I know a Chymist, that spent much time and cost to search this poysonous dragon, thinking to make the universal medicine or stone of the ancient Philosophers out of it. Especially because he saw, that so many strange changes of colours appeared, whereof mention is made by the Philosophers when they discribe their medicine and the preparation thereof.
The Dragons blood, Virgins milk, Green and Red Lyon, Black blacker than Black, White whiter than White and the like, more needless here to relate, which easily may perswade a credulous man as it hapned also unto him. But afterward he found, that this subject in which he put so much confidence, was leprous and not pure enough, and that it is impossible to make that tingent stone of it, for to exalt men and metals, and so was glad to be contented with a good particular medicine and to commit the rest unto God.
And so much of that poysonous dragon, gunpowder: but that there is another and more purer dragon, whereof the Philosophers so often made mention, I do not deny; for nature is mighty rich, and could reveal to us many arcana by Gods permission: But because we look only for great honor and riches, and neglect the poor, there is good reason why such things remain hidden from wicked and ungodly men.
If you distill Nitre (well purified from its superfluous salt) mixed with good coals, the Egyptian Sun bird doth burn away, and out of it doth sweat a singular water, useful for men and metals. Its burnt ashes are like unto calcined Tartar, and for the purging of metals not to be despised.
Take one part of flints or sand, and three parts of Linden coals, with six parts of good salt nitre mixed well together, and cast of it in, and the combustible sulphur of the flints will be kindled by the piercing and vehement fire of the salt nitre, and maketh a separation, carrying over with it part thereof, which it turneth into spirits and flores, which must be separated by filtring. The spirit tasteth as if it had been made of salt of Tartar and flints, and is of the same nature and condition; and the remainingCaput Mortuumalso yieldeth such an oyl or liquor in all like unto that, and therefore its condition is not described here, but you may find it where I shall treat of the spirit made of salt of tartar by adding of flints.
Take one part of Talck made into fine powder, and three parts of Linden-coals, mixe them with five or six parts of good salt nitre, cast in of that mixture one spoonful after another, and there will come over a spirit and a few flores, which must be separated as hath been taught above concerning flints.
The spirit is not unlike unto the spirit of sand: theCaput Mortuum, which looks greyish, must be well calcined in a crucible, so that it melt, and then pour it out, and it will yield a white transparent Mass, like as flints and crystals do, which in a cold moist cellar will turn to a thick liquor, fatter in the handling than the oyl of sand. It is something sharp like unto oyl of Tartar; it cleanseth the Skin, Hair and Nails, and makes them white; the spirit may be used inwardly for to provoke sweat and urine: externally used, it cleanseth wounds, and healeth all manner of scabs in the body out of hand. What further may be done with it, I do not know yet: But how to bring Talck, pebles, and the like stony things to that pass, that they may be dissolved with spirit of wine and reduced into good medicaments shall be taught in the fourth part.
If you mix two parts of the filings of Tin, with one part of good salt nitre, and cast it in, as you were taught to do with other things, then the sulphur of Tin will kindle the salt nitre, and make a flame, as if it were done with common sulphur, whereby a separation is made, so that one part of the Tin cometh over in flores and spirit, and the rest stayeth behind, which if it be taken out, some of it in a moist place will turn into a liquor or oyl, which externally may be used with good success in all ulcers for to cleanse them. It hath also the vertue, if it be pertinently applyed to graduate and exalt wonderfully all the colours of vegetables and animals, which would be useful for dyers. The spirit of it mightily provoketh sweating: the flores being edulcorated and used in plaisters, do dry and heal very speedily.
In like manner as hath been taught with Tin, you may also proceed with Zinck, and it will yield a good quantity of flores, and also a spirit and oyl, almost of the same vertues with those made of Tin: and these flores corrected with salt nitre, are better than those which are taught to be made by themselves in the first part of the book.
Mix two parts of salt nitre with one part oflapis calaminarisand cast it in, and it will yield a sharp spirit very useful for separating of metals, and there will come over also a few yellow flores. The rest remaining behind is a dark green Mass very fiery upon the tongue, like salt of Tartar, and if it be dissolved with rain water, yieldeth a grass green solution, which being not presently coagulated into salt, the green separateth it self from the fixed salt nitre, and there falleth to the bottom a fine red powder, and if it be edulcorated and dryed, and given from one grain to ten or twelve it causeth gentle stools and easy vomits, better than prepared Antimony; forlapis calaminarisand Zinck are of the nature of Gold, as in the fourth part shall be proved: the whitelixiviumor lye, from which the green is precipitated, may be coagulated into white salt, like unto salt of Tartar; but if you coagulate the green solution, before the green be separated from the salt nitre, then you will get a very fair green salt, high in colour and much more fiery than salt of Tartar, whereby special things may be done in Alchymy, which doth not belong hither. And if you desire to make such a green salt for to use it in Alchymy, you need not take so much pains, as first to distil a spirit out of the mixture, but take three or four parts of good salt nitre, and mix it with one part oflapis calaminaris, and let this mixture boyl together in a wind furnace, till the salt nitre be coloured green by thelapis calaminaris, then pour it out and separate the green goldish salt from it, and make such good use of it as you think fit.
But if you will extract a good Tincture and medicine, make it into powder, and extract it with spirit of wine, and it will yield a blood red Tincture, both in Physick and Alchymy of good use.
Further you are to take notice, that among all metals and minerals, which I know (except gold and silver) there is none found, out of which can be extracted a greenness which is of fire-proof, but only out oflapis calaminaris, which deserves to be well considered and further thought upon.
Take one part of salt, two parts of sulphur, and four parts of salt nitre, grind all together, and cast in one spoonful after another to distil, and it will yield a sharp yellow spirit, which if it be put among common water, so that the water be not made too sharp of it, it is a good bath, good for many diseases; especially it healeth all scabs very suddenly. TheCaput Mortuummay also be dissolved in water and used among bathes, and it is good likewise, but the spirit is penetrating, and doth operate suddenly in shrinkings and other defects of the nerves; of such kind of bathes there shall be spoken more in the third part. Also the remaining fixed yellow salt is good to be used in Alchymy; for it graduateth silver by cementing.
Take one part ofRegulus Martis stellatus(made of one part of Iron or Steel, and three parts of Antimony, whose preparation is described in the fourth part) and three parts of pure salt nitre, mix and grind all together, and cast it in by little and little to distil, and there will come over a spirit together with a white sublimate, which must be separated with water, as hath been taught above with other flores, and both the spirit and the flores are good to provoke sweat. The remainingCaput Mortuum, (as they usually call it) is not dead, but full of life and vertue, whereby much good may be done both in Physick and Alchymy, as followeth. The remaining Mass, which looks white, and is very sharp and fiery (if theRegulushave been pure, if not, then it will look yellowish) may be edulcorated with fresh water, and it will yield alixiviumor lye in all things like unto calcined Tartar, but sharper and purer, and may be used almost in all operations instead of salt of Tartar (but first theRegulus Antimoniimust be precipitated from it by the help of water) and afterward it may be coagulated into salt and kept for its use; the edulcorated, as also that which was precipitated with water is a white and fine powder, useful in the plague, feavers, and other diseases to provoke sweating thereby, and may very safely be used, and although if it be given in a greater quantity than usual, it causes some vomits also, yet for all that it doth no hurt. It is easily taken because it hath no taste. It is given to children from 3, 4, to 12. grains: to elder folks from ℈ss.to ʒss.they work successfully in all diseases, where sweating is needful. ThisAntimonium Diaphoreticum, may also be melted into glass, and so extracted and dissolved with spirit of salt, and it may be prepared into several good medicaments: and if all that which may be done with it, should be described at large, it would require too much time. Thelixivium, if it be coagulated, hath wonderful vertues, so that if one should describe them, he would hardly be credited by any body, because it is not made of costly things; and truly the life of man is too short to find out by experience all that lies hid in it: and it would be but a laughing matter to a proud fool, if one should reveal it: therefore it is better to keep counsel, than to sow strife.Basilius Valentinusin his Triumphant Chariot of Antimony, where he writeth of the signed star, hinted it sufficiently, but very few take notice of it.Paracelsusalso, here and there in his books under an unknown name, makes frequent mention of it; but its true preparation and use, by reason of the unthankful was never described by the Philosophers, which for instruction of Good Honest Men we do here mention.
Before you edulcorate theRegulus(made by fulmination) you may extract of it a good medicinal Tincture with spirit of wine, and if you dissolve it with spirit of salt, there will shoot a white foliated Talck in all things like unto the Mineral Talck: whereof a liquor may be made, which coloureth the skin very white, but if this calx of Antimony, before it be extracted with spirit of wine or dissolved with spirit of salt be made into fine powder, and exposed to the moist air, it will dissolve into a fat liquor, which though it be something sharp, yet doth no hurt to the skin, if it be used with discretion, but rather cleanseth it more then any other thing, and so it doth likewise to the hair and nailes; but as soon as the liquor hath been applyedfor that purpose, it must be washed off again with water, lest it do not onely take away the gross and unclean skin, but also work upon the tender white skin and do hurt, and therefore I give warning, that you use it discreetly: for according to the old proverb, you may misuse even that which else is good in it self. If you put some of it into warm water and bath your self in it, the gross skin will peal off all the body, so that you will almost seem to be another body. And this bath also is good for many diseases: for it openeth the pores mightily, and cleanseth all the blood in the body, by drawing many ill humors out of it, which maketh a man light and strong, especially if he be purged first, before he useth the bath. It is also good for Melancholy, scurvy and leprosie, especially when the red Tincture drawn out of it with spirit of wine, be used besides. It is also good to be used in a foot bath for those that are troubled with corns and other excrescencies upon their feet, or with nailes that cut the flesh; for it softeneth them and makes them fit for cutting, and as tractable as wax. For there is nothing known under the Sun, which softneth more a hard skin, hair, nailes and other excrescencies, than this oyl. And this I did set down therefore, because I know, that many are so tormented therewith, that they cannot well endure their shoes upon their feet. But if you coagulate this oyl into salt, and melt it in a crucible, and powre it out into a flat brass bason, that it flow at large and may be broken, then you have the best Causticum, to open the skin withal where is need. If you dissolve crude Tartar with it and coagulate it again, you will get a salt which is used in many Chymical operations; and there may be extracted out of it a blood red Tincture with spirit of wine, which proveth very effectual against all obstructions.
Also every combustible sulphur may be easily dissolved with it, and used among bathes, it acteth his part admirably. If any oyl of spices be boyled therewith, then the oyl will dissolve in it, and they turn together to a balsome, which doth mingle it self with water, and is good to be taken inwardly for some infirmities: but women with child must not meddle with it, because it makes them miscarry. But after their delivery, it is good to expel after burthen and other reliques. But if you boylOleum ligni Rhodiiwith this liquor and rose water so long till the oyl do incorporate with the liquor and waters and then separate the watery substance from it, you will get a sope as white as snow, which may be used for to wash the hands with it, and it doth smell very well. You may also wash the head with it; for it strengtheneth the brain and cleanseth the head and hair. This sope may be distilled, and it will yield a penetrating oyl, very good for the sinews and nerves.
Now as this liquor ofRegulus Antimoniisoftneth the skin, nailes, hair, feathers, horns, and the like, and dissolveth them more than any thing in the world: In the like manner also it hath power to dissolve not only metals, but also the hardest stones, but not in that manner which is done by boyling, as was mentioned of sulphur, but after another way, which is not proper for this place. It sufficeth that I hinted it. The fiery fixed salt nitre may be dissolved with spirit of salt or vinegar, and sublimed into aTerra foliata. What further can be effected with it, doth not belong to this place, and perchance some where else more shall be spoken of it.
Take one part of crude Antimony, two parts of common salt, and four parts of vitriol calcined white, beat all to powder and mix them well, and so cast it in as you were taught to do with other materials, and there will come over a thick oyl of Antimony like butter, which may be rectified like any other oyl, that is made after the common way with Mercury sublimate, and is also the same with it in use, which use you may see in the first part: the same also may be made better and in a greater quantity in the furnace described in the first part, and also with less coals and time by the help of the open fire, because it endureth greater heat than in the second furnace.
After the same manner as was taught with Antimony, there may also out of Arsenick and Auripigment together with salt and vitriol a thick oyl be distilled, which not only outwardly but also inwardly is safe to be used, and may be so corrected, that it shall be nothing at all inferior in vertue unto thebutyrum Antimonii, but rather go beyond it: which perchance will seem impossible to many. But he that knows the nature and condition of minerals, will not be astonished at my words, but they will be to him as a light in a dark place.
If common vitriol be dissolved in water, and you boyle granulated Zinck in it, all the metal and sulphur contained in the vitriol will precipitate on the Zinck, and the solution will turn white, the precipitated matter is nothing else, but iron, copper, and sulphur, which the salt of vitriol did contain, and now is drawn from it by the Zinck. The reason why the metal precipitateth out of the salt upon the Zinck, belongeth to the fourth part, where you will find it sufficiently explained; The white solution, from which the metallical matter is separated, must be coagulated to the dryness of salt, and so by it self a spirit distilled of it, which riseth easily, and is in taste and vertue not unlike unto common oyl of vitriol, but only that this is a little purer than the common.
Here perchance many may object: you take the green from the vitriol, whichParacelsusdoth not teach, but bids us to keep it. To which I answer, that I do not teach here to make the sweet red oyl of vitriol, whereofParacelsushath written, but the white acid oyl; which is as good, or rather much better than the common, which is made of the common impure vitriol. To what purpose is it, that you take green vitriol to distil, whereas the green doth not come over, and although that green should come over, why should that oyl be better than the white? for the green in the common vitriol is nothing else but copper and iron, which the salt water running through the passages of Metals did dissolve and take into it self, and as soon as such a green vitriol feeleth the fire, the green turneth into red, which is nothing else buta calcined iron or copper, which in the reducing by a strong fire and by melting is made manifest.
Paracelsushath not taught us, that we should drive over the green by the force of the fire into a red and sweet oyl, but he hath shewed us an other way, which is found out by few men, whereof in the beginning of the second part already hath been made mention.
This spirit or acid oyl distilled out of the purified vitriol, is of a pleasant sowreness, and serveth for all those uses, which above by the vitriol were described. And this process is set down onely for that end, that we may see, that when the vitriol is purifyed, that then it is easier distilled, and yieldeth a more pleasant spirit, than if it be yet crude and impure.
And that such a purifying of the vitriol is nothing else but a precipitating of the metal, which the water (as before said) running through the veins thereof hath assumed, is thus to be proved; dissolve any metal in its appropriate Menstruum, whether it be done with distilled acid spirits or sharp salts, adding common water to them, or else dry by the fire in a crucible, according as you please, and then put into that solution another metal, such as the dissolvent doth sooner seize on, then upon that which it hath assumed, and then you will find, that the dissolvent doth let fall the assumed metal or mineral, and falls upon the other, which it doth sooner seize on, and dissolveth it as being more friendly to it; of which precipitation in the fourth Part shall be spoken more at large.
This one thing more is worthy your observation, that among all metals there is none more soluble than Zinck, and therefore that all the other (as well in the dry as in the wet way) may be precipitated thereby and reduced into light calxes, in so much that the calx of gold or silver precipitated in this manner (if so be you proceed well) retaineth its splendor or gloss, and is like a fine powder wherewith you may write out of a pen.
Because I made mention here of Zinck, I thought good not to omit, that there may be made a penetrating spirit and wholesome oyl out of it by the help of vinegar, which is thus to be done. Take of the flores (which were taught to be made in the first part) one part, put them into a glass (fit for digestion) and pour upon them 8, or 10. parts of good sharp vinegar made of honey; or in want thereof take wine vinegar, and set the glass with the flores and vinegar in a warm place to dissolve, and the solution being performed, pour off the clear, which will look yellow and after you have filtred it abstract the phlegm, and there will remain a red liquor or balsome, to which you must add pure sand, well calcined, and distill it, and first there will come over an unsavory phlegme, afterward a subtle spirit, and at last a yellow and red oyl which are to be kept by themselves separated from the spirit, as a treasure for to heal all wounds very speedily. The spirit is not inferior unto the oyl, not only for inward use to provoke sweat thereby, but also externally for the quenching of all inflamations, and doubtless this spirit and oyl is good for more diseases, but because its further use is not known to me yet, I will not write of it, but leave the further tryal to others.
In the same manner as was taught of Zinck, there may be out of lead also distilled a subtle spirit and a sweet oyl, and it is done thus: Pour strong vinegar uponMinium, or any other calx of lead, which is madeper se, and not with sulphur, let it digest and dissolve in sand or warm ashes, so long till the vinegar be coloured yellow by the lead, and turned quite sweet. Then pour off the clear solution, and pour on other vinegar, and let this likewise dissolve, and this repeat so often, till the vinegar will dissolve no more, nor grow sweet; then take all these solutions, and evaporate all the moisture, and there will remain a thick sweet yellow liquor, like unto honey, if the vinegar was not distilled, but if it was distilled and made clear, then no liquor remaineth, but only a white sweet salt. This liquor or salt may be distilled after the same manner as was taught with the Zinck, and there will come over not only a penetrating subtle spirit, but also a yellow oyl, which will not be much, but very effectual, in all the same uses, as of the spirit, and oyl of the Zinck was taught.
N. B. This is to be observed, that for to make this spirit and oyl, you need no distilled spirit, but that it may be done as well with undistilled vinegar, and the undistilled yields more spirit than the distilled. But if you look for a white and clear salt, then the vineger must be distilled, else it doth not shoot into crystals, but remaineth a yellow liquor like unto honey, and it is also needless to make the solution in glasses, and by digestion continued for a long time, but it may as well be done in a glazed pot,viz.pouring the vinegar upon the Mineum in the pot, and boyling it on a coal fire; for you need not fear that any thing of the vinegar will evaporate, in regard that the lead keeps all the spirits, and lets only go an unsavory phlegm. You must also continually stir the lead about with a wooden spatulla, else it would turn to a hard stone, and would not dissolve: the same must be done also when the solution is done in glasses; and the solution after this way may be done in three or four hours: and when both kind of solutions are done, there will be no difference betwixt them, and I think it providently done not to spend a whole day about that which may be done in an hour.
And if you will have this spirit and oyl better and more effectual, you may mix ℥ i. of crude Tartar made into powder with ℔ j. of dissolved and purified lead, and so distil it after the same manner as you do distil it by it self, and you will get a much subtler spirit and a better oyl than if it were made alone by it self.
Many think it to be but a small matter to make the spirit of Tartar; for they suppose, that if they do but only put Tartar into a retort, and apply a receiver, and by a strong fire force over a water, they have obtained their desire: and they do not observe, that in stead of a pleasant subtle spirit, they get but a stinking vinegar or phlegm; the pleasant spirit being gone. Which some careful operators perceiving, they caused great receivers to be made, supposing by that means to get the spirit.Now when they after the distillation was done, weighed their spirits together with the remainder, they found, that they had suffered great loss, wherefore they supposed it to be an impossible thing, to get all the spirits, and to lose none, and indeed it is hardly possible to be done otherwise by a retort: for although you apply a great receiver to a small retort, and that there be also but a little Tartar in it, and the joynts being well luted, so that nothing can pass through, and though you make also the fire never so gentle, hoping to get the spirit by that way, yet for all that you cannot avoid danger and loss. For at last the retort beginning to be red hot, and the black oyl going, then and but then the subtlest spirits will come forth, which either steal through the joynts, or else do break the retort or receiver, because they come in abundance and with great force, and do not settle easily: wherefore I will set down my way of making this most profitable, and excellent spirit.
Take good and pure crude Tartar, whether it be red or white, it matters not, make it into fine powder, and when the distilling vessel is red hot, then cast in with a ladle half an ounce and no more at once, and so soon as the spirits are gone forth and setled, cast in another ℥ ss. and this continue, till you have spirit enough, then take out the remainder, which will look black, and calcine it well in a crucible, and put it in a glass retort, and pour the spirit that came over together with the black oyl, upon it, drive it in sand at first gently, and the subtlest spirits will come over, and after them phlegme, at last a sowre vinegar together with the oyl, whereof you must get each by it self. But if you desire to have the subtle spirit which came over first, more penetrating yet, then you must take theCaput Mortuumthat staid in the retort, and make it red hot in a crucible, and abstract the spirit once more from it, and the calcined Tartar will keep the remaining moistness or phlegm, and only the subtlest spirit will come over, which is of a most penetrating quality, whereof from half a dram to an ounce taken in wine or any other liquor provoketh a quick and strong sweat, and it is a powerful medicine in all obstructions, and most approved and often tryed in the plague, malignant feavers, scurvy,Melancolia Hypochondriaca, collick, contracture, epilepsy and the like diseases. And not only these mentioned diseases, but also many others more, which proceed from corrupt blood under God may successfully be cured with it.
The phlegm is to be cast away, as unprofitable: the vinegar cleanseth wounds: the oyl allayeth swelling and pains, and doth cure scabs, and disperseth knobs that are risen upon the skin, as also other excrescencies of the same, if it be used timely, and the use thereof be continued.
N. B. If the black stinking oyl be rectified from the calcinedCaput Mortuum, it will be clear and subtle, and it will not only asswage very speedily all pains of the gout, but also dissolve and expel the conglobated gravel in the reines, applyed as a plaister or unguent. In like manner it will dissolve and extract the coagulated Tartar in the hands, knees and feet, so that the place affected will be freed and made whole thereby: because in such a despicable oyl there lyes hid a volatile salt which is of great vertue. But if you desire experimentally to know whether it be so, then pour upon this black stinking oyl an acid spirit, as the spirit of common salt, or of vitriol or salt nitre, or only distilled vinegar, and the oyl will grow warm and make a noyse and rise, as ifAqua fortishad been powred upon salt of Tartar, and the acid spirit will be mortified thereby, and turn to salt. And this well purified oyl doth dissolve and extract the Tartar out of the joynts (unless it be grown to a hard stony substance) even as sope scowres the uncleanness out of cloths, or to compare it better, even as like receiveth its like, and is easily mixed with it, and doth love it; but on the contrary, nothing will mix it self with that wherewith it hath no affinity at all. As if you would take pitch out of cloth by washing it with water, which never will be done by reason of the contrary nature; for common water hath no affinity with pitch or other fat things, nor will it ever be taken out therewith without a mediator, partaking of both natures,viz.of the nature of pitch and that of the water, and such are sulphureous salts, and nitrous salts, whether they be fixed or volatile. As you may see at the soap boylers, who incorporate common water by the help of sulphureous salts with fat things, as tallow and oyl. But if you take warm oyl or any thin fat substance, and put it upon the pitch or rozin, then the oyl easily accepteth of and lays hold on its like, and so the pitch is dissolved and got out of the cloth, and the remaining fatness of the oyl may be fetcht out of the cloth with lye or sope and common water, and so the cloth recovereth its former beauty and pureness. And as it falleth out with sulphureous things, so it doth likewise with Mercurial. For example, if you would take the salt out of powdered flesh or pickled fish with a lixivium it would not succeed, because that the nitrous and acid salts are of contrary natures.
But if upon the powdered flesh or pickled fish you pour on water wherein some of the same salt (wherewithall the flesh was powdered) is dissolved, that salt water will extract the salt out of the flesh, as being its like, much more than common sweet water, wherein there is no salt.
In this manner the hardest things also, as stones and metals, may be joyned or united with water, whereof more in my other books are extant; it is needless here therefore to relate. I gave a hint of it, only for to shew, that always like with like must be extracted. True it is that one Contrary can mortifie another, and take the corrosiveness from it, whereby the pains for a time are asswaged, but whether the cause of the disease it self be eradicated thereby, is a question.
Here may be objected, that I make a difference between the sulphureous and Mercurial salts, whereas neither Mercury nor sulphur apparently is to be seen in either. It is true, he that doth not understand nor know the nature of salts, is not able to apprehend it. And I have not time now to demonstrate it, but the same is shewed at large in my bookde Natura salium, that some of them are sulphureous, and some Mercurial: but he that looks for a further direction yet, let him read my bookde Sympathia & Antipathia rerum, wherein he shall find it demonstrated that from the Creation of the World to the time present, there were always two contrary natures fighting one against the other,which fight will continue so long till the Mediator betwixt God and Man, the Lord Jesus Christ shall put an end unto this strife, when he shall come to separate the good from the bad, by whose lightning and fire flame the proud and hurtful superfluous sulphur shall be kindled and consumed: the pure Mercurial being left in the center.
Take any metal or mineral, dissolve it in a fit menstruum, mix it with a due proportion of crude Tartar, so that the crude Tartar being made into powder together with the solution make up a pap as it were; then at once cast in one spoonful of it, and distil it into a spirit and oyl, which after the distillation must be separated by rectification, for to keep each by its self for its proper use.
This Tartarized spirit of metals is of such a condition, that it readily performeth its operation according to the strength of the spirit, and the nature of the metal or mineral, whereof it is made. For the spirit and oyl of Gold and Tartar is good for to corroborate the heart, and to keep out its enemies: the spirit of silver and tartar doth serve for the brain; that of Mercury and Tartar, for the liver: of lead and tin for the spleen and lungs: of iron and copper for the reins and seminary vessels: that of Antimony and Tartar for all accidents and infirmities of the whole body; and these metallical spirits made with Tartar, provoke sweat exceedingly, whereby many malignities are expelled out of the body. Likewise also the oyl hath its operation, though this of several metals, as of Mercury and Copper, is not well to be used inwardly, because it causeth salivations and strong vomits. But externally they are very good for to cleanse all putrid ulcers, and to lay a good and firm ground for healing them.
The remainder, whereof the spirit and oyl is distilled, you may take out, and reduce it in a crucible into a metal, so that what is not come over, may not be lost, but made to serve again.
And as you were taught to distil spirits and oyls out of dissolved metals and crude Tartar; so you may get them likewise out of common vitriol and Tartar,viz.thus, take one part of Tartar made into powder, two parts of good pure vitriol, mix them well together, and distil a spirit of them, which though it be unpleasant to take, for all that in all obstructions and corruption of blood whatsoever it is not to be despised, but very successfully performeth its operation; especially when it is rectified from itsCaput Mortuum, and so freed from its phlegm; and its best vertue, which consisteth in the volatility, be not lost in the distilling.
N. B. But if you will have this spirit more effectual, then you may join Tartar and vitriol by boyling them together in common water, and crystallizing; and then cast it in, and distil it, and there will come over a much purer and more penetrating spirit; because that in the solution and coagulation of both, many fæces were separated: but if to one part of vitriol you take two parts of Tartar, and dissolve it together, and so filter and coagulate it, then the Tartar with the vitriol will shoot no more, but there remaineth a thick liquor like unto honey, out of which with spirit of wine there may be extracted a good tincture against obstructions. This liquor taken from ℈ i. to ʒ i. doth purge very gently, and sometimes it causeth a vomit, especially if the vitriol was not pure and good: and it may be also distilled into a spirit not inferiour unto the former in vertue. Besides the way above taught, there is yet (for to distil a metallized spirit of Tartar) another way, whereby several metals and minerals may be reduced into pleasant spirits and oyls, and of more vertue, and it is done in this manner.
Take of the Tartar of white Rhenish wine made into powder, pour upon it sweet rain or running water, so that to ℔ j. of tartar there be ℔ x. or ℔ xij. of water, or so much that the tartar may be dissolved by it in the boyling, and then boyl the mixture with the water in a tinned kettle, or which is better, in a glazed pot, until it be quite dissolved, and in the mean while take off the skum (with a wooden skimmer) still as it riseth in the boyling: and when no more skum riseth, and all the tartar is dissolved, then pour the solution thus hot through a linnen cloth, tyed straight on an earthen glazed vessel, that the remaining sliminess may be separated. The tartar water being strained, let it stand for 24. or 30. hours without stirring, and there will stick a crystallized tartar to the sides of the vessel, which after the water is poured off may be taken out, and washed with cold water, and then dryed. This purified tartar keep, until I shall teach you, what further is to be done with it; and this tartar is pure enough for the above said purpose,viz.to reduce metals into oyl with it, as shall follow anon. It is also good taken of it self for an abstersive to make the body soluble. But if you desire to have it yet whiter and fairer and in great Crystals, you must proceed thus.
You must know this that all salts, if they shall shoot into great crystals, there must be a great quantity of them, for of little there comes but little. And if you will make great and fair white crystals of tartar, which will be no better than the former, but only pleasant to the eye, then you must proceed in this manner.
Take of white tartar made into powder about ten or thirty ℔. pour so much water upon it, as is needful for to dissolve it, and boyl it by a strong fire in a tinned kettle, until all the tartar be dissolved, which you may know by stirring in it with a wooden ladle, and skim off diligently all the filth rising on the water; and you must take heed, that you take neither too much nor too little water to it; for if you take too little, part of the tartar will remain undissolved, and so will be cast away and lost among the slime: but if you take too much of it, then the tartar is too much disspersed in the water, and cannot shoot well, and so will likewise be lost, being cast away afterwards with the water. For I have heard many a one complain, that they could get but little of a pound, and therefore supposed the tartar to have been naught, whereas the fault was not in the tartar, but in the workman, that managed not well his work, pouring away one half which did not shoot with the water: but if you proceed well, then four pound of common tartar will yield ℔ iij. of pure white crystals. The solution being well made, and no skim morerising at the top, cover the kettle, and let it cool without removing from the warm place it stands in, which will be done within three or four dayes, if the kettle be bigg. But the fire must be taken away from under the kettle, and so let it stand for the time mentioned. In the mean while the Tartar will crystallise to the sides of the kettle, which crystals after the time is expired, and the water poured off, are to be taken out and washed and boyled again with fresh water, and so skimmed and crystallised; and this proceeding must be still reiterated, untill (which is done the third or fourth time) the crystals are white enough: then take them out, dry and keep them for use; whereof from ʒ j. to ℥ j. made into powder, and taken in wine, beer, warm broth or other liquor, will give some gentle stooles, and serveth for those, which cannot endure strong physick. This tartar may be sharpned with Diagridium or any other purging drug, that so you need not take it in so great a quantity at once, but a lesser dose may serve turn. But if you do not look for great crystals, but only for Tartar well purified, then you may use this following manual, and you will get exceeding fair and glistering little crystals, which need no beating into powder, but by the working come to be so pure and fine, as if they had been ground upon a stone, and looking not like a dead powder, but having a gloss, like unto small glistering snow that fell in very cold weather, and it is done thus: when the crystals are come to be pure enough by often dissolving and coagulating, then dissolve them once again in pure water, and pour the solution into a clean vessel of wood, copper, or earth being glased; and let it not stand still (as above taught with the crystals) but as soon as it is powred in, with a clean wooden stick stirr about continually without ceasing, till all be cold, which will be done in half an houre. In this stirring the Tartar hath no time to shoot into crystals, but doth coagulate into the smallest glistering powder, pleasant to behold, and like unto frozen snow settleth at the bottom of the vessel; then pour off the water, and dry the powder, and keep it for use. The waters which you poured off, in regard that they contain yet some Tartar, ought not to be cast away (as others do) but evaporated, and the Tartar contained in them will be saved, and so nothing will be lost, and in this manner not only white Tartar may be reduced into clear crystals, but also the red being several times dissolved and crystallized, loseth its redness, and turneth white and clear. Besides the abovesaid, there is another way to reduce the Tartar into great white crystals at once by precipitation; but these being good enough for our purpose,viz.to make good medicines out of metals, I hold it needless to loose more time by the relation of it, and so I will acquiesce.
Take of purified Tartar dissolved and coagulated but once, as much as you please, pour so much rain or other sweet water to it as will serve to dissolve it; in which solution you must boyl plates of metals, until the Tartar have dissolved enough of it, so that it will dissolve no more; the sign whereof is, when the solution is deep coloured of the metal, and during your boyling you must often supply the evaporated water with pouring on of other, lest the Tartar come to be too dry and burn; and this solution may be done best of all in a metallical vessel; as when you will make the solution of iron, you may do it in an iron pot; and for copper you may take a copper kettle, and so forth for other metals, a vessel made of the same is to be taken. But you must know that gold, silver, and crude Mercury, unless they be first prepared cannot be dissolved like iron and copper, but when they are prepared first for the purpose, then they will also be dissolved. In like manner some minerals also must be first prepared, before they can be dissolved with Tartar and water. But if you can have good glasses or glazed vessels of earth, you may use them for all metals and minerals for to dissolve them therein, and the solution you may not only use of it self for a medicine, but also distill it, and make a very effectual spirit and oyl of it as followeth.
Take the filings of Lead and Tin, and boyl them with the water or solution of Tartar in a leaden or tin vessel, untill the Tartar be sweetned by the water, so that it will dissolve no more, to which pass it will be brought within twenty four hours, for both these metals will be dissolved but slowly, but if you would perform this solution sooner, then you must reduce the metals first into a soluble calx, and then they may be dissolved in less time than an hour. The solution being done, you must filtre it, and in B. abstract all the moisture to the thickness or consistency of honey, and there will remain a pleasant sweet liquor, which of it self with out any further preparation may safely be used inwardly for all such diseases, for which other medicaments, made of these metals are useful. Especially the sweet liquor of lead and tin doeth much good in the Plague, not only by driving the poyson from the heart by sweating, but also by breaking or allaying the intolerable heat, so that a happy cure doth follow upon it: but externally the liquor of lead may be used succesfully in all inflammations, and it healeth very suddenly, not only fresh wounds, but also old ulcers turned to fistulaes; for the Tartar cleanseth, and lead consolidates.
The liquor of tin is better for inward use than for outward whose operation is not so fully known yet, as that of lead. But if you will distil a spirit thereof, then cast it in with a ladle by little and little, as above in other distillations oftentimes was mentioned, and there will come over a subtle spirit of tartar, carrying along the vertue and best essence of the metal, and therefore doth also prove much more effectual than the common spirit of tartar, which is made alone by it self, and this spirit as well that which is made of tin, as that of lead, if it be well dephlegmed first, may be used and held for a great treasure in all obstructions, especially of the Spleen; and few other medicines will go beyond them; but besides there must not be neglected the use of good purging medicines, if need require them. With the spirit there cometh over also an oyl, which is of a quick operation, especially in wounds and sores of the eye, where other oyntments and plaisters may not so fitly be used, for it doth not only allay the heat and inflammation, a common symptome of the eye wounds, but also doth hinder and keep back all other symptomes which few other medicaments, are ableto do; and for the residue, if it be driven further by the strongest fire, then there will come over a sublimate, which, in the air dissolveth into oyl, which is also of a powerful operation, not only in physick, but also in Alchymy.
And the Lead runeth together into a fair whiteRegulus, which is much whiter, purer and fairer than other common lead: but the tartar retaines the blackness, and raiseth it self to the top as a fusible dross, which is impregnated with the sulphur of lead, wherewith you may colour hair, bones, feathers and the like, and make them to be, and remain brown and black.
I made tryal once of such a distillation in an iron vessel, whereby the same in the inside was so whitened by the purified lead, that it was like unto fine silver in brightness: which afterwards trying again, it would not fall so fair as at first; whereat none ought to wonder, for I could write something more (if it were fit) of tartar, knowing well what may be effected with it, if I did not stand in fear of scoffers, which vilify all what they do not understand. I durst presume to call tartar the Sope of the Philosophers; for in the cleansing of some metals, by long experience I found it of admirable vertue; though I would not be understood thus, as if I did count it to be the trueAzoth universalis Philosophorum, whereby they wash their Laton: but I cannot deny, but that it is of particular use for the washing and cleansing of several metals; for it is indued with admirable vertues for the use of metals, whereof in other places more shall be said hereafter.
If you intend to make a good medicine out of iron or steel or copper joyned with tartar, then for the iron or steel take an iron pot, and for copper a kettel of copper, make them very clean and put in it the filings of iron, or steel, or copper, which you please, and twice as much of pure tartar made into powder, and so much water, that the tartar maybe dissolved well by it in the boyling, and so boyl the metal with the tartar-water so long, till it be deeply coloured by the metal, as red by the iron, and deep green by the copper; and when the water in the boyling doth waste, you must still supply it with other, that the tartar may not burn; for there must be alwayes so much water, that no skin of the tartar may rise at the top, but that it remain always open, and there must not be too much water neither, lest it be too sweet, and not able to dissolve the metal. The solution of iron or steel being come to be red and sweet, and in taste like unto vitriol, but green and bitter of copper, pour it off warm by inclination into an other clean vessel, and let it stand so long again in a very gentle heat of coals, till almost all the water be evaporated, and the dissolved metal with the tartar remain in the consistency of honey.
Which metallical liquor may be used inwardly and outwardly (especially that of iron) which doth purge gently, and openeth the obstructions of the Liver and Spleen: cleanseth the Stomach, and killeth Worms: externally used it is a good wound balsome, and goes far beyond all such as are made of vegetables. It is a singular treasure, not only for to cure new wounds; but also for to cleanse and heal old corrupt exulcerated sores, turned to fistulaes; but the liquor of copper is not so safe for to be used inwardly, for it is not only very unpleasant in taste, but also causeth vehement vomits: and therefore I would not advise any one to be forward to use it, unless it be for strong folks and for to kill worms in them, for which purpose it is excellent good and surpasseth all other medicines whatsoever; but to little children it ought not to be given at all, in regard that it is of far too strong an operation for them.
N. B. And if you will use it to strong bodies against the worms or stomach-agues, you must observe that the patient (in case that he cannot get it up) thrust his finger into the throat to further the vomiting, that it may not stay behind, but come forth again out of the body, which done health followeth upon it; but if it remain in the body, it causeth a loathsomeness to use it any more. And therefore you must take heed to use it warily: and in regard that this liquor is very bitter, you may mix it with some sugar, to facilitate the taking thereof; but that of iron needeth no such correction, it being sweet enough of it self, and therefore I commend and prefer it before the other: but if you will needs have that of copper (because it worketh so strongly) then the Patient must keep in from the cold aire, and not presently after the operation load the stomach with strong drink and superfluity of meat, contenting himself with some warm broth and a little cup of wine or beer, and the next day his meat and drink will taste the better with him, and do him so much the more good.
But externally, this liquor is of the same use with that of iron or steel, yea, proveth more effectual and speedier in healing. It would be good that Surgeons knew how to prepare it, and would use it instead of their salves, wherewith many fresh wounds are spoyled and turned into horrid ulcers, especially it requiring so little cost and pains to make it. And if you would have these liquors purer yet, you must pour on spirit of wine, and extract them, and they will easily yield their tincture, and leave many fæces behind which are good for nothing: but the tincture will be so much the better, purer, and more effectual, so that you need use but four or five drops for purging, whereas of the gross liquor you must have from 4, 6, 8. to 12. or 16. drops: and this extracted tincture worketh also much better externally, and keepeth longer than the balsome or liquor, which in time is corrupted, but the extraction is never spoiled. But if you will distil the liquor or balsome, it is needless that it be extracted first, but may be distilled so as the boyling made it, after the same manner, as above was taught for Lead, and there will come over a yellow spirit and oyl from iron or steel, and from copper a greenish spirit and oyl.
The spirit and oyl of iron may safely be used in the plague, feavers, obstructions, and corruption of blood, from ʒ i. to ℥ i. It is much better to provoke sweat, than that which is made of crude Tartar, without addition of a metal: the like doth that also which is made of copper and more effectually yet, and sometimes causeth a vomit, if it be used in a greater quantity, than is fitting.
N. B. Although the Chymists do prefer copper before iron, as a more firm and ripe metal, nevertheless it is found by experience, that iron orsteel by reason of its sweetness is better to be used for an inward medicine than copper. But for external use, copper (if it be well prepared) hath the preheminence, being an appropriate medicine for all ulcers and open sores, in all the parts of the body, if the same inwardly be kept clean by fitting purges. For not only the now described medicine, but also many more besides, are taught to be made out of copper in other places of my books.
A Country-physick and purge I will teach for those, which either live far from Apothecary-shops, or have no money to spare for physick; and it is to be made out of iron and copper, whereby they may cleanse their slimy stomachs, spoyled by a disorderly dyet, whence head-aches, worms, agues, and other diseases are occasioned, warning withal those that are either too old or too young, or else decayed and weak, and so not strong enough for such powerful physick, that they will forbear to use it, lest besides the worms, they kill and expel life it self also; but those that are of a strong constitution, and a middle age, and of a sound heart, may safely use this purge, whereby stomach-agues, belly-worms, and may other occult diseases may be cured with good success. The preparation is done thus: Take ℥ss.of pure tartar made into powder, & ℥ss.or ℥ j. of sugar or honey, and ℥ v. or ℥ vj. of spring or rain water, put all into a clean copper vessel which is not greasy, and boyl it upon a coal fire as long or somewhat longer than you use to boyl an egg, or at the furthest half a quarter of an hour; take off the skum in boyling, let it stand till it be milk-warm, so that it may be drunk. This potion tasting almost like warm wine sweetned with sugar, give unto the patient to drink, and let him fast upon it, and within half an hour it will begin to work upwards and downwards; whereat you need not be amazed, but only keep the body warm, and within an hour it will have done working. But if you will drive out worms from little children by purging, then instead of the copper-vessel, take a clean iron-vessel, and put in a less quantity of tartar, sugar and water, and boyl it as abovesaid, and give it to them, and it will purge only downward, but sometimes it will also give a gentle vomit, which will do them no hurt, but rather will cleanse the stomach the better. But if the drink be too weak, so that it doth not work, it may be used again the next day (but you must take more of the ingredients, or else let them boyl longer) there is no danger in it at all, if you proceed aright, and it is much pleasanter to take, than the bitter worm-feed, wherewith they usually torment children.
The reason why this decoction works in this manner is, that the tartar and sugar being boyled in metallical vessels with water, work upon the metal, and extract vertue out of it, which causeth vomiting and purging (the Tartar also being helpful to it.)
Vulgar Mercury cannot be dissolved like the former metals with tartar and water, without any foregoing preparation; but must be sublimed first with salt and vitriol, or crystallised withAqua fortis, and then it may be dissolved by boyling with tartar and water, and reduced into a balsame, like other metals, but is not to be used inwardly, unless it be digested a sufficient time, so that its fierceness be allayed: Externally it may safely be used in all desperate, especially venereal sores, and it is a very effectual and profitable medicine for them. But most of all it doth serve for Alchymy, although few do know this guest, because he will not be seen by every one. The spirit which comes over from it by distillation, is an admirable thing not only in physick, but also in Alchymy: yet you must take heed, that instead of a friend, you do not harbor a great enemy: for its force and vertue is very great and powerful.
Gold and silver also can by no means be dissolved with tartar in a wet way: but in a dry way adding its helper to it, it will easily dissolve, which doth not belong hither; but if you will draw a spirit of it, then the gold and silver must first by dissolving and coagulating be reduced to crystals, and then dissolved with purifyed tartar and water, and of Gold you will get a yellow solution, and of silver a white inclining unto green, which being reduced to the consistency of honey, may be used safely and without fear. The solution of Gold doth loosen and keep the body open; it effectually strengtheneth the stomach, heart, lungs, and liver, and other principal members: and that of silver purgeth very forcibly, according to the quantity given, like another purge, but without harm or danger, so that in all diseases where purging is necessary, it may be used safely from ℈ i. to ʒss.but that of gold is used in a smaller quantity: and both the liquor of gold and of silver may very successfully be used externally: but because for external uses inferiour metals will serve the turn, it is needless to use costly things thereto.
The spirit which is forced from it by distillation, is endued with great vertue: for the volatile part of the metal cometh over-joyned with the spirit of tartar, the remainder may be reduced, so as it was taught of other metals. This spirit, especially that of Gold, is exceeding good in the plague and other diseases, where sweating is necessary: for it driveth not only by sweating, all Malignities from the Heart, but also doth strengthen the same, and preserveth it from all hurtful symptomes. Likewise also that of silver is very commendable, especially if it be first dephlegmed from itsCaput Mortuum, as above was taught in the preparation of the common spirit of tartar. For any Physitian expert in Chymistry may easily guess what the spirit of tartar well rectifyed and impregnated with the vertues of gold may effect, and therefore it is needless to make any further mention of it, but it shall be left to the tryal thereof.
Crude Antimony cannot be dissolved in such a manner as above hath been taught: but if it be first prepared into flores, or avitrum, it yieldeth easily its vertue in boyling, and it is done thus: Take to one part of the flores or of small groundvitrum Antimoniimadeper se, three parts of pure tartar, and 12. or 15. parts of clean water, boyl the Antimony with the tartar and waterin a glazed pot for three or four hours, and the evaporated water must be still supplyed with other that the tartar may not burn for want of water, and thevitrummust be sometimes stirred about with a wooden spatula (which the flores being light do not need): This done, the tartar water will be deep red coloured by the Antimony, and leave the remaining Antimony settled in the bottom, from which pour off the solution, and after having filtred it, evaporate the water from it, and then extract it once more with spirit of wine, and you will get a blood-redExtractum, whereof 1, 2, 3. to 10. or 12. drops given at once, causeth gentle vomits and stools, which may be safely used by old and young in all diseases that have need of purging, and you need not fear any danger at all: For I know no vomit, which purgeth more gently than this, and if you please, you may make it work only (per inferiora) downward, so that it shall cause no vomits at all: and you need do nothing else but make a toast of brown bread, and hold it hot to your nose and mouth, and when this is almost cold, have another hot in readiness, and so use one after another by turns, till you feel no more loathing, and that the vertue of Antimony hath begun to work downward: This is a good secret for those that would use Antimonial physick, but that they are affraid of vomiting, which they are not able to endure. But if you will not spend so much pains, as to make such an Extract, then do as you was taught above to do with the copper, and take ten or twelve grains of prepared Antimony for an old body, but for a young one 5, 6. grains or more or less according to the condition of the person, and ℥ ss. or ʒ vj. of pure tartar, and together with ℥ iiij. or ℥ v. of water put it in a little pipkin, and boyl it a quarter of an hour, then pour the solution only into a cup, and disolve a little sugar in it, whereby the acidity of the Tartar will somewhat qualified. Thedecoctumdrink warm, and keep your self as it is fit, and it will work much better, than it if had been steeped over night in wine, which not every one can abide to take fasting; but thisdecoctum, because it tasteth like warm and sweet wine, is much pleasanter to take.
N. B. It is to be admired, that well prepared Antimony is never taken in vain: for although it be given in a very small quantity, so that it cannot cause either stools or vomits, yet it worketh insensibly,viz.it cleanseth the blood, and expelleth malignities by sweat, so that mighty diseases may be rooted out thereby without any great sensible operation. Which many times hapned unto me, and gave me occasion to think further of it; and therefore I sought how to prepare Antimony so, that it might be used daily without causing of vomits or stools, which I put in execution accordingly, and found it good, as afterward shall follow.
Of the solution above described,viz.of the flores of Antimony with tartar make a good quantity, and after the evaporation of the water distill a spirit of it, and there will also come over a black oyl, which must be separated from the spirit, and rectifiedper se; and externally applyed it will not only do the same wonderful operations, which above have been ascribed to the simple oyl of tartar, but it goeth also far beyond it, for the best essence of Antimony hath joyned it self thereunto, in the distilling and so doubled the vertue of the oyl of Tartar; and this oyl may with credit be used not only for all podagrical tumors to allay them very readily, but also by reason of its dryness it doth consume all other tumors in the whole body, whether they be caused by wind or water: for the volatile salt by reason of its subtlety, conveyeth the vertue of Antimony into the innermost parts of the body in a marvellous and incredible way, whereby much good can be performed in Chyrurgery.
As for the spirit, you may not only use it very successfully, in the Plague, Pox, Scurvy,Melancholia Hypochondriaca, Feavers, and other obstructions and corruptions of blood, but also if you put some of it into new wine or beer, and let it work with it, the wine or beer comes to be so vertuous thereby, that if it be daily used, it doth stay and keep off all diseases proceeding from superfluous humors and corrupted blood, so that neither Plague, Scurvy,Melancholia Hypochondriaca, or any other disease of that kind can take root in those that daily use it, wherein no metal or mineral (except gold) can be parallel’d with it: but in case you have no conveniency to make that spirit, and yet you would willingly have such a medicinal drink made of Antimony, then take but of the solution made with tartar, before it be distilled, and put ℔ j. or ℔ j ss. of it into 18. or 20. gallons of new wine or beer, and let it work together, and the vertue of the Antimony by the fermentation of the wine will grow the more volatile and efficacious to work. And if you cannot have new wine (in regard that it doth not grow every where) you may make an artificial wine of Honey, Sugar, Pears, Figs, Cherries or the like fruit, as in the following third part shall be taught, which may stand in stead of natural Wine.
These medicinal wines serve for a sure and safe preservative, not only to prevent many diseases, but also if they have possessed the body already, effectually to oppose and expel them. Also all external open sores (which by daubing and plaistering could not be remedied) by daily drinking thereof may be perfectly cured. For not onlyBasilius Valentinus, andTheophrastus Paracelsus, but many more before and after them knew it very well, and have written many good things of it, which few did entertain, and (because their description was somewhat dark) most despised and defamed them for untruths.
In like manner, and much more may this my writing be lightly esteemed of, because I do not set down long and costly processes, but only according to truth, and in simplicity do labour to serve my neighbour, which doth not sound well in the ears of the proud world, which rather tickle and load themselves with vain and unprofitable processes, than harken unto the truth; and it is no wonder, that God suffereth such men, which only look after high things, and despise small things, to be held in Error.
Why do we look to get our Medicines by troubling our brains, & by subtle and tedious works, whereas God through simple nature doth teach us otherwise. Were it not better to let simple nature instruct us? surely if we would be in love with small things, we should find great ones. But because all men do strive only for great and high things, therefore the small also are kept from them; and therefore it would be well, that we could fancy this maxim, that also things of small account can do something, as wemay see by Tartar and despicable Antimony, and not only so many coals, glasses, materials, and the like, but also the pretious time would not be wasted so much in preparing of medicaments: for all is not gold that glistereth, but oftentimes under a homely coat some glorious thing is hid; which ought to be taken notice of.
Some may object why do I teach to joyn the Antimony first with the Tartar by the help of common water before its fermentation with the wine: whether it would not be as good to put it in of it self in powder, or to dissolve it with spirit of salt (which would be easier to do than with Tartar) and so let it work? To which I answer, that the working wine or drink, receiveth no metallical calx or solution, unless it be first prepared with tartar or spirit of wine. For although you dissolve Antimony, or any other metal or mineral in spirit of salt, or of vitriol, or of salt nitre, or any other acid spirit, and then think to let it work with wine or any other drink, you will find that it doth not succeed; for the acid spirit will hinder the fermentation, and let fall the dissolved metals, and so spoyl the work; and besides, Tartar may be used among all drinks, and doth more agree with ones taste and stomach, than any corrosive spirit.
In the same manner as was taught of Antimony, other minerals and metals also may be fitly joyned with wine or other drink, and the use of such Antimonial wine is this,viz.that it be drank at meals and betwixt meals like other ordinary drink to quench thirst, but for all that, it must not be drank in a greater quantity, than that Nature be able to bear it. For if you would drink of it immoderately, it would excite vomits, which ought not to be, for it is but only to work in an insensible way, which if it be done, it preserveth not only the body from all diseases proceeding from corrupted impure blood, as the Plague, Leprosy, Pox, Scurvy, and the like, but by reason of its hidden heat, whereby it doth consume and expel all evil and salt humors (as the Sun dryeth up a pool) by sweat and urine, and so doth unburthen the blood from all such sharp and hurtful humors,&c.It doth not only cure the abovesaid diseases, but also all open sores, ulcers, fistulaes, which by reason of the superfluity of salt humors can admit of no healing, and it doth dispatch them in a short time in a wonderful manner, and so firmly that there is no relapse to be feared.
This drink is not only good for the sick, but also for the whole (though in a smaller quantity) because that it wonderfully cleanseth the whole body, and you need not fear the least hurt either in young or old, sick or healthy. And let no man stumble at it, that many ignorant men do defame Antimony and hold it to be poyson, and forbid it to be used; for if they knew it well, they would not do so; but because such men know no more, than what they get by reading, or by hear-say, they pronounce a false sentence; and it might be replyed unto them, asApellesdid to the Shooe-maker;Ne sutor ultra crepidam: but what what shall we say?Non omnis fert omnia tellus.When an Ass after his death doth rot, out of the carcass groweth Beetles, which can fly higher than the Ass from whence they came; In the like manner we wish it may fare with the haters of royal Antimony,viz.that their posterity may get seeing eyes, and what they know not, they may forbear to despise and scoff at.
I must confess, that if Antimony be not well prepared, and besides, be indiscreetly used by the unskilful, that it may prejudice a man in his health, which even the vegetables also may do. But to reject it by reason of the abuse, would be a very unwise act: If perchance a child should get into his hand a sharp-edged knife, and hurt himself or others, because it doth not understand how to use a knife, should therefore the use of a knife be rejected and forbidden to those that are grown up and know how to use it? Good sharp tools make a good workman; so good quick working and powerful medicines make a good physitian; and the sharper the tool is, the sooner a stone-carver or other craftsman may spoyl his work by one cut which he doth amiss: which also must be understood of powerful medicines, for if they be used pertinently, in a short time more good may be done with them, than with weak medicaments in a long time. Now as a sharp tool is not to be handled but by a good workman, so likewise a powerful medicine ought to be managed by an understanding and conscientious physitian, who according to the condition of the person, and the disease, knows to increase or abate the strength of the medicine, and not by such a one, as doth minister it ignorantly without making any difference at all.
Let no man marvail, that I ascribe such great vertues unto Antimony, it being abundantly enriched with theprimum ensof gold. If I should say ten times as much more of it, I should not lye. Its praise is not to be expressed by any mans tongue; for purifying of the blood, there is no mineral like unto it; for it cleanseth and purifieth the whole man in the highest degree, if it be well prepared first, and then discreetly used. It is the best and next friend to gold, which by the same also is freed and purified from all addition and filth, as we said even now, of man. Every Antimony for the most part agreeth with gold and its medicine; for out of Antimony, by the cleansing Art may be made firm gold, as in the fourth part shall be taught, and which is more, by a long digestion a good part of the same is changed into gold. Whereby it is evident, that it hath the nature and property of gold, and it is better to be used for a medicine than gold it self, because the golden vertue is as yet volatile in this, but in the other is grown fixed and compacted, and may be compared to a young child in respect of an old man. Therefore it is my advice, that in Antimony medicine should be sought, and not to trifle away time and cost in vain and useless things.
Further note, That if you desire to contract nearer together the vertue of Antimony or any other mineral or metal, as above was taught to be done with the Tartar, you must by exhalation of the superfluous moisture in Balneo, reduce the solution to a honey thick liquor, and pour spirit of wine upon it for to extract, and within few days it will be very red; then pour it off and pour on other, and let this likewise extract: continue this proceeding with shifting the spirit of wine, till the spirit of wine can get no more Tincture; then put all the coloured spirit of wine together into a glass with a long neck, and digest it so long in a warm Balneum, till the colour or best essence of Antimony be separated from the spirit of wine, and settled to the bottom like ablood red thick fat oyl, so that the spirit of wine is turned white again; which is to be separated from the fair and pleasant oyl of Antimony, which is made without any corrosive, and is to be kept as a great treasure in physick. The spirit of wine retains somewhat of the vertue of Antimony, and may be used with success of it self both inwardly and outwardly. But the Tincture as a Panacea in all diseases acteth its part with admiration, and as here mentioned of Antimony, so in the same manner all metals by the help of Tartar and spirit of wine may without distilling be reduced into pleasant and sweet oyles, which are none of the meanest in Physick: for every knowing and skilful Chymist will easily grant, that such a metallical oyl, as without all corrosives out of the gross metals is reduced into a pleasant essence, cannot be without great and singular vertue.