corrected, and put it in infusion in B. M. in a glass Cucurbite, with pound iiij. of well depurared juice of Quinces the space of three or four days; after this draw of the clear part of it by decantation, and filtrate the muddy, mix with this juice impregnated with the virtue of Antimony, lib. ij. of Sugar in powder, boil all these to the consistency and thickness of a syrup in a glazed earthen pan in the vapour of a Balneo; and the syrup being made, add unto it vj. drops of oil of Cinament, and ij. drops of oil of Cloves, well wrought before into ʒ j of Sugar in powder. This Syrup is a noble purgative and Emetic for the most tender and delicate constitutions, The Dosis is from ʒ ij. to ℥ j ℥ j ss. to ℥ ij.   

The true Emetical purgative Tartar.  
℞ ℥ iiij. of the corrected Emetical powder before it hath been washed, mix them 〈◊〉 as much of pure and well dried Bohemian-tartar, this mixture put in a glass Cucurbite in sad, and pour upon it ℥ iij. of distilled Rain-water, boil and evaporate them together to a dry bottom, than take up the lump and dissolve it in a sufficient quantity of the same water, filtrate the dissolution to separate the powder from it, than evaporate the filtrated liquor to a salt, upon which pour drop by drop very good spirit of Vitriol, until you shall perceive not more of ebullition nor any noise, which is a true sign that it is satiated; evaporate all the superfluous moisture, until you have a very dry salt of a pleasant taste, which is administered in Broths or some convenient Decoction; sometimes it works only by Stools and Urines, but it provokes also for the most part Vomiting, when it meets with a stomach stuffed with slime and other viscous matters which do rise in the stomach and ferment easily. The Dosis may be from ℈ s. to ʒ s. It is a Remedy which cannot be sufficiently praised nor commended. Our Counsel than is, that the Artist prepare his Emetical Wine with this corrected Glass, viz. infusing ℥ j φ. of his Emetical corrected powder in lb vj. of boiling wine in B. M. in a great double or blind glass Body, or in a Pelican the space of 24 hours, than filtrate it afterwards through a paper, wherein hath been put ℥ j ss. of Sugar in powder, impregnated with ℈ j of oil of Cinnament, and ℈ φ. of oil of Cloves; and thus shall you have an Emetical Wine, which may be relied upon without any scruple, and for using of which no Physician can ever run hazard of being reproached. The Dosis shall be from ounce ss. to iij. or iiij. the virtues of these three last Remedies you shall find with those we have attributed to the other preparations, both purging and Emetical, to which we refer him to avoid needless repetitions.   

Ophthalmick antimonial Water.  
℞ Of antimonial Glass reduced to an alkohol, or triturated Crocus Metallorum, in the same manner ℥ s. put it in a Matrass with ʒ j of Florentine Iris Root, and vj. Cloves grossly beaten to powder, pour upon Rhew water, and Eyebright, and Fennel water ana ounce vj. place them in a vaporous Balneo, or in the warm Summer Sun to infuse, and stir often the Vessel during the space of fifteen days, which are required for perfecting the Infusion, and you shall have an Ophthalmick water, with which very few are comparable, for strengthening the sight against suffusions and blemishes, and to dry and cleanse the pustulous cruptions which grow often in the corners of the eyes, and in the lids, and cause there a kind of itching and biting inflammation. But that which is most to be wondered at is, that this water causes no pain, and yet produces very great effects.   

The salification of Antimony.  
WE shall deliver two several ways of preparing the salt of Antimony, as we have done two different manners of extracting the Tincture. For the first, Take the remainder of the antimonial Glass whereof the first Tincture was extracted, and mingle it with its equal weight of Brinstone in powder, than calcine them together, in the same manner as you did calcine Antimony to prepare Glass thereof, and stir well the matters until all the Brimstone be consumed, but have a special care not to give too intense a fire, otherwise the powder would melt and return again to the Body of Antimony; this done, grinned the remainder to an alkohol upon the Porphyry stone, put the powder in a Matrass, and pour upon it very good distilled Vinegar four fingers high, than put it to digest and extract in sand the space of viij. days, and drawing of the Vinegar pour new in the place until all the salt be extracted, filtrate the extractions, and evaporate the Vinegar till it raises a skin, or what is better yet, till it leaves a dry bottom; dissolve the salt remaining in it in phlegm of Vinegar, filtrate and evaporate, and thus continued till the salt be clean and white, and being in this condition, digest it the space of fifteen days with alkoholized spirit of Wine, than draw of the spirit again slowly in B. M. and preserve this precious Salt in a well stopped Viol; The Dosis and Virtues whereof we will declare after we have made a description of the other, as it follows.   

The second way of preparing salt of Antimony.  
℞ The black matter remaining after the extraction of the second tincture, and dry it well in an earthen dish, put it without any other previous calcination in a Matrass, & pour upon it spirit of Vinegar very pure and very subtle, digest them together, & make extraction thereof, filtrate, evaporate, dissolve and depurate as we prescribed in the foregoing description; digest it also with the spirit of Wine which you shall draw from this noble Salt to a dry bottom, and keep for use. This Salt is put in parallel, and as highly valued as the salt of Gold, because it cleanses and purifies the blood, purges the body from all superfluous humours and all filth; cures Leprosy and Venerean Pocks, doth wonders upon the Gout, digests and evacuates as it were insensibly internal Abscessus and Impostumes; cures all inward and outward Ulcers, and expels and drives away all Agues, but particularly quartans. The Dosis is from j to iv. grains, in the same liquors and with the same observations as those we have hinted, treating of the use of the Tinctures of Antimony, and let no body wonder if we have attributed so many noble virtues to antimonial Remedies; for besides that I have not followed the most Hyperbolical Authors, yet I am so much convinced of its noble and most excellent virtues and proprieties by the effects I have spoken of, that I openly confess, that Man's life is too short to go through the Anatomy of Antimony as it aught to be done, and that we are too short sighted and our capacity too weak to discover, or penetrate into the secret mysteries which are hidden in it, for Man's ignorance will ever leave a larger Field therein for admiration, than comprehension and knowledge.  
We have already said above, that our intention was not to speak of the mercurial extraction of Metals, and less of Antimony; some reasons therefore we have given, to which we add, that although we have exactly proceeded in the experiments of several directions, both printed and taken out of Manuscripts, with all the requisite care and punctuality imaginable, yet could we never bring any of them to pass; however we do not proudly and magisterially deny the possibility of this extraction: we do rather choose to leave the feasablenesse thereof to the power of Nature and the perfection of Art, acknowledging our ignorance, or of those which did pen the said Directions which hitherto we have followed, and leaving the liberty of a further disquisition, to them that will give themselves the trouble thereof.   

Of Bismut, called by some white Antimony.  
ALthough this Marcassite or metallic excrement be not used internally in Physic, yet is it endowed with very excellent virtues for outward applications: wherefore we will subjoin the preparation thereof to that of Antimony, because some take it for a species of this Mineral, and call it female Antimony, the French call it Estain de glass, Glass Tin, the Germane, Bismut, and many only Marcassite, by way of excellency and distinction. We will describe four preparations thereof, viz. the Magistery, flowing Liquor or Oil, and Salt.   

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

The distillation of Bismut.  
℞ lb u of Bismut as it comes from the Mine, before it has ever felt the fire, beaten it to powder and digest and macerate it with good white Wine, in a blind or double Vessel the space of three days, draw of the Wine after digestion, and put new in the place, and thus proceed digesting with new Wine, until you have spent viij. or x. pints of Wine: finally, pour the fourth part of the Wine digested upon this Marcassite upon its own Body in a Cucurbite, which place in sand, and cover it with a Limbeck; draw of the Menstruum with a moderate heat to a dry bottom, cohobate the fourth part, than the third, and finally the fourth in the same heat to a dry bottom, and when you see it yields no more moisture, stop the nose of the Limbeck, and increase the fire, and there will sublimate and rise in the head thereof white silvered Flowers, which keep without further preparation in a well stopped Viol, or if you put them in a Cellar upon a glass Table they will dissolve into Oil, or to speak more properly, into Liquor, which keep also for its uses. This done, put all what you have extracted by distillation in a capacious Cucurbite, to draw of the spirit of Wine, which may yet be employed in some other operations upon Minerals, and pouring the rest in a bottle metal earthen pan; evaporate in sand till it comes to a pint, than let it rest the space of three days, and if the Artist doth not see some chrystallization of salt to shoot above it, let him evaporate half of the remaining Liquor away, and throw some very clean straws in the Liquor, which being put again in a cold place, the crystals of Salt will stick to the straw; thus go on in evaporating and chrystallizing until no more salt doth come, dry gently and slowly that which you have got, and keep it in a Viol for use.  
The Flowers are preferable to the Magistery for the outward application upon the skin, and the liquor thereof made in cold, takes away all spots and freckles from it; the Flowers may be mixed in Pomatum's. But the Liquor and salt are wondered Remedies against all kind of cancerous and malignant Ulcers, and the cure of Fistula's. Briefly, that Surgeon that shall be industrious enough to apply them to their proper uses, shall find them to be two external Remedies not inferior to any other Topical Medicament whatsoever; He may also mingle them with Injections or vulnerary Waters, with whom he shall inject them with Syringes, and wash and foment therewith Ulcers, particularly those that participate of a cancerous or corroding nature: for this Mineral is endowed with a volatile sulphur and a balsamic Salt, which cannot sufficiently be esteemed for softening and allaying of pain, and mundifying and bringing to a full cure the most desperate and malignant Ulcers.    

SECTION V Of Salts.  
WE may say in general, that Salts are nothing else than Minerals dissoluble in water, and which after evaporation of the said water, may be restored into salt. But as we speak not here of salts as they are principles and causes of Physical generations; so will we only deliver plainly our mind concerning mineral Salts, either natural or artificial which are used in Physic, and afford many vere good Remedies, and many excellent dissolvents by the help of Chemistry. And as we have spoken above of the preparation of animal and vegetable salts, so have we not more left to do now, than to examine and describe the nature of such mineral salts as are natural, and of those which though artificially prepared, keep still in themselves the Character and Idea of mineral natural salts. We must nevertheless say something of their original in general terms, before we come to the particular description, and so give a general Idea and Prospect of such Operations as are performed upon salts.  
The original and spring of mineral salts cannot otherwise be conceived than intellectually, and by the comparison which a natural Philosopher must make of sensible and known things, with those that are hidden and removed from knowledge. For as he can perceive some salinous substances to be generated in Animals and Vegetables, from the superfluity of their food and nourishment, or by some action of their internal heat, or coagulation of their Bohemian-tartar naturally coagulable; even so doth he conceive the great World to be filled with a spirituous and luminous substance analogous to food, which maintains the generation and production of all things by the help and ministry of heat; and when this spirituous and lucid Aliment hath once stamped his character and efficacy in any substance or place, and that it gins to contract a heat in itself, and to overflow, there mineral salts are generated; and according as the matrices where this coagulation is made are different, so likewise are produced salts of a different & distinct nature: such as are common salt, salt Gem, Allom, Salt-peter, Vitriol, to which is added likewise Armoniac salt, though prepared by Art The preparations of salts in general are, Purification, Calcination, Distillation, Sublimation, Fixation and Liquation. We will give examples of all these operations, when we describe every one of these salts in particular, the better to instruct the Sons of art, and proceed still as we have done hitherto, with the lest possible confusion.  

Of common Salt, and its Chemical Preparation.  
COmmon salt, is nothing else but that substance which causes the brine of water, whether it belongs to the Sea, or some spring yielding the same, and the water being vapoured away, leaves that which we call Common or Kitchen salt; And though under this general appellation many species be included, yet the best of all them is that they call Sea-salt, or Bay-salt; and particularly that which hath been dried up in saltish Marshes, by the virtue of the Sun beams, and the salifick ferment which is peculiar to the soil of those Marshes after they have been impregnated with impressions and particles of the light: wherefore our Counsel is to the Sons of Art, ever to make use of that kind of salt, whensoever they find the name of Salt mentioned in any Author, or some practical Manuscript; and as sal gemm is nothing else but a natural conctetion of Common salt in some Matrix of the earth, so think we unnecessary to give him any peculiar preparation, since the way of preparing it is the same with Common salt.   

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

The Calcination of Common Salt.  
THere are two kind of Calcinations of salt, Decrepitation, and Fusion. Decrepitation is nothing else but the calcination of salt in an earthen pot not glazed with a circular fire, until the salt makes no moncracks or noise; the end of it is by reason of mixing the salt with other substances in some operations, and because when the fire works upon it, it crawls, leaps and stirs, and so might scatter and discompose the said substances joined with it, which happens not when it is decrepitated; besides, that this Calcination deprives it also from its phlegm and moisture: but if it be too much urged by the fire, the acid spirit flies also away: wherefore the Artist must here govern the fire gently and with discretion, to make it rather a violent Exsiccation, than such a Calcination as might bereave the Body of the salt from its active Spirit.  
The Calcination made by fusion, is nothing else but the melting of the decrepitated salt in a Crucible in the wind-furnace; if this salt be kept melted in a warm and dry place, it will preserve itself in a lump, to be used when there shall be occasion; But if it be exposed to the air, it dissolves in water, which must be filtrated and put in a Bottle; it is that which Paracelsus calls Sal solutum & aqua salis, dissolved salt, or water of Salt. There is besides a third Calcination of salt, called the fixatory Calcination, which is made with equal parts of Common salt and quicklime, which is put in an earthen unglazed pot, and being exactly covered, place in a wind-Furnace in a violent heat until it melts to a lump; which done, cease the fire, and dissolve the lump in Rain-water, filtrate and evaporate to a dry bottom, and reiterate so often this Calcination with quick lime, that at last it may become a fusible salt, which is used for extracting the Tincture of Metals, upon which process the Sons of Art may make their reflection, for this is not without some Mystery.  
Having delivered the manner of these general Preparations, we must say something in general also of the virtues of Common salt, before we come to the particular application of those that are found in each particular preparation. Common salt is generally good for cleansing all rotten, putrid and hollow Ulcers, to resolve all Tumours and Boils, but chief pestilential sores; it allays the fire of burn, dries scabs and itch, takes away mange, resolves extravasated blood, and removeth the lividity or blewishnesse of Contusions and bruises, assuages the Toothache and pains of the Head and Gout: but for all this the use is only external, mixed in Water, Vinegat or Urine according to the distemper; the best for all these purposes is that which hath been melted without addition, because its internal sulphur gins to produce itself, as it appears by the redness of its colour. But if salt hath many virtues in outward applieations, it possesses no less eminently several remarkable ones internally used: for it doth heat and dry, cleanses and purges, hath a gentle astriction, consumes superfluities, penetrates, digests, opens, cuts phlegm and tough humours, provokes lust, resists putrefaction and venoms: wheresore it is of singular use to correct the crudities of the stomach, quicken appetite, and helps the recovery of it when lost, removes obstructions of the Belly and Reins, and is good against gripping of the Guts and Colic: Finally according to Basilius it is the noblest and best of Aromats', and the true Balsam of Nature.   

The distillation of Common Salt.  
ALthough many Artists have spent their Philosophy and meditation upon the distillation of Common salt, and that Glauber amongst the rest, hath taught a way to extract a great quantity of it in a short time, yet have I found no surer nor quicker way, or less intricate and more easy to put in practice, than that which I shall now teach. But before we come to the description of it, let us make some necessary Notes: for is it not first a very strange thing, that the most part of those which describe this Operation, will have the salt to be decrepitated? but as we have said above, that violent Exsiccation, not to say Calcination, separates and takes away from the salt its volatile spirit, phlegm, and almost always the best part of its acid spirit, which aught not to be done, since the volatile spirit and phlegm have also their uses in Physic, and it is not fit the Artist should want of skill and knowledge, and loose that which he may easy preserve without any way endangering his Operation, provided he observes well the degrees of fire. The Artist must also note in the second place, that some do mix salt with the heterogeneous matters, pretending thereby to facilitate the distillation thereof; as for example, burnt Allom and Colchotar of Vitriol; but they do not consider, that by this means they altar and change the virtue of the spirit of Salt. Some other do mix ordinary Clay, taking no notice that oftentimes this earth is impregnated with some mixture of metallic or mineral seed, as it is evident by the smell of the smoke, phlegm of Kills where Bricks or Tiles are ordinarily backed, and likewise of Potter's Furnaces; so that all things well considered, the Artist must choose such kind of Earth or Clay which may be of a most fix nature, and contribute the lest of its quality to the spirit of salt; Now amongst all the several kinds, that which is called Sigillated or fine Bolus, are of a nature which cannot at all bring any alteration to the salt, unless to the better: wherefore we would have either of these two used for the distillation of this Spirit, which is made as we will now declare, so as to hinder the fusion or melting of the salt.   

How to make and duly prepare the Spirit of Salt.  
℞ lb ij. of Common salt purified, beaten it in a Marble Mortar, and mix it by parcels of ℥ ij. at once, with ℥ vj. of fine Bolus or sigillated Earth, and all the mixture being exactly done, knead it and incorporate it with water of Salt, which is melted salt dissolved in a cold Cellar, and thereof make a kind of paste, whereof frame Pellets to be dried in an Oven, after the bread is removed, or in the heart of the Sun; break one of the Pellets to know whether it be dry to the very Centre, and that being so, fill up with it a great earthen Retort very well luted, and having placed it in a close Reverberatory, fit a large and capacious Recipient to the neck thereof, which lute exactly and cover the Furnace, leaving a Register in the middle above the Retort, that the fire may the better circulate about it. The Lute being well dried, give it first a gentle fire fit to warm only, and modify both the matter and Vessel, and when the drops shall begin to fall, and the body of the Recipient to grow warm, proceed softly and gently in your work; for it is a sign that the volatile spirit of salt, gins to free and disentangle himself from the Body, and as it is a subtle and fiery spirit, you must stop the Register and moderate the fire, until the first rage of it be allayed, for it is at that instant and nick of time that the whole operation runs more danger, because this sulphureous spirit is coagulated with difficulty; this will last ordinarily four or five hours, after which the acid spirit gins to come forth, which appears by vapours and white clouds which fill up the Recipient; than may the Artist freely increase the fire without fear of any danger, and continued it stronger and stronger, until the flame comes forth through the Register, and the neck of the Retort appears read as fire through the body of the Recipient; this Operation cannot be well completed in less space than of thirty. hours, after which cease the fire, and the next day open your Vessels, wherein you shall find in the Recipient a liquor mixed with the volatile spirit the phlegm, and the acid spirit of the salt, some do add to this the oil of Salt, but improperly. Pour all these into a Cucurbite and place it in B. M. to draw of the volatile spirit which ascends first, having a sulphureous smell, and frames subtle and crooked veins in the head of the Limbeck, receive it as long as these come forth, and when you see the veins to grow strait, and the drops falling to have none of the smell or taste of the volatile spirit; change the Recipient to receive the phlegm, and increase the fire stronger than before, because it doth not so easily ascend as the volatile spirit, and when the distilling drops shall have an acidity, cease the fire; for it would prove too great a toil to endeavour to raise the acid spirit by reason of its heaviness in B. M. the heat whereof is too weak and insufficient for this purpose, If the Artist hath a design to apply the acid spirit of salt to physical uses, he needs not rectify it any more, for it hath an excellent and very pleasant acidity as it comes out of B. M. wherefore he may preserve of this a third or one half part for his use, and put the Cucurbite in sand to draw the other half by distillation, and so shall he have a true acid spirit of salt very clear and very pleasant, and that which remains in the bottom of the Cucurbite will be of a yellowish colour, heavy, and of a biting and violent sharpness, fit to be used in the dissolution of Metals, and chief stones; this is that substance which improperly is called Oil of Salt.  
We have noted here all the circumstances of the distillation and rectification of the spirits of Salts, that we may have no need to make unnecessary repetitions thereof when we shall speak of other salts, since whosoever can exactly well draw the spirit of salt, can never be mistaken in the distillation of others. So that we have no more to do now, than to add the proprieties and virtues of several substances drawn and proceeding from the Common Salt.  
First than, the volatile sulphureous spirit is a good Cephalick and Sudorific, wherefore it may be given from ij. p. to x. in Broths and appropriated waters, to those which are troubled with Megrim, or any other Headache; it is also very excellent to be mingled in the ordinary drink of feverish or aguish persons, allaying thirst, and assuaging their restlessness. They may also have Frontals applied, made with the phlegm, that have inveterate pains in the Head, and not sleep through too much heat and disquietness. But above all things the phlegm is excellent to wash Wounds and Ulcers, which it wonderfully doth cleanse without pain or grief; but contrariwise, it appeases it if there be any. It is also a wondered fomentation for the swollen joints and pained limbs in gouty people, provided you mingle a little of its volalatile spirit, and a little of salt of Saturn with it. The acid spi●● of salt is diuretical and good against gravel and stone, it resolves and drives away powerfully Bohemian-tartar and Muscilagineous substances from all the parts of the body: wherefore it is of very good use to open all obstructions of the Liver and Spleen, and generally all the parts of the Ventricle; is singular against Dropsy, for it quenches the thirst of the Patient; it is also wondered against Jaundice, ebullitions of blood, driving away by Urine the causes of both Diseases; it is of a sovereign efficacy to stop Gangrenes, and to resist all manner of corruption and putrefaction; mixed with oil of Turpentine or oil of Wax, it appeases the ache and grief of the Gout, dissipating the Tophus' and Nodosity's thereof; it quickens again, and cures also the contraction of Members and withered Limbs, and doth remedy their atrophy.  
We have spoken above of the sweet spirit of Salt and tempered Water, when we made mention of Coral and of its Tincture, where also we did relate its proprieties and virtues; wherefore we shall not use vain repetitions here. We will only add one distillation more of an extraordinary spirit of Salt very Philosophical, and which is altogether endowed with a particular virtue.   

