First of all, let very good Wheat be made to germinate [or sprout] by stewing in some gentle heat; [as in making of Mault] then after the sprouting let it be put in some warm Furnace, or in great Coppers, and stirred about with some wooden thing without ceasing till it be dryed. In this Operation you must have an especial care, that the Corn smatch not of the Fire, which is then brought by drying to a sufficient hardness, when it is not soft in biting it with your Teeth, but leaps as ’twere in pieces; this is a sign that you have done your work well. Having prepared it thus, let it be broken [or ground] and boiled after the manner of other Ale, without Hops; and then after it has fermented let it be freed from its superfluous moisture by our Magnet. So will you have remaining a sweet Drink not much unlike to Wine; which Liquor if you would yet have more near in its likeness to Wine, you must put in for every Tun or every Butt about a pound of Tartar in the Fermentation, that so it may ferment together with the Corn, and may give unto this Drink a winy Tast.
After the same manner may excellent Metheglin be made of Honey and Sugar, or such a kind of Drink as but little differs from the Savour of Wine. An Art, verily, most profitable in those places which have no Wine, but have that defect supplied by the great Quantity of Honey and Sugar. The manner of making such a kind of Drink is this.
Let there be added to the Honey so much water as is sufficient, for their boiling together in a Copper, and let them being boiled be diligently scummed so long till the Honey becomes thick again, and gets a duskish or a reddish Colour, which is a sign, that the less sweet, and less honied Savour is removed away, by the boiling.
To this Honey reduced to the said thickness, let be again added as much water as is sufficient, that they may be boiled together, and being boiled put up in Barrels. Whilst it is yet warm some Ale yest must be added, which being fermented, renders this Liquor so sweet that it is but little inferiour to Wine; moreover it will come nearer to the Tast of Wine, if a due part of dissolved Tartar shall be added thereunto in the Fermentation, that so being fermented together herewith, it may acquire to it self a winy Tast.
N. B.But here good heed must be had, that in the last Solution there be not taken too little water, but rather more than is wont to be taken in the making of common Mede. The reason is this; because the Honey gets not its due fermentation, but retains its usual and a kind of nauceous Sweetness, and cannot be made partaker of a winy Savour.
But now, water enough being added, promotes the Fermentation, and causeth that it gets its Purity and Clarity much sooner, and is of an excellent sweet Savour. After that this Metheglin hath gotten the requisite Clarity, the superfluous water is to be abstracted thencefrom by your Magnet, which water being removed, the remaining ungratefull Savour of the Honey going away together with the water, vanisheth, and this Wine of the Honey, gets its strong Spirits from the Honey, and has awiny Savour from the Tartar. If any one be so minded, he may add to the Honey in the first boiling, some Spices, or which is better, may hang them in a little Bag in at the Bung, that so they may be fermented with the Metheglin, and give it a sweet Savour. The Spices are these that follow: Cardamoms one, Coriander two, Orris Roots three parts; the which will give the Metheglin a fine Tast. The Flowers of Elder make it tast just like Wine made of the Apian or Muscadel Grapes. Cinamon and Cloves also do give it a delicate Sweetness. But every one may use such Spices as he thinks best, according as he fancieth this or that Tast. Of such Metheglin is made most excellent Vinegar, which scarce is inferiour to wine Vinegar though of the very best Sort.
He that shall onely diligently enquire by trials made, will without doubt, find, that such a Magnet as attracteth water, can be profitable many ways; which to treat largely of here, the time will not permit. For because that this Magnet draws out of all Liquors, their superfluous water, it doth certainly bring much Benefit, and manifold Fruits, very many of which, we would here declare if need required. But the time admits not of any longer dwelling about these things. But yet, however, I will reveal an Art for the Poor’s sake who have no Wine growing, nor any money to buy it, and are therefore enforced (but especially in the winter Season) to drink cold water after their hard Labours;) by the help of which said Art they may have good Wine to drink all the year both in the Summer and Winter months; I mean in those places in which theres plenty of Wine made, and is in the Autumn Season squeezed out with wine Presses.
In all those places in which store of Grapes are prest out with Presses, there is great store of the husks, the which is partly kept for the Beasts to nourish them in the Winter, and partly thrown away as unprofitable, especially in those Seasons which afford a great Quantity of Wine. But if so be that the Wine Harvest be somewhat poor and not so plentifull, then they pour water upon all the husks or on some part of them, and leave it so for some days, and again press them; and thereby is made a Drink that has some kind of wine-like Savour which is given to the Servants, and other Labourers to drink instead of bare water.
But now in such Years wherein they are thoroughly busied in curing or making much Wine, they have not the time to bestow about making that Drink then. Nay sometimes they have such a deal of Wine that they have not Cask to put it in, but are compelled to give away their smaller Wines to others, and stuff their Cellars with the more noble.
If therefore the poorer sort would have now and then a good Draught of Wine, they must get them some large Vessels which they must fill with the Offal of the Grapes, and with water poured thereupon, and leave them thus, so long untill the rich People have done with their wine Presses and stowed their Wines in their Cellars. Then may they also press out their second Wines in the rich mens wine Presses, and by the oft-spoken of Magnet separate the unprofitable water therefrom, and so lay up their Wine, the which will last and abide good and durable all the Year about, which it will not otherwise do. For such kind of second Wines dure only (for the most part) but the Winter and Spring, and part of the Summer, and the utmost time they remain any thing good is but till the Month ofJuly, afterwards they grow ropy or musty. But now the unprofitable part of the water being separated, they get a shorter or longer durability according to the moreness or lesness of their Concentration. This advice and secret was I willing to bestow upon the poor that they may also drink good Wine.
But they may demand where should we get us such a Magnet, by the using of which we might make our second Wines good? I answer, they may borrow it of the Rich men who have Vineyards, for so long; and when they have done with it may restore it them again; for it is so lasting that it never loseth any thing of its Body nor of its Virtue, but always remains good. The rich men therefore will buy it of the Chymists, the preparation whereof is clearly and perspicuously delivered in my first Century. If now this be done (which I doubt not of) the Chymist by preparing, and the Merchant by using of the same will reap no small Benefit and profit. And questionless, there will be found some men that are studious of new things, who will make trial of this Concentration of Wines in small experiments; that so they may fish out the possibility of the thing. But I know not whether they will exercise this Operation in a greater Quantity or no. For its neither here nor there to me whether they will exercise this Art or let it alone. For this is the natural disposition of most men, they would very willingly get store of gain, provided it could be done without great labour and much trouble. From hence it is certain, that this Art of Concentrating Wines by cold Fires will not be so soon common, especially because I have not here delivered how such a Magnet may be made in great Quantity, and applied to use.
But yet I think I have sufficiently done [or hinted at] those things I have revealed. Let others draw out of their own store too, if they have any thing. More things I could not reveal, for many weighty causes which I count it needless to mention here. Very many men will commit many Errours, e’re they attain the right Scope. Verily it would be much better if there were a greater Number of such Persons as readily understood this Art; especially in those places ofGermanyin which the Wines are so acid, that it will make ones Eyes run with water if a bigger Draught than ordinary be drunk to quench Thirst. And therefore in those places Ale is in the most esteem, and indeed it is no contemptible drink, if good, but yet it is not at all comparable to the noble Wine, concerning which noble Liquor these Verses may rightly be pronounced.
With what a lovely gift are all things blestBy th’ noble Wine from tender Vines exprest,To sick mens pains it doth an easement bring,It joys the Countrey Peasant, makes him sing.}And you shall see that that man whom to dayBy means of Wine lies tumbling in the way,Will on the Morrow have his t’other lay.
With what a lovely gift are all things blestBy th’ noble Wine from tender Vines exprest,To sick mens pains it doth an easement bring,It joys the Countrey Peasant, makes him sing.}And you shall see that that man whom to dayBy means of Wine lies tumbling in the way,Will on the Morrow have his t’other lay.
With what a lovely gift are all things blestBy th’ noble Wine from tender Vines exprest,To sick mens pains it doth an easement bring,It joys the Countrey Peasant, makes him sing.}And you shall see that that man whom to dayBy means of Wine lies tumbling in the way,Will on the Morrow have his t’other lay.
With what a lovely gift are all things blest
By th’ noble Wine from tender Vines exprest,
To sick mens pains it doth an easement bring,
It joys the Countrey Peasant, makes him sing.
}
And you shall see that that man whom to day
By means of Wine lies tumbling in the way,
Will on the Morrow have his t’other lay.
There are many Songs in the praise of Wine, but Ale is not celebrated with any ditty, though it be never so good. Upon this account therefore the noble Juice of Wine is not undeservedly preferred before all the rest, provided it has its due generousness and excelling goodness. But if it be not good, ’tis wholly expedient to help it, lest by keeping its Sourishnessand waterishness it perish. But filthy covetousness bears too great a sway upon mortals, insomuch that there are too many to be found that would rather pour water to their Wine and spoil it, than better it by abstracting of the water.
I have often heard the complaints of Vineyard Masters in those Seasons, in which they have had whole Cellars full of small and poor Wines, which have not arrived to so much ripeness as to be able to be sold and transported into other Countries. Hence comes it to pass, that if they lie a long while and be not drunk up, they degenerate more and more, and become exceeding poor, and at length corrupt by lying and so perish for altogether; unless it happens by chance that some years of a more happy Vintage do succeed, with which more noble Wines they may mix their small ones, and so sell them off, but yet with a poor profit, because the Merchants are not wont to buy midling Wines, but the very best of all. But they may have noble Wine every year by that means that I have shewn. For if one eighth part of water were extracted from the Wine, it might have the name of good Wine. But now if a fourth part of that water should be taken away thencefrom it would become far more excellent, for a little water is able to make a most noble Wine smaller and more base, a tryal whereof you may make as follows.
A Hogshead of rich Wine, containing some six RenishOma’s orAulms, costs an hundred imperials; yea [sometimes] more, an hundred Duckets; Now if you take thencefrom one eighth part of the measure, and put in the room thereof one eighth part of water, you will find by the tast, that its goodness is so much diminished, that that Vessel will be scarcely valued at fifty imperials. But if a quarter part be taken away, and so much water put in its room, any one may easily conjecture that such a Vessel filled with such Wine will be hardly judged worth twenty imperials.
So then by this way that I have told, any Wine might be brought to such a nobleness by taking away one fourth part onely of its water, that a Vessel which afore would have yielded but twelve imperials, will afterwards yield three times the price.
By all this that hath been spoken may any one easily conclude the truth of the true Alchymy, and what incredible benefits may be reaped thencefrom. From this ground I say, that that delicate sup of Wine which I have here taught the preparation of will so inflame many, even of the enemies of Alchymy, that they will for the future put their hands to the Coals, and try to get thereby such a delicate Magnet, and to have it by them.
This Magnet will also help not a few Alchymists themselves that are in straights and want, and afford them a good Cup of Wine; whose Vineyards, House, and all their substance, the smoak and hot fire hath already driven up the Chimny, and [in lieu thereof] this cold fire will recover them again with no contemptible increase. For this Leap-year 1660 is the first year since the World’s Creation, in which the miserable Coal-blowers may arrive to a way of getting their Bread, if they will but stretch out their hands. And that I may be here well understood, I don’t onely mind the concentration of Wine, for there are other most profitable uses to be found out of these cold fires; which time will manifest.
It seems good unto me to add by way of an overplus (because I have taught the making of a Cup of good Wine, and there is a great familiarity ’twixt Wine and Corn,) the showing away how one may get a most delicate sort of Bread and of an excellent savour, that so he may be furnished with the choicest of Food and Drink.
Let some part of the water be extracted by the cold Magnet out of new Milk, that it may be made better than the common Milk. This would be a most excellent nutriment for the sustaining of Infants, whose Mothers die too soon. For every Infant cannot bear raw Cows Milk; and if the superfluity of the Water be removed by boiling, the Milk (not brooking much boiling) doth easily tast of the fire, which would not be if it were freed of its water by the oft mentioned Magnet, for it would remain sweet, and be of an excellent Tast. With this fat Milk, moisten your Wheat Meal, (which must be of the best) in the stead of water; and let the Bread be baked, and without doubt the Bread will be of an excellent Tast, which could not be by the common baking, although that Butter were added thereunto. One may feed upon this Bread alone, without Cheese and Butter, because the Cheese and the Butter are with the Milk in which they lie hidden, added unto the Bread. Such Bread is strong nourishment and far better for filling and nourishing than the common; and in eating thereof one may easily commit excess, because it notably pleaseth the Pallat by the sweetness of its tast. For so it happened on a time to me, for eating such Bread as was made up with fat Sheeps Milk I exceeded a mediocrity in my eating. But verily this is wont to happen to such as in their eating and drinking, abuse the delicate Meats and Drinks, and so fall into the hands of the Physicians, because indeed the most Diseases do arise from too much fulness and surfeiting. And therefore good reason is it that a most special regard be had to a mediocrity and temperance in all things.
In my opinion a Physician may very well examine the Urine of the Sick, and Anotamize the same, and that more easily than by an external bare aspect or looking-on onely, if,viz.he separate and take away therefrom a part of the water by the Magnet. For by this means he will discern a great difference betwixt the one and the other part, and know the causes and properties of Diseases; and that far better and more certainly than by a bare outside view, after the Gallenical fashion, or by the weight, and by Distillation according to the custom ofParacelsusandTurnheiser; But I leave it to every ones pleasure to enquire which of these three ways is to be preferred.
And now follows by way of Corrolary or Surplusage, a description of certain most excellent Medicines to be administred, for the curing of most greivous Diseases both in Men and Beasts.
The Stone of the Reins and Bladder, and the Gout, are judged to be the most greivous Diseases, and in very deed they are most grievous Sicknesses, but especially the Gout, which being various and manifold afflicts the Body of Man with most grievous Pains. Now for the cure and removal ofthese Diseases, I will prescribe a certain and safe Medicament, easily preparable, and of small charge.
Take one or two pounds of white Tartar, and pour upon every pound beaten into Powder about some eight or ten pound of common water, which set over the Coals in a well glazed earthen Pot, and boil it so long, till all the Tartar shall be dissolved by the water, which you may try if done or no with a clean wooden Spoon, putting it to the bottom and seeing if there be any left undissolved. In the boiling you must very diligently take off the Scum with a wooden Scummer, that so there may remain no impurity. After that all the Tartar is dissolved and that there appears no more Scum, evaporate the water so long till a thin skin appears at the top. Then take off the Pot from the Coals, and set it in some cold place, and leave it there unstirred for a day, and there will stick on to the sides of the Pot, delicate Crystals like a Dye, having a Cubical formParacelsuscalls this mundified TartarLudus, and that very properly, and without doubt he did so, because it gets (after its purification the shape of the square Dice. Out of this pure and Cube-like Tartar is prepared an universal Medicine against all tartarous Diseases, as follows.
If you have one pound of this pure and Cubical Tartar, reduce one pound of Crude Tartar into a white Salt by Calcination; the which you are to dissolve with so much common water as is necessary to its dissolution; filter the dissolved Salt through Cap-Paper, that you may have your sharpLixiviumfreed of all its Fæces. Pour thisLixiviuminto the glazed Pot wherein your pound of the said purified Tartar is, and boil it accurately therewithall; in which boiling the Tartar will be easily dissolved by theLixivium, and be turned with the same into a ruddish coloured juice; though that yourLixiviumand Tartar had each of them a white and clear colour. The reason is this, because the Tartar is as yet defiled with many hidden and black Fæces, and doth at length after its solution with theLixiviumrender them visible and manifest. Pass this muddish solution through a filter, and it will be a yellow liquor, and leave many Fæces in the Philter, good for nothing but to be thrown away, for they are of no virtue more. Verily ’tis a thing worth the admiring, that there should yet be so many Fæces left in so well purified a Tartar. This liquor being thus prepared is very profitable for the taking away and curing of all kinds of Tartarous Diseases, by being daily used, or however, it doth at least strongly tame their violence, but you must first purge the Body by Antimonial Medicaments, one of which we will presently shew you.
N. B.This Medicament will be yet far more noble, if all the humidity be vapoured away and the reddish Salt that is left be dissolved in good spirit of Wine and filtered, and the said Spirit of Wine be again separated therefrom by a gentle Distillation. For so by this second solution, there will be severed yet more Fæces and the Salt it self will get a yet greater purity.
This Salt may be safely used as a most precious Treasure against all the abovesaid tartareous Diseases; For it expells Urine, and drives out all the impurities out of the Reins and Bladder, and hinders the gathering together, and generation of Sand or Stones in those Members.
But if there be already Stones generated, and that they be not too hard, it consumes them by little and little, and carrys them off; provided that Antimonial purges be (as we said but now) afore used to purge the Body with.
I have in these few words taught thee how theLudus, that is, the Dye-like figured Tartar is changed by its own proper liquor Alkahest, or its own Alkalizate Salt into a Medicine resisting all Tartareous Diseases. The Dose thereof is a Scruple in Wine, Ale, or other Vehicles, oftentimes every day, or twice at the least,viz.Morning and Evening, for such as are fifteen or twenty years old and upwards, and they must fast after the taking of the medicament, for some due time.
Such as are younger, from three, four, to ten, or twelve may take at one time, three, four, six, eight, or ten grains, according as they are older or younger.
This so excellent a medicament have I described for the benefit of mankind, nor is there as far as I know, a better, though it seems to arise of so vile a Parentage, and be so mean. Suffer not thy self to be affrighted by any one, but use the same boldly, whensoever necessity requires; and firmly believe me that thou wilt not find a better, I do not deceive thee; and the truth hereof will be demonstrated by its use.
This is a quick and wonderfull purification of Tartar, and a changing it into a sweet Salt, which is neither sweet nor sour, but a midling tast ’twixt both, and it gets a middle nature, from the Acid and the Alkalizate Tartar. Now follows the Antimonial Purge.
Take of Crude Antimony, Tartar, and Niter, of each alike, Powder them each apart, commix the Powders, being mixt, put them in a melting Pot or Crucible, and kindle them with a live Coal, that by this kindling they may flame up, and go into a ruddish kind of coloured mass. Your Pot being yet hot set it into your Wind Furnace, and melt it, that all your matter may flow in the Crucible like water, then pour it out into your Cone, and being cold take it out, and separate theRegulustherefrom, and lay it by for other uses, because ’tis not serviceable for the operation here minded. Now out of one pound of Antimony, you’l have eight Lots, or four ounces ofRegulus, so that of your one pound you will get aRegulusof four ounces or the fourth part of the pound. TheScoria’s which will be of a reddish colour and of a fiery tast upon the Tongue must be again melted in the same Pot they were melted in, if it be whole, or in some new Pot, and when they flow, put a live Coal into the Pot. The Salt peter will seize upon the Coal, and being occupied about corroding the same, will let fall the remainder of theRegulusit as yet held up. Then the matters being poured out into your Cone, and cool, strike off theRegulusat the bottom with the stroke of an hammer, and beat theScoria’s which will be of a red colour and fiery tast, into Powder, and being thus poudered let the Salts be extracted [or dissolved] in the heat with common fair water; the which holding in them the most pure Sulphur of Antimony do turn the water into a redLixivium, in which is hidden the Medicine that we seek after; and is to be gotten thence by the following way. For after that the Sulphur is dissolved, by dissolvingall that will be separated by the Salts or Lye, the Reliques or Remainder are good for nothing.
Having so done, dissolve white and purified Tartar in fair water, in some glazed Pot, and thou shalt have an acid Solution; being thus hot as it is (for when ’tis cold the Tartar will again shoot in it) pour it by little and little into the AntimonialLixivium, and it will debilitate the same, so that the Sulphur of the Antimony will fall down to the bottom in the form of a yellowish or reddish Powder. When all the Sulphur is setled, separate the clear Water of the Salt, from the Sulphur, by canting it off; then pour on some warm Water and wash it so often till all the Salt be gone off. Then philter it, that all the Water may be separated and the Powder stay in the Philter, which you shall put upon new and dry Cap-paper thereby to remove all the wateriness, and then dry it in the heat of the Sun. This is that Universal purging Medicament which drives out all malignant humours by all the Emunctories,viz.by Vomit, Stool, Sweat, Urine, and Spittle, out of the whole Body; and that very safely if warily administred, and the Dose thereof not too much encreased; in which case even the Galenical medicines themselves do hurt, if their due Dose be exceeded. Hereupon it is better that there be used at the beginning rather a lesser Dose than too much, that so no errour may be committed, and a safe trial may be made, how much the strength of the Patient will bear or not bear. And albeit that the Dose of this medicament should be given in so small a Quantity as not to work, or have any visible Operation at all, yet nevertheless it well performs its Office, and drives out the Distempers, but yet more slowly than when ’tis administred in a due Dose, such as may give about one, two, or three Stools. And to such as are strong and youthfull Persons, the Dose may be given in such a Quantity as to cause Vomit, in such I say as can brook vomiting. The usual Dose for those that are above fifteen Years of Age is, one, two, three, four, or five Grains, according as they are older or younger. To Infants and such as are a little elder an eighth part, a quarter, or half a Grain even to an whole Grain, may be administred, with regard had to the Age and the Disease. This medicine is of good use in all kinds of Diseases, and in all kinds of Men, [and Women] save onely Women with Child; and to them you must administer either none at all, or at least wise so little as to be sure it provokes not to any inclination of vomiting. And the like is to be observed by such Persons who are so weak, as that they clearly want strength requisite for this Operation [of vomiting.] But yet it may be used even to new born Infants,viz.for Convulsion Fits with which a great many of them are wont to be snatch’d away without any remedy. The Dose must not exceed the bigness of a Rapeseed, and it must be administred in the Mothers milk. But if the Infants are grown already up to be somewhat stronger and are above half a Year old, the Dose of the said medicament is to be a little encreased, that it may operate visibly, and so cast forth all the malignant humours out of their Bodies; and they themselves may not be afterwards afflicted with the Small-pox, and other such like Diseases as Infants are subject unto. Verily, all the Children whom I have given this medicine unto, have not hitherto tasted of those Diseases; the which truth the Parents of such Infants and others can confirm by their Testimonies. But especially this medicament is a most present remedy against the Epilepsie both in young and old, and a most certain Secret in the Plague and all Feavers; and a most excellent purge in the Gout, Leoprosie, French-pox and other most grievous Diseases; and likewise in external new Wounds, in Fistula’s and old Ulcers, what Name soever they are called by, if it be but used inwardly to purge them. Briefly, this medicament hath scarce its fellow, so that we have no reason at all to regard such men as out of meer ignorance, oppose and slander Antimony in their learned bawlings, and say that it is nothing else but Poison, and therefore no ways profitable. But let no body believe their barking, but first try the same, and he will clearly find the contrary.
This indeed I readily confess that Antimony is of no use in the body of man, nor can it be, afore it is prepared; but after preparation I do boldly affirm it to be a most admirable medicine.
Concerning which, reade but the chiefest of the Ancient Philosophers, especiallyBasil Valentine, who in the honour of Antimony wrote the Triumphant Chariot [thereof.] Do but see whatParacelsus,Alexander Suchten, and several others have recorded in writing, concerning the incomparable Vertues and Power of Antimony; by all whose Writings is clearly evinced, what things lie hidden in Antimony, I forbear to speak of other Physicians as well modern as ancient. For it possesseth the Vertues and Powers of all Vertues and Powers concentrated. What need many words? Let it be brought but to the Test, and it will most apparantly testifie by its trial, what Treasures it carries in its bosom. The things that I speak of here proceed out of meer pity and love to my Neighbour, that I might help his sickness and miseries. A very small Portion of the said medicament may be able not onely to preserve a whole Family for a whole Year free from all the Diseases that might befall them, but also to rid them of them. So likewise it sends packing all the sicknesses of beasts by its effectual Virtue. I was willing from a faithfull and good mind to bestow this comfort and help upon mankind, against all incident Diseases, whether external or internal; In the third following Century shall be described more very excellent medicines against all kinds of Diseases, which may be made use of by such as without cause are afraid of Antimony.
And as touching that Salt which is made by the mixtion of the acid Water of the Tartar, and theLixiviummade of the Tartar calcined; it is not inferiour as to its excellency and eminency to the but now spoken of Sulphur of the Antimony it self; herein onely is the difference, that there is to be administred a bigger Dose thereof. And therefore it must not be thrown away, but after that the Sulphur is separated, the insipid Water is to be evaporated, and there will then remain a yellow Salt behind, which has even yet in it no small Portion of the Antimonial Sulphur; and therefore ’tis in a manner better than the Sulphur it self, because of its own peculiar Nature, which by the discharging its own office [or proper work,] may be evenper sereckoned up amongst those most excellent medicines which strongly resist all Tartareous diseases.
For that reason therefore do I commend this Salt most highly to all such as are burdened with grievous Diseases. The preparation thereof is altogether easie, for it is not made of any chargeable matters, but mean ones, and therefore not without cause to be highly esteemed of.
The dose of this so excellent a Salt is to be encreased or diminished according to the Quality of the Persons and the Diseases. To such as are of ripe Age, one Scruple or somewhat more is sufficient. To Infants, and to such as are a little older, from one to twelve Grains may be given, regard being had to the difference of their Years. It gently purgeth the belly, without any kind of Danger, it draws out all evil humours, and especially it helps the gouty and stony Persons with a most wisht for Easement.
The weight of those two contrary Salts,viz.of the fixt Salt of Tartar by which the Sulphur is extracted out of the Antimony, and of the common and acid Tartar dissolved in Water, and which precipitateth the Sulphur of the Antimony out of theLixivium, cannot be certainly defined and limited. For according to the greater or lesser Quantity of theLixivium, is required more or less of the Tartar water to be poured upon theLixivium, that so being mortified it may let go that Sulphur of Antimony it holds up in it self. TheLixiviumit self will shew you if you have not poured on Water enough of the Tartar by its being not yet freed of all the Sulphur, and that there is more Water of Tartar required to allay all its Acrimony that all the whole Sulphur may be turned out. A bigger Quantity of the Water of Tartar poured on theLixivium[than just enough] doth not spoil it; it takes in as much of the dissolved Tartar as it can, and what is overplus remains an acid Tartar, and is not changed in its Nature. But whatever of it is dissolved in theLixiviumis no more Tartar, because it becomes a midling Salt of the two, neither acid nor sweet, but partaking of both Natures, and dissolves in cold Water, which the acid Tartar will not do.
This Salt therefore is able to perform great matters in medicine, and not onely in medicine but in Alchimy too, and in other Arts can it exhibit abundance of riches; concerning which thing, more shall be spoken in another place.
Thus finish I now this my second Century, wherein I have not onely abundantly supplied those things which by reason of the overmuch hast, I could not insert in theAppendixto the fifth Part of the Prosperity ofGermany, but have withall laid open some part of the Use of mySal Mirabilis, as much as the shortness of my time would give me leave to do.
If by the Grace of God I have a yet longer Life vouchsafed me, I will about half a Year hence, bring so great a benefit not onely unto my own Countrey, but perhaps even to the whole Christian World, as ever they received from any man, in so much that the World shall seem as if ’twere new, and so for the present I rest and make an End.