THE
FOURTH PART
OF THE
Spagyrical Pharmacopœa.
READER,
After that I had intended to publish in the Fourth Part of this my Spagyrical Pharmacopœa, some singular and excellent Medicines, and such as might much exceed all others, and so must consequently be prepared of choice and excellent subjects and matters; I accounted it my task in the first place to shew you out of what subjects such efficacious Medicines may be drawn and extracted, viz. out of Gold, Wine, and Antimony, as likewise out of Vitriol and Mercury, but not the vulgar Mercury.
Now although most Men are blinded with a thick darkness, but principally those that prosecute the truth with a deadly hatred, and do prate much, and by reason of their blindness and ignorance do affirm, that Gold being a thick and compact body is not at all fit to admit of such a preparation as thereby to display its most efficacious virtues in Man’s Body: And as for Antimony and Mercury, that they are most present Poisons, and can’t serve as Medicines without great danger; but as for Wine, that it is indeed fit to be drunk, but is of no validity in Medicine, not knowing how to imploy it about any Medicinal use, but are rather ready and skilfull Artists at swallowing it down in full draughts; however though they thus chat yet these objections are frivolous, and do proceed from their ignorance which is wrapped about with most thick Clouds, and which I refute by this brief and strong Reply. But I do not at all deny, that Gold reduced even to the smallest Powder, and so made use of (as ’twas wont of old to be by the Ancient, yea and latter Galenists, and is even too at this day) by mixing it with such Medicines as are for the comforting and strengthning the Heart and Vitals of Men, cannot contribute so much as the least Iota to the health and preservation of the body of Man: And so I say of Antimony and Mercury, that they are not at all salutiferous to Man’s Body, but contrariwise are deadly and destructive Medicaments, untill (by a due preparation) they are deprived of all their Venenosity, and thereby rendred fit to be safely made use of. So Wine it self being taken per se as it is, is a restoring and refreshing Drink for Man, provided it be moderately used: But contrarily is a causer of many Diseases if it be frequently and in large quantities swallowed in, and doth operate in Man’s Body more hurt than good, this daily experience doth sufficiently testifie, and renders it evident, that being so immoderately taken, it fills all the Members of the whole Body with Tartar, and makes obstructions and stirs up intolerable Pains, and principally in the Bladder, Reins, and other parts of the Body, viz. if coagulated in the Hands, Knees, and Feet, whereupon it doth not easily suffer it self to be exterminated, unless by such Artists as well know the properties and nature of Tartar, but of such Men there is at this day a great scarcity, and therefore that proverbial Verse still takes place.
But he who is so well skilled as to separate the fiery, penetrative, wholsome, and true Medicinal Spirit of Wine; Yea its true Balsam from its Fæces, he will easily expel out of the Body of Man all tartarous impurities and defilements, and will perform things wonderfull in the Stone and Gout. But now forasmuch as the educing so wholsome a Medicine out of gross crude Tartar is known but to a very few, no wonder that there hath been so little or rather nothing at all performed by Physicians in such like most grievous tartarous Diseases that have gotten deep rooting in the Body of Man. But the way how you may be rendred Possessors of such a Spirit of Wine shall be spoken of afterwards. Yet I would not that anyone should perswade himself that my meaning and intention in this place is about the common Spirit of Wine, or either that which is gotten out of Tartar by the usual known way of Distillation. No, there’s a vast difference betwixt that Spirit which I here make mention of and the other. For in this Spirit the crude Tartar is first to be washed by common Water from all its Defilements, and that without the addition of any other things, so as to shine like Snow, then to be afterwards made black by putrefaction, and out of that blackness the said Balsam is to be drawn off, of which we shall hereafter make a more ample Declaration. This now is that Spirit which doth Anatomically resolve the compacted Body of Gold, and converteth the venemousness of Antimony into a wholsome Medicine, and doth perform things wonderfull in all tartarous Diseases. ’Tis the true Wine of Health, and the very Aq. Vitæ of the Philosophers, and hath a great familiarity with Gold and Man, and may be excellently compared with the coagulated solar beams.
Therefore as it is evidently known to every body, that Gold and Wine are advanced on to maturity, by the heat of the Sun, and that Men do notably love and desire both of them. So may any one conjecture what Gold and Wine would do if a Man could but have them reduced to a spiritual essence. Hence now it seems necessary unto me, that before I pass on to the preparation of the said Medicine, I do in a few words describe the harmonial love that is between the superiour and inferiour Sun and Man, that so it may appear, what a bond or tie of love and necessity there is betwixt these three most noble Creatures of God, to one another.