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

The preparation of the sweet Crystals of Common salt, or the coagulated spirit of Salt.  
YOU must choose first a capacious and large Retort, made of good Earth, capable to resist fire and not porous, the neck of the Retort must be three fingers broad in diameter, that the spirits issuing forth in abundance may have a free passage, let it also have a channel or Conduit in the upper part made Funnel-like, only five inches high, with a very close and well fitted stopple, easy both to be shut and drawn of again with the same ease, and without stirring the Retort; moreover, this Retort must be walled in a close Reverberatory, having four Registers in the four corners, the channel or Conduit-pipe of the Retort being just in the middle; all this being so fitted and prepared, throw into the Retort lb iiij. of Bay salt well purified and well dried; put a large round glass Body, or balon to the neck of the Retort with lb j of distilled Rain-water in it; lute exactly the joints, and let the Lute dry very well, that no crack may be in it; than begin to give it a gradual fire, which increase to that height that it may leave the salt in fusion in the Retort; this done, throw into it j or ij. drops of cold water with a Feather by the upper pipe or channel, and stop it immediately; it will yield great store of vapours which will come over into the Recipient, and the Recipient being cleared, begin again to throw j or ij. drops more of water at the most; for otherwise the Vessel might fly up and the Artist run hazard to be hurt; keep up the fire in this height for preserving the salt in fusion, and proceed in throwing of water by drops until it be turned all into spirits and vapour, which done, let the fire cease and the Vessels cool. Put whatsoever is found in the Recipient in a Cucurbite in B. M. if so be you find it pure and clear; if not, filtrate it before you draw of the phlegm, and distilled Rain-water which was added, than try in a cool place if any Crystals will shoot, which if you find; separate the Crystals which are sweet and of a pleasant taste, and proceed in the extraction of superfluous moisture and chrystallization until it yields no more Crystals: keep some part of these Crystals in a Viol very-exactly stopped; because they may so be more ready and easy for transportation, and put the rest in a Cellar to dissolve into a Liquor which will be of the same virtue and efficacy, but the Dosis must be a little bigger. Both Crystals and Liquor are two good Diaphoreticks or Sudorificks, allaying altogether the thirst of hydropical persons, and restoring to their languishing bodies that essential moisture which is daily consumed and preyed upon by that undermining Disease, strengthening their digestion, and restablishing all the entrailss which suffer by it and are altered; briefly, it is a true vital Balsam in all other Diseases, and chief in the Plague and all malignant and burning Fevers. They are also good Topical Remedies to mundify evil Ulcers, and resolve Tumours and swell.   

Of Niter or Salt-peter, and its Chemical preparation.  
ALthough there are many that take Saltpetre to be an universal Salt, believing that it possesses in itself the Soul of the World, yet we are of a different judgement, if by Niter or Salt-peter is understood that crystalline Hexagonal salt, which is used in the making of Gunpowder. But if by Niter or Salt-peter be understood a mysterious salt which is the soul of all physical generations, a Child and Son of Light, and the Father of all Germination and Vegetation, we confess that Salt in such a respect to be Universal: but we say at the same time, that it is more to be apprehended by the Intellect than the Senses, and that this divine Salt cannot be comprehended nor hidden under any other covering or shape, than of the sulphureous and Mercurial volatile salt of all natural Bocies, since this salt is endowed of all the essential and centric virtues of sublunary Mixts. But as concerning Niter or Salt-peter, which is common in our daily use, we do not deny, but that it possesses in itself much of a volatile sulphur and Mercutial spirit, which have their original from Light; and are folded, wrapped, and sealed in a course and earthly saline matter proceeding from the Water and the Earth, which is the reason that much of Philosophy, and much of work and operation must be bestowed upon, before any body can attain to the capacity of separating these several substances, by disintangling this wondered Agent from the society of its matter, without losing or imbezelling any of its essential and heavenly qualities. But as it is not our design to treat generally of Saltpetre, so will we restrain ourselves to speak of it here as only of a mineral salt, which is extracted from fat and fruitful Earth. Wherhfore a Lie is prepared with water which this salt coagulates with its self, as it appears by the fusion of Niter, which by the action of the fire loses all its aquosity, so that there remains in it nothing but the taste and virtue of an Urinous and Lixivial salt, which properly is nothing else but that fat and fruitful salt extracted from the earth, separated by fire from the water which Nature or Art had mixed with it: and this is not one of the lest secters and mysteries of Chemistry, if it be well heeded and meditated upon. For we must confess, that Niter is one of the most wondered and powerfulest Agents which Nature hath lent to Art, as the Sons of Art may have noted hitherto by those Operations wherein we have used it, and may yet note by those we shall describe in the sequel of this Discourse.  
We say than, that Saltpetre is a sulphural salt, partly volatile, and mixed with another earthly salt of a saline and bitter taste, extracted from fat Earth's or Grounds, and from the mines of old Buildings; as likewise from Vaults of Cellars and Stables, the Earth having received the impression and being impregnated with the Excrements and Urines of Beasts, the volatile salt whereof did join and imbody itself with the salt of the Earth, and these two being knit and indivisibly united together by the power and action of the light and air upon it, and of the Archaeus of the Earth which is the Director of all mineral generations, Chemists do call it the Chemical Ce●berus, the infernal Salt, the sulphurate Salt; the Dragon of the Earth, the winged Serpent. Now, as we have still begun all our Operations by charging the Son of Art, ever to be careful of choosing well his Materials before he puts them to work, so do we here enjoin him to take very good heed in the choice of his Saltpetre, and would have him capable of setting a difference between that which of itself is good, without any previous separation, and that which abounds with fixed salt, which of necessity must be depurated and separated from it that it may be without mixture. The visible notes of that purity, are the length of the Needles, their whiteness and transparency, and the hexagonal Figure which this salt takes always in its chrystallization: moreover, there is the taste which must be of a harsh acidity and sharpness, somewhat bitter and ending in a saline sowrishnesse: nevertheless, all these marks are not yet absolutely concluding for its goodness and purity; wherefore the Artist must have his recourse to that trial which is made by fire; Let him than take a burning coal, and put one or two ʒ of Niter upon it, and so let it burn and evaporate into the air; if nothing remains upon the coal, the action of fire being ovet, it is a true sign of the goodness and purity of the Saltpetre; but he shall judge of the value and goodness according to the greater or lesser quantity of fixed salt which remains upon the coal. Physicians are in debate amongst themselves of the first qualities of Niter; for some believe it to be cold, others contrariwise hot; but without losing time about these trifles, we will say generally the virtues of Niter, by the rehearsal of which it shall appear that the last are better grounded than the first in their Assertion, since it resists putrefaction, quenches thirst, and cools powerfully sick and languishing persons, chief feverish Bodies, but it doth not produce such an effect by any cold quality, but rather by the quickness and subtlety of its parts, which insinuates and causes the Patient's Drink to penetrate from the centre of the body to the Circumference; and moreover, because this Salt hath in itself a sulphur and subtle spirit which recreates and strengthens the Archaeus, so as to dispose him to meliorate and better qualify those functions which it does exercise: add to this that Niter doth cut and attenuate slimy humours, and muscilagineous matters and tartarous coagulations, which are the cause of obstructions; it resolves congealed blood and alleys pains. It is given to persons troubled with pleurisy, hot and putrid Fevers, against gravel in the Kidneys and Bladder, and heats of Urine. The use of it is also very commendable in Gargels, against inflammations in the Throat and Quinsy. It is of very good success outwardly applied in Fomentations with Fillers, to take away the heat and grief of burn, and other inflammations proceeding from effervescency of blood. But let this suffice concerning the general uses of it, since we are to speak more particularly of it in the description of its preparations, which are Purification, Calcination, Fixation, and Distillation.   

The purification of Niter.  
℞ lb x. of common Niter, otherwise called of the first boiling, put it in an earthen pot not glazed, place the pot in a wind-Furnace, and give it fire by degrees until the Niter gins to melt, and whilst it is in fusion, throw by degrees in it ℥ ij. of powder of Allom and Armoniac salt ground together; this will cause at every throwing an effervescency, by which the fatness and impurity of the Niter will be driven away, which remove with a hot Iron Ladle, and having done with the powder, cleanse very well the superficie's of the Niter from all impurities; than throw it in a brass Mortar very clean and warm; the Niter being grown cold in the Mortar, grinned and dissolve it in Spring-water in the heat of a clear wood-fire, than strain it through a Blanket, and pour immediately into this straining whilst yet warm ℥ iiij. of good distilled Vinegar, and put the Vessel in a very close place, leaving it there the space of 24. houses, and so shall you find your Niter well chrystallized in fair, clear and transparent Crystals; separate the water from them, and evaporate it by a slow ebullition to a reduction of its half, and let this also shoot into Crystals in the cold; But the Artist must here note, that it is necessary he should still make use of the Niter which proceeds from the first chrystallization, for all the preparations which are to be taken inwardly; and of the remaining for making of aqua fortis, and all other Operations which are of less consequence. Dry gently your Niter between two fair Searchers or sieves turned upside down, and covered with linen cloth or paper that it may not be sullied; than put it in very well closed Boxes in some warm and dry place, to use in all hind of necessary Operations, when occasion shall call for in a Chemical Laboratory.   

Calcination of Niter, to prepare the Crystal Mineral.  
℞ Purified Niter of the first chrystallization very dry, put it to melt in open fire in a good strong Crucible capable of resisting the fire, not apt to crack and very well rebacked; when it is in fusion, throw by degrees into it ʒ φ. of flower of Brimstone upon each ounce of Niter; this done, throw it in a brass Skillet very clean, and stir it, that it may be extended in a flat Table or Cake, out of which Lozenges may be cut: or you may form small Rolls thereof with an Iron hot Ladle, pouring it upon a smooth Iron plate, or upon a Marble stone. If you will not take so much pains, pour only this Niter so prepared and melted in a clean and warm Mortar. Now I take this Calcination rather for a Reiteration of purification, than a true preparation of Crystal mineral; wherefore you must have water distilled of the juice of wild Endive, bugloss or borage, and in a convenient portion of this water melt this pretended Crystal mineral, and filtrate it through a paper filled with Province or Damask Roots, or bugloss and borage Flowers, made wet before with a little spirit of sulphur, salt or Vitriol, and thus shall you have a Mineral Crystal pleasant as to the taste, colour and virtue, endowed really with those proprieties and that efficacy we have attributed to Saltpetre. But above all, it will be a true Anodyne and an excellent allayer of thirst and restlessness to Aguish and Feverish persons, to whom may and must lawfully be given the name of Lapis prunella, or S●l prunellae; for it is a sovereign Remedy against those malignant and putrid Fevers, which are called Fieves prunelles or burning Fevers, because prunella in Latin signifies a burning coal. The Dosis must be from ℈ ss. to ʒ j in the ordinary Drink of the Patient, some Decoction, Broth, or distilled water appropriated to the Disease. This Crystal Mineral is a general Remedy, that may be specificated by the addition of several salts which may be united and incorporated with it, as the salt of Saturn, whereof we have spoken treating of Lead, salt of Pearls, Coral, and so of others; and thus may you have a Cordial, Hepatick, Splenetical or Stomachical Crystal mineral, according to the faculty and virtue of the salt which you have joined and coagulated to your well prepared Niter.   

The fixation of Niter.  
MElt lb vj. of very pure Niter in an Iron pot in open fire; throw in it continually by small parcels Charcoal dust, which will immediately take fire, and softly consume by the action of its fire and sulphur, the waterish moisture which the salt of the Earth had coagulated and united to itself in its chrystallization; continued this throwing of Coal-dust until you find it will kindle not more, and that the remainder of the Niter gins to thicken and turn to a bluish and greenish colour; than cease this Operation, and take of this salt out of the pot, and put it in a warm Mortar: and if the Artist will preserve any of it whole, let him put thereof as it is hot and dry in a Bottle, and stop it exactly with a stople dipped in melted Wax. This is true fixed Niter, much altered from its first nature; for it is not more volatile or apt to be turned into Crystals, but contrariwise turns exposed to the air into a liquor which is subtle and penetrating, hath an urinous and lixivial taste like unto salt of Bohemian-tartar, but yet more biting and more penetrating. We are beholding to Glauber for the invention of this Liquor, who hath given us the description thereof under the name of Liquor alkahest, fit to draw the Tinctures of all natural Bodies, whether Animals, Vegetables or Minerals, and to speak truly, this Liquor hath in it something very considerable, being capable of extracting the sulphurs of Metals, provided they have been well opened before; those of Minerals do easily yield unto it, from whence it may be concluded that it takes in an instant the sulphurs and volatile salts of Animals and Vegetables. If any Chemical Artists have a curiosity for these noble Oparations, they shall find them in the Book which this great and famous Artist hath given us thereof. But there is left much matter of speculation and Philosophy upon this fixation of Niter, which is made by the Vegetable sulphur of Coals, which doth change it into the nature of salt Alkali, whose taste is urinous and lixivial; this salt being capable of fertilizing the worst Earth's, if the seeds to be put in be prepared with a Liquor made of this salt and some other Ingredients, this admirable Salt so nourishing and invigorating the bud or sprout of the seed, that it multiplies to so high a number as to seem altogether Hyperbolical, and fabulous to those which apprehended not the hidden mystery which Nature doth extract from the light of Spirits and Salts, and how the sperm of the seed finds in this saline Liquor that which is analogous to its principle, doth greedily suck and attract it, for which reason being as it were doubly strengthened, it shoots and puts forth a more vigorous and numerous stalk, yielding ears and grains of Corn above all belief, as it hath been seen and tried in Paris some years since. But to make this Assertion more plain and palpable, let us reflect upon the practice of the Husbandman in Britain and the Forest of Ordermes; who meeting with unfruitful and barren grounds, producing nothing but Heath and Fern, a kind of wild Flag and Broom, use to pair of the upper part or mole of their ground, pluck of the Broom and Fern, and drying all in heaps something distant one from the other, set it on fire, leaving after the heavenly influences and Rain to work upon this calcined Earth, containing the Alkali of all the plants fixed by their own sulpbur; this Alkali assisted by the sulphur hath contracted a fatness and clammy moisture, heavy and of slow motion, which communicated to the lightness, dryness and too great porosity of the Earth, causes it to keep with it a kind of greediness and delectation, a pleasant substance and nourishment; and as soon as the Rain doth abound and exuberate, it cannot so soon be disjoined from it, neither carried away by the violent heat of the Sun by reason of its fixedness; and so it comes to pass, that when these Husbandmen have ploughed and sowed their grounds, they reap store of Rye for the first year and Oats in the second. We brought in this story only to the end that the Artist may reflect with his meditation upon this salt, and note the better its worth and excellency, which proceeds from nothing else but the mystery of Nature contained in the Saltpetre, which he must seek by his industry how to free and disengage.   

To make the Solar dissolutive Earth of fixed Niter.  
℞ lb j of the fixed Niter which you kept in a Bottle, pour upon it lb ij. of very good distilled Vinegar, put it in ashes to digest 24 hours, than distil and draw of the liquor to a dry bottom, and your Vinegar will ascend tastelesse and insipid; reiterate in the same manner the same operation with new distilled Vinegar, until the Vinegar comes of with the same sharpness as you did pour it on; than dry it well, and dissolve it in very good alkoholized spirit of Wine, filtrate and digest them together during the space of four natural days, than distil in B. M. to a dry bottom, drawing of the spirit of Wine again, which you may yet use afterwards in all other Operations. Put after this your Cucurbite wherein lieth the salt in a sand-Furnace, and give it a good fire, so shall the salt cleanse itself from all remaining impurities, and settle in the bottom into a substance something resembling Calk, white, of a good and pleasant taste, and dissoluble in all manner of Liquors, melting in the heat like Wax. It is one of the best Remedies amongst Chemical preparations, for it opens all obstructions and purges gently and without prejudice, and giving offence to the digestive faculty of the stomach, both by Stools, Urines and Sweats. It corrects the malignancy of all Purgatives, and increases their strength in double proportion, it is one of the most sovereign Medicaments that can be made use of against Chronical and obstinate Diseases. The Dosis may be from ℈ j to ℥ ss. and ℈ ij. in infusion of Rhubarb made with this salt, a little of Cinnamon and white Wine, or in Broth.   

The distillation of Niter, and how to prepare the spirit of Niter.  
℞ lb ij. of depurated Saltpetre, grinned it by little and little with lb vj. of common Bolus, and being thus well mixed make a paste of it with water impregnated with as much pure Saltpetre as it is capable to dissolve in the cold, knead and work well the paste, and roll it to make Pellets therewith fit to be put in a great earthen well luted Retort, which place in a close Reverberatory, and fit a capacious Recipient to the neck of the Retort, exactly luted with a salted Lute. The Lute being dry, begin to give it your fire by degrees, and thus proceed the space of 20 or 24 hours, with the same gradation as we have taught in the distillation of the spirit of Salt. There is nevertheless this difference between them, that Saltpetre alone yields read spirits, by reason of its soul and internal spirits, which are children of the Sun, for all other salts sand forth only whitish vapours; this is that Spirit which ancient Philosophers have called the Salamander's blood, as if one should say, the blood and soul of Fire. This is the most ordinary way of preparing the spirit of Niter, to use in all dissolutions and other Chemical operations. But there is yet another manner of preparing it with more subtlety for inward uses, to apply it as a Remedy; which is thus performed.  
℞ Of the finest Saltpetre you can find, and very dry, reduce lb ij. thereof in powder in a warm Mortar, in a very dry & fair day, pound also lb uj, of pots made with ordinary Clay, only wrought & dried before they be baked; mingle these two substances exactly together, and pour them in a capacious glass Retort with a very broad or wide neck, and chief from that side which is towards the belly of the Retort, let it be luted with a very good sticking Lute, abiding in the fire and not easily falling of, neither cracking; fit to the neck thereof a very large Recipient, and lute or close the Vessels together only with a wet Bladder, begin the fire very slowly at first, and thus go on increasing by degrees until all the phlegm be come over, and the Recipient gins to grow read, than empty the Recipient, or substitute another like unto it very dry and clean, which lute with the same Earth wherewith the Retort was luted; than increase the fire and keep it still higher, so as you perceive that the falling drops shall be of a read or yellow colour, or that the Recipient gins to loose something of its high read colour, even during the great height of the fire; for this is a true sign of the end of the Operation, and do not expect till the colour gins to grow cleater, for this would never hap by reason of the read vapours which this spirit continually sends forth. But the Artist must be preadmonished to take heed, when he comes to unlute the Vessels and pour out this read spirit, for it is so vaporous, subtle and volatile that it would endanger and suffocate him, or it may be cause him to loose all by breaking his Vessels: wherefore let him stand above the Wind and stop his Nose, not opening the mouth, and taking very great heed in the pouring out of it; and to this end let him have both his Bottle and Funnel in great readiness, that he may meet with no stop. The Viol wherein this Spirit is put, must be very exactly closed with an earthen stople, very closely joining on all sides that nothing may evaporate: this spirit is endowed with many admirable faculties, both for Physic and Metallick: but considering it is so subtle and so volatile that it cannot almost be preserved, much less transported or sent upon occasion abroad; there is a way found to mix and circulate it as followeth for better prservation.   

The circulated spirit of Niter for Physic.  
℞ ℥ vj. of the read spirit of Niter, ℥ xij. of Balm water, ℥ ij. of spirit of Lily Convally Flowers, put them together in a capacious Pelican, or two joined Matrasses with a long neck, and place them in a vaporous Balneo in Oat straw, and digest them in a temperate and gentle heat the space of seven continual days: than put this circulated and united spirit to the other, and to the water in a strong Viol very well stopped; as we have said of the spirit; it is an admirable Remedy, both against Apoplexy and Epipilepsey, against Colic, and generally against all obstructions; it is also very good against Agues and Plague. The Dosis is from ℈ j to ʒ j and ʒ j ss. in Wine, Broth, some Decoction or distilled water appropriated to the Disease.  
Now as the aqua fortis and Regal water take only their dissolving faculty properly from Niter, though for the most part other salts be mingled with it, such as are Allom, common Salt, sal gem, Vitriol, and salt Armoniac; therefore will we give a description of them here, as we did promise' above.   

How the good aqua Fortis is to be prepared.  
THe name of aqua fortis hath been given to the spirit extracted from Niter and Vitriol, because it hath the strength and faculty to dissolve all kinds of Metals, Gold excepted, whom it cannot touch or work upon unless it be Regali●ed; that is to say, made capable of dissolving Gold which is the King of Metals, for which cause the name of Regal or Regal water hath been given to this other Dissolvent. Aqua Fortis is made thus:  
Equal parts of Saltpetre of the second chrystallization, and Vitriol only desiccated, to which add half their wright of Brickdust very dry, and put these in a good earthen Retort well luted, fitting to it a Recipient, and make your Operation and Distillation with the same care and precaution as we prescribe above in distilling the spirit of salt. Drive the fire the space of 24 hours, making it the last eight hours of a very quick flame, that the last spirits may be very well drawn of from the Centre of their own Earth, wherein they be strictly entangled. Than there remains a salt of middle nature in the Caput Mortuum (as it is called) which is of very great virtue, by reason of the mixture and action and reaction of the Vitriol and Niter one upon the other, whereof a very good Remedy may be prepared in the manner following.   

The vitriolated Niter, otherwise the Arcanum of Niter and double Panacea.  
PUT the Caput mortuum of your Aqua fortis to digest in boiling distilled Rain-water, and stir it often, the better to extract the salt, filtrate the dissolution, and slowly evaporate it in ashes in an earthen Pan or glass Vessel, and when you shall perceive a small skin gathering on the top of the Liquor, put it to crystallise, than continued to evaporate until you have extracted all the salt; which you must so often dissolve, filtrate, evaporate and crystallise, that it appears clear, pure and bright. Than ℞ ij. p. and φ. of this salt, and p. φ. of mineral Crystal, prepared as we have taught, put them together in a well luted Cucurbite, being first triturated into very subtle powder, calcine them together in open fire in this Cucurbite, giving it a gradual fire until they be together in fashion; the Vessel being cooled draw out the matter, and grinned it once more with an eighth part of mineral Crystal, and begin again the Calcination and Fusion in a new luted Cucurbite. After this second Calcination, dissolve that which did remain in the distilled Rain-water, and filtrate the dissolution, than evaporate in the vapour of B. M. to a dry bottom; this salt being so dried, grinned upon a Porphyry stone into Alkohol with an eighth part of calx of Gold well opened, and mix them as it were indivisibly together by trituration; than put this mixture in a new luted Cucurbite, and calcine it in a very well graduate fire till it hath attained to a fluxion, which done, cease the fire and let the Vessel cool; and out of it take that Grand Remedy, whereof abundance of experiments have been tried against diseases of Melancholy, and all kind of Agues and feverish distempers, both continual and intermittent, also against gravel and scurvy, and finally against all obstructions. The Dosis must be from scruple φ. to scruple ij. in some Confection, Conserve, or appropriated Liquor. The virtues of this Salt and its manner of operating cannot sufficiently be praised; for it sweetly provokes sleep, and settles the archeus of the Ventricle in its ordinary state and calmness when it is out of order. Briefly, there is a certain hidden Mystery in it, whereof it is very difficult to tender any reason, unless we conceive that this salt must have received the eradiations of the anodyne sulphur of Vitriol, by the great expression of the fire, or sufficiently opened the Gold, to make him yield and communicate his salutiferous influences; but we rather give credit to the first than the last Conjecture.   

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

How the true Regal water is to be prepared.  
℞ ℥ v. of read spirit of Niter, and ℥ iv. of shall gem in powder, put the sal gem in a pretty capacious Retort, and pour upon it the spirit of Niter, mixing them very well together, place the Retort in sand, and fit to it a very capacious Recipient, which lute without much circumspection, provided the neck of the Retort be large, and strikes half a foot into the body of the Recipient; give fire to it by degrees, and increase it by little and little till the sal gem be altogether dried, and that neither drops nor vapours will come forth any more from it. Pour this true Regal water into a good Lortain Glass bottle, double and well backed, stopping it with a Glass stopple made very fit to the neck of the bottle, by working and turning it within with powder of Emerod and Oil, otherwise this water would fly and vapour away; which makes me counsel the sons of art, not to prepare it till they be ready to use it in their operations: this is the Dissolvent wherewith they shall be capable to prepare Gold in the right manner, to reduce it into a Calx capable to answer their expectation, in such preparations as they shall design with it, or to satisfy their curiosity in discovering the sphere of activity of this noble Art, or to extract such Remedies as may be useful for the relief of afflicted Patients.   

Of Allom and its Chemical preparation.  
WE understand nothing else by Allom but a saline substance dissoluble in water, though many other things bear improperly this name, which rather participate of the nature of Calk by their incombustibility than of Allom, whereof we intent to treat as of a fit subject for this Section, where we only handle Salts. That Allom whereof we intent to give the manner of preparation, is that which in Pharmacy is called alumen rupeum or Roch Allom, and being nothing else but the salt substance of a mineral earth, participating of the nature of Lead or Saturn, having in itself an acid spirit and a harsh, canstick salt▪ Our Allom is made three several ways: for some of it is first found ready prepared by Nature, and condensated of itself in the veins of aluminous Earth's. Secondly, It is made by the evaporation of mineral aluminous Waters: and thirdly, it is also drawn by the dissolution of Earth's, Stones, or other Minerals abounding with aluminous salt. The general virtues of this Salt are to desiccate, astringe, thicken or incrassate, there is not much use of it inwardly without preparation, though by some it is given against Agues; but it is much used in Gargarism's, which are appointed for diseases and pains in the Throat, and chief in the swelling and inflammation of the Almonds, and falling, swelling or inflammation also of the uvula; it is also good against Quinsy, rottenness and putrefaction of the Gums, proceeding either from a Scorbutical venom or Tincture, as also of Venereous infection; it is also a good Resolutive, taking away swelling and oedematous Tumours of the feet, being mixed in a Bath which is called a lavepieds or feet-washer, because it resolves and allays the inflammation and heat of spirits attracted and irritated in these lower parts, either by toil and weariness or indisposition of body.  
The preparations commonly made upon Allom are, purification or chrystallization, Calcination or ustion, Distillation and Extraction, or Subtiliation, of each of which Operations we will give some Examples, that the Artist may fully be instructed both of the Work and virtue of the Remedies resulting from the same.   

Purification of Allom.  
THe Purification of Allom, is not made upon the bore intention of separating the impurities and earthliness of it, but the son of Art must have a more excellent prospect and end in it, which is the correcting of its harsh, austere and unpleasant taste; to attain to this, dissolve as much Roch Allom as you please in distilled Rain-water, heated before in a glazed earthen pan, for Allom must not be put in any metallic Vessel because it immediately works upon it, and by its acid and penetrating spirit draws the taste and Tincture thereof. The Allom being dissolved, filtrate it, and evaporate afterwards the superfluous▪ moisture in a slow heat, like unto that of the boiling vaporous Balneo until it contracts a skin; than put the Vessel in a cool place to 'cause the Crystals to shoot, and go on in evaporating and chrystallizing until no more Crystals will come; this Work reiterate four times, and so shall you have a subtle and pleasant Allom if compared to common, which you may administer both inwardly and outwardly with much more success, safety and delight.   

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

The Distillation of Allom.  
℞ As much Allom as you will, and put it in small pieces in a capacious glass Retort, filled with it to a third part, place it in sand, and adaptate to the neck of it a large Recipient, give it fire by degrees to draw the phlegm thereof with a well and duly graduated fire, and when the white vapours shall begin to come forth out of the neck of the Retort, change the Recipient, and increase the fire by degrees until all the spirit be come forth, and you shall find your calcinated Allom in the bottom of the Retort. But this Spirit being unpleasant and of an ill taste, hath need of being rectified, corrected and sweetened, which is performed with the spirit of Wine, with which it must be rectified three or four times, so it becomes sweet and pleasant, and an excellent Remedy to mingle in the ordinary Drink of Febricirants, because its little sharpness and quickness, doth cool and temper their predominant heat, and allays their thirst. But if it be good inwardly applied, it is not less successful outwardly; for it cleanses and heals wondered well all Ulcers in the mouth, and particularly those small Ulcers called aphtha, or the sore mouth of sucking children. The Dosis must be from iv. drops to x. in Wine or some convenient Decoction. The phlegm of Allom is good to temper the inflammation of the eyes, as also that of Phlegmons or Eresypela's; it is also very useful to wash and foment Wounds, Ulcers and Burn.   

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

How Sugar of Allom is to be prepared.  
PUT lb ij. or iij. of Allom in a good glass Retort, which place in sand to draw of softly the phlegm of it in a well graduated heat; as soon as this is done, remove the fire, and the Retort being cold, cohobate the phlegm upon the desiccated Allom, and digest them together in a simple heat of the vaporous Balneo the space of 24 hours: this done, put the Retort again in sand, draw of the phlegm from it, and thus seven times consecutively reiterate the cohobation, digestion and extraction of phlegm, which being performed, put that which after the seventh separation of the phlegm remains in the bottom of the Cucurbite, in a Cellar or some other cool place to dissolve it into Liquor; the dissolution ended, filtrate it cleanly, and put it to digest in a double or circulatory Vessel in ashes in a slow heat, the space of twelve natural days; after which, having placed it in a Cucurbite in ashes, you must distil of all the moisture to a dry bottom, and there shall remain the sugar of Allom, which is a particular Remedy against Diseases of the Breast, allaying also Toothache applied upon the Gums. Above all, it is of singular use for those whose Breast is infected with any metallic, mineral, arsenical, mercurial vapours, or the like. The Dosis must be from u to xv. grains in Broths, or some Pectoral or Diuretical Decoctions. It serves also to alloy thirst in Fevers, and is o● singular comfort to them that feel heats and periodical pains about the Region of the Sternum or the upper part of the Breast, by reason of malignant, sharp and biting serosities, which the Venereous infection sends ordinarily in these parts to such as have long had the stain upon themselves; it works by Urine, spitting, sweats, and an insensible and natural transpiration.   

The salification of Allom.  
TO obtain the fixed part of Allom, ℞ lib. j or ij. of the Caput mortuum of the distillation of the spirit of Allom, and put it in a Cucurbite; than pour upon it distilled Rain-water six fingers high, digest it in ashes in a moderate heat, which must be increased by degrees, till the Liquor gins almost to boil; stir it from time to time with a wooden Slice, than filtrate, and evaporate the filtration in the vapour of a boiling Balneo, in a grey earthen or white earthen Dish till the skin gins to cover it, than let it stand in a cool place and there shoot into Crystals, or evaporate it to a dry bottom, stirring continually till it quite dry. This Salt is much more active than burned Allom, because it is separated from its earth, and for this reason may be a plied in much less quantity to the same uses. It may be also internally given to those that have a stomach stuffed with slime or other foulness which deads' and dulls the appetite: for it will cut them, attenuate and expel, either by stool or vomiting. The Dosis must be from grain vj. to xij. or xv. in Broth or decoction of wild Endive, or Spanish Scorzonera Roots.   

Extraction of Allom.  
℞ lib. vj. of very pure and clean Allom without any previous preparation, bake it in an earthen unglazed Pot in a very moderate heat, until all the phlegm be vapoured away, than increase the fire by degrees, so as both the Pot and Allom in it may grow read glowing hot on all sides; which done, have in readiness in a great earthen Pan lib. iv. of distilled Vinegar, wherein you shall throw this calcined Allom glowing read, and the Vinegar will draw immediately and take to himself the Essence and Magistery of Allom, and the remainder of the body will precipitate itself in the bottom of the Pan into a white powder, which after separation must be washed to a sweetness, or edulcorated, than dried and so kept for use. But the remaining Vinegar impregnated with the virtues of the Allom must be filtrated, and having joined to it ℥ ss. of Tincture of Elder berries made with its own fermented spirit, put all together in a Cucurbite in B. M. and draw by distillation all the superfluous liquor to a consistency of boiled Honey or Syrup; than place your Cucurbite in a very cool place, and there letting it rest four or five days, you shall find by this time Crystals framed in this Liquor, which separate and dry, and proceed in the evaporation and chrystallization until no more Crystals will shoot. These Crystals are Sudorificks, Diveticks and Stomachical, and therefore a good Remedy against the Scurvy; they may be administered twice in the week, in decoction of Nettle Roots, or juice of Chervil well depurated and mixed with a little white Wine; it may also be given three times to those that are molested with Tertain Agues a little before their fit in the same Liquors: the Dosis is from vj. gr. to ℈ j   

Of Armoniac Salt and its Chemical preparation.  
THere is mention made in ancient Writers of a natural Armoniac Salt, which was want to be found in the Lybian sands, there form and sublimated as they say, by the mixture of the stolen of Camels used in their Caravans, and making for the most part their Stations and Baitings in places appointed for that purpose. But we have none of it for the present, and know none other but that which is artificial and compounded of common salt and sal gem, salt of Soot and of Urine; this salt hath a harsh taste, mixed with an acid bitterness very subtle and biting. Chemists do call it the solar Salt, the white Eagle, the white Morcurial Rain, and the Philosophers Mercurial Salt. That which is purest is to be preferred in choice, as also the clearest and whitest. That which comes from Venice is the best, and the second in order of goodness is that of Antwerp, the coursest and worst is that which comes from Holland. The general virtues of it are, to provoke Sweat and Urine, and to work also by insensible transpiration: it is of very great efficacy against all aguish distempers, and chief against Quartans, it resists corruption and putrefaction. The Dosis is from iv, grains to ℈ j It is used also outwardly against Gangrenes, and to consume the superfluous and corrupted flesh. It is also very good used in Gargals against the Quinsy; and moreover, it is mixed in waters for sore eyes.  
Moreover, the Artist must note, that Armoniac Salt is one of the most powerful Agents amongst all Chemical Operations, for extracting the sulphuts of Metals and Minerals by the help of sublimation: wherefore it is not without very good reason, that the greatest part of the most famous Writers in our Art, have disguised it with several enigmatical and figurative appellations.  
The preparations of salt Armoniac are, purification or chrystallization, sublimation, calcination, distillation and liquation; we will treat in the sequel of this Discourse of all these Operations in particular, and will give examples both of the Remedies and the manner of working, that the Sons of Art may be so well instructed by it, as not to be surprised with the several changes that use to hap by the mixture of this salt with sundry different matters upon which it operates with so much efficacy, that it ravishes with wonder even the most knowing in those mysteries which it opens, and draws from the bosom and centre of natural beings: and chief because this Salt is compounded of several parts which are united amongst themselves, and produce a Salt quite different from all other salts, and which consequently operates in a very different way, as it will evidently appear to those that shall put it in practice.   

The Purification and Chrystallization of Armoniac Salt.  
THis Purification is not made otherwise than by dissolving it with distilled Rain-water in a slow heat, after which filtrate and evaporate in the same heat; than put it in a cool place to shoot its Crystals, and thus continued until you have extracted all your Armoniac salt fair, pure and clear. This Salt hath not any greater efficacy than common Armoniac in Cakes, though it be something purer: wherefore we will not attribute also more virtue, nor prescribe any other Dosis.   

The sublimation of Flowers of Salt Armoniac.  
℞ As much melted Salt as Armoniac, and mix them exactly together; than pour this mixture into a Matrass or Cucurbite, and sublime it in ashes, reiterating this sublimation four times, to purify, subtiliate and volatilize the better the Armoniac; some will have a like proportion of Filing of Steel mixed with the Armoniac that they may sublimate together; but they are deceived: for when the armoniac salt is mixed with Mars, it presently works upon, and the salt corrodes all the Steel, whereof there may be made afterwards a very good Vitriol: But as the intention of those that add Steel to this sublimation, is only to make the Flowers of this Salt more incisive, aperitive, more splenetical and hepatical; our advice is to the sons of Art, to mix a fourth part of this opacous and greenish or bluish Vitrification, which is found in Iron works or Furnaces, where the first fusion of the Mine is made, or as much of those scales which fall from Smith's Anvils: But let him note, that neither of these two substances must be made in very subtle powder; contrariwise, it will suffice to have it coarsely beaten, that the Armoniac may only lick it over in the action of subliming, and so draw only the soul or a portion of the internal sulphur of it, by which it is much increased in excellency and virtue: The Artist must consider, that as these Flowers are more subtle and penetrating than Armoniac salt merely purified and chrystallized: so must it consequently be endowed with much more virtue, and particularly when this salt is made use of against Quartan and other intermittent Agues. These Flowers are also of singular use to correct the crudities of the Ventricle, and remove ill fermentations, if every morning the Patient takes of it fasting in a Glass of Wormwood Wine, or in infusion of Sassafras wood, made in white Wine: But the use of it must be continued the space of fifteen days or three whole weeks. And if this Remedy be given against Leucophlegmacy, or the beginning of any kind of Dropsy, which ordinarily follows after long Diseases, and the various agitations of dangerous Fevers; you must take care that the Patient be in his bed when the Remedy shall be administered unto him, and that he be well covered to help the provocation of sweat, and at his coming out of it, let him take some nourishment of easy digestion, and above all be carerfully rubbed and dried, by reason of the ill impressions which these sweats do communicate to the linen wherein the Patient is wrapped, and might easily raise some malignity upon a skin which is yet open and doth exhale some noxious vapours, and capable yet to do hurt. The Dosis of these Flowers, is from iij. grains to xv. and if the strength of the Patient can bear it, even to xx. chief it he hath been used to it before, increasing the quantity by little and little.   

The Calcination or Fixation of Salt Armoniac.  
WE have ever had a care sufficiently to inform our Artist, that he must loose nothing, of what the substances whereupon he works may afford, that is good and useful in themselves. For which reason we cannot admit, that he should fix or barely calcine the Armoniac salt in an earthen Pot, in a circular fire and a wind-Furnace; because he loses by this way all the volatile urinous spirit which is contained in this Mysterious Salt. Wherhfore we prescribe the operation of it to be made in that kind of open Retort, which Glauber doth describe in the second part of his Philosophical Furnaces: for by this means, what flies otherwise unnecessarily away into the air, is preserved: you must than proceed in it in the manner following.  
℞ j p. of quicklime well chosen and that hath not been exposed to the air, and j p. s. of Armoniac salt; reduce them each severally to powder, than mix together, and incorporate to a Pap with new made Urine: but before you begin this mixture, kindle the fire under your Retort, and make it so read, that the Led which is in the hollow channel, and is intended to be a Lute to the Cover, be melted: things being thus disposed, put a small spoonful of this matter at once in the Retort, and cover it immeditately with its Cover, and the vapours will instantly run into the Recipient, which must be fitted to the neck of it, and the same exactly luted. Go on in this manner until all the matter be consumed, or until you have enough of volatile spirit, if your intention be to extract it, or until you have sufficient quantity of Armoniac salt fixed or calcined, if your intention leads not further. Than draw the spirit out of the Recipient and rectify it; and of this we shall speak again hereafter in the distillation of Armoniac salt; but draw the lump remaining in the Retort whilst the fire is yet in its strength, for than i● is soft, and may be taken up easily with a small Iron Ladle, having a handle somewhat long. Dissolve and digest the same matter in Rain-water; than filtrate the liquor, and so proceed on till no more salt will come from it; than evaporate all the filtrated▪ liquors to a dry bottom, stirring them continually towards the end until all the moisture be go; you may keep some part of this salt wholly dry in a Viol exactly stopped, and put the other in a Cellar to dissolve in liquor, which will be fit for extracting several Tinctures, as the salt may serve for Cementations. We say nothing concerning the Dosis of this fixed Salt, because it is never inwardly used in Diseases. The dissolved Liquor may nevertheless be used externally to mollify and resolve Corns and Callous or hard excrescences growing in the feet, and often very troublesome: it may also be used with a little spirit of wine to rub and chafe the hard and knotty places of the Gout, to resolve, soften and attenuate the hardness of that tartarous and sticking matter contained in those Nodosities.   

The Distillation of Armoniac Salt.  
MAny Authors have Equivocated upon the Distillation of this admirable Salt; for some would have the volatile Spirit to be the principal part of this mysterious Compound. Others thought the acid Spirit only could yield what the ancient Philosophers did search in it: We must confess both Parties to have many reasons on which they seem to be grounded: but they have not yet well decided the Question, because those that did endea●●● 〈◊〉 ●lear it most, have not took well enough into their consideration the double nature of Armoniac salt, which is compounded of common salt that is acid and as it were fixed, and of the volatile salt of Urine: Now the union and mixture of these two Salts is so strict, that it is very difficult, yea almost impossible to turn them over the Helm into liquor one with the other: but contrariwise, the urinous and volatile salt carries away the body of the acid, which produces no more than the sublimation of the same salt. But they that have attempted to possess them both together, could never attain to it with success but by the addition of some other body, which had the faculty to keep back the acid salt, to let the urinous spirit and volatile salt of Urine ascend, that are both but one and the same thing, as it appears by the sublimation of the same spirit into a body of volatile salt. It would nevertheless be an excellent Remedy, if Art could have attained to raise this Armoniac salt to a Spirit, equally partaker of the virtues of the Volatile and of the common salt without any foreign or strange mixture: because that as the action of these two salts one upon the other hath produced a salt quite differing in taste, smell and virtue from the two taken asunder, so should we have a subtle and penetrative spirit, which would be capable of many Rare effects in Physic, and useful for the preparation of many other noble Remedies, if once Armoniac salt could be made to ascend into a Spirit endowed with the virtues which do constitute it. But as many have attempted this Operation without success, so do I find myself forced to acknowledge here my ignorance, and say, that we must be contented wi●h the Flowers of salt armoniac, until some more skilful Artist hath improved our knowledge and experience, or our own industry and labour discovered more unto us, to impart it afterwards to the Commonwealth of Hermetical Physic. We will nevertheless deliver two ways of drawing the spirit of Armoniac, and its volatile urinous salt; the first shall only teach how to draw the spirit alone, and the urinous salt only: but the second shall teach the separation of its acid spirit, which possesses much more of virtue than the spirit of common salt, by reason of the mixture and working of the volatile salt of Urine, which hath blunted and killed part of its corrosive faculty.   

To make the Spirit and volatile urinous Salt of Armoniac.  
℞ lb j of well chosen Armoniac salt, and as much of well purified Bohemian-tartar very dry; beaten the Armoniac to powder in a warm Mortar, and than add to it the salt of Tartar exactly mixed; this mixture put in a glass Retort with a wide neck, and placing it in sand, fit to it a large Recipient, and give it a gradual fire, and in a short time you shall have a volatile spirit coming over the Helm in liquor: the salt will sublimate itself into a clear substance as white as Camphire, and this Operation may be ended in three, four, or five hours at the most. The volatile salt may be dissolved with its own spirit, and they both kept together for such uses as we have said the spirit and volatile salt of Urine to be good, it being one and the same thing; this more only we have to add, because it is a thing of the highest concern, that as this volatile salt and spirit do more than any thing else correct and hinder putrefaction and corruption, and that the poison or venom of the Plague and all analogous' Diseases unto it, is corruptive and putrifying, kill by his evil fermentation the natural spirits; so must Physicians have a care to use this admirable Remedy, as much to preserve bodies from that fearful scourge and malady, as to hinder the progress of it when it hath already begun to rage and spread its infection. We will likewise say that this volatile salt and spirit are more subtle and penetrating, and of a kinder taste and smell than those that have been extracted out of plain Urine, because they were not fermented and depurated by common salt: wherefore we do particularly recommend them, to preserve the stomach from that putrefaction and corruption which is generated by the vice and defect of the digestive faculty; as also to destroy and quench all evil acid fermentations in the Ventricle; it is likewise good in fits of the Mother against Epilepsy, and Apoplexy, inveterate diseases of the Head, and it will produce surprising and wondered effects.   

How the spirit of Armoniac Salt is to be extracted.  
THough we have already shown how the son of Art may extract the spirit and volatile salt of this Mixed, yet we cannot show how the acid spirit of this Mixed is to be extracted, without separating from it at the same time the volatile spirit thereof. And as we have already declared the manner of that Operation above, when we spoke of the fixation of Armoniac, we will not insist upon a needless repetition of what we have once already said: only we will add, that you must put here equal parts of good quicklime, and armoniac salt, and reduce them to a pap with Urine, than distil it in a glowing hot Iron Retort, and proceed as we have said above in the quoted place. The Artist must put all the liquor he shall find in his Recipient after distillation in a Cucurbite of a Cubit high, and narrow in the neck, placing it in B. M. and covering it with a Limbeck Head exactly luted, as also with the Recipient which must be added unto it; than give it a graduate fire, that all the volatile spirit and volatile urinous salt may separate itself and rise with the heat, and when no more will ascend, put the remaining liquor in a Retort, and rectify it in sand, and you shall have an acid spirit much pleasanter than the spirit of common salt, and endowed with the same virtue; wherefore we refer our Reader to what we have said above: the Sons of Art must only note, that this Spirit in respect of that of common salt, may be compared to a perfect Man, and that which proceeds from common salt can only be resembled to a Youth; from whence he may dra● those consequences which we only intent to insinuate unto him by this Comparison. The spirit and volatile salt drawn by this Process, is endowed with the same virtues as we have related above.   

The Liquation of Salt Armoniac.  
THis Operation is not very mysterious, being nothing else but the resolution of armoniac salt fixed by quicklime into liquor in the cool of a Cellar, or it is also the resolution of the same armoniac salt purified, chrystallized and reduced to powder, put in whites of Eggs newly boiled to a hardness, and set it in order in an earthen Pan in a Cellar to extract the Liquor, which Artists do call water of armoniac sal●: these two Liquors made by Resolution are not for Physical uses, unless they be used in Metallick Preparations, and Minerals, which they either fix or open according to the purpose and intention of the Workman.   

Of Vitriol and its Chemical Preparation.  
WE have demonstrated in the beginning of the Chapter Metals the first and immediate principles of Vitriol; wherefore we refer thereunto our Artist, to speak only here of Vitriol reduced into a body either by Art or by Nature; for some Vitriol is found ready prepared and chrystallized in the Earth of Ours where Metals do abound; as some is to be seen which curious searchers of Nature have brought from the Indieses, Hungary, Germany, Italy, and several other parts of Europe: But there is also an artificial Vitriol, which is extracted from vitriolic Marcassites, commonly found in fat Grounds, always about the places abounding & with pregnant metallic seeds, and inclined naturally to the generation of Sulphur. They that shall be led by a Philosophical curiosity to instruct themselves further in this matter, must seek in places where the fat Clay for making of Tiles and Bricks is extracted, and there may find some of these vitriolic Marcassites, which are nothing else but what the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and we a Fire locks, Flint, Thunderbolt, Fire-flint, and the Tile-Bakers Machefer— Having got of these stones, let them examine them by fire, which shall discover to them nothing but a sulphureous substance, by the vapours striking their Nostrils and seizing upon the Breast as burning Brimstone: but having exposed the remainder in the air, it will dissolve itself into a grey and blackish powder, which will sublimate upon its superficies, small, white and sharp excrescences melting in the mouth, and yielding at first a sweetness, which ends in a vitriolic harshness and austerity; than dissolve this powder in Rain-water in a slow heat, filtrate and evaporate it to a Pellicule or skin, and let it crystallise and you shall have an excellent greenish Vitriol. With this short and superficial Antimony, the Artist may satisfy himself, and know in part by the severing of this stone the way by which Nature did proceed in b●inging the parts thereof together, and coagulating of it.  
The most learned Writers which have treated of Vitriol, and best known and apprehended the nature thereof, do all unanimously confess and acknowledge it to be a Mixed of so extensive a virtue as to be sufficient to supply with Remedies the third part of all Physical Practice, and even capable to make up a complete and well furnished Shop. Basilius, Valentinus, Bedro, Paracelsus, Sala, and many others cannot be large and diffusive enough in its praise and commendation; and those Hermetical Philosophers, which have bestowed upon it that excellent name of Vitriolum, have done it as they say, because the putting together of those Letters contains (allowing a word to each of them) the mysteries which this mineral Salt conceals in its Centre. Visitabis Interiora terrae, Rectificando invenies optimum Lapidem, veram Medicinam. These words do insinuate where Vitriol is to be sought, how prepared, and extol the Remedy which is to be ●ound in it. But Vitriol being so well known, we think it needless to b●stow more time in speaking of its various names and appellations; it will suffice to declare the choice, and the general virtues of it, before we come to the preparations which Chemistry hath found upon this noble and excellent Compound; which properly is nothing else but a mineral Salt near kin to metallic nature, and chief to Copper and Iron, or ♀ and ♂. Venus and Mars. There is three several kinds of it, which contain many other species under them. For first of all there is the blue Vitriol as blue as a Saphire, in hard, clear, solid and dry Crystals, called commonly Cypruss Vitriol, or Hungarian. There is a second kind, greenish, of grass colour, less compact and in less Crystals, broken into corns almost as common salt, something unctuous and sticking to the hand when it is touched, though it hath but little of moisture; such is that which is extracted in the Country of Liege, made about Spa, where are acid, sulphureous and vitriolic springs; but great care must be had not to be surprised and deceived by that which is of a bluish white, and very small corns and wetting the hands of those that touch it, because this is the very worst of all. The last and third kind of Vitriol is that which is white, and is found in small cakes at the Drugster's shops, compacted, hard and dry, which we call in France white Copporis, commonly made use of for Vomits and Eye-wa●ers. Our Artist must take for the subject of his work of the second kind of Vitriol, if he will extract such Remedies from it, as his hopes do lead him to: for the first kind which holds of Silver or Copper, hath too much of metallic earth, and very little of acid spirit. The second which is bluish, is aluminous and terrestrial, and hath scarce any good acidity in it, but only a course and excrementitious earth, which has little or none of metallic Tincture: wherefore let him still generally choose of the second for his operations, unless he hath some peculiar intention of his own, or that the Author which he follows doth tie him to it, and prescribe positively so.  
After the choice of Vitriol we must come to the proprieties and general Virtues thereof, which are to heat, desiccate, astringe or bind, and excite violent vomiting, constipate, open, and kill worms. As for external applications it provokes sneezing, if put in the nostrils, and applied to the orifice of the Vessels open, or to wounds, doth stop the blood. We have also spoken more particularly of the virtues of Vitriol in the Chapter of Metals, when we treated of Copper, whereunto for more satisfaction we sand back our Artist.  
The general preparations which Chemistry teaches upon Vitriol are, purification, calcination, distillation, sublimation, precipitation, salification, extraction, whereof we will give examples that the Artist may afterwards be capable to seek by himself in this noble Mineral, those Virtues and Wonders which God and Nature for the help and ease of mankind have concentrated in it.   

Of the Purification of Vitriol and manner of Preparing the Jelly.  
WE have so often already made mention of the Purification of Salts, that it will be no difficult matter to lead the Artist to understand that of Vitriol: it is performed two several ways and upon two several intentions. The first is but a plain dissolution of Vitriol in Rain-water, followed with filtration, evaporation to a Pellicula or thin skin and chrystallization. The second must be done in distilled May dew-water; but the dissolution and filtration being made, the Artist must put his liquor to digest in B. M. during the space of a Philosophical month, and he will find a skin separated by the liquor on the top of it, and feces precipitated in the bottom, which must be yet separated by filtration, and this digestion continued until the Vitriol doth cast forth no more impurity; after which evaporate it slowly and crystallise. The first chrystallization or purification takes only away the superficial and outward foulness; but the second separates the very central impurity; The first Vitriol may be made use of in all common and vulgar operations, but the second is to be kept for extraordinary preparations, which are the Tinctures and Arcana's.  
The Son of Art shall meet also in several Authors with a kind of preparation they call Gilla, which are only fit for Vomits, and are nothing else properly, but purified Vitriol separated from their metallic earth: but as these Remedies are for the most part violent, and particularly the Gilla prepared with blue Vitriol, my advice is to abstain from them, and to make use of the purification of white Vitriol, which is done by dissolving of it four times in a little Centaury water, filtrated, evaporated, and reduced to Crystals: for this Water doth not only increase its emetic faculty, but moreover doth specificate it to become an excellent Remedy against Fevers. The Dosis may be from x. grains to ℈ iv. in Broths, lukewarm Beer, some Decoction or convenient Water: it provokes vomiting very gently, and cleanses the stomach from all impurities and foulness, checking the appetite, and causing disgust of meat, headache and fluxions: it is good against diseases of the Ventricle, tertian Agues and quotidian Fevers, worms in the Belly, Plague and growing Epilepsy.   

The Calcination of Vitriol.  
THe Calcination of Vitriol is performed several ways and for several intentions. But amongst the Calcinations of Vitriol some are rather to be called Exsiccations, as that which is made by the Reverberation of the Sunbeams in the Canicular days, to prepare that famous and so much celebrated Magnetical Remedy, which is called Sympathetical powder. There is likewise an Exsiccation made in the Sun in a Pan, or upon the top of an Oven heated every day, to deprive it of its superfluous moisture, and make it ready afterwards and serviceable for distilling of aqua fortis, and for several other Chemical Preparations. But as the chief scope and intention of the Sons of Art is to reduce Vitriol into Colchotar, and that this intention is fully accomplished and attained unto in the distillation of Vitriol, I do not find it necessary to loose by violent ignition in an open fire, that substance which flies from it, since it hath very good uses in Physic's; wherefore we will not insist to deliver the manner of it which is too plain to be unknown; but we will show how Vitriol may be calcinated by a noble Philosophical Calcination, without loss of any of its essential proprieties, provided your prescriptions in this particular may be exactly followed.   

The Philosophical calcination of Vitriol.  
℞ Vitriol purified by digestion, in the manner we have declared above; dry it between two Papers in a very slow heat, until it turns of itself into a dry powder, which must be put in one or several Matrasses with a flat bottom, the thickness of a shilling or a little more, or of the back of a Knife, observing well this prescription, otherwise it might come short of your design; heat the Vessels Hermetically, and put them in ashes as deep as the matter is high, and about half a finger above; than give it a fire, which must not exceed the Sun's heat in Summer, and without any interruption continued the same during the space of a Philosophical month which is 40 days, and thus the Vitriol will by degrees from a white colour pass into a yellowish, and from yellow to a read, which comes to the height of blood reduced to powder; than remove the fire, break the Vessels, and keep this Philosophical Vitriol as a rare and excellent Remedy, both inward and outward, possessing in itself the true soul and Tincture of this Mixed, which may be extracted with the true alkohol of Tartarized Wine, if the Artist hath the gift of patience, and takes not the shadow for the substance and body.   

The distillation of Vitriol.  
WE will not teach here the bore Distillation of Vitriol, to draw thereof an acid or corrosive Spirit, which commonly and improperly is called its Oil: but our intention is to make an exact anatomy thereof, that the Son of Art may the better apprehended what are the several parts thereof, and his judgement by consequence be well and duly informed of the substances which are extracted from it, and of their Medicinal faculties.   

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

To draw the acid Water of Vitriol.  
AS the Artist must work with method and study, if he intends to make any progress; so likewise must he be a good Husband of his time, fire and Vessels. Wherhfore let him have a Furnace in readiness with a sand Vessel or Capsula, and the sand warm in it; when he perceives that the B. M. draws no more of the substance of the Vitriol, because it is a token to him that the matter hath need of a stronger degree of heat to be driven to yield any thing more, let him than draw the Cucurbite from the Balneo, and wipe it to take of the moisture from it, and place it all warm and luted upon one inch and a half thick of warm sand, and let him put of the same equally warm round about as high as the matter goes; than the Recipient being fitted again, let him increase the fire by degrees until the head of the Limbeck be filled with white vapours, and that not more drops of the liquor shall fall from the nose of it; than let him remove the fire from the matters and Furnace. Put also the liquor which is in the Recipient in a bottle, and stop it as the other: for it is not an useless Phlegm as many have conceited, which did despise it and throw it away, not well versed with the anatomy of Vitriol and the knowledge of those Liquors which it yields by distillation. This water stath but very little acidity in itself, but participates already of the aperitive and anodyne virtue of Vitriol; which make it to be very successfully used for the cleansing of the Reins, and softening and allaying of all inward corrosions. It quenches the thirst of feverish persons, and provokes Urine abundantly. This Liquor is also very good for washing of the eyes, if you add a little salt of Saturn with it; it takes away also inflammations, and allays the grief of corroding and malignant Ulcers, if they be washed with it warm; and having a little of salt of Tartar mixed with it, it takes away itching in the skin and drives away scabs.   

To make the acid Spirit and corrosive oil of Vitriol.  
TAke the dry matter left in the Cucurbite, after distillation of the two forementioned Liquors; beaten it to a course powder, pour the powder in a glass or earthen Retort, cover it with one finger thick of such a composition as may withstand the most violent fire; place this Re●ort in a close Reverberatory, and fit to it a capacious and large Recipient, which must also be well luted, and the Lute being dry, give it a graduate fire as we have taught, when we treated of the distillation of spirit of Salt; but the fire must be driven much higher and longer with the flame of a very dry wood; for it must be continued three days and three nights without any interruption, so as the Recipient may still remain full of white clouds and vapours, and that at the end drop down read and blackish drops, which grow clearer towards the end, by which you may perceive the operation to draw to an end, and that the fire hath drawn from the matter, as much as the Artist may and aught to hope for, though some weary themselves unnecessarily, continuing the fire without intermission twelve or fifteen days: but they betray their skill in so doing, and show how ignorant they are of the matter upon which they work, and much more of the sphere of activity of the flame of fire which they made use of; you must than remove the fire when you perceive the signs we have noted, and begin to moisten the Lute in the neck of the Recipient with a little warm water, unless you will stay till the next day which would be best: go slowly to work for fear of breaking any thing, and by an overhasty precipitancy losing on a sudden what hath cost so much labour and charge: draw than the Recipient slowly away, and what you find in it pour in a glass Retort, which having placed in sand, and fitted a Recipient unto i●, give a gradual fire until the drops begin to fall down, which taste from time to time, to change the Recipient assoon as you perceive them to have an acidity, and after you have drawn two parts of the liquor which was in the Recipient, remove the fire, and so shall you have three Liquors: the first whereof shall almost be of an insipid taste, but with a sulphureous smell, which is a token of the volatile spirit, and this mix with the sour Liquor, or keep by itself for the same uses. The second hath a pleasant and penetrating acidity or sharpness, which is that they properly call the acid spirit of Vitriol, used in Physic: for it is Diuretical, Diaphoretical, Aperitive, Incisive, and resists to putrefaction and inflammations. Wherhfore it is of wondered virtue against all burning Fevers, occasioned by putrid and malignant matters, and also against obstructions of the Liver, Spleen and Mesentery; it is good to restore appetite, when lost; it strengthens the faculties of the stomach, and doth correct the defects of it: It assuages Toothache, if mixed with white Wine, and gargarized in the mouth; if you mix of this spirit with water of the juice of great Celancine, and rub with this mixture the scurf in the head, it destroys the root of it, and kills that ill, harsh and corrosive humour which doth infect the skin; it is given in Broths or ordinary Drinks of sick persons. The Dosis must be to a pleasant acidity or sharpness, for otherwise it would set the Teeth on edge, and prove troublesome to those that would use it.  
Filtrate the Liquor remaining in the Retort after the distillation of the acid spirit through Glass beaten to powder, for otherwise it would corrode all other substance, being altogether corrosive; put it in a double glass Viol., and stop it with a glass stopple very close. This is called oil of Vitriol, though improperly, since it is neither inflammable, nor unctuous: but the manner of expression of Writers must be followed, from whom this Liquor had its first denomination, being too harsh and violent for inward Remedies, and only fit and subservient to other Chemical works.  
We will not speak here of the preparation of the sweet earth of Vitriol, called by some Terra Damnata, or damned earth, in regard it is destitute of its own salt; this earth and salt are extracted of the matter remaining in the Retort after the distillation of the oil and spirit of Vitriol, which Chemists call by the name of Caput Mortuum, or dead Head. We shall defer to speak of these two particulars till we come to treat of Salification: the Artist must only expose this Caput mortuum to the free air, in a place not open to the Rain, that it may attract the influences of the heavens and of the air.  
We could bring here the description of several compounded spirits of Vitriol, and specificated for some particular Disease: but we leave the choice thereof to the skill and fancy of the Artist, or the directions which he shall find in Writers which have largely treated thereof; we will only give for a taste two Processes or Preparations of it, by which he may be guided in any further work he shall intent or undertake thereupon. The first shall be a sweet and pleasant spirit of Vitriol, the second a very considerable Aperitive and rate Dissolvent, both proceeding from the same spring, but only brought by us to show the variety and difference of Operation.   

To prepare the Oil or sweet spirit of Vitriol.  
℞ lb iij. of calcined Vitriol between yellow and read, in an earthen Pot not glazed in an open fire; beaten it to powder, pour it into a Cucurbite, and sprinkle it with good distilled Vinegar until it be reduced to a Pap; stir the Vessel without intermission, and pour in it new distilled Vinegar three fingers high; put the Cucurbite in a vaporous Balneo and cover it with a Blindhead, than during the space of three natural days, give it a digestive fire; the fourth day draw of the Vinegar by decantation, and pour fresh Vinegar in the room of it, digesting again the space of three days, and extracting and taking of the Liquor by decantation; thus proceed seven times without omitting digestion; filtrate all the distilled Vinegar, which is impregnated with the virtue of the Vitriol, and put it in a Cucurbite in ashes; draw of the superfluous Menstruum by distillation with a slow and graduate fire to the consistency of decocted Honey; this make into Pellets with pebble stones calcinated to powder, these pellets put in a Retort and draw the spirit and oil thereof, as they call it, with a graduate fire of the requisite heat; this distillation will require twenty four or thirty hours of fire, or thereabout. The Liquor which you find in the Recipient rectify in a glass Retort in sand, and keep for use. This Spirit or Oil is of a pleasant and sweetish taste, having in it the virtues of Vitriol mixed with those of the subtle Bohemian-tartar in the distilled Vinegar: wherefore it may be given with much success in all Diseases proceeding from gross and tartarous matters, as Scurvy, Gravel, great Pocks, Gout, Rheumatism's and Catarrhs, and generally in all Diseases abounding with malignant, gross and sharp serosities, as in Leprosy, Scabs and Itch: for this wondered Spirit doth rectify the whole mass of the blood by Urine, Sweats, and insensible transpiration. The Dosis must be from ℈ j to ʒ ss. in Broths, Decoctions, white Wine, or appropriated Syrups. The Theorical and Practical part of this Spirit might afford unto us a large field of speculation; but having already spoken of it when we handled the first Menstruum for extraction of the Tincture of Coral, where we made some reflection upon the action and mutual reaction of Vitriol and Bohemian-tartar, we refer the Artist to that place.   

The Tartarized Spirit of Vitriol.  
℞ lb ij. of Vitriol well purified and only dried, and lb j of Bohemian-tartar of Montpellier washed in white Wine and well dried; beaten them to powder each asunder, mix them exactly, and put in a glass Retort well luted, distil the spirit in a close Reverberatory fire with requisite precautions; especially take a care that the Recipient may be very capacious, or put one with three mouths, that there may be the more room to keep within bounds the furiousness of this Spirit which is very violent; drive the fire from 48 to 60 hours, and than cease. All what is come out rectify in a Retort in sand three times at lest, and keep this Spirit in a well stopped Viol. Than take the Caput mortuum which remains in the Retort, and put it to digest in the dew of Vitriol in the vaporous Balneo the space of 24 hours; separate the Menstruum by inclination, and begin the digestion with new Menstruums, until it comes of with the same taste as it was put in; filtrate all the extractions, and slowly evaporate them in ashes to a skin, than let it crystallise: but it will be more expedient for husbanding of time, to dry all the saline matter into a white and pure salt in the vapour of a boiling Balneo in an earthen Pan or white earthen Dish: for you must forbear using metallic Vessels, because this salt doth easily and quickly contract the taste and colour of Metals; and if the salt did not prove white and pure enough, dissolve it again in new dew of Vitriol, and let it digest in a very gentle heat of the vaporous Balneo, that if any impurity should remain it should be precipitated to the bottom of the Vessel; the liquor must be filtrated in the cold, than evaporated and dried slowly and cleanly. Put this salt in a double Vessel or Blind body, and pour upon it the rectified spi it thereof, stop and lute the Blindhead, and put it to digest and circulate in B. M. in a slow and moderate heat the space of three weeks, which being expired, open the Vessel, and pour into a Retort all the matter contained in it, having first noted the weight thereof, and distil it in sand, until it yields nothing more by increasing of the fire; weigh the liquor which is come forth, and cohobate it upon the salt which did remain in the Retort, reiterate the distillation, and you shall find the spirit to be increased in weight, which is a token that the salt ascends into Spirit, cohobate and distil so long that all the said salt may come over the Helm; which done, put this spirit in a Cucurbite, draw of the same gently in ashes, than increase the fire something more towards the end and the salt will remain in the bottom of the Vessel, which having placed in sand, give it a subliming fire, than will the salt ascend insipid, pure and clean, leaving in the bottom its impurity and more corporeal parts; put this salt in a Pelican, and having poured its own spirit upon it, lute the mouth of the circulatory Vessel with a glass stople, whites of Eggs and quick lime; and digest and circulate this matter the space of seven natural days, and thus shall you have the most excellent and penetrating Spirit which Art can prepare, to which we cannot attribute enough of virtue and efficacy for preserving and restoring of health; for it is an universal Aperitive, which never will fail in time of need. They that shall be acquainted with his excellency, both in respect of Physic and of Chemical operation, shall never question the truth of what I say: but I must give advice to the Artist to carry himself with circumspection in this Operation, and not to grow weary of the length thereof, since he will receive in the end all the benefit and satisfaction which his hopes could entertain. This work doth not concern such as think themselves very great Artists, when they have attained to the preparation of Mineral Crystal, Cremor of Bohemian-tartar, and Crocus Metallorum; but contratiwise is worth the labour of those that are most consummated in the study, and most versed in all the passages of a Chemical Laboratory; and it is only for their sakes, that we have related here this excellent, but laborious Preparation, because they only know that, Dii laboribus omnia vendunt.   

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

To make the Metallick Earth or Ochre of Vitriol.  
℞ As much Vitriol as you will, dissolve it in a full quart of distilled Rain-water; this dissolution put in a great Matrass, and place it in a moderate heat the space of four days, and all the metallic earth or Ochre of the Vitriol will fall in the bottom of the Vessel; separate the water by inclination, and wash this Earth, than dry it; it is used so for sublimation.   

To make the sweet sulphur of Vitriol.  
℞ Of the purest of Vitriol you can get, and dissolve it in water of May-dew; digest the solution the space of seven natural days in a vaporous Balneo, filtrate it the eighth day, and draw of again half of the Menstruum by distillation in the boiling Balneo; draw out the Vessel whilst it is yet warm, and precipitate the sulphur contained in the Liquor with oil of Tartar per d●liquium; let the liquor grow clear by little and little, than draw it of by inclination, than by several effusions of distilled Rain-water edulcorate the remaining sulphur, and being exactly dried, keep it for use. It is a very good Remedy against affections of the breast; it may be administered from ij. to x. grains in some Syrup, Lohoch, Lozenges, or Conserve appropriated to the Disease. It is also successfully used to mundify and cicatrize evil Ulcers. It may also be sublimated.   

To make the Purging Sulphur of Vitriol.  
℞ lb ij. of Vitriol of Liege well depurated, mix it exactly with ℥ vj. of Filing of Steel very pure and clean, put this mixture in a great Matrass, and pour upon it sharp or sour water of Vitriol four inches high, than put it to digest in B. M. the space of four days, stirring the Vessel five or six times every day: this done, filtrate the liquor, and draw of one half by distillation in ashes, than precipitate the rest with oil of Bohemian-tartar made per deliquium; to lb iij. of the liquor pour on drop by drop ℥ v. of the oil of Bohemian-tartar, and proportionably if there be more or less: let the sulphur settle, than decant the clear liquor, edulcorate and exsiccate as we have taught above. This Sulphur is a mild and commodious Purgative, very good for those that have any indisposition in the breast or lungs, or do incline towards Consumption or hectic Fevers; it may be given from two grains to six, in Conserve of Roots of Enula Campana, or Conserve of the Berry of Eglantine, called Cynosbatos. But my advice is to those which would proceed yet more warily and with greater curiosity in obtaining the best Remedies, to digest this sulphur in a slow heat, in a Matrass sealed Hermetically, during the space of 40 days, and it will increase half in virtue, and the Dosis be less by half.   

To make the fixed and volatile Sulphur of Vitriol.  
DIssolve lb vj. of Liege Vitriol very well purified, in a sufficient quantity of distilled Rain-water; this done, put lb j of Filing of Needles very clean in a glazed Pan, pour upon it this dissolution, and stir them together, and place the Pan in some position where the Sun may freely play upon, and there leave it until the matter doth grow thicker by degrees, which you must stir often, and at last dry up wholly; than beaten it to powder, and add lb j φ. more of new Filing of Steel, and sprinkle it with distilled Rain-water until all be reduced to a pretty clear pap, which dry again in the Sun, stirring it often, and thus proceed to the seventh time, until the matter takes up a very high read Tincture; than being well deprived of all aqueous moisture, put it in a great Marrass, and pour upon excellent distilled Vinegar four inches high, put it to digest in sand, and stir it often; this digestion continued until the Vinegar be well tinged with a read colour, than remove it and pour other in the place, and thus continued until the Vinegar draws no more Tincture. Filtrate afterwards all the Extractions, and divide them into two equal parts, one of which must be put in ashes in a Cucurbite, and all the menstruum thereof drawn of by distillation by a graduate heat to a dry bottom; them make the Lotion and edulcoration of the matter with distilled Rain-water until the water comes of tastelesse from it; after this dry it gently between two papers in a moderate and equal heat; and thus shall you have the burning and volatile sulphur of Vitriol, mixed with that of Mars, easy to take flame, and even to be consumed wholly away if it be set on sire, yielding a purple flame as Cinnabar doth which hath store of sulphur in itself; keep it for use for Asthmatick persons instead of flower of Brimstone, being much more efficacious and full of virtue; it is given from iv. gr. to ℈ φ. in Lozenges with Benjuin flowers, or in Bolus, with Conserve of flowers of Coltsfoot.  
The other half of the Liquor kept also as above, must be put filtrated in B. M. in a Cucurbite. Than draw of one half or the two third parts of the Menstruums, and precipitate the remainder with oil of Bohemian-tartar made per deliquium poured drop after drop, until no precipitation will longer ensue; let the fixed sulphur settle in the bottom of the Cucurbite some space of time; than separate the liquor from it, wash and edulcorate the remainder, and dry it according to Art; put this sulphur in a Matrasse or Philosophical Egg, and concoct and ripen it in an equal and fermentative heat the space of a Philosophical month, and it will become of a fair read and high in colour. It is a true Preserver and Restorer of health, being given four times in the month as a Preservative, and three times in the week for a Curative, from j grain to viij. in Confection of Hyacinth fasting, drinking upon it a small glass of some good Wine, or Cordial and stomachal Drink; for this sulphur drives the irradiation of its virtue through the whole body, and expels from it all impurities, either sensibly by Sweat or Urine, or insensibly by gentle and amicable transpiration. It may even be raised higher, but we keep that process for the end, when we come to speak of the Extraction of Vitriol.   

The Sublimation of Vitriol.  
WE have just immediately before taught how the sulphur of Vitriol or its Metallick earth was to be separated by precipitation, and the sublimation teaches how the Flowers of it are to be severed from it, which are nothing else but the substance of Copper or Iron, which is found in all the kinds of Vitriol. Our purpose of giving this Preparation, is only to demonstrate to the Artist the truth of the composition of things. Take than equal parts of metallic earth or ochre of Vitriol and Armoniac salt, and beaten them to powder each by themselves; than mix them exactly together, and sublime in sand in a Cucurbite somewhat low, covered with a still-Head; give it first a slow fire, and increase it by degrees, until you perceive that no vapour more ascends; than remove the fire, and let the Vessels cool, and take from the Limbeck-head and sides of the Cucurbite the sublimated matter, and having put it in a Matrass, pour upon it common water; than place the Vessel in B. M. and digest it in a moderate heat the space of 24 hours, and the water will dissolve the salt, and the substance of the metallic Martial and Venerean Flowers falls to the bottom in subtle powder, which must be separated from the liquor loted and edulcorated, than dried. It is a very good astringent and desiccative Remedy for all kinds of Ulcers, and chief for any pain in the eye. It breeds and repairs flesh, mundifies and siccatrizes better than any other Remedy.   

The Salification of Vitriol.  
WE have deferred hitherto to speak of the Caput mortuum of Vitriol remaining after distillation, saying only above, that it was to be exposed to the open air and influence of Heaven in a covered place, exposed to the free passage of the winds: but we will now teach here how to extract the salt thereof, after it has been penetrated by the air during the space of six weeks or more. Take it than after that time and put it in a Cucurbite, or which is yet better, in an earthen Pan, and pour upon it distilled Rain-water, or new and fresh River water, and stir the matter as you pour the water in; otherwise it would grow hard in the bottom; digest all the matter in sand and stir it often, that the salt may the better be extracted; than filtrate the liquor, and slowly evaporate till it contracts a skin, and let it shoot into Crystals, and go on thus evaporating and chrystallizing until you can get not more salt; this salt dry gently between two papers, and keep for its uses. After this, take care to edulcorate well the read brownish earth which remains after the salt is extracted, and to dry and keep it for its use, which is both inward and outward. Internally it is a very good Remedy against the bloody Flux and Dysentery; it is also very good to dry running of the Reins, and stop the fluxion of Gonorrhaeas, the Whites and Reds in Women, and Hemorrhagy, and above all against spitting of blood; externally applied it is a very good Emplastical and Balsamical Remedy, which mundifies and cicatrizes gently and without pain, all Wounds and Ulcers: wherefore it is used in Ointments, Cerecloths, Liniments and Plasters.  
The true Vitriolic salt which we extracted from this Earth must be white inclining upon the pale read of Roses, and chrystallized as the salt of Saturn in small streaks, long and thin; the taste must rather incline towards mite than acerbity or harshness, for it must not keep the Idea or Character of of Vitriol, nor take the cubical or Lozangical figure; otherwise it would not be the true salt of Vitriol; this salt being so qualified as we have described, is full of many excellent virtues, which makes it to be a fit remedy for Epilepsy, and for such as are troubled with frequent & great headaches, proceeding from the corruption and superfluity of matters stuffing the stomach. It is given also against Pleuresy, malignant & pestilential Fevers, and swoonings, and Deliquiums proceeding from some repletion of the ventricle, as also against obstructions of the Liver, Spleen & Reinss. It may also be drawn into the nostrils to provoke sneezing, and unburthen the brain from such serous & excrementitious matters, which do oppress and 'cause the distension of its membranes: for it is an excellent and specifical Sternutatory. Tsie Dosis must be from vj. gr. to ℈ ij. and ʒ j in broth, beer, or some appropriated Decoction.   

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

The Tincture or essence of the Sulphur of Vitriol.  
BEfore we come to the extraction of the Tincture, the body of the sulphur must have been open and deprived of all its materiality and coarseness, that it may communicate its soul to the Menstruums which is used for this pu●●●se; Take lb j of the sweet sulphur of Vitriol very dry, and mix it with lb ss. of salt of Bohemian-tartar very white, very pure, and very dry; this mixture being put in a Retort, place it in a close Reverberatory, upon the cover of an earthen pot turned upside down; having the thickness of one inch of sand upon it, and fit to it a well luted Recipient; than give it a gradual fire, and go on still increasing the fire, until the read oil gins to come forth by drops; than keep the fire in the same tenor and degree, and continued it until by that degree of heat nothing will come forth more, which is a sign the last and extreme degree of heat must be used, which is called the fire of suppression, being a violent fire kindled both upwards and downwards, which must be continued the space of four hours; that being over, remove the fire and let the Vessels cool. The liquor or read oil must be poured into a small Cucurbite, pouring upon it drop by drop very good distilled Vinegar, until the internal sulphur of the Vitriol which was ascended into liquor, be precipitated to a read Violet purple powder, which must afterwards be separated from the liquor and washed to edulcorate, and afterwards dried very gently. This precious powder put in a blind Matrass, and pour upon it true alkohol of tartarized Wine three fingers high; than stop the Vessel well, and lute it with a bladder thrice doubled, made wet in whites of Eggs beaten in water. This Vessel place in a vaporous Balneo in shred straw the space of three weeks, or until the Artist doth perceive that the essence of this sulphur hath forsaken its matter, and swims above the spirit of Wine in the form of a Wine distilled from Cinnament, which separate with the Funnel, after the Vessels are grown cold, and keep it choicely and carefully in a well stopped Viol. All that have treated of this Essence of sulphur of Vitriol, do attribute unto it admirable virtues, and equal it to the Tincture of Antimony; it is given from j drop to vj. in Balm-water, made with the Plant, digested and fermented with its own juice, to drive away insensibly and yet naturally all what can be hurtful to the body, and may be the occasional cause of the irritations of the Archaeus; it provokes appetite and Venery, strengthens the Matrix, and allays all irregular motions of it, rectifies and increases the seed, and makes it prolific & fruitful in either sex; it doth wonders in Dropsies if administered in Parsly water; hinders all Meteotisms and violent, rising vapours of the Spleen, given in water of Sassafras: briefly it may be said to be Pa●acea of Vitriol; you must observe that the use of it is to be continued according to the greatness and stubbornness of the Diseases; but to preserve health it will suffice to take of it two or three times in a month.   

The Tincture of fixed Sulphur of Vitriol.  
WE said above, that we did refer ourselves to speak in this place of the extraction of fixed sulphur of Vitriol, the preparation whereof we have already taught, and it is performed in this manner. ℞ ℥ iv. of this fixed sulphur of Vitriol, concocted and matured in itself, and put in a Pelican. ℞ also ℥ vj. of tartarized spirit of Vitriol, and as much pure alkohol of Wine, unite them together by distillation in B. M. than pour them upon the sulphur into the Pelican; lute exactly the joints thereof, and put it to digest and circulate in a vaporous Balneo, until you see the liquor grown blood read; than remove the fire, and decant what you find to be pure and clear into a small Cucurbite, to draw of the half of a third part of the Menstruum, and keep the rest as a Remedy yet more universal in operation and virtue, and more precious than the foregoing. We will nevertheless attribute unto it no other faculty; for whosoever can prepare it, shall never fail to know also the way to use it. The Dosis may be from j drop to iv. in Broth or Wine.    

SECTION VI Of Sulphureous Minerals, and Sulphurs'.  
TO put a period and Conclusion to this Treatise, it remains only we should speak of inflammable and sulphureous Minerals; and as we have said, That a Chemical Philosopher could not apprehended the generation of Metals or Minerals, but by comparing them with other natural productions, more palpable and more obvious to his senses; so may we lawfully speak the same thing concerning the generation of sulphureous substances, which can only be conceived by comparing the same with other fat and oily substances which Nature doth digest, concoct, and bring to perfection in the Family of Vegetables and Animals: for as the Oils, Rozins and Gums of Vegetables; the Fat, Tallow, Grease and unctuous excrements of Animals are produced in them, by the excess and superfluity of the fat and sulphureous part of their food; so likewise sulphureous Minerals do proceed from the introduction of the Character of the Sulphur and light in the recess and most abstruse parts of the Matrices of Minerals, where this Fire works perpetually towards the generation, increase, digestion, concoction and perfection of several sulphureous Mixts according to their species and kind; such as are Arsenic, Brimstone, Bitumery, yellow Amber, Ambergreise, Sperma ceti, Asphaltum, Naphta, Petroly, Seacole and Jet. We will give some examples of the manner of working upon the chief sorts, to put an end to what we have begun, with the same punctuality and clearness, which we have endeavoured to use hitherto.  

Of Arsentck, and its Chemical Preparation.  
Arsenic is a soot or minearal juice coagulated, which is fat and inflammable, it is called also Orpiment; there are three kinds of it; the first is white, which is that properly we most use, and is called Arsenic; the second is yellow, called Realger or Orpiment, and the third read, called by the Greeks Sandarick. The white and crystalline Arsenic is not natural, but prepared by Art, with equal parts of common salt and fragments of Orpiment mixed and bruised together, and sublimated afterwards between two po●s. The most dangerous and pernicious of all is the read kind; the yellow much less, being not so hot, nor so much exalted as the read; and the white is the least hurtful, because part of his heat, corrosiveness and venom, hath been corrected by the salt with which it was sublimated. All three are deadly poison and most dangerous; for they possess so evil and so strange an acrimony, and so great an enemy to the vital Balsam, that they immediately raise fearful and stupendious accidents if inwardly taken, or outwardly applied; for they bring immediately Convulsions, cause perclusions of hands and feet, cold sweats, palpirations of the heart, Syncope and swoonings, vomiting, erosions, gripe, noise and great rumbling in the belly, and intolerable thirst and prodigious heat. All this malignity nevertheless may be taken away and corrected by Chemical preparation, and the venom of it made a Remedy capable of much good both outwardly and inwardly: but notwithstanding this unprepared Arsenic is sometimes used; for in time of Plague it is a Preservative worn in a bag hung to the neck in form or manner of an Amulet or Periapt. It is also used in Depilatories, and sometimes with other ingredients for opening of Cauteries or Issues. Now all the end of preparing Arsenic, must only tend to remove its acrimony and dulcify it, to separate the impression and idea of the venom from it, which cannot be performed without the help of Chemical preparation, which is threefold; Sublimation, Fixation, Resolution or Liquation.   

The sublimation of Arsenic; To prepare the dulcified Arsenic.  
TAke as much of crystalline Arsenic very pure and clean as you think fit; beaten it to a powder, and sublimate by itself in a Matrass in sand with a graduate fire. The Sublimation being ended, let the Vessel grow cold, than break it, and throw away the most volatile and sublimated part, resembling to the finest flying Meal in grinding; but that part which is more compacted beat in a Marble Mortar, and put it in a Crucible covered with another luted unto it, which place in a circular fire, and digest and bake gently the space of three or four hours; this done, mix your Arsenic so prepared, with scales of Brass such as do fall from the Anvil of Braziers, and sublimate this matter once more; for this Copper half calcinated draws to its s●lf the gross venom and malignity of the Arsenic, as digestion and baking did deprive it from its volatility and blackness. This done, sublimate it three times consecutively with common salt melted, and this salt will perfect the concoction and sweetening of it, so as it may be afterwards used inwardly and outwardly, after it hath been well washed with distilled Rain-water, until the water comes away insipid from it. But before it is put to use, you must try whether or not it be duly corrected, which will easily be known by throwing the same upon melted Copper: for if it doth blanche it, and that the white Tincture be fair and can abide a second melting, it is an evident sign that it is deprived of its malignity: but if it spoils and blackens the Metal, it argues the contrary. It may also in part be discerned by smell; for crude and ill prepared Arsenic hath an unpleasant and ill-savoured taste, which immediately strikes the brain, and disaffects the heart, whereas that which is corrected gives no offence at all. Many do highly extol the virtues of this dulcified Arsenic: but my advice to those that are skilful in Remedies, is, to use rather such as are taken from Mercury and Antimony, than prepared from this Mineral, because it leaves the mind still more at rest and satisfied: but it may usefully be applied outwardly in the cure of the most dangerous and stubborn Ulcers, and chief when it is converted into Liquor by resolving it in a cold Cellar. If any will nevertheless make use of it in desperate diseases, and where the danger bids to play quit or double, he may make use of this Sublimate of dulcified Arsenic in infusion from iij. to viij. grains.   

To make the diaphoretical Rubies of Arsenic.  
SUblimate three times your Arsenic without addition, and this sublimation must be performed in a Cucurbite, that the volatile sulphur may the better separate itself in the upper part of the Alembick: for it rises in the form of a very subtle powder, which at every sublimation must be thrown away, because it is the most pernicious and venomous part of the Arsenic. That which you find compacted and in Crystals, take and grinned with its equal weight of Flowers of Brimstone, and sublimate in sand, and you shall have a crystalline Arsenic read as Ruby. These Ruby are given against diseases of the breast, and chief when the Lungs are stift with crass, tartarous and muc●lagineous matters. It is also good to provoke swear in malignant and venomous diseases. The Dosis may be from iij. to viij. grains in pectoral Conserves, or in extract of Iuniper berries. This Remedy is also very excellent for the cure of all obstinate, corrosive, fistulous, cancerous and dangerous Ulcers: for it kills all the venom by which they are generated, if you have care to purge the Patient at the same time with some Mercurial Remedy, and administer unto him every day Antimonial Tincture in vulnerary Potions.  
The same kind of Ruby may be prepared out of Orpiment: for as we have already said above, Arsenic is nothing else but Orpiment sublimated with salt, and in some manner already corrected. It may be exhibited in the same Dosis, and against the same diseases.   

The fixation of Arsenic.  
TAke one part of pure crystalline Arsenic, or what is yet better, Arsenic already sublimated, and two pints of purified Saltpetre, reduce them each severally to powder, and mix exactly; than put in a great Crucible, which cover with another having a hole in the bottom, that the malignant and noxious vaprous may easily come forth; lute both Crucibles together, and let the Lute dry very well; put them in a circular fire, increasing they by degrees the space of three hours, to exhale and evaporate the most dangerous part; than increase again the fire, and let it so continued the space of eight or ten hours, and let the Crucible be well encompassed with coals towards the end. The Vessels being cooled, take of the matter, and wash it with Rain-water, and when the water comes out tastelesse, dry the powder which you finder in the bottom, which will be very fix and white. They that will yet be more confident of the fixative, must reiterate three times their Operation with new Niter, washing well the matter at every time. This Powder is only used in the preparation of the fixed Sudorific Arsenic, and the oil of it per deliquium in a Cellar.   

To prepare the fixed sudorific Arsenic.  
℞ As much as you will of the finest powder of Arsenic, imbibe it with oil of Tartar per deliquium to the consistence of a liquid pap in sand or ashes, stirring it with a slice of Glass or Spatula; this imbibition and exsiccation reiterate three times. B●ay this mixture afterwards in a Marble Mortar with common aqua vitae, and the powder after dissolution of the salt of Tartar will remain in the bottom; this powder must be edulcorated and dried, which may be given in Bolus, from grain φ. to u in Treacle or extract of Elder berries to provoke sweat: but the mineral Bezoar is better and safer than this Remedy, unless outwardly applied.   

The liquation or resolution of Arsenic.  
THis Liquation is nothing else but the resolution of the six powder of Arsenic into liquor in the Cellar, or else the resolution of butter of Arsenic by deliquium; this Butter is prepared in the same manner as that of Antimony, wherefore we do not insert the manner here. Both these Liquors are used against malignant Ulcers of what nature and condition soever they be, but must not be applied alone; but mixed in Plantain juice water, or Arsmart or Culrage, until these waters may be endured on the tip of the Tongue; than warm them, and so you may wash venereous, cancerous, hollow, fistulous Ulcers; as also the bites of mad Dogs. They must also be applied upon the said Ulcers or others with Feathers, or Fillets dipped in it.   

Of Brimstone and its Chemical Preparation.  
IT is not without reason that the Greeks gave to Brimstone the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is to say Divine; for we must confess that all Sulphurs' have in themselves something heavenly and great, being nothing but the productions of salt, spirit and light: and as light doth easily penetrate and reach everywhere, so do likewise Sulphurs by their odour and colour extend and communicate themselves far and broad, and that with an almost unconceivable efficacy. But this is not the place to speak of the internal sulphurs of things, which do constitute to the best part of their essence and being: for we will now treat only of that Rozin and earthly fat of the earth, which is mixed with some portion of an acid and vitriolic substance, commonly called Brimstone in Shops and Chemical Laboratories. There is two kinds of it, the one Natural, the other Artificial: the natural is that which is called Sulphur vivum, or which hath not passed through fire, and the Artificial is that which is extracted from those pebble stones or fire-stones, whereof we have spoken in the operations of Vitriol; they that will know how it is made, must consult the most learned Georgius] Agricola, which hath wrote about Metallicks, and Minerals.  
The Artist must for his Operation choose the purest Brimstone, as that which is in small cakes of a grey colour inclining to green, easy to inflame, burning without intermission, and sending forth a more bluish than whitish flame; and if this Brimstone is not to be met with, let him have recourse to yellow Brimstone, which is in bigger cakes, and may be substituted in the place of the other: he must nevertheless try whether it easily inflames and burns constantly; for if it doth not so, it is too much indigested, and by its easy extinction doth show its self to participate yet too much of Vitriolic nature. The virtues and qualities of Brimstone are noble and efficacious before its preparation: for it is generally devoted to the Breast, and the cure of all diseases which do molest and afflict the same; it opens, out's, resists putrefaction and venom, as also the biting of venomous creatures; it provokes sweeting, softens and allays the irritations and irregular motions of the Archaeus: wherefore it is used against P●hisick, Cough, Asthma, Pestilence, generally against all malignant, putrid and pestilential Fevers. If it be outwardly applied, it resolves mightily all hardness of tumours, doth cute corroding Tetters or Ringwormes, Scab, Itch, and hinders itching in the skin. But if crude Sulphur hath so noble and so great virtues and proprieties, what may not be expected from this Mineral, when according to the precepts and directions of Chemistry, which only aims at the correction and melioration of substances upon which Artists do work, it shall be either opened or fixed, dissolved or coagulated, precipitated or sublimated! the sons of Art aught than to spend their time and care in working upon this Mixed, as upon one of the chief Instruments, put in their hands by the power of the Creator, to draw from it variety of noble and good Remedies, with which he may charitably supply the wants and necessity of many poor Patients.  
The general preparations which are made upon Brimstone, are, sublimation, precipitation, distillation▪ infusion and extraction. We will according to our accustomed method give some examples of all these operations, that the Artist may well apprehended the manner of working, and learn also the Virtues and Dosis of Remedies proceeding from it.   

The sublimation; To make the Flowers of Brimstone.  
AS we have said heretofore that Bohemian-tartar was purified by dissolution, percolation or straining, and chrystallization, and Antimony by its reduction into Regulus, so do we say here, that the Brimstone is only purified from its feces and earthly superfluity, by sublimation into Flowers, which are absolutely nothing else but a well purified Brimstone; to prepare well these Flowers, you must choose of the best Brimstone and bray it grossly, than put a Cucurbite of earth in sand, the bottom near the plate of Iron on which it stands, having but the thickness of a finger of sand between; put lb ss. of Brimstone at every time, and cover it with a Head which must not be luted; have another also warm in readiness to substitute into the place of this which lieth on the Cucurbite, when it shall be filled with Flowers; after you have given it a gentle and gradual fire of sublimation: there must also be a small Matrass for a Recipient, to receive at first a little portion of sharp fine spirit, which rises before the Flowers and condenseth into liquor in the Limbeck. Thus proceed taking away the Flowers, and substituting a Head to the former taken away, until you perceive the greatest part of the sulphur to have ascended into Flowers; after which you may put again another lb φ. and thus go on till you have enough for your purpose. But you must be nimble in exchanging the Heads or Limbecks, jest that the air should set the Brimstone on fire, and if that should hap, let it be extinguished with ashes or burnt Allom. You must also regulate the fire conveniently until the sublimation gins to work, and entertain it in the same state; otherwise too much heat would melt the Flowers, before they were sufficiently carried up into the Limbecks Head.  
Now there are some that do add Colchotar with the Brimstone & melted salt, to be able more boldly to give it fire, thinking also by this way to draw more pure and subtle Flowers. Others do mix also Bolus or terra sigillatae, which we do much better approve of than the process of those who think it enough to mix only Brick flower or small Brick dust, because the oriental Bolusses or sigilled earths have in themselves a solar sulphur, which joining with the flowers of Brimstone, renders them more efficacious. But we altogether disapprove of those who with the Brimstone do mix Gums and Aloes, because the sublimation cannot be performed until the Gums also burn, what care or precaution soever is had in it: wherefore it is much better if the Gums beaten to small powder, be mixed with the flowers of Brimstone already sublimated, or what will be much better, the virtue of both be jointly extracted, as we shall teach hereafter. The flowers of Brimstone may be 3 or 4 times sublimated, for a greater depuration, concoction and maturation by the reiterated action of fire, which thus perfects by degrees what Nature had not yet accomplished, by reason of the heterogeneous and terrestrial mixture of matters.  
The flowers of Brimstone resists putrefaction, provokes sweeting, and dry humours. They are given with very great success against pestilence and all malignant Fevers, whether used as a curative or preservative Remedy. They are also of singular use against Asthmas and short breath, diseases of the Lungs, inveterate Coughs, Suffocations of the breast, Catarths and Fluxions. There is not above ℈ ss. given for preservative, but for cures of diseases it is administered from ℈ j to ʒ j They are for the most part mixed in Lozenges or Opiat's, and often also given in new laid Eggs: but if you desire to quicken more their working, give them with Treacle, Conserve of Roots of Enula, Campane, or Extract of Iuniper berries. There are some yet that sublimate the Flowers of Brimstone with read Coral, and extract the Tincture thereof with oil of Aniseed, which they give to Consumptive persons as a true specific Remedy for their cure: but all these contrivances depending from the knowledge and experience of Physicians, we shall not instance upon any here to examplifie; for it is enough for us to have taught the best and surest way of performing the plain sublimation; for whosoever can make the simple Flowers, shall be in much less danger of erring in the preparation of those that are compounded.   

The Precipitation. To prepare the Milk, Cremor, Butter, or Magistery of Brimstone.  
WE have ever recommended the choice and purity of Materials, which makes us again to enjoin hereunto the Sons of Art, not to spare the fair salt of Bohemian-tartar in the dissolution of Brimstone, although several Authors content themselves with ashes of Wine leeses or Glasiers ashes, which are the salt of the herb Kali, to make this preparation: but besides, that they cannot well filtrate their Tincture, by reason of the viscosity and clamminess of the ashes, the Remedy is not so good, so fair, nor endowed with the requisite virtue, because these salts have not the penetrating and fiery vigour which is required for the dissolution of Brimstone, and the concoction and maturation of that Mineral; and this part must the Artist heed, because the good or evil of his Operation depends from it; therefore you must proceed in it as followeth.  
℞ Flowers of Brimstone twice sublimated, at lest some part thereof, and three parts of very pure and white salt of Bohemian-tartar; put them in a grey earthen pot, or a glass Cucurbite, and pour upon xij. or xv. p. of distilled Rain-water, 'cause them to boil together in sand the space of five or six hours, or until all the substance of the Brimstone be dissolved, and the liquor clean, and tinged with a very high read; and as the ebullition causes the Menstruum to lessen in quantity, add to it some other warm, stirring continually the matter, to hasten the sooner your dissolution. Moreover, the mixture of the salt of Bohemian-tartar and flowers of Sulphur must have been made before in a Marble Mortar warm and dry. The dissolution being duly made, warm a great earthen grey pan, putting in it the clear part of the dissolution, without any previous filtration, which cannot be soon enough performed, the Brimstone returning into a body as soon as the Menstruum gins to cool; pour upon the Tincture very good distilled Vinegar sprinkling it every where, until the whole turns into a liquor as white as Milk, which when you see, fill up the remainder of the pan with clear and pure Spring-water, to begin the edulcoration and settling of it; than cover it, and leave the space of 24 hours in a secure place, and separate after that the clear liquor by inclination, than pour new clear water upon the milky substance settled in the bottom, and thus continued the lotion thereof until both the ill smell, and lixivial taste of the salt of Tartar be go away. But note, that the first water must not be thrown away, but contrariwise evaporated, and so you shall find again your salt of Bohemian-tartar, which reverberate in a Crucible to redness; than dissolve and filtrate, and it will be as good and as pure as before, to serve in the same operation or any other whatsoever; You must wash the Magistery of Sulphur for the last time in equal parts of Cinnamon, Rose-water, and than dry it slowly and keep it for use.  
But because this Magistery cannot be made in small quantity, and that the Artists are not always provided with salt of Bohemian-tartar and distilled Vinegar, we will teach them a good and sure way, to prepare with small expense, and are all times a milk of Sulphur or Brimstone, which in virtue shall not be inferior to the former; the Dosis and faculties whereof we will declare after we have spoken of the preparation of the other.   

The true and infallible manner of preparing the Milk of Sulphur.  
℞ Of good quick lime that hath not been exposed to the open air ij. p. and j pawn of good green Brimstone in small Cakes j pawn mix them exactly together in an Iron Mortar by a long trituration, and afterwards let them boil in a good quantity of Rain-water in a great Iron Cauldron, stirring continually with an Iron Slice, until three parts of the water be boiled away, and the remaining be as read as blood by the dissolution of the brimstone, run it than warm through the straining bag, and let the strained liquor cool, than with new made Urine precipitate before it grows cold; this Magistery suffer to settle, and separate the upper part of the liquor, and wash it twelve or fifteen times with warm Spring-water, and when it hath no more ill taste or odour left, wash it as the foregoing Rose and Cinnamon water, and let it dry gently, to keep for use. The Remedy is called the Balsam of the Lungs, which by the eradiation of its virtue, consumes and dries up all malignant, serous and watery superfluities. Wherhfore it is usefully exhibited to those that are tormented with melting and suffocating Rheums and Catarrhs, to Asthmaticks and Phthisical People, and such as are troubled with old and inveterate Coughs, or subject to Colic and Ventosities, which it doth hinder and dissipate. It is given also to those which are troubled with malignant humours and serosities in the joints; it facilitates expectoration, and wonderfully strengthens the breast. The Dosis may be as much as will turn Cinnamon or Balm water to a milk white; it is given every day to the Patiented morning and evening, one spoonful at once. Though this Remedy be highly celebrated amongst Authors, yet our advice is to trust rather to the Tinctures extracted from it, than to this body, yet too corpse and material to hope from it all the good and commendable effects which are attributed unto it; we do nevertheless leave it to every one's liberty to make use thereof, until the truth of our Assertion be better known by study and practice, which are the two Touchstones by which things are to be examined and known.   

The Distillation of Sulphur.  
THe Sons of Art have sought long how to find a way of Distilling from sulphur of Brimstone a good acid Spirit, which they improperly call the oil of Sulphur, and to draw quantity from it, which hath caused a hundred manners of contrivances and processes upon this Subject. They also have endeavoured to turn Brimstone into an unctuous Oil, which might be fit both for inward and outward Diseases, wherein every body hath also brought in his mite of experience and industry to attain that end: but as we have found that Brimstone hath been Vitriol before it could attain the Character of Sulphur; our wonder hath been the greater, that they should have laboured so much to get out that acid spirit, since they do confess and say themselves, that the spirit of Vitriol is like in virtue and operation to that of Brimstone; and it will be easier to draw lib. x. from one, them lib. s. from the other. We must confess notwithstanding, that there shall be something found more quick and subtle in the acid of brimstone, than in that of Vitriol, because the substance from which it is extracted hath been more exalted, more concocted and ripened than Vitriol, which is much inferior in these respects, and consequently more undigested. Wherhfore we will declare here two ways, which have ever been very successful unto us to draw the acid of Sulphur or Brimstone. After which we will also give the Method of turning the body of Brimstone into Oil properly so called, which will be more unctuous and inflammable; and is a very considerable Remedy, both in Physic and Surgery.   

The first manner of preparing the spirit of Brimstone.  
WE have caused a draught to be made of the figure of the Vessels for both these operations, because the mind of the Artist is more sensibly touched with this representation of them, and he may thereby much better apprehended how to dispose of things; for objects move more powerfully the apprehensive faculty, than words can do; wherefore we refer to that Scheme, they that shall be inclined to put in practice the following operation.  
Take a great grey earthen pan, in the midst whereof place an Iron Trefoot, capacle of upholding an earthen dish glazed without and within; fill up this dish with Brimstone beaten to course powder, and melt it in a slow heat, than set it on fire with a brimstone-Match, or an Iron made read hot in the fire After which hung up a glass Bell, such as those that are used to cover Melons; let it be moistened with aqua vitae above the earthen dish so as the flame may come into the Bell, but not reach to the top or touch it; take also care that there be not more distance between the circumference of the pan and that of the Bell, than the breadth of an inch, or one inch and a half, because this space is  diagram 
The Furnaces and Vessailes to make the Oil of Sulphur  


a The Table which up holds the Furnace.  
b The Furnace of baked Earth.  
c Where the Ashes fall.  
d The Hearth.  
e The Cacurbite in the Fire.  
f The Little Port to cast in the Sulphur.  
g The Registers.  
h The Head with two descendants baton.  
i The Receivers.  
k The up holder's of the Re●●ients with their Rolls.  
l The Dishes with the Sulphur in Powder.  
m The upperprops which sustain the Head.     diagram 
The Bell to make the Eager or the Spirit of Sulphur  


a The great earthen Vessail of Potter's clay or other Stiff clay.  
b The Dish that contains the burning Sulphur.  
c The Bell.  
d The Supporters which uphold the Dish.    sufficient to entertain the flame of the Brimstone, and hinder the extinction thereof, which if it should hap, great care must be had to kindle it again, that no interruption may hap in the work: and when all the Brimstone shall be spent, have another dish in readiness to substitute in the place of the other. So shall you have the true spirit of Sulphur per campanam very heavy, acid and of a brown read colour; if the time hath not been too moist, and the Brimstone not too much impregnated with vitriolic Salt. And if the distilled Liquor proves to be only clear and yellow, let it be rectified, and the superfluous phlegm thereof drawn away. The Artist may place as many earthen pans and bells under a Chimney as it can hold, to advance the more his work, for he may as easily use four or five as one; above all times choose that of the two Aequinoxes, vernal and autumnal, to work this Spirit. That season being moist for the most part and rainy, which is a thing necessary in this operation, otherwise you shall draw very little spirit from lib. j of Brimstone, because if the air be too dry by intervention of either cold or heat, it is not capable of coagulating the acid and vitriolic spirit of the Brimstone, which contrariwise is totally dissipated with the fat and inflammable substance of the Brimstone. We will speak of the virtue and faculties of this Spirit after we have taught the second manner of preparing it.   

The second manner of making the spirit of Sulphur and Brimstone.  
HAve a small Furnace of baked earth, capable of receiving a strong earthen Cucurbite which may endure well the fire, having a square hole made in the body or belly of it, whereto a piece to close it up, must be exactly fitted; let the Cucurbite also have four small eminencies distant the one from the other, to keep up the border of the Limbeck-head, which is to be applied upon, that there may be room and air to let go and evacuate part of the smoke ascending from the Brimstone when it takes flame, otherwise you should have nothing but acid Flowers and a whitish Liquor; this done, heat softly the Cucurbite at first, than ●●crease the fire till it become read, and have at hand very good Brimstone well chosen and dry, beaten to gross powder, and throw about ʒ ij. thereof at once into the Cucurbite through the square hole, and immediately shut it close again, thus continuing until the ascending vapours begin to condensate themselves and thicken in the still-Head, and drop down into the Recipients, which must be applied to both noses of the still. You must also make choice of a moist and rainy weather to work this Spirit, if you will have it in quantity; the time being seasonable, the Brimstone good, the Artist watchful in keeping up his fire, and throwing in Brimstone as soon as the flame doth cease; you may hope ℥ j ss. from each lb of Brimstone. The proportion of the Furnace and necessary Vessels for this work, may be better seen by the Artist in the Figure, than we could be able to describe, wherefore we refer him thither. He may also find out the virtues and proprieties of this acid spirit of Sulphur, by comparing those we have attributed to the spirit of Vitriol; to which we add nevertheless, that this spirit is a specific Remedy against the Plague, and other diseases occasioned by putrefaction and corruption, as likewise against Asthma; above all things it preserves health if it be taken in the quantity of gut. iij. every morning in white Wine or in Broth, because it redresses the defects of the Ventricle, and sufficiently strengthens it to hinder indigestions, which are the springs, causes, and originals of most diseases in our bodies. This Spirit is also used with good success mixed with Plantain-water, in the falling of the blind Gut, fomenting and bathing gently the part with a Sponge dipped in the Liquor.   

How the true Oil of Brimstone is to be distilled.  
THose that are versed in matters of natural Philosophy, know that Minerals are only crude and undigested, because their constitution is such, or because they are prematurely taken of from their Matrix as a green and unripe fruit, plucked of before his time from the Tree, and it is want of a due digestion only, that they are uncapable to produce all the noble effects which nature hath made them apt to bring forth: but the intention of that good and kind mother, aiming still at the best, hath by the mixture of some other matter been frustrated and disappointed, or by being interrupted in her work which she could not bring to perfection by the privation of inward and outward heat which did foment and cherish it, to bring it to the highest degree of its natural predestination: wherefore all the Philosophers that have known and followed Nature closely, have ever endeavoured to let Art begin again where Nature had ended and had been interrupted, to digest and bring to maturation unripe substances, and supply the defects thereof. They have made use of visible fire and of its heat to stir up that invisible one which is hidden in the Centre of mixed bodies, and constitute the chief part of their soul, essence, efficacy and virtue: And if this only way could not bring them to their desired scope, they have sought in other Mixts some analogous substance, which could sympathise and answer with a proportional heat to that which they intended to perfect and multiply. This same way we do intent to hold in the maturation of common Brimstone to correct it, and this way to stir up the faculties and wondered virtues it hides under the shade of its body, which is the rind and cover of the light and internal fire by which it is produced.  
To this end let the Artist take as much of well chosen common Brimstone as he doth think fitting; than beaten it to powder, and digest in ashes with a moderate heat in a Matrass, without any melting at all the space of forty day's uninterrupted; this digestion will correct the stench and ill smell of the Brimstone, and will increase the virtues thereof in a quadruple proportion, which immediately he will perceive by dissolving a small portion of this digested Brimstone in some oil, and doing the like with other not digested and ripened; for the one will yield an unpleasant smell as it uses to do, and the other will rather recreate and please the smell than offend it. After this first operation a second must be put in practice, which cannot be but by the means of a subtle, aethereal and volarile oil which may open the body of this Brimstone, and make it capable of being converted itself into a subtle, penetrating and pleasant Oil. This Oil must be none else but of Turpentine, drawn after the manner we have taught above. And as we have laid for an infallible and sure Axiom, that the substance which must open and subtilitate, must in many degrees exceed that body that is to be opened and subtilitated; so must the Artist put viij. p. of this Oil upon j pawn of digested Brimstone made into very subtle powder, and let them digest together in B. M. until this Oil hath almost dissolved all the substance of the Brimstone, and be turned as read as an oriental Ruby; which done, distil the Turpentine Oil, and draw it of again in the slow heat of ashes, untll that which remains in the Retort becomes as thick as a Syrup; than cohobate that which is extracted and digest it together the space of eight days, and reiterate the distillation as before, and so continued seven times together digesting, cohobating and distilling; but the seventh time draw of the Oil of Turpentine as before to the consistency of a liquid Syrup; than increase the fire in some small degree, and change the Recipient, and thus proceed in the distillation thereof, and you shall have a true oil of Brimstone, read, well smelling, and penetrating, which is a very Balsam both inwardly and outwardly, the efficacy and virtue whereof cannot sufficiently be exalted. It is a most excellent Vulnerary, curing internal Ulcers, resisting mainly corruption, and allaying all irritations and fits of the Mother; it is a wonder of Remedy against the Plague, Colic, Catarrhs and Fluxions, Asthmas or short breath and Empyema's, or corrupted Ulcers in the stomach; it abundantly provokes sweeting and Urine, and doth work also by insensible transpiration. The Dosis may be from one drop to vj. in some appropriated Syrup, or the yolk of a new laid Egg in the morning fasting. For outward application it is an unparallelled Remedy, to dissolve and digest Tartarous and scrofulous Tumours, as also to alloy griefs, particulatly that of the Sciatica: Finally it may be said, that this true Sulphur is none of the lest Masterpieces of our Art, provided the Artist be punctual and sedulous, and hath been careful to ripen and digest well the Sulphur, as we have prescribed. He aught than to follow the exhortation of that great and renowned Philosopher and Physician Van Helmont, when he says, speaking to Artists that are desirous to learn some profitable and good Operation, Horror itaque Tirones, addiscant sulphura mineralium spoliare vi peregrina ●c virul●ntae sub cujus custodia abditur ignis, Arccum in scop●; ●c nsideratos placidissimè deducens. But as this Operation is long and painful, and that every one shall not have the time or capacity to attain to the perfection of it, we will give yet another way of distilling a Balsamic oil of Brimstone, only good for outward uses, yet withal endowed with many excellent virtues.   

How the faetid oil of Sulphur or Brimstone is to be prepared.  
℞ lib. j of Brimstone made into fine powder, mix it with lib. j ss. of oil of Linseed in an earthen glazed pan; put this pan on a slow fire at first, and stir continually the matter, increasing the fire by degrees, until all be well boiled and united into a lump, which will have some likeness unto coagulated Ox blood; let the matter cool to mix it afterwards with lib. ij. of calcined Vitriol; and put it in a capacious and well luted Retort, to make the distillation thereof in a close Reverberatory, according to the several degrees of fire; aft●r distillation separate the oil from the waterish Liquor; than rectify the oil in sand with twice its weight of salt of Bohemian-tartar, and this will subtiliate it and correct much the stench and ill odour thereof. It is an admirable secret in time of Plague to bring the boils or sores to maturation, and cure the Ulcers after the scars are fallen from the sore: it advances also their maturation and falling, and hinders the venom from spreading too far.   

The Infusion and Extraction. How the Balsams and Tinctures of Sulphur are to be made.  
WE join together the operation of Infusion and Extraction, because the last doth necessarily follow the first. Both do supply us with Balsams and Tinctures, which are Remedies highly to be esteemed by reason of their efficacy and virtue. For as Brimstone is of itself uncorruptible, and preserves dead bodies from putefaction, with how much more reason shall he hinder the corruption and decay of living bodies, and restore the defects of the radical Balsam of our life, when once altered. Wherhfore above all things we recommend unto the Artist to delight himself in the works of Balsams and Tinctures of Brimstone, which will supply him with Medicaments less subject to fail in their operations than others. For we must confess, that whatsoever the most excellent Remedies have of virtue, faculty, efficacy and power, only proceeds from that Ray of Light and internal Sulphur they have in themselves, whether extracted from animal, vegetable or minerals; and it is for this only reason also that we have so much recommended the conservation of the volatile sulphureous salts or substances, because it is the last rind and covering of Spirit and Light, from whence proceed all the virtues and actions of natural bodies.  
We will deliver three several manners of Balsams of Brimstone, and as many ways to extract the Tincture of it, that the Artist may the better be informed of the method of working, and better apprehended the nature of things and their intrinsecal virtue.   

The plain Balsam of Sulphur or Brimstone.  
PUt in a long neck Matrass Flowers of Brimstone twice sublimated with Vitriol ℥ iv. and pour upon ℥ viij. of aethereal oil of Turpentine distilled in the manner we have already taught; place this Matrass in sand, and give it at first a moderate fire, which increase by degrees until the Flowers of Brimstone be dissolved, and the oil of Turpentine be tinged with a very read colour; than let it cool, and filtrate the same through a Cotton, and put in a close Glass Viol. to keep for use. Some make use of the distilled oil of Aniseed, Fennel, or Iuniper berries to extract this Balsam whereof we leave the choice to the freedom and liberty of the Artist, since the oil cannot choose but be very good to increase the virtues of this Balsam, which are excellent: for it is singular against Physic, and to correct defects of corrupted breath, and to cure Ulcers in the Lungs; but above all it is commendable against Pestilence, and all other contagious diseases, whether administered as a Preservative, or given to Patients and already sick persons as a curative Remedy. The Dosis from j drop to xx. in Lagwort or Butter-bur-water, or distillation of Enula Campana Roots.   

The Compounded Balsam of Brimstone.  
THis compounded Balsam is called antipestilential Balsam, or Balsam of Life, by reason of the admirable virtues that are thereof. It is made with ℥ viij. of distilled oil of Iuniper berries, ℥ iv. of oil of Amber, ℥ ij. of oil of Rhew, ℥ j of oil of Camphire, all which put in a long neck Matrass, and add ℥ iij. of Milk or Magistery of Brimstone; ℥ ij. of Mirth, ℥ j of Aloes Succotrin, and ℥ s. of well chosen Saffron; digest all the●e in ashes together in a slow heat the space of seven natural days, or rather until all these substances be converted into a very read Balsam, which must be filtrated through a Cotton, and kept as a choice and precious treasure against the Plague, and all pestilent and dangerous Diseases. The Dosis may be from j drop to xij. in appropriated Syrups or some Spirits.   

The Vulnerary Balsam of Brimstone.  
℞ ℥ iv. of good and well chosen Brimstone; beaten it to fine powder, and mix it with as much salt of Bohemian-tartar very dry; this mixture put in a glazed earthen dish, and place it upon a slow and moderate fire, stirring it continually with a wooden slice until all be reduced to a Mass, called the liver of Brimstone; having proceeded thus far, remove the fire and let the matter cool; than beaten it to powder and put in a Matrass, adding to it ℥ j of Aloes Succotr. ℥ s. or fine Mirth, and ʒ ij. of Saffron, all beaten to fine powder; pour upon it one p. of yellow oil of Turpentine, and two p. of its read oil, which some call the Balsam thereof, and that until the oils swim above the matters four fingers high; place the Matrass in ashes, and there keep it in digestion, increasing the fire by degrees until the matter begin to simper; than look whether the Extract of the substances be made, and they dissolved, which being so, filtrate the Balsm through a Cotton, to keep fo●use, and in case it be not ready, keep it on the fire till it be. We dare confidently warrant that this Remedy shall never fail those that shall know how to use it skilfully, in the cure of Wounds, Ulcers and Contusions; for it is one of the most excellent Balsams which Art can contrive for outward applications, whereof the Chemical Apothecary which is curious of the reputation of his Art, and his own, must make use, whensoever he intends to make the Plaster called Diasulph▪ if he expects the operation and virtues which are attrbuted unto the same.   

The first Tincture of Sulphur or Brimstone.  
THe Artist having made the plain Balsam of Brimstone, and this Balsam being well impregnated with the internal redness of the Sulphur, he must put it in a glass Cucurbite, and pour upon it twice as much distilled Rain-water, than place the Vessel in B. M. and draw of the spirit thereof by distillation, and the aethereal spirit or oil of the aethereal Turpentine will leave the sulphur which it had extracted and ascend with the water, and the true Balsam of Sulphur shall remain in the bottom of the Cucurbite; which may be given from j drop to viij. in all diseases wherein the plain Balsam doth conduce, for this is more efficacious. And to make the better the true Tincture thereof, pour upon that which remains in the Cucurbite very well alkoholized spirit of Wine four fingers high, than cover it with its Blindhead, and having luted them together with bladder and white of Eggs, put it to digest and extract in the vaporous Balneo, until the spirit of Wine be tinged with a very high colour; than draw it of and put new in the place, and thus proceed until the spirit will take not more colour; than filtrate all the Tinctures, and distil in B. M. till the two third parts be distilled away. They that will add ℥ ij. of good Saffron, in a knot at the last distillation, will increase very much the virtue of this Tincture, and so shall the Artist be free to make yet some other additions according to his skill and judgement, and as he shall intent it for some peculiar use; But it is very necessary to have it plain, because some other thing can still be added there according to the exigency and several natures and conditions of diseases. This Tincture is more sovereign yet than the Balsams, because it is more open and more exalted by the help of the spirit of Wine, which is the Menstruum more analogous and conformable to our natural spirits: which causes it to drive and make those Remedies which it hath volatilised to penetrate into the ultimate digestions. Wherhfore it may be used for internal diseases with a quite different success than that which Balsams can produce; it may be administered from ij. drops to x. in wine impregnated with the virtue of Iuniper berries, new laid Eggs, or some Pectoral or Alexiterial Syrup.   

The second Tincture of Sulphur:  
Beaten to powder lb j of very pure and very dry Saltpetre, and ℥ iiij. of well chosen Brimstone, and mix them together: after which place a good Crucible, or an earthen pot not glazed, such as in vulgar French is called un Carnion, on an earthen round Tile in a wind-Furnace, and put round about it quick Charcoal to kindle by degrees, and so gently at first heat the Vessel until it be read on all sides; than pour into it your matter before mixed by one spoonful at once, and renew it still in the same quantity, after the noise of every throwing in is past; this done, increase the fire and open all the Registers of the wind-Furnace, and drive the fire till all the matter be reduced and brought to a read mass or lump, which having taken of from the fire, and beaten to powder in a warm Mortar, put in a Matrass, and pour upon gently tartatized spirit of Wine to the height of two fingers; than having stopped the Matrass with its Blindhead and well luted, put it to digest and extract in embers until it be tinged with a very high read; than remove the fire and filtrate the Tincture, and draw of half of the Menstruum by distillation in B. M. with a very gentle heat, and in the bottom of the Cucurbite will remain a true Tincture of Sulphur; which is an excellent specific against the Plague, Agues, Scurvy, obstructions of the Liver, and all diseases of the Lungs. The Dosis must be from iij. to xij. drops in the above mentioned Liquors.   

The third Tincture of Sulphur.  
AS there are many delicate and tender persons, who cannot endure the smell of Balsams and tinctures of Brimstone, and yet these Remedies are absolutely necessary for the cure of many great and dangerous diseases; therefore have Chemical Artists endeavoured to reduce into a body again the Tincture of Sulphur and deprive it of its ill-favoured smell, which doth annoyed the brain and stomaches of delicate persons, which is performed in the following manner.  
℞ as much as you will of the first Tincture of Sulphur prepared as we have prescribed above; draw of one half of the Liquor, and put the remainder in a cold place or Cellar, that the coldness of the air may reduce to a body again and coagulate this Tincture into Crystal, which contain in themselves the quintessence and centrical virtues of the Brimstone: separate from these Crystals the Liquor which is in them, and dissolve them in new spirit of Wine; than draw it of by distillation to a third part, which put again in the Cellar, and let it shoot into Crystals, and so begin anew reiterating this process seven times, or until these Crystals have lost altogether all the ill smell they had got in their first preparation. So shall you have a true Magistery, or a true dry Tincture of Brimstone, which will be as useful in every respect as the forementioned Remedies, provided it be used a little longer. The Dosis may be from ij. to x. or xij. grains, in some convenient Liquor, in Lozenges, Conserve, or some appropriated Electuary, suitable to the delicacy of the Patient and quality of the Disease.   

The salification, To prepare the salt of Brimstone.  
THere remains for the most part in the bottom of the dishes which have been used, to keep in the burning Brimstone in the distillation of the spirit thereof, a kind of feces or blackish caput mortuum, light, spongious, and as it were in leaves or beds, which must be calcined and reverberated in a Crucible, until it turns to a whitish grey; make a lie afterwards with distilled Rain-water, or dew of Vitriol, which filtrate and slowly evaporate in ashes to a thin skin or dry bottom; for as there is little of matter, so is there little of salt: wherefore that of Vitriol may always lawfully be substituted in the place of that of Brimstone, without any scruple or question to be made of it, because they spring from the same original and have the same virtue, which is to cleanse and strengthen the stomach, and root from it all seminaries of worms and corruption, and expel them from thence. This is all we thought necessary to say concerning Brimstone, to instruct fully the Artists whereby they may take opportunity to enlarge further their experiments if they please.   

Of Bitumen, or fat Earth.  
WE have comprehended generally in this Section, Sulphurs' so properly called and Bituminous substances; and as we have hither to spoken of the first, we must end by Bitumen or earthly pitch, which are the last. Britumen are generalty understood and accepted for all kind of very fat and clammy Minerals: wherefore Naturalists do constitute several species of it, as the Karabe or yellow Amber, Ambergrise, sperma ceti, Britumen properly called Asphaltum petroli, Seacole and Jet. We will treat here of the other Britumen which are more considerable, and whereon the operations of Chemistry are intended to draw Remedies from them, and separate the purity from the impurity thereof: amongst all others, Karabe and Ambergrise obtain the chief and principal place: wherefore we will only speak of these two kinds of Britumen principally, because the others admit of so little of preparation, as it would be unnecessary to speak thereof, since the Artist may sufficiently be informed by what we have already said, and shall say anon of the Karabe.   

Of yellow Amber or Karabe.  
THe opinions of Authors who have writ about yellow Amber are very various, but principally those of the former age, because they wanted the light of Chemistry, to give them a deeper impression of knowledge in the things of Nature: but in this latter age where we are enlightened by that noble Torch, and where it hath been so successfully used to advance Anatomy of mixed bodies, without any other prevention of mind than to discover truth for our own advantage, and leave it to improve to others; Chemical examination hath taught us, that yellow Amber or Karabe, is nothing else but a bituminous juice or Pitch and Rozin of the Earth well digested, flowing from the subterraneous veins of it into the Sea, where it gathers, coagulates its self and hardens finally more and more. There are three principal kinds thereof; The first which is more esteemed and sought for, is white and opaco us, the most digested and ripened of all, which is known by its purity, pleasant smell and great quantity of volatile salt, which is the most infallible token of its goodness and virtue. The second is yellow, which is lucid and transparent, abounding more in oil than in salt, and by consequence more digested and less valuable. The third is that, which between both is mixed of white and yellow, but with some touch of earthliness and impurity, which makes it inferior in worth to the two former. All three are endowed with no common virtues: but if any will make use of yellow Amber for Physical purposes without any other preparation than triturating it upon a Porphyry stone the whitest must ever be taken and preferred, having a Balsamic smell almost like flower of Rosemary, when it is a little stirred by friction. It is the white also that must be chosen to make the Tincture or essence thereof, as we shall teach hereafter. But the second and third sort may be used for distillation, because the pure part thereof is severed from the impure, and that rectification may correct the defects of the first distillation, by which the viciousness of the natural digestion of Karabe is already corrected, and the action of fire hath separated the heterogeneous and gross substance lurking in it. Karabe in the Persian tongue signifies attractive of straw, which is one of the proper qualities of Amber.  
The general virtues of Amber are, to warm, desiccate, strengthen and bind moderately; it is principally dedicated to the head, spleen and Matrix. Wherhfore it is very successfully made use of in Catarrhs and Fluxions, Epilepsy, Apoplexy, Lethargy and Vertigo, as also to alloy all irritations and rise of the Spleen. It is also a wondered Specific against all fits of the Mother, and chief against the rising of it and suffocations which it causes. It is also a true coagulated Balsam, used against bloodyflux and Gonorrhae●, and above all against the Whites; briefly it may lawfully be said of Amber, that it is the life and soul of Remedies dedicated to the cleansing of the Mother, and redress all the defects thereof. Some believe▪ that they that wear Amber Collars are not subject to eye sores, or diseases in the throat, whereof they say, it hinders the swelling: The Dosis of prepared Amber is from ℈ φ. to ʒ j in new laid Eggs, some Syrup, Lozenges, or Conserve.  
The Chemical preparations of Amber are Dissolution or Extraction, to make the Tincture, Essence or Magistery thereof: and Distillation, by the help of which its Mercurial Spirit is extracted, as also the subtle Oil, Balsamic Oil, volatile Salt, and Colophony or Rosin.   

How the Tincture or essence of Amber is to be prepared.  
PUt ℥ iij. or iv. of white Amber prepared on a Porphyry sto●● in a Blindhead, and pour upon it very much alkoholized spirit of Wine four fingers high, and having shut up close the Vessel and well luted it, put it in ashes to digest, dissolve and extract in a moderate heat, until the liquor be tinged with a fair golden yellow; than open the Vessel, draw of the liquor by inclination, and reiterate again a new dissolution and extraction until the spirit of Wine takes no more of the Tincture. Filtrate all the Tinctures afterwards, and draw of the three parts of the Menstruum by distillation in the slow heat of B. M. and the essence of Amber will remain impregnated with the taste and smell of its own mixed, which is capable to produce very noble effects, by reason of the subtlety of the parts thereof. Some do pretend to make the Magistery thereof, precipitating this Tincture in common water, but they are in a great error: for it is properly to unmake or undo what hath been made with great labour, since the water drawing to itself the spirit of Wine, the body of the Amber forsakes it and precipitates into a Gum or Rosin, which is not much better than white prepared Amber, except only that it is somewhat purer. The Artist than shall preserve this Essence in liquor, and shall use it in all diseases for which we have assigned the general virtues of Karabe. But this Remedy must be exhibited in some Syrup, as that of Cinnamon, Coral, Flowers of Paeony or yolkes of Eggs; it may also be given in aethereal or burning Spirits, as of Iuniper, Elder berries, Black Cherries, or spirit of flowers of Lily Convallium drawn with Sack, because if it was given in any waterish liquor, the Amber would return to a body, and so would not produce so good nor so quick effects as when it remains in liquor, and all its parts disunited and volatilised, that the Archaeus of the Ventricle may bring all the powers thereof to action in the highest perfection. The Dosis may be from x. to xx. drops, even to thirty.   

How the Magistery of Amber or Karabe is to be prepared.  
AS we with very good reason did condemn the false and pretended Magistery of Amber, so must we recommend that which is truly made, and is capable of producing some good effects in relation to health; you may proceed therein as follows.  
℞ White Amber reduced to an impalpable powder, as much as you will; put it in a Matrass or Cucurbite, and pour upon it very good and very subtle distilled Vinegar four fingers high, than place the Vessel in sand, and let the matter boil three or four days, pouring still new distilled Vinegar very warm, as the first vapours away, and this continued till the liquor is become read; than filtrate it and draw of the Menstruum in ashes to a dry bottom, and the Magistery shall remain in the bottom of the Cucurbite, which dissolve in equal parts of Rosewater, Balm water and Cinnamon water, and digest them together the space of 24 hours, than draw of the water again in ashes slowly, which also must be observed the first time when you draw of the Vinegar; for overhast and too much of fire spoils all the work, and mars the virtue of the substances. This digestion and distillation must be reiterated three times, but at the third time you must remove the fire after you have drawn of the three parts of four, adding to the remainder ℥ j of well filtrated juice of Lemon, or ʒ j of very acid and well rectified spirit of Vitriol; this done, go on gently in your distillation until the matter be well dried, which reduce to powder and keep for use: for it is a very good Medicine to provoke swear, and strengthen the heart and its functions; it may be given with hope of very good success in Measles, small-Pox and Pleurisy: but above all it is a Specific against the Scurvy and its dependences. The Dosis may be from vj. to xv. and xx. grains, in Conserve of Jelly flowers, Confection of Hyacinth, or Diascordium Fracastoris, giving to the Patient to drink upon it Carduus Benedictus or Meadow sweet (Vlmaria) water.   

How the distillation of Amber is to be made.  
OUr advice to the Son of Art is to take for this operation of the third kind of Karabe or Amber whereof we made men●ion above, because it contains much oil, and abounds also in volatile salt. Let him than take lb iij. or iv. and having put them in a great Retort, so capacious as the matter may fill up but the third part, let him place it in a close Reverberatory upon the cover of a pot with two fingers thick of ashes under the bottom of the Retort, which will be to it instead of a Lute, and having also fitted to the neck of the Retort a large Recipient exactly luted, let him give a gentle and graduated fire until the drops of the acid spirit be over, and the oil gins to appear; than he must increase a little the fire, and regulate it so that the drops may follow one another. But he must begin to increase and drive it hard when he perceives the oil to grow thicker, and the volatile salt to sublimate itself, which may be known by the vapours and clouds coming forth out of the Retort, and let the fire be kept in this state until the Recipient grows clear of its self, which is an infallible token of the end of the operation. That which is found in the Recipient after distillation contains three distinct substances proceeding from one and the same root. The first is the spirit or Mercurial acid and watery liquor of the Amber, which comes forth in the first place. Secondly, the oil which is mixed with much volatile salt which hath made it somewhat thick, unpleasant to the smell, and high in colour. The third is the volatile sulphureous salt, which is not the lest considerable of the three in virtue and efficacy. The Artist must know how to separate skilfully these substances the one from the other, to use them each severally according to the several proprieties which are in them; and this is performed in the manner following.   

How the spirit of Amber is to be separated.  
PUt in a Matrass with a long neck all what you shall find in the Recipient after the distillation of Amber, and stop it with another Matrass, than put it to digest in the vaporous Balneo in Sawdust, in a degree of heat analogous to the natural heat of man, the space of three or four days, that the Mercurial and acid Liquor may sever itself from the oleaginous part; that done, pour the oil swimming above by inclination; and when there shall remain but little in the Vessel, wet a Filter of paper with Balm or Rose-water, and pour into it by degrees and very gently, the Liquor remaining in the bottom of the Matrass, and the oleaginous substance will remain upon the Filter, because it is wet with water, and the Spirit shall pass clear through, which must be rectified gently in ashes to a dry bottom, that if any volatile salt remains dissolved in the Spirit, which almost is of the same nature, it may remain in the bottom without sublimating and burning; keep this Spirit in a well s●opt Viol for the time of use. It is a sovereign Diuretic, Di●opilative and Cephalick Remedy, which may be used upon all occasions where the Amber may be useful: but particularly against obstructions, and schirrus of the spleen or splenetical tumours, when acuated with its volatile salt. The Dosis may be from iiij. drops to xij. in Tincture of Sassafras, white Wine, or Broth.   

How the volatile salt of Amber is to be separated and rectified.  
AFter the separation of the acid and Mercurial Spirit of oil of Amber is made, put about lb ss. thereof by itself, which may be used when necessity shall require for outward and inward Remedies, though it be not very pleasant: but as it is animated with its volatile salt, so may it much better and more successfully be used against suffocations and fits of the Mother, and Epileptical Paroxysms; as also to apply upon shrunk members, starved and paralytical limbs, where without comparison it is much more excellent and active, than that which is deprived of this friendly Salt. Take than all the remaining oil, and put it in agreat Matrass or Blindhead, and pour upon it distilled Rain-water, until it be in the same or a little greater quantity than the oil; cover and lute the Vessel and put it to digest in ashes in a moderate heat, stirring it every hour, to separate the better the volatile salt from its oil; for though it be intimately mixed with it, because the oil is of a volatile and sulphureous nature, yet in process of time will it come of from it, and be dissolved and united to the water by reason of its saline nature, which easily joins and unites its self to water. When you see the water well impregnated, remove the fire, separate the oil, and filtrate the water which is full of the volatile salt of the Amber, as it will be perceived easily by the acid and biting taste thereof; draw of again three parts of the water by slow distillation in ashes, and put the Vessel in a cold place, leaving it there the space of two days, and you shall find the volatile salt chrystallized and coagulated into a read brown substance, which separate from the water, and dry between two papers in a slow and moderate heat: continued the evaporation of the superfluous water, and draw back all the salt, and having dried it join it to the first, which is ever the purest and the best. You may keep part of it as it is if you think fit; if not, put it all in a small Cucurbite, covered with a blind still-Head, and sublimate it in sand with a well graduated heat, and so shall this salt rise fair, pure, white and clean, leaving all its impurities in the bottom of the Vessel. This volatile Salt is the best and most excellent part of Amber, worthy that Artists should seek it with all imaginable curiosity, considering its high virtues, which are yet more general and less confined than those of Amber, or its spirit or oil, since it is the soul and intrinsecal essence thereof. It is an admirable Remedy in the first beginnings of Dropsies, and particularly in Leucophlegmacy where it is wondered, because it potently discharges the Spleen and all other parts of the lower belly, by Urines and transpiration; above all this, it hath all the virtues we have attributed to Amber in a quadruple proportion. I must than once more recommend the use of it to the sons of Art, with promise and engagement they will not find themselves deluded by it. The Dosis, from iij. to xx. grains in Wine, Broths, or other appropriated Liquors, both suitable to the Disease and the Patient.   

How to make rightly the Rectification of oil of Amber.  
AFter the separation and rectification of these two first substances, we must also come to the third, which is the Oil. For as it is of a brown read colour, stinking, thick and gross, we must teach the Artist three several ways how to purify it, and tender it fluid, subtle and penetrating, that it may the better bring forth the wondered proprieties and virtues which lie hidden in it.  
For 

the first way, Mix the oil remaining after the separation of the volatile Salt, with ij. parts of ashes taken from the hearth, and j pawn of decrepit salt, putting as much as needs to reduce all into a lump or paste which may be framed into Pellets, or of a fit bigness to go through the neck of a glass Retort, which must be filled only half with them, and placed in a close Reverberatory with a well luted Recipient; give it first a gentle fire until the oil gins to come forth bright and clear, and keep it in this state, or increase it by little and little gradually, until you observe the falling drops to begin to grow yellow, or inclining to redness; than change your Recipient, and substitute another well luted to it, than increase the fire somewhat more, to force the oil to separate itself from the lest atoms of bodies with which it is mixed, and thus proceed increasing still more and more, until you find no more substance to come forth.  
The second way of rectifying this Oil, is, in putting it with Rose, Margerum, and Balm-water, ana three or four pints, in a still-body, and stilling it with the Moors Head, the Fat and the Worm, making the same observations which we have enjoined the Artist heretofore for the distillation of vegetable Oils, and you shall have an oil of Amber fluid and clear, fit for all those uses and purposes which Authors do commend it for in their Write.  
The third and last manner of Rectification is this: Pour it into a Retort, and put upon it drop by drop its equal weight of spirit of salt, placing the Retort in sand, and distil it with a well regulated and graduate fire, and your oil will come forth as pure and as clear as may be wished. We will not unnecessarily repeat the virtues of this Oil, because they may be found comprehended in those which we in general have attributed to Karabe. They that desire to know more, must consult Writers that have treated thereof, and do esteem it and cry it up for an Heavenly Remedy.     

Of Ambergrise and its Chemical Preparation.  
AMbergrise is one of the substance whose original hath much puzzled the wits of Philosophers: but they that have traveled in the East-India's and have searched more exactly into the nature of it, do unanimously say that Ambergrise is nothing else but a Bitumen rising from the bottom of the Sea, which by the virtue of its own salt is coagulated, and than digested and ripened by the Sun beams; it is commonly found about the coasts of Sofola, Mozambique, Melinda, as also towards the Maldive Islands and the Cap Comorrin; the best Ambergrise, is that which is of a yellowish grey colour, melts easily, and yields when you thrust into it a hot Needle; but the best trial is the dissolution thereof in very subtle and fine spirit of Wine, for that which is purest and leaves less terrestreity and feces, is ever accounted the best. It is used in Perfumes; and inwardly; it warms desiccates, resolves, strengthens the stomach and brain, recreates and increases the vital and animal spirits by its volatile sweet sulphur, which is friendly to our nature. We have showed a way to make a very good Perfume out of it, in the preparation of Benjuin. But there being a way also of opening and dissolving it, to reduce more easily the power of it into act, we will deliver here two ways of preparing the Essence or Tincture thereof, to put a period to our work by the preparation of this noble product of the Sea.   

The first Essence of Ambergrise.  
℞ Ambergrise of the purest ʒ ij. and xij. grains of very good Musk, white Sugar-candy ℈ j grinned altogether very exactly, and all being well mixed and incorporated, add to it by degrees in the grinding of it ℥ φ. of burning spirit of Roses; this mixiure put in a Matraso, pour on it ℥ ij. of alkohol of Wine; stop the Matrass with a Blindhead, and put it to digest four days in a vaporous Balneo; after which filtrate this Tincture thorough a Cotton, and keep it for use as one of the greatest Restorers that can be found for aged persons and cold constitutions; it increases the radical moisture, and enables both male and female for generation. It is given from j drop to vj. in Spanish Wine, Malmesy, Hippocras, or some other analogous Drink, pleasing to the palate and smell of diseased persons or they that take it.   

The second Essence of Ambergrise.  
AS there are many that will be glad to have open and dissolved Amber without any mixture, and being a thing necessary both in the state of health, and in case of sickness, so will we give here a way to make this dissolution plain and without affectation.  
℞ then ʒ two. of very good Ambergrise, and grinned them with ana of white Sugar-candy, until the two substances be well incorporated and reduced to an impalpable powder, and so exactly united as they seem to be but one body; being thus, put this mixture in a Matrass, and pour upon it four parts of its weight of spirit of wine three times drawn over salt of Bohemian-tartar; than stop the Matrass, and put it to digest in a vaporous Balneo the space of seven days, in a slow and constant heat, stirring often the matter; and when the Artist shall see the dissolution and union of Salt, Sulphur, and spirit of Bohemian-tartar made, so that the liquor be clear, yellow and pure, except some small feces proceeding from the Ambergrise, which will settle in the bottom of the Matrass, than let him filtrate the whole substance warm through a Cotton in a Viol, and stop it well, and than this essence being cooled, will coagulate itself and be congealed into a substance like unto whitish butter, which melts with the lest touch of heat, even of the palm of the ●●nd, into a yellow Liquor very subtle, and very excellent to perfume Broths, Jellies, sweetmeats, Conserves and all kind of Drinks; it may be used against swoonings, weaknesses, to strengthen the stomach, as also to correct the ill smell of the mouth, or stinking breath. The Dosis may be from j drop to viij. in the above mentioned Liquor.  
Thus much we had to say to put an end to the Chemical preparation of Animals, Vegetables and Minerals, thinking to have omitted nothing of what can serve for an exact instruction of such as intent to apply themselves to the study and Art of Chemistry; wherefore we do exhort all Artists to follow punctually the path which we have traced and shown them, that they may more and more improve their skill in the search of Physical truths: and above all we exhort all Apothecaries, which are not yet initiated to the mysteries of Chemistry, to bestow seriously their labour and industry in that noble Art, without suffering themselves to be carried away by the unruly torrent of vulgar Opinion, swelling only with ignorance, presumption, malice and envy, that all of them may according to my lawful wishes, tender themselves capable of serving the Public, as I in my particular have endeavoured to be in some manner useful to them: The only earnest desire I have for the good and ease of poor Ptients, and for instructing those of my Profession, having induced and provoked me, to communicate what experiences improved by thirty year's labour and study have taught me, that all may redound to the glory of God, the good of my Neighbour, and the exaltation of Physic and true Pharmacy.     
FINIS, Et Laus Deo.   

A Table of all the Heads of the principal Matters contained in this second part of Chemistry.  

CHAP. IX. Of Vegetables and their Chemical Preparation. p. 1 

SECTION VIII.  
OF Juices and Liquors, Page 1  
The Anatomy of wine, p. 3  
To extract the spirit of wine, p. 5  
To prepare the alkohol of wine, p. 6  
How to prepare the tartarized spirit of wine, p. 10  
Of the Anatomy of Vinegar, p. 12  
The manner of distilling Vinegar, p. 14  
To prepare the Radical or alkoholized Vinegar, p. 15  
Another very subtle spirit of Vinegar, p. 16  
How to prepare the crystal of Vinegar or its subtle Bohemian-tartar, ibid.  
Of Bohemian-tartar, and the preparations extracted from it, p. 17  
The purification of Bohemian-tartar, p. 19  
To prepare the Martial or chalybeated Bohemian-tartar, p. 22  
The distillation of Bohemian-tartar, and how to extroct both the spirit and the oil thereof, ibid.  
How to prepare the vitriolated Bohemian-tartar or Magistery thereof, p. 26  
How to prepare the 🝆 ☿ of Sennertus, or the purgative salt of Bohemian-tartar, p. 27  
To prepare the Tincture of Bohemian-tartar, p. 29  
How to prepare the dissoluble Glass of Bohemian-tartar, and to extract the tincture thereof, p. 31  
Of Opium, which is the condensed juice of Poppy, p. 34  
The common preparation of Opium, p. 39  
To make the extract of plain Opium, p. 41  
Laudanum, or the specific Anodyne of Paracelsus, d. 44  
Hysterical Laudanum for the use of Women, p. 45  
Laudanum against Dysentery and all sorts of fluxes immoderate, as also against Agues, p. 46  
Of the Elaterium or condensated juice of wild Cucumber, p. 48  
Cleansing and depuration of the Elaterium, p. 49  
How the Extract of Elaterium is to be made, ibid.   

SECT. IX.  
OF Oil. p. 50  
How the Oil of the Philosophers is to be prepared, p. 51  
How the oil must be desicated, p. 54   

SECT. X.  
OF Gummy drops, or Resins, p. 55  
Of the distillation of common Turpentine, ibid.  
How Gum Elemy is to be distilled, p. 60   

SECT. XI.  
OF Gum Resins, p. 60  
The distillation of Laudanum. p. 61  
How to work upon Benjuin p. 62  
To make the Tincture and Magistery of Benjuin, p. 63  
To make the flowers of Benjuin, p. 65  
The distillation of Benjuin, p. 66  
To prepare au excellent Angelical water, and the Mass or Paste which is called the Spanish Past, p. 69  
Of Camphire, p. 71  
How to work the plain Camphire, p. 75  
The manner of preparing the compounded oil of Camphire, p. 76  
The manner of distilling the Gum Ammoniack, p. 77    
CHAP. X. Of Minerals and their Chemical Preparation. p. 79 

SECT. I  
OF Earth's, pawn 82  
Of Terra S●gi●lata or sealed Earth, p. 83  
The Distillation of sealed or sigilled Earth, p. 85  
Of Bolus, p. 86  
Preparation of the Bolus to make it more astringent for outward applications, p. 87  
Preparation of Bolus to resolve coagulated blood inwardly, p. 88  
Preparation of Bolus against Dysentery and Diarrheas', ibid.  
Preparation of Bolus against pestilential and contagious diseases, p. 89   

SECT. II  
OF Stones, p. 90  
Of the Emerald and its Chemical preparation, p. 94  
Of the chemical preparation of Emerald, p. 95  
Of Crystal and its chemical preparation, p. 96  
The chemical preparation of Crystal. p. 97  
The preparation of salt of Crystal, p. 98  
How the Elixir or essence of Crystal is to be prepared, p. 99  
Of Coral and its chemical preparation, p. 101  
The chemical preparation of Coral, lordship, 102  
How te prepare rightly the salt of Coral, lordship 103  
How to make the false Magistery of Coral, p. 106  
How to prepare the true Magistery of Coral, p. 107  
Of the Tincture of Coral, p. 109  
The true process of the tincture of Coral, p. 110  
The first Menstruum, p. 111  
The second Menstruum, p. 112  
How to make the tincture of Coral, ibid.  
To prepare the true syrup of Coral p. 115  
Of the Lapis Judaicus, or its chemical preparation, p. 116  
Of Talk and its chemical preparation, p. 118  
The chemical preparation of Venetian Talk, p. 119  
To prepare a cream of Talk, of lesser trouble and work than the forementioned, p. 120  
The chemical preparation of read Talk, p. 121  
Of the calk or Starelime-stone, and its chemical preparation, p. 122  
How the water of Quick and prepared Lime is to be made. ibid.  
To prepare the plain Water against Gangrenes and other symptoms and accidents thereof, p. 123  
The wondered and true Water against Gangrenes p. 125  
The manner of preparing the Ophthalmick water, p. 126  
To make the Spirit or true Magistery of Quick lime, p. 127   

SECT. III  
OF Metals, p. 129  
Of Gold and its chemical preparation, p. 134  
To make the vulgar or common Cement, p. 138  
To make the Regal Cement, unto which only Gold doth resist, ibid.  
Of calcination of Gold whereby to open it, p. 139  
Amalgamation of Gold and Mercury, p. 141  
The calcinatory cementation of Gold, p. 140  
The Reverberation of Gold, p. 142  
To prepare the Crocus and Tincture of Gold, p. 143  
To prepare the crocus of Gold, p. 145  
Solar Diaphoretick cordial Powder, ibid.  
To make the sublimation of Salt, p. 146  
Of Silver and its chemical preparation, p. 148  
The first preparation of the tincture of LUNE p. 151  
The second preparation of the tincture of LUNE, p. 152  
The third preparation of the tincture of LINE, p. 153  
Of Iron and its chemical preparation, p. 155  
How Iron aught to be purged and made closer, to be turned into Steel, p. 156  
To prepare the astringent Crocus Martis, p. 157  
How the Crocus Martis is to be prepared, p. 159  
How the Vitriol of Mars is to be prepared, p. 161  
To make the exact Syrup of Mars, p. 162  
To prepare the salt of Mars, p. 164  
To make the astringent Tincture of Mars, p. 165  
To make the aperitive Tincture of Mars, p. 166  
How the read Crystal of Mars is to be prepared, p. 168  
Of Copper and its chemical preparation, p. 169  
The preparation of green Copper, or Verdegreece, p. 170  
To make the volatile Vitriol of ♀, p. 171  
The distillanion of the spirit of ♀, p. 174  
To prepare the Vitriol of ♀, with the Narcotick sulphur and crocus thereof, p. 177  
Preparation of the Narcotick Sulphur of the Vitriol of ♀, p, 180  
The Tincture of sulphur of ♀, p. 181  
To prepare the crocus of the Vitriol of Venus, ibid.  
Of Lead and its chemical preparation, p. 183  
General preparations to open Lead, p. 184  
To prepare the Sugar or Salt of ♄, p. 185  
The use of the Liquor of ♄, and how to make with it the false Magistery, Cremor, Butter and Nutritum, p. 187  
To prepare the right Magistery of ♄, p. 189  
To make the Balsam of ♄, ibid.  
To prepare the spirit, yellow and read oil of the salt of ♄, p. 190  
Of Tin and its chemical preparation, p. 191  
The distillation of Tin, yielding several noble Remedies, both against internal and external Diseases, p. 193   

SECT. IV.  
OF half and Semi Metals or middle or mean Minerals, which comes the nearest to the nature of Metals, p. 196  
The purification of Metals, p. 198  
The Revivification of Cinnabar into flowing Mercury, p. 199  
The calcination and precipitation of Mercury, p. 200  
To make the Preciptate of Mercury without addition, ibid.  
To make the Solar or Lunar Precipitate, p. 201  
To make a very excellent fit Precipitate, p. 203  
To make the Preciptate, called Arcanum Corallinum, ibid.  
The sublimation of Mercury, p. 205  
To make the corrosive Sublimate, ibid.  
To prepare the Mercury dulcis, or sweet Sublimate, p. 206  
The sublimate of Cinnabar or Vermilion, p. 208  
To prepare the silvered and pearled flowers of Mercury, p. 209  
The distillation of Mercury, p. 211  
The distillation of spirit of Mercury without addition, ibid.  
To prepare the white and Diaphoretical spirit of Mercury, p. 213  
To make the read and Diaphoretical spirit of Mercury, p. 214  
To make a sweet oil of Mercury, 217  
To prepare the Astrum Mercur●i, or star of Mercury, p. 218  
To make the salt of Mercury, p. 219  
Tincture of Mercury, which is called the Sulphur thereof, p. 220  
Of Antimony and its Chemical preparation, p. 223  
The general preparations of Antimony, p. 226  
The particular preparations of Antimony, and how the Glass of Antimony is to be made by plain distillation, p. 227  
To make the Crocus or Antimonial Saffron, fr●m which it is called Crocus Metalorum, p. 229  
The first Crocus Metallorum, ibid.  
The second Crocus Metallorum, which is thought to be that of Rullandus, p. 231  
The third Crocus Metallorum, ibid.  
The manner of preparing Diaphoretical Antimony, p. 234  
Of the Regulus of Antimony, p. 237  
The best preparation of Regulus of Antimony, ibid.  
The solar calcination of Antimony, p. 241  
Moist calcination of Antimony, p. 243  
The first Precipitate of Antimony, ib.  
The second Antimonial Precipitate, p. 244  
The sublimation of Antimony, p. 245  
How the Flowers of Antimony are to be prepared, p. 246  
Flowers of the Regulus of Antimony, p. 247  
The correction of the antimonial Flowers, p. 248  
How to prepare the Aromatized spirit of wine, ibid.  
The distillation of Antimony, which yields the vinegar or acid spirit, the oil and spirit of Antimony, p. 249  
The distillation of antimonial Vinegar, ibid.  
The distillation of Oil or Balsam of Antimony, p. 2●0  
Pills againg Agues, p. 251  
Distillation of the Bu●ter or ●cy Oil of Antimony, ibid.  
How the Emetical Powder is to be prepared, p. 254  
The preparation of the Mine all Bezoar. p. 256  
How to prepare the water or spirit of compounded Antimony, p. 258  
The Liquitation or Resolution of Antimony, p. 259  
The Extraction of Antimony, ibid.  
The distillation of the strong Lie, by which the extraction of the sulphur of Antimony is performed▪ p. 260  
How to extract the sulphur of Antimony, ibid.  
Panacea, or the true antimonial sulphur, p. 261  
Of the Tincture of Antimony, p. 262  
The first antimonial Tincture, ibid.  
The second antimonial Tincture, p. 264  
The infusion of Antimony. p. 265  
The correction of antimonial Glass, or Emetical powder corrected, p. 266  
The true antimonial Syrup, p. 267  
The true Emetical purgative Bohemian-tartar, ibid.  
Ophthalmick antimonial Water, p. 268  
The salification of Antimony, p. 269  
The second way of preparing salt of Antimony, p. 270  
Of Bisnut, called by some white Antimony, p. 371  
The Magistory of Tin Glass, ibid.  
The distillation of Bisnut. p, 272   

SECT. V  
OF Salts, p. 273  
Of common salt and its chemical preparation, p. 274  
Purification of common salt, p. 275  
The calcination of common salt, ibid.  
The distillation of common salt, p. 277  
How to make and duly prepare the spirit of salt, p. 278  
The essential and stomachical spirit of salt, p. 281  
The preparations of the sweet crystals of common salt, or the coagulated spirit of salt, p. 282  
Of Niter or Salt-peter, and its chemical preparation, p. 283  
The purification of Niter, p. 286  
Calcination of Niter, to prepare the crystal Mineral, p. 287  
The fixation of Niter, p. 288  
To make the solar dissolutive Earth of fixed Niter, p. 290  
The distillation of Niter, and how to prepare the spirit of Niter, p. 291  
The circulated spirit of Niter for Physic, p. 292  
How the good aqua fortis is to be prepared, p. 293  
The vitriolated Niter, otherwise the Arcanum of Niter and double Panacea, p. 294  
How the Aqua fortis is to be regalized or made Regal, p. 295  
How the true Regal water is to be prepared, ibid.  
Of Allom and its chemical preparation, p. 296  
Purification of Allom, p. 297  
The calcination or ustion of Allom, p. 298  
The distillation of Allom, ibid.  
How Allom may be turned into a Liquid Magistery, p. 299  
How sugar of Allom is to be prepared, p. 300  
The salsification of Allom, p. 301  
Extraction of Allom, ibid.  
Of Armoniac salt and its chemical preparation, p. 302  
The purification and chrystallization of Armoniac salt, lordship 303  
The sublimation of flowers of salt Armoniac, p. 304  
The calcination or fixation of salt Armoniac, p. 305  
The distillation of Armoniac salt, p. 306  
To make the spirit and volatile urinous salt of Armoniac, p. 308  
How the spirit of Armoniac salt is to be extracted, p. 309  
The Liquation of salt Armoniac, p. 310  
Of Vitriiol and its chemical preparation, ibid.  
The purification of Vitriol, and manner of preparing the Jelly, p. 313.  
The calcination of Vitriol, p. 314  
The Philosophical calcination of Vitriol, p. 315  
The distillation of Vitriol, ibid.  
To prepare the Dew of Vitriol, p. 316.  
To draw the acid water of Vitriol.  
To make the acid spirit and corrosive oil of Vitriol, p. 317 ibid.  
To prepare the Oil of sweet spirit of Vitriol, p. 319  
The tartarized spirit of Vitriol, p. 320  
The precipitation of Vitriol, p. 322  
To make the Metallick Earth, or Ochre of Vitriol, p. 323  
To make the sweet Sulphur of vitriol, ibid.  
To make the purging Sulphur of Vitriol, ibid.  
To make the fixed and volatile Sulpbur of Vitriol, p. 324  
The sublimation of Vitriol, p. 326  
The salification of Vitriol, ibid.  
The extraction of Vitriol, p. 326  
The Tincture or Essence of the sulphur of Vitriol, ibid.  
The Tincture of fixed Sulphur of Vitriol, p. 329   

SECT. VI  
OF sulphureous Minerals and Sulphurs', p. 330  
Of Arsenic and its chemical preparation, p. 331  
The sublimation of Arsenic, to prepare the dulcified Arsenic, p. 332  
To make the Diaphoretical Rubies of Arsenic, p. 333  
The fixation of Arsenic, p. 334  
To prepare the fixed sudorific Arsenic, ibid.  
The Liquation and Resolution of Arsenic, p. 335  
Of Brimstone and its chemical preparation, ibid.  
The sublimation to make the flowers of Brimstone, p. 337  
The precipitation to prepare the Milk▪ Cream, or Butter, or Magistery of Brimstone, p. 339  
The true and infallible manner of preparing the Milk of Sulphur, p. 340  
The distillation of Sulphur, p. 341  
The first manner of preparing the spirit of Brimstone, p. 342  
The second manner of making the spirit of Sulphur and Brimstone, p. 343  
How the true Oil of Brimstone is to be distilled, p. 344.  
How the fetid Oil of Sulphur or Brimstone is to be prepared, p. 347  
The infusion and extraction. How the Balsomo and Tinctures of Sulphur are to be made. p. 347  
The plain Balsam of Brimstone, p. 348  
The Compound of Balsam of Brimstone, p. 349  
The vulnerary Balsam of Brimstone, ibid.  
The first Tincture of Sulphur or Brimstone, p. 350  
The second Tincture of Sulphur, p. 351  
The third Tincture of Sulphur, p. 352  
The salification. To prepare the salt of Brimstone, p. 353  
Of Bitumen or fat Earth, ibid.  
Of yellow Amber or Karabe, p. 354  
How the Tincture or Essence of Amber is to be prepared, p. 35  
How the Magistery of Amber or Karabe is to be prepared, p. 356  
How the distillation of Amber is to be made, p. 357  
How the spirit of Amber is to be separated, p. 358  
How the volatile salt of Amber is to separated and rectified, p. 359  
How to make rightly the Rectification of oil of Amber, p. 560  
Of Ambergrise and its Chemical preparation, p. 361  
The first Essence of Ambergrise, p. 362  
The second Essence of Ambergrise, p. 363