THE complete chemist, OR, A NEW TREATISE OF chemistry.  
Teaching By a short and easy method all its most necessary Preparations.  
Written in French by Christopher Glaser, Apothecary in Ordinary to the French King, and the Duke of Orleans. And from the fourth Edition Revised and Augmented by the Author. Now faithfully Englished by a Fellow of the Royal Society.  
Illustrated with Copper Plates.  
LONDON, Printed for John Starkey at the mitre in Fleet-street, near Temple-Bar. 1677.   

licenced, Feb. 15. 1677. Roger L'Estrange.   

The Authors Preface.  
AUthors who have treated of chemistry have had very different discoveries and Apprehensions, and thence it is that they have disagreed very mu●h in their Writings. Those who have applied themselves unto the high chemistry, and have penetrated into its greatest mysteries, have contented themselves with the knowledge thereof; and though it may seem that they Wrote with an intent to be understood, yet they have penned things so obscurely, that they gave us no grounds to question whether they uttered realties, o● have given us Fantoms for Bodies, and Thorns for Fruits: Others who have not soared so high, have notwithstanding had some good skill therein, and have themselves discovered some preparations, which have made them considerable to Posterity; but some of these have sought their own satisfaction also, and taken pleasure to perplex mens minds, and to cast them into Labyrinths, without giving them any means of retreating thence.  
Others much less capable, have yet attained some small light, but not knowing all, nor having wrought themselves what they writ, and desiring for all that, to pass for sufficient Artists in a Profession they had learnt by halves only, they made their Imaginations pass for certain Truths, whose falsehood and imperfection the Practise hath frequently discovered.  
Finally. Others, which deserve not the name of chemists, but rather of ignorant Blowfires, working by copied or stolen Receipts, which they commonly take in some contrary sense, and having consumed their own, or others money in a ridiculous Labour, have made many others accompany them in their fortunes, engaging the vulgar by promises of enriching them in certain practices, whereby they have reduced the best Metal into smoke, unless perhaps they past some part of it through their own hand, which is not the least of their Operations. Hence it is that I wonder not, that many have declamed against such Authors, and against chemistry itself; having not understood truly the good things which it contains. As for myself, who profess to say nothing but what I know, and to writ nothing but what I have done, I purpose only in this little Treatise, to publish a short and easy method for the happy attaimment of all the most necessary preparations of chemistry. Those who take the pains to red and well consider it, shall observe therein nothing tedious, superfluous, or defective in any point which ought to be known: and though indeed the Preparations of all things cannot be found therein, yet sufficient examples thereof will be had from it. And though it was very difficult to comprise in this little Tract, all the discoveries which I have made in this Profession, yet I have not concealed any manual Operation, and have sincerely discovered all the circumstances necessary to make a good Artist, and by practise to attain the greatest knowledge thereof. I set down no Preparation but what I have made and well experienced, and what any one following the Rules I have prescribed; may do after me. I speak very succinctly of the Theory, but I say so much therein as is necessary for direction to the preparations, and you may find in a few words the substance of many great Books.  
I confine myself to Operation on Minerals, vegetables, and Animals, and proceed therein orderly, and forget nothing that is necessary. I am persuaded that the experience of all that which I have advanced, will manifest my communicative freeness unto all, and that they will be well pleased with the care that I have taken therein. Unto which I have thought myself so much the more obliged by the choice which Monsieur Vallot, his Majesties chief and most worthy Physician, hath made of me, to make the public Chmical Lectures and Preparations in the Royal Garden. For this cause I have desired to manifest as well by writing as work, that I have no other design than to acknowledge the honour he hath done me, by giving satisfaction to the public, according to his inclination, by all ways which are possible for me.  
Christopher Glazer.   

The French Printer to the READER.  
THE favourable reception which this Book met with from the public in its former Editions has made me undertake this fourth, in which I have endeavoured to pursue as much as possible the Author's design; who the first time he published it, was moved so to do, only by the desire of being useful to those who delight in chemistry; by discovering to them many hidden Mysteries which he made plain and open by the easiness of his Method. The second Edition was not only enriched by some Cuts, and increased by some new Experiments, but it was likewise adorned with an Epistle Dedicatory to to Monsieur Vallot, his most Christian Majesties first Physician, a person to whom chemistry was not a little beholding, if it were but for having chosen our Author to teach it in the Royal physic Garden at Paris, where he constantly performed public Lectures of it. The method he follows is clear and easily practicable; comprehending in few words the substance of great Volumes. Whosoever reads it attentively, may observe that there are no superfluous Cantings, nor any thing omitted of what is necessary to be known, and though one does not find here the preparation of all things in particular; yet there are Examples of every thing by which one may prepare others of the like kind, this one way be sure of, tha the does not communicate any one Operation but he has first put it in practise; and so as by following exactly his Rules, any body may perform it after him: For far from concealing any slight of hand, or other mystery, he does what he can to discover all those means by which a good Artist is made, and all circumstances of Operations which may give light to ingenuous persons of attaining a greater skill. He speaks but sparing of the Theory of this Art, and yet he delivers so much of it as is necessary to know in the Operations upon Minerals, vegetables, and Animals.   

A TABLE OF The matters contained in this BOOK.  

BOOK I.  

CHAP. I. OF the different names, and definition of the Art of chemistry. pag. 1  
Chap. II. Of the usefulnes of chemistry. pag. 3  
Chap. III. Of the Subject-matter of chemistry, and its Functions. pag. 4  
Chap. IV. Of the three Active Principles, Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt. pag. 6  
Chap. V. Of the Passive Principles; the phlegm and Earth. pag. 8  
Chap. VI. Of all those different Operations which are used in the opening and reducing of mixed bodies to their first Principles. pag. 9  
Chap. VII. Of the variety of Vessels which serve for chemical Operations. pag. 19 

The Explication of the Figures of the Vessels. pag. 24    
Chap. VIII. Of the Construction and variety of Furnaces. pag. 27 

The Explication of the Figures of Furnaces in the Second Table. pag. 35  
The Explication of the Figures of Furnaces in the Third Table. pag. 38    
Chap. IX. Of the Lutings of Furnaces and Vessels. pag. 41  
Chap. X. Of the degrees of Fire. pag. 44    

BOOK II.  

CErtain Remarks preliminary to the following Preparations. pag. 47   

SECT. I. Of Minerals.  

CHAP. I. OF Gold. pag. 55 

1. The Purification of Gold by the couple. pag. 56  
2. The Purification of Gold by Cementation. pag. 57  
3. The Purification of Gold by Aqua-fortis. pag. 58  
4. The Purification of Gold by Antimony. pag. 61  
Aurum Fulminans. pag. 63  
The Calcination of Gold by Mercury. pag. 65  
Another Calcinatton of Gold. pag. 66  
A diaphoretic Powder of Gold. pag. 67    
Chap. II. Of Silver. pag. 68 

The Purification of Silver by the couple. pag. 69  
Vitriol of Luna. pag. 70  
A Tincture of Luna. pag. 72  
Lapis Infernalis, or a perpetual Caustic. pag. 74    
Chap. III. Of led, or Saturn. pag. 76 

The Purification of led. pag. 77  
The Calcination of led. pag. 78  
Another Calcination of led. ibid.  
Another Calcination of led. pag. 79  
Another Calcination of led. pag. 80  
Salt or Sugar of Saturn. pag. 81  
The Magistery of led. pag. 83  
A burning Spirit of Saturn,( as it is called) but rather, A Spirit of the Volatile Salt of Vinegar. pag. 84    
Chap. IV. Of Tin. pag. 86 

The Purification of Tin. pag. 87  
The Calcination of Tin. ibid.  
The Salt of Jupiter. pag. 88  
The Magistery of Jupiter. pag. 91    
Chap. V. Of Iron. ibid. 

The Purification of Iron. pag. 92  
The Calcination of Mars, and reduction into an astringent Crocus or Safron. ibid.  
Another astringent Safron of Mars. pag. 93  
An Aperitive Safron of Mars. pag. 94  
Vitriol of Mars. pag. 95  
Another Aperitive Safron of Mars. pag. 97  
Another Aperitive Safron of Mars. pag. 98  
An Aperitive Tincture of Mars by means of Tartar. pag. 99  
An Aperitive Extract of Mars. pag. 100  
An Astringent Extract of Mars. pag. 102  
Salt of Mars. pag. 103    
Chap. VI. Of Copper. pag. 105 

The Purification of Copper. pag. 106  
The Calcination of Copper. pag. 107  
Vitriol of Venus. pag. 108  
Another Vitriol of Venus. pag. 109  
Spirit of Venus. ibid.  
A Volatile Vitriol and Magistery of Venus. pag. 111  
A liquour of Venus. pag. 112    
Chap. VII. Of Quicksilver. pag. 113 

The Purification of Mercury. pag. 115  
The sublimation of Mercury into Cinabar, and the reviving of Cinabar into fluid Mercury. pag. 116  
read Precipitate. pag. 117  
Turbith Mineral. pag. 119  
White Precipitate. pag. 120  
Corrosive Sublimate. pag. 122  
The sublimation of Mercurius dulcis. pag. 123    
Chap. VIII. Of Antimony. pag. 125 

The ordinary Regulus of Antimony. pag. 126  
Regulus of Antimony with Mars. pag. 127  
The Flowers of Antimony. pag. 129  
Another preparation of Flowers of Antimony with saltpeter. pag. 131  
Another preparation of Flowers of Antimony. pag. 133  
diaphoretic Antimony. ibid.  
Crocus Metallorum, or, the Safron of Metals. pag. 135  
An Extract of Antimony. pag. 136  
Butter or Oil of Antimony, and its Cinabar. pag. 137  
Another Butter of Antimony. pag. 139  
Powder of Algaroth. pag. 140  
Mineral Bezoar. pag. 141  
Glass of Antimony. pag. 143  
A Correction of the Glass of Antimony. pag. 144  
Laxitive Emitive Tartar. pag. 145    
Chap. IX. Of Mineral Cinabar. pag. 146 

The reviving of Mercury from natural Cinabar, and the separation of the Sulphur thereof at the same time. pag. 147  
The Precipitation of the Mercury of natural Cinabar without addition. pag. 148    
Chap. X. Of Bismuth, or Tin-Glass. pag. 149 

The Magistery of Bismuth. ibid.  
The Flowers of Bismuth. pag. 150    
Chap. XI. Of Common Salt. pag. 151 

The Purification of Salt. pag. 152  
The Calcination of Common Salt. ibid.  
The Spirit of Salt. pag. 153    
Chap. XII. Of Nitre, or saltpeter. pag. 155 

The Purification of Nitre. pag. 156  
Mineral Crystal, or Sal Prunellae. pag. 157  
An Antifebrii Salt, or a Salt against Fevers. pag. 158  
Sal Polycrestes, or, of many uses: pag. 159  
Spirit of Nitre. pag. 161  
Aqua-fortis. pag. 162  
Aqua Regia, or, Water to dissolve Gold. pag. 163  
Another Regal Water. pag. 164  
Another Regal Water. pag. 165    
Chap. XIII. Of Salt Armoniac. ibid. 

The Purification of Salt Armoniac. pag. 166  
The Flowers of Salt Armoniac. pag. 167  
The Urinous Volatile Spirit of Salt Armoniac. pag. 168  
The Acid Spirit of Salt Armoniac. pag. 170  
The fixation of Salt Armoniac. pag. 171    
Chap. XIV. Of Roche Alum. pag. 172 

The Purification of Alum. pag. 173  
The Distillation and Calcination of Alum. pag. 174  
A Febrifugous Salt of Alum. pag. 175    
Chap. XV. Of Vitriol. pag. 176 

The Purification of Vitriol. pag. 177  
Vomitive Vitriol called Gilla. pag. 178  
The Calcination of Vitriol. pag. 179  
The Distillation of Vitriol. pag. 180  
The fixed Salt of Vitriol. pag. 183  
Sulphur of Vitriol. pag. 184    
Chap. XVI. Of Crystal of the Rock. pag. 185 

The Tincture of Crystal. pag. 186  
The liquour of Crystal. pag. 188  
Magistery of Crystal. ibid.    
Chap, XVII. Of Coral. pag. 189 

Salt of Coral. pag. 190  
Magistery of Coral. pag. 191  
The Tincture of Coral. pag. 192  
Another Tincture of Coral. pag. 195    
Chap. XVIII. Of Quick-Lime. pag. 197 

The Eating, or Corrosive Water. ibid.  
The Caustic ston. pag. 198    
Chap. XIX. Of arsenic. pag. 199 

Regulus of arsenic, or Orpiment. ibid.  
Oil, or Corrosive liquour of arsenic. pag. 200  
The fixed liquour of arsenic. pag. 201    
Chap. XX. Of Sulphur. ibid. 

Flowers of Sulphur. pag. 202  
The Acid Spirit of Sulphur. pag. 204  
Milk, or Magistery of Sulphur. pag. 205  
balsam of Sulphur. pag. 206    
Chap. XXI. Of ambergris. pag. 207 

Essence of ambergris. pag. 208    
Chap. XXII. Of Karabe, or Amber. ibid. 

Distillation of Amber. pag. 209  
The Rectification of the Oil of Amber. ibid.  
The Sublimination and Purification of the Volatile Salt of Amber. pag. 210      

SECT. II. Of vegetables. pag. 211  

CHAP. I OF Jallop Root. pag. 213  
Chap. II. Extract of black Hellebore. pag. 215  
Chap. III. The Extract of Angelica, and Conservation of all its Virtue. pag. 216  
Chap. IV. Of Rose-wood or Lignum Rodium. pag. 217  
Chap. V. Of Guiacum Wood, and its Reduction into five different Substances. pag. 219  
Chap. VI. Of Distillation of the Spirituous Water and Essential Oil of cinnamon. pag. 221 

Another Cinamon-Water. pag. 223  
The Tincture and Extract of cinnamon. pag. 224    
Chap. VII. The Distillation of the Ethereal oil and balsam of Turpentine. pag. 225  
Chap. VIII. Of the Sublimation of the Flowers of Benjamin, and Distillation of its Oil. pag. 227  
Chap. IX. Of the Distillation of Gum Armoniac. pag. 228  
Chap. X. Of the Preparation of Aloes. pag. 230 

Extract Panchymagogon. pag. 231    
Chap. XI. Of the Preparation of Opium. pag. 233  
Chap. XII. Of Leaves and their Preparations. pag. 235  
Chap. XIII. Of Lettuce. pag. 236 

Anather Distillation of Lettuces, and other juicy Herbs. pag. 238    
Chap. XIV. Of the Distillation of Sorrel. pag. 240  
Chap. XV. Of the Blessed Thisle. pag. 241  
Chap. XVI. Of the Distillation of Cresses. pag. 243  
Chap. XVII. Of the Distillation of Wormwood. pag. 245  
Chap. XVIII. The Preparation of the fixed Salt, or Alkali of Wormwood. pag. 247  
Chap. XIX. Of Flowers. pag. 24● 

The Queen of Hungaries Water. pag. 249    
Chap. XX. Of Fruits. pag. 251 

Of the Distillation of Wine. pag. 252  
R●ctification of the Aqua Vitae into Spirit or Alcool. pag. 253  
Spirit of Wine Tartarized. pag. 255    
Chap. XXI. Of Vinegar. pag. 256 

Distillation of Vinegar. pag. 257    
Chap. XXII. Of Tartar. pag. 258 

Distillation of the Spirit and oil of Tartar. pag. 260  
Fixed Salt, and oil or liquour of Tartar by Deliquation. pag. 261  
Magistery of Tartar, or Tartar Vitriolate. pag. 262  
Tincture of Salt of Tartar. pag. 263    
Chap. XXIII. Of Juniper-Berries. pag. 265  
Chap. XXIV. Of Seeds. pag. 267 

oil of aniseed by Expression. pag. 268      

SECT. III. Of Animals. pag. 270  

CHAP. I. OF the oil and volatile Salt of a mans Skull. pag. 271  
Chap. II. Of the Distillation of Viper's flesh. pag. 274  
Chap. III. Of the Distillation of Man's Blood. pag. 276  
Chap. IV. Distillation of Urine. pag. 277 

Another Distillation of Urine, and Sublimation of its Volatile Salt. pag. 279    
Chap. V. Of due. pag. 280  
Chap. VI. Of Manna. pag. 281  
Chap. VII. Of Honey. pag. 282      

THE complete chemist; OR, A TREATISE OF chemistry. The FIRST BOOK.  

CHAP. I. Of the different names, and definition of the Art of chemistry.  
MY Design in this Treatise is to instruct the public in all the particulars of the Art of chemistry, as well in its practise as in its Theory; and that by the shortest and most intelligible method of any that has been yet seen: and we will begin by the different names which have been given it, as well by the Ancients, as by modern Writers.  
The Etymology, or derivation of the word chemistry, comes from the Greek Verb {αβγδ}, which signifies to melt; or if you please, you may derive it from {αβγδ}, which is a juice, because it does as it were draw the interior juice of all bodies: it is called likewise the Spagyrick Art, from two Greek words, {αβγδ}, which signifies, to separate; and {αβγδ}, which is, to congregate, or unite; which are the two Operations about which it is most particularly employed. Some call it Pyrotechnia, from {αβγδ}, Fire, and {αβγδ}, an Art, being an Art whose Operations are most performed by Fire: Finally, some others name it the hermetic Art, because of Hermes a great Philosopher, who was the most Ancient and Famous Professor of this Art. The particle al is added to it, and it is called Alchymia, in imitation of the Arabs, who use it in the beginning of words, to express the excellency or supereminency of a thing; but for us, leaving all its other names, we shall stick to that of chemistry, as being now the most in use; and though Authors have bestowed many definitions upon it, yet those have best known its nature who have defined it. A Scientifick Art, by which one learns to dissolve bodies, and draw from them the different substances of their composition, and how to unite them again, and exalt them to an higher perfection.   

CHAP. II. Of the Usefulness of chemistry.  
THey that have any true knowledge of this Noble Art, are without doubt fully persuaded of the usefulness of it; for it is the key which alone can unlock to all Naturalists the door of Nature's secrets; by reducing things to their first principles; by giving of them new forms; and by imitating Nature in all its productions and Physical alterations. Without it Physitians would be at a stand how to penetrate into the many Fermentations, Effervescencies, Distillations, and other Operations, which are performed in the body of man, and are the immediate cause of many grievous Distempers; to which Art the same Physitians must be beholding for the Remedy as well as the knowledge of the Disease; for we must own that chemistry does furnish us with the more effectual Medicines for the more inveterate and obstinate Affections, and often supply the failings and deficiencies of those of the vulgar Pharmacy. surgeons likewise cannot be without chemistry, nor can with good success undertake the Cure of all Diseases pertaining to their Art without chemical Remedies, and knowledge of their Operations: And it is impossible that Apothecaries should make their compositions like true Artists, if they know not how to preserve the principal virtue of their Ingredients, and separate the pure from the impure, and heterogeneous in natural commixtures, as unprofitable to their intention, which is not learned without the aid of this noble and excellent Art. Finally, most of the ingenious mechanic Arts are beholding to this: Painters have from it their most lively and glorious Colours: Engravers cannot work without the assistance of those corrosive Spirits prepared by chemistry: Diers cannot exalt their Colours without the instruction of chemists: One might allege an infinity of other such Examples, which might prove the necessity of this Art; but we omit them for brevity sake.   

CHAP. III. Of the Subject-matter of chemistry, and its Functions.  
THis Art is of a very great extent, since it embraces for its Subject the bodies of the three Families, Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral; which by fire it reduces into different substances, which the Philosophers call First Principles, and do constitute five of them, of which three are Active, and two Passive. The Active are, the Spirit which is called Mercury, the Oil which is called Sulphur, and the Salt, which has no other name. The Passive Principles are the Water or phlegm, and the Earth or Terrestrial part: These names are bestowed upon them for the likeness they have to common Mercury, Sulphur and Salt, and the Elementary water and earth: the Mercury appears to us in the resolution of bodies, in form of a most aerial subtle liquour; the Sulphur is apparent to our smell and taste, by which we distinguish it from the insipid and inodorous phlegm, which sometimes ascends with it; and it appears to us in the form of a penetrating inflammable Oil; the Salt remains joined to the body of the earth till it be extracted by elevation. Now while these Principles remain in the body of the mixed, those that are Active are confounded with the Passive, so that their virtue is hidden, and as it were, butted; but chemistry coming to separate them, purifies each by itself, then unites them again, to make of them bodies much purer, and more Active than they were before. We will now treat of each of these Principles in particular.   

CHAP. IV. Of the three Active Principles, Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt.  
TO begin with Mercury, or the Spirit, which, as the most excellent of the three, does in the resolving of bodies, first present itself to our senses; we shall say that it is a subtle, light, and penetrating substance, which gives life and motion to bodies, makes them grow and vegetate; and because it is a continual action and motion, it would not long stay in any body, if it were not retained by the other Principles more fix and stable than itself: And from hence it follows, that those Mixts in which this substance predominates, are not very durable; as we may observe in Animals and Vegetables, which perish much sooner than Minerals and Metals, which are almost destitute of this Principle.  
Sulphur is the second Active Principle, but much inferior to the Spirit; its substance is oleaginous, subtle, penetrating, and inflammable; it is easily reduced into a pure Principle as well as the others. When it contains some spirituous and airy Particles, it swims upon the water, as the aromatic subtle Oils of Rosemary, Sage, Turpentine, and others; and if it contain some part of Salt and Earth, then it is a thick and heavy Oil, which sometimes swims in the middle of the phlegm, sometimes goes to the bottom; as we observe in the Oils of Gums, Bitumens, and Gross Woods, &c. which are distilled with violent fire: 'tis this Principle which is said to cause Beauty or Deformity in Animals, of the different smells and colours in Vegetables, and of the ductibility and malleability of Metals. It binds together all the other Principles, which without him would fall a-sunder, by reason of their little correspondence and contrarieties; it preserves bodies from corruption, sweetens the acrimony of Salts and Spirits; and being of a fiery nature, it preserves those Vegetables where it abounds, from the rigour of could and frosts, and other injuries of the weather; as we may observe in Cyprus and Fir-trees, and others that are green all Winter.  
The third Active Principle is Salt, which appears to us after that the volatile parts are evaporated and exhaled, because it remaineth its self fixed with the earth, from which it is separated by dissolution and evaporation; then it offers its self to our view in the form of a brittle substance easily pulveriz'd; and that demonstrates its dryness, which appears likewise by its desire of moisture, which it attracts from the Air so powerfully, that in a small time it becomes fluid. The way of purifying the Salt is by fire, and it is incombustible: its office in the mixed is to retain the Spirit, and preserve the Sulphur from combustion, and is as it were their common Basis or Foundation; it is the cause of the different tastes of things, and renders those bodies where it abounds, so durable, that they are almost incorruptible: As for Example; the oak, which has in it much Salt, and little Oil, is of a lasting subsistence, and so are many other Mixts of the same nature.   

CHAP. V. Of the Passive Principles; the phlegm and Earth.  
WE must now speak of the Passive Principles, of which the Water or phlegm is the first; and though it seem to be of little or no use in bodies, nay, and is hurtful, being the substances where it abounds, are easily corrupted; nevertheless it has its utility. 'tis by it that the Salt is dissolved and incorporated with the Spirit and Sulphur, in which union the Salt would hinder, by its binding too much, their action and vegetative motion, if it were not allayed by the water, which likewise corrects the acrimony of the Salt and Spirit, and hinders the inflammability of the Oil.  
The Earth is the last of all our Principles; and though it be esteemed of little benefit in natural mixture, it is not unnecessary, since it retains the Salt, and the other Active Principles, which would else be easily dissolved, and carried away by the water. When it is entirely destitute of all the other Principles, it is called Terra damnata, or damned Earth: The use of it in chemistry, is, only to hinder the Salts from being too easily melted down; and so we forbear to treat any further of it.   

CHAP. VI. Of all those different Operations which are used in the opening and reducing of mixed bodies to their first Principles.  
THE mixed bodies of the three Families of Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral, are in infinite numbers, and do differ much in hardness, solidity, weight, softness, porosity and lightness; and this has obliged Artists to seek out all ways to attain their ends, and by consequent to use great variety of necessary Operations, upon which they have bestowed as great a diversity of terms of Art, whereof some carry their signification with them, and others are to be explained to young chemists, which we shall do by an Alphabetical order.  
To Alkoolize, is to reduce solid substances into a very fine impalpable powder; and it is likewise to purify and refine all Spirits and Essences of their phlegm, and other impurities; whence the Spirit of Wine well rectified, is called the Alkool of Wine.  
To Amalgame, is to calcine any Metal by the means of ordinary Mercury or Quicksilver; and this Operation serves to reduce the most perfect Metals into very small particles; for when they are incorporated together, the Artists by a gentle fire causes the Mercury to exhale, and leave the Metal reduced into Powder in the bottom of the Crucible; and so prepares it to be more easily dissolved by any other Menstruum: this Operation is much used by Goldsmiths and Guilders, who by this means make Gold fluid, and easily extended upon those things they intend to guild. Observe that Iron and Copper cannot be Amalgam'd by Mercury; these two Metals being very impure and terrestrious, and of little sympathy with Mercury, who is of a subtle refined substance.  
To Calcine, is to reduce into a Calx or Powder, either by Actual, or by Potential fire. Actual fire is that elementary fire which we keep and entertain by combustible substances, as Wood, Coals, &c. Potential fire is the fire of Aqua-fortis, and other corrosive Spirits; Calcination belongs more to Minerals, than Vegetables and Animals, which may be cinderiz'd by ordinary burning; but Minerals and Metals require most active and violent fires.  
Cimentation is to purify and examine Gold, which one reduces into thin Plates, and puts into a Crucible with a royal cement, which consumes and reduces to dross or cinders all the other Metals that are mingled with Gold.  
liquours are circulated in vessels for that purpose, and upon a convenient fire, sometimes in order to the fixing of the volatile Spirits, sometimes to volatilize the fixed Salts; 'tis one of the most important Operations of chemistry.  
To Coagulate, is to make those things hard and solid which before were soft and liquid; which is done by depriving them of their moisture, or consuming it; as in the evaporation of those liquours which contain some Salt in them; or in mingling corrosive Spirits with fixed Salts: as for example, the water of Flint, or Crystal mingled with Aqua-fortis, is coagulated into an hard mass, though both these were liquid before.  
Cohobation, is distilling the same thing very often, by putting the distilled liquour upon the matter which remains in the bottom of the Still, and so drawing it off: it is done either to open better the substances, and volatilize them; or to fix the Spirits; and according to the quality of the matter, and the Artist's intention, this Operation is more or less reiterated.  
To Congele, is to suffer those Bodies to grow hard by could, which fire before had melted and liquefied: This Operation is practised upon Metals, Minerals and Salts, which are purified by the violence of a melting fire, and when they are exposed to the air, grow hard. The same is observed in the fat of Animals, and in the gums, rozins, and balms of Vegetab es, which being melted by the fire, and their grosser parts thereby separated, are again congealed, by being exposed to the could air.  
To Corporize is to incorporate Spirits, which is often practised in Acids, which are mingled with fixed Salts, or with dry Earths: As for example, when one puts the Spirit of Nitre or of Aqua-fortis with the fixed Salt of Tartar, the last retains the first so strongly, that of them both one may make a good sort of saltpetre; and likewise when one puts very strong Vinegar, or some other acid Spirit upon Coral or Pearls, they presently retain all the acidity which the liquour contained, and it is fixed with them.  
To Crystallize, is to reduce into Crystals, Nitre, Salts, Vitriols, and others, which were first dissolved, filtered, depurated, and evaporated, till a skin appeared upon the liquour; then they are exposed to the could air, where the Salts congeal by little and little, and by retaining some part of the water with which they had been dissolved, they appear diaphanous, and crystalline; which transparency they lose upon the least heat of the Sun, who depriving them of their water, makes them opaque again.  
Detounation, or Fulminating, is the driving out of a Mineral its impure and volatile Sulphur, and preserving its intern and fixed Sulphur: this Operation is performed by the means of saltpetre, in preparing Antimony and other such bodies.  
To Digest, is to concoct things by a moderate heat; like that of our stomachs, which concocts raw things, ripens and sweetens sour and austere ones, separates the pure parts from the impure, and extracts the best and most juicy parts of each substance. This chemical Digestion is ordinarily performed by some liquour or menstruum fit for the matter digestible; it differs from maceration only, because there is required heat in one, which is not in the other.  
To Dissolve, is to reduce hard and compact bodies, by means of some dissolvents, into a liquid form, as we see in the dissolving of Gold by Aqua-regis, and of Silver and others by Aqua-fortis.  
To Edulcorate or Sweeten, is to take away by often lotions, and reiterated effusions of some liquour, the impression made by Salts and Spirits in chemical Preparations, as in Precipitated Magisteries and others.  
To Extinguish, or Quench, is to dip or steep a substance made red-hot by fire, in some water; it is particularly practicable in Metals and Minerals; either to make them brittle, as in the extinction of pebbles in water, or to imprint into them some virtue of those liquours in which they are extinguished, as in the extinction of Tutie in Rose or Fennel-water; or sometimes to communicate virtue to the water, as in the extinction of Steel.  
To Evaporate and to Exhale differ from one another in this, that dry bodies are exhaled, and moist ones evaporated; as for example, when we Amalgam any metallic body, we exhale the Mercury by fire, and the Metal remains calcined in the bottom of the Crucible. But Evaporations are done, as when for example, we drive away the superfluous humidity of Salts and Extracts; purified by their dissolutions and filtrations, to reduce them into a consistence necessary for their preservation.  
To Extract, is to separate in Animals and Vegetables the purest parts from the most gross, by fit menstruums that are proper for the extracting of those substances which the Artist desires: as for example, we extract the rozinous substance of Jalap by Spirit of Wine, because that the rozin is the sulphureous part of the Jalap; and that Spirit of Wine does likewise contain a subtle Sulphur, which easily unites with the other. So in all Extractions the Artist must have a regard to find out a menstruum fitted to the substances he desires to extract.  
To Ferment, is to reduce the volatile and spirituous parts of Mixts from rest into motion; or, as the Philosophers say, a potentia in actum, from power to act, by disengaging them from the clog of the more gross and terrestrial parts, as is seen in all fermented liquours, and particularly in Wine, which having been fermented, easily yields its spirit inflammable by the least heat of fire; whereas the Must quiter contrary retains all the spirituous and subtle sulphureous parts; and being reduced into the consistence of Honey, which they call Sape, Rob, or Q●iddany, without loss of any substance, save insipid water, or phlegm; its active and volatile parts are so well fastened and retained by the fixed Salts, that they seldom fly away but by the violence of fire, or the action of fermentation: it has much of the nature of digestion, except that digestion, I mean chemical, is made by an external heat, and fermentation is by its own power and an effect of the intrinsic fire of Mixts.  
To Filtrate, is to let any thing strain through another body; it is performed most conveniently thorough grey Cap-paper into a glass-tunnel.  
To Fix, is to stay and retain some body which of its self is volatile, so as to make it resist the fire: this Operation is performed by the means of fixed bodies. The experience may be made in Sal-armoniack, which, though extremely volatile, yet being mingled with quick-lime, is so fixed, that the greatest part of it endures the violence of the fire, which alone it would not have done.  
To Fumigate, is to make any mixed receive as it hangs in the air, the vapours of one or many other Mixts; to calcine it, or to correct some of its ill qualities, or impregnate it with some good one; as for example, we hang plates of led over Mercury, which we cause to exhale in a Crucible upon the fire, in order to the calcining of them. We cause the smoke or vapour of Sulphur to be received by scammony shred upon a sheet of paper, thereby to hinder its activity: we give likewise to well-wash'd moss the smoke of some spices, thereby to perfume it.  
Fusion, vide Melt.  
To Granulate, is to pour out some melted Metal into could water, to make it congeal to small grains or pellets, to make it by that division more fit for dissolution.  
To Levigate, is to bring a mixed into an impalpable powder upon the Porphiry-stone, or Jaspar; and it is performed upon the most solid Mixts, particularly upon Minerals.  
To Liquify, is proper to all fat and grease of Animals, as likewise to wax, and all gums, and rozins, which is done by an easy heat, and they recover their consistency in the could.  
To Melt, does belong only to Metals and Minerals, and is an Operation by which they are made running by the heat of fire; which we give strong or moderate, according to the nature of the Metal or Mineral we are about to melt.  
To Mortify, is to destroy the exterior form of the mixed, which is done to Mercury; when you take away from him his fluidity and motion; the mixture of Salts and Spirits is likewise some mortification to them; for the one corrects the acrimony of the other.  
To Precipitate, is to separate a dissolved mixed from its dissolvant, and make it fall in powder to the bottom. It is performed by th● means of the Salts, which being put upon the dissolution, destroy the force and power of the dissolvant, and force him to forsake his hold of the mixed, which he had already dissolved: as may be observed in the precipitation of Coral and others.  
To Putrifie Bodies, is to dissolve them by a natural corruption, where moisture predominates over dryness.  
We rasp, saw, and file the more solid mixed Bodies, Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral, the better to open them, or to facilitate their dissolution or preparation: these Operations need no farther explication.  
To Rectify, is to distil the Spirits of any thing over again, to make them more subtle, and heighten their virtues.  
To Reduce, is to give to the Calx of Metals ●ledge●heir metallic form again; and this is done ●ledge●y the power of fire, and the help of some ●ledge●eductive Salts, as Nitre, Tartar, Borax, and ●ledge●thers.  
To Reverberate, is to bring a Body into a ●ledge●alx, by the means of a violent fire environing ●ledge●he matter on all sides. This Operation may ●ledge●e performed either in an open, or in a close fire; which is so called when there is a cupola, or domo, round or flat roof or cover upon the Furnace. This same close fire of Reverberation is likewise in use, to drive up the Spirits and the Oils by a Retort; it is called a fire of Reverberation, because the heat of the fire doth reverberate, and from all sides reflect and act upon the matter, or the vessel containing it.  
To Revive, is opposite to the term of mortifying; since by this Operation, Mercury, which has been reduced into Sublimate, Cinnaber, Precipitate, and other such Foraces, is brought into a Quicksilver again, as it shall be shewed in its due place.  
To Spiritualize, is to reduce compact Bodies into thinner and more subtle ones, such as Spirits are, as is practised upon Salts, which by distilation may be entirely forced into Spirits, and the same Spirits shall not take body again without the addition of some substance fit to retain them.  
Stratifying, is laying stratum supper stratum, course upon course, and belongs to the Operation called Cimentation, where you lay a portion of a Powder or some other Corrosive matter in the bottom of a Crucible or Calcining Vessel, and upon that some portion of the matter which one intends to calcine; so again upon that a new lay of Powder, and over that a lay of Matter, so continuing till your Vessel be full, and finishing with a lay of Corrosive Powder, as one began.  
To Sublime, is to force a dry Body to rise, and exhale, and stay in dry parts in the top of the Vessel, and this by the means of a well-governed fire. By this Operation some Bodies are perfectly sublimed, as Mercury and Brimstone; others imperfectly, as Antimony in Flowers, Benjamin, and others.  
To Vitrify, is to reduce Stones, Metals, Minerals, and others, into a transparent Mass, hard as Glass, by a most violent fire, as may be seen in the Vitrification of Antimony, led, and many others.  
To Wash, is to take away the grosser impurities of some mixed Body with water: we wash Minerals also to separate, and cause to rise their thinner and finer parts, and to leave the more gross and earthy in the bottom; as for example, in the preparation of lethargy.   

CHAP. VII. Of the variety of Vessels which serve for chemical Operations.  
TO perform chemical Operations, one must be very well provided with necessary Instruments and Vessels; for there being but few things that can be prepared in an open naked fire, one is obliged to put ones matter into some convenient Vessel, which is to be placed with dexterity upon the fire, and that is to be governed differently, according to the Artist's skill and intention.  
These Vessels are to be considered either according to their matter, or their form: their matter is to be of some pure, close substance, not easily penetrable, and which likewise may not communicate its qualities to the Medicine prepared; such as are particularly Potters-Earth and ston, Brass and Tin may sometimes serve in distillations and preparations of Vegetables. But it is necessary to tin all Brass and Copper-Vessels, that they may not so easily communicate their Vitriolick quality hurtful to Medicaments.  
The shape and form of chemical Vessels is almost infinite, therefore we will speak only of those which are necessary in a chemical Laboratory, leaving every man to his liberty to invent those which he judges proper to his design. First, Gourds or Bodies either of Glass or Earth, with their Heads or Alem●icks, which are placed in the Balneum Mariae either of Sand or Ashes, for all distillations per ascensum, by ascent; then we make use of the Vesica, or Brass Body or Gourd, with its Head or Refrigeratory tinned within, and filled on the top with could water, which one must often change during the Distillation; likewise the other Brass Vesica or Body, with the Moreshead, and a Pipe passing through an Hogshead of water, is very useful in the distilling of such aromatic Oils of Vegetables as are heavy, such as are the Oils of Cinnamon, Rose, Wood, Cloves, and others of that nature which fall down to the bottom of the water, and do ascend with difficulty in an high Refrigeratory.  
To distil such herbs as not being aromatic, have their virtue consisting in their kind; Salt, a Cucurbite Gourd or Body, large, low, and capacious, is best; it may be of Brass, but its Lembick or Head must be of Pewter; and this must be placed in the Sand Furnace represented here in the third Table.  
Retorts are used in all Distillations that are made on the side, or sidelong, per lacus. Artists have invented this Vessel for such matters as in distilling do not easily sand their vapours upwards.  
As for that Operation which is called Distilling by descent, we have Earthen-Pots that enter into one another; the lowermost must be set in ●he ground up to the very mouth, and the upper must have in its neck a partition full of holes, to hinder the matter contained in it from falling into the lower: this way of Distilling does particularly suit with all sorts of gross Woods, they are to be chopped, and put into the uppermost Vessel which is to be placed with its neck downward upon the lowermost Vessel, which must have, as has been said, a partition full of little holes in its neck,& the mouth of it must go into that of the inferior; this done, they must be well luted, then light a gentle fire about the Pot, which is above ground, and increase it till it be red-hot; thus the fire acting upon the wood liquifies those parts of it that may be liquified, and sends them through the holes of the pa●●●tion into the lower Pot, which is that we call a Distillation per discens●m; one must have some great Recipients like round Globes, capable of receiving a great abundance of Spirits, which some matters do yield with impetuosity, and then they must be very large.  
Matrasses or Bolts-heads are likewise very good to digest and extract.  
There is a sort of double Bolts-heads, when the neck of one Matrasse or Bolts-head is inserted into the neck of the other: the lowermost containing the matter, and the uppermost receiving the Spirits, and sending them down again, that they may the better open and digest the substances they come from. This Vessel is used in our most excellent Operations, and for very subtle matters. There is another sort of double Vessel, which is a Glass Cucurbite, or Body covered with a blind head, that has no nose or spout; this is useful in circulating matters, that are not so subtle as those that are done in Matrasses or Bolt-heads: they must both be carefully luted in their joints, or where they unite Twians or Pelicans, are very necessary; they are two Retorts, or other distillator● Bodies and Heads, made all of one pecte, sw●mmed in such manner, that their spouts or noses are reciprocally inserted into the Bodies of each other, they are used for the fixing and encorporating of Spirits, and the volatilizing fixed Bodies by circulation.  
We cannot be without the use of Aludels, and subliming-Pots made of different pieces placed and inserted upon into one another: the matter to be sublimed, is contained in the Aludel, or lowermost Pot, of a different figure from the others, as may be seen in the Table here represented; the pots that are on the top, do enter into one another, but must be carefully luted in their joints, and bored through, to give way to the flowers that rise, except the uppermost, which must be covered, and is a sort of blind Head, and in which, after you have gently unluted the Vessels, you find a great part of the flowers sticking, as in the other, and the higher the Vessels are, the purer the Flowers; and those which rise to the top are always the best, and so downward, ●iminish in purity.  
You must have Crucibles, and earthen Pans, or Calcining-Pots, with covers to calcine, melt, cement, cupel, or cast, and perform such like Operations; as likewise of little earthen rounds or moulds fit to hold up, raise, and contain the Crucibles in the fire: your Laboratory must not be without an Iron-Vessel like a Cornet or Cone of Paper, into which you pour your Reg●lus of Antimony and other Minerals when they are melted; for in this Vessel the separation is made easily, the Regulus fastening to the bottom in a Cone, and the dregs or dross remain above, easily taken away. Besides, you save a great many Crucibles; for if you did let your Regulus cool in your Crucible, you would be forced to break it, whereas now the same Crucible may serve a great many times.  
You must be well provided of Dishes, earthen Pans, Basins, Pots, &c. to Evaporate, Chrystallize and Dissolve by a Deliquium, and man● other operations, as likewise of Glass Tunnels and Bottles fitted to them, and to receive those liquours which you intend to filtrate or pass through those Tunnels, and of an infinite of Glass Pots and Bottles, and Vessels of all bignesses and fashions to keep their Preparation. I shall not here specify an infinity of other Vessels and Instruments, as Brass, Iron, Marble, and Glass Mortars, Brass and earthen Vessels for Balneum Mariae, Spatula's, Pallets, Roundles of Iron, and Ladders to bear up Strainers, cutting Irons, Ladles, Pincers, and Tongs of Iron, great and small, without which a Laboratory is not complete out. I think I have hear described the most necessary, which I now expose in a Table to your view; nor will I speak of innumerable other Vessels, which Artists do continually invent, for particular operations, which it is impossible to describe exact.  

The Explication of the Figures of the Vessels.  
A. A great Bolt-head or Matrass serving to rectify Spirits, and sublime volatile Salts.  

The First Figure page. 25   
B. Its Head or Limbick with a nose of spout; having a narrowed neck fit for its Bolts-head Matrass and well luted, to receive the volatile Spirits, Salts, which ascend.  
C. A Pelican or Circulating Vessel, all of a piece.  
D. The Body or Brass Vesica of the Refrigeratory, tinned within, containing the matter to be distilled.  
E. The head of the Refrigeratory, likewise of Brass tinned within, to receive the Spirits that mount and containing separately could water to condense the rising Spirits.  
F. A small Recipient to receive the liquours that distil set upon a stool with a round of Straw betwixt them, to hold and stay the bottom of the Receiver.  
G. A great Globe Recipient to receive those Spirits that are driven out impetuously by a fire of Reverberation.  
H. A small Bolts-head or Matrass for several uses.  
I. An Head or Lembick of Gl ss, with its spout for distilling.  
K. A Cucurbite Gourd or Body containing the substances to be distilled; it may be of Glass, Earth, Pewter, or Brass tinned within.  
●. A blind Head without a spout.  
M. A Retort.  
N. The lowermost Subliming-Pot, called an Aludel, containing the matters to be sublimed into dry Flowers; having on one side a little Pipe, with its stopper, to put in materials at.  
OOO. Three Pots through bored, placed one upon another on the top of the Aludel, and well luted in their joinings.  
P. An Head to cover the said Pots, luted in the jointure.  
Q. A Brass Vesica or Body tinned within, containing Spirit of Wine to be rectified.  
RRR. A Brass-head tinned within, to place upon the Vesica or Body, upon which is sauder'd a Pipe or Worm fit to carry the Spirits upwards; and having on its top a Tunnel likewise saudered, upon which one fits a Glass-head.  
S. The Glass-head or Limbick to receive the Spirits, and resolve them into liquour by means of the could air,  
T. A Recipient for the Spirit that is distilled.  
V. A Glass-tunnel.  
XX. An Iron-Instrument to cut the necks of Retorts and Receivers, we call it a Cutting-Iron.  
Y. Half of the double Vessel containing the materials.  
Z. The other half of the said Vessel set above, to receive the vapours, and sand them back again upon the same substances. They must be exactly luted in their joinings.    

CHAP. VIII. Of the Construction and variety of FURNACES  
AS chemists cannot be without Vessels to contain their Matters, so neither is it possible for them to work thereon according to their purposes, unless those Vessels themselves be so placed by some ingenious contrivance that the Fire may be increased, abated, and governed as shall be needful. And to say truth, they have been but too ingenious in inventing these Furnaces having increased many infinity of divers proportions and figures, not considering the simplicity of Nature, even to confusion. This has made great Artists make use but of one Furnace for all their Operations, imitating in that Nature, which as much as it can is single, and delights in unity, not multiplying any Instrument without necessity. But nevertheless, because there may be occasion of making the same Operations upon the like matter at the same time, and likewise because that in building different Furnaces according to the different degrees of Fire, one may with more exactness compass one's intention; we have thought fit to deliver the way of raising different Furnaces, and amongst them the Construction of one which may serve in a need for all necessary uses.  
And First, Before we speak of their form, or figure, we will deliver the Matter they are to be made of, as well those that are Portative, as the fixed ones.  
The fixed ones must be built of Brick, and that day or Earth, with which Bakers make their Ovens, which must be well mingled and kneaded with a third part of Horse-dung.  
The Portative, or movable Furnaces are to be made of Potters Earth, and potsherds beaten together to Powder, and well mixed with the Earth, thus are made Crucibles, and other Vessels, that must endure much Fire.  
Every Furnace must be divided into four parts and sometimes into five. The First is, the Ash-hole, with it's door. The Second is the grace. The Third is the Fire-hole, with its door. And the Fourth is the place that the Vessel is to be set in: In which space there ought to be four Holes or Registers, by the opening or shutting of which the fire is to be governed. The fifth, when necessary is, the Domo or Cupola over the Vessel which stops up the Registers, and therefore in their room must have a Hole in the top to be opened and shut as the Registers were.  
We shall now begin by describing that Furnace, which the Artists have name Piger Henricus, or, Slothful Harry; so called because it requires not to be so exactly looked to, and watched as other Furn●ces do. It is called likewise Athano●, which in Arabian signifies a Furnace; it is so called for its excellence, because it is very useful to perform many Operations at once, save Coals, and to refresh the Artist, because the heat which the Tower communicates to the neighbouring parts may be easily governed.  
This Furnace has three parts. The First, is the Tower, which contains the Fire, and as much Coals as can be consumed by it in 24 hours. The Second is a Furnace for the Balneum Mariae: and the Third a Sand Furnac●: and if the place be big enough one should add a Furnace with Ashes. The first part, which is the Tower ought to be at least three Foot high and eight or nine Inches in its diameter, round within and very smooth, it must have it's Ash-hole with its door to take out the Ashes; it must likewise have a grace, and under it another door, by which one may make clean the Tower, in case it be foul: a collection of Stones, Earth, or other impurity happening amongst the Coals, which ma● stop the grace and hinder the Fire. The Tower must have on each side a little above the grace, a hole of about five Inches high, and four Inches wide, by which the heat of the Tower may be communicated to the Balneum Mariae Furnace, and to the Sand Furnace; which may likewise have their Ash-holes, or Grates by themselves, that so by putting in Coals they may be heated, without heating the whole Tower; they must likewise have their Registers: one may likewise fix an earthen Pan upon the top of the Tower over the hole by which the Coals are put in, and lute it well, and so filling it with Sand or Ashes, one may place it a Vessel either for Distilling or Circulating.  
There is another sort of Furnace for digestions in which one may likewise perform many other operations at the same time, and save Coals; its Figure is in the third Table, it is composed of three Parts or Furnaces, joined to one another by stories. The First, which is that which contains the Fire, is made of an Ash-hole and its door, a grace, and Fire-hole, of a space to contain Coals enough to maintain an equal Fire for twelve hours, and of a Capsula, or Vessel to contain Sand, in which are put the Glasses or other Vessels for the Operation; all the difference between this Furnace and others is, that instead of the four Registers, one at each corner, there is an overture or hole within, by which the heat is communicated to the second Furnace joined to this, and from thence to the third. In the First one may distill by Retorts; in the Second by Cucurbites, with their alembic heads; and the Third is for Digestions, Extractions, and other such Operations: and yet the expense is no greater than for one Furnace: for whereas the heat of the Fire in ordinary Furnaces is lost, through the Registers, here it is retained and communicated from Furnace to Furnace; they that have room enough may add a Furnace or two more, and by the same Fire make five or six sorts of degrees of heat.  
There is required a Furnace by itself for the Brass Vesica, with its Refrigeratory, or Moors head to distill and rectify in it Spirit of Wine, and the Spirits of other fermented Vegetables, as likewise to distill aromatic oils.  
A Furnace of close Reverberatory is necessary for the Distilling of Aqua Fortis, Spirit of Salt, Niter, Vitriol and others: and the same Furnace may serve to Calcine and Reverberate Metals and Minerals, it ought to be composed of five parts. The First is the Ash-hole; the Second, the grace; the Third the place where the Fire is put in; the Fourth, is, the space which contains the Retorts, or other Vessels, which rest upon two Iron bars; and Lastly, there is a Cover either round or square, which Reverberates the Fire. And there is is another flat Cover to be used when one is to Reverberate any thing with a flaming Fire of Wood.  
Besides this Furnace, Artists have another Furnace of Reverberation, very fit for Calcinations and Reverberations of Metals and Minerals, which are to be reduced to Crocus's or Impalpable Powders by the force of the Fire. Its Figure is in the third Table, it is ordinarily made of three parts. The first is to contain the Wood; the second and third are for the things to be operated upon, which when they are done by the flamme of Wood, are spread upon thin Iron-plates, or upon Tiles; one may add the fourth, fifth, and sixth Story, the flamme going Serpent-wise from one Story to another.  
One must have a Wind-Furnace for melting of Minerals and Metals, and for Vitrification; the Ash-hole of this Furnace must be pretty high, and the Overture wide, that the wind may enter with ease.  
This Furnace ought to be round within, it is made large or small, according to the quantity of matter you intend to melt: over the grace there must be a door for the Charcoal to be put in. The Fire-hearth must be about a foot-high, and covered with a strong covering of good Crucible-Earth, consisting of two pieces, that so the one half may be taken off when a Crucible is to be placed in, or removed from the fire. This covering must be made in form of an half-Globe, having an hole in the top, in which may be thrust one, two, or three Pipes, one upon another, for the better concentrating of the heat about the Crucible. This very Furnace may also serve for the Sublimation of Antimony and other Minerals, by taking away the Covering, and placing an Iron-Bar across the fire-place, whereon to set the Vessel containing the matter to be sublimed.  
Now for the ease of those who will not, or cannot have a great Laboratory, I will describe an Universal Furnace, serving for all chemical Operations, a●d portable. This Furnace consists of one single piece, besides the Covering, and of very good crucible-Earth; after it is made and dried, it must be baked in some Potter's Furnace; by which means it will last a mans life. The height of the Ash-hole must be six Inches, with a door for drawing forth the Ashes, and giving Air to the Fire. The Iron grace must be placed over it for the Fire to lie on. The inside of the Furnace must be narrow downward in form of a Scuttle, to the end the grace may rest on it; and wide upwards. The Fire-place must be nine Inches in height, to the place where two Iron Bars are to be set for supporting the Vessels. These Iron Bars must be movable for calcining or distilling any mat●ledge●er. The Furnace must be six or seven Inches ●ledge●igh above them, and in that upper part a ●ledge●alf-round notch must be made, for letting ●ledge●hrough the neck of a Retort, with a piece of the same earth fit to the said notch, and ●ledge●o be put to, or taken away upon occasion of ●ledge●istilling otherwise than by the Retort, or of placing a Balneum Mariae or Sand there.  
Lastly, This Furnace must have its cover in ●ledge●orm of a Cupolo, with a large hole in the ●ledge●iddle thereof for governing the Fire, by ●ledge●pening the same more or less, according as ●ledge●ou see fit. The Diameter of this Furnace may be greater or lesser, according as the Artist is minded to work upon little or much matter. He must not forget to make four holes in the top of the Furnace, to serve for Registers in those Operations in which the round Head or Cupolo is not necessary; as also four Stopples wherewith to shut and open the said Registers, as well as two others to serve for the like use to the doors of the Fire-place and Ash-hole; which is to be observed in all sorts of Furnaces. When you are minded to distil in Balneo, you must get a round Kettle proportionable to the opening of the Furnace, and so likewise a Vesica of Copper of the same proportion, or what other Vessel you think good to employ for rectifying the burning Spirits of Vegetables. For distilling in Sand, you must have a good Earth of the like proportion, wherein to put the Sand. For Reverberation, place the Retort upon the Iron Bars, and cover it with the round Head or Cupolo.  
When you would Calcine or melt, take away the Iron Bars, that you may let the Pot down upon a little round Plate, which is to be put upon the grace.  
I omit here to speak of the Lamp-Furnace, because it is not useful in a course of chemistry which allows not time for long preparations, as those of this Furnace are. The curious may find the same in other Authors, to whom I refer them.  

The Second Figure page.. 35   

The Explication of the Figures of Furnaces in the Second Table.  
A. A Wind-Furnace for the melting of Minerals.  
A. The Ashh-hole.  
B. The Fire-place, serving also for the putting in and viewing of materials.  
C. A Crucible, containing the materials to be melted.  
D. The grace.  
E. The Cupolo, which covers the said Furnace, having a hole in the middle of the top.  
F. Pipes, serving to repel and restrain the Fire.  
G. An Iron Cone, for casting any Regulus.  
H. A Crucible, round at the top.  
H. A Crucible, triangular at the top.  
I. A round Earthen Plate, capable to endure the Fire, to be placed under Crucibles in Furnaces.  
K. A Copper for Crucibles.  
L. A Fork, to cleanse the Furnaces, and to try if the Fusion be perfect in the Crucibles.  
M. An Iron Spoon or Ladle.  
N. Iron Tongs.  
O. Great Iron Pincers, to put in, and take out the Crucibles.  
B. A Reverbaratory Furnace.  

1. The Ash-hole.  
2. The grace.  
3. The Door of the Fire-place.  
4. The Fire-place.  
5. The Retort.  
6. The Cupolo, or Cover of the Furnace.  
7. The Hole in the top of the Cupolo, for regulating the Fire.  
8. The great Recipient.  
9. The little Stool that supports the Recipient.   
C. The Furnace Athanor, or Piger Henricus.  
AA. The Tower which contains the Coal.  
B. The Furnace for Sand.  
C. The Furnace for Balneum Mariae.  
D. The Door of the Ash-hole of the Tower.  
E. The grace.  
FF. The Fire-place.  
G. The Door of the Fire-place.  
HH. The top of the Tower wherein the Coal is.  
I. The Cupolo of the Tower.  
K. The Door of the Ash-hole for Sand.  
L. The grace.  
M. The Door of the Fire-place.  
N. The Sand.  
OOO. The Gourd, containing the materials, having on the Top its blind alembic, which makes a sort of double Vessel.  
PPPP. The four Holes or Registers, for regulating the Fire.  
Q. The Ash-hole for the Balneum Mariae.  
R. The grace.  
S. The Door of the Fire-place.  
T. The Vessel of the Balneum Mariae.  
WV. The Gourd, containing the matter, with its alembic.  
X. A Copper Ring for the top of the Gourd.  
YY. The Registers.  
Z. The Recipient.  
&. A Head-Ring, serving for a counterpoise to the Gourd, fastened to the neck-bottom thereof.  
D. An universal Furnace.  
A. The Door of the Ash-hole.  
B. The grace.  
C. The Door of the Fire-place.  
DD. The Fire-place.  
E. Iron Bars to support the Vessels, and movable.  
F. The Notch, for the Neck of the Retort.  
GGGG. The Four Registers.  
H. Balneum Mariae, containing the Vessels with Water for the materials.  
I. An Earthen Vessel, resisting the Fire, for distilling in Sand.  
K. The notch of the said Vessel to let out the neck of the Retort.  
L. A piece of the same Earth, to open and close the said notch.  
M. The Cupolo of the said Furnace.  
N. A Stopper for the Ash-hole.  
O. A Stopper for the Fire-place.   

Explication of the Figures of Furnaces in the third Table.  
A. A great Furnace, composed of three parts.  
a. The first part, containing the Fire, and serving to distil by Retort.  
b. The second part, proper for Distillations by alembic.  
c. The third part, proper for Digestions.  
d. The Ash-hole, with its door.  
e. The Fire-place, with its door and grace.  
ffff. The notches of the Pot or Pan, which contains Sand for resting the necks of Retorts.  
g. The place by which the heat of the Fire enters out of the first part into the second.  
h. The place where the heat enters out of the second into the third part.  
i. An hole for the smoke to go out, serving also for a Register, by being opened and shut.  

The Third Figure page. 38   
kk. Doors, by which Salts or other things to be dried, may be set into the cavity of the Furnace.  
B. A Furnace to distil Herbs without addition.  
a. The Ash-hole, with its door.  
b. The Fire-place, with its door and grace.  
cc. Bars of Iron to support the Pan.  
d. An earthen-Pan containing Sand, which keeps the leaves of Vegetables from burning, and their distilled Waters from tasting of the fire.  
e. A Copper-Vessel, containing the Herbs.  
f. An alembic of Pewter.  
g. A Recipient of Glass.  
hh. Registers, for governing the fire.  
i. A foot, to support the Recipient.  
C. A Furnace to make assay of Metals, or test them.  
a. The foot of the Furnace, which must have four holes, one at each corner, for intromission of much air to the fire.  
b. The upper part, which is to be taken off when you set in the Muffle with the Cuppel.  
oooo. The place where several bars of Iron are put to support the Muffle with the Coal.  
c. The Covering, having divers holes to let out the smoke.  
dddd. Divers pieces of good bak'd-Earth, to keep up the burning-coal before the door of the fire-place, lest the air cool the Cuppel.  
e. The Muffle.  
f. The Cuppel.  
g. The door of the fire-place, in which the Muffle is placed.  
D. A Reverberatory Furnace.  
a. The fire-place.  
b. The door of the fire-place, into which the Wood is put.  
cc. Flat pieces of Earth, upon which the matter to be Reverberated, is laid.  
d. An opening, by which the flamme passes from the fire-place to the first stage.  
e. Another opening, by which the flamme passes from the first stage to the second.  
f. An opening, for the flamme to go out.  
gggg. Little doors, at which to look upon the matter, during the Reverberation.  
h. The great Cover.  
i. The little Cover, with which the fire is governed.  
kk. Doors, to stop the first and second stage, after that the matter to be calcined, is set in.    

CHAP. IX. Of the Lutings of Furnaces and Vessels.  
'tis not enough to have spoken of the diversity of Vessels, and of the construction of Furnaces; 'tis also fit that the Artist know how to manage, cut, and adjust them one with another; and in case of need, if he cannot make all the Vessels, he must learn to make part of them, as Crucibles, Pans, with other Fire-vessels, and likewise all the matter of his Furnaces.  
The Paste for Portable Furnaces is composed of fat Earth, or Potters-clay, and of broken Pots grossly powdered, which commonly they call Cement. You must take two parts of fat Earth, dry it, and powder it; and three parts of the said Cement in powder. Mix them well, and with water make a Paste, of which form your Furnaces; dry them first in the shadow, and afterwards bake them in a Potters Furnace. Observe that when the Earth is extremely fat, the quantity of Cement must be augmented, lest the Furnaces cleave in drying; which will happen, unless sufficient quantity of powder of broken Pots be added.  
This very composition of Earth may also serve for the construction of Aludels, Pans, Gourds, Crucibles, and other Vessels destinated to the violence of the fire; which they will resist, provided you take care to make the powder of broken Pots finer than for Furnaces. You must also let them dry gently, and then bake them.  
The Paste or Lute for immovable Furnaces must be made of two thirds of that Earth with which Bakers make their Ovens, and one third of Horse-dung well cleansed and sifted, which must be tempered with water, and well wrought together. This Paste set in a Cellar in a Tub, putrefies, and becomes so managable, that it may with great ease be employed for the conjunction of the Bricks, wherewith we ordinarily build fixed Furnaces, which must be thick, as well to preserve the heat, as to last a long time.  
As for the luting of Retorts, whether of Glass or Earth, which are to be exposed to a violent fire, as also for luting and joining the Recipients with the Retorts, take ten parts of the above-mentioned putrefied Paste, one part of the flakes of Iron, one part of powdered Glass, two parts of the Caput-mortuum of Aqua-fortis beaten to powder, and incorporate them well all together.  
In the Cohobation or Rectification of Spirits or ethereal Oils, there is nothing better to keep them from evaporating, than the bladder of an Hog or Ox, applied wet round about the joining of the Gourd to the alembic, and that of the alembic to the Recipient. It also serves for joining double Vessels; for as it dries, it makes a kind of glue, which becomes hard, and by that means binds the Vessels perfecty well together. But note that Corrosive Spirits consume the bladder in a moment, and then fly away. To retain their Spirits, use the following lute.  
Take Wheat-flower, and unslak'd-Lime powdered, and with the white of an Egg make them into a Paste, which apply presently to the joints with a fine rag. The cracks of Recipients and other Vessels may be mended with this Lute, provided some Minium or lethargy powdered, be mixed with it.  
Sometimes the neck of the Vessel, which is to be set for digestion, is stopped by the melting of it; this they call Hermetical Sealing, and it is practised in Pelicans, and long-neck'd Vessels. When the materials are put into them, a Charcoal-fire is applied round about the neck of the Vessel; which fire must be kindled with discretion, to the end the Glass may be heated by little and little, without breaking. Then the fire is to be increased till the Glass melt, which must in that condition be wreathed with hot tongs, till there remain no hole at all.  
But in as much as such Vessels are used but seldom, especially the Pelicans, and this sort of luting renders them incapable of serving more than once; you may make a Paste of a mixture of mastic, Venice-Glass powdered, Borax, and the white of an Egg, with which Vessels may be stopped, and let the same dry with a gentle heat. Afterwards melt this Lute with a small Reed at the flamme of a Lamp. You may also seal Hermetically with a Lamp thin Glass-Vessels, which have a narrow mouth, and long neck.   

CHAP. X. Of the degrees of Fire.  
THE Furnaces being built, and the Vessels provided, and luted( such as require it) the next thing is to make choice of, and to manage the Fire suitably to the matter you work upon. To this purpose 'tis fit to know what Fires are more or less violent. The gentlest of all is the Balneum Vaporis, which is, to hang the Vessel containing the matter, just over the Balneum Mariae, that so it may receive the steams of the water, which may be heated more or less even to boiling.  
The next degree of heat is the Balneum Mariae, which consists in placing the Vessel containing the matter, in another Vessel containing water; which may be kept either tepid or boiling, as occasion requires. But lest the water lift up, and overturn the Vessel, as it will be apt to do, especially when there is but little matter within it; and also lest the bottom of the Vessel touch the bottom of the Bath, and endanger the breaking of it; 'tis usual to fasten to the bottom of the Vessel a circled of led environed with straw, to serve as a counterpoise to the Vessel, and to secure it from touching.  
The next Heat is that of Ashes, improperly termed a Ba●h; which Ashes must be sifted, and put into an earthen-Pan that resists the Fire. Place the Vessel in these Ashes as deep as the matter it contains. The Heat of Sand follows next, as being a degree beyond the former; 'tis improperly called a Bath, but is ordered after the same manner.  
Filings of Iron come next, and afford a greater heat than Sand.  
The close Reverberatory Fire follows; it serves for drawing of Spirits, and is made with Charcoal.  
The last is the Flaming-Fire, or Fire of Fusion; 'tis the most violent of all, and is made with Wood, but sometimes too with Charcoal, for Calcining and Reverberating things.  
Each of these sorts of Fire hath its degrees, especially the Violent, as well by increasing the fuel, as by opening the Registers. Hence you are directed to a Fire of the first, second, third and fourth degree, especially in the Distillation of Spirits.  
Besides these, there are the Lamp, the dunghill, the Burning-Glass, and others; of which, for brevity-sake, I shall say nothing; because those already mentioned serve for all the Operations intended in this Treatise.    

A TREATISE OF chemistry. Book II. Certain Remarks preliminary to the following Preparations.  
IN the First Part of this Treatise we have spoken in few words what seemed necessary concerning the Names, Usefulness, and Definition of chemistry; as also concerning its Object, Matter, and Functions. We have also spoken of its Principles, and the several Operations whereby the same may be separated and purified. We have likewise described the Figures of Vessels, and their Variety; the construction and matter of Furnaces, the diversity of Lutings; and lastly, the manner of giving and graduating Fire; without the action whereof, all the rest would be useless. These Generals will not perplex the mind, and yet they will afford a Theory sufficient for practise; to which we shall now proceed.  
But before we enter upon it, our End being to propose plainly all the Preparations as well in Writing as in Working, we have thought fit to acquaint the curious Reader with certain Remarks, of great moment both to his Design and ours. Inasmuch therefore as natural Bodies are infinite in number, and very different in substance and form, both internal and external, great variety of means and instruments must be employed as well to open them as to separate their parts. For Metals and Minerals require to be handled otherwise than Vegetables and Animals; and even the preparation of Metals and Minerals is different according as they are more or less perfect, compact or porous, fixed or volatile. For example, the Oils of Vegetables are capable to dissolve or extract the Sulphurs of Minerals; but the extraction or dissolution of some is much more easy than that of others. As we see, common Oil will totally dissolve common Sulphur, if they be put together upon the Fire; and that because of the great correspondence that the Sulphurs of Minerals have with the Oils of Vegetables. led, which hath acquired a greater perfection than common Sulphur, needs help, and cannot be united with Oil unless it be reduced into Powder, Calx, or lethargy; after which, its whole substance easily incorporates with oil, by means of the Fire and a gentle agitation. This gives us to know, that led is almost nothing else but Sulphur, and a terrestrial Salt. For if it contained much Mercury, Oils having no correspondence therewith, could not dissolve it totally as they do. Which remark may serve to undeceive certain curious persons, who accounting led more perfect than it is, eagerly seek for Mercury in its Body. Which I advice them well to consider.  
Antimony is a Mineral, which contains in itself much Sulphur, indigested, and dissolvable in Oil as well as common Sulphur. For 'tis a Sulphur superficially joined to the Antimony. Nevertheless, if Antimony be not opened by Sublimation, and reduced into Flowers, or an Alkool, 'tis impossible to make a Dissolution of it. But being reduced into that state, Oil penetrates it, and joins itself with its sulphureous part, leaving the rest apart, which could not in any wise abandon that sulphureous part of the Antimony, before it was so reduced.  
By these Examples of common Sulphur, led and Antimony, 'tis easy to understand, that the more compact or perfect a Metal is, the more it ought to be opened and disposed to the separation of its superficial Sulphur; I speak not of that which is internal and essential, since we believe Metals indivisible; unless any man will pretend to reduce them into their Principles, or several substances by the Alkahest or universal Dissolvent, of which I shall not discourse here, for fear of offending some, who think they possess it, and yet have not even good particular Dissolvents, or of being esteemed too incredulous by those that seek it. If we should say that 'tis hard to imagine how a liquour without Corrosion can resolve all Sublunary Bodies into their true Principles, without any reaction on their part; and how this Dissolvent should diminish neither in weight nor virtue, but have as much strength after a thousand Dissolutions, as in the first; as Van Helmont discourses of it. Wherefore wanting this mystery, we maintain, that whatsoever form is given to Metals by the ordinary Dissolutions, which are properly Corr●sions, they remain always reducible into their first substance, with little or no alteration. So the Essences or Tinctures, and the Oils pretended to be drawn from Metals, are, to speak properly, nothing but metallic Substances disguised by the division of their integral parts, and by their union with the Dissolvents; but so that they may be separated from the same, and reduced into metallic Bodies, in the same form which they possessed before they were dissolved.  
And upon this occasion we might say something further against those who boast of possessing the true Tincture or Essence of Gold, its Sulphur, and its Mercury irreducible into a metallic Body. In a word, who think they have the true Potable Gold, of which they tell wonders, and by which they pretend to remove all sorts of Diseases, and to make men live as long as the first Patriarcks. This sort of People are more diseased themselves, than they whom they pretend to Cure, and were more worthy of pitty than punishment, if there were not some persons credulous enough to believe their promises, and to lose their Time, Estate, Health and Life, by the imposture of these Ignorants. This is the source of the Scandals cast upon true chemistry; which being well considered, is found most worthy to be cultivated.  
This by the way. Now, since Metals and Minerals are so different, there is requisite almost to every one in particular, not only a different Preparation, but to overy Preparation a great labour both of Body and Mind, and manners of proceeding wholly distinct: which is the reason that general Rules for their Preparation cannot be established, as there may be for that of Vegetables and Animals. Nevertheless, they cannot be reduced without some Salts, Oils, or Spirits. But most Vegetables need no addition, yet require different Preparations as well as Minerals. For sometimes we design to reduce them distinctly into their five substances; sometimes we desire but one of them. For Example; we are contented to draw only the rozinous substance of Jallap, rejecting the other substances as useless. We draw by Distillation the essential Oil of Anise, and preserve the same carefully, without regarding the remainder. Sometimes we Calcine Tartar, to draw out the fixed Salt, without minding its sulphureous and mercurial parts, which are suffered to exhale or evaporate by the violence of the fire. When we extract the volatile Salt of Urine, we trouble not ourselves aboutt the other Principles; as when we have made the Jelly of Harts-horn, we reject all the rest; and so of infinite others.  
Vegetables entire, or their parts, which we desire to reduce into their solid Principles, hard or dry, as Roots, Barks, Gums, Seeds, Fruits, Leaves, &c. are first rasp'd or cut in pieces, or else powdered grossly, so as to be put into a Retort, which is placed in a Reverberatory fire, by means whereof comes into the Recipient, first the phlegm, next the Spirit, and afterwards the Oil. But the fixed Salt and Earth remain in the Retort, and are separated afterwards by Dissolutions, Filtrations and Coagulations.  
The parts of Vegetables which are in a liquid form, as Must, and other juices, before their Fermentation, are distilled by an alembic in a fire of Sand, and yield first a quantity of phlegm, next the Spirit, and afterwards the Oil, leaving the Earth and Salt in the bottom of the alembic.  
If you desire to draw the five substances of fermented liquours, as Wine, Cider, Hydromel, Beer, and the like; whereas those which are not fermented, sand out the phlegm first; these sand first their subtle and inflammable Spirit, and afterwards the phlegm; then they yield a Spirit and Oil smelling of burning, and leave the fixed Salt and Earth in the bottom.  
liquours which have passed a Fermentation even to a kind of corruption, as Vinegar of Wine, Beer, Cider, and others, render their phlegm first, then an acid Spirit, afterwards a Spirit, and fetid Oil, leaving the Salt and Earth in the bottom.  
Animals entire, or their parts, if dry, are cut into pieces, or reduced to a course Powder, in order to their being put into the Retort. If their parts be liquid, as Blood, Urine, &c. they are put into an alembic. Both these Vessels are set in a fire of Sand, by means whereof you draw first the phlegm, then Spirit, and volatile Salt, with a stinking Oil: and in-asmuch as this Spirit and volatile Salt abound in Animals, they raise up the fixed Salt, and carry it with them; so that the Earth remains alone in the bottom of the Vessel.  
Having thus destroyed the first form of mixed Bodies, you separate the Principles, each by itself. The Oil is separated from the Spirit and phlegm by a Tunnel; the Spirit is separated from the phlegm by Rectification; and the Salt by Elixation and Filtration from the Caput-mortuum, or Terra-damnata, as we shall show more clearly in due place.  
This Second Part shall be divided into three Sections. The First shall treat of the Preparations of Metals, metallic Bodies, Stones, Vitriols, Salts, &c. The Second shall teach the Preparation of Vegetables. And the Third that of Animals; to which we shall join some Preparations of things not comprehended in these three Families, as Manna, Honey, Wax, &c.  

SECT. I. Of Minerals.  

CHAP. I. Of Gold.  
WE shall begin with Gold, which is the most pure, fixed, compact, and weighty of all Metals, rendered so by the union of Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, equally digested, and purified to the highest point. Hence it is justly called the King of Metals, as being the most perfect of all. 'tis called also the Sun, as well for the resemblance it hath with the Sun of the great World which enlightens us; as for that it hath with the heart of man, which is the Sun of the little World. Its colour is yellow, tending towards read. I will not stand to inquire what place affords the best; since the Artist ought to know how to separate and free it from other Metals that are found mixed with it either in the Mines, or by the fraud of men; and that all Gold is good when 'tis alone, and separated from other Metals.  
We will begin with its Purification, whereof there are four ways. The first is, the couple with led. The second, Cementation in a Crucible. The third, by Aqua-fortis. And the fourth, and most certain of all, is, the Purification by Antimony.  

1. The Purification of Gold by the couple.  
TAke a good couple made of Sheep's-bones calcined, or of common Ashes washed, and deprived of their Alkali Salt. Put the same into a little Furnace, and cover it with a Muffle or Tile. Then make a fire round about, and over it, but moderate the fire in the beginning, that the couple may heat by degrees, and not crack. When 'tis become read, if you have an ounce of Gold to couple, put into the couple four ounces of led, leave it alone in Fusion for some time, that the couple may imbibe some of it. Then put your Gold to it, and it will melt instantly amid the led, though otherwise of very difficult Fusion. This done, continue the fire, and blow incessantly upon the matter: the led will by little and little enter like Grease into the pores of the Cuppel,( which, for this intent, is made of porous matter,) and carry with it the other imperfect Metals mixed with the Gold, which will become pure within the couple, and of an high colour; except the Gold be mixed with some portion of Silver, which resists the action of the led as well as the Gold; in which case you must have recourse to Aqua-fortis, or Antimony.   

2. The Purification of Gold by Cementation.  
REduce your Gold into plates of the thickness of the back of a knife, and cut them into round or square pieces, so that they may lie flat in the Crucible. Then take Cement prepared of four ounces of powder of Brick, an ounce of Salt-Armoniac, an ounce of Salt-Gemme, and an ounce of common Salt; all well powdered, and mixed together, and reduced into a dry Paste with a little Urine. Lay a Bed of this Cement in the bottom of a Crucible, proportionable to the matter, and so continue to lay Bed upon Bed, intermixed of plates and Cement, layer upon layer, or course upon course,( called stratum supper stratum,) till the Crucible be full. The first and last layer must always be Cement, to the end the plates may be involved and covered with it. Cover the Crucible with a fit covering, having an hole in the middle; and then place it thus luted in a circular fire( or ignis rotae) for the space of three hours, during which the hole of the cover must be left open, that the moisture of the Cement may evaporate. After this, lute up the hole likewise. The fire must be moderate in the beginning, then augmented by degrees, and continued during 8 or 9 hours, in such sort, that the two last hours the Crucible be covered over with charcoal. Then let it cool. Opening the Crucible, you will find the plates diminished in weight, because the Cement has corroded and destroyed all that was mixed with the Gold. Wash these plates well, and having put them into a Crucible, make a fire of Fusion, with a little Tartar and saltpetre; and so you shall reduce them into an Ingot.   

3. The Purification of Gold by Aqua-fortis.  
TAke one part of Gold, and three or four parts of refined Silver; melt them together in a Crucible; then pour them into a deep Copper-Vessel full of water; and you shall find the Gold and Silver mixed in the form of small grains,( which is that they call Granulation.) Dry the grains, put them into a Matrass, and pour upon them a triple quantity of good Aqua-fortis made of saltpetre and Vitriol. Place the Matrass in a Furnace of Sand, till the Aqua-fortis have dissolved all the Silver; which is known when the matter sends forth no more read fumes, and the Gold lies in the bottom of the Matrass in a black powder. Then pour off the liquour( which contains in it all the Silver) into an earthen Vessel full of common water; and upon the black powder of Gold pour a little new Aqua-fortis, and replace the Matrass upon the hot Sand, to the end that if any Silver yet remain, it may be dissolved and separated this second time. Pour this second Dissolution to the first, and keep them. In the mean time edulcorate the Calx of Gold with water, then dry it, and make it read gently in a Crucible. You shall have a powder of a very high colour, which you may reduce into an Ingot b● melting it with a little Borax. The Silver dissolved in the Aqua-fortis, and poured into the Vessel of water, precipitates, and separates itself from its Dissolvent, by putting a plate of Copper into it; the Spirits of the Aqua-fortis immediately leaving the Silver to fasten on the Copper, which they dissolve; and during the Dissolution, the Silver precipitates itself. The reason of this is, because the Copper being less compact, and more earthy than the Silver, is easily penetrated by that corrosive Spirit, which impetuously falling upon this morsel, as agreeable to its appetite, it quits its first hold, and takes up to the Copper which it last met with, and devours as much of it as it can retain. This blue water impregnated with Copper, must be poured off by inclination, and kept in an earthen Vessel; 'tis called the second water, and surgeons use it for Cancers, and other outward Ulcers. The Silver is found in the bottom. It must be washed, dried, and kept( if you please) in form of a Calx, or else reduced into an Ingot in a Crucible, with a little Salt of Tartar. But if into this second water, which is properly a Solution of Copper, you put a body more earthy and porous than Copper, as Iron is, the Copper precipitates, and the Corrosive Spirits of the Aqua-fortis fasten to the substance of Iron; which may likewise be precipitated by some Mineral more earthy and porous than Iron, as Lapis Calaminaris and Zink. Lastly, if you pour into this liquour charged with these Substances some of the liquour of fixed Nitre, drop by drop, this latter will destroy the acidity of the Aqua-fortis, and precipitate those Minerals. Note, that if you evaporate and crystallize the liquour, you will draw from it very good saltpetre, reincorporated with its fixed Salt, from which those Spirits at first were distilled.  
These last Experiments might seem impertinent to this Chapter of Gold. But our desire to instruct the Curious, made us take occasion to mention them from the Purifying of that Metal by Aqua-fortis. And they are not unuseful to open the way to others more considerable.   

4. The Purification of Gold by Antimony.  
THis is the best way of all; for led carries away only the imperfect Metals, but leaves Silver joined with Gold. Cement oftentimes leaves the Gold impure, and consumes some part of it. Aqua-fortis is not always a certain trial of the pureness of Gold: for sometimes it happens that Gold having been mixed with some sulphureous matters, their odour involves some of the Silver which had been put to the Gold, to cleanse it by Aqua-fortis, which Silver falls down, and is precipitated with the Gold at the parting, thereby giving surprising and short joys to the unskilful, who are apt to think presently they have found out the way to increase Gold: but upon further examination they find their expectation deceived. On the other side, you may be certain, that Gold which hath past the trial by Antimony is thoroughly purged, and freed from all mixture. For nothing but Gold is able to resist that devouring Wolf.  
Take therefore an ounce of Gold, such as the Goldsmiths use; put it into a Crucible amongst burning-coals in a wind-Furnace, and when it is very read, put to it by little and little four ounces of good Antimony in powder, which will melt immediately, and at the same time devour the Gold,( which otherwise is of very difficult Fusion, by reason of its most exact composition:) when the whole is melted like water, and the matter sparkles, 'tis a sign that the Antimony is at work upon the impurities of the Gold. Wherefore leave it a little upon the fire; then cast it nimbly into an Iron-Crucible, which has been to that end before heated, and smear'd with a little Oil. When the matter is poured in, strike the Crucible with the Tongs, to make the Regulus descend to the bottom. After 'tis a little cooled, separate the Regulus from the dross. Weigh it, and put it to melt in a good large Crucible, adding to it by little and little double its weight of saltpetre: then cover the Crucible; so that the coals get not into it, and giving a quick fire, the saltpetre consumes all that remained of the Antimony with the Gold; and the Gold settles at the bottom of a most beautiful colour, and pure. You may put it into a Crucible hot at it is, or else let the Crucible cool, and then break it to separate the Ingot from the Salts. This manner of purifying the Regulus of Gold is not common and ordinary, but preferable before the rest, because done speedily: but 'tis practised only in a small quantity. The common fashion is, to put the Gold in a flat Crucible upon a melting fire, and blow continually till the Antimonial part be exhaled. This not only requires time, but exposes you to the hurtful exhalations of the Antimony, which 'tis always good to avoid.   

Aurum Fulminans.  
REduce into thin plates a dram of fine Gold; put these plates into a Matrass, and pour on them three drams of good Aqua-regia, then set the Matrass upon hot Sand, till the Gold be dissolved. Pour the Solution into a Vessel wherein there is three or four ounces or more of Fountain-water; then pour to it drop by drop some Oil of Tartar made by Deliquation till the Ebullition ceases; which is a sign that the Corrosion of the Aqua-Regia is destroyed by the liquour of the Salt Alkali of Tartar, which, as other Alkalies, breaks the force of Corrosive Spirits, so that they are constrained to let fall to the bottom the body which they held in form of liquour. The same happens here to the Gold: for if you let it settle a-while, it will precipitate itself to the bottom of the water; which will swim above as clear as Crystal, and is to be poured off by inclination. You must pour warm water upon the powder, to take away all the Acrimony of the Salts; and when 'tis settled, pour that water off, and put more upon it. This do so often, till the powder of Gold be well edulcorated; which is known by its being insipid. Lastly, put it into a Tunnel with filtering paper, through which the liquour passes, and leaves behind it the powder of Gold, which must be dried carefully by a slow heat: for it easily takes fire, and bounce like a Gun, flies away.  
This impetuous action proceeds from the mixture of the Salts and Spirits which enter into the Dissolvent and the Precipitant of the Gold, and which reduce it into atoms. Of which Salts and Spirits, the Gold by its reaction and its fixity, retains some portion, though imperfectly; for when the fire acts upon this mixture, it drives out the spirituous parts, which the Gold and the Corpuscles of Salt of Tartar desire to retain; from which conflict the great noise ensues.  
This Fulmination may be hindered several ways, all which tend only either to break the force of the nitrous Spirits, or to separate them from the Salt of Tartar, a good quantity whereof always remains with the fulminating Gold. For after all the Lotions that can be made of it, it will be commonly found a fourth, or almost a third part heavier than the simplo Gold which was dissolved and precipitated. Wherefore to destroy the activity of this Salt, beat the fulminating Gold together with three times as much of flower of Sulphur, and put this mixture upon a small fire in a Crucible: the Sulphur will burn and exhale, during which its saline acid parts fasten to the saline and spirituous parts which involved the Gold, and carries them away; and the Gold will remain in the bottom of the Crucible, of the same weight as at first. You may reduce it into a metallic body, with the addition of a little Borax by a fire of fusion; or else you may mix the fulminating Gold with oil of Vitriol or Sulphur, or with the Spirit of Sea-Salt, and put them boldly in a Crucible upon the fire without fearing any thing; for their acid Spirits change the nature of the Salt of Tartar.  
Some employ this Powder in diseases proceeding from corruption of the Blood; for by sweat and insensible transpiration it drives the venom from the Center. The Dose is from 2 to 8 Grains, in some Conserve, or in the Extract of Juniper Berries.   

The Calcination of Gold by Mercury.  
TAke a Dram of Gold purged by Antimony; reduce it into very thin Plates, which cut with Cizars into small pieces: Then take two little Crucibles, which place upon burning Coals; and put your Gold into the one, and six Drams of good Mercury into the other. When the Gold is all read, and the Mercury begins to smoke, mix them together in one of the Crucibles, and stir them with a little Stick; they will presently unite, and make a soft and tractable Amalgama, which you must wash to take away the blackness; then dry it and pass it through a piece of Shammoy Leather: The overpluss of Mercury will remain in the Leather, weighing ordinarily about four Drams; the Gold retaining three times its weight of Mercury. Now to reduce this Gold into a subtle and impalpable Calx, you must mix this with twice the weight of Sulphur, in a Marble-Mortar for the space of two or three hours, and put this mixture into a Crucible, on which put a covering with a hole in the middle. Place the same in a moderate Fire, for fear of reducing the Gold into a solid body and losing all your pains. The Sulphur and the Mercury will exhale; but the Gold will remain in the bottom of the Crucible in a spongy and impalpable Powder. You may likewise reverberate it under a muffle, and so you shall have a Calx of Gold well opened and fit for curious operations.   

Another Calcination of Gold.  
DIssolve a Dram of Gold in Aqua Regia; poure the solution into a Gourd, wherein there is a quart of Spring Water and about six Drams of Mercury. Place the Gourd in a hot Sand four and twenty hours, during which the Spirits of the Aqua Regia will act upon a part of the Mercury, and let the Gold fall in a read light Powder to the bottom of the Vessel; and the Water which before was yellow by reason of the Gold which it contained, will become clear as Crystal. Pour it off by inclination and dry the powder of Gold and the Mercury( which could not be dissolved in this little quantity of Aqua Regia, necessary to the dissolution of a Dram of Gold, and having lost a great part of its virtue by the mixture of the Spring Water in the Gourd) I say, dry your Gold and Mercury in a Spoon with a gentle heat; then pass the Mercury through Leather, the Powder of Gold will remain in the Leather; beat it and Calcine it with double its weight of Flower of Sulphur, as is said above of Aurum Fulminans; and you shall have a very subtle and well opened Calx of Gold.   

A diaphoretic Powder of Gold.  
DIssolve in three Drams of good Aqua Regia one Dram of fine Gold, and when it is dissolved add to it one Dram of well refined saltpeter, which dissolve also in it. In this liquour moisten some small pieces of very fine linen, and till all the liquour be imbibed by them. Dry them with the gentle heat of Sand; then set them on fire with a little spark of fire, which they take as easily as Tinder; and they will be reduced into Ashes of a dark read; which being could, sweep up carefully with a Hare's Foot or a Feather, and keep it for use.  
This Gold cleanseth the Mass of Blood by Sweat and insensible Transpiration. It also cures continual and intermitting fevers, taken in the beginning of the Fits. The Dose is from four to twelve Grains, in some conserve, in form of a Bolus, or in a little Wine, or a spoonful of Broth.  
This Powder hath been in some hands as a great secret; and they have  told wonders of it to the credulous, who are easily taken with the least things. If you rub Silver with this Powder moistened with a little Water, it guilds it very well and this guilding is of long continuance.    

CHAP. II. Of Silver.  
SIlver is a Metal less fixed, less weighty, and less perfect than Gold, though much more so than all other Metals, and passes for a perfect Metal, because it comes near the perfection of Gold.  
'tis called Luna from its colour, and from the great Remedies it affords for the diseases of the Brain, which by sympathy easily receives the impressions of the Moon. Silver is found naturally in Mines, impure, or else is mixed by Men with other Metals; and therefore it must be purified before it be employed for Medicinal Preparations. The purification of it is either Superficial or Total. In order to the first take common Water, common Salt, and Tartar, mix them, and in this mixture boil the Silver which hath some little Copper in it. But a more powerful way of purifying is necessary to open the close body of it, and get out every other imperfect Metal. The Goldsmiths use this boiling for the whitening of Plate, in which there is always some small portion of Copper; and this cannot be done without some little loss of weight, because the boiling always dissolves some small portion of Copper upon the Surfac●. To purify Silver totally you must have re ●urse to the couple, which spares no Metal but Gold and Silver; which remain fixed in the middle, after all the other Metals are dissipated.  

The Purification of Silver by the couple.  
THis operation differs not from the purifying of Gold by the couple. For the led carries away all other Metals, reducing them either into Dross or smoke; only Gold and Silver resist it. Place a good couple with its Muffle in a little Furnace made for this purpose, the Figure of which is in the third Table. In defect of such a Furnace, place the Muffle in a Wind-Furnace: put fire round about, and over it; which must be gentle in the beginning, that the couple may heat by degrees, otherwise it will crack. When it is all read by increasing the Fire by little and little; put first into it an equal quantity of led, and let it melt and boil, to the end the couple may begin to imbibe it. Then put in also the Silver, which easily melts in the led. Continue the Fire till the led be exhaled and have carried away with it the impure Metals wherewith the Silver was mixed before: Then the Silver will be seen coagulated, and remaining alone very pure upon the couple   

Vitriol of Luna.  
TAke an ounce of coupled Silver reduced into little grains, or thin Plates and three ounces of Spirit of Nitre. Put them together into a Matrace upon hot Sand, and leave then so till the Silver be dissolved; pour the warm Solution into a little Gourd or Cupping-Glass, warmed a little before, lest the heat of the Solution break it. Leave it to cool some hours, and the liquour will turn almost all into Crystals, but some will remain not Crystallized this first time. Therefore evaporate half away upon Sand in a Glass vessel, and leave it to Crystallize in the could. Or if you be contented with the first Crystals, pour the floating liquour into an earthen Pan, wherein there is water and a piece of Copper; so all the Silver contained in the liquour will fall down in Powder, which you may wash and dry, and then melt with a little saltpetre, and Tartar in a little Crucible, to restore it its first Body. Those first Crystals must be dried by a gentle Fire, and kept very carefully in a Glass Vessel well stopped. They are called the Salt or Vitriol of Luna, and are of a very bitter taste. They are used chiefly for diseases of the Brain, or for Dropsies: They purge kindly enough. The Dose is from three to eight Grains in a Glass of liquour proper to the Disease, for such as can bear their bitterness; or else in some Conserve, drinking after it some appropriated liquour, to temper the Acrimony lest in these Crystals by the Spirit of Nitre.   

A Tincture of Luna.  
REduce an ounce of coupled Silver into small Grains, Plates, or Filings, which dissolve in three ounces of good Aqua Fortis, made of saltpetre and Vitriol. The Solution pour into Salt-water or Sea-water well filtered and clear; and the Silver will immediately be precipitated in a white Powder, which you must let settle together in the bottom. Then pour off the liquour by inclination, and instead thereof pour on some very clear Spring-water warm; stir the Silver about in it; then let it settle again, and pour off this Water likewise by inclination. Repeat this washing till the Powder of Silver be free from all Acrimony. Then dry it gently, and put it into a fit Matrace, adding to it half an ounce of the volatile Salt of Urine, and twelve ounces of Spirit of Wine well Tartarized, i.e. well rectified upon Salt of Tartar. Put upon this Matrace another Matrace, whose mouth must enter into that which contains the matter to make a Vessel called Bocia centra bociam, or Double bolts head; lute the joints exactly with a wet Bladder. Digest the matter in a very gentle heat of a vaporous Bath of Horse-dung for ten days; in which time the Menstruum will extract the Tincture of Silver and become of a Sky-colour. Pour off the Tincture by inclination, filter it, and put it into a little Glass-Gourd with its head; which Lute well together, and place in a vaporous Bath; and having drawn off three parts by Distillation, the Tincture will remain in the bottom, which you must keep carefully in a Viol well stopped.  
This Tincture is used with good success in Epilepsies, Apoplexies, Frenzies, and other Diseases of the Brain, in some convenient liquour. The Dose is from four to fifteen drops.  
After you have drawn this Tincture, you find in the bottom of the Matrace a Calx of Silver, which may be reduced into a body by the following mixture. Take an ounce of powdered pebbles, an ounce of Tartar, two drams of powdered Charcoal, and four ounces of good saltpetre. Put this mixture by little and little into a Crusible heated read hot in the Fire, and it will soon melt with great agitation; which being over, pour this melted Salt into a hot Mortar and there let it cool; you shall have a hard mass, of which take a weight equal to your Calx of Silver; powder them together, and melt them in a good Crusible, and the Calx will be reduced into a body, being otherwise hardly reducible, by reason of the Sea-Salt wherewith it was precipitated, and of the volatile Salt of Urine, with which it was digested. For the●e two Salts make the Silver very volatile. And if you should go about to melt the said Calx, without this mixture of fixed Salt, which destroys the impression of the volatile Salts, it would fly almost all away through the violence of the fire of Fusion.   

Lapis Infernalis, or a Perpetual Caustic.  
TAke two ounces of coupled Silver; reduced either into Granules, Plates, or Filings; dissolve it in a Matrace with its double or triple of good Aqua-fortis; pour the Solution into a Gourd covered with its Alimbeck, or rather into a little porringer of strong earth not vernisht, and open; evaporate it in in Sand till it come to a yellow Salt, and place it in a fire of Sand, and draw off about half the Aqua-fortis. The Water which comes off will be very weak because the Silver retains the stronger Spirits of the Aqua-fortis. Leave the Vessel some hours to cool, and you shall find the matter remaining in the bottom of the Gourd in form of a Salt, which put into a good German Crusible somewhat large, because the matter swells at first in boiling, and would be apt to run over and be lost. Set the Crusible upon a little fire, till the Ebullitions be passed, and the matter be fallen to the bottom; about which time augment the fire a little, and you shall see the matter like Oil in the bottom of the Crusible. Pour it into a very clean Casting-mould a little heated before, and you shall find it as hard as ston; keep it in a Box for use. But for greater convenience, to the end the Surgeon may have pieces of several sizes to employ in hollow Ulcers, of the bigness of the Tag of a Point, or other Figure according to occasion cut the matter before it be quiter could, and leave it in such figures as you think fit.  
It may be used for Cancers, and to eat and consume the superfluous spongy Flesh of Ulcers only by touching them. And if a gangrene be not deep this Medicine will reach to the sound parts; after which you need only leave Nature to her self, employing ordinary Remedies to produce new flesh, and Cicatrise the diseased part.  
The daily use of the said Remedy will discover, will show its excellency in sundry other Diseases. 'tis prudence in a Surgeon to use oftentimes the same Medicament for different Maladies, when the Indications concur. This ston is very commodious and lasts very long. 'tis called Infernalis, partly from its black colour, and partly from its Caustic burning quality.  
Observe, that the virtue of this ston proceeds from the Corrosive Salts of the Aqua-fortis which the Silver congeals and retains. You may make the like ston of Copper or Iron the same way, saving that Iron and Copper reduced into this condition attract the Air more powerfully, and dissolve into liquour: which happens not to this of Silver? for it preserves itself always in a solid form, and may be carried about in a Box; for which reason Surgeons prefer it before others, and make use of it.  
Many Authors fill their Books with several Tinctures and other preparations of Gold and Silver; which we omit as either useless or hurtful, persisting in our first design, to set down nothing superfluous, or that may fruitlessly puzzle the Reader, but to communicate to the public all that is profitable, and that may be understood and easily performed by Artists, yea even by such as have no skill but what they derive from their Writings.    

CHAP. III. Of led, or Saturn.  
led is an imperfect Metal, consisting naturally of an impure Salt, and undigested Mercury, and a Terrestrial Sulphur, which abounds in this body, for which reason it easily unites with the Oils of Vegetables, and the Fats of Animals, which are Sulphureous. It easily destroys all other imperfect Metals, and in the fire reduces them into Dross by the devouring Sulphur predominant in it. The chemists call it Saturn, from its sympathy with that Planet; and though it be of a very course and impure composition, yet it affords good Medicines both internal and external.  
'tis to be observed that led in itself without having passed through the Artist's hands is a Metal friendly to Man, and causes no prejudice by itself through any malignant quality either within or without. For we see persons every day, who being shot, keep the Bullets in their Bodies without any inconvenience; and Plates made of led being applied outwardly soften the hardness of Nerves and Tendons, and take away divers external tumours, which would not easily yield to other Remedies.  

The Purification of led.  
BEfore you can employ led, 'tis necessary first to purify it as much as its imperfection admits, in order to extract out of it what is profitable. Melt it in a great Iron-spoon, then put to it by degrees some small pieces of Wax or Soot, which pieces presently flamme and leave a little Scum upon the led, which must be taken off with an Iron Spatula. Cast new little pieces of Soot or Wax and take away the Scum in this manner, till the led remain as bright as a Looking-glass; then pour it into a Basin, and let it cool.   

The Calcination of led.  
PUT led thus purified into a Glass not Vernisht, and set the same in a Wind-Furnace amid the burning Coals. Yet the Fire must not be violent; but 'tis enough that the Pot be read, and the led melted. Stir it continually with an Iron rod till it be turned into Powder, or a grayish Calx, inclining to green; which let cool, and then by sifting separate its impurities.   

Another Calcination of led.  
LAY some purified led upon a Tile that resists the Fire, and hath edges to keep the melted led from running into the Fire. Place the Tile in a Reverberatory Fire, so that the flamme may beat continually upon the led. But the Fire must not be too violent; for then it will remain always melted, or else Vitrifie; to prevent which, the Fire must be moderate, and the led must be stirred continually with an Iron-rod; so the led will first turn to a gray Powder somewhat greenish, and by continuing the motion it will become yellow, and at last read, at which time 'tis called Minium. The Calx of a Pound of led will be found increased above two ounces, by reason of the Particles of Fire incorporated with it, and by their activity reducing it into very subtle parts. This augmentation is also observed in the Calcination of Tin and other imperfect Metals.  
led is reduced into Dross, which is a sort of Calcination, in great Cupples, near the Mines, or in Mint-houses, when they purify Gold and Silver by led, which destroys the imperfect Metals mixed with the perfect, and reduces them into Dross; which is called lethargy of Gold when it is drawn from the Cuppling of Gold, and lethargy of Silver when it is so drawn from Silver; and employed for the purifying of these Metals.   

Another Calcination of led.  
TAke a Pound of led purified as above; melt it in an Earthen Pot not Vernisht, that resists the Fire, Then cast into it half a pound of Sulphur grossly powdered, and stir it all together with an Iron-rod, till the Sulphur cease to flamme and be consumed; and then you shall find the led in the bottom of the Pot in a black powder which is called Plumbum Ustum, or Burnt led.   

Another Calcination of led.  
led is also calcined by acid vapours, and by this means reduced into a white Calx. The process is as follows. Hang Plates of led in a covered Vessel, into the bottom of which there is some Vinegar; place the Vessel upon some gentle heat, or in Horse-dung; and the steams of the Vinegar will corrode the Lead-plates, and cause to come out of them a white Powder, like Flower, which gather off with a Hare's-Foot; and put the Plates again into the Vessel till they be all reduced into Ceruse. You may make use of any of these Calx's for the preparations which are to be made upon led; but the grayish powder mentioned first is the most convenient of all.   

Salt or Sugar of Saturn.  
TAke a pound of grayish powder of led, put it into a great Matrace, and pour upon it three pounds of distilled Vinegar. Set the Matrace in digestion in a Sand-Furnace during the space of twenty four hours, in which you must shake the Matrace now and then; otherwise the Calx will harden in the bottom of the Vessel and endanger to break it. Then pour off the distilled Vinegar by inclination into another Vessel; you will find it charged with the substance of the led, and its acidity turned to a great sweetness. Put new distilled Vinegar upon the led, and proceed as before, mixing and keeping all the Solutions. Continue to put new Vinegar, to digest, and to pour off by inclination, till the distilled Vinegar dissolve no more led, nor become sweet, or till all the led be dissolved, which it will not fail to be, provided the Calx of led be well made. Then filter all the Solutions through gray Paper, and put them into a Gourd with its alembic, and Recipient in Balneo Mariae; and you shall first draw off an insipid Water, the dissolved led retaining all the acid Spirits of the Vinegar, which incorporate with it and make a very white Cristalline Salt like Needles, resembling saltpetre refined. This liquour must not be distilled to siccity; but you must observe this proportion, that if you have dissolved a pound of led there must remain about four pounds of liquour in the Gourd, to the end the Salt may Christallize. For when the liquour is too clear, the Salt is too much diffused in it, and will not Christallize; and being too much deprived of moisture, the whole turns to a confused Mass.  
Wherefore then take the Gourd out of the Bath, and set it in a cool place, during three or four days, at the end of which you shall find a good part of the liquour turned into Salt. Separate the floating liquour, and dry the Salt between two Papers. Afterwards put the liquour which you had poured off by inclination, into a less Gourd, and distil off about a third part; then set the Gourd a day or two in a cool place, and you shall again find Crystallized Salt, which you shall dry as the first. Evaporate and Cristalize again the remaining liquour, and reiterate the same operation, till you have reduced into Cristals all that is so reducible. And in case your Salt be not white enough the first time, dissolve it with the Phlegm of Vinegar, which filter through gray Paper, and Cristallize as before; you shall thereby have a very fair Salt of Saturn. This Salt is a very good Medicine in the Asthma, and other diseases of the Breast, being given in some Pectoral Decoction. The Dose is from five to fifteen grains. 'tis also used outwardly with good success in Wounds, and Ulcers; for it kills and destroys the corroding Salts of them; it is likewise excellent for Inflammations, being dissolved in Night-shade water, or some other appropriate Water, and then applied. Moreover it serves well in Lotions for Inflammations and Itchings of the Eyes. But it is suspected inwardly for those that have weakness in the kidneys, and parts necessary to Generation. And therefore in this case it must be used discreetly, and with great circumspection.   

The Magistery of led.  
DIssolve the Calx of led in Vinegar, Distilled as is taught in in the preceding Chapter. Pour off the Solution by Inclination, and pass it through gray Paper. Then put upon it some Oil of Tartar, per deliquium, and you will instantly see the liquour as white as curdled Milk, whereon pour a good deal of common Water very clean; and let it settle, and the led will precipitate to the bottom in a white powder; and this is by reason of the oil of Tartar, which being an Alkali Salt dissolved, breaks the force of the distilled Vinegar, which had reduced the led into liquour, and constrains it to let go its former hold. Pour off the floating liquour by inclination, and put som● common Water upon the Powder, to Dulcify it, which pour away when it is well settled. Repeat this washing so often till the Powder be wholly freed from the Acrimony of the Salts. Then dry it and keep it for use.  
This Magistery is exceeding white, and good for Pomatums. But 'tis also used in Unguents and Eye-Waters as a good Disiccative.  
If out of curiosity you desire to reduce the Salt, or Magistery of Saturn into led as it was before; melt a little Salt of Tartar in a Crusible, then put thereto a little of this Salt or Magistery, and you shall see it presently return to led; for the acid Spirit of Vinegar, which kept the led in the form of a Salt or white Powder, is destroyed by the Salt of Tartar, by which it is at the same time both melted and reduced back to Metal.   

A burning Spirit of Saturn,( as it is called) but rather, A Spirit of the Volatile Salt of Vinegar.  
TAke two pound of Salt of Saturn, well purified by several Solutions and Crystallizations with distilled Vinegar. Put it into a Retort, so as to fill the same but half way, and place it in a Furnace of Sand, fitting thereunto a large Receiver. Lute the joinings well, and make the Fire gentle at first. There will come forth in the first place a phlegmatic Water and afterwards the Spirit, which will cause the resemblance of Veins in the Receiver, as when you distil Aqua-vitae: for this Spirit is almost of the same nature, proceeding from the Volatile Salt of the distilled Vinegar, which the led fixed and retained in its dissolution. But when this Spirit is urged by the Fire, it forsakes the body whereunto it adhered. increase the Fire by little and little and continue it to make the Retort read. There will come forth a read earthy Oil towards the end, but in very little quantity; which Oil some account the true read Oil of Saturn, but erroneously, it being nothing else but the more heavy and earthy part of the distilled Vinegar. The Distillation being ended leave the Vessels to cool: then unlute the Receiver, wherein are the Phlegm, the Spirit and the Oil confusedly together, and there remains a black earth in the Retort. You must rectify what is in the Receiver, in a little Gourd in Balneo Mariae: The Spirit will come forth first, which is inflammable like that of Wine, but it will smell like the Spirit of Lavendar or Rosemary: The Phlegm and the thick Oily liquour will remain in the bottom of the Gourd. This Spirit is an excellent Remedy against the Plague, Putrid favours, and Hypochondriacal Melancholy. The Dose from 4 to 12 drops in some convenient liquour. The Phlegm may serve to wash Wounds and fetid Ulcers. The Earth left in the Retort, is very black whilst enclosed; but as soon as you have broken the Retort, and it takes Air, it grows hot of itself and turns from black to yellow, and at the same time is rarefied to the eye. If you put it into a Crusible to melt, it returns easily to led.    

CHAP. IV. Of Tin.  
TIN is an imperfect Metal by reason of the unequal composition of its principles; for it abounds with Sulphur and Earth. It contains a Mercury pure enough, but in little quantity, as also very little Salt, which is the cause that 'tis easy to destroy its metallic form, and reduce it to an irreducible Calx. 'tis called Jupiter, by reason of the affinity it hath with the Jupiter of the great World, and for that the Remedies made of it serve thee for the Diseases of Liver and the Matrix.  

The Purification of Tin.  
FIne Tin is purified after the same manner as led, in a great Iron Dish, by being melted on the Fire, and adding to it some little pieces of Soot or Wax, and taking off with a Rod or Spatula of Iron, the black Scum that rises upon it, and pouring the Tin thus depurated into a very clean basin.   

The Calcination of Tin.  
TIN is Calcined in a Reverberatory Fire upon an edged Tile, as led is in the foregoing Chapter. Continual agitation will reduce it by little and little into a powder of an Isabella colour, provided the Tin be fine and not mixed with led; if there be led amongst it, the Calx will be white: and 'tis this last that the makers of fine Earthen Pots make use of for their varnish. It may also be calcined by the addition of Sulphur, as we have said in the foregoing Chapter.   

The Salt of Jupiter.  
MAny chemists refume to affirm in their writings that the preparation of the Salt of Tin differs nothing from that of led, and that they are to be made after the same manner. We easily understand from hence, and from several other things contained in their Books, that they borrow one from another, and choose rather to offer to the public unwarranted preparations, than to make experience thereof themselves. For 'tis impossible to dissolve the Calx of Tin, though very well Reverberated, in Distilled Vinegar, which nevertheless easily dissolves led. 'tis true, the most corrosive Acids as Aqua-fortis, Spirit of Nitre, &c. dissolve it. But in as much as a great quantity of them is necessary for a little Tin; the Remedies drawn from it by help of those Corrosives, cannot but be very hurtful, But if you reduce Tin into Flowers by Sublimation, then it is so opened, that Distilled Vinegar can easily dissolve it.  
Take a pound of fine Tin, either in Calx or Filings, and two pounds of well refined saltpetre, and put them into a Gourd made of good earth that is able to resist the fire. Place the Gourd in a Reverberatory Furnace, stop well and lute the upper part of the Furnace round about the Gourd, all but the four Registers, by which the fire is to be governed. Fit upon the Gourd one over another three or four good Earthen Pots, pierced in the bottom, all but the uppermost which is to close all; that which is next the Gourd must besides have a little opening on one side for putting the matter in. Lute the joinings of the Vessels exactly, and put fire to the Furnace to heat the Gourd by degrees, till it become all read; then with a little Iron Ladle put in about an ounce of the Powder, and stop the hole immediately with a piece of Earth or Brick fit to it, which may be easily removed. It will make a great rumbling noise, in which the Volatile Spirits of saltpetre carry away with them part of the Tin, which is sublimed and sticks to the Pots like white Flower. When the noise is over, put in another ounce of the mixture, stoping the hole speedily, and let the noise pass. Continue this till all the Powder be spent, and then let the Vessels cool. After which, unlute them and you will find the Pots filled with the Flowers of Tin, like Meal. Gather off these Flowers with a Feather, and wash them well with warm water, to take away the Acrimony of the saltpetre; continue these washings till the Flowers be well edulcorated, and then dry them by a gentle fire.  
These Flowers thus dried put into a Matrace, pouring thereupon distiiled Vinegar three fingers higher than the matter. Set this Matrace on hot Sand to digest for three days, then pour off the Solution by inclinarion into another Vessel, and put new distilled Vinegar upon the remaining matter in the Matrace, and set the same again to digest as before; then pour off the Menstruum by inclination. Repeat these Digestions with new Vinegar till the Flowers be all dissolved; then filter all the Solutions together, and evaporate them with a gentle heat to siccity, and in the bottom of the Vessel you shall find the Salt of Jupiter: which in the next place must be freed from the acidity of the Vinegar it retains, by means of the Spirit of Wine in the manner following.  
Put the Salt into a little Glass-Gourd, pouring thereupon good Spirit of Wine two fingers high; fit an alembic to the Gourd, and a little Receiver to the alembic, and set it to distill with a slow fire; the Spirit will carry off with it part of the acid Salt of the distilled Vinegar. Repeat this Distillation five or six times, always with new Spirit of Wine; and you shall have a Salt of Jupiter deprived of all Acrimony, and endowed with very great virtues in all Hysterical Diseases. The Dose is from 6 to 20 grains in some convenient liquour.   

The Magistery of Jupiter.  
DIssolve four ounces of very fine Tin with thrice as much good Spirit of Nitre in a Matrace upon a fire of Sand. Pour the Solution into a great glazed Earthen Pan full of very clean Water, which by its quantity will weaken the Spirit of Nitre, and make it forsake the Tin which it had dissolved, and which will precipitate to the bottom of the Vessel in a very white Powder. Edulcorate this Powder by frequent washings with Water, and dry it in the shade; 'tis a very fair white, and serves for Pomatums for the Face.    

CHAP. V. Of Iron.  
IRon, called Mars by the chemists, is an imperfect Metal, containing very little Mercury but much fixed Salt and Terrestrial Sulphur. It affords very excellent Remedies which produce admirable effects in many Diseases, so that even the enemies of chemistry are obliged to make use of it and to confess its Virtues when other Remedies fail of the effects desired.  

The Purification of Iron.  
IRon is purified and becomes Steel by means of the Horns and Hoofs of Animals, either cut small or grossly Powdered and mixed with Charcoal of some light Wood, as Willow or Tegle powdered and stratified with small Iron Rods, in Pots or Furnaces made on purpose. And being the Hoofs and Horns of Animals contain much Volatile Salt in them, this Salt by the help of the Fire penetrates the substance of Iron by its subtlety and reduces it into Steel.   

The Calcination of Mars, and reduction into an astringent Crocus or Safron.  
TAke the filings of polished Steel, or those of fine Needles; put the same upon a large flat Tile, which place in a Glass Furnace, or else in a Reverberatory Furnace, during seven or eight days, so that the flamme may touch it continually; and the filings will be turned into an impalpable Powder, Spungeous and of a brownish read. Wash the same five or six times with warm water, to take away what might remain of its aperitive virtue: then dry it and keep it for use. This Powder, called Crocus Martis astringens, is used for Dysenteries, Lienteries, Spitting of Blood, Gonorrhea's, and other Diseases that need binding. The Dose is from 10 to 30 Grains, in Conserve of Roses, or Syrup of Quinces, or in some proper Water or Decoction. Note that the chemists give the name of Crocus, or Safron, to Metals or Minerals, which by Fire either Actual or Potential are reduced into a read or reddish Powder.   

Another Astringent Safron of Mars  
TAke three ounces of Filings of Steel, put it into a Glass-Gourd, and pour thereto by little and little twelve ounces of Spirit of Nitre, or of good Aqua-fortis. I say by little and little, by reason of the great Ebullition which arises, and when this is passed, clap an alembic upon the Gourd, and draw off all the Humidity, which will be as insipid as Water, by reason that the Steel retains all the acid Spirits. There will remain in the bottom of the Gourd a reddish Mass, which you must put into a Crusible upon a moderate fire, so as to make it read for three hours; and you shall have a very read Powder, to be employed outwardly for stoppage of Bleedings, and for drying of Wounds and Ulcers. This Crocus is also used in Astringent plasters, Unguents, and lineaments. But if you put but one ounce of Filings of Steel to six ounces of Aqua-fortis, and in the Matrace evaporate the same to siccity in a fire of Sand, you shall have a Crocus dissolvable in a Cellar into a read liquour. 'tis a very good Remedy for Mundifying any Ulcer, rendering the same capable of cicatrisation, which it procures by the Astringent faculty derived to it from its Vitriolick Earth.   

Another Aperitive Safron of Mars.  
HEat a square piece of Steel in a Smith's Forge till it become very white and sparkle; have ready a large Earthen Pan full of Water, and take the Steel out of the Fire, holding it firm with the Tongs over the said Water, and apply to it the end of a roll of brimstone, and they will both melt drop by drop into the Water; but the Steel will cease when it begins to lose its whiteness; and then you must put it again into the Forge and repeat the application of the Sulphur till all the Steel be melted and fallen drop by drop into the Pan of water. Pour the water out of the same by inclination, and put the Steel and Sulphur thus melted into a Crusible, which which being made read hot upon the Fire, the Sulphur will exhale and the Steel will remain, which you must beat to Powder and sift through a Hair sieve. Afterwards reverberate this Powder with a flaming Fire four and twenty hours, and you shall have an Aperitive Safron of Mars, of a read colour, and a great Remedy in Cronick diseases, the cachexy, Obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, and Mesentery. The Dose is from 8 to 24 Grains, in the Conserve of Marigold, Tamarise, &c. Many use with good success the Filings alone finely powdered.   

Vitriol of Mars.  
TAke three pounds of good corrosive Spirit of Vitriol, called improperly Oil, and nine pounds of Rain-water. Mix them together; then put a pound of Filings of Steel in a great Matrace, and pour thereon by little and little the three quarters of the mixture of Water and Spirit. Set the Vessel upon hot Sand for two days, during which, most of the Filings will be dissolved, which would not be without the addition of the Water, which hinders the Oil of Vitriol from being sucked up and congealed by the Filings of Steel; and the liquour will become green. Pour it off by inclination into another Vessel; and if any Filings remain undissolved, put thereupon that which you reserved of the Dissolvent, and digest the same as before upon hot Sand. Then pour off what is clear by inclination into the first Solution, and throw away what remains in the bottom of the Matrace, as useless Earth, being but little. filter all the Solutions, and Evaporate them in an Earthen Pan upon hot Sand to the half. Then place it in a Cellar or other cool place for three days, in which time most of the Liqu●r will be Christallized like Vitriol. Pour off the floating liquour into another Vessel, and having evaporated part of it, Christallize the rest as before. Repeat this Crystallization till all the humidity be evaporated, and all the solid substance be reduced into Vitriol. Then dry all the Crystals and keep them in a Glass, or Earthen Pot well stopped. One pound of Mars affords usually four pounds of Vitriol; which increase proceeds from Recorporification of the Spirit of Vitriol, joining itself easily with the Mars, which is very apt to congeal and detain acids by its styptic virtue. The Vitriol of Mars is good against the cachexy, and the obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Pancreas, and Mesentery. But the use of it must be continued for some time, as of other Remedies extracted from Mars; whereof the Dose likewise must be increased in the continuance, and that by little and little till the Stomach rises against in, and then it must be diminished. The Dose is from 3 to 15 Grains in Broth, or in some Conserve in form of a Bolus. With this Vitriol may be made also Mineral-waters, strong or weak, according to the intention. But commonly a Dram of Vitriol serves for two quarts of Water.   

Another Aperitive Safron of Mars.  
REduce a square piece of fine Steel into small Plates, which strew upon an Earthen Dish well glazed, and expose the same early in the morning to the due in the Month of May, taking care to turn it now and then till the due be passed that day, and till the Plates in the basin be dried by the Sun, or otherwise; then with a Hare's Foot carefully sweep together the little Powder which will be upon the Plates like rust. Continue the same Operation with like care the whole Month of May, or as long as the due lasts, daily gathering off the Powder, and keeping it for use. This Operation is sufficiently long and Tedious; but this Safron yields not to the first in its opening virtue, which is much increased by the subtle and penetrating Spirit of the due, which unites itself with the Steel, and insensibly reduces the same into an impalpable Powder. The Dose of this Crocus is from 4 to 15 Grains in Obstructions, as the other Remedies extracted from Mars, to which it is not inferior in virtue.   

Another Aperitive Safron of Mars.  
TAke a pound( or as much as you please) of Vitriol of Mars made with Spirit of Vitriol, as we have taught before: put the same into a Crusible amongst burning Coals for half an hour, or till it be quiter read; then let the Vessel cool, and you shall find a reddish brown Powder, weighing about half the Vitriol put to Calcine; for the lighter and better Spirits exhale by the action of the Fire, which 'tis good to preserve; as you shall do by putting the Vitriol of Mars into a Glass-Retort well luted in a Reverberatory Fire, joining thereto a great receiver, and proceeding in the same manner as we shall in the Chapter of Vitriol teach the Distillation of its Spirit. By this means you shall have a very excellent Spirit of Vitriol of Mars, which may be used with very good success where there is occasion for acids. In the bottom of the Retort there will remain a Safron of Mars very fair and excellent, having all the virtues attributed above to the preparations of Aperitive Safrons of Mars.   

An Aperitive Tincture of Mars by means of Tartar.  
TThe preparation of this Remedy is very simplo and easy. 'tis improperly called a Tincture, being nothing but a Solution of the entire substance of Iron made with Tartar, which is a matter much abounding in Acid Salt. Take half a pound of Filings of Steel, well washed, and two pounds of good Tartar of Montpellier, or Germany,( which is best for this Operation) though either may serve, provided it be clean and Crystalline. Powder the Tartar, and mix it with the Filings, and put all together into a great Iron-Pot. Pour thereon ten or twelve quarts of Rain-water or River-water. The Pot must be so great that a third part may be empty. Set it to boil on a good Fire, till it dissolve the Tartar, and make the Acid part thereof act upon the Steel, which you may observe by the swelling of the matter; for which reason the Pot must be very large and only half full; for otherwise it would run over. Continue the Fire a whole day together, and keep a Vessel full of boiling Water near the Pot to recruit the consuming Water. In the mean time stir the Water continnually, which will appear as white as Broth; and after ten or twelve hours boiling, leave it to settle; that which is thick will go to the bottom, and the thinner part will float above, being blackish and of a sweetish taste. Pour the clear off by inclination, and filter it through a gray Paper. Then evaporate it in an Earthen Vessel with a gentle Fire to the consistence of Syrup, and keep it in a Phial for use, as a very good and sure Remedy against all obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Pancreas, and Mesentery, and against Cachexies, Dropsies, stoping of the Courses, and generally against all Diseases which require opening and strengthening; 'tis also very good against the Worms and putrefaction of the Stomach and Bowels. The Dose is from fifteen drops to half a Spoonful in in Broth, or in some proper Water or Decoction.   

An Aperitive Extract of Mars.  
TAke one pound of very fine Filings of Steel, put it into a great Bottle, and pour to it eight quarts of Must or juice of Grapes newly pressed out; stop the Bottle and expose it to the Sun, and in fair weather forty days and nights, shaking the matter in it sometimes, the better to draw out the Aperitive substance of the Steel. At the end of which time filter the liquour through gray Paper, which you will find to have the colour and taste of Iron. Evaporate it to the Consistence a Rob, if you will have it in a liquid form, or to the consistence of an Extract; if you will mix it with Electuaries, Lozenges, or Pills. Let this be done with a gentle Fire in a Glass Vessel in Balneo Mariae, or warm Ashes, to the end the Extract may not savour of burning, and you shall have a Medicine of great virtue, and not at all unpleasant. If you keep it in the consistence of a Rob, the Dose may be the same with the Tincture of Mars newly described. If you reduce it into an Extract, the Dose may be from six Grains to a Scruple, in some proper Syrup, Trosk, a roasted Apple, or the like you may also incorporate it with an equal quantity of Aloes Succatrine, dissolved, depurated and boiled with Syrup of Damask-Roses, and according to art make a Mass of it, whereof you may form Pills, each weighing eight Grains, of good use for all sorts of Obstructions both of Men and Women. 'tis enough to take one Pill before Supper for fifteen days, or three weeks. Some reinforce this Mass with Gum Armoniac or Sagapenum, and even with Scammony and other Laxatives; which I will not disaprove, being glad that every day something were invented to improve the excellent Medicines which chemistry affords us.   

An Astringent Extract of Mars.  
THough this Preparation be very simplo and the easiest in all the Book, yet it deserves to be mentioned for the good effects which it produces, and for the sake of those that are ignorant of both sort of Pharmacy. Take four ounces of Filings of Steel, put it into a glazed Earthen Pot, pouring thereto a quart of good deep read Wine, that which Wine-Merchants use to give a colour to their White-wine, set it to boil, and stir it about with an Iron Spatula till above three parts of the Wine be consumed; filter the remainder whilst it is hot and swims above the Steel; and then evaporate it to the Consistence of an Extract; Or if you will not be at the trouble, you may use this filtered liquour, giving an ounce of it in Broth, fasting, for some mornings together, as a great Remedy for Diarrheas, Dysenteries, old Hepatical Fluxes, and other such Diseases. Being reduced into the form of an Extract; The Dose is from twelve Grains to half a Dram, in some Broth or other Astringent liquour.   

Salt of Mars.  
TAke half a pound of Filings of Steel, put it into a glazed Earthen Pan and sprinkle it with good Distilled Vinegar till it be like Past. Then set the Vessel in a Batb of Ashes till the Past be dried; then powder it, and moisten it again with Distilled Vinegar and dry it as before. Repeat this operation a Dozen times, to open the Steel well; Lastly, powder the Steel, and put it in a Gourd, in Balneo Mariae, pouring thereto twelve pound of distilled Vinegar, and continue it in the Bath boiling till a third part of the Menstruum be consumed; then decrease the Fire, and when the Vessel is could pour off the Solution by inclination into some Bottle, and having put new Menstruum to the Steel set the same in Balneo as before, stirring the matter now and then, till a third part of the Menstruum be consumed as before; pour off the remainder by inclination. Repeat this Operation thrice; and the Vessel being cooled mix all the Solutions together, and filter them very exactly. Evaporate in Balneo Mariae till there remain in the bottom but about an eighth part; then set the Vessel in a cool place for a day or two, in which time the Salt will partly be Crystallized. Pour off by inclination the liquour floating above the Crystals into another glazed Vessel, and Evaporate again. Repeat this Operation till you have drawn out all the Salt, which you must dry gently and keep for use. This Salt is improperly called so, as well as that of Saturn, being nothing but Solutions made with the Acid Spirit of Vinegar which coagulates with the matter dissolved into the form of Salt; but this union may be easily dissolved by Fire, which drives the light Spirits of the Vinegar into the Air, the metallic bodies remaining in form of an Earthy Calx, till by the extreme violence of a melting Fire the same be reduced into Metal.  
Yet this hinders not but that whilst in the form of Salt they have their use in physic; since the Acids wherewith they are prepared carry them into the most remote and difficult places; and these very Acids being corrected in some sort by the bodies which they retain, cannot act with so much violence as they would do being alone. This Salt may be used where ever there is occasion for the other Aperitive Remedies of Mars. The Dose is from 3 to 15 Grains in some Vehicle.    

CHAP. VI. Of Copper.  
Copper is an imperfect Metal, consisting of a little Salt and Mercury, but of very much read and earthy Sulphur; nevertheless it is purer than Iron, and contains less Earth and little Salt; whence it may easily be mixed with Gold and Silver without rendering them brittle, whereas the least mixture of other Metals makes them so brittle that they are not malleable. The chemists call it Venus, both by reason of the influences which possibly it receives from that Planet, and of the virtue it hath in Diseases seated in the parts of Generation. It affords not so many internal Remedies as Iron, by reason of its Vomiting quality, which is hardly corrected. But it yields more powerful ones than Mars for external Maladies. Wherefore we may well suspect the use of a Water lately cried up, whose virtue proceeds only from a fixed Salt of Venus, which being given in substance fails not to show what it is by causing vomiting. And the use of the Water impregnated with this Salt, produces those nauseatings and inclinations to Vomit by irritating, corroding, and weakening the coats of the Vessels to such a degree that being incapable to retain the more subtle parts of the Blood it hath caused the death of many Patients under pretext of curing them of the Dropsy and other like Diseases.  

The Purification of Copper.  
TAke thin Copper Plates, and cut them into pieces proportionable to the Crusible, then make a course Powder of three parts of Pumice-stone, and one part of Sandiver, or Salt of Glass: Stratify your Plates in a very strong Crusible, beginning and ending with the Powder, and set the Crusible in a very hot melting Fire. The Copper will be found melted in the bottom of the Crusible, and the Pumice-stone will be above it, having sucked up a good part of its earthly and impure Sulphur. This operation may be repeated twice or thrice, to purify the Copper the more and render it fitter for chemical Operation.   

The Calcination of Copper.  
COpper may be Calcined into a Crocus in the same manner as Mars, by reducing it into Filings, and placing the same upon an edged Tile in a Reverberatory Fire during seven or eight days. It may also be calcined by Stratifying the Plates with powder of Brimstone in a Pot that can endure the fire, covered with its covering, in the middle of which there is a hole to let the Sulphur exhale. Copper thus burnt is called Aes ustum. It may also be calcined and reduced into verdigris by Stratifying the Plates in a covered Pot with the Husks, or Mother of the presssng of Grapes which have fermented with the Wine in the Fat; in the bottom of which Pot there must be a little Wine, over which little sticks are to be placed crosswise to keep the Plates from touching the Wine. The said Mother is also to be moistened a little before you Stratify the Plates with it; which render their verdigris after that the Mother being Fermented and heated, the Vinous Tartar remaining in the Mother being excited by the vapours of the Wine, become volatilized into Spirit, and as it ascends penetrates and corrodes the the Plates, and reduces them into verdigris. This preparation cannot be made in all places where Wine grows; because all Wines have not Tartar enough for this purpose. But Montpelier and other adjacent places afford much of it, because the Wines thereof abound with very pure penetrating Tartar proper for this effect.   

Vitriol of Venus.  
TAke a pound of the Filings of Copper, put the same into a Matrace, and pour thereon three pounds of good Distilled Vinegar. Place it in digestion upon hot Sand for three or four days; then pour off the distilled Vinegar by inclination, and put some fresh upon the Copper, which digest as before. Repeat this by pouring off the Solutions by inclination till all the Filings be reduced into a green liquour. filter it, and Evaporate the Humidity till there remain but about four pounds of liquour. Then take the Vessel from the Fire, and let it stand two or three days in a cool place, and part of the liquour will be Crystallized. Pour off as much as is not Crystallized, and having Evaporated the half, set it again to Crystallize as before. Continue this till all the dissolved substance be reduced into green Crystals, which you must dry and keep carefully. This Operation is made more easily with verdigris, because the distilled Vinegar finds the same more open and fit for Dissolution than crude Copper.   

Another Vitriol of Venus.  
A Vitriol of Venus of a sky colour may be prepared by means of the Acid Spirit of Vitriol, in the same manner as the Vitriol of Mars is made.   

Spirit of Venus.  
TAke a pound of the green Crystals of Copper or verdigris made with distilled Vinegar, put the same into a Glass-Retort, which place in a Furnace of Sand, fitting a a great Receiver thereto. Lute the joints well, and make a moderate fire in the beginning. There will come forth first a phlegmatic Water, next a Spirit, appearing in the Receiver in the form of Veins, as Aqua vitae also doth; then you must increase the fire, to drive out the white Spirits which will ascend in Clouds: at last a yellowish liquour will come forth. The Distillation being ended, leave the Vessels to cool; and when they are unluted you will find in the Retort a black Earth like Coal-dust, which you may keep in Powder, being very styptic, and good to dry Wounds and Ulcers; it may also be reduced into Copper by a Fire of Fusion, only adding some saltpeter and Tartar to it. What is in the Receiver must be put in a little Gourd, and set in hot Sand with its Head and Receiver; and all the liquour distilled to dryness with a gentle heat. You will have a very clear Spirit, excellent against all obstructions of the Liver and Spleen; as also against the Epilepsy, apoplexy, and old pains of the Head; 'tis put into fops to give them a pleasing Sharpness. It may also serve for the dissolving of Corals, Pearls, &c. but being distilled Vinegar doth the same, I would not advice any body to make use of a Spirit so laboriously made. And though some pretend that this Spirit acts upon Bodies without re-action, and may be drawn off by Distillation with the same strength it had before; yet I know the contrary by experience, having found that this Spirit as well as distilled Vinegar leaves the impression of its Acrimony in Bodies dissolved by it, whether Pearls or Corals; for which reason I cannot subscribe to all the commendations which they give to it.   

A Volatile Vitriol and Magistery of Venus  
TAke four ounces of Filings of Copper, put it into a Matrass, and pour thereon some Acid Spirit of Salt Armoniac prepared as is taught hereafter, to the height of three Inches above the C●pper; stop the Matrace and set it in digestion upon hot Sand for some days. The Spirit will dissolve part of the Copper, but not with that violence as Aqua-fortis doth, but by little and little;( for Aqua-fortis will do as much in one hour as this Spirit can do in four days.) Pour off the Solution by inclination into another Vessel; and if any Copper remain undissolved, put new Spirit to it till it be all dissolved. filter all these Solutions, and evaporate the half in a covered Gourd upon hot Sand; set the remainder in a cool place to Crystallize for two days. Pour off the liquour that swims above the Crystals into another Gourd, and Evaporate the half again, and set the rest in a cool place to Crystallize. Continue this till all be crystallized. Dry the Crystals gently and keep them carefully. This Vitriol hath something mysterious in it, and the preparation of it is the first step to come to the knowldg of the sweet Sulphur of Venus which Van Helmont recommends above all other things. If you set this Vitriol in a Crusible upon burning Coals, it all flies away. You may make an excellent Medicine of it by subliming it with Salt Armoniac, as follows. Reduce four ounces of Vitriol and as much of Salt Armoniac into a fine Powder, which put into a Gourd with its alembic well Luted, and fit to it a Receiver well luted also; and by a fire of Sand sublime by degrees all that will ascend; after which let the Vessel cool, and having dissolved that which is sublimated in warm Water, filter it, then pour upon it some Oil of Tartar per deliquium, which will precipitate a greenish Powder, which is the Magistery of Venus, and must be edulcorated by frequent Ablutions, and then dried. 'tis a sovereign Remedy for an old gonorrhoea, being taken for some days from 6 to 12 Grains in some Conserve in form of a Bolus. You may keep apart a little Urinous Spirit found in the Receiver, which may be employed outwardly for Aches proceeding from from could humours.   

A liquour of Venus.  
DIssolve an ounce of Filings of Copper in eight ounces of good Aqua-fortis, and evaporate the Humidity by little and little in a fire of Sand, till there remain in the bottom of the Vessel a green Mass, which being kept in a cellar for some days will melt into a liquour, and is useful to cleanse Ulcers and eat off dead flesh, and all Superfluities.    

CHAP. VII. Of Quicksilver.  
QUick-silver is a Mineral body fluid, heavy and shining, consisting of a subtle Sulphureous Earth, and a metallic Water of the same subtlety, both strongly linked and united together. 'tis called Mercury from its conformity in its Actions with the Celestial Mercury, which frequently mixes its influences with those of other Planets, and according to its different Conjunction produces different Effects: so our Mercury easily joins with other Metals, and diversifies its effects according to the quality which it gives or receives from the metallic Bodies and Mineral Spirits with which it is joined. Not but that alone and without being joined with others it can produce even surprising effects, as may be seen in its preparations. Nevertheless there must be much discretion and prudence in the use of it; and there is oft-times rashness in those that employ it, as well through the little knowledge they have of the Nature of a body which varies itself after a thousand several manners, as in regard of the different complexions and tempers of the Sick and of the Disease in which it is used very frequently, and perhaps more often than need requires.  
Quick-silver is found fluid in many places, being driven up by the Central heat to the surface of the Earth; and so it is found near Cracovia in Poland, but ordinarily we find it in sundry places involved in a Mineral earth, from which it is separated by distillation in Iron-Retorts, as I have seen in a Mine of Quick-silver near a Village as you go from Gorits a Town of Sclavoniat to Lubiana the Capital City of Carniola. It is so plentiful that usually twelve pounds of the Mineral Earth which is grayish, yield upon melting in the Iron-Retort above four pounds of Quick-silver. There are also found in Hungary and Transilvania Mines of Mercury which are reddish and have some mixture of Solar Sulphur; for which reason the Mercury coming from those places is esteemed better than that which partakes not of Gold. But since Mercury passes through many hands before it comes to us, and so may be sophisticated, besides what Heterogeneous mixture it may have in the Mine, it is fit that it be well purified before it be employed upon the Body of Man.  

The Purification of Mercury.  
THere are several Purifications of Mercury. Some are contented only to wash it with good Vinegar and Salt and when it is dry to pass it through Leather. But being it may carry with it led or Bismuth, or some other Mineral, wherewith possibly 'tis mixed, this way of purifying is not sufficient. Others put the Mercury into a Retort and distil it into a Receiver half full of Water; and if it has been increased by led or Bismuth, these Metals will remain in the bottom of the Retort whilst the Mercury goes pure into the Receiver. But the best way of purifying Mercury, and the fittest for all chemical Operations, is to revive Cinabar into fluid Morcury; by which means you are sure to have pure Mercury as it comes from the first hand; because all Cinabar is made near the Mines of Mercury, and is put into that form for more easy transportation. Moreover the mixture of the Mercury with Sulphur, by means of which Cinabar is made, and its sublimination doth in some sort graduate and perfect it. Lastly the the Reviving of Cinabar into fluid Mercury by Filings of Iron delivers it from all impurity. But since we resolve to use the fluid Mercury revived from Cinabar, 'tis requisite first to show the preparation of Artificial Cinabar.   

The Sublimation of Mercury into Cinabar, and the reviving of Cinabar into fluid Mercury.  
MElt a pound of common Sulphur in a wide Earthen Pan; then put three pounds of Mercury into a Shamoy skin, and gently squeeze the same through it, so that it come out by little and little like small Rain, and fall immediately into the Pan which contains the melted Sulphur. In the mean time continue stirring the Sulphur and keep it in Fusion till the Mercury be insensibly incorporated with it, then let the matter cool, which will be black; powder it grossly and sublime it in an Aludel, or Earthen Subliming Pot with a close Fire; and you shall have a very fair Cinabar. If the Mercury were sophisticated with led, Bismuth, or any thing else, you will find the same in the bottom of the Subliming Vessel▪ so that you may be assured of the goodness and pureness of this Mercury converted into Cinabar. The ordidinary use of Cinabar is for Painting, as also in Fumigations to provoke Salivation in the POX; 'tis likewise used in Ointmemts for the Itch, and other faults of the Skin.  
Now to revive Cinabar into fluid Mercury; Take a pound of this Cinabar, or of that which is sold in the Shops, and as much of Filings of Iron, beat them together, and put the mixture into a Retort of Glass or or Earth well Luted; place this Retort in a Furnace, and put Coals round about it till it be quiter covered; then put lighted Coals above, so that the Fire may kindle by degrees; fit a Receiver to the Retort half full of Water. And when the Retort begins to be read, the Mercury will come into the Receiver drop by drop. increase the Fire, and continue it till there come no more forth. Having poured away the Water, dry the Mercury and keep it for use. The Filings of Iron remaining in the Retort will be much rarefied, and black and increased in weight, because it retains all the Sulphur which was in composition of the Cinabar; which Sulphur leaves the Mercury to adhere to the Iron, by reason of the Acid Spirits contained in the Sulphur which are united to the Iron.   

read Precipitate,  
PUT four ounces of this Mercury revived from Cinabar into a Matrace, and pour thereunto six ounces of good Aqua-fortis. Place the Matrace in warm Sand till all the Mercury be dissolved; which is usually done in a quarter of an hour; then pour off the Solution into a Retort, and distil in a fire of Sand all that will come forth. Cohobate the Distillation twice, and at the end of the second Cohobation increase the fire till the Retort be read hot; then leave the Vessel to cool, and breaking it you shall find in it a read shining Mass, which you must powder in a Marble Mortar. This Precipitate is of use for Venereal Diseases; some take it at the Mouth from 4 to 8 Grains in Pills, or in some Conserve in form of a Bolus. 'tis also used with success in Pomatums for the Itch, Tetters, and other faults of the Skin; in which case you must take notice that the Aqua-fortis be not made but of saltpeter and Alum, because that with Vitriol is too violent and corrosive. It also serves for Ulcers and Cancers as well to mundify as to consume their proud flesh and other superfluities. But as for the internal use, you must lessen its corrosiveness▪ by putting it into an Earthen Dish, and pouring on it good Spirit of Wine, and burning the same; which must be repeated thrice; and then you may use it inwardly with more safety.  
Here I must admonish the Surgeons and others who buy Precipitate of certain vagrant persons, that they try it by putting a little upon burning Coals; for if any of it revive into fluid Mercury as soon as it feels the Fire, 'tis a sign it is mixed and sophisticated with Minium, which is nothing else but calcined led which retains the Spirit of Aqua-fortis which before kept the Mercury in form of a read Powder; so that the Mercury re-assumes its first form; which, true read Precipitate doth not; for being put upon a burning Coal, it all exhales presently; the corrosive Spirits and the Mercury being strictly united and having no such body as led to divide them, they exhale together in the Fire.   

Turbith Mineral.  
TAke four ounces of Mercury revived from Cinabar, and sixteen ounces of Oil of Sulphur or Vitriol; put them together into a Glass-Retort, which set in hot Sand for twenty four hours; after which, fit a Receiver to it and increase the Fire by degrees; much Phlegm will come forth first, because the body of the Mercury retains back the acid Spirits of the Vitriol or Sulphur; continue the Fire till there come forth at last a little of Acid Spirit which the Mercury could not withhold. Then let the Vessels cool, and you will find in the bottom of the Retort a white Mass, which beat in a Glass Mortar, and pour on it a good deal of hot Water, upon which it will instantly turn yellow. Edulcorate it well with warm Water, and then dry it and keep it. This Powder purges powerfully upwards or downward, being mixed with purgative Pills or Electuaries. 'tis employed for the cure of Venereal Diseases. The Dose is from 3 to 6 Grains.  
The violence of this Powder may be moderated by burning Spirit of Wine upon it and stirring it in the mean time; and this for six times together. Which done, you may use it with more safety, and augment the Dose to 8 or 9 Grains.   

White Precipitate.  
DIssolve eight ounces of the same Mercury in a great Matrace with ten or twelve ounces of good Aqua-fortis, upon hot Sand: and being dissolved pour upon it four or five times as much warm Water to break the strength of the corrosive Spirits; add to it afterwards about eight ounces of Sea-Salt well purified, and you shall see the Mercury fall to the bottom in a white Powder. Let it settle well, and pour the liquour into another Vessel. Then wash and Edulcorate the Precipitate with warm water till all the Acrimony of the Salts and the Spirits be taken from it; then dry it in the Shadow. Drop gently some Oil of Tartar per deliquium upon the first Lotion kept apart, and it will Precipitate part of the Mercury which the common Salt could not, and you will find in the bottom of the Vessel a read Powder which also wash and Edulcorate, as the white. You may also reserve the first Lotion, and drop into it gently Spirit of Urin, which will Precipitate some of the Mercury in a grayish Powder. Thus you may have from one sort of Solution three sorts of Precipitate, which may be indifferently used in Pomatums for the Itch, Morphew, Tetters, &c. Where 'tis to be noted that you must never use it for the Face, at least not long, because it will spoil the Teeth and weaken the Brain, the Nerves, and Membranes in their source and Original, and it has been observed to cause Deafness in some persons, of which no other cause could be conjectured but the applying such Remedies to the Face, but the first Precipitate made with common Salt may be taken at the Mouth for Venereal Diseases, it purges both upwards and downward. The Dose is from 4 to 8 Grains. If you put this white Precipitate into a Matrace and sublime it without any addition in Sand, you shall have an excellent sweet Sublimate, of which you may give from 20 to 30 Grains in some Mass of Pills, without fear of Vomiting; for the Sublimation alone corrects its violent quality.   

Corosive Sublimate.  
DIssolve in a Matrace a pound of Mercury with a pound of good Aqua-fortis upon a moderate Fire of Sand. Pour off the Solution into an alembic, and distil off about half the Humidity, which you may throw away. Let the rest cool, and it will coagulate into a Salt or Vitriol. Mix this Vitriol of Mercury with one pound of decrepitated Salt, and as much of dephlegm'd Vitriol, both powdered; put this mixture into a Glass Gourd with its Head, and place it in a Furnace of Sand, adapting to it a Receiver. distil with a very gentle Fire all the Phlegm that will come out; then increase the Fire one degree, to make the Mercury ascend by little and little; it will unite with so much of the Spirit of Salt or Vitriol as is necessary for Crystallization and Coagulation; and you will see it stick to the sides of the Gourd. Continue the Fire twelve or fifteen hours, always in a moderate Degree. For if the heat be not sufficient, there will be no Sublimination; but if it be too great, either the Vessels will fly, or the Sublimate will melt and fall back upon the Faeces. Let the Vessels cool afterwards, and you will find the Mercury sublimed to the top of the Gourd, which must be broken, to separate that which is fair and Crystallin from the Caput Mortuum in the bottom, and from that which is in the Head.  
You may Sublime Mercury without dissolving it first in Aqua-fortis, by beating it with double its weight of dried Vitriol and as much Decrepitated Salt. But being there needs much time to beat the Mercury before it be incorporated with the Powders, and the Atoms or steams issuing from it are hurtful to the Brain, we prefer the manner already described.   

The Sublimation of Mercurius dulcis.  
BEat a pound of Corrosive Sublimate prepared as above in a Mortar of Marble or Glass, with a Wooden Pestle, and mix it with eight or ten ounces of Mercury revived from Cinabar, stirring it so long till the Mercury appear not at all, and the mixture become gray; put this Powder into a Vial so as to fill it half; place this Vial in a Sand-Furnace, and give Fire by degrees for seven or eight hours. Afterwards let the Sand cool, take out the Vial and break it, and you shall find in the bottom a little quantity of light Earth, but above and in the middle the sweet Sublimed Mercury, and towards the neck of the Vial some little of Corrosive Mercury, which you must separate. The Sublimate of the middle will be compact and sweet enough, but it must be beaten again in a Marble Mortar, and resublim'd alone twice more, separating the Earth from it each time, and that which is Sublimed in the top of the Vial. Keep the Sublimate which you fine in the middle, which will be well dulcified and fit for all uses. The Dose of this Mercurius dulcis is from 6 Grains to 30. 'tis to be mixed with some Purgatives in a Bolus or Pills; but is never given alone, to avoid Salivation. Its use is chiefly against Venereal Diseases and Worms.  
Observe that all the preparations of Mercury may be revived in like manner as Cinabar with Filings of Iron or Quick Lime, which attract to themselves and retain all the Spirits which fixed the Mercury and gave it several shapes. Also that in the preparations of Mercury as well Corrosive as sweet, you must beware of touching any Metal, least the Corrosive Salts attract the colour, and take away its whiteness.    

CHAP. VIII. Of Antimony.  
ANtimony is a Mineral body near approaching to the nature of Metal, consisting of two sorts of Sulphur, the one very pure, fixed, and little different from the qualities of Solar Sulphur; the other combustible, like common Sulphur. It also consists of much metallic, Fuliginous and indigested Mercury, but more concocted and solid than common Mercury, and of a very little course and Salt Earth. It comes from divers places both of France and Germany: The best hath long shining veins, between blew and reddish. Having well chosen it, you must separate it from its combustible Sulphur, which hinders the activity of the Remedies extracted from it; for which purpose several courses have been practised, of which we shall choose only those that are absolutely necessary for the use of physic, rejecting such as are superfluous, which serve chiefly to consume Coals and break Vessels.  

The Ordinary Regulus of Antimony.  
TAke a pound of good Antimony, twelve ounces of Tartar of Montpelier, and five ounces of Nitre; put them together in powder; then set a great Crusible in a Wind-Furnace upon a little Tile, that it touch not the grace, and that it may receive more heat; make it read hot amongst the burning Coals, and get a Cover fit to the Crusible. Take about an ounce of the said mixture with an Iron Spoon, put the same into the Crusible; and cover it at the same time with its Cover. The Antimony will be presently calcined with a great noise, which they call detonation; which being passed, put more matter into the Crusible, covering it as before. Continue this till all the Matter be in the Crusible; Then give a good Fire of Fusion; and the Matter being melted put it into an Iron Cornet or Cone greased within, and at the same time strike the Cone with the Tongs to make the Regulus fall to the bottom; when 'tis thoroughly could turn up the Cone, and you shall find a lump of Regulus in the bottom and the Faeces on the top of it. Separate the Regulus with the stroke of a Hammer, and keep it by itself; as also the Faeces, of which you may make the Golden Sulphtr of Antimony, by boiling the same in common Water, and filtering the Decoction, upon which pouring a little distilled Vinegar by degrees, you shall see a read Sulphur of Antimony Precipitate, which you must Edulcorate by several Lotions, and then dry it. Many call this Powder Sulphur Aureum Diaphoreticum; but improperly; for 'tis a strong Vomitive. The Dose is in substance from 2 to 6 Grains. It may be also infusdd in Wine, as Crocus Metallorum is, to make an Emetic Wine.   

Regulus of Antimony with Mars.  
TAke half a pound of the points of Hors-nails, put them into a good Crusible; in a Wind-Furnace, and cover the Crusible; give a Fire of Fusion, as soon as the Nails are very read, put to them a pound of good Antimony grossly powdered, and clap on the Cover, laying Coals above it, that the Fire may be very violent, and the Antimony presently melted so as to act upon the Iron and reduce it into Dross, with which the impure Sulphureous part of the Antimony unites at the same time that the Mercurial and pure part separates from it. You must have an Iron Cornet, or Cone upon the Fire, and rub it with Wax and Oil; and when you see the matter well melted, throw into it by little and little three or four ounces of saltpeter: I say by little and little, lest the Nitre make the Matter boil out of the Crusible. When the Matter has done sparkling, put it into the heated Cone, which strike with the Tongs to make the Regulus fall to the bottom. When it is could, take it out of the Retort and separate it from the Faeces with the blow of an Hammer. These Faeces are nothing but the Sulphureous and Earthy part of the Antimony mixed with the Nitre and some part of Mars, making a Mass together; which at first is very compact; but in a few days it rarifies itself into a very light Powder resembling the Dross of Iron. The Regulus will not be pure enough at the first fusion, add therefore it must be melted in a new Crusible, and being melted put to it three ounces of crude Antimony in Powder, and make them flow together with a quick Fire. This addition of Antimony consumes the remaining impressions of Mars by its Sulphur. The matter being well in Fusion, cast in by little and little two o● three ounces of Nitre; and the Ebullition being ceased, pour it all into a hot and Oil'd Cone or Cornet. and proceed as before, and you shall find the Regulus much purer than at the first melting. Melt it once more, and add to it a little saltpeter; and when the Ebullition is over, put It into a Retort, proceeding as before; and the Faeces will be grayish. Reiterate the Fusion the fourth time; adding to it some more saltpeter; and you will see that the said saltpeter finding no more impurity in the Regulus, the Faeces lying at the top will be white or yellowish; and besides the Regulus will have upon its Surface the figure of a Star, which is the true sign of its perfection.  
You may use either Regulus to make Cups and Bullets, or Pills which they call Perpetual Pills, because their virtue is never exhausted. For Wine put into a Cup made of Regulus, and changed every day, will always Purge and Vomit; and a little Bullet of Regulus may be swallowed against the colic and the iliac Passion; and when 'tis passed with the excrements, it may be washed and serve again a thousand times, never losing its quality, substance, or weight, but always working by the same irradiative quality.   

The Flowers of Antimony.  
PLace an Aludel or other Earthen Pot resisting the Fire in a Wind-Furnace, and fit above it four or five of the same earthen Pots proportionate to the said Aludel, and open both at the top and bottom, except the uppermost which must serve for a Head. Lute the joinings well, and let the Pot placed upon the Aludel, have a hole on the side with a stopple of the same Earth, to be put to and removed easily. Give Fire by little and little, and increase it till the Aludel be all read. Then throw into the hole about two or three Drams of good Antimony in powder, stoping the hole immediately; open the same again about half a quarter of an hour after to put in the like quantity of powder of Antimony. Continue this Operation till you have put enough in. In the mean time maintain the Fire so that the Aludel may remain always read hot; and when you have employed Antimony enough, let the Vessels cool and unlute them: gather off the Flowers sticking to the sides of the upper Vessels, which will be of several colours, according as your Fire has been more or less violent. In the Aludel you will find some part of the Antimony; though some affirm that all the Antimony ascends up in Flowers; but experience shows the contrary; and the total Sublimation thereof can only be made in open, not in close, Vessels.   

Another preparation of Flowers of Antimony with saltpeter.  
REduce into fine powder one pound of Antimony and three pownds of refined saltpeter; mix them together: then take an Aludel, or an Earthen Subliming-pot, having an hole in the middle of the side, and a stopple of good Earth; place it in a little Furnace in a naked Fire, fit a Glass head upon it, and a Receiver to the Head. Lute well all the joinings, and give Fire by little and little till the Aludel begin to be read at the bottom. Then open the hole, and throw in about half an ounce of the mixture of Antimony and saltpeter; stop the hole immediately, and the Spirits of the saltpeter will ascend with great impetuosity, and carry up with them some part of the Antimony, which will stick to the alembic like Flowers. The noise being ceased, continue to throw into the Aludel new powder, stoping the hole and letting the Detonation pass. Continue this till all be spent. Then cease the Fire, and the Vessels being could unlute them. In the Receiver you will find a Spirit of Nitre impregnated with the Sulphur of Antimony; and in the Head or alembic the white Flowers of Antimony: but in the Pot you will have a white fixed Mass consisting of the heavier parts of the Antimony and the Salt Alkeli which is in the Nitre; Edulcorate the same by several Lotions, and free it from all impression of the saltpeter. Afterwards dry the powder and you shall have a diaphoretic Antimony, or Ceruse of Antimony well prepared. It may be made also of the Regulus of Antimony, as we shall show hereafter.  
The Flowers in the alembic must be Edulcorated with Water, to take away the acidity of the Spirits of the saltpeter, then dried and kept. They vomit strongly, and are used in inveterate Diseases, and especially against Melancholy, Agues, and all sorts of Obstructions.  
The Dose is from 3 to 6 Grains in some Conserve. These Flowers thus prepared may be used more safely than those made without Nitre, which in some sort digests and corrects them. The acid Spirit is excellent against the colic and obstructions; it also provokes Urine. The Dose Is from ten to thirty Drops in some convenient liquour.  
The Ceruse of Antimony drives out by insensible transpiration all putrefaction and superfluity in the Body. 'tis used with happy success to consume Serosities, and against Scabs, Pox, &c. The Dose is from 10 to 30 Grains in Broth, or some convenient liquour.   

Another Preparation of Flowers of Antimony.  
PUT a pound of Regulus of Antimony into an Aludel, and fit some Pots over it, as is before taught; place the Vessels in a Furnace and give fire by degrees at first; but as soon as the Aludel is very hot, give a violent Fire and consume it for the space of twenty four hours, or till all the Regulus be ascended in very white and light Flowers, which gather off with a Hare's Foot for use. The virtue of these Flowers differs not from the others, and they may serve in all Diseases requiring a powerful evacuation.   

diaphoretic Antimony.  
IN the making of the Flowers of Antimony with saltpeter we have already shewed the way to make diaphoretic Antimony, or the Ceruse of Antimony: but the operation being a little troublesone, we shall show one more easy.  
Take a pound of good Antimony, and three pounds of refined saltpeter being powdered apart; mix them together: then take an Earthen Pot not glazed proportionate to the quantity of the Powder, make it read hot in the Fire in a Wind-Furnace, and put into it about an ounce of the said mixture which will be calcined immediately with a great noise. The Detonation being ceased put another ounce of matter in; and do so till all be spent. There will remain in the bottom of the Pot a Mass as white as Snow, containing in it the Salt Alkeli of the saltpeter, and the more fixed parts of the Antimony; for the Volatile Nitrous Spirit unites with the Volatile Sulphureous parts of the Antimony, and they exhale together. The Pot being cooled, break it, and pour a good quantity of warm fair Water upon the white Mass to take away the Saline parts; stir the liquour often, then let it settle, and pour it off by inclination. Put new warm Water upon the Matter, stir it and leave it to settle; and repeat this Lotion so often till the white Powder remaining in the bottom be wholly freed from the Acrimony given it by the saltpeter. Dry this Powder by rolling it to and fro in Cap-paper, and then expose it to the Air or Sun, and you shall have a Ceruse of Antimony well prepared.  
This preparation may be made with the Regulus well purified, adding thrice the weight of good saltpeter, and Calcining and Edulcorating as above; it will be whiter and purer than that made with crude Antimony. But observe also that the Regulus makes no Detonation, because its superficial Sulphur is separated from it, this being partly the cause of the noise, when it is agitated by the Nitrous Spirits. The virtues of these two preparations of diaphoretic Antimony are like those attributed to it in the preparation of the Flowers of Antimony with saltpeter. Observe also that when it hath been kept many years, it returns to its first nature, and loses the qualities acquired by its preparation. Whence it comes to pass, that the Patient is frustrated of the benefit of the Medicine and the Physician of the credit he expected from it.   

Crocus Metallorum, or, the Safron of Metals.  
TAke a pound of good Antimony, and as much purified saltpeter, each powdered grossly a part, and mix them together; then make an earthen Pot read hot amongst burning Coals, and put into it two or three ounces of the mixture, covering the Pot immediately with a Cover or Tile. It will make a great noise, and cast forth a great smoke, which you must avoid. Continue to put the mixture in, till all be spent. Then increase the Fire till the matter melt; which done take the Pot from the Fire, leave it to cool, and break it. You shall find in the bottom a Mass of the colour of Liver of Antimony, and white Faeces upon it, which take away, and keep if you please to reduce any Calx of Metals into a Body. You may powder the Liver of Antimony, and you shall have a Safron of Metals well prepared, from which you may by several Lotions separate some Nitrous Particles remaining in it: but many use it without washing or Edulcorating.  
If you wash it with warm Water, the first Lotion will carry off the greatest part of the Nitrous Salt with some portion of the lighter parts of the Antimony; so that if the same be filtered through gray Paper, it will be a very clear liquour; but by putting some Acid to it, it will precipitate a very subtle reddish Powder, which you must let settle, Edulcorate and dry: It hath near the same virtues as are attributed to the Flowers of Antimony,   

An Extract of Antimony.  
TAke four ounces of Crocus Metallorum prepared as above, and eight pounds of M●st, put them together into a Glass-bottle, and proceed as is taught in the preparation of Extract of Mars made with Must, or juice of Grapes; and you shall have a vomiting Extract, of which the Dose is to be increased or diminished according as it has been more or less Evaporated. The Dose is usually from 6 to 24 Grains.   

Butter or Oil of Antimony, and its Cinabar.  
PUlverize and mix a pound of Sublimate Corosive, and as much Antimony; put them together into a Retort which place in a Fire of Sand, fitting a Glass-Receiver to the said Retort; give Fire gently, and when you see a Gummy liquour come forth, continue a moderate Fire till no more issue out. Towards the latter end increase the Fire, and when no more drops will out, take away the Receiver, and increase the Fire till the retort be read hot, to make Cinabar of Antimony ascend, as it will do to the neck of the Retort, which break when it is could, and gather off the Cinabar.  
Note that in this preparation the Acid Spirits of the Salt and Vitriol, which kept the Mercury in Crystallin form, or Corosive Sublimate, leave the Mercury to fasten to the Reguline part of the Antimony, which they carry with them through the Retort in form of a thick liquour; but the Mercury joins with the Sulphur of Antimony, and is sublimed with it in form of Cinabar. The Butter of Antimony is a good Caustic being applied with a Feather; it eats and consumes proud Flesh, and cleanses Ulcers. It must be rectified once more in another Retort to separate the impurities adhering to it. After which it is also more proper to make Mercurius Vitae, or the Powder of Algaroth.  
The Cinabar of Antimony is a specific against the Epilepsy, and is mixed with the Magistery of Coral and Pearl. The Dose is from 8 to 15 Grains. If you put this Cinabar with an equal quantity of Salt of Tartar into a Retort, you may draw off the Mercury alive in a graduated Fire; and the Antimony will remain with the Salt of Tartar; which may afterwards be dissolved with Water, which filter and Precipitate the Sulphur of Antimony with distilled Vinegar or some other Acid; then Edulcorate it by washing, and you shall have the true Sulphur of Antimony; from which you may draw the balsam of Sulphur which is distilled Oil of Anise-Seed, as we shall show in the Chapter of Sulphur, and much better than that which is drawn from common Sulphur.   

Another Butter of Antimony.  
TAke four ounces of Regulus of Antimony well purified, and one pound of Sublimate Corosive, powder them apart, then put them together into a Glass-Retort; which place in a Fire of Sand, and give Fire at first gently; having Luted slightly a little Receiver to the Retort. There will come forth a Gummy liquour which easily congeals and sticks to the neck of the Retort, which becoming stopped at length, and the Fire continuing, is apt to break for want of Air. To avoid which accident, hold a burning Coal to the neck of the Retort, which immediately melts the Butter and makes it drop into the Receiver. When no more comes forth, take away the Receiver, and substitute another half full of Water. Then increase the Fire till the Sand be read hot, and there will drop out about thirteen ounces of fluid Mercury which was before in the Corosive Sublimate, which being changed by the addition of the Regulus, and the privation of the Corosive Spirits which forsake the Mercury to fasten on the Regulus, resumes its first form. If it had been mixed with common Antimony, which is very Sulphureous, it would by virtue of the said Sulphur be converted into Cinabar, as we have observed in the preparation of the Butter of Antimony with common Antimony.  
This Butter has the same virtues as the former, and differs nothing from it, saving that the Emetic Powder or Algaroth is whiter.   

Powder of Algaroth.  
TAke about half of your Butter of Antimony, depurated by rectification; put it into an Earthen Pan with a quart of warm Water, and you shall see it precipitate presently in a Powder as white as Snow; the Water having weakened the Corosive Spirits which kept the Reguline part of the Antimony in dissolution, and constrained them to to quit the Body. The Precipitation being finished, stir it again, and then let it settle, and pour off the liquour by inclination, which is to be kept a part; for this first Lotion contains in it all the Saline Spirits which adhered to the Antimony. It hath a very pleasant Acidity and is therefore the Philosophical Spirit of Vitriol. Having washed and Edulcorated the Powder, dry it and keep it.  
The Dose of this Powder is from 2 to 6 Grains. 'tis employed to cleanse the viscosities and impurities of the Stomach; it purges both upwards and downward. 'tis good against the Dropsy, being mixed with other Purgatives to divert its Vomitive power downward.  
The first Lotion is used in fops for Fevers, rendering the same tart and agreeable.  
Observe that all Vomiting Medicaments, especially those of Antimony, must be taken with great caution. I advice those that use them to keep in Bed or near a Fire, and to fortify their Breast well; with which caution these Medicines are of great use. The Vomiting must be furthered either by putting the Finger down the Throat, or with fat Broths or warm Beer. But be sure not to drink any thing could that day; for it would hurt the Somach much, and consequently all the parts that draw their nourishment from it. Nor must you sleep during the vomiting, but keep yourself awake and in action. Lastly, These Remedies are not fit for those that have a long Neck, a weak and narrow Breast, ill Teeth and a weak Head.   

Mineral Bezoar.  
TAke the other half of the Butter of Antimony, weigh it, and put it in a good large Matrace; pour upon it by drops an equal weight of good Spirit of Nitre. Avoid the hurtful vapours issuing from it, and when you have poured in all the Spirit, and the dissolution is done, pour it into a little alembic, and distill it to Siccity on a Fire of Sand. Pour again the like quantity of Spirit of Nitre upon what remains in the Body of the alembic; the Spirit of Nitre will work no more; however Evaporate it by distillation to Sccity. Put on new Spirit of Nitre the third time, and Evaporate it as before. The matter in the bottom of the Gourd will be white, dry, and friable. Reduce it into fine Powder, and keep it carefully. This Powder is good against Poison, which it expels from the Center by Sweat. It is used also in all diseases caused by Serosities. The Dose is from 5 to 20 Grains, in Broths or other convenient liquours.  
Observe, that all these Powders are nothing but the Particles of Regulus of Antimony disguised, and that they act differently according to the nature of the Salts or Corosive Spirits wherewith they are involved: and they may be easily reduced into Regulus by means of some reductive Salt, which takes away their covering, so that they return to Regulus, which you may again prepare indifferently as before.   

Glass of Antimony.  
TAke Antimony in powder as much as you please, Calcine it with a gentle Fire in an earthen Dish not glazed but resisting the fire; make the Calcination under a Chimney in an Airy place, and avoid the Sulphureous exhalations of the Antimony which are very hurtful, to the Breast especially. Stir the Powder during the Calcination, to keep it from clotting; which happening, powder it again in a Mortar and re-calcine it, and continue the Calcination till the Antimony smoke no more, and be reduced into Powder of the colour of Ashes, and deprived of its superficial Sulphur, which would hinder its Vitrification, or at least render it Opaque Glass. Then put this Calx into a Fire of Fusion in a very good Crusible, placed upon a little Earthen Plate. Give a violent Fire, and keep it so that the matter be in continual Fusion till it become very Diaphanous; which you shall know by putting into it the end of a little' Iron-rod, to which some little matter will stick, which you may knock off with a little Hammer; and when the matter is very transparent, pour it into a flat Copper Dish, and you shall have a very fair Glass of Antimony, yellowish, drawing towards read, prepared without addition of any thing.  
Some use this Glass of Antimony in substance powdered, and mixed with some Conserve, Trosch, or other solid form. 'tis a potent vomit. The Dose is from 3 to 6 Grains. You may also make an Emetic Wine with it by infusion, as with Crocus Metallorum.   

The Correction of the Glass of Antimony.  
POwder finely two ounces of Glass of Antimony, prepared as above, and three ounces and half of Nitre well refined; mix them together; then set an Earthen Pot not glazed, and resisting the Fire, in a Furnace amongst burning Coals, and having made it read hot, put into it a spoonful of the Powder; which being read hot also, put another in; and so continue by little and little, till all the Powder be heated read in the Fire. After which take the Pot from the Fire, and when it is cool, powder the matter finely, and Edulcorate it with two quarts of warm Water, which being poured on stir it nimbly and pour off the thick Water into another Vessel, leaving the courser Powder in the bottom of the first; and as soon as it is settled pour off the Water by inclination, and dry the Powder for use, being a very good and commodious Vomit for all ages. The Dose is from 3 Grains to 20, in infusion of White-wine, or some other liquour. You may likewise make a Syrup of it by infusing two ounces of this Powder in three quarts of juice of apple, or Quinces well depurated, or White-wine in Bainco Mariae, during 24 hours, filtering the Infusion afterwards through gray Paper, and boiling it gently with three pounds of fine Sugar in a Vessel of Silver, or Earth well glazed, to the consistence of a a Syrup. The Dose is from 2 Drams to 6, tempered with two or three ounces of Spring Water. 'tis a very good vomit, and oftentimes gives two or three Stools very gently.   

Laxative Emetive Tartar.  
TAke four ounces of good Cream of Tartar, powder it finely, and pour upon it in a Gourd covered with its Head, as much Spirit of Salt Armoniac as to cover it two fingers high; set it in a Cellar twenty four hours. After which, set this matter in a little glazed Pot in a Furnace of Sand, adding an ounce of Glass of Antimony finely powdered. Then pouring to it a sufficient quantity of Water, make it boil for six or eight hours, filling the Pot from time to time. Afterwards filter and evaporate upon hot Sand till it come to have a little skin on the top; then set it to cool in a Cellar, that it may the better Crystallize. 'tis a very excellent Medicine. The Dose for aged persons is from 10 to 15 Grains; and for the younger, from 1 to 6.    

CHAP. IX. Of Mineral Cinabar.  
THere are two sorts of Cinabar in use, the one artificially made of common Sulphur and Quick-silver, as is taught in the Chapter of Mercury; the other natural, composed by Nature of much Mercury, some portion of pure Sulphur, and some Earth. Which three are so united that they make a compact body, of a very fair read colour, which is more or less deep according to the pureness of the Mineral, and the place where it is found. 'tis brought to us from several places, as from Transilvania, Hungary, and other parts of Germany: but the best is found in Corinthia, being preferable to all others either for preparations or to be used in substance; for 'tis an excellent Remedy for Diseases proceeding from sharp Serosities, which it corrects and carrys off by the pores. 'tis used also mixed with some other sudorifics for an inveterate gonorrhoea. The Dose is from 10 to 25 or 30 Grains.  

The Reviving of Mercury from natural Cinabar, and the separation of the Sulphur thereof at the same time.  
TAke a pound of good natural Cinabar, powder it finely, and mix it with a pound of good Salt of Tartar; put this mixture into a strong and well luted Earthen Retort, and placing in a Furnace with a naked Fire, fit a Receiver to it wherein put some could Water. Give a gentle fire at first, which increase by little and little to make the Retort read gently. Then you shall see drop forth about eight ounces of fluid Mercury, and sometimes eleven, according to the goodness and pureness of the Cinabar. Let the Vessels cool, and break the Retort, in which you shall find a reddish Mass, which you must boil in a Vessel of Glass, or good Earth, with four quarts of Water to the consumption of a third part. Then filter the liquour, which will be read; and the coarse unprofitable earthiness will remain in the filter. Into this read filtered liquour distil drop by drop some good distilled Vinegar, or other Acid: and the Sulphur will be precipitated in a very fine Powder, which you must Edulcorate by several Lotions with warm Water. When it is dry, you shall have the true Sulphur of Natural Cinabar, to be used as an excellent Remedy in diseases of the Lungs and Breast. The Dose is from 6 to 15 Grains in some Conserve, or other convenient Vehicle.   

The Precipitation of the Mercury of natural Cinabar without addition.  
TAke several good Glass Matraces of half a pint, with long necks, which Lute well with good Lute capable to resist the Fire: put into each four ounces of Mercury revived from Cinabar, and place them in a Sand-Furnace. Stop the Orifices of the Matraces slightly to hinder any thing from falling into them. Give a fire of the first degree for three weeks, at the end of which increase the Fire another degree, and continue the same during three whole Months, increasing the Fire from three weeks to three weeks, so that in the last three weeks the Sand may be read hot. The Mercury will be turned to a very read and shining Powder, which serves with good success against the POX, and other accidents. Two or three Grains made up into Pills with some Conserve is a very good sudorific, and you may increase the Dose to six Grains. It not only causes Sweat, but Purges by all the Emunctories, and corrects the corruption of the humours. 'tis a very excellent Remedy, which in many cases gives satisfaction both to the Sick and to the Physician.    

CHAP. X. Of Bismuth, or Tin Glass.  
BIsmuth is a sort of Marcasite, and a Sulphureous earthy Mineral found usually in or near Tin-Mines. 'tis seldom used but outwardly; and its chief preparations are the Magistery and the Flowers. Tin is near of kin to Bismuth, but contains a purer Sulphur. It may be prepared after the same manner, and its preparations have almost the same qualities and virtues.  

The Magistery of Bismuth.  
POwder two ounces of Bismuth, and putting them into a Matrace, pour thereon six ounces of good Spirit of Nitre. Place the Matrace upon hot Sand till the Bismuth be all dissolved, as it will be in about half an hour. Pour the Solution hot into a great Earthen Pan containing eight or ten quarts of Spring Water, and the mixture will become like Milk, till growing clearer, the Bismuth forsaking the Spirits of Nitre which held it dissolved will be precipitated to the bottom in a white Powder. Which being settled, pour the Water off by inclination, and put fresh to it; repeat the Lotion so often till the Powder be well Edulcorated; then dry it in the Shade and keep it for use. 'tis a very good Cosmetick, serving to beautify the Face by being mixed in Pomatum, or in the Waters of Nymphea, Wild-Tansy, and others. 'tis also used for the Itch, and all maladies of the skin.   

The Flowers of Bismuth.  
BIsmuth as well as Zink may be sublimed with the addition of saltpeter, or without addition, in the same manner as Antimony, to which we refer the Reader for avoiding of vain Repetition. The Flowers of Bismuth and Zink work great effects in plasters, to sweeten the Acrimony of the corroding humour of Ulcers, and to consume their superfluous Serosity. The Flowers prepared with the addition of saltpeter may be turned into liquour by melting in a Cellar like Salt of Tartar.    

CHAP. XI. Of common Salt.  
THere are three sorts of Common Salt. That which is made out of Salt-Springs, Sal Gemmae, or Fossible Salt, and Sea-Salt. The first is made by Evaporating the Salt Water in great Leaden Pans, at the bottom of which the Salt is found very white. Sal Gemmae comes naturally such in many places, as near Cracovia in Poland, where there is a very plentiful Mine of it, out of which they dig vast pieces like a Diaphanous Rock. Sea-Salt is made on the Sea-shore in Pits during the Summer; the humidity of the Sea-Water being drawn up by the heat of the Sun, the rest remains dry. Any of them is equally useful for physic; for though they differ in form, yet being dissolved, filtered, and Crystallized each apart, there is no difference in the Crystals either as to taste or figure. Nevertheless Sea-Salt is most used as most commodious and common in our Country, and 'tis purified as follows.  

The Purification of Salt.  
DIssolve what quantity you please of Sea-Salt in six times as much Rain Water, and set it in a Vessel of Pewter, Copper, or glazed Earth upon a little Fire; filter the Solution through gray Paper, and having Evaporated all the Humidity, you shall have a very white and well purified Salt.   

The Calcination of Common-Salt.  
PUT what quantity you please of Sea-Salt into an Earthen Pot which resists the Fire, cover the same with its covering and put Fire round about it( which they call Ignis rotae) and when the Salt begins to be hot, it will crackle and be reduced into Powder; continue the Fire,( but moderately) till the Salt make no more noise. Then let the Pot cool, and you shall find the Salt calcined and deprived of all superfluous humidity. This is called Decrepitated Salt; The chemists use it to Regalise Aqua-fortis, as we shall show in the following Chapter of Nitre.   

The Spirit of Salt.  
ARtists have tried divers ways to extract the Spirit of Salt with ease. Some distil calcined, or Decrepitated Salt alone, and without addition with a strong Fire; but besides that Salts being in Fusion penetrate and break all vessels, they pertinaciously withhold the Spirits. Others attempt to reduce Salts into Spirits, and afterwards into sweet Crystals by means of an Earthen Retort with a hole in the top, by which they pu● s●me drops of Water upon the Salt whi●● 〈…〉 melted in the said Retort with a 〈…〉▪ and then they stop the hole till th●● 〈◇〉 of the Water put into the hole be passed into the Receiver; and thus they continue till according to their opinion all the Salt be converted into Spirit. But as we have shown that the Vessels containing Salts melted in a very violent Fire, cannot resist long; and since Salts retain their Spirits whilst they are in Fusion, I conceive no body should amuse themselves with such preparations. The true way to Extract this Spirit with ease is, to mix Salt with some Body that may hinder its Fusion, but it must be such a Body as may communicate nothing of its own, as Potters day, or Bole.  
Take therefore two pounds of Common-Salt not decrepitated( because in this Calcination it loses part of its Volatile Spirits, especially being decrepitated with a gentle Fire without Fusion) dry it in a basin with a gentle fire in order to be finely powdered, and mix it with eight pounds of Potters Earth, or Bole pulverised in like manner; put this mixture to a glazed Retort, so that the third part be voided, and place it in a close Reverberatory Fire. Fit a great Glass-Receiver to the Retort, luting well the joints, and give a very small Fire the first six hours, during which the Phlegm will come forth; then increase it a little during other six hours, and the Volatile Spirits will begin to come forth and appear in the Receiver like white Clouds. Continue to increase the Fire from six hours to six hours to the utmost violence. The whole operation will be finished in twenty four hours. After which leave the Vessels to cool, unlute them, and keep the Spirit in a very strong Vial. The Odour of it is sufficiently sweet, its savour agreeably Acid, and its colour yellow as Gold.  
This Spirit may be rectified by an alembic in Balneo Mariae, and about three quarters drawn off by distillation, which will be Phlegm and some Spirits mixed confusedly together; the other quarter left in the Gourd will be a more corrosive Spirit, improperly called Oil, which keep apart from the other. But note that the corrosive Spirit must be put into a very strong Vial of very good Glass; otherwise it will corrode the same.  
The Volatile Spirit is an excellent Remedy against the ston and Gravel, it powerfully dissolves the Tartar and Viscosities of the Body, it opens the obstructions of the Liver and Spleen; it gives great help to the Dropsy by quenching thirst; it cures the jaundice, and hinders a Gangrene; and being mixed with Oil of soap it assuages the pains of the Gout and dissipates the Nodosities.  
The Dose of this Spirit is from 10 to 30 drops, or else to a grateful acidity in convenient liquours. The Corrosive Spirit may be employed for dissolving of Metals.    

CHAP. XII. Of Nitre, or saltpeter.  
NItre, or saltpeter is a Salt partly Sulphureous and Volatile, and partly earthy; the taste of it is Saltish and bitter. 'tis drawn out of the Earth, and out of the ruins of Houses, Vaults, and Cellars, especially out of Stables, by reason of the great quantity of Volatile Salt in the Urine and Excrements of Animals, which is united to the Salt of the Earth by the continual action of the Air. Authors call it sometimes Cerberus, the Infernal Salt, the Dragon, Serpent, &c. But we stand not upon names. As for the choice of it, it must be white, crystallin, in long Hexagonal Needles; the taste must be Acid, inclining to Sourness or Aoerbity; and if it exhales totally from a burning Coal, 'tis a sign of its goodness and pureness; but if it leave any remainder upon the Coal, it contains too much impurity, in which case it must be purified before it be employed for chemical Operations.  

The purification of Nitre.  
PUT what quantity of Nitre you please into a Copper basin, and pour upon it three or four times as much Rain-Water. Make it boil upon a little Fire till the Nitre be dissolved, then strain it through a woollen Cloath into an Earthen pan, which expose in a could place twenty four hours. At the end of which you shall find the Nitre reduced into fair transparent Crystals. Pour off the Water into a basin, and Evaporate a third part of it, and set the rest to Caystallize as before. Continue this till all the saltpeter be turned into Crystals; but the first Crystals contain the purest of the saltpeter, and therefore must be dried and kept apart, for preparations to be used at the Mouth. The other Crystals may serve to make Aqua-fortis, or other things of less consequence.   

Mineral Crystal, or Sal Prunellae.  
MElt a pound of well purified saltpeter in a Crusible that resists the Fire and penetration of Salts, and when it is very fluid, throw into it by little and little an ounce of flowers of Sulphur; which being exhaled, cast the saltpeter into a very clean basin, and spread it abroad; then break it and keep it dry in some vessel well stopped. 'tis an excellent Remedy against the putrid malignant Fevers called Prunellae or Burning, from whence 'tis termed Lapis Prunellae. The Dose is from twelve Grains to one Dram in ordinary ptisan, or some other convenient liquour.  
Some make use of purified saltpeter without preparing it with Sulphur; which I disapprove not, because the Sulphur carries away with it part of the Sulphureous Volatile Salt of the saltpeter, and so deprives it of the purest part of itself.   

An Antifebril Salt, or a Salt against Fevers.  
TAke two ounces of purified saltpeter, and two ounces of Flowers of Sulphur, powder them, and put them into a good large Retort; pour thereon six ounces of the Water of distilled Urine, and place it in a Sand-Furnace, so that the Sand be not higher than the matter, and that two thirds of the Retort be out of the Sand in the Air. Fit to it a great Receiver, but Lute it not, because the Spirits issue out of these matters with such violence, that if there be no air, the Vessels break. Begin to distil with a very small Fire, and when no more humidity comes forth, increase the Fire by little and little, but not too hastily; for as soon as the Sulphur and the saltpeter begin to melt, they will flamme, and drive out their Spirits impetuously in read fumes into the Receiver; which being all come forth, let the Vessels cool, and you shall find in the bottom of the Retort, being broken, a fixed Salt of a bitterish taste, which you must put into a little earthen Gourd, and pour upon it the Spirit contained in the Receiver, to unite it to its proper body. Reject as useless the Flowers of Sulphur sublimed in the Receiver, and cover the Gourd with another Vessel, and set it upon hot Sand for three or four hours, during which the fixed Salt will be dissolved in its proper Spirit. filter the Solution and Evaporate it gently to siccity; you shall have a Salt white as Snow, of a very agreeable Acid taste, which you must keep in a Vial well stopped. 'tis a very excellent Remedy in continual and intermitting Fevers. It powerfully resists putrefaction, and opens all the obstructions of the body. 'tis given in the beginning of fits, in some convenient liquour. The Dose is from 8 to 30 Grains.   

Sal Polycrestes, or of many uses.  
THis Preparation comes in place, because Nitre is the Base of it. Take a pound of purified saltpeter, and a pound of Sulphur; reduce them together into powder; then take a good Earthen Pot that resists the Fire and has a flat bottom. Set it in a Wind-Furnace with Coals round about, which kindle by degrees to preserve the Pot; and when the Pot is read hot, put in about two ounces of the mixture and stir it: the matter will flamme presently, and the Volatile parts of the Nitre will exhale with part of the Sulphur. When the flamme is ceased, put two ounces more in, stirring the same continually. Do thus till all the mixture be employed. Then Calcine it by stirring it six hours more, during which the matter must be always read hot without melting; which would retain the burnt odour of the Sulphur, and the Salt would be grayish: but with these cautions you shall have a Salt of a Rose colour without smell, and of a bitterish taste. It may be used without more preparation; or if you desire it yet purer, dissolve it in a good quantity of warm Water, and having filtered it, Evaporate it gently in some glazed Earthen Vessel till it have a scum upon it; then set it in a Cellar, and it will Crystallize at the bottom and sides of the Vessel. The Figure of this Salt is square, much like that of common Salt. 'tis used against obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Pancreas, and Mesentery; it unloosens Viscous matter and Purges gently downward. The Dose is from two Drams to six. 'tis usually dissolved overnight with Spring Water, and taken the next morning. Persons whose Nervous parts are weak and delicate, must wholly abstain from all sorts of preparations of Nitre, as Crystal Mineral, and Sal Polycrestes; which are not to be put into other compositions but to sharpen them and make them more penetrating, or to temper their heat; in which case the dose must be less than that of the other Medicaments; as for example, with the weight of two or three ounces of Sena it suffices to put half a Dram or two Scruples of Mineral Crystal, or twice as much of Sal Polycrestes.   

Spirit of Nitre.  
TAke two pounds of saltpeter refined in Powder, and eight pounds of common Bole or of Potters Earth dried and powdered; mix them together, and put them into a great Retort so that the third part thereof be empty; place the same in a close Reverberatory Fire, fitting to it a great Receiver, and Luting the joints very well. Let the Fire be gentle at first, and increase it from six hours to six hours to the utmost violence. A Phlegmatic Water first comes out, then a Spirit, which during the distillation appears as read as Fire; which redness proceeds from the internal Sulphur of the saltpeter, and has given occasion to some Authors to term this Spirit the Blood of the Salamander. The distillation is usually finished in twenty four hours; which ended, let the Vessels cool, then unlute the Receiver, mollifying the Lute with wet linen; and keep the Spirit in a strong Vial.  
'tis a good Remedy against the colic, and against all obstructions, Fevers, and the Pestilence. The Dose is from 6 to 20 drops in some convenient liquour.   

Aqua-fortis.  
THough Aqua-fortis is made several ways, and sometimes with the addition of Alum, Vitriol, verdigris, and other things, yet we shall insert the preparation of it in this Chapter of saltpeter, because tis this which gives it its principal dissolving virtue. It has its name from its force of dissolving almost all Metals, and Minerals, even Gold too if it be Regalised by the addition of Salt Armoniac or common Salt. Now, to make good Aqua-fortis, take three Pounds of saltpeter and as much of Vitriol, or green copperess; mix and powder them grossly, and put them into a Luted Retort in a close Reverberatory Furnace; fit a large Receiver to the Retort, and having Luted the joints exactly well, give a very gentle Fire for eight hours to make the Phlegm come forth; then increase the fire one degree, and you shall cause reddish Spirits to stream out; keep the Fire in that condition four or five hours; then increase it by little and little to the utmost violence, quiter opening the covering of the Furnace and that of the Ash-hole. Continue the Fire till the heat of the Receiver abate, and wait not till it become clear; for though you should continue the Fire many days, the Spirits would be in continual agitation by the heat. But as soon as the Furnace and Vessels begin to lose their heat, the Spirits settle to the bottom and the Receiver grows clear. This operation is usually finished in twenty hours. The Vessels being cool, unlute the Receiver, and keep the Water in a strong Bottle well stopped with Wax.  
You may also make Aqua-fortis with Roche Alum and saltpeter, and sometimes with addition of other ingredients; but being the preparation of these Waters is not different from this, I will not enlarge this Book with them, I will only give notice to the Reader, that the Aqua-fortis made with Roche Alum and saltpeter is to be preferred before that made with Vitriol for preparing read or white Precipitate, which is to be employed for diseases of the skin. Which is also to be observed in the preparations of the Precipitates above described, according to the different intention of usinng the said Remedies.   

Aqua Regia, or, Water to Dissolve Gold.  
THis Water takes its name from its virtue of dissolving Gold, the King of Metals. Its Base is Spirit of Nitre or Aqua-fortis, which becomes Regal by the addition of Salt Armoniac, or Common Salt, in manner following.  
Take four ounces of Salt Armoniac unpurified and pulverised, put it into a great Matrace, and pour upon it a pound of good Aqua-fortis; place the Matrace upon Sand moderately hot, that the Aqua-fortis may gently dissolve the Salt Armoniac. Stop not the Matrace lest it should break, and avoid the vapours which rise when the Aqua-fortis begins to act upon the Salt Armoniac; for they are fierce Spirits which cannot be condensed any more, and are very hurtful. As soon as you shall see the Salt Armoniac dissolved, remove the Matrace from the Sand, and when it is could put the Water into a Vial, and stop the same with a Bladder and Wax.   

Another Regal Water.  
PUT into a Retort half a pound of Sea Salt or Sal Gemmae in Powder, and pour thereon a pound of good Spirit of Nitre, or good Aqua-fortis; then distill in a Sand Fire into a Receiver till the Salt remain dry in the bottom of the Retort, and keep the water in a Vial well stopped.   

Another Regal Water.  
TAke a pound of Sea-Salt, or Sal Gemmae, and as much of good saltpeter; powder them finely, and mix them with eight pounds of common Bole powdered; then distill them with a Retort in a Reverberatory Fire, in the same manner as we have directed the distillation of Spirit of Nitre, and you shall have a Regal Water which will easily dissolve Gold. These three sorts of Regal Water are equally good.    

CHAP. XIII. Of Salt Armoniac.  
THe Salt Armoniac of the Ancients was found in divers parts of Asia, and particularly in Lybia, in places where the Camels of Caravans restend, whose Urine was imbibed in the Sand, and the Volatile Salt thereof was sublimed by the Rays of the Sun to the surface of the Sand; and they of the Country gathered it up to sell to other Nations. But the modern Salt Armoniac is compounded of Sea-Salt, Chimney-Soot, and the Urine of Animals. These three are so artificially mixed and incorporated, that though the Sea-Salt be very fixed, yet being mixed with the Volatile Salts of Urine and Soot, there arises a Compound of them, which though less Volatile than the said Salts, yet cannot resist the violence of the Fire: for if you put it into a Crusible amongst burning Coals, it flies all away. But this composition may easily be destroyed by separating the Volatile Salts from the Sea-Salt by the addition of some matter to fix and retain it. As for the manner of preparing it, I will not increase this Book by setting it down, since the said Artificial Salt is commonly and cheaply enough to be had from the Druggists. But since it is usually full of impurities, we will begin with the purifying of it.  

The Purification of Salt Armoniac.  
POwder a pound of Salt Armoniac, and dissolve it in a Gourd upon hot Sand with three pounds of Rain-water; filter the Solution through gray Paper, and Evaporate it to Siccity, and you shall have a very pure Salt as white as Snow. This Salt provokes Sweat and Urine, and resists putrefaction. 'tis used in Quartan Agues, and outwardly against Gangrenes, and in Eye-waters. The Dose is from 8 to 24 Grains in some Broth or other convenient liquour.   

The Flowers of Salt Armoniac.  
PUlverize together a pound of Salt Armoniac and as much of Common Salt, and put them into a Gourd covered with its head, and place the same in a Sand-Furnace; give a gentle Fire at first, increasing it by little and little till you see the Salt Armoniac ascend into the Head like Meal; then continue the Fire in the same degree for five or six hours. After which let the Vessels cool, and gather off what is ascended into the Head, and mix it with new Salt, and sublime as before; Repeat this thrice, and you shall have Flowers well purified.  
These Flowers being purer than Salt Armoniac simply purified by Solution, Filtration, and Coagulation, act with more efficacy; so that the Dose is but from 4 to 12 and 15 Grains. Their use is for Cronical Diseases.  
They may be also prepared with Filings of Steel, mixing an equal quantity thereof with Salt Armoniac; and the Flowers have the more force and virtue, in that they are impregnated with a portion of Mars which increase their aperitive virtue.   

The Urincus Volatile Spirit of Salt Armoniac.  
WE have shewed in the beginning of this Chapter that Salt Armoniac is compounded of the Salt of Urine and that of the Soot of attorneys( which are very subtle and Volatile Salts) and of Sea-Salt, which is an Acid Salt and more fixed than the other two. These three Salts mixed together make but one, which holds a mean between the Volatility of the two former, and the fixedness of the latter. and though this mixture seems perfect, and the conjunction of these Salts of several families inseparable; yet when you well understand their qualities and properties, you will separate them very easily. The ensuing operation will instruct you. Powder and mix together a pound of Salt Armoniac and as much of Salt of Tartar; make them into a Past with four or five ounces of Water, which put into a Glass Gourd, whereunto fit an alembic with a Receiver, and having luted the joints exactly, place the Gourd in a Sand-Furnace. Begin the distillation with a moderate heat, which increase by little and little. As soon as the the matter begins to heat the Salts will act upon one another, and the Sea-Salt will join with the Salt of Tartar, and they will both remain in the bottom of the Gourd. But the Urinous and Fuliginous Volatile Spirits will be loosened from their Fetters, and ascend through the alembic into the Receiver. Continue a moderate Fire till all the Spirits are gone out, then increase in by little and little to make the Flowers ascend, which will stick to the Head and the upper part of the Gourd. The whole oderation requires eight or ten hours. Let the Vessels being cool be unluted, and you shall find the Urinous Volatile Spirit in the Receiver, and the Flowers in the Head and upper part of the Gourd, and in the bottom thereof, a fixed Mass containing the Acid Sea-Salt with the Salt of Tartar. These three substances must be kept apart. The Volatile Spirit is one of the most excellent Remedies that can be invented; for it opens all obstructions in general, and acts powerfully by Sweat and Urine. ●Tis very good in Fevers, especially the pu●rid, in Palsies, Epilepsies, Hysterical fits, and the Plague, resisting all corruption. It likewise assuages the pains of the Gout, applied externally. It may be Sublimed into a Volatile Salt, by putting it into a long-neck'd Matrace with a suitable alembic having a large Betty, and placing the same in a very moderate Sand-fire. For this fiery Salt upon the least heat leaves its phlegmatic Water which kept it in a liquid form. But 'tis better to leave it in a liquid form than to sublime it into Salt, which is hard to be kept; whereas the Phlegm restrains it and hinders its activity; for which reason it may be given from 8 to 30 drops, but the Dose of the Salt is but from 3 to 8 or 9 Grains.  
The Flowers in the alembic are nothing but part of the Salt Armoniac which was not closely mixed with the Salt of Tartar. They are of the same use as Salt Armoniac well purified. But the Mass remaining in the bottom of the Gourd affords an Acid Corrosive Spirit, as follows.   

The Acid Spirit of Salt Armoniac.  
REduce into fine Powder the Mass remaining in the bottom of the Gourd after the foregoing distillation, and mix it with four times as much Bole in Powder. Put the mixture into a Retort of Glass or Earth well Luted, and distill it in a close Reverberatory Fire, observing exactly in this distillation all the circumstances described in the distillation of common Salt. You may rectify this Spirit in an alembic in Balneo Mariae and it will ascend easily.  
This Spirit is one of the greatest Dissolvents that we know; for it dissolves Gdd, Copper, Iron, &c. and Volatilizes them in an alembic by means of reiterated Cohobation. Besides which, 'tis the most a●reeable Acid that chemistry hath invented. S●me drops being given in Broth to those that have Fevers, for it tempers the inward heat by its subtlety and sharpness. It is also more Diuretical than other Corrosive Spirits. The Dose is from 6 to 30 drops, or to an agreeable Acidity.   

The fixation of Salt Armoniac.  
THis fixation is made by mixing Salt Armoniac with some body that may hinder its exhaling in a violent Fire. To which purpose serve the Alkali Salts of Plants, of the Calx of Egg-shels, and other shells, of quick Lime, and of the Calx of divers Minerals, and amongst others of Zink, Lapis Calaminaris, and Haemmatites. Yet these Bodies cannot totally fix the whole body of Salt Armoniac, but retain only a part of it, namely the Sea-Salt, letting go the Fuliginous and Urinous part which flies into the Air. The most usual way is to take equal quantity of of quick Lime and Salt Armoniac, and to put them powdered together into a good Crusible amongst burning Coals. You s●all presently see the Urinous Spirits dis●●tangle themselves and fly away, but the common Salt which entered into the composition stays behind with the quick Lime, and being melted therewith runs in the Crusible like Oil. Cast this melted matter into a basin or Mortar heated, and let it cool. You shall have a transparent Mass like Crystal, which may be reduced into little parcels whilst it is a little warm, and kept in a Vial well stopped with Wax. 'tis a very good Caustic, and serves commodiously for Cauteries. If this Salt be left to the Air, it dissolves in a few dayes into liquour, which you must filter. It serves for the Resuscitation of Metals into fluid Mercury, as some think.    

CHAP, XIV. Of Roche Alum.  
THE name of Alum is given to divers matters. First, There is a sort of Talc, which they call in Latin Alumen scissile, because it may be cut into transparent Leaves like Glass. There is another Species called Alumen Plumosum, or Lapis Amiantus. But these serve but little for physic, and therefore I shall only insist upon Roche Alum, which is a Mineral Salt, Earthy and Acrimonious, full of an Acid Spirit. It is often found condensed in the Veins of the Earth, and sometimes 'tis drawn from Aluminous Springs, by Evaporation. It is likewise found in Mineral Stones, from which it is drawn by dissolving the same in Water, and afterwards Evaporating it. It is seldom used for inward use, but often in Gargarismes for inflammation of the Throat. It heals Cancers of the Mouth, strengtheners the Gums, and consumes the Spongy Flesh and other superfluities of Wounds and Ulcers. But it may be used inwardly too, as in the Dropsy, and difficulty of Urin, from one Scruple to half a Dram in some convenient Vehicle, being prepared as follows.  

The Purification of Alum,  
POwder and dissolve of Roche Alum in sixteen pounds of Rain-Water; filter the Solution, and Evaporate and Crystallize it in a cool place, as you would proceed with any other Salt; and by this means you shall have it pure and fit for all preparations.   

The Distillation and Calcination of Alum.  
PUT into a great glazed Retort two pounds of Alum purified, so that three quarters of the Retort be empty, to leave room for the Ebullitions of the Alum. Place the Retort in a close Reverberatory Fire, and fit a large Receiver to it. Make the Phlegm come forth with a little Fire, which increase by degrees till the Spirits begin to stream forth in white Clouds. Then open the Registers by little and little, and continue the Fire to the utmost violence, after which let the Vessels cool. You shall find in the Receiver an Acid Spirit mixed with a good quantity of Phlegm, And having broken the Retort, you shall find the Alum there calcined into a very white and light Mass. Rectify and separate the Spirit from its Phlegm, putting into a Glass Retort all that was in the Receiver, and placing the same in a Sand-Furnace; as you distill with a little Fire, the Phlegm will come forth first, and as soon as you taste the drops Acid, change the Receiver, and continue the Fire till all the Spirits be ascended and there remain nothing in the Retort but a little Earth which the Spirits had brought away with them in the first distillation, This Spirit is good in Fevers being taken in ordinary drink; 'tis very diuretic and opening, and is very proper for Cancers in the Mouth. But being unpleasant in taste, Spirit of Vitriol may serve in its place upon all occasions. The Phlegm is very good in Eye-waters, for inflammations of the Eyes; it is also good for the Erysipelus and to wash Sores and Ulcers. The calcined Alum is employed outwardly to dry and consume superfluous flesh in old Ulcers, and Sores. It may be likewise Calcined in a Crusible, or upon a Plate, but we have taught the way to make benefit of all its parts.  
Observe that neither Roche Alum nor Vitriol need any mixture of Bole, or other far Earth powdered, when you distill them, as Common Salt, Sal Gemmae, saltpeter, and others have to hinder their melting; because Vitriolick and Aluminous Salts contain a sufficient quantity of Mineral Earth of difficult fusion.   

A Febrifugous Salt of Alum.  
POwder half a pound of calcined Alum, and put it into a Glass-Gourd, and pour upon it two pounds of good distilled Vinegar. Digest them in hot Sand till the Alum be dissolved; filter the Solution and after Evaporation of the third part, set the rest to Crystallize in a Cellar. Pour off by inclination the Water above the Crystals, and Evaporate and Crystallize again till you have drawn out all the Crystals; which dry and mix with a like quantity of Nutmegs and Mineral Crystal; of which being finely powdered you may with happy success give a Dram in intermitting Fevers, especially such as proceed from corruption and abundance of Humours. This Powder is taken in Wine or some other proper liquour in the beginning of the fit.    

CHAP. XV. Of Vitriol.  
VItriol is a Mineral Salt near of kin to Roche Alum, but containing in it some metallic substance, especially Iron or Copper. There are several sorts of it, which differ in colour and taste by reason of the divers substances wherewith they are mixed. That which is blew, compact, and in great Crystals is called Vitriol of Cyprus, though it comes from Hungary. It is very bitter and sharp, because it contains much of the substance of Copper; and though the dearest of all, yet it is not better worth; and I would not advice any body to make use of it except for Eye-water or outwardly by reason of the violent Vomitings which it causes. There is another sort of Vitriol which is greenish, and of a sweetish taste, and in small Crystals; being found in Sweden, Liege, and other parts of Germany. The best is most compact and dry, which being rubbed upon Iron, does not die the same with the colour of Copper; which colour shows it to be mixed with Copper, and consequently more hurtful; whereas by not tincturing the same it shows that it partakes more of Iron, and is fitter for all preparations, whatever many many Authors say to the contrary. There is also white Vitriol, which comes from Vitriol-Springs, and is not charged with any metallic substance, which gives the colour to other sorts of Vitriol. All the several Vitriols are formed by Nature in the entrails of the Earth; but they are also made by evaporating the Springs which contain them, as also by the Dissolution, Evaporation and Crystallization of Marcasites or Vitriolick-Stones. But since Vitriol is usually charged with impurities, we will begin with its purification.  

The Purification of Vitriol.  
DIssolve in Rain-Water what quantity of Vitriol you please; put the Solution into Pitchers or Bottles, and set it to digest in Horse-dung, or Balneo Mariae for eight or ten days; during which, much earthyness will separate to the bottom; filter the liquour, and having Evaporated about the half, Crystallize the remainder; Evaporate again the Water above the Crystals; and so continue to Evaporate and Crystallize till all be turned into Crystals.   

Vomitive Vitriol called Gilla.  
DIssolve in Rain-water, or May-Dew, half a pound of white Vitriol, and reduce it into Crystals, as is shown in the Purification of Vitriol; reiterating the Dissolution, Filtration, and Crystallization four times. You shall have a Vitriol well prepared, fit to be used in Tertian or other Fevers proceeding from corruption of humours in the first Region; for it evacuates gently by Vomit. It likewise kills Worms, and resists putrefaction. The Dose is from 20 Grains to half a Dram in Broth, Cordial-waters, or some other liquour. Yet some go as high as a whole Dram; but this Dose is a little too strong for our Climate.   

The Calcination of Vitriol.  
TThat which is commonly called the Calcination of Vitriol is nothing but an exsiccation and deprivation of its superfluous humidity, which is effected either by ordinary Fire or the Rays of the Sun. The former is thus, Put twelve pounds of Vitriol into an earthen Pot not glazed, which place amongst burning Coals; and the Vitriol will soon be reduced into Water. Boil it to the consumption of the humidity, and till it become a hard compact Mass of a whitish gray colour. If you continue the Fire longer, till the Pot be read hot, the Mass will become yellow and at length of a reddish brown, which is that which they call Colcothar, wherewith Blood is stanched; it is also used in Lethargies, being put up the Nose, to awaken the stupid senses by sneezing. 'tis also a great Deficcative for Sores and Ulcers.  
The second Calcination is made by exposing it thinly spread to the Beams of the Sun in July, stirring it often that it may be better penetrated by the Sun, and reduced into a Powder as white as Snow, very light, and less weighty than the Vitriol by a third part. This is that which they call the hermetic Powder, which they pretend cures Wounds after and admirable manner, being applied upon linen dipped in the Blood of the Wound. But note that Roman Vitriol is required to the making of this Powder.   

The Distillation of Vitriol.  
TAke eight pounds of Vitriol dried in the Sun, which is to be preferred before any other, as well by reason of the impressions it may receive from him, as because it is more open, Spongy, and apt to part with its Spirits. But in defect thereof, take Vitriol dried in the Fire to whiteness and no more: put it into an Earthen Retort, and place the same in a close Reverberatory Furnace, and fit to it a large Receiver, Luting the joints thereof exactly. Let the Fire be small during ten or twelve hours, in which time all the Phlegm will come forth; then open a little the hole of the top of the Furnace, and the Ash-hole, to increase the heat a little, and drive the Volatile Spirit into the Receiver. But govern the fire well; for if the first Spirits be never so little overstirred, they issue so impetuously that they break the Receiver. increase the Fire at the end of other twelve hours by opening the hole above, and the Ash-hole a little more than before; and continue to augment it by little and little to the utmost violence; which continue during three or four days, and you will see the Receiver continually full of white fumes; but when the read drops begin to appear, cease the Distillation and let the Vessels cool; for 'tis a sign that the Vitriol begins to be deprived of all the Spirit it had, these read drops being the Caustic part of it.  
Note that if you continue the Fire twelve days and nights, the Receiver will be found continually full of a white mist: you must also observe that Vitriol thoroughly dried in the Sun will yield its Spirits sooner because it is finer and more Spongy, than that which is dried at the Fire, which is more compact and retains its Spirits more obstinately; when your Vessels are could, unlute your Receiver with wet linen, and pour out all that it contains into a body, unto which you must presently adapt an alembic with a Receiver, Luting all the joints exactly, that the Volatile Spirit may not fly away; set your Body in Balneo Mariae, and distill with a very gentle heat the Volatile, Sulphureous and sweet Spirit, and when you have separated three or four ounces, change the receiver, that no Phlegm may come over into it; preserve this Spirit in a good Viol very exactly stopped. Fit too another Receiver, and augment the Fire till the Balneum do boil; by this means the Phlegm will rise, and you must continue the fire till no more come; so the Acid Spirit will remain in the Body, which cannot rise with the heat of the boiling Bath. Pour that which remains into a Retort, and set it in a Sand-Furnace, and fit a Receiver thereto, and distil about half of this Acid Spirit, which will be clear as Rock-water. You may either reserve and keep apart that which remains in the Retort, or changing the Receiver push on and increase the Fire, and make it all distill over and keep these two Spirits severally.  
The Volatile Spirit, the sweet Sulphur which rises first is very penitrant, and esteemed very effectual againgst the falling Evil. Its Dose is from 12 drops to one Dram, in any appropriate liquour. The Phlegm is proper for inflammations of the Eyes, and to temper the Acrimony of Erisipela's, and to cleanse Wounds and Ulcers.  
The first Spirit that ascends next after the Phlegm, is very diuretic and incisive, and much used in hot and malignant Fevers; it restores the Appetite, and opens all obstructions, the Dose is augmented or decreased according as its acidity is more or less agreeable with compliance to the Patients taste.  
The last Spirit is improperly called the Oil of Vitriol, and is no other than the weightier and more Caustique part of the Acid Spirit; it is principally used for dissolving Metals and Minerals.   

The fixed Salt of Vitriol.  
PUT that which remains in the Retort after your distillation, which will be a Mass as black as a Coal, into an Earthen Vessel, and pour Rain-water thereon by little and little, for if this Mass be not a while exposed to the Air, it will when it comes out of the Retort do the same thing as quick Lime: continue so to pour Water thereon, till it rise four or five fingers height above it, after set it in an earthen Pot to digest in hot Sand for seven or eight hours, stirring the matter often to promote the Solution of the Salt, after filter and Evaporate the Solution till a film rise thereon, and let it shoot into Crystals; pour off and Crystallize the Water also which swims on the first Crystals, and continue to Evaporate and Crystallize it till it be all crystallized. These Crystals are reddish at first, but being dried and brought into Powder, they are as white as Snow. This Salt is nigh in its effect to Vomitive Vitriol, but its Dose is less, only from 8 to 20 Grains.  
You may after all proceed to sweeten the Earth which remains in the Filtration, and make use thereof with assurance for to stay the immoderate Fluxes of the Belly, and spitting of Blood, and to dry and heal up Wounds and Ulcers, and in like manner to mix with Stiptique-Ointments and Plasters.   

Sulphur of Vitriol.  
PUT into a Glass-Body two pounds of purified Vitriol, and one pound of the Filings of Steel mingled together, pour upon them distilled Vinegar to the full of one Fingers height, set an Head on the Body, and place it in hot Sand, and fitting a Receiver thereto, give it a small Fire at the beginning to make all the moisture rise by little and little; after augment the Fire from degree to degree, till you have made the Sand read hot; when your Vessels are could take out, and powder what remains in the bottom of the Body, and digest it in a Matrace with fresh distilled Vinegar: surmounting the matter three or four Fingers height, in Balneo Mariae for three days; then you will find the Menstruum coloured, which decant off, and put again new Vinegar upon your matter, and digest it a new, and decant and reiterate the same operation until your Vinegar be tinged no more; then filter all the decanted liquour, and pour thereon good Oil of Tartar, a sufficient quantity to precipitate all the Sulphur of Vitriol to the bottom, which you must afterwards sweeten with warm Water, and then dry it. This is a good Remedy for the Asthma, and for the diseases of the Breast. Its Dose is from five to twelve Grains in any Pectoral Conserve or Confection.  
There are some who pretend to make thereof a Laudanum without Opium, and prefer this Remedy above it, but experience hath given us to know the difference betwixt this Sulphur and its effects, and those of Opium duly prepared.    

CHAP. XVI. Of Crystal of the Rock.  
CRystal, and all Stones generally, as well Precious and Transparent, as common and Opacous, have hard and unmalliable bodies, coagulated, and hardened by the forcible action of a Salt and Stone-generating Spirit. Their different colour, hardness, and purity, speaks only the difference of the Womb wherein they were produced. But our principal design being to show their preparation, we will here teach that of Rock Crystal, which will serve for other Stones of the same nature.  

The Tincture of Crystal.  
MAke your Crystal read hot in burning Coals, and quench it in a basin full of Water, in which it will fall to pieces, so that it may easily be brought into impalpable Powder; of which take four ounces, and of Salt of Tartar purified one pound, and put them well mingled into a great Crusible, which being empty to two third parts, cover it with its cover; place it in a Wind-Furnace, and give it a small Fire at the beginning, lest the matter should rise and run over the Crusible, but when it begins to fall again, augment your Fire by little and little to the highest violence, and so continue till the matter dissolve, and become clear as Oil, and transparent as Glass; which you may know by putting into the matter a little Rod of Iron, unto which some small part thereof cleaving will serve you for a proof; and when it is very transparent cast it into an hot Mortar, and it will congeal immediately: beat it into Powder whilst it is yet hot, and divide it into two parts, and put one half thereof quiter hot in a clean, dry, and hot Body, and put thereon good rectified Spirit of Wine by little and little to the height of four fingers, then put upon this another Bolts-head so to make up a circulating Vessel; Lute well the joints, and set it in hot Sand, and digest it so that the Spirit of Wine may boil for three or four days and nights continually: your Spirit of Wine will fill itself with the Tincture, and having decanted that off from the matter, put new to it, and proceed as before, and continue to put to new, digest, and decant, till the Spirit draw no more colour: then filter all the Tinctures and distil them with a Glass-Body and Head in Balneo Mariae, and draw off three fourth parts, and it shall be as good Spirit of Wine as before, and the read Tincture will remain in the Body, which you must put in a Viol, and close it well.  
Note that this Tincture is made better, if you take River-Pibbles, which are coloured within with read, green, and blew veins; both these tinctures open all Obstructions of the Body: They are serviceable in Melancolick and Hypocondriac diseases, for the Dropsy, and Scurvy. The Dose is from ten to twenty drops, in White-wine, or some other liquour, using them continually.   

The liquour of Crystal.  
PUT your other half of your dissolvable Glass of Crystal which you reserved in a Glass Plate, and expose it in a Cellar or other moist place, and in a few days it will be dissolved into a liquour, which being filtered through Cap-Paper, will be clear as Rock-water; this liquour is very Diuretic, given from 20 to 30 drops in any agreeable Water or Decoction.  
Note that if you put upon this liquour any Acid Corrosive Spirits, they will both together in a moment be converted into a dry, and sufficiently hard Mass.   

Magistery of Crystal.  
TTake one pound of the aforesaid liquour, and put it into a Body with five or six pounds of Distilled Rain-water, after pour thereon good Spirit of Nitre drop by drop: this Spirit will cause a great Ebullition, beit works upon the saline part contained in this liquour, and the Salt at the same time by a certain counterworking joins itself with the Spirit, and takes from it its Corrosiveness; so that the substance of the Crystal is precipitated to the bottom in a fine and Snow-white Powder, which you must sweeten well and dry.  
This Magistery is very proper to strengthen the Stomach, having a virtue to destroy the acidity of humours, and to sweeten them, and hinder their fervour which causeth an appetite, you may take a Dram in Wine after food.  
Note, that if you Evaporate and Crystallize the first and second Lotions of this Powder, you may extract thence very fair and good saltpeter, which proceeds from the incorporating of its Spirit with Salt-Alkali of Tartar.    

CHAP. XVII. Of Coral.  
THere are divers Salts of Coral differing one from another in colour and hardness, of all which the read is the best, which must be chosen of a good read, well compacted and shining: it is diversely prepared, and may serve for a model to Pearls, Crabs-eyes, and such like. We are nevertheless obliged to give notice, that better effects are to be expected from these sorts of Stones reduced only on a Marble to an impalpable Powder, than when they are corroded by Acid Spirits, and precipitated with Salts; for Nature knows very well of her self to make these kinds of dissolution in Man's body; and as the Acid Spirits lose their Acrimony, and sweeten themselves by working on these Bodies, we may believe that Nature makes the same operation in our Stomachs, when they are oppressed with any Acidity, which is the cause of many diseases.  

Salt of Coral.  
COral being a body softer than Crystal needs neither be Calcined nor quenched as pebbles, for so soon as you put it in the Fire it becomes white and loses its fair Tincture, which is very Volatile, and wherein consists a part of its good properties, and virtues. We must therefore be contented to reduce it into an Althool, or impalpable Powder, and to put four ounces thereof into a pretty large Bolts-head, and to pour thereon very good distilled Vinegar, to four fingers height; a great Ebullition will arise presently by the working of the distilled Vinegar, and counter-working of the Coral, for which cause it is necessary that the Bolts-head be large, that nothing may be lost. The working being over, place the Bolts-head upon hot Sand for twenty four hours, at the end whereof you shall find the Vinegar changed in an almost Insipid liquour. Its Acidity being destroyed by its working upon the Coral; decant this liquour into some Vessel, and pour fresh distilled Vinegar on the Coral, and repeat the same Operation as before until the Coral be almost all dissolved, and there remain in the bottom an undissolvable earthiness in a small quantity: filter the Solutions first mingled together, through Cap-Paper, and Evaporate them to dryness in a Glass-Body in Balneo Mariae.  
Unto Salt of Coral is attributed a virtue to purify the mass of Blood, and it is given to the Sick in Melancholy cases. The Dose is from 6 to 20 Grains in some convenient liquour.   

Magistery of Coral.  
DIssolve the Coral as we have now said, with distilled Vinegar; but instead of Evaporating away the Solution, instill thereon drop by drop good Oil of Tartar made by Diliquium, and you shall see immediately the Coral precipitated to the bottom of the Water in a very white Powder, which must be dulcified by many washings. It is serviceable for the same purposes as the Salt, but for that it worketh less forcibly. Its Dose is greater, it may be given to the weight of one Dram.   

The Tincture of Coral.  
MAny have imagined that they knew how to draw the Tincture of Coral, and almost all Authors have given us thereof preparations as true as Esop's Fables. For many would draw this Tincture with Spirit of Oak Wood,— of Guiacum, &c. Others with the Spirit of the Crusts of Bread, and such like: and having set the Coral to digest in these Menstruums( which rectified are clear as Water) because they are exalted by the digestion, by reason of a Salt Volatile Sulphur which they contain, seeing the colour read in the Menstruum, without considering that the digestion had given it this colour, as well alone as without Coral; they took the shadow for the substance, and a foreign Tincture for the Coral. Others amuse themselves with a Calcination of Coral, either alone or with Nitre: but the Coral remained white, and lost its Tincture with the least heat of the Fire, which they regarded not at all; but this notwithstanding they forbore not to put a good Spirit of Wine upon the Body, which by digestion, and the help of a fixed Salt of Nitre, with which the Coral was Calcined, is exalted and becomes read, as the Tincture of the Salt of Tartar. By such or such like means some imagine they may obtain a true Tincture of Coral, to which without reason they attribute surprising effects. I could yet give the Reader many more examples to keep him from relying on many ridiculus receipts, but I content myself with this one word by the way: And as I pretend not to put any Preparation in this little Treatise, of which I have not made trial with my own hands, I will here give forth my manner of a Tincture of Coral, which seems to me reasonable and true.  
Take four ounces of good read Coral, which make into a subtle Powder and mingle with like quantity of Salt Armoniac, sublimed three times with Decrepitated Salt, as we have taught you in the Chapter of Salt Armoniac. Put this mixture into a small Body and Head, set it on a small Sand-Furnace, and fit a Receiver to them, Lute well the joints of the Vessels, and give a small Fire at the beginning, augmenting it by little and little, you shall first see a Volatile Urinous Spirit arise, which will separate itself from the fixed Sea-Salt, which Volatile Salt is contained in the Flowers of the Salt Armoniac, and which fixed Salt joins and incorporates itself with the Earthly substance of the Coral; after that this Volatile Spirit, which is small in quantity, shall have ascended and passed into the Receiver, you shall see the Flowers rise and stick to the head of the alembic, and upper part of the Body, which will be tinged with divers colours as read, green, blew, very pleasant to behold, and contain in them the true Tincture of Coral; the Earthly part of the Coral white as Snow, remaines in the bottom of the Body with the fixed Sea-Salt, which contained the Flowers of the Salt Armoniac, continue a moderate fire( for a great heat needs not for this operation) until no more rise: The whole Operation may be done in a few hours: Then let the Vessels cool; and gather diligently what is Sublimed, and put it in a Bolts-head, and pour upon it a good Spirit of Wine to the height of four fingers, digest this some days in Balneo Mariae, and it will be filled with a very read Tincture, and will rob the Flowers of all their pretty colours which they had before, for they remain in the bottom of the Bolts-head white like the Flowers of Salt Armoniac. filter the Tincture, and draw from it three fourths by an alembic in Balneo Mariae, and the Tincture will remain perfect in the bottom of the Body, which must be kept in a well stopped Viol.  
This is a Sovereign Remedy to strengthen the Bowels, in opening Obstructions, it purifies the Blood by Sweat and Urine. Its Dose is from 6 to 24 drops in some convenient liquour.   

Another Tincture of Coral.  
THe Tincture of Coral which we here discover is in use among many, and though ●ledge●t be not a true tincture of Coral, but rather ●ledge●n exaltation of the Sulphur contained in the Spirit of Wine which is used for the Menstru●m, and is exalted rather by the fixed Sal Nitre, wherewith the Coral is Calcined, than by the Tincture in the Coral, we will not forbear to ●ledge●ive you a description thereof.  
You must take one pound of Powder of good ●ledge●ed Coral, and two pounds of Salt peter puri●ledge●ed, mingle and grinned them together in a Mortar, after put this mixture in an Earthen ●ledge●ot that con endure the Fire, set the Pot amongst coals in a Wind-Furnace, which you must kindle gently at first, that the matter be ●ledge●ot by little and little, and that the sudden ●ledge●iolence of the Fire cause not the pot to break ●ledge●at first, but when it is read hot you must con●●nue a pretty violent Fire the space of six 〈◇〉 eight hours: then let the Vessel cool and ●ledge●reak it, and powder the Snow-white Mass ●ledge●hich you will find therein; put this into a ●ledge●ng-neck Bolts-head, and pour thereon a good ●ledge●pirit of Wine to the height of four fingers, ●ledge●d set the Bolts-head in digestion in Sand for ●ledge●o in days, which time the Spirit of Wine will {αβγδ} {αβγδ} be filled with a read Tincture, which must be poured off, and new Spirit of Wine put thereon, and the digestion continued in hot Sand, and again pour more off and on, till the Spirit of Wine be no more tinged. Then take all the Tinctures together, and put them into a Body of Glass, with and Head and Receiver well Luted, distil off all your Spirit of Wine with a very gentle heat, there will remain in the bottom a yellowish Powder approaching towards a read, of a lixiviat taste. The Spirit of Wine drawn from it it may be reserved for the same or other uses; but the Salt which remains in the bottom of the Body, must be set in a Cellar with the Body open. The reddish Salt will be dissolved by attracting a moisture to it into a reddish liquour, which must be kept in a Viol for use, which is this; Take two pounds of good Spanish Wine, and an ounce of the said liquour, and mingle them in a Glass Bottle well stopped, and let them stand together in a could place for the term of eight days; the Spanish Wine which was white will become read as Blood.  
This Tincture is given to purify the Mass of Blood for the Falling-Sickness, for to strengthen the Stomach, and to cleanse away all Viscosities, from half a Spoonful to a good great Spoonful every morning fasting, and continuing the use of it for some time.    

CHAP, XVIII. Of Quick-Lime.  
QUick-lime is made of pebbles or common Stones by a Calcination in a Furnace, and is practised by Peasants themselves, it furnishes us with external Remedies, and amongst others the Water whereunto they have given the name of the Corrosive Water, and the Salt or caustic ston, which we will describe, not insisting upon many other preparations well or ill founded, and little in use.  

The Eating, or Corrosive Water.  
TAke two pounds of good Quick-Lime, well Calcined and newly made, put it into a great Earthen Vessel, and pour thereupon by little and little ten pounds of Rain-water, and leave them together for two days, stirring them often, after let the Lime settle, and decant the Water which swims above and filter it, and put it into a large Glass Bottle, and put to it one ounce of Powder of Corrosive Sublimate, which will change from white to yellow, and descends to the bottom of the Vessel: of this Water being settled, you may make use to mundify Wounds and Ulcers, to consume the superfluities therein, and chiefly for Gangrenes, and in these cases the expert chirurgeon may add thereto on occasion, a fourth or a third part of the Spirit of Wine; the same thing may be observed in the diseases of the Eyes, and it may be tempered with appropriated Waters, and sometimes with Rain-water, as the Artist thinks fit. The Calx which remains in the Vessel may be sweetened, dried, and kept for all outward diseases which need Desiccation.   

The Caustic ston.  
TAke one pounds of Quick-lime, and two pounds of Pot-ashes, beat them together into powder, and Calcine them in a convenient Pot in a Potters Furnace, after make a lie with them and Fountain, or River-water, which Vapour away till it be dry, and there will remain a very sharp Salt. This you must put into a good Crusible, and melt it in a Wind-furnace, and when it is well melted, cast it into an●redge● Earthen basin, as in the Mineral Crystal, and after break it into little pieces whilst it is ye●redge● hot, and put it into Vials well stopped with Wax; for otherwise these Stones will dissolv●redge● by attracting the moisture of the Air. The use of this Caustic ston is too well known fo●redge● me to insist upon it.    

CHAP. XIX. Of arsenic.  
arsenic is a Mineral fuliginous and partly inflammable, as common Sulphur: there are three sorts of it, the first white which keeps the name of arsenic; the second yellow, name Orpiment; the third read, called Realgar, or Sandarack; there is no difference in their preparation, that of the white will suffice for all. The principal preparations of this Mineral are, Regulus, Caustic Oil, liquour, and fixed powder which are used outwardly with happy success, and some are bold to make use thereof inwardly, which I advice not, because nature furnisheth us with other Remedies enough, less dangerous, and more safe.  

Regulus of arsenic, or Orpiment.  
BEat into powder one pound of arsenic( or Orpiment) with six ounces of Pot-ashes, and mix them with one pound of soft Soap, put them into a good large Crusible, covered with another Crusible with an hole pierced through the bottom, through which the venomous Vapours may pass away; set this Crusible in a Wind-Furnace, and give it a little Fire at the beginning, still augmenting it by little and little, till the matter be melted, when the matter is well melted cast it into a deep picked Iron, Cornet, Cone, or Ingot, made hot and anointed with Wax and let it cool, you will find a small Regulus in the bottom, grained almost like the Antimonial Regulus.   

Oil, or Corrosive liquour of arsenic.  
BEat into Powder equal parts of Regulus of arsenic and Corrosive Sublimate, put them into a small Retort, place it in Sand, and give a gradual Fire, and force over a gummy liquour, which will distill like Butter of Antimony; this liquour hath the same properties with that of Antimony but it is more violent. When the Butter is raised change your Receiver, and increase the Fire a little, to make the Mercury come over, which distills into the Receiver alive and running; for the Spirits which held it before in the form of a Crystalline Salt, forsake it and betake them to the Regulus of arsenic.   

Tee fixed liquour of arsenic.  
BEat and mingle one pound of arsenic with two pounds of saltpeter, melt them in one or more large Crusibles leaving of each one third part empty, by reason of the great Ebullition; and for the same cause the Fire at the beginning, and for two hours must be moderate, but when the Ebullition ceases, augment and continue the Fire till the matter smoke no more, and till it be liquid like Oil in the bottom of the Crusible: Then cast it into an hot Mortar, and when it begins to cool beat it to Powder, and expose it to the moist Air that it may dissolve into a liquour, which filter and keep in a Vial. It is used against malignant Ulcers, from the POX, Cankrous or Fistulate, and it is mixed with proper Waters to diminish its force.    

CHAP. XX. Of Sulphur.  
SUlphur is a resin, or earthly Grease, mingled with an Acid and Vitriolick Salt. There are two sorts of it, the one they call quick, which is such as it comes out of the Earth; the other is common yellow Sulphur, which is taken out of the first by melting, or else out of Mineral-waters, from whence it is separated by Evaporating their humidity. You must make choice of that which is made up in small rolls being yellow, inclining towards green, casting a fair clear blew flamme, that goes not out, and leaves no earthiness behind it. Its internal use is principally for the Diseases of the Breast. It is also used against the Plague, because it resists putrefaction, and outwardly to resolve tumours, to heal the Itch, Scabs, Tetters, and other external Maladies. It is diversely prepared.  

Flowers of Sulphur.  
TAke a Body of good Earth, set it in a Furnace with an open Fire, yet so that it be encompassed well with day and Bricks, so that the Fire may neither appear nor breath out on high, but only through Holes or Registers, and the neck of the Body must be above the Furnace: Make a little Fire at first, that it may heat the bottom of the Body by little and little: afterwards put thereunto half a pound of powdered Sulphur, and immediately fit an Head to your Body without Luting it, and increase your Fire one degree; and when you see the alembic begins to fill with Flowers, be careful to continue your Fire in the same degree, for if the Fire be too hot the Sulphur that is already Sublimed will melt and fall down, and if the Fire be not strong enough, the Flowers cannot rise; when the Head is sufficiently full of Flowers, take it away, and at the same time set another in its place, and gathering out the Flowers empty this Head that it may be ready to set in the place of the other when it shall be full; and when you judge that your half pound of Sulphur is almost Sublimed, put another half pound into the Body, and continue your work with a regular Fire, changing your Head from time to time, collecting the Flowers, and putting new Sulphur in the Body, till you have a sufficient quantity of Flowers; and continue the Fire till there remain in the Body nothing but a very small quantity of light Earth. Note, that all the Sulphur rises in Flowers without any separation of any thing, save a little light Earth in very small quantity; so that this Sublimation is not properly a Purification but a Rarification only, whereby the Sulphur is divided into very small particles, more dissolvable in their Menstruums and more easy to mingle in Compositions, and more proper to be used in the Maladies of the Breast. The Dose of the Flowers is from 10 to 40 Grains, in a New-laid Egg, or any Confiture, Opiate, Extract or Conserve.   

The Acid Spirit of Sulphur.  
THE greatest part of these who have attempted any thing in chemical Operations have imagined that they could draw from Sulphur an Acid Spirit, not only in great quantity, but easily, and that by several Instruments which every one invented severally for his own use; but when their pretended Acid Spirit is well examined, it is found to be nothing but Phlegm, or a Spirit of Sulphur made with saltpeter. The true and most easy method is this.  
Provide a large well baked Vessel of gray Earth, in the midst whereof set a little Earthen Dish with the bottom upwards, and thereon place another more large, which must be of good Earth, and which will endure the Fire well, in which there is a pound of melted Sulphur, put into this Sulphur some burning ston Coals, such as are those of Liege, to kindle it, and cover the Earthen Vessel with a Bell Glass, either hanging on a Cord or supported by three small pieces of Glass, for the brim of the Bell-Glass must not touch immediately the Earthen Vessel, but must have the distance of a Fingers thickness round about, that the Sulphur may burn continually and not go out, and the smoky fumes of the Salphur may exhale, so that the Spirituous Acid Salt of Sulphur, may be rarefied and dissolved into liquour, and cleaving to the Bell, fall down thereupon drop by drop, into the Earthen Vessel. When the Sulphur is consumed put in more, and so continue this work till you have sufficient. Note, that you must moisten your Bell at first, and work this in a moist time, between the two Aequinoxes, if it may be. The properties of this Spirit differ not from those of the Spirit of Vitriol; some believe them to be more specific against the Plague itself. It is given in fops, and other liquours to the degree of an agreeable sharpness.   

Milk, or Magistery of Sulphur.  
TAke four ounces of Flower of Sulphur, two ounces of Salt of Tartar, and six pounds of Rain-water, put them all into a Stone-Pot, and boil them in a Sand-Furnace five or six hours; in this time the Sulphur will be dissolved and the liquour become read; filter it warm, and mingle it after it is filtered, with Water five or six pounds more, afterwards pour upon it by little and little some good distilled Vinegar, or other Acid in its stead; the liquour will be immediately turned into Milk, and the Magistery will be precipitated by little and little to the bottom of the Vessel, decant off the liquour which swims above, and sweeten the Powder by many washings with hot Water, after dry it and keep it.  
The use of this Magistery is like that of the Flowers, but the Dose is less, because it is more open; and five Grains of this Powder avail more than ten of the Flowers, and ten Grains of the Flowers more than twenty Grains of common Sulphur.   

balsam of Sulphur.  
PUT into a Bolts-head two ounces of Flowers of Sulphur, and pour thereon eight ounces of Oil of Turpentine well rectified, set your Bolts-head on Sand, and give it a small Fire at the beginning, and increasing by little and little till your Sulphur be dissolved, which will be done in four or five hours in a sufficiently moderate heat: the Oil of Turpentine will be tinged with a Ruby colour, and will dissolve all the Sulphur; but whilst the Vessel cools, one part of the Sulphur, which the Oil cannot hold up in its liquid form, re-incorporates or congeals again. You must pour out that which is clear and read into a Viol, and keep it well stopped.  
This Oil cures the Ulcers of the Lungs, it is good against the Plague, and against all contagious Diseases, both to heal and preserve them. Its Dose is from 5 to 15 drops in some convenient liquour. An excellent Oil for outward uses may be made with Oil of Linseed, instead of Oil of Turpentine, and this Oil is incomparable both for healing Contusions and Ulcers, for it is an Anodine and sweetens the Acrimony of humours.    

CHAP. XXI. Of ambergris.  
ambergris is a sort of balsam, rising from the bottom of the Sea altogether liquid, but it is congealed and hardened by the coagulative Spirit of the Sea-Salt, and Rays of the Sun, it is commonly found on the Indian Sea-shore. It is not always of an equal goodness, nor of the same colour, which proceeds from the lesser or greater impurities it meets with in its congelation. The best is gray inclining to yellow, of a sweet and fragrant odour, and melting easily in heat. ambergris is one of the noblest works of Nature, and needs no great preparation, producing such as it is unprepared great effects, both for strengthening the Heart, Stomach, and Brain, and for refreshing the Vital and Animal Spirits. But its Bituminous quality hindering it from mixing easily with watery liquours, we to obtain our design therein and reduce it to an Essence as follows.  

Essence of ambergris.  
TAke two Drams of good ambergris, and one Scruple of good Levant Musk, powder them well, and put them into a Bolts-head, and pour on them four ounces of good Spirit of Wine, fit to your Bolts-head another lesser, Lute well the joints, and set it to digest in Horse-dung moderately hot for some days, then whilst it is yet hot pour off the tinged Wine, for this Essence congeals of itself, and melts again with the least warmth of the hand: It augments Seed, and makes man or woman capable for Generation; it is taken from 10 to 15 drops in Spanish Wine, or Meath, or other liquour.    

CHAP. XXII. Of Karabe, or Amber.  
KArabe usually called Yellow Amber, or Succinum, is a Rosin or Bitumen very pure and well digested, which distills out of the Veins of the earth into the Sea, where it is hardened by the congelative Spirit of the Sea-Salt; there are of it several sorts, of which the white is best, next to it the yellow, and the black after the yellow. It is used in Powder without other preparation, for Catharres, Gonorrhea's and Whites; but reduced into Oil, and Volatile Salt, it obtains thereby very great virtues, as we shall after show.  

Distillation of Amber.  
TAke three pound of Amber grossly beaten, put it into a large Retort, leaving it half empty, set it in a sand-Furnace, and fit thereto a large Receiver; lute the joints very exactly, and give it gradual heat: there comes over first a Phlegm, then a Spirit, and after an oil and volatile Salt mingled confusedly: increase and continue the Fire till nothing more come over, then let all cool, and take away the Receiver; you will find in the Retort a black matter like Asphaltum: poure into your Receiver about two pound of hot water, and shake it well together with all the substances found in it, to the end that the volatile Salt sticking to the sides of the Receiver or mingled in the oil may be dissolved therein: after pour all out into a glass Viol, and separate the oil from the Water, containing in it the volatile Salt and spirit of Amber.   

The Rectification of the oil of Amber.  
MIngle the oil separated from the other matters, with so many sifted ashes as will suffice to drink it up, and make a pretty dry mass; then put this mass into a Retort, and distil it in a pretty gentle fire: the first oil that comes over will be pretty fair and clear, you must keep it apart for internal uses: continue and increase the fire by little and little to raise your read oil; when no more comes over, cease your fire, and keep your oils severally. The first is excellent against the Apoplexy, epilepsy, palsy, and all the Diseases of the Mother, and against the retention of Urine: its Dose is from three to ten drops, in any proper liquour: the read oil may be used in Unguents and plasters; it fortifies the Nerves, and dissipates Swellings; and it is with good success rubbed into paralytic Members.   

The Sublimation and Purification of the Volatile Salt of Amber.  
TAke the aforesaid liquour separated from the oil, which contains in it the Phlegm, Spirit, and volatile Salt of Amber; filter it, to separate the oily substance the better from it: and put it into a Bolts head with a long neck, and pour thereon drop by drop good Spirit of Salt, which will cause a great boiling up in the glass, because of the action it hath upon the volatile Salt of Amber; for this Salt is nigh to the nature of the volatile Salt of Animals: when the ebullition is over, put the liquour into a Body, and cover it with an head, and distilling it in a sand-Furnace, draw off the insipid water; for the volatile Salt of Amber hath by re-action killed the acidity of the Spirit of Salt, and abides with it in the Stills bottom: after all the insipid water is come over, augment your fire one degree, to cause your Salt to sublime, which rises and cleaves partly to the head, and partly to the top of the body of your Still. Let your Vessel cool, and gather carefully the volatile Salt, which will be very subtle and penetrant, and will have the taste of sublimed Sal armoniac. But to make it yet more subtle, you must mingle it with equal quantity of pure Salt of Tartar, and put this mixture in a small body and head, and sublime it in a sand-Furnace, and the Salt of Tartar will retain with it all the spirit of Salt which was united and incorporated with the Salt of Amber in the first sublimation: and this Salt thus re-sublimed will be very pure and white as Snow, and must be kept in a Viol, very exactly well stopped, for it is so penetrant and volatile, that it cannot be long kept without much trouble.  
Both these Salts are used against all Obstructions in the Body, against the palsy and retention of Urine, and against the jaundice; it evacuates strongly by Sweat and Urine; The Dose of the former is from 20 grains to a dram, but the second( which is purified to an higher degree) is given only from 4 to 15 grains, in some agreeable liquour.  
We will here finish the Section of Minerals, being assured that those who well understand the process of the Preparations which we have described, will be capable of an infinite of others which we thought not pertinent to be mentioned.     

SECTION II. Of Vegetables.  
NOw that we have shown the preparation of Minerals, in the most clear manner that possibly we can, we now prepare to do the same in Vegetables, entire, or in parts, such as are, Roots, Wood, Barks, Rosin, Gum, and other Excrescences, Leaves, Flowers, Seeds, and Fruits: and albeit the Family of Vegetables be extended almost to an infinity, we will be content by sufficient Examples to show all their principal Preparations; and that we may proceed therein orderly, we will begin with Roots, which are the inferior part of Plants, and we will rise from thence gradually to their tops. All Vegetables, whole or parts, may be reduced by Fire into their five distinct Substances; but in regard this cannot be done without leaving bad impressions on their Spirits and oils, Artists have found out other ways, and have contented themselves by means of some Menstruums to draw out from them what is best, and not to amuse themselves in an exact separation of all their parts, of which the most are unprofitable.  

CHAP. I. Of Jalap Root.  
JAlap is a root the Ancients knew not, which comes from the Indies. It ought to be weighty, in colour betwixt gray and black, and resinous veins ought to appear in it when broken, it is of a sharp and biting taste. But its principal virtue consists in its Resinous substance, which is separated, as follows.  
Put eight ounces of powdered Jalap into a bolts-head, and pour thereon good Spirit of Wine to the height of four fingers above it, close it well, and set it to digest in B. M. for two or three dayes; in the mean time the Spirit of Wine will be tinged of a violet colour, decant it off into another Vessel, and pour on fresh Spirit of Wine, digest and decant as before, and do this the third time; then mingle and filter all the tinctures, and put them into a great glazed earthen Vessel, and pour thereon three or four pound of pure Water, which will break the Spirit of Wine, and force it to let fall the resinous substance of the Jalap, which it held dissolved, which by little and little precipitates to the bottom and sides of the Vessel: pour off the Water into a Body, and draw off the Spirit of Wine by Distillation; it may serve as formerly for like occasions: wash well the resin with clean Water, to take from it the odour of the Spirit of Wine, then dry it in the Sun, or with a gentle heat, and when you would use it, reduce it into an impalpable Powder. The Jalap which remains is light and insipid as ashes, whence the Salt is extracted.  
The resin of Jalap purges Serosities, and therefore is used with happy success in Dropsies, and all Diseases which come of abundance of Serosities: It's Dose is from five to fifteen grains, in some Conserve, or Extract made up into a Bolus, or in Powder, with Tartar vitriolate; but the safest way is to powder this resin, and beating it together with Almonds, or the could Seeds to dissolve it in an Emulsion thereof, or in the yolk of an Egg in some broth, to sweeten the acrimony of this resin, and to divide its parts, and hinder them from fastening to the Tunicles of the Stomach or entrails: which is many times the cause of super-purgations. The same precaution may also be used in the administration of other Resinous Remedies taken from Scamony, agaric, Turbith, and others, whose preparations ought to be like this of Jalap.   

CHAP. II. Extract of black Hellebore.  
THis Preparation will serve for a Model for the Extracts of all other Roots, whose principal substance is a juice dissolvable in Water, such as are Mechoacan, the root of Esula, wild cucumber, Rhubarb, and others. Take one pound of black Hellebore roots, dry or green, beaten grossly, put them in a Body, and pour on them five or six pound of distilled rain Water, and cover the Body with a blind Head, and digest in hot Sand two days; strain the liquour through a linen cloth, and squeeze the residence a little, whereon put fresh water and digest as before; after strain, mix with the former, and filter it, and evaporate it in an earthen vessel to the consistence of an Extract, which must be kept in a Pot well covered.  
This Remedy is used in all Diseases which come of Melancholy. It is seldom given alone, but mixed with some Purgative, because taken alone it works violently up and down, but so mixed it purges only downward. The Dose is from 12 to 30 Grains.   

CHAP. III. The Extract of Angelica, and Conservation of all its virtue.  
PUT six pound of good white-wine on one pound of beaten Angelica root in a Body, cover it with a blind Head, and digest it in a vaperous Bath for two or three days, then take away your blind Head, and set to an Head and a Receiver, and lute well the joints; then begin to distill with a gentle heat in B. M. and continue till you have drawn off about three pounds of Water, which will contain what ever is volatile in the Angelica; keep this Water in a Viol well stopped: let your Vessels cool, strain and press strongly out what remains in the Body, and clarify it by a tongue-filtre, and after evaporate it in a glazed earthen Vessel in a Stove-heat of B. M. to the consistence of an Extract: calcine what remains in the press, reduce it to Ashes, make thereof a lie with filter, and evaporate to a Salt, and join it to the Extract, which keep in a Vessel well stopped. This Extract is a true Cordial and bezoarick: it is opening and penetrant, and causes Sweat; it provokes the Terms, helps against the suffocation of the Mother, resists poison, and the Plague, especially if it be taken in its own Water. Its Dose is from 10 to 30 Grains; the Water contains no less virtues than the Extract, for it includes the more volatile and noble part of this root.  
In this manner you may draw the Water, Extract and Salt of all Roots, which abound in a sulphureous and volatile Salt, which may be known by their aromatic and fiery scent and taste: such are the Valerian, Masterwort, Mea or Spignel, the Carluce Thistle, Calamus Aromaticus, Zedoary, Galangal, and such like.   

CHAP. IV. Of Rose-wood, or lignum Rodium.  
WE will give only two Examples of the preparation of Wood, which may serve for all others. The first shall be of Lignum Rodium, or Rose-wood, which contains two profitable Substances, the one Spiritous and watery, the other Sulphurous and oily, and both these Substances very Sable and Volatile; so that they must be distilled with a Worm or Refrigerant. The second sort shall be of the Wood Guiacum, which contains also two volatile substances, a Spiritous and oily one, both which are closely united to their Body, and cannot well be separated from it, but by the stronger heat of a Retort. For the first, choose the weightiest, and best scented Rose-wood, raspe it finely, and put four pound of it with one of Saltpetre into an Earthen Pot, and poure thereon ten pound of Rain-water, let it soak therein eight or ten days, and stir it from time to time; by this means the Saltpetre will penetrate the Sulphurous parts of the Wood, and dispose them to separate: After, put all with ten pound of water more in a Copper Still, placed in its Furnace, with its Refrigerant and Receiver fitted thereto; lute well the Joints, and distil gradually the Spirituous Water and Essential oil, which come over together confusedly; and note that this oil falls to the Bottom of the Water, contrary to the most part of other distilled oils; continue your distillation till your waters come over Tasteless, and forget not to refresh your Refrigerant with change of water many times during your distillation; which being ended, decant your Spirituous water from your oil, which you will find in the bottom of your Receiver in very small quantity, keep it apart. This oil and Water are principally used for Perfumes; and not taken inwardly as safely, yet they may.  
All Wood which hath in it a Sulphurous sweet scented and subtle Substance, as the yellow Stantal or Sanders, Sassafras and others, may be distilled in the same manner.   

CHAP. V. Of Guiacum Wood, and its Reduction into five different Substances.  
THis single Operation will show the Reader the means to reduce Vegetables into Phlegm, Spirit, oil, Salt and Earth. Take four pound of the Raspings of the Wood Guiacum, put them in a well luted Retort of gray Earth or Glass, set it in a close reverberating Furnace, and fit to it a large Receiver unluted, and give it fire gradually, there comes first over an insipid Phlegm, and after a volatile Spirit, which when you perceive by it, a pungent taste to come, put away the Phlegm into another Vessel, and keep it apart, and fit your Receiver again to your Retort, and new lute the joints well, that none of the Spirit be lost, which is very penetrant: neither must you press it by too strong a fire, for it will either press through the joints of the Vessel or break the Receiver: and in this and all other Distillations of Volatile Spirits, the Artist had need of Patience and Dexterity, if he will not lose that he seeks for: maintain your fire in a very moderate state for seven or eight hours, after increase it by little and little, and continue it till all the Spirit and oil be come over: These two Substances come over together; but after the Vessels are could, and the Receiver taken away, they may be easily separated: pour all that is in the Receiver into a Tunnel lined with filtering Paper and set in a Viol, the Spirit will pass through the Paper, and the oil will remain behind; set your Tunnel on another Viol, and making an hole in your Paper let the oil run into the Viol, which you must keep apart.  
The Retort contains but the remains of the Wood reduced to a Coal, which put in an open Vessel on hot Coals, and burn it to ashes, from which( as from all other ashes) you shall draw the Salt by Dissolution, Filtration and Evaporation, as we shall teach you where we show the manner of Extracting Salt Alkali from Vegetables. After the Salt is separated there remain some insipid ashes, which they call the damned Earth. The Spirit unrectified will serve to wash cankerous, Fistulate and Corroding Ulcers; but is very biteing, and may be tempered with its Phlegm which came over at the beginning of the Distillation. It is rectified in B M. with a body, that it may be used internally against the Pox, for it chaseth out that venom by Urine and Sweat, and sometimes by insensible Transpiration: its Dose is from twenty drops to a Dragm in some specific Decoction: the oil is rectified by mingling it with ashes and putting it in a Retort in a Sand-Furnace, and drawing off a clear oil freed partly from its ingrateful scent, the ashes retaining what is more gross in the said oil: It is used against the epilepsy, to facilitate Womens Deliverance, and to bring away the after-Birth. Its Dose is from three to six Drops in some liquour: it may be used unrectified to scale Bones, to heal old Ulcers and Nodes, and to put with Cotton into rotten Teeth, in which it cauterizes the Nerve and so makes it insensible of Pain. All Wood, as Juniper, Box, Lime-tree and all the rest may be distilled as Guiacum.   

CHAP. VI. Of the Distillation of the Spirituous Water and Essential oil of Cinnamon.  
WE will address ourselves( without insisting on its Description) to the Separation of the spiritous and oily substance of Cinnamon, whose Preparation will serve us for example in other aromatic Barks, as of Citron, Oranges, &c. As also of Nutmegs, Cloves, Pepper and other Spiceries. Take four pounds of Cinnamon of a read colour, strong and sweet scent, of a pungent and a little astringent taste, beat it grossly, and put it into a gray Earthen Pot, pour thereon two pound of rain-water, with half a pound of Saltpetre, to help its Penetration during its maceration, which must be for four days, which being ended empty all the matter into a tinned Copper Body, adding thereto twelve pounds of water; place the Still in its Furnace, and fit to it its Refrigerant and Receiver, luteing well their joints: give from the beginning a pretty good fire, to help the oil to come over with the Spirits, but not too great, that they may not be dissipated; and this Observation is general, that the Sulphurous parts are strongly fixed in the Body of the Spices, and are separated from them with difficulty, but they are also easily dissipated after their separation; you must therefore distil them in such manner that one drop do readily follow another, and continue that degree till the Water which comes over have no more strength: change your Water carefully now and then in the Refrigerant, during the Distillation, that the Spirits may the better condense and not evaporate: when the Distillation is ended, separate the spirituous oil, which settles at the bottom of the Recipient, in very small quantity, for you will hardly draw half an ounce of oil from four pounds of Cinnamon, which half ounce contains in it the principal Virtue of all the quantity of Cinnamon whence it was drawn; so that one single drop is sufficient to impregnate a great quantity of liquour with its Virtue: but to mingle it( as other aethercal oils) more easily with liquours, they make thereof a sugared oil, mingling it with powdered Sugar, whereby it being divided into imperceptible parts, they are mixed with the Water, and cannot after be united into an oily Substance.  
This oil provokes the Terms, speeds the Birth, refreshes the Spirits, sharpens Digestion; it is used in Faintings, and the Diseases of the Stomach and Mother, which proceed of a could cause; the Dose is half a drop in any liquour. The Water obtains almost the same properties, but it acts not with the same efficacy: its Dose is from one to two Spoonfuls.  
Note that other Barks and Spices afford a greater quantity of oil, of which the greater part swims on the Water, and is separated by a thread of cotton, as we shall show in the Distillation of Wormwood-oyl.  
The residence may be dried, and reduced to ashes, that the Sal alkali may be extracted out of it; but as these Salts differ not in their Virtues from other sorts of vegetable alkalies, we shall not insist at all on their description.  

Another Cinnamon-Water.  
THey that desire onely a good Cinnamon-Water, without regard to the oil, for which a greater quantity of Cinnamon was needful, must prepare it as follows. Take four ounces of good Cinnamon well bruised, and put it into a Body, and pour thereon Bugloss, borage and Balm-water, a. eight ounces, cover the Body with a blind Head, digest in a slow beat 2 dayes, then put in its place a Head and Receiver, and distil till there remain in the bottom of the Still not more than a third of the Waters, which shall be emptied of the Spirituous substance of the Cinnamon. The use of this Water is the same as the former, but it is more cordial.   

The Tincture and Extract of Cinnamon.  
ALmost all Barks contain in them a Resinous and Sulphureous substance, which constitutes their principal Virtue: to separate this internal Substance from its gross Body, we must employ spirituous and sulphureous Menstruums, such as Spirit of Wine, and other Vegetable burning Spirits: we will give an Example in Cinnamon, which will serve for all other Barks. Put four ounces of good well-bruised Cinnamon in a Bolts-head, and pour thereon one pound of good Spirit of Wine; fit well another Bolts-head to this, to make a Vessel for Digestion, close well the joints, and let them digest three or four dayes in a gentle heat; the Spirit of Wine will fill itself with the substance of the Cinnamon, and will tinge it of a fair read; pour off and separate the Tincture, filter and keep it in a viol well stopped.  
If you would reduce this Tincture into the form of an Extract, put it in a small Body, and lute well thereto an Head and Receiver, and distil off the Spirit of Wine, which will be impregnate with the volatile substance of the Cinnamon, and the Extract will remain in the bottom of the Body in the form of hony.  
The Tincture refreshes the Spirits, fortifies the Stomach, thins and dissolves all viscous matter more than the simplo Cinnamon Water: its Dose is half a Spoonful in some appropriate liquour. The Extract strengtheners the Stomach more than any other Remedy made out of Cinnamon, because it contains in it a part of the fixed Salt, and of the subtler Earth, which hath a restringent power. The Spirit of Wine drawn from the Extract is impregnate with the Spirit of Cinnamon, and may be mingled in liquours for the use of weak Persons, for it is very comfortable, and helps Digestion.    

CHAP. VII. The Distillation of the Ethereal oil and balsam of Turpentine.  
WE place the chemical Preparation of Rosins and Tears issuing from the Bodies of Trees, after that of Barks; and begin with the Distillation of Turpentine. Put four pounds of Turpentine in a large Retort, whereof three four parts must be left empty, place it in a sand-Furnace, fit a Receiver to it, and begin your Distillation with a slow Fire: there rises first a volatile Spirit, and subtle oil clear as Rock-Water; but after you have drawn ten or twelve ounces, fail not to empty what is come over into a Viol, and putting to the Receiver again, and luting the joints, a yellow oil will come over, of which you may draw also ten or twelve ounces, and empty that apart into a Viol, and then setting to the Receiver the third time, and increasing the Fire by little and little, the read oil will come over, which is the Balm; and when it begins to thicken put out your Fire, else it will be over-thick, and that which remains in the Retort will be charked, but in case you keep no more Fire to it, it will be good clolophonia.  
The watery Spirit mingled with the first ethereal oil, contains in it part of the volatile Salt of Turpentine, it contains also in it an acidity capable of dissolving Stones; but we will speak thereof more largely in the Chapter of Gum Ammoniac, which aboundeth in this Spirit more than other Tears and Resines.  
The ethereal oil must be separated from the Spirit by a Tunnel: it is used in attenuating and dissolving the Gravel in the Reins and Bladder, it provokes Urine, and helps in Gonorrhea's and Ulcers in the neck of the Bladder: its Dose is from five to fifteen drops in some agreeable liquour.  
The yellow and read oil differ not from the former, but their strong smell is the cause they are not used save outwardly in ill-thriven Members, Scyrrous Tumours, and old Ulcers.  
The Colophonia is the more earthly part of the Turpentine, it consolidates and dries, its principal use is in plasters.  
The same circumstances may be observed in distilling mastic, Olibanum, Gum Elemmi, Tacamacha, Sandarat, Ladanum, Storax and Benjamin: but this last, in that it abounds in a volatile Salt which separates with the least heat of Fire, we will handle apart in a particular Chapter.   

CHAP. VIII. Of the Sublimation of the Flowers of Benjamin, and Distillation of its oil.  
PUT four ounces of good Benjamin in a pot glazed within, and having a Rabet or Crest, and fit thereto a picked Coronet, or Cone of Paper well glued together, and a Foot high, whose opening must be proportionable to the pots mouth, that it enclose it, and be tied with a pack-thread round about the Crest or ledge of the pot; which place on a sand-Furnace, and give it a small Fire; for this sulphureous and subtle Salt rises easily when the Benjamin begins to melt; continue the Fire in the same degree, and about half an hour after loose the coronet or cone, and gather the Flowers with a feather which are risen, and nimbly set a fresh cone or coronet in the place of this, which you must keep in readiness for that end when you remove the first, and continue the same Fire, and change again your cone or coronet, and gather the Flowers every half hour, till you observe that the Flowers begin to turn oily, then cease your Fire, and gather and keep your Flowers carefully.  
These Flowers are given in Diseases of the Lungs and Breast, and to them that are Asthmatick: The Dose is from four grains to six in any Conserve or Losenge.   

CHAP. IX. Of the Distillation of Gum Ammoniac.  
THis Gum is produced by a sort of Fern ( ferula) which they call the Ammoniac-bearer, to distinguish it from the other sorts, which produce Galbanum, Sagapenum, Opopanax, and Euphorbium, in all which Gums the same method of operation may be observed, which differs not from that of Rosins and Tears; but these sorts of Gums are filled with plenty of volatile Salt and Spirit, wherefore we handle them apart.  
Take one pound of good Gum Ammoniac in drops, and put it into a great Retort, so that three fourth parts thereof may remain empty, for as soon as it begins to melt with heat, it puffs up greatly, fit to it a large Receiver, and lute the joints exactly, and proceed gradually in your Distillation. An oil comes over, and plenty of Spirit, and that which remains in the Retort, is mightily rarefied, black as a coal, and of no value. Separate the Spirit from the oil by a tunnel lined with paper, as you are taught above.  
The Spirit possesses very great Virtues, which proceed onely from the volatile Salt which is contained in it. But in that it is mingled also with an Acid, which hinders its activity, and diminishes its Virtue, I will give you the means to separate these two Spirits capable to produce very different effects. Take one ounce of Coral, or Crabs eyes, or other stony matter in powder, and having put them in a Retort large enough, pour upon them eight ounces of this Spirit, set your Retort in a sand-Furnace, fit unto it a large Receiver, and lute the joints exactly, after give it a very small fire, that the acid Spirit may by little and little be applied unto the Coral, which will retain it till the sulphureous Spirit be distilled over into the Receiver, and rises first of all; but afterwards there ascends a stinking phlegm which must not be mingled with this Spirit, and may be distinguished by its piquant taste; which so soon as you perceive to cease, take away the Receiver, empty what is in it, and keep it carefully in a well-stopped Viol. This is a great Remedy for purifying the mass of the Blood, to heal the Scurvy, and cure all Obstructions: it is used also against the palsy inwardly, and the oil outwardly, mingled in Unguents: It is also a specific against the Plague, and all Diseases arising from putrefaction: its Dose is from six to twenty drops in some proper liquour.  
The oil resolves and softens the Scirrhus and hardness of the Spleen, dissipates Nodes, and is useful in the hysterick Passion: and all these good effects proceed from its volatile Salt, with which it is intimately mingled.   

CHAP. X. Of the Preparation of Aloes.  
ALoes is a very bitter juice which they bring us from Arabia, in a solid Form in skins. The more impure is called Caballin, the mean sort is called Hepatique, and the best is called Succatrine, which ought to be neat, glittering, and of an high and lively colour, and of this you are to make use. Its principal Virtues are to purge gently Phlegm by strengthening the Stomach, to kill Worms, and resist Corruption. It is purified by dissolving it in distilled Waters, or in juice of Roses, Violets, or other, and after filtering and coagulating it, as we here teach. Take and put half a pound of Aloes Succatrine in a glass Body, and pour thereon one pound and an half of juice of Violets, put on a blind Head, and set it in digestion 48 hours, in which time the Aloes will be dissolved in the juice, and if there be any earthy part therein, it will sink to the bottom; decant the Solution, and filter it, after that evaporate it in a glazed dish over a vaporous Bath, and reduce it into a mass. Of this you may make Pills of the weight of six or eight grains, of which take one half an hour before Supper, to loosen the Belly sweetly, and to evacuate( almost insensibly) the gravel and viscous matter in the Stomach: there are made of it also small Pills of the bigness of a Pins head, which they call Pills of Frankford: this mass is termed Aloes violata, as that dissolved in juice of Roses is called Rosata.  

Extract Panchymagogon.  
AFter that of Aloes, we will insert here the Extract Panchymagogon, which is commonly the base of all purgative Extracts, because this Preparation may serve for example to all the other compound Extracts.  
Take the pulp of Coloquintida ℥ jss, Agaric, Scamony, a. ℥ j, black Hellebore ℥ ij, Powder of Diarrhodon Abbatis ℥ ss, Aloes succatrine ℥ x. Bruise the black Hellebore, chop the pulp of Coloquintida, put them together into a Bolts-head, and pour upon them good Spirit of Wine, to four fingers height, stop well the mouth of the Bolts-head, and in another put the Powder of Diarrhodon Abbatis apart, and pour thereon also Spirit of Wine to the same height; chop also the Agaric, and bruise the Scamony, and put on them an excellent Spirit of Wine, which may extract their Rosinous substance; keep the Aloes apart, and put the three Bolts-heads well stopped in digestion on hot ashes for three dayes, during which the Menstruums will fill themselves with the inward Virtues of these grosser Substances; decant off the Tinctures each apart in a several Viol, and put new Menstruums on the matters remaining in the Bolts-heads, and set them again to digest, so the Menstruums will draw out whatever of good there is in them: after mingle all your Tinctures of Hellebore, Diarrhodon, and Coloquintida, and put the Aloes thereto which you kept apart, and digest them in a slow heat for eight hours, and your Aloes will be dissolved, save only some earthy part; filter your Solution through Paper, and the Tinctures of Agaric and Scamony, and set them all together in B. M. in an alembic well luted with its Receiver, and distil off about 3 fourth parts of the Spirit of Wine, which may serve again for the same use; empty what remains in your alembic into a glazed earthen dish, and proceed to evaporate it in B. M. to a consistence fit to be made into Pills.  
This is a very good purgative, and evacuates sweetly what is superfluous in the Body: its Dose is from 5 to 30 grains.  
It may be made specific for Venereous Diseases by adding thereto one third part of Mercurius dulcis.    

CAAP. XI. Of the Preparation of Opium.  
OPium is condensed Poppy-juyce: the best comes from Thebes, and is drawn by slashing the Poppy heads when they are almost ripe, and this is much to be preferred above the juice which is wrung forth by the Press from the whole Plant, which is called Meconium: but the first being very rare, we make use of the other, which must be chosen black, compact of an offensive smell, and soporiferous, sharp and bitter in taste, flaming at the Fire, but not with a black flamme, dissolvable in Water, and its solution must be brown and not yellow, and being broken it ought to glitter within. Its easiest and best Preparation is this: Cut it into very thin and small slices, and spread them on a broad earthen glazed dish, and set them on a small-coal fire, and stir the Opium frequently, which grows soft at first, and after hardens by little and little, the fire must be continued till it may be crumbled betwixt the Fingers; in the interim the hurtful fumes of it must be avoided, which proceed from the narcotic, stinking, and malign Sulphur of Opium. Put your Opium thus torrified into a Bolts-head, and put thereon distilled May-dew, four fingers high, stop the Bolts-head, and set it in Digestion in B. M. four days, in that time the Menstruum will be filled with the best substance of the Opium, and will have a reddish brown Colour; pour off the Tincture into another Vessel, and put on fresh distilled due on the remaining matter, to complete the Extraction of what purity it hath; after filter the whole, and evaporate it in B. M. to the consistence of an Extract; by this means you shall obtain a well-prepared Opium, discharged of all its narcotic Sulphur and Earthiness, which you may use in occasions wherein it is commonly employed.  
Its principal Virtues are to pacify irritated Spirits, to provoke sleep, to stay the immoderate fluxes of the Belly, to sweeten the acrimony of Humours: it is used after general Remedies against defluxions on the Breast, against hysterick Diseases, to appease the torments of the Gout, and other internal pains, taken by the mouth, and applied outwardly; the dose is from half a grain to two grains.  
Authors give divers descriptions and preparations of Laudanum. Some prepare Opium with Vinegar, or other acids, but acids having a contrariety to the internal sulphureous volatile and saline part, which gives unto Opium its principal virtue, they wholly destroy it; others make an Extract with the Spirit of Wine, which they afterwards draw off by Distillation; But inasmuch as the Spirit of Wine doth mingle itself intimately with the particles of the Opium, which agree with its sulphureous nature, and carry them away with it in the Distillation, that which remains in the bottom is nothing but an earthly substance, deprived of all its principal virtues; this happens not in the use of due, which is a light and subtle Menstruum, which evaporates with the gentlest heat, without taking away any thing of the virtue of the Body wherewith it is mixed. Therefore I recommend to the Reader this simplo Preparation, of which he may make use as of a good Laudanum, which may be made specific against the risings of the Mother by addition of a drop of oil of Amber, and against other Diseases by commixture of proper Remedies, or agreeable Vehicles.   

CHAP. XII. Of Leaves and their Preparations.  
LEaves and Stalks of Plants contain in them divers Substances, as other parts, and differ not onely in their natural mixture, but in this also, that one or other principle is predominant in the one or the other: and this obliges us to give thereof sundry Examples, to make known the diversity of their Preparation, according to their divers predominant principles. First, we will treat of those which abound with Phlegm, and are almost insipid; such are the Purslane, the Lettuce, Pellitory of the Wall, Garden-Nightshade, &c. Secondly, those which contain much Phlegm, with a tartarous Salt,( which gives them an acrid taste) which have no scent; of which sort are the several kinds of Sorrel, and such like. In the third place, those which have a bitter taste, and abound with a nitrous and tartarous Salt, and have no scent, as Carduus, Succory, Hops, Fumitory, &c. In the fourth place, those which abound in a volatile sulphureous Substance, subtle and airy, as are Marjoram, Rosemary, Sage, Time, Organy, and an infinity of others. We will give you five Examples which will serve in general for drawing from all Plants whatever of good they contain.   

CHAP. XIII. Of Lettuce.  
LEttuce and other herbs which are nigh thereunto in their nature, do readily yield what good they contain, when their leaves are full of juice, and ready to shoot up into shalks. Beat then a good quantity of them in a Marble Mortar, and press out the juice from them so ordered, let it stand for some hours, that the more gross parts may settle, pour off the more clear into a glass Body, and if you have ten pounds of juice, distil thence six pounds of Water in a sand-Furnace, which will be much and incomparably better than that which the greater part of covetous and ignorant Apothecaries draw with addition of store of Water, in a brass Refrigerant, which cannot but have the very hurtful qualities which it draws from the brass, and it were better to give Fountain, than such Water unto the sick.  
Take the juice which remains in the Body, and put it through a cloth-strainer to clarify it, and evaporate it to the consistence of a Rob, whereto you may add a little Sugar to keep it the better: you may make use of this Rob dissolved in its own Water, and thereof compose somniferous and refrigerating Remedies for choleric Diseases: Its Dose is from one to two drams in five or six ounces of its own Water: these Juleps are better than those wherein they mix many ounces of Syrups, whose Sugar may cause new fermentations.  

Another Distillation of Lettuces, and other juicy Herbs.  
THe great use of distilled Waters hath forced the Artists to invent a sort of tinned Cauldron, large and flat, whereon they set an head of fine Pewter fitted to the Cauldron, of which, and its Furnace, we will here give you the plainest description we can possibly.  
Cause a brick Furnace to be built, square without, and round within, of about two foot Diameter above, with four holes and Registers at the four corners, an ash-hole, grace and hearth, and made from the grace up to the top taper like a basket, for the better governing the fire: your Furnace being thus framed, cause a Cauldron to be made of iron plates, of a flat bottom, and of the height of six or seven inches, with a small bordure of a breadth proportionable to the Diameter of the Furnace, so that it join not wholly to the walls of the Furnace, that the heat may be communicated quiter round: place also two iron bars across the Furnace, about eight or nine inches above the grace, to support the iron Cauldron, which you shall set in the Furnace, and lute it round about to the Bordure, so that the top of the Furnace, save the four Registers may be all fast and closed; this being done, prepare also a Cauldron of Copper tinned, flat in the bottom, and proportionable to the wideness of the iron Cauldron, so that it may be set within it without touching its sides at the distance of half an inch: this Cauldron needs not be above eight or ten inches high: in this Vessel we put the herbs to be distilled; this Cauldron must have an head of Pewter, of a flattish round top fitted to it, and when you would distil any herb, first put sand to the height of an inch and an half in the iron Cauldron, then set your Copper Cauldron upon the sand, and fill it almost quiter up to the top with whole leaves, cover it with its head, fit to its Receiver, and give fire by little and little, till the Water distil drop by drop, and then keep that degree, till all the moisture of the leaves reduced into vapour be condensed into Water, and that the leaves be so dry that they may be powdered: so you shall draw a Water impregnate with the smell and virtue of the Plant; for the sand interposed hinders the violent action of the Fire, which otherwise would burn the Herbs too much, and cause the Water to taste of burning. This Instrument is not only proper to draw Water off from all juycy Herbs( except the acid) but also from Flowers, as Roses, lilies, Water-lillies, wild Poppies, and others. The Herbs which remain after the Water is drawn off, may be burnt to ashes, and the Salt extracted; but being that Plants contain little Salt, or none at all, till they attain their perfect maturity, that is, in the time betwixt their Flower and Seed; we advice not to seek for fixed Salt in tender Herbs. This Instrument with its Furnace is represented in the third Table.    

CHAP. XIV. Of the Distillation of Sorrel.  
BEing that all Sorrels abound in Phlegm and essential acid Salt, we will show the way to separate these two Substances. Take a good quantity of Sorrel, whilst yet all its virtue is in its leaves, and draw from it the juice, and let it settle one day, that its gross impurities may fall to the bottom; pour off the clear into one or more Glass bodies, and distil off about two third parts in B. M. strain the juice which remains in the bottom of the Body, through a cloth-strainer to purify it; then put it into a Body, then draw off the superfluous moisture in B. M. till that which remains in the bottom come to the consistence of a Rob: then put the Glass body in a cellar for some dayes, and you will find part of the juice turned into a Salt figured like Tartar; decant the liquour off which swims on the top, and dry the essential Salt; Let this liquour evaporate a little more in a cellar again, and part of it will again be chrystallized into Salt, which put to the former: and being this Salt is also mixed with impurities, dissolve it in its own Water distilled, filter and cause it to evaporate, and chrystallize as before, and you shall have the essential Salt of this Plant, wherein its principal virtue consists; this Salt opens the obstructions of the Liver and Spleen, it rests putrefaction, quenches thirst, recovers the Appetite, strengtheners the Stomach; it is used with good success in Fevers: its Dose is from 20 grains to a dram, in its own Water, or Broth. If you please you may evaporate the juice to the consistence of an Extract, which hath almost the same Virtues.   

CHAP. XV. Of the Blessed Thistle.  
THe Blessed Thistle, and all other sorts of Thistles, with Fumitory, Succory, and such like, which have almost no scent, and are of a bitter taste, approaching towards a sour, contain store of Phlegm, and a nitrous essential Salt; and we will show the separation of these two substances, rejecting the rest as of little profit.  
Having store of the Blessed Thistle when it is ready to shoot out its stalk, pound it in a marble Mortar, and juice, settle, and distil it, as we have taught in the last Chapter, and you shall have a Water which shall have all the properties attributed to this sort of Water. The juice which remains in the bottom must be clarified, and evaporated to the consistence of an Extract; or if you will make its essential Salt, you must proceed as you did with Sorrel, and your Salt will come near in taste to Nitre, but it will not be so transparent, for it will always retain some black clamminess from its Extract, which may be separated, and it is purified by Solution in its proper Water, by filtering it through paper in a Tunnel wherein a few of its ashes were put; and then evaporating it till a film rise on the top, and placing it in a Cellar to chrystallize, you shall have a Salt that doth altogether resemble Salt-petre in shape and taste, and cast on hot coals it burns like Salt-petre. They who desire only the Carduus-Water, may distil it in sand from the leaves, in the Instrument which we have described, whose figure is in the third Table, and they shall obtain an excellent Water, endued with greater Virtues than that drawn by B. M. for the stronger heat of the sand makes a part of the volatile Salt rise confused with the phlegmatic Water, and makes it more virtuous. The virtue of the essential Salt is great in hot Fevers, and contagious Diseases, for it casts out forcibly the venom from the centre by sweat: The Dose is from 6 to 30 grains.   

CHAP. XVI. Of the Distillation of Cresses.  
THe juicy Herbs which contain store of sulphureous and volatile essential Salt, such as are Cresses, Brook-lime, Chervil, Scurvy-grass, and infinite others of the same nature, may be distilled and reduced into an Extract, or essential Salt, after the same manner as the Plants we now treated of: but inasmuch as their principal virtue consists only in a spiritual and fiery substance, we will here teach the means to separate it. Take a great quantity of Water-cress when it begins to flower, which is the time when they are ●ledge●n their greatest force, and delay not till they be ●ully flowered, nor till they begin to dry, for ●hen their whole virtue is concentred in their Seed, wherein the Spirits are enclosed, and cannot easily be thence extracted, as may be done whilst they are yet in their Leaves; wash the Cresses very clean, and beat them in a marble Mortar: and note that you must have at least ●ledge●orty pound of this Herb, for if you have not a ●ledge●ufficient quantity, the fermentative Spirit cannot ●ledge●e brought out of power into act, and the Plant ●ould sooner rot or grow acid than ferment; ●ledge●ut a sufficient quantity of powdered leaves into a Barrel opened only on one side, and pour thereon Water so hot as you can endure with your hand without scalding, double quantity to that of the Leaves, and mingle them well together with a staff: cover it on the open part immediately with double clothes, to keep in the spirits the best that possible may be; and leave it so for half an hour, or a little longer, then put to it thrice so much more Water as you did at first, so that there may be about five times so much Water as Leaves; but this latter Water must be cooler than the former: put thereto at the same time about three or four pounds of Beer-yeast, and stir all together with a staff, cover your Barrel immediately very exactly, which must be above half full, and set it in a temperate place, but rather hot than could; for great could hinders the action of the internal Spirits of things: you shall see that three or four dayes after, the whole gross substance of the Herb will be risen on the top of the liquour in the form of a cured or crust, take good heed at this time, that as soon as you see this material substance or crust begins to break, and fall or sink, you be in readiness to Still off the whole before the Spirit vapour away: put the whole into a great Strong-water-still of Copper, and distil at first with a gradual and gentle fire, all the Spirit, which will be mingled with much Phlegm, for this reason you must rectify this Spirit with the Instrument described in the first Figure for rectifying Spirit o●redge● Wine, and by this means you shall clear i●redge● quiter from its phlegm, and you shall have a Spirit very pure and combustible like that of Wine.  
The Spirit of Water-cresses, and all other Antiscorbuticks, generally do resolve and volatilize all fixed and tartarous matters; they may be given not only in the Scurvy, but in all Diseases which proceed from the corruption of the Blood, which they purify and subtilize by their penetrative power more than any other Remedy. Their Dose is from twenty grains to a dram, in some convenient Vehicle.   

CHAP. XVII. Of the Distillation of Wormwood.  
ALL odiferous Plants, such as are Wormwood, Time, Marjoram, Sage, Rosemary, and infinite more, may be fermented in the same manner as Cresses; but their principal virtue consists in a sulphureous and subtle Substance which swims upon the Water; we will teach to draw and separate it. Take a good quantity of the tops of Wormwood, betwixt Flower and Seed-time, which is the season of the perfection of aromatic Plants; cut them small, and beat them in a Mortar of Marble, put them into a Vessel of tinned Copper, and pour upon them a good quantity of Water, that the Wormwood may be well mixed therewith; fill not your Vessel above half, cover it with its Refrigerant, or Mores-head, then give fire gradually, but after the drops begin to fall, raise the fire roundly, so that one drop may almost overtake another, and continue the fire at that rate till the Water that comes over be as it were insipid: you shall find in your Receiver store of a spirituous Water, whereon will swim a little oil, which you must separate from the Water in the manner following: Fill your Receiver up to the mouth, and bind a small Viol with a pack-thread to its neck, then put a little wick of Cotton into the small Viol, and at the same time dip the other end of it in the oil which swims on the Water in the Receiver; the Wick will at the same time draw into it the oil, which following the Wick will drop into the little Viol; a little Water must from time to time be put into the Receiver, so that the oil may continually rise and touch the brim of the Receiver, and continue this till all the oil be separated, which keep in a Viol well-stopped.  
These oils contain in a manner all the virtues of the Plants whence they were drawn. The distilled Waters also after the separation of the oils, retain still some good Virtue, and they may be preserved to serve upon occasion.   

CHAP. XVIII. The Preparation of the fixed Salt, or Alkali of Wormwood.  
IN treating of Leaves we will show the Preparation of their fixed Salt; and we will take Wormwood for a general Example. Gather a great quantity of Wormwood, cut close to the Root, when it is in its greatest strength, clean it well, dry it in the shade, then burn, and reduce it into ashes: make lie of it with hot Water, and put new hot Water on the ashes, till the Water hath extracted all the Salt into itself; cast away the remaining unprofitable ashes,( only you may if you please make tests with them,) filter the lie and evaporate it to dryness; you will find in the bottom of the Vessel a grayish Salt, which will be very fiery, but it contains yet in it much impurity, wherefore it must be yet farther calcined in a Crucible with a violent fire, and stirred continually in the interim with an iron Spatula, that it may not melt, and keep it quiter read for the space of a good hour, then let it cool, and dissolve it in rain Water, or its own distilled Water: filter the Solution, and evaporate it till it be dry, you will have a Snow, white as Snow, which must be kept in a Viol well stopped, else it resolves into liquour by the moisture of the Air.  
The principal virtues of Salt of Wormwood, and generally of all others, is to open Obstructions, to attenuate gross, and cut tough, and evacuate corrupted matters: they are diuretic and diaphoretic, and the Dose is from ten to thirty grains in some broth or proper liquour.   

CHAP. XIX. Of Flowers.  
ALL Flowers are either without scent, as water-lily, or have a superficial, as Jessamine, Violet, &c. or a strong aromatic smell, as Rose, and Rosemary-flowers, &c. those that have no smell may be distilled and purified into an Extract, as we have taught in the thirteenth Chapter: those that have a slight and superficial scent, cannot bear the least heat without losing their scent and colour; for this cause the chemists have found a means to preserve the scent of these sorts of Flowers, by stratifying them with Cotton imbibed with oil of Ben, which oil being sufficiently impregnated with the odour of the Flowers, is separated from the Cotton by expression; but for that this manner of operation is well known to all Perfumers, we shall not insist thereon. Flowers which have an aromatic scent, may furnish physic with sundry Remedies: for Example, Roses may be distilled in the same manner as Leaves and Herbs, by B. M. or sand, in the Instrument which we have described in the thirteenth Chapter; they may also be fermented like Cresses, and reduced into a very odiferous burning Spirit; an oil may also be drawn from it, which swims on the Water in the same manner as that of Wormwood; we refer the Reader to the Preparations we have described above, according to which they may work not only on the Rose, but on all sorts of odiferous Flowers. odiferous Flowers are also distilled sometimes with addition of some Menstruum which may heighten and augment their virtue; so we proceed in the preparation of the Queen of Hungaries Water, in the manner following.  

The Queen of Hungaries Water.  
PUT two pounds of Rosemary-Flowers, gathered in the morning in a dry season, into a Glass-body, and pour thereon three pounds of good Spirit of Wine; cover the Body with a blind head, lute the joints well, and set it to digest in a vaporous Bath by a very gentle heat for 24 hours, or in the Sun for three dayes, then take away the blind head, and put another with a spout in its place, and lute well the joints, and distil in B. M. all that will rise, and you shall have a very excellent Water: And though its Virtues are sufficiently known, we will here relate the principal, which are to fortify the Brain, either taken by the Mouth or Nose, and rubbing it in by the Temples, and sutures of the Head; to strengthen the Stomach, help digestion, dissipate the Cholick-pains, and to preserve from them, by taking half a spoonful in warm broth, continuing the use thereof for some dayes, or twice a Week at least: it helps against Deafness or noise in the Ears, either taken by the Mouth, or drawn up into the Nostrils, or put into the Ears with Cotton; as also for the pains in the Head, for all Contusions external, or deep penetrating internal, taken as above, or chafed in from without; it is also very proper for Palsies, Apoplexies, Gouts and could Pains, and for all Heart-burnings, Palpitations and Faintings, either taken inwardly, or applied outwardly to the Stomach, with a Toast soaked therein; and it is generally proper( on all occasions wherein it is needful) to stir, strengthen, quicken, and preserve natural Heat.    

CHAP. XX. Of Fruits.  
THe principal virtue of Fruits is in their juice; we will teach the Preparation thereof, and choose for example the juice of the Vine, and whatever comes from it, Wine, Vinegar, Tartar. And to begin with Wine, we say that it is the juice of Grapes, called Must at first, and after fermentation containing in it store of Spirit, which by its own proper virtue reduces itself from power into act, and in its fermentation is changed from Must into Wine, and preserves itself a long time in that estate, till such time as its Spirit, become very volatile by its fermentation, is partly evaporated: and when this Spirit, which contains in it the mercurial, sulphureous, and more subtle part, hath left the Wine, that which remaineth soures, and is called Vinegar: which notwithstanding that it is deprived of its principal Spirit, is yet preserved a long time, by that great quantity of fixed Salt which remains in it. We might here enlarge upon all the changes that happen unto Must, till it become Vinegar; but since many Authors have treated largely of Fermentation, we will remit thither the Reader, and speak here onely of the Preparations of Wine, Vinegar, and Tartar.  

Of the Distillation of Wine.  
PUT sixty quarts of Wine into a Copper-body, and cover it with a Refrigerant, or Moreshead, and distil off therefrom about a sixth part, or continue your Distillation till no more Spirit rise, which comes always first over in all Fermented and Vinous liquours; put this Spirit into a Bottle, and stop it well. This first Spirit thus prepared, is called Aqua Vitae, that which remains in the Body may be evaporated to the consistence of Hony, and put in a Retort, and thence may be drawn, first, a phlegmatic Water, secondly, a Spirit, and thirdly, a stinking oil: and that remains in the Retort may be calcined, and reduced into ashes, from which the fixed Alcalizate Salt may be drawn and separated from the dead Earth, in the same manner as from other Vegetables. I was willing to put down this operation rather for the satisfaction of the curious, than for any profit that may be made of it.   

Rectification of the Aqua Vitae into Spirit or Alcool.  
THe Aqua Vitae being mingled with store of Phlegm, which it raises with it in the first distillation, we must rectify it two or three times, till it be reduced to a pure Spirit; it must be put into a Body of glass, and distilled thence to half, in B. M. which half must be rectified again once, twice, or so often till it be wholly freed from its Phlegm, which is thus known; if some of this Spirit being fired in a Spoon, burn all away without leaving any moisture behind, or if it burn and reduce unto ashes, a little cotton put therein: but the better trial is, if when it is consumed it fire a grain of Cannon-powder put in the spoon whereon the Spirit was poured, which is a sign no humidity is left in the Spirit, for it would have hindered the firing of the Powder: But because this rectification of the Spirit is troublesone, and besides, great quantities thereof are needful to be had for chemical Preparations, Artists have invented an Instrument, by which they might rectify the Spirit of Wine by one single Distillation, and for that we remit the Reader to the Figure which we have given in the first part of this Book. We need not much trouble ourselves to make known the excellency of this Spirit, the use whereof is so frequent, both inwardly and outwardly, that none are ignorant thereof: besides this, it is used in infinite chemical operations, to draw Extracts, or subtle sulphureous Substances, as well from Vegetables as Animals and Minerals.   

Spirit of Wine Tartarized.  
THe Spirit of Wine tartarized is no other thing than the Spirit of Wine purified to an higher degree, and wholly freed from its Phlegm, by means of Salt of Tartar, which retains with it all that phlegm which the Spirit of Wine may yet contain in it; Take one pound of Salt of Tartar well dried, put it into a Body, and pour thereon four pounds of good Spirit of Wine, set to an Head and Recei●er, lute well the joints, distil the Spirit in B. M. which will leave all its phlegm behind in the Salt of Tartar; and therefore it is very proper for all uses internal and external, working with much greater force than the common Spirit of Wine, because of its greater purity; this Spirit is much employed for many brave Arcana's prepared with it, and especially in the Extraction of Tinctures. This hath also excited many Artists to proceed farther, and to seek out how to reduce this Spirit into a volatile Salt, by a farther separation of its superfluous aquosity, according to what Van Helmont hath delivered in his Treatise entitled Aura Vitalis, where he saith that one pound of Spirit of Wine imbibed in the fixed Salt of Tartar, affords but one half ounce of Salt, and that all the rest is nothing but an insipid Water; but whereas many curious Persons have busied themselves to stay this Salt contained in the Spirit of Wine, with the Salt of Tartar; according to the words of this excellent Philosopher( who in this and many other things hath spoken obscurely) finding no success therein, have thought it impossible; experience hath made me see the possibility thereof, and having by means of a corrosive Spirit myself many times reduced the Spirit of Wine into a volatile Salt, I shall here very willingly impart the manner thereof as follows. Put a pound of Spirit of Nitre well dephlegmed, into a long-necked large Globe or Ballown-glass, and pour thereon some drops of the Spirit of Wine tartarized, and at the same time set on a Bolts-head fitted to the neck of the Globe or Ballown thereon▪ closing well the joints; there will arise at the same time an action of those Spirits whereby they will destroy one another; which when it ceases, pour on some more fresh drops of the Spirit of Wine, and continue this same Work for a whole day, still closing well the mouth of your Glass whensoever you drop on your Spirit of Wine, until such time as the action cease: you will have a liquour of a middle nature, betwixt a Spirit of Wine and Spirit of Nitre; for it is not corrosive, and its force exceeds not that of distilled Vinegar, and it burns not as the Spirit of Wine: Put this liquour into a Body with an Head fitted thereto, and distil with a very slow heat of a vaporous Bath whatever will come over: there will remain in the bottom a white and volatile Salt in a small quantity, of an acid and sour taste, which may be sublimed, and deprived of its corrosive and acid part, by the help of some Salt Alkaly, in the same manner as we have taught in the Sublimation and Purification of the volatile Salt of Amber. I thought it worth my pains to add this operation to the rectification of the Spirit of Wine, hoping that many curious Persons will be well pleased to understand it.    

CHAP. XXI. Of Vinegar.  
WE call all liquours Vinegars which have passed Fermentation to a degree of corruption; for so long as fermented juices are in their perfection, as good Wine, Cider, Beer, Meath, &c. they contain in them a volatile inflammable Spirit, but when this Spirit in process of time is vanished, the tartarous vitrioline Salt comes to be predominant, and turns them into an acid liquour which we call Vinegar. We treat here onely of Wine-vinegar, as most employed in Medicine.  

Distillation of Vinegar.  
PUT five pounds of good Vinegar in a Body of Glass, and fit thereto an Head and Receiver, set it in a Sand-furnace, and distil with a slow fire about two pounds of liquour, which will have scarce any force, whence we call it phlegm of Vinegar: then change your Receiver, and increase your fire by little and little, and distil all over till there remain onely in the bottom of the Body a matter of the consistence of hony; then slacken your fire, that the Distillation taste not of burning, and keep what is distilled; the use thereof is to dissolve calcined Minerals, and to reduce them into the form of Salts. The hony-like consistence which remains in the bottom may be put in a Retort, and forced over by gradual fire, it will yield an acid Spirit, and after a stinking oil, and a fixed Salt which remains behind in the Retort, which purified by many Solutions and Coagulations resembles the fixed Salt of Tartar.    

CHAP. XXII. Of Tartar.  
WE pretend not to treat of the Microcosmick Tartar, which is a Viscous matter formed in our Bodies, but of the Tartar of Wine, which is no other thing than an earthly substance separated from the purer parts of the Wine, by the action of a fermenting Spirit, and coagulated to the hardness of a ston, and is in itself incorruptible, but may be reduced by the Fire into divers Matters. Now being to give a description of the principal operations made on Tartar, I begin with that of purification; The first is thus done: Pour hot Water upon Tartar grossly powdered, the Water will take up its filth, which Water must be poured off and other put on, and this same operation continued till the hot water take up no more impurity; then dry the Tartar, and keep it for use: the second purification is more perfect, and yields that which they call Cream of Chrystals of Tartar, which is thus prepared: Put ten pounds of good Tartar of Montpelier grossly powdered in a great kettle, and pour thereon about three good pailes of common Water, and make a good fire under the Kettle, that it may boil for about a quarter of an hour, stir it sometimes with a staff, and when you have scummed the dissolved Tartar, and let it run yet hot through large pointed strainers of Cloth, and let that which passes cool and chrystallize, and when it is quiter could, take off the Cream which swims aloft and keep it; decant the Water, and irish off the Chrystals which stay on the bottom and sides of your Kettle, which are very small in this first Coagulation: But to make them more fair and large dissolve them again in a small quantity of clean water in a flat Basin, and give them a walm or two, and when they are well dissolved take them leisurely from the fire, and cool them, when they are could, gather up the Cream and crystal, and dry them, and you will have a very well purified Tartar, which will be fairer and more transparent if the solution be made in a Pewter Kettle.  
The Principle virtues of the Cream and crystal of Tartar, are to attenuate the gross Humours which cause Obstructions in the first Region of the Belly, and those of the spleen, for which reason it is serviceable in melancholic Diseases, and it is commonly used before Purgative Medicines, for it digests and prepares matters for a more easy Evacuation, its Dose is from half a Dragm to two Dragms in some Broth or other convenient liquour.  

Distillation of the Spirit and oil of Tartar.  
PUT six pounds of grossly beaten Tartar in a Retort of gray or well-luted Earth, which you must place in a close Reverberating-furnace, and fit thereto a large Baloon-Receiver, luting the joints exactly, and then make your Distillation with a gradual fire: a phlegmatic water will first come over, and after that a Spirit and oil mingled confusedly; and when nothing more will come over, and the Receiver begins to be clear, cease the fire, and let the Vessels cool, then unlute the Receiver, and separate the oil and Spirit by a Tunnel furnished with brown Paper, the Spirit will pass through it, and the oil will abide in the Paper, which you may put into a Viol, and keep apart; the Spirit may be rectified upon Coral, in the same manner as we have said in the Chapter of Gum-Ammoniac, teaching the entire rectification of that Spirit. The Spirit of Tartar rectified is an excellent Remedy for Diseases caused from Obstructions: for it resolves and attenuates by its subtlety gross matters; for this cause it doth marvels in the Scurvy, and arthritick Diseases, in the Palsy and small Pox, provoking Sweat and Urine; its Dose is from one scruple unto four, in broth or some other liquour. The oil strongly resolves Nodes and other hardnesses, it likewise mortifies all sharp humours, which cause Tetters, it heals the Scald Head, helps the Falling Evil, chafing the Nose of those who are troubled therewith.   

Fixed Salt, and oil or liquour of Tartar by Deliquation.  
TAke the black mass which remains in the Retort after the Distillation of the oil and Spirit of Tartar, and calcine it in a Reverberatory-furnace, in a flat open pot, till it become white, then let it cool, then pour upon it hot Water, in an earthen Vessel, to the height of six fingers, and stir it from time to time for some hours: the Water will fill itself with the saline substance, which must be decanted, and other hot Water poured on the Remainder, and this repeated so often, till all the salt be thence extracted; then filter all your Solutions, and evaporate the Moisture, till the Salt become dry and white as Snow, in the bottom of the Vessel, which you must keep carefully in a Vessel well-closed, for otherwise it will be resolved into a liquour by attracting to it the Moisture of the Air; but if you would make thereof the liquour by Deliquation,( which they call improperly the oil of Tartar) put some part of it upon a marble, or state of Glass, and place it in a Cellar or some other moist place, and it will in a few days be dissolved into a liquour; the Salt of Tartar is very diuretic, as all other fixed Salts, or Alkalies of Vegetables; wherefore they are given with success in Dropsies and Obstructions of the Reins: its Dose is from Ten to Thirty Grains in some convenient liquour. The liquour may be used instead of the Salt, for it is no other than the Salt dissolved; but its Dose must be increased. They who seek only for the Salt of Tartar, need not distil it, they may calcine it alone in a reverberating Fire till it be white, and after draw from it its Salt as we have taught.   

Magistry of Tartar, or Tartar Vitriolate.  
TAke eight Ounces of the liquour of Salt of Tartar made by Deliquation, which must be clear as Fountain-water, put it into a great Bolt's head with a long Neck, let oil of Vitriol fall thereon Drop by Drop, till there be no more Ebullition, which is the Proportion observable, for you must do this till the oil of of Vitriol find there nothing that can act against its Acidity, then empty this Mixture into an Earthen Platter, which will be half congealed; if any thing remain in the Bolt's Head, wash it out with distilled rain Water, and mix it with the rest in the Platter, place this on a Sand-Furnace, and vapour away all the Humidity, there will remain a Salt white as Snow, which you must keep in a Glass well stopped; this Salt is a very good Digester for disposing Humours and preparing them for Purgation, it opens the Obstructions in the Body, and especially in the Hypocondria, and it helps also in Dropsies and Quartan Agues, the Dose is from six to thirty six Grains in some Broth or opening liquour.   

Tincture of Salt of Tartar.  
PUT half a pound of salt of Tartar perfectly purified, into a Crucible with hot Coals, and keep it two hours in a violent Fire, stirring it continually with an Iron spatula, that it may neither stick to the Crucible nor melt, and when you perceive it to be of a blew, approaching to a green colour, powder it in an hot Mortar, and put it yet hot into a Pelican, or in some double digesting Vessel, and pour thereon good spirit of Wine by little and little, till it rise four fingers above it; then close the Vessel well, and set it on hot Ashes, until you see the spirit of Wine to boil, and hold it in that state for twenty four hours, in which time the Spirit of Wine will draw to itself a very read Tincture, and of a sweet scent like that of the Vine in flower; then pour off this Tincture into some Bottle, and put on another Spirit of Wine upon the Salt, and digest it anew on a Sand-furnace for twenty four hours as before; and repeat the same operation, till the Spirit of Wine be coloured no more; filter and mingle all your Tinctures, and draw over thereof two thirds or little more, and the tincture of Tartar will remain in the bottom of the Body, which you must keep in a Viol well-closed.  
This Tincture is very excellent in all Diseases which come from abundance of melancholic Humours, in the Scurvy and dropsy, and it is of great force to purify all the mass of Blood, the Dose is from ten to thirty drops, continuing the use thereof for some season.    

CHAP. XXIII. Of Juniper-Berries.  
THE principal Preparations which are made of Juniper-berries, are the Distillation of their burning Spirit, and drawing thence their aetherial oil, and their Extract, or Rob, which they commonly call the German Treacle. The burning Spirit is made in a Fermentation and Distillation like that of Water-cresses, with addition of warm Water and yeast of Beer; but this rule of Juniper-berries will not serve for all Berries, for those of Elder and Dwarf-elder are fermented without any addition, as well as the juices of Grapes, apple, Pears, &c. and need only to be broken, and put into some large Vessel for eight or ten dayes, till the fermentation be raised; and then a burning Spirit may be distilled from them, which hath very great Virtues according to the materials whence it is drawn. The Distillation of the Ethereal oil is thus made; Break six pounds of Juniper-berries with a Pestle, and pour thereon in a Copper Body, fifteen pounds of common Water, stir all well, and fit to it its Mores-head, and distil with a gradual fire the spirituous Water and oil, which come over confusedly, and continue till the Water come over without any taste; afterwards you must separate the oil from the spirituous Water by means of a wick of Cotton, as we have taught above in the Chapter of Wormwood, and keep the Water and oil apart in Viols well-stopped. Take that which remains after the Distillation out of the Body, and put it into some earthen Platter, or other Vessel till it be cool, lest it should contract any bad quality from the Copper, pass all the liquour through a saith, and press the pouse very hard, let all the liquour stand and settle for a whole day, and then pass that which is clear through a woollen strainer, and evaporate the liquour so strained into the consistence of an Extract.  
The Spirit and combustible oil are powerful Medicines to provoke the Courses, and open Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen, to evacuate the ston and Gravel of the Reins and Bladder, they are also good against the Plague, and to provoke Sweat and Urine. The oil outwardly applied fortifies the Nerves, and dissolves hardnesses. The Dose of the Spirit is from half a dram to half a spoonful in warm broth, of the oil from three to fifteen drops, in its own distilled Water, or other liquour; of the Extract from one dram to three in its own proper Water, or some other Vehicle.   

CHAP. XXIV. Of Seeds.  
SEeds are prepared diversely, according to the Substances they contain. For some are full of a mucilaginous juice, in which lies their principal Virtue, as Quince-kernels, Linseed, Fleawort, &c. Others contain store of oil, which may be drawn by Expression, and the same may be reduced into an Emulsion, such are the Seeds of Peony, Poppy, the could Seeds, Hemp, and infinite others. There are some from whom comes a burning Spirit, by means of Fermentation, as Mustard-seed; and all those which have a stinging and piercing taste: many others have an aromatic odour, and contain in them a Sulphur, or Ethereal oil, such are Carraway, Fennel, Aniseeds, &c. and they may be distilled as Wormwood, and Juniper-berries, and have afforded a Spiritual-water, and oil swimming thereon, which must be separated by a wick of Cotton, as we have said several times. But note that all Vegetable-seeds distilled by Retort, besides the ordinary substances which are drawn from other parts of Vegetables, afford a quantity of volatile Salt adhering to the sides of the Receiver, and represent an infinity of figures very pleasant to behold: and it is worthy consideration, that it is onely this part of the Plants that can afford a volatile Salt wholly congealed. Also amongst the Seeds which have an aromatic scent, there are many which produce not an oil only by Distillation, but by Expression also, whereof we will give an instance in Annis, as follows.  

oil of aniseed by Expression.  
PUT a pound of Aniseed finely powdered upon a hair Sieve turned up-side down, and cover it with a Pewter-dish, in such manner that all the aniseed may be contained in the hollow of the Dish, set the Sieve in a flat basin with two or three pints of water over the fire, and make the water boil: the vapour thereof will pierce into, and warm the Powder of the aniseed; have a good Press with two boards, and a little sack of strong Canvas, all hot, and in readiness, and when the plate that covers the Anniseed-powder is so hot that your hand cannot endure the heat of it, put and tie your powder up nimbly in the Sack, and readily into the Press, and you will force thence a green and clear oil, having the pleasing taste and scent of aniseed. The fore-alleged Examples will sufficiently direct the curious to the knowledge of Vegetables, whole or in parts; we will here finish this Section, and come to that of Animals.     

SECTION III. Of Animals.  
ANimals in general, as well the perfect Terrestrial, as Birds, Fishes and infects, are composed of a more volatile substance than Minerals and Vegetables; wherefore they yield neither so much Earth, nor volatile Salt after their Calcination. Now albeit this Family is no less numerous than that of Vegetables, yet always studying brevity, we will give Examples which shall be sufficient for the Preparations of all sorts of Animals, and their parts, and begin with the more Solid, as are bones, Horns, Hoofs; after we will come to the fleshy parts, and lastly to Blood and Urine. And whosoever comprehends well these Preparations, may afterwards easily work every thing that depends on Animals. But it is necessary that the Artist choose for his work the parts of those Animals which were of a middle age, and died by violence.  

CHAP. I. Of the oil and volatile Salt of a mans Skull.  
TAke the skull of a man dead of a violent Death, cut it into such little pieces as may enter into a glass-Retort, of which leave the third part empty; place the Retort in an earthen dish in a Sand-furnace, and fit thereto a great Receiver, well luted, that the Spirits may not be lost, and when the lute is dry give fire gradually, there comes over a little Phlegm at first, and after a Spirit which will fill the Receiver with a white mist; at that time you must govern your fire discreetly, otherwise the Spirits pressed too hard will force the joints, or break the Receiver: after this Spirit comes over the oil, with store of volatile Salt, which will cleave to the sides of the Receiver; continue your Distillation, and augment your fire by little and little, till no more come over, which will come to pass in ten or improve hours; after, let your Vessels cool, and unlute your Receiver, which will contain a spirituous liquour, a stinking oil, and volatile Salt. The Spirit and volatile Salt are of the same nature: wherefore they must be separated from the oil and afterwards rectified. That which remains in the Retort is black as a coal, but if it be calcined in an open pot, it will become white, and very spungeous and light, and being deprived of all its Salt, which is very volatile, as is that of all other animal parts; and it may be called with good reason caput mortuum, or dead-head, which remains after the Distillation.  
To separate the Spirit and volatile Salt from the oil, you must put about a pound of warm Water into the Receiver, and shake it well that the volatile Salt may be dissolved, and taken up in the liquour, afterwards filter this liquour through Cap paper, and the oil will remain in the paper, which you may by piercing the paper cause to run into another Viol, and keep it. The use of it is to cleanse Wounds and Ulcers, for it eats and consumes putrefied flesh, and other superfluities.  
Take the liquour which contains the Spirit and volatile Salt, and put it into a large Bolts-head with a long neck, and cover it with a Tunnel, which you must lute exactly all about, after pour in by the Tunnel a few drops of good Spirit of Salt, and presently stop the hole of the Tunnel, that no Spirits may come out, continue to do this till the Ebullition which will be made at first by the contest of these two Spirits cease; then filter the liquour, and distil by an Alembic of glass in a gentle heat of sand, all the Water, which will be insipid, because the Spirit of Salt is incorporated with the volatile Salt of the skull, and hath fixed it in a manner; and when all the humidity is come over, push on the fire by little and little, to cause all the Salt to sublime, which remained in the bottom of the Body, one part whereof will rise and cleave to the alembic, and the other parcel to the upper part of the Body: Let the Vessels cool, and gather the sublimed Salt, which in taste nearly resembles that of Sal Armoniac. Its Dose is from a Scruple to a Dram; but it may be made also more subtle and piercing, by separating the sulphureous Animal Salt from the acid spirits of Salt, with which it was mingled to correct in part its bad scent. Take then four ounces of this Salt, and mix it with two ounces of fixed Salt of Tartar, or such other Salt Alkaii as you please, and put them in a little Body well fitted with its Head and Receiver, and lute their joints exactly, then give fire very gently, and you shall see that the sulphureous Salt will separate itself, and rise into the Head with the least heat, white as Snow, and will leave the acid spirit( wherewith it was incorporated) in the bottom of the Body detained by the Salt Alkali: so you shall have a Salt of the most extreme subtlety, which you must keep in a Viol well stopped, for otherwise it vanishes by little and little.  
This Salt and all others drawn from Animals, have very great virtues, and may pass for the Columns of Pharmacy; for they penetrate to the places farthest removed from the first Digestion, and dissolve all Viscous and Tartarous Matters, open all Obstructions, heal all Fevers, and principally the Quartans, preserve from the Plague, and strongly resist all putrefaction. The Dose is from six to fifteen Grains, in some could liquour or Broth; otherwise in the least heat they vanish in the Air.  
The Salt of mens skulls is peculiarly proper for Falling and Mother-Fits.  
This Operation may serve for an Example of all Bones, horns, Hoofs, Nails, Claws and hairs, and generally for all solid and dry parts of Animals.   

CHAP. II. Of the Distillation of Vipers Flesh.  
GET a good quantity of Vipers a little after they come from their Holes, cut off their Heads and Tails, strip them and take out their Bowels: which cast away, reserving their Fat, which you must melt and keep apart; the Heart and Liver which must be mingled with their Flesh; cut your Vipers thus, prepared into pieces, and their Hearts and Livers likewise, and set them in one or more Glass Bodies, which you must fit with Heads and Receivers, and setting them in a Furnace of Sand, draw off with a very gentle heat all the Moisture that will rise; but cease the Fire, and let your vessels cool as soon as it begins to taste of the least ●●●rning, and keep well the distilled Water in Viols well stopped; after cut into little piec●s the dried Flesh found in the Still-body, and put them into a Glass Retort, leaving one third part thereof empty, which set in a Sand-furnace, and observe all the Circumstances which we have described for the Distillation and Rectification of the Spirit and oil of Man's skull, and you shall have a Salt endowed with innumerable Virtues, which heals not only all continual and intermitting Fevers; but the palsy, Falling Evil, leprosy, Diseases of the Mother, r●sists putrefaction, expels poison, heals and preserves from the Plague, and hath an infinite of other choice virtues. The Dose is from six to fifteen Grains, in its own distilled Water, or some other liquour.  
They that would make the Powder of Vipers, must dry the Heart Liver and Flesh in a Glass Body in B. M. till it may be reduced into Powder, and by this means nothing at all of their substance perishes; for their Water is drawn over in the Distillation, which is impregnate with their most subtle and volatile spirits, and serve for a Vehicle wherein to take their Powder.  
This Operation may stand for a Rule for all the fleshy parts of Animals, for the after burden, and for some whole Animals, as Wood-Lice, from which may be drawn Remedies proper for h●●ling C●ncers.   

CHAP. III. Of the Distillation of Man's Blood.  
TAke a quantity of Blood drawn from sound and well-Complexioned young Men, distill from it all the Humidity which will rise in an alembic in B. M. and keep the Water; after put into a Retort the dried Mass which remains in the Still-body, and proceed therewith in the same manner as we have taught for skulls in the first Chapter. You shall have a stinking oil, and by Rectification and Resublimation a very excellent salt for correcting the whole Mass of Blood, for healing Fevers, the Falling Evil, and scurvy, and for opening all Obstructions. Its Dose is from six unto fifteen Grains, in its proper Water, or in some other convenient liquour.   

CHAP. IV. Distillation of Urine.  
TAke the fresh Urine of Children from eight till twelve years of age, or of young Men in good health, and fill many Bodies therewith to three fourth parts, to which fit Heads, and draw off in a gentle heat of B. M. lla their Humidity which will be insipid, there will remain an Honey-like substance in the bottom of the Bodies, which must be put into one Body fitted with Head and Receiver well luted, and distil with a sand-Fire what will come over, governing the fire well, that the matter may not rise and run over; first there goes over a spirituous Water, and after the Volatile salt begins to rise, and stick to the Head, with a little stinking oil which trickles over into the Recipient with the Volatile salt, which it dissolveth: the Vessels being cooled and unluted, you will find in the bottom of the Body a black Matter, which may be calcined in a Pot with a violent fire, and reduced to ashes, and then a very small quantity of Salt will be drawn therefrom; which Coagulated or Chrystallized hath thee taste and form of Common Salt. The oil and Volatile Salt must be separated from the stinking oil, by putting into the Receiver so much warm Water as is needful to dissolve the volatile salt which was congealed; then filter the Solution through Paper, in which the oil remains, and must be made to descend into a Viol apart by piercing the Paper; put the liquour filtered into a great Bolt's Head with a long Neck, and fit to it a large head round and flat, represented in the Table of Vessels by the Figure marked with A and B, fit to a Receiver and lute the joints exactly; place it in a Sand-furnace, and give a very gentle fire, you shall see that the Volatile Salt will be separated by the least heat, and will sublime on high into the head of the Stil in the form of Snow, leaving a stinking and insipid oil in the bottom of the Bolt's head not able to rise, because of the height of the Vessel and over weakness of the heat; let the Vessels cool, and gather and keep the volatile salt in Viols well stopped; for otherwise it would go away by little and little by reason of its subtlety.  
This subtle and sulphureous salt hath great virtues inwardly and outwardly; it opens all Obstructions and is admirable in all melancholic Diseases, to cut and dissolve Gravel and Sand, and drive them out by Urine from the Reins and the Bladder. Its Dose is from six to fifteen or twenty Grains, in some convenient liquour.  
Being dissolved in Aqua Vitae in which there is left a little Phlegm( for rectified spirit of Wine will not dissolve it) it may be employed outwardly for the pains of any part of the Body, and especially those of the joints, and to dissolve Nodes.  

Another Distillation of Urine, and Sublimation of its Volatile Salt.  
PUt a quantity of well conditioned Urine into many Pitchers, or a Barrel well stopped, and let it stand forty days, in which time it will be fermented, and prepared to give forth its Spirits: Put it into many Glass Bodies, and distill off about half the Moisture, and you shall have a clear and spirituous Water; cast away what remains in the Bodies after every distillation as of little value, and rectify the Water yet two or three times by distilling off the half, and casting away what remains, and continue this work till you have collected all the virtue, or all the spirits of Urin into a small quanti●y; which you shall put into a Bolt's head with a long neck, to which you must fit a large head, and cause the spirituous Volatile Salt to rise with a very gentle heat of Sand, which will easily separate itself from the superfluous phlegmatic Water, leaving it behind in the bottom of the Bolt's head. This Preparation is more Tedious and Laborious than the former; but it produces a more pure subtle and penetrating, and consequently a more efficacious Salt. These preparations may suffice as I conceive, for examining and preparing all matters contained in the Animal Family: wherefore concluding this Section we will content ourselves only to add some Preparations of Matters that are after a sort distinct from Animals, Vegetables and Minerals.    

CHAP. V. Of due.  
THE chemists having need of great store of liquour to extract the virtue and best substance of many Vegetables; they have not yet found a more simplo, naked, and consequently a properer one to take up their substance than May-Dew, which is made more pure by distilling it as follows. Take a quantity of May-Dew( which abounds with a subtle spirit,) and distil off about half in B. M. o● moderate heat of Sand; and rectify it once more, drawing off a half part only, which you must keep in Vials well stopped. This Water serves not only as a Menstruum for Extractions, but may also be employed as a vehicle for many Medicines which have need to be dissolved in some liquour. The same work serves for Rain-water, but it must be taken in the Month of March, about the equinox, at which time it is better replenished with the Universal Spirit, than at any other season.   

CHAP. VI. Of Manna.  
MAnna is an Aereal liquour, fallen in the form of due, in the time of the Aequinoxes, upon Trees and Herbs, whereon it is by little and little condensed into grains; it is produced in many of the Eastern parts, but that which is most used in Europe comes from Calabria, in the Kingdom of Naples; it ought to be new, white, and of a pleasant sweetness, that which is become yellow and stale is to be rejected, because it hath lost part of its Spirits. A Spirit is drawn from it by Distillation, as follows. Put two or three pounds of good Manna into a large Retort, whereof the third part onely must be full, set it in a Sand-furnace, put to it an unluted Receiver, and by a very gentle heat distil over a phlegmatic Water; taste it from time to time, and when the drops begin to be pungent, change or empty your Receiver, set it to again, and lute the joints exactly, and augment the fire by little and little, and continue till there come no more over: cool and unlute the Vessels, and put the Spirit and rectify it in a small Body and Head on a Sand-furnace; and you shall have a clear Spirit, and of a pungent and acid taste, which is an excellent sudorific, and may be employed in Malignant Fevers themselves, and in all others likewise; its Dose is from a half to a whole dram, in some liquour. Some have imagined that calcined Gold might by means of this Spirit be reduced into a liquour, to which they attribute admirable Virtues; but I conclude that if any good success befall them who use this pretended potable Gold, it must be attributed to the virtue of this Spirit.   

CHAP. VII. Of Honey.  
HOney is too well known for us to busy ourselves in its Description; we will content ourselves to teach how it may be reduced into several substances. Take three pounds of Honey taken from Virgin-Bees, for that is best, and put it in a very large Body and Head, set it in a Sand-furnace, fit and lute well to it a Receiver, and give a very gentle fire to raise its phlegmatic Water, which comes over first, and must be kept apart; continue your fire in this first degree, for the Honey will else be rarefied by too great heat, and rise into the helm, which must be avoided, wherefore this Operation requires a very patient Artist; after the Phlegm rises a sharpish Spirit of a yellow colour, and in the conclusion a read Spirit with a little oil: the Distill●tion must be continued till nothing come over, then let your Vessels cool, and separate your Spirit from the oil, and rectify it by an alembic on a Sand-furnace. That which remains in the Body may also be calcined, and a very small quantity of Salt thence extracted. The phlegmatic Water may be sharpened by its own acid Spirit, for the Diseases of the Eyes, and to cleanse them, and to make hair grow; the Spirit is good against Obstructions in the Body, taken from twenty to thirty drops, in some aperitive liquour, or in its own Water; it serves also to dissolve Mars, and other Metals, and reduces them into the form of Salt or Vitriol, the oil is good to mundify gnawing Ulcers.   

CHAP. VIII. Of the Distillation of Wax.  
CUT two pounds of Wax into little pieces, and put them into a good large Retort, so that it may be onely half full, set it in a Sand-furnace, fit and lute a Receiver to it very exactly: begin with a small fire, and augment it by little and little; there comes over first a little phlegm, and after a pungent Spirit, after that a clear, and then a thick oil like Butter, and at last a volatile Salt cleaving to the sides of the Receiver, but in a very small quantity: raise and continue your fire till nothing come over, then cool and unlute your vessels: put a pound of moderately hot Water in your Receiver, to dissolve the volatile Salt, and join it with its Phlegm and Spirit, after separate your oil by a Tunnel; but for that it is very thick, you must incorporate it with sifted ashes, and rectify it in a Retort; keep that which comes first over for inward use, the latter, which will be thick like Butter, may serve outwardly: the liquour, which contains the Spirit and volatile Salt, may be rectified and sublimed into Salt, in the same mann●r as the volatile oil of Amber. The subtle oil and volatile Salt are very excellent Remedies for the retention of Urine; the Dose of the oil is from four to ten drops, of the volatile Salt from five to ten grains, in some proper Water. The buttery oil is very resolving; applied outwardly it restores Motion to paralytic Members, and ●s also good against the Sciatica, and Chilbl●●rs.  
Here we will finish this Treatise, being persuaded that we have given sufficient Examples for all chemical Operations; and as we have concealed nothing, but taught all things in the most clear manner that possibly we could, I hope the curious Reader will therein find his satisfaction in some sort, and may( pursuing our rules) undertake, and happily perform all sorts of Preparations.    
FINIS.   

Books lately printed for John Starkey.  
1. BAsilica Chymica& Praxis Chymiatricae, or Royal and Practical chemistry; augmented and enlarged by John Hartman. To which is added his Treatise of Signatures of internal things, or a true and lively Anatomy of the greater and lesser World. As also the practise of chemistry of John Hartman, M. D. augmented and enlarged by his Son, with considerable Additions; all faithfully Englished, by a Lover of chemistry; price bound 10 s.  
2. The Art of chemistry, as it is now practised, Written in French by P. Thybault, chemist to the French King, and Englished by W. A. Doctor in physic, and Fellow of the Royal Society, in Octavo; price bound 3 s.  
3. Medicina instaurata, or a brief Account of the true Grounds and Principles of the Art of physic, with the insufficiency of the vulgar way of preparing Medicines, and the Excellency of such as are made by chemical Operation. By Edward Bolnest, Med. land. in octavo. price bound 1 s.  
4. Aurora Chym●ca, or a rational way of preparing Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, for a Phys●●al Use. By which Preparations they are made most efficac●ous, safe, and pleasant Medicines, for the preserv●tion of the Life of Man. By Edward Bolnest, Med. Reg. Ord. in octavo, price bound 1 s. 6 d.  
5. The surgeons Store-house, furnished with forty three Tables cut in Brass, in which are all sorts of Instruments both Ancient and Modern, useful to the performance of all Manual Operations; with an exact description of every Instrument, together with one hundred choice Observations of famous Cures performed, with three indices; 1. Of the Instruments; 2. Of Cures performed; 3. Of things remarkable. Written in Latin by Johannes Scultetus, a famous Physician and Chirurgeon of Ulme in Suevia, and faithfully Englished by E. B. Dr. of physic; in octavo, price bound 8 s.  
6. The Golden Calf, in which is handled the most rare and incomparable wonder of Nature, in transmuting Metals, viz. how the entire substance of led was in one moment transmuted into Gold Obrizon, with an exceeding small Particle of the true Philosophers ston, at the Hague in the year 1666, Written in Latin by John Frederick Helvetius, Doctor of Medicine at the Hague, and faithfully Englished; in twelves, price bound 1 s.   

LONDON Aug. 4.  
The Author of the following Epitaph being now confined to a Sick-Bed in Ireland, it has been published at Dublin to induce good natured People, and especially Gentlemen of the Faculty to afford him some Relief. He wrote this Epitaph for himself, a little before his Confinement.  
Epitaphium Chemicum   

In Balneo Ar●nae,  
Stratum, supper Stratum,  
The Residium Terra damnata Caput Mortuum  
Of boil GODFREY, Chemist,  
and M. D.  
A Man who in this Earthly Laboratory,  
pursued various Processes to obtain  
Arcanum Vitae,  
Or the Secret to live;  
Also Aurum Vitae,  
Or the Art of getting rather than making Gold.  
Alchemist like,  
All his Labour and Projection,  
As Mercury in the Fire, evaporated in Fumo.  
When he dissolved to his first Principles,  
He departed as Poor  
As the last Drops of an Alembic.  
For Riches are not poured,  
On the Adepts of this World.  
Though fond of News, he carefully avoided  
The Fermentation Effervescence,  
And Decripitation of this Life.  
Full seventy Years his exalted Essence;  
Was Hermetically sealed in its Terrene Matrass,  
But the radical Moisture being exhausted,  
The Elixir Vitae spent,  
And exsiccated to a Cuticle;  
He could not suspend longer in his Vehicle;  
But precipitated gradatim,  
Per Companum,  
To his Original Dust.  
May that Light brighter than Belognian Phosphorus,  
preserve him from the Athanor Empyreuma, and  
Reverberatory Furnice of the other World.  
Depurate him from the Faeces and Scoria of this,  
Highly rectify and volatilize  
His etherial Spirit,  
Bring it over the Helm of the Retort of this Globe,  
Place it in a proper recipient,  
Or crystalline Orb,  
Among the Elect of the Flowers of Benjamin,  
Never to be saturated  
Till the general Resuscitation,  
Deflagration, Calciantion,  
〈…〉 of all Thi●●●