CHAP. I.
’Tis well known even to the blind Bayards and Barbars, that the Sun in the heavenly Firmament, is the most noble and most eminent Creature God made. For it is that onely light which makes all the Stars partakers of its Splendour, Light and Brightness. ’Tis also the onely Fountain and as it were Father of all the Creatures, because if they are deprived of it, they are in the dark and die: Nay even man himself cannot live without the help of the Sun, and all things would perish, should the Sun be but one moment withdrawn from them. For all things that are do receive their Life and Augmentation from the Sun; and he was (according to Moses his Doctrine) the first and chiefest that did proceed forth by God’s creating, and will doubtless be the last when all things shall be dissolved, and pass into a better State at the final Destruction of this worldly Fabrick. The Sun supplies the place of a heart in the wonderfull Structure of the Macrocosm: And in like manner the heart it self in man’s Body is aptly compared to the Sun, as being the first liver, and last dier in the humane Fabrick; and this is known to every body. And therefore amongst all the Creatures indued with life and motion, man doth in nobility and magnificence excel them all, as having gotten his body from the earth, his Spirit and Life from the Sun, and his Soul from God.
But as to the insensible Creatures the highest Degree of Nobleness is attributed unto Gold, the which is likewise generated by the Sun. These three admirable Creatures, viz. the Sun, Man, and Gold are coupled with a bond of wonderfull Necessity and Friendship, and are conjoined by the instinct of Nature her self. Men do desire the Light of the Sun, as also its heat in a dark and cold Season, for thencefrom proceeds all life, and all the encrease of life, because the Suns beams do perform the office of the universal Spirit, and Life in the Conservation of the Life of Man. But now as touching Gold, men do partake of that in a particular way onely, and one man is usually stored with a bigger Portion, another with a lesser, not by the instinct of nature, for she bestoweth it on us onely for our use, but by reason of the abusive malice, avarice and the unsatiable Covetousness of men; but yet this way is not the right manner of loving Gold, nor genuine, but false and oft times very hazardous. We should rather love it because of its wonderfull Vertues which it possesseth, hidden in its body, and may afford a most notable Comfort to man’s sickness and infirmities. Verily the Ancient Philosophers were not ignorant of the incredible Vertues, which the Gold hides in it self, it being truely no other thing than a body consisting and compacted of the coagulated and fixed Beams of the Sun, and this was well known to those men who were most skilfull in the nature of all things. Seeing then that the Sun’s beams being as yet unfixed can bestow on all things life and encrease, why may not the same be accomplished by them when fixed, and made constant, if so be they be rendred spiritual, and thereby be capable of displaying their Vertues in a visible and palpable efficacy, which thing they could not do if they retain their corporal Coagulation, nor can display their occult Vertues.
Many men have industriously attempted with great Labour, artificially to open Gold, and to reduce it to a spiritual Nature, and to render it living and efficacious, but few there have been that have been Masters of their desires, but such as at length had thereto attained, did perform things wonderfull in the sicknesses of mankind, and this is witnessed by many most true Histories, as for instance, by the Turba of the Philosophers, and by the Theatrum Chymicum. The which Books do indeed describe such a notable secret, but so obscurely and intricately, as that no body can therefrom learn its preparation, unless God reveals it to them, or it be manifested by some good friend or other that knows the Art. ’Tis no wonder that amongst many thousands of Searchers, so very few do arrive to the knowledge of the same. For God hath barred up this so great a secret with such firm bolts, that all wicked and malicious men are easily excluded from the knowledge of finding it out. Verily I must needs say (but I boast not of it) that I see by what means those bonds are to be loosed, and that precious Pearl may by removal of those bolts be taken forth. But yet I profess not my self to be a perfect and absolute Master, and such an one as perfectly knows its preparation, and would make it publick by describing it. No! the Crumbs serves my turn, and the Fragments of the Bread, with which hunger may be allayed as well as with the Bread it self.
I have I confess tasted somewhat of the Crumbs of what pertains to so worthy a Medicament, and with what great Vertues they abound. And such things as my experience have administred unto me I have here purposed to reveal them, for the comfort and sake of my Neighbour, as far as the time and occasion will permit; but yet with this Salvo, that I cast not Pearl before Swine, and so incur the Philosophers Curse. To whomsoever the things that I speak shall be more obscure, let him wrestle earnestly by his Prayers to God for light, and refrain from troubling me with multiplicity of entreaties, for I have firmly resolved with my self not to reveal for the time to come more than what I have opened in the present description.
CHAP. II.
It is so well known as that nothing can be more known, that Gold being so compact and corporeal and without any opening, doth not when used inwardly to man’s Body emit any Vertues at all. I will instance in one Example of Mercury; This being living and unbroken and undissolved, doth not, though used inwardly in a great weight, bring any hurt, but passeth out again as ’twas before taken in without any alteration of the Body. But if it be sublimed with Salt, or shall be dissolved by some other corrosive Water, and be administred to a man to drink the quantity of 1, 2, or 3 Grains it will shrewdly hazard his Life, because the Salts have made its hidden lurking Poyson manifest. Thus stands the case with Gold, which cannot shew forth its hidden force and vertues as long as it remains bound and tied with the fetters of its own compaction, but (on the other hand) displays them, assoon as ever it shall be released from its bonds, be vivified by Salts, and rendred efficacious. You see in a black Coal, whiles it is not fired, there is not any heat at all perceived, but being kindled, and being by the Air rendred living, it discovers the fire and heat being therein hidden, the which you may likewise consider of concerning Gold.
CHAP. III.
Gold doth not by any way more easily admit of being turned into most tender and most subtil Attomes than by this following.
Dissolve pure Gold in Aq. Regia, and being dissolved pour thereto as much of the Water of Tartar as is sufficient: So the clear Gold, and clothed too with a golden Colour, will precipitate it self to the bottom of the Vessel, nor will it be a darkish Powder, as ’tis wont to be if precipitated by Lixiviums or by the Spirit of Urine: But it is light and tender, and shews in brightness like little golden Stars, yea becomes so very tender and subtil, that it swims as ’twere in the Water and settles to the bottom exceeding leasurely, and is thereby so much worthier than all other Calxes of Gold how subtil soever they be, that they may be accompted of (if compared with this) but onely as a gross Earth; whereas these shining golden little Stars are made so tender and so subtil, as that they may easily discover and demonstrate their Vertues in medicinal use very notably, by the help of other things, and by being dissolved sundry ways.
CHAP. IV.
This tender Sol or Calx may be brought to such a pass, without any corrosive in 24 hours space, as that it shall not remain a fixed metalline Body, but become wholly volatile as it was at its beginning. Now this is effected by the help of the Salt of Nature onely, which is to be found every where, and may be gotten by the poor as well as by the rich. Yea so easie as that it is scarce credible, should it be manifested openly and clearly, and which those Brethren of ignorance and proud Court-like Flatterers would entertain with scorn and derision, and accompt the truth it self to be a lie, as hath been oft times done hitherto. ’Tis better therefore to pass over such things in silence, than by benefitting others to injure ones self. For such Arcana’s are to be wrapt up in silence, and not to be cast before such Hogs. But yet to the Adept shall be revealed such things in the end of this writing or treatise, as they have been hitherto ignorant of.
CHAP. V.
For answer, I say no. For the Stomach is too weak to dissolve and get thence that efficacy as it doth from Vegetables, though it be thus reduced in a most tender and subtile substance. In vain therefore is it administred to the sick, because it passeth out again with the Excrements so as ’twas taken in, and that without any remarkable efficacy.
CHAP. VI.
For answer I say, yes. And forasmuch as the most thin filings of Iron and Copper, being given any one to drink, are digested and consumed by the natural acidity of the Stomach, or are by dissolution there turned into Vitriol, which (said Vitriol) doth vehemently stir up the Body by Vomit, and by Stool (according to the quantity of the exhibited Metals) and killeth the Worms both in old and young folks, and casteth them forth, and coloureth the very Excrements as black as a Coal; hereby evidently demonstrating, that being dissolved and consumed by the Stomach, it hath brought out, together with it self; the slain Worms; Any body may easily conjecture that the Acidity of the Stomach was sufficiently strong to set upon the two aforesaid Metals, being of a Salt nature, and of an easie Solution, and to reduce them so far as to cause them to display their hidden Vertues. But now the Stomach is not endued with so strong an Acidity, as to be able to set upon and dissolve Gold and Silver, being Metals as ’twere void of Salt, and admitting no Solution there. Hereupon it usually happens, that they being used inwardly in Medicine, do come away with the Excrements in such form as they were administred in. Thence do the unskilfull conclude (but falsly) that there are no Vertues in Gold and Silver, because that being brought into a most subtile Powder, and administred to the sick, they are notwithstanding destitute of any kind of Vertues. The reason why they do not operate at all is, because the Acidity of the Stomach is not sufficient enough to work upon them, and to stir them up to operation. But being dissolved by Acid Spirits, viz. the Gold by Spirit of Salt, and the Silver by Spirit of Niter, they doe evidently shew their Vertues in Medicine, being inwardly taken, and do purge the Body no less than Copper and Iron doe, and do withall colour the Excrements black, and kill the Worms both in old and young: Neither indeed will any find a more present remedy for killing the Worms, which do ofttimes destroy many Infants and Children destitute of any kind of help, than the Vitriol of Gold and Silver, about which shall be written a peculiar Chapter anon.
But forasmuch as the dissolved Metals, but especially Gold and Silver, do by their ungratefull savour offend the Palate, and dye the Tongue and Lips of a black Colour; Men do abhor to use them, although they might be very helpfull in Medicine: But however these discommodities may be prevented, by rendring the said Metals acceptable to the Palate, and so ordering them as that they shall no more Colour the Lips, but evidently shew forth their Vertues, and perform great matters in Medicine. This now may be done divers ways, some whereof shall be here described and declared.
CHAP. VII.
Gold being reduced by the way now spoken of into most tender (Atoms, may be stirred up divers ways, so as that being inwardly administred, it may manifest its virtues and that notably and efficaciously.
As first when such Salts are thereunto added as do corroborate the Stomach, and augment its acidity, so as to make it strong enough to work upon the tender Gold and dissolve it, and to turn it into Vitriol in the Stomach, in which case my Sal Mirabilis is very excellent, but yet other Salts are not to be despised, to each of which I give the honour due unto them.
Then farther, the same may be done when such Mineral Species are added to the said Golden Calx as do by their natural propriety expell by Sweat and Urine: For a Mineral Medicine, as soon as ever it begins its operation in the Body, whether by Sweat or by expulsion by Urine, doth also stir up the Gold to operate, so that it works too after the same manner as the Medicament adjoyned to it is wont to operate, just as ’tis usually wont to be in some kind of Fraternity or Consortship; If one begins to sing, to dance, to be enamoured with a Virgin, to brawl, or to play, he presently stirs up others to do the same, who would otherwise have abode still. Now as to the Minerals, amongst the many inciters there, Antimony obtaineth the first place, and doth stir up to operate with himself any such things as are thereunto adjoined, whether they be Gold or Silver, yea though they be dead. And so a Mineral being purgative, or Diuretick, being mixt with Gold, doth perform its operation much more safely and efficaciously than if it were alone and used per se, inwardly, without any addition of Gold thereunto. For the tender Gold is stirred up and driven as ’twere to Cooperate together with the operation of the Mineral Medicament, which otherwise, and without such an impulsion and incitement would have remained as dead, and void of any kind of operation, and so passed forth together with the Excrements.
CHAP. VIII.
Gold and Silver may be made living and efficacious after another and better way and manner, thus. If they be dissolved in suitable Waters, and made Spiritual, and so used in Medicine, for they are by this means fitted to operate and display their Vertues after their manner, and according to their preparation.
The manner of making such well opened and unlocked Golden Water, I taught some years since, and published it under the title of Aurum Potabile. For I then knew a way of reducing Gold into a white Water by some certain Medicinal Salts, and have it now by me at all times, as being better and far more excellent than that former Aurum Potabile, and may supply the place of an Universal Medicine; and that on this account, because it doth operate universally in all curable diseases, and doth withall excell all the other Medicaments that I know of in its wholsome operation, for it doth by little and little expell every obnoxious thing out of the whole body. I confess that the same things are performed by my Golden Panacæa, or my Purging Gold, and Diaphoretick Gold, but in some cases I prefer this white Aurum Potabile of mine, as I now prepare it, before them, for it hath an invisible and contrary or different operation from my Purging Gold, or Golden Panacæa, which do, for the most part, work visibly. And whereas I have formerly divulged those Medicaments in my Treatises, I will omit their superfluous description here, and onely add thus much, That these three Medicaments of mine, viz. the Golden Panacæa, my Diaphoretick Gold, and my white Aurum Potabile are so abundantly sufficient both for the preserving from, and curing of all diseases, that whosoever will onely use them, need not at all any other Medicaments.
But forasmuch as Men are delighted with variety, and that sometimes such or such a coloured Medicine, or such an Odour or Savour is far more acceptable, I have judged it worth while to add for the sake of the sick yet two or three excellent Medicines more, and such, as to the best of my knowledge, were as yet never divulged. ’Tis at every ones liberty to make use of such an one as best likes him, or now and then to try this Medicine or that, and so to make use of that which best pleaseth him.
The incomparable Paracelsus, the Monarch of Philosophers and Physicians, supposed, that these four Minerals, viz. Sulphur, Mercury, Antimony, and Vitriol, did prop up the whole Medicinal Art, