Visitabis Interiora Terræ, RectificandoInvenies Occultum Lapidem, Veram Medicinam.
Visitabis Interiora Terræ, RectificandoInvenies Occultum Lapidem, Veram Medicinam.
Visitabis Interiora Terræ, RectificandoInvenies Occultum Lapidem, Veram Medicinam.
Visitabis Interiora Terræ, Rectificando
Invenies Occultum Lapidem, Veram Medicinam.
Whereby they would give us to understand, that a true medicine is to be found in it. And the same also was known to the latter Philosophers: forBasiliusandParacelsushave always highly commended it, as in their writings is to be found.
It is to be admired, that this Oare or Metallical seed, which may justly be called the gold of Physitians (in regard that so good a medicine can be made of it) is not changed or altered in the earth, like other things that grow in it, but keepeth always the same form and shape, until it cometh to the air, which is its earth or ground, wherein it putrefieth and groweth. For first it swelleth and groweth like as a vegetable seed doth in the earth: and so taketh its increase and grows out of the air, just as a seed of an hearb in the earth; and the air is not only its Matrix, wherein it groweth and doth increase like a vegetable, but it is also its Sun which maketh it ripe. For within four weeks at the furthest it putrefieth and groweth black: and about a fourtnight after it groweth white, and then green; and thus far it hath been described here: But if you proceed further Philosopher-like therewith, there will come forth to light at the last the fairest red, and most pleasant Medicine, for which God be praised for ever and ever, Amen.
The same way, which above hath been taught for the making of the volatile spirit of vitriol, must be likewise used in the making of the volatile spirits of common salt and allome.
Allome is to be cast in as it is of it self, without mixing of it, but salt must be mixed with bole, or some other earth, to keep it from melting: with the spirit volatile, there goeth also along an acid spirit, whose vertue is described in the first part. The Oyl of Allome hath almost the like operation with the oyl of vitriol. Also the spirit volatile of both these, is of the same nature and condition with that which is made of vitriol: but common salt, and allome, do not yield so much, as vitriol; unless both,viz.salt and allome be mixed together, and so a spirit distilled of them.
Such a penetrative sulphureous spirit may be made also of Minerals and Metals, which in vertue goeth beyond the spirit of vitriol, that of common salt, and that of allome,viz.after the following manner.
Dissolve either Iron or Copper, or Lead or Tin with the acid spirit of vitriol, or of common salt: abstract or draw off the phlegm; then drive the acid spirit again from the Metal, and it will carry along a volatile spirit, which by rectifying must be separated from the corrosive spirit. And such Metallical spirits are more effectual than those that are made of the salts.
Take of Antimony made into fine pouder, or of golden Marcasite, or of some other sulphureous Mineral, which you please, two parts, mix therewith one part of good purified Salt nitre, and cast in of that mixture a small quantity, and then another, and so forth after the manner above described; and there will come over a spirit which is not inferiour to the former in efficacy and vertue; but it must also be well rectified.
Cement what laminated or granulated Metal you please, (except gold) with half as much in weight of common sulphur, closed up in a strong melting pot or crucible, such as doth not let the sulphur go through, for the space of half an hour, until that the sulphur hath penetrated and broken the plates of Metal: Then beat them into powder, mix them with the like quantity in weight of common salt, and so distil it after the way above mentioned, and you will get a volatile spirit of great vertue: and every such spirit is to be used for such special part or member of the Body, as the Metal is proper for, out of which the spirit is made. So silver for the brain; Tinn for the lungs, Lead for the spleen, and so forth.
Of Zinck there is distilled both a volatile and also an acid spirit, good for the heart; whether it be made by the help of the spirit of vitriol, or of salt, or of allome: or else by the means of Sulphur; for Zinck is of the nature of gold.
The black scoria of theRegulus Martis, being first faln asunder in the air, yields likewise a very strong sulphureous volatile spirit, not much unlike in vertue unto the former.
The like Sulphureous volatile spirits may be made also of other minerals, which for brevities sake we omit, as also in regard, that they are almost the same in vertue.
Take two parts of Allome, and one part of salt nitre, make them both into powder, mix them well together, and cast into the still a little and a little thereof, as above in the making of other spirits hath been taught, and there cometh over an acid spirit together with the volatile spirit; and so many pounds as there is of the materials, which are to be cast in, so many pounds of water must be put into the receiver, to the end that the volatile spirits may so much the better be caught and saved. And when the distillation is performed, the two spirits may be separated by the means of a gentle rectification made inBalneo; and you must take good heed, that you get the volatile spirit pure by changing the receiver in good time, so that no flegme be mixed with the red spirit, whereby it will be weakened and turn white. The mark whereby you may perceive, whither the spirit or the flegme doth go forth is this: when the volatile spirit goeth, then the receiver looketh of a deep red: and afterward when the flegme doth come, the receiver looks white again: and lastly, when the heavy acid spirit goeth, then the receiver to be red again, but not so as it was, when the first volatile spirit came over.
This spirit may also be made and distilled after another way,viz.mixing the salt nitre with twice as much bole or brick dust, and so framed into little balls to prevent melting: but no way is so good as the first, especially when you will have the red volatile spirit.
This volatile spirit, which (being quite freed from flegm) remaineth always red, and doth look like blood, in all occasions may be accounted like in vertue unto the former sulphureous spirits, especially in extinguishing of inflammations and Gangreens it is a great treasure, clothes being dipt in it, and laid upon the grieved place; Also it goeth almost beyond all other medicines in the Erysipelas and colick: and if there be any congealed blood in the body (which came by a fall or blow) this spirit outwardly applyed with such waters as are proper for the grief, and also taken inwardly, doth dissolve and expell it: and being mingled with the volatile spirit of urin it doth yield a wonderful kind of salt, as hereafter shall be taught.
The heavy and corrosive spirit of salt nitre is not much used in Physick, though it be found almost in all Apothecaries shops, and there is kept for such use, as above hath been mentioned of the spirit of vitriol,viz.to make their conserves, and cooling-drinks tast sowrish. Also it is used by some in the colick, but it is too great a corrosive, and too gross to be used for that purpose; and although its corrosiveness may be mitigated in some measure, by adding of water thereto, yet in goodness and vertue it is not comparable at all to the volatile spirit, but is as far different from it, as black from white, and therefore the other is fittest to be used in Physick; but this in dealing with metals and minerals, for to reduce them into vitriols, calxes, flores, and crocus.
If you dissolve common salt (which hath been decrepitated first) in this acid spirit of salt nitre, & rectifie it by a glass retort in sand by a good strong fire, it will be so strong, that it is able to dissolve gold, and all other metals and minerals, except silver and sulphur; and several metals may by the means thereof be separated much better than by that Aqua regia which hath been made by adding of Salt Armoniack. But if you rectifie it withlapis calaminarisor Zinck, it will be stronger yet, so as to be able to dissolve all metals and Minerals (silver and sulphur excepted) whereby in the handling of Metals, much more may be effected, than with common spirit of salt nitre or Aqua fortis, as hereafter shall be taught: and first in the preparing of gold.
Take of fine granulated or laminated gold (whither it be refined by Antimony orAqua fortis) as much as you please: put it in a little Glass body, and pour four or five times as much ofAqua regisupon it, set it stopt with a Paper in a gourd in warm sand; and theAqua regiswithin the space of one or two hours will dissolve the gold quite into a yellow water: but if it have not done so, it is a sign that either the water was not strong enough, or that there was too little of it for to dissolve it. Then pour the solution from the gold,which is not dissolved yet, into another glass, and pour more of freshAqua Regiaupon the gold: set it again to dissolve in warm sand or ashes, and the remaining gold will likewise be dissolved by it, and then there will remain no more, but a little white calx, which is nothing else but silver, which could not be dissolved by theAqua Regia(for theAqua Regia, whether it be made after the common way with salt Armoniack, or else with common salt, doth not dissolve silver) so in like manner commonAqua fortis, or spirit of salt nitre dissolveth no gold; but all other metals are dissolved as well by strongAqua fortisas byAqua Regia. And therefore you must be careful to take such gold as is not mixed with Copper, else your work would be spoiled: for if there were any Copper mixed with it, then that likewise would be dissolved and precipitated together with the gold; and it would be a hindrance to the kindling or fulminating thereof: but if you can get no gold, that is without Copper, then take Ducats or Rose-nobles, which ought to have no Addition of Copper, but only of a little Silver, which doth not hurt, because that it cannot be dissolved by theAqua Regia, but remaineth in the bottom in a white powder. Make those Ducats or Rose-nobles red hot, and afterward bend them and make them up in Rolls, and throw them into theAqua Regiafor to dissolve. All the gold being turned into a yellow water, and poured off, pour into it by drops a pure oyl made of the Salt of Tartar,per deliquium, and the gold will be precipitated by the contrary liquor of Salt of Tartar into a brown yellow powder, and the solution will be clear. But you must take heed, to pour no more oyl of Tartar into it than is needful for the precipitation of the gold; else part of the precipitated gold would be dissolved again, and so cause your loss. The gold being well precipitated, pour off the clear water from the gold calx by inclination, and pour upon it warm rain or other sweet water, stir it together with a clean stick of wood, and set it in a warm place, until the gold is settled, so that the water standeth clear upon it again; then pour it off, and pour on other fresh water, and let it extract the saltness out of the gold calx: and this pouring off, and then pouring on of fresh water again, must be reiterated so often, until no sharpness or saltness more be perceived in the water that hath been poured off: Then set the edulcorated gold into the Sun or another warm place for to dry. But you must take heed that it have no greater heat than the heat of the Sun is inMayorJune, else it would kindle or take fire, and (especially if there be much of it) give such a thunderclap, that the hearing of those that stand by, would be much endangered thereby, and therefore I advice you to beware, and cautious in the handling of it, lest you run the hazard both of your gold and of your health by your over-sight.
There is also another way for to edulcorate your precipitated gold,viz.thus, Take it together with the salt liquor, and pour it into a funnel lined with brown Paper laid double, and so let the water run through into a glass vessel, whereupon the funnel doth rest, and pour on other warm water, and let it run through likewise; do this again and again, until that the water come from it as sweet as it was poured on. Then take the Paper with the edulcorated gold calx, out of the funnel, lay it, together with the paper, upon other brown paper lying severally double together, and the dry paper will attract all the moistness out of the gold calx, so that the gold will be dryed the sooner. Which being dry, take it out of the filtering paper, and put it into another that is clean, and so lay it aside, and keep it for use. The salt water that came through by filtering, may be evaporated in a little glass body (standing in sand) to the dryness of the salt, which is to be kept from the air: for it is likewise useful in Physick; because some vertue of the nature of gold is yet hidden in it: though one would not think it, in regard that it is so fair, bright and clear, which for all that may be observed by this, that when you melt it in a clean covered crucible or pot, and pour it afterward into a clean Copper morter or bason (being first made warm) you get a purple-coloured salt, whereof 6, 9, 12, to 24. grains given inwardly, doth cleanse and purge the stomach and bowels, and especially it is useful in feavers and other diseases of the stomach. But in the crucible, out of which the salt hath been poured, you will find an earthy substance, which hath separated it self from the salt, and looketh yellowish; this being taken out and melted in a little crucible by a strong fire, turneth to a yellow glass, which is impregnated with the Tincture of Gold, and doth yield a grain of Silver in every regard like unto common cupellated silver, wherein no gold is found, which is to be admired: because that all Chymists are of opinion, that noAqua regiacan dissolve silver which is true. The question therefore is, from whence or how this silver came into the salt, since noAqua Regiadoth dissolve silver? whereupon some perchance may answer, that it must have been in the oyl of Tartar, in regard that many do believe, that the salts likewise may be turned into metals, which I do not gainsay, but only deny that it could have been done here; for if that silver could have been existent in theAqua Regia, or salt of Tartar (whereasAqua Regiacannot bear any) it would have been precipitated together with the gold. But that it was no common silver, but gold which turned to silver after it was deprived of its Tincture, I shall briefly endeavour to prove. For that the salt waters (ofAqua Regiaand salt of Tartar) out of which the gold hath been precipitated, is of that nature, before it be coagulated to salt, though it be quite clear and white, that if you put a feather in it, it will be dyed purple within few days, which purple colour comes from the gold, and not from silver, in regard that silver doth dye red or black: and hence it appeareth, that the salt water hath retained something of gold.
Now some body peradventure may ask, if that the said salt water hath retained some gold, how is it then, that in the melting, no gold comes forth, but only silver? To which I answer, that some salts are of that nature, that in the melting, they take from gold its colour and soul; whereof if the gold be truly deprived, it is then no more gold, nor can be such; neither is it silver, but remaineth only a volatile black body, good for nothing, which also proveth much more unfixt than common Lead, not able to endure any force of fire, much less the cupel: But likeMercuryorArsenickvanisheth (or flyeth away) by a small heat. Hence it may be gathered, that the fixedness (or fixity) of gold doth consist in its soul or Tincture, and not in its body, and therefore it is credible, that gold may be anatomized,its best or purer part separated from the grosser (or courser) and so that a Tingent medicine (or Tincture) may be made of it. But whether this be the right way, whereby the universal medicine of the ancient Philosophers (by whose means all metals can be changed or transmuted into gold) is to be attained unto, I will not dispute; yet I believe that peradventure there may be another subject, endued with a far higher Tincture than gold is, which obtained no more from nature, than it doth need it self for its own fixedness. However, we may safely believe, that a true Anima or Tincture of gold, if it be well separated from its impure black body, may be exalted and improved in colour; so that afterwards of an imperfect body a greater quantity, than that was from which it was abstracted, may be improved and brought to the perfection of gold. But waving all this, it is true and certain, that if the gold be deprived of its Tincture, the remaining body can no more be gold; as is demonstrated more at large in my Treatise (de Auro potabili vero) of the true potable Gold: And this I mentioned here onely therefore, that in case the lover of this Art, in his work should meet perchance with such a white grain, he may know, from whence it doth proceed.
I could have forborn to set down the preparation of the fulminating gold, and so save paper and time, in regard that it is described by others: but because I promised in the first part to teach how to make the flores of gold, and that those are to be made out of fulminating (or thundring) gold, I thought it not amiss to describe its preparation, that the lover of this Art need not first have his recourse to another book for to find out the preparation, but by this my book may be furnished with a perfect instruction for the making of the flores of gold, and this is the common way for to makeAurum fulminans, known unto most Chymists; but in regard that easily an error may be committed in it, either by pouring on too much of the liquor of Tartar (especially when it is not pure enough, so that not all the gold doth precipitate, but part of it remaineth in the solution, whereby you would have loss; or else, the gold falling or precipitating into a heavy calx, which doth not fulminate well, and is unfit for to be sublimed into flores.
Therefore I will here set down another and much better way, whereby the gold may be precipitated quite and clean out of theAqua Regiawithout the least loss, and so that it cometh to be very light and yellow, and doth fulminate twice as strong as the former, and there is no other difference between this and the former preparation, but only that instead of the oyl of Tartar, you take the spirit of urine, or of salt armoniack for to precipitate the dissolved gold thereby; and the gold (as before said) will be precipitated much purer, than it is done by the liquor of the salt of Tartar, and being precipitated, it is to be edulcorated and dryed, as above in the first preparation hath been taught.
There is little to write of the use ofAurum fulminansin physick; for because it is not unlockt, but is only a gross calx and not acceptable to the nature of man, it can do no miracle. And although it be used to be givenper sefrom 6, 8, 12. grains to ℈ i. for to provoke sweating in the Plague, and other malignant feavers, yet it would never succeed so well as was expected. Some have mixed it with the like weight of common sulphur, and made it red hot (or calcined it) whereby they deprived it of its fulminating vertue, supposing thus to get a better medicine, but all in vain, for the gold calx would not be amended by such a gross preparation. But how to prepare a good medicine out ofAurum fulminans, so that it may be evidently seen, that the gold is no dead body, nor unfit for physick, but that it may be made quick and fit for to put forth or shew forth those vertues which it pleased God to treasure up in it, I shall here briefly discover.
First, get such an instrument (as above hath been taught) made for you out of Copper, but not too big, nor with a lid at the top, but only with a pipe, unto which a receiver may be applyed, which must not be luted to it; but it sufficeth, that the pipe enter far into the belly of the receiver; and at the lower part it must have a flat bottom, that it may be able to stand: over the bottom there must be a little hole with a little door, that closeth very exactly: and there must be also two little plates or scales of silver or copper, as big as the nail of ones finger, whereupon theAurum fulminansis to be set into the Instrument; which is to stand upon a Trevet, under which you are to lay some burning Coals for to warm or heat the bottom withal. The Instrument together with the glass Receiver being so ordered, that it stands fast, and also the bottom thereof being warmed or heated, then with little pincers one of the little scales, containing 2, 3, or 4. grains ofAurum fulminansmust be conveyed upon the Instrument set upon the warm bottom, and then shut the little door, and when the gold doth feel the heat, it kindleth and giveth a clap, and there is caused a separation, and especial unlocking of the gold; for as soon as the clap is done, the gold doth go through the pipe like a purple coloured smoak into the receiver, and sticks on every where like a purple coloured powder. When the smoak is vanished, which is soon done, then take the empty scale out of the Instrument or Oven, and set it with the gold, which will likewise fulminate and yield its flores. Then the first being cooled in the mean time, is to be filled again and put in, instead of that which is empty, and taken out, putting in one scale after another by turns, continue it so long till you have got flores enough: After the sublimation is performed, let the Copper Vessel grow cool, and then sweep or brush the gold powder which is not sublimed with a haires foot, or goose feather out of the vessel, which powder serves for nothing, but to be melted with a little borax, and it will be good gold again, but onely somewhat paler than it was before it was made into fulminating gold. But the flores in the receiver cannot be brushed out thus, especially when they are cast in with an addition of salt Nitre, as by the flores of silver hereafter shall be taught, because they are something moist, and therefore pour in as much of dephlegmed Tartarised spirit of wine unto it, as you think to be enough, for to wash off the flores with. This done, pour out the spirit of wine,together with the burnt Phœnix into a clean glass, with a long neck, set it (being well luted first) into a gentle Balneum, or into warm ashes for some dayes, and the spirit of wine in the mean time will be coloured with a fair red, which you must pour off and then pour on other fresh spirit and set it in a warm place for to be dissolved, this being likewise coloured, put both the extracts together in a little glass body, and abstract the spirit of wine (in Balneo) from the Tincture, which will be a little in quantity, but of a high red colour and pleasant in taste. The remaining flores from which the Tincture is extracted, may be with water washed out of the glass, and then dryed if they are to be melted; and they will yield a little pale gold, and the most part turneth into a brown glass, out of which perchance something else that is good may be made, but unknown to me as yet.
N. B. If you mix theAurum fulminanswith some salt nitre, before fulmination, then the flores will be the more soluble, so that they yield their Tincture sooner and more freely, than alone of themselves; and if you please, you may adde thereto thrice as much salt nitre, and so sublime them in flores, in the same manner, as shall be taught for the making of the flores of silver.
The extracted Tincture is one of the chiefest of those medicines, which comfort & cheer up the heart of man, renew and restore to youthfulness, and cleanse the impure blood in the whole body, whereby many horrible diseases, as the leprosie, the pox, and like may be rooted out.
But whether this Tincture by the help of fire may be further advanced into a fixed substance I do not know: for I have not proceeded further in it, than here is mentioned.
Having promised in the first part of this book (when I was describing the preparation of flores out of Metals) to teach in the second part to make the flores of gold and silver, those of gold being dispatcht; there followeth now in order after the gold, to speak also of silver and of its preparation, which is to be thus performed.
Take of thin laminated or small granulated fine silver as much as you please, put it into a little separating glass body, and pour upon it twice as much in weight of rectified spirit of salt nitre, and the spirit of salt nitre will presently begin to work upon the silver and to dissolve it. But when it will not dissolve any more in the cold, then you must put the glass body into warm sand or ashes, and the water will presently begin to work again; let the glass stand in the warm ashes, until all the silver be dissolved. Then put the solution out of the little glass body, into another such as is cut off at the top, and put on a little head or Limbeck, and in sand abstract the moity of the spirit of salt nitre from the dissolved silver; then let the glass body remain in the sand till it be cool; after take it out, and let it rest for a day and a night, and the silver will turn into white foliated crystals, from which you must pour off the remaining solution which is not turned; and from thence abstract again the moity of the spirit, and let it shoot or turn in a cold place; and this abstracting and crystallising you are to reiterate, until almost all the silver is turned to Crystals; which you must take out and lay upon filtring paper to dry, and so keep it for such further use, as hereafter shall be taught. The remaining solution, which is not crystallised, you may in a copper vessel by adding of sweet water thereto, precipitate over the fire into a calx, and then edulcorate and dry it, and keep it for other use, or else melt it again into a body. Or else you may precipitate the same with salt water, and so edulcorate and dry it; and you will have a calx, which doth melt by a gentle fire, and is of a special nature, and in the spirit of urin, of salt Armoniack, of Harts-horn, of Amber, of Soot, and of hair it doth easily dissolve; and it may be prepared or turned into good medicines, as shortly in our treating of the spirit of urin shall be taught. Or else, you may choose not to precipitate the remaining solution of silver, but with the spirit of urin to extract an excellent Tincture, as hereafter shall be taught.
These crystals may safely be used in Physick alone by themselves 3, 6, 9, 12. graines thereof being mixed with a little sugar, or else made up into pills; they do purge very gently and without danger; but by reason of their bitterness they are somewhat untoothsome to take; also, if they be not made up into pills, they colour the lips, tongue and mouth quite black (but the reason of that blackness belongeth not to this place to treat of, but shall by and by follow hereafter). Also if they touch metals, as Silver, Copper and Tin, they make them black and ugly, and therefore they are not much used. But if you put into the solution of silver (before it be reduced into Crystals) half as much quicksilver as there was of the silver, and so dissolve them together and afterwards let them shoot together, there will come forth very fair little square stones like unto Allome, which do not melt in the air, as the former foliated ones use to do; neither are so bitter, and they purge also quicker and better, than those that are made only of silver.
Take of the foliated Crystals of Silver as many as you please, and upon a grinding stone made warm first, grind as much purified and well dryed salt nitre amongst it, then put into your Iron distilling vessel (to the pipe whereof there is to be applyed and luted a great receiver) coles made into powder two inches high, and make a fire under it, that the vessel every where together with the coles that are in it, become red hot. Then take off the lid, and with a ladle throw in at once of your Crystals of silver ʒ i. more or less, according as you think that your receiver in regard of its bigness is able to bear. This done, presently put on the lid, and the salt nitre together with the crystals of silver will be kindled by the coles that lye on the bottom of the vessel, and there will come forth a white silver fume through the pipe into the receiver, and after a while when the cloud is vanished in the receiver, cast in more, and continue this so long, and until all your prepared silver is cast in; then let it cool, and take off the receiver, and pour into itgood Alcolized spirit of wine, and wash the flores with it out of the receiver, and proceed further with them, as above you have been taught to proceed with the gold, and you will get a greenish liquor, which is very good for the brain.
Take the coles out of the distilling vessel, and make them into fine powder, and wash them out with water, to the end that the light cole-dust may be got from it, and you will find much silver dust (or a great many little silver grains) which the salt nitre could not force over, which you may reduce, for it will be good silver.
There may also be made a very good medicine out of the crystals of silver, which will be little inferior to the former, whereby the diseases and infirmities of the brain may be very well remedied, which is done thus.
Pour upon Crystals of silver twice or thrice as much (in weight) of the strongest spirit of Salt Armoniack, put it in a glass with a long neck well closed, into a very gentle warmth for the space of 8. or 14. days in digestion, and the spirit of salt Armoniack will be tinged with a very fair blew colour from the silver, then pour it off, and filtre it through brown paper, and then put it in a little glass retort or glass body, and abstract in Balneo by a gentle fire, almost all the spirit of salt Armoniack (which is still good for use) and there will remain in the bottom a grass-green Liquor, which is to be kept for a Medicine.
But in case that you should miss, and abstract too much of the spirit from the Tincture of silver, so that the Tincture be quite dry and turned to a green Salt, then you must pour upon it again as much of the spirit of Salt Armoniack, as will dissolve the green salt again to a green Liquor, but if you desire to have the Tincture purer yet, then abstract all moistness from it, to a stony dryness: upon which you must pour good spirit of Wine, which will quickly dissolve the stone, and then filtre it, and there will remain feces, and the Tincture will be fairer: from which you must abstract most of the spirit of wine, and the Tincture will be so much the higher in vertue. But if you please, you may distil that green salt or stone (before it be extracted again with that spirit of wine) in a little glass retort, and you will get a subtile spirit and a sharp oyl, and in the bottom of the retort there remaineth a very fusile silver which could not come over.
It is to be admired, that when you pour spirit of salt Armoniack, or spirit of wine upon that stone, for to dissolve it, that the glass comes to be so cold by it, that you hardly are able to endure it in your hand, which coldness in my opinion cometh from the silver (being so well unlockt) which naturally is cold.
This green Liquor serveth not only for a medicine, but also for other Chymical operations (for both Copper and glass may be easily and very fairly silvered over therewith) very useful for those that are curious and love to make a shew with fair houshold-stuff; for if you get dishes, trencher-plates, salters, cups and other vessels made of glass, after the same fashion as those of silver use to be made, you may very easily and without any considerable charge silver them over therewith within and without, so that by the eye they cannot be discerned from true silver plate.
Besides the above-related good Medicines, there may be made another and especial good one out of the crystals of silver,viz.dissolving and digesting them (for a space of time) with the universal water, which hath been distilled by nature it self; and is known to every body: and after its digesting for a short time, and change into several colours, there will be found a pleasant essence, which is not so bitter as the above-described green liquor, which is not brought yet by heat to ripeness and maturation.
N. B. In this sweet universal Menstruum, may also all other metals by a small heat and the digestion of a long time be ripened and fitted for Medicines (having first been reduced into their vitriols and salts) and then they are no more dead bodies, but by this preparation have recovered a new Life, and are no more the metals of the covetous, but may be called the metals of the Philosophers, and of the Physicians.
Lastly, there may be many pretty things more effected (besides the medicinal use) by means of the Crystals of silver,viz.when you dissolve them in ordinary sweet rain water, you may dye beards, hair, skin, and nails of men or beasts into carnation or pink red, brown and black, according as you have put more or less thereof in the water; or else, according as the hair was more or less times wetted therewith, whereby the aspect of Man and Beast (which sometimes in several occasions may not be contemned) is changed, so that they cannot be known.
This colouring or dye may be also performed with Lead or Mercury no less than with silver, but otherwise prepared, whereof in the fourth part.
Now I have taught how to make flores and tinctures of gold and silver by help of the acid spirit of Nitre. There may be many other medicines taught to be made out of them, but in regard that they belong not to this place, they shall be reserved for other places of this second, and also for the other following parts.
As by the help of the spirit of Nitre, good Medicines may be made out of gold and silver, so the like may be done out of other inferiour metals. But in regard that their description is fitter for other places of this Book, I omit them here. Yet nevertheless, I thought good to describe one preparation of every metal; after Silver therefore followeth now Copper.
Dissolve burnt plates of Copper in spirit of salt, and abstract the spirit again from thence to a dryness, but not too hard, and there will a green mass remain behind, which you may cast in by little and little, and so distil it, as of silver hath been taught. It doth yield a strong and powerful spirit, and flores also for outward use in putridwounds, to lay a good ground thereby for the healing.
In the same manner you may proceed with iron and steel, and there will remain behind a good crocus of a great stipticity or astringency, especially out of iron or steel, and may with good success be mixed with oyntments and plaisters.
If Tin or Lead be dissolved therein, after the abstracting of part of the spirit, they will shoot into clear and sweet crystals. But Tin is not so easily dissolved as Lead; both may safely be used for medicines. Also there may be Spirits and flores got out of them by distilling. The rehearsing of the Preparation is needless, for what for the preparing of silver hath been taught, is to be understood also of other metals.
The Crystals of Lead are admirably good to be used in the plague for to provoke sweating and expel the venome out of the body; they may also with credit be used in the bloody flux. Externally dissolved in water, and clothes dipt therein and applied, they excellently cool and quench all inflammations, in what part of the body soever they do befal. Likewise the spirit thereof usedper se(and the flores mixed among oyntments) do their part sufficiently.
But the crystals of Tin do not prove altogether so quick in operation, though they do act their part also, and they are more pleasant than those that are made of Lead; for in Tin there is found a pure sulphur of gold; but in Lead a white sulphur of silver, as is proved in myTreatise of the generation and nature of Metals.
When you dissolve common Mercury in rectified spirit of Nitre, and abstract the spirit from it again, then there will remain behind a fair red glistering precipitate; but when the spirit is not rectified, it will not be so fair, because that the impurity of the spirit remains with the Mercury and pollutes it. This calcinated Mercury is called by someMercurius præcipitatus, and by othersTurbith minerale, wherewith the Surgeons, and sometimes other unskilful Physicians do cure the Pox; they give at once 6, 8, 10. grains, (more or less) according to its preparation and force in operation to the patient; for if the spirit be not too much abstracted from it, it worketh much stronger, than when by a strong fire it is quite separated from it; for the spirits that remain with the Mercury make it quick and active, which else without the spirits would not be such.
The other metals also, if they be not first made soluble by salts or spirits, can perform either none or but very small operation, unless it be Zink or Iron, which being easily soluble, are able to work without any foregoing dissolution, as hath been shewn above, when we treated of the oyl of vitriol. But that the sharp spirits are the cause of that operation, may hence be perceived, and made manifest; that although you take ℥ ss. of quick-silver and pour it down into the stomach, yet it would run out again beneath, as above it was poured in. But if it be prepared with spirits or salts, then but few grains of it will work strongly, and the more it is made soluble, the stronger it worketh; as you may see when it is sublimed from salt and vitriol, that it groweth so strong thereby, that one grain doth work more than eight or ten grains of Turbith Mineral, and three or four grains thereof would kill a man, by reason of its mighty strength. Also it worketh extreamly, and much more than the sublimate, when it is dissolved in spirit of Nitre and crystalized, so that you cannot well take it upon your tongue without danger. Which some perceiving, evaporate theAqua fortisby a gentle heat from it, so that theMercuriusremained yellow, which in a smaller dose wrought more than the red, from which the spirits were quite evaporated. And they used it only externally, strewing it into impure sores, for to corrode or fret or away the proud flesh, not without great pain to the patient: but also without distinction of young or old gave it inwardly for to purge; which is one of the most hurtful Purges that can be used. For this evil guest, however he be prepared, cannot leave his tricks, unless he be reduced into such a substance, as that it never can be brought back to a running Mercury, for then much good can be done in physick without any hurt or prejudice to the health of man, whereof perchance something more shall be said in another place.
I cannot omit for the benefit of young innocent Children, to discover a great abuse. For it is grown very common almost among all that deal in physick, that as soon as a little child is not well before they know whether it will be troubled with worms, or with any thing else, they presently fall upon Mercury, supposing that in regard it hath no taste, it is so much the better for to get the Children to take it for tokillthe Worms.
But those men do not know the hurtful nature of it, which it doth shew against the sinews and Nerves: For some are of opinion, that if they know to prepare Mercury so, that it can be given in a greater dose (as is to be seen in sublimedMercurius dulcis) that then it is excellently prepared: but they are in a great errour, and it were much better, it were not so well prepared, that the less hurt might be done to Man, in regard that then they durst not give it in so great a dose. For if that which is prepared withAqua fortisor spirit of salt nitre be used in the pox to men that are advanced in years, it cannot do so much hurt, because it is given in a small dose, and doth work with them, whereby nature gets help for to overcome and expel that hurtful venome, and its malignity is abated by the strong salivation, which provident nature hath planted in it, so that not so much mischief can come by it, as byMercurius dulcis, whereof is given to little weak Children from ten to thirty grains at once, which commonly (unless they be of a strong nature, and do grow it out) doth cause a weakness and lameness in their limbs, so that (if they do not come to be quite lame at last) they have a long time to struggle withal, till they overcome it.
In like manner those also do err, which do shake Mercury in water or beer so long, until the water come to be gray-coloured, and so give that water or beer to little children to drink for the Worms, pretending that they do not give the substance or body of Mercury, but only its vertue. But this grossPreparation is no better than if they had ministred the running Mercury it self. Neither have I ever seen that the use ofMercurius dulcis, or of the gray coloured water was seconded with good success in killing of the Worms. But it is credible, that it may be done by yellow or red precipitate, in regard of its strong operation. But who would be such an Enemy to his Child, as to plague and torture it with such a hurtful and murthering medicine; especially there being other medicines to be had, which do no harm to the children, as is to be found in iron or steel, and the sweet oyl of vitriol.
And so much of the abuse of Mercury: I hope it will be a good warning unto many, so that they will not so easily billet such a tyrannical guest in any ones house, whereby the ruine thereof of necessity must follow. And that cure deserveth no praise at all, whereby one member is cured with the hurt of two or three other members. As we see by the Pox, when one infected member is cured by Mercury, and that but half, and not firm at all, that all the rest of the body is endangered thereby for the future. And therefore it would be much better that such crude horse-physick might be severed from good medicaments, and such used instead of them, as may firmly, safely, and without prejudice to other parts perform the cure, of which kind several are taught in this book. But in case that you have Patients, which have been spoiled by such an ill-prepared Mercury, then there is no better remedy to restore them, than by medicines made of metals, wherewith Mercury hath great affinity, as of gold and silver: for when they are often used, they attract the Mercury out of all the members, and carry it along with them out of the body, and so do rid the body thereof. But externally the precipitated Mercury may more safely be used, than internally, in case there be nothing else to be had,viz.to corrode or eat away the proud flesh out of a wound. But if instead of it there should be used the corrosive oyl of Antimony, Vitriol, Allome or common salt it would be better, and the cure much the speedier; and it would be better yet, that in the beginning good medicaments were used to fresh wounds, and not by carelesness to reduce them to that ill condition, that afterwards by painful corrosives they must be taken away. But such a Mercury would serve best of all for souldiers, beggers, and children that go to school; for if it be strewed upon the head of children, or into their cloathes, no louse will abide there any longer. In which case Mercury must by his preparation not be made red, but onely yellow, and it must be used warily, and not be strewed on too thick, lest the flesh be corroded, which would be the occasion of great mischief.
Out of Salt nitre and vitriol, taking of each a like quantity (or if the water is to be not altogether so strong) two parts of vitriol to one part of salt nitre, a water distilled is good to dissolve metals therewith, and to separate them from one another; as gold from silver, and silver from gold, which in the fourth part punctually shall be taught.
TheAqua fortisserveth also for many other Chymical operations to dissolve and fit metals thereby, that they may be reduced the easier into medicaments: but because the spirit of salt nitre andAqua fortisare almost all one, and have like operations: for if theAqua fortisbe dephlegmed and rectified, you may perform the same operations with it, which possibly may be performed with the spirit of salt nitre; and on the other side the spirit of salt nitre will do all that can be done with theAqua fortis, whereof in the fourth Part shall be spoken more at large.
Now I know well that ignorant laborators (which do all their work according to custome, without diving any further into the Nature of things, will count me an Heretick (because I teach, that theAqua fortismade of vitriol and salt nitre is of the same nature and condition with the spirit of salt nitre, which is made without vitriol) saying that theAqua fortisdoth partake likewise of the spirit of vitriol, because vitriol also is used in the preparation of it. To which I answer, that although vitriol be used in the preparation of it, yet for all that in the distilling, nothing or but very little of its spirit comes over with the spirit of salt nitre, and that by so small a heat it cannot rise so high, as the spirit of salt nitre doth: and the vitriol is added onely therefore unto the salt nitre that it may hinder its melting together, and so the more facilitate its going into a spirit. And the more to be convinced of this truth, the unbelieving may add to such spirit of salt nitre, as is made by it self, a little of oyl of vitriol likewise made by it self, and try to dissolve silver guilded with it, and he will find that his spirit of salt nitre by the spirit of vitriol is made unfit to make a seperation; for it preyeth notably upon the gold, which is not done byAqua fortis.
There may also be made a spirit of salt nitre with sulphur, which is still in use with many,viz.they take a strong earthen retort, which hath a pipe at the top, and fasten it into a furnace, and having put salt nitre into it, they let it melt, and then through the pipe they throw peeces of sulphur of the bigness of a pea, one after another, which being kindled, together with the nitre doth yield a spirit called by some spirit of salt nitre, and by others oyl of sulphur, but falsely; for it is neither of both, in regard that metals cannot be dissolved therewith as they are done with other spirit of salt nitre or sulphur; neither is there any great use for it in physick, and if it were good for any Chymical operations, by the help of my distilling instrument might easily be made and in great quantity,
N. B. But if salt nitre be mixed with sulphur in due proportion, and in the first furnace be cast upon quick coles, then all will be burnt, and a strong spirit cometh over, whose vertue is needless here to describe; but more shall be mentioned of it in another place.
Among the Physitians of this latter age, there is mention made of another spirit, which they make of Antimony, Sulphur, and salt nitre, a like quantity taken of each, which they callClissus, and which they have in high esteem, and not without cause, because it can do much good, if it be well prepared.
The inventor, for the making thereof used a retort with a pipe, as was mentioned by the sulphurized spirit of salt nitre, through which pipe he threw in his mixture. And it is a good way if no better be known: but if the Author had known my invention and way of distilling, I doubt not but he would have set aside his, that hath a nose or pipe retort, and made use of mine.
The materials indeed are good, but not the weight or proportion; for to what purpose so great a quantity of sulphur, it being not able to burn away all with so small a quantity of salt nitre. And if it doth not burn away, but only sublime & stop the neck of the retort, whereby the distillation is hindered, how can it then yield any vertue? Therefore you ought to take not so much sulphur, but only such a quantity as will serve to kindle the salt nitre,viz.to ℔ i. of salt nitre four drams of sulphur: but because Antimony also is one of the ingredients, which hath likewise much sulphur (for there is no Antimony so pure, but it containeth much combustible sulphur, as in the fourth part of this book shall be proved:) therefore it is needless to add so much sulphur unto Antimony, to make it burn, because it hath enough of it self. And therefore I will set down my composition, which I found to be better than the first.
Take Antimony ℔ i. salt nitre ℔ ij. sulphur ℥ iij. the materials must be made into small powder and well mixed, and at once cast in ℥ ij. thereof, and there will come over a sulphureous acid spirit of Antimony, which will mix it self with the water, which hath been put before in the receiver; which after the distillation is finished must be taken out and kept close for its use. It is a very good diaphoretick (or sweat provoking) medicine especially in feavers, the plague, epilepsie, and all other diseases, whose cure must be performed by sweating. TheCaput Mortuummay be sublimed into flores in that furnace, which is described in the first part.
In the very same manner there may also be distilled a good sweat-provoking spirit out of salt nitre and Tartar, a like quantity taken of each, which is very good to be used in the plague and malignant feavers.
TheCaput Mortuumis a good melting powder for to reduce the calxes of metals therewith; or else you may let it dissolve in a moist place to oyl of Tartar.
A much better spirit yet may be made of Tartar, salt nitre, and Antimony, a like quantity being taken of each and made into fine powder, and mixed well together, which though it be not so pleasant to take, is therefore not to be despised. For not only in the plague and feavers, but also in all obstructions and corruptions of blood it may be used with admiration of its speedy help.
TheCaput Mortuummay be taken out, and melted in a crucible, and it will yield aRegulus, the use whereof is described in the fourth part. Out of the scoria or dross a red Tincture may be extracted with spirit of wine, which is very useful in many diseases. But before you extract with spirit of wine, you may get a red lixivium out of it with sweet water, which lixivium may be used externally for to mend the faults of the skin and to free it from scabbiness.
Upon this lixivium if you pour Vinegar or any other acid spirit, there will precipitate a red powder, which if it be edulcorated and dryed may be used in physick. It is called by some sulphurauratum diaphoreticum: but it is no Diaphoretick, but maketh strong vomits, and so in case of necessity, when you have no better medicine at hand, it may be used for a vomitory from 6, 7, 9, 10, 15.
Also out of the scoria there may be extracted a fair Sulphur with the spirit of urin and distilled over the Limbeck, which is very good for all diseases of the lungs.
If you mix stone-coales with a like quantity of salt nitre, and distill them, you will get an admirable spirit and good to be used outwardly; for it cleanseth and consolidateth wounds exceedingly, and there will also come over a metallical vertue in the form of a red powder, which must be separated from the spirit, and kept for its use. But if you cast in stone-coles alone by themselves, and distill them, there will come over not only a sharp spirit, but also a hot and blood red oyl, which doth powerfully dry and heal all running ulcers; especially it will heal a scald head better than any other medicine, and it doth consume also all moist and spongious excrescencies in the skin, where ever they be: but if you sublime stone-coles in the furnace described in the first part, there comes over, an acid metallical spirit, and a great deal of black light flores, which suddenly stanch bleeding, and used in plaisters, are as good as other metallical flores.
If you take one part of sulphur, two parts of nitre, and three parts of vitriol, and distill them, you will get a graduatingAqua fortis, which smelleth strongly of sulphur; for the sulphur is made volatile by the salt nitre and vitriol. It is better for separating of metals, than the commonAqua fortis.
If silver be put in, it groweth black, but not fixed; some of it poured into a solution of silver a great deal of black calx will precipitate, but doth not abide the tryal. You may also abstract a strongsulphureousvolatile spirit from it, which hath like vertue as well internally as externally for bathes, and may be used like unto a volatile spirit of Vitriol or Allome.
If you take white Arsenick and pure salt nitre of each a like quantity ground into fine powder, and distill them, you will get a blew spirit, which is very strong, but no water must be put into the receiver, else it would turn white, for the Arsenick, from which the blew cometh, is precipitated by the water. This spirit dissolveth and graduateth copper as white as silver, and maketh it malleable but not fixed. The remainingCaput Mortuummaketh the copper white, if it be cemented therewith, but very brittle and unmalleable, but how to get good silver out of Asenick and with profit, you shall find in the fourth part. In physick the blew spirit serveth for all corroding cancrous sores, which if they be anointed therewith, will be killed thereby, and made fit for healing.
If you grind together one part of Sulphur, two parts of Crude Tartar, and four parts of salt nitre, and distill it Philosopher-like, you will get a most admirable spirit, which can play his part both in Physick and Alchymy. I will not advise any body to distill it in a retort; for this mixture, if it groweth warm from beneath, it fulminateth like Gunpowder; but if it be kindled from above, it doth not fulminate, but onely burneth away like a quick fire; metals may be melted and reduced thereby.
If you take one part of salt of Tartar, and one part and a half of Sulphur, with three parts of salt nitre, and grind them together, you will have a commposition, which fulminateth likeAurum fulminans, and the same also (after the same manner as above hath been taught with gold) may be distilled into flores and spirits, which are not without special Vertue and Operation. For the corruption of one thing is the generation of another.
If you make a mixture of one part of Saw-dust made of Tilia or Linden-wood, and two parts of good sulphur, and nine parts of purified and well dryed salt nitre, and cast it in by little and little, there will come over an acid spirit, which may be used outwardly, for to cleanse wounds that are unclean. But if you mix with this composition minerals or metals made into fine powder, and then cast it in and distill it, there will come not only a powerful metallical spirit, but also a good quantity of flores, according to the nature of the mineral, which are of no small vertue: for the minerals and metals are by this quick fire destroyed and reduced to a better condition, whereof many things might be written: but it is not good to reveal all things. Consider this sentence of the Philosophers.It is impossible to destroy without a flame, The combustible Sulphur of the Calx, which the digged Mine doth doe.
Also fusible minerals and metals may not only be melted, therewith, but also cupellated in a moment upon a Table in the hand or in a nut-shell; whereby singular proofs of oares and metals may be made, and much better, than upon a Cupel, whereof further in the fourth part of this book. Here is opened unto us a gate to high things; if entrance be granted unto us, we shall need no more books to look for the Art in them.
If metals be dissolved in their appropriated Menstruums, and in the solution (wherein a due proportion of salt nitre must be dissolved) fine linnen rags be dipt and dryed, you have a prepared metal, which may be kindled, and (as it was mentioned above concerning the saw-dust) through the burning away and consuming of their superfluous sulphur, the mercurial substance of the metal is manifested. And after the distillation is ended, you will find a singular purified calx, which by rubbing coloureth other metals, as that of gold doth guild silver, that of silver silvereth over copper, and copper calx maketh iron look like copper,&c.which colouring though it cannot bring any great profit, yet at least for to shew the possibility, I thought it not amiss to describe it; and perchance something more may be hid in it, which is not given to every one to know.
Of this mischievous composition and diabolical abuse of Gunpowder much might be written: but because this present world taketh only delight in shedding innocent blood, and cannot endure that unrighteous things should be reproved, & good things praised, therefore it is best to be silent, and to let every one answer for himself, when the time cometh that we shall give an account of our stewardship, which perhaps is not far off; and then there will be made a separation of good and bad, by him that tryeth the heart, even as gold is refind in the fire from its dross. And then it will be seen what Christians we have been. We do all bear the name, but do not approve our selves to be such by our works; every one thinketh himself better than others, and for a words sake which one understandeth otherwise, or takes in another sense than the other (and though it be no point, whereon salvation doth depend) one curseth and condemneth another and persecuteth one another unto death, which Christ never taught us to do, but rather did earnestly command us that we should love one another, reward evil with good, and not good with evil, as now a dayes every where they use to do; every one standeth upon his reputation, but the honor of God and his command are in no repute, but are trampled under foot, and Lucifers pride, vain ambition, and Pharisaical hypocrisie or shew of holiness, hath so far got the upper-hand with the learned, that none will leave his contumacy or stubbornness, or recede a little from his opinion, although the whole world should be turned upside down thereby. Are not these fine Christians? By their fruit you shall know them, and not by their words. Woolves are now clothed with sheeps skins, so that none of them almost are to be found, and yet the deeds and works of Woolves are every where extant.
All good manners are turned into bad, women turn men, and men women in their fashion and behaviour, contrary to the institution and ordinance of God and Nature. In brief, the world goeth on crutches. IfHeraclitusandDemocritusshould now behold this present world, they would find exceeding great cause for their lamenting and laughing at it. And therefore it is no marvel, that God sent such a terrible scourge as gun-powder is upon us; and it is credible, that if this do not cause our amendment, that a worse will follow,viz.thunder and lightning falling down from Heaven, whereby the world shall be turned upside down for to make an end of all pride, self-love, ambition, deceit and vanity. For which the whole Creation doth wait, fervently desiring to be delivered from the bondage thereof.
Now this preparation, which is the most hurtful poyson, a terror unto all the living, is nothing else but afulmen terrestredenouncing unto us the wrath and coming of the Lord. For Christ to judge theworld is to come with thundering and lightning: and this earthly thunder perchance is given us for to put us in mind and fear of that which is to come, but this is not so much as thought on by men, who prepare it only for to plague and destroy mankind therewith in a most cruel and abominable manner, as every one knoweth.
For none can deny but that there is no nimbler poyson, than this gunpowder. It is written of the Basiliske, that he killeth man only by his look, which a man may avoid, and there are but few (if any at all) of them found: but this poyson is now prepared and found every where.
How often doth it fall out, that a place wherein this powder is kept is stricken with thunder as with its like, in so much that all things above it are in a moment destroyed, and carryed up into the air? Also in sieges, when an Ordnance is discharged, or Mines blown up, all whom it lays hold on, are suddenly killed, and most miserably destroyed. What nimbler poyson then could there be invented? I believe there is none, who will not acknowledge it to be such.
And seeing that the ancient Philosophers and Chymists were always of opinion, that the greater the poyson is, the better medicine may be made of it, after it is freed from the poyson, which with us their posterity is proved true by many experiences; as we see by Antimony, Arsenick, Mercury, and the like minerals, which without preparation are meer poyson, but by due preparation may be turned into the best and most effectual medicaments, which though not every one can comprehend or believe, yet Chymists know it to be true, and the doing of it is no new thing to them. And because I treat in this second part of medicinal spirits, and other good medicaments, and finding that this which can be made out of gunpowder, is none of the least, I would not omit in some measure, and as far as lawfully may be done, to set down its preparation: which is thus performed.
Your distilling vessel being made warm, and a great receiver with sweet water in it, being applyed to it without luting, put a dish with gunpowder, containing about 12. or 15. grains a piece, one after another into it; in the same manner as above was taught to do with gold. For if you should put in too much of it at once, it would cause too much wind and break the receiver.
As soon as you have conveighed it into the vessel, shut the door, and the gunpowder will kindle, and give a blast that it maketh the receiver stir, and a white mist or steam will come over into the receiver. As soon as the powder is burnt, you may cast in more before the mist is settled, because else the distilling of it would cost too much time, and so you may continue to do until you have spirit enough. Then let the fire go out, and the furnace grow cool, and then take off the receiver, pour the spirit with the water that was poured in before (the flores being first every where washed off with it) out of the receiver into a glass body, and rectifie it in a B. through a limbeck, and there will come over a muddy water, tasting and smelling of sulphur: which you must keep. In the glass body you will find a white salt, which you are to keep likewise. Take out theCaput Mortuum, which remained in the distilling vessel, and looks like gray salt, calcine it in a covered crucible, that it turn white, but not that it melt; and upon this burnt or calcined salt, pour your stinking water, which came over through the limbeck, and dissolve the calcined white salt with it, and the feces which will not dissolve cast away. Filtre the solution, and pour it upon the white salt, which remained in the glass body, from which the sulphureous spirit was abstracted before, and put the glass body (with a limbeck luted upon it) into sand, and abstract the sulphureous water from it, which will be yellowish, and smell more of sulphur than it did before. This water if it be abstracted from the salt several times, will turn white, almost like unto milk, and tast no more of sulphur, but be pleasant and sweet. It is very good for the diseases of the lungs. Also it doth guild silver, being anointed therewith, although not firmly, and by digestion it may be ripened and reduced into a better medicine.
The salt which remained in the glass body, urge with a strong fire, such as will make the sand, wherein the glass standeth red hot, and there will sublime a white salt into the limbeck, in taste almost like unto salt Armoniack, but in the midst of the glass body, you will find another, which is yellowish, of a mineral taste and very hot upon the tongue.
The sublimed salts, as well the white which did ascend into the limbeck, as the yellow, which remained in the glass body are good to be used in the plague, malignant feavers and other diseases, where sweating is required; for they do mightily provoke sweating, they comfort and do cleanse the stomach, and cause sometimes gentle stools.
But what further may be done in Physick with it, I do not know yet.
In Alchymy it is also of use, which doth not belong to this place. Upon the remaining salt which did not sublime you may pour rain water, and dissolve it there in the glass body, (if it be whole still) else if it be broken, you may take out the salt dry, and dissolve and filtre and coagulate it again, and there will be separated a great deal of fæces. This purified salt, which will look yellowish, melt in a covered crucible, and it will turn quite blood red, and as hot as fire upon the tongue, which with fresh water you must dissolve again, and then filtre and coagulate; by which operation it will be made pure and clear, and the solution is quite green before it be coagulated, and as fiery as the red salt was before its dissolution.
This grass green solution being coagulated again into a red fiery salt, may be melted again in a clean and strong crucible, and it will be much more red and fiery.
N. B. And it is to be admired that in the melting of it many fire sparks do fly from it, which do not kindle or take fire, as other sparks of coals or wood use to do. This well purified red salt being laid in a cold and moist place, will dissolve into a blood red oyl, which in digestion dissolveth gold and leaveth the silver: this solution may be coagulated, and kept for use in Alchimy.
There may also a pretious Tincture be extracted out of it with alcolized spirit of wine, which Tincture guildeth silver, but not firmly.
And as for use in Physick, it ought to be kept as a great Treasure. But if the red fiery salt be extracted with spirit of wine before gold be dissolvedtherewith, it will yield likewise a fair red Tincture, but not so effectual in Physick as that unto which gold is joyned. And this Tincture can also further be used in Alchymy, which belongeth not hither, because we only speak of medicaments.
This Tincture whether with or without gold, made out of the red salt, is one of the chiefest that I know to make, if you go but rightly to work, and prepare it well; for it purifieth and cleanseth the blood mightily, and provoketh also powerfully sweat and urine; so that it may safely and with great benefit be used in the Plague, Feavers, Epilepsy, Scurvy, inMelancholia Hypochondriaca, in the Gout, Stone, and the several kinds of them; as also in all obstructions of the Spleen and Liver, and in all diseases of the Lungs, and it is to be admire that of such a hurtful thing such a good medicine can be prepared. Therefore it would be much better to prepare good medicaments of it, to restore the poor diseased to health therewith, than to destroy with it those that are whole and sound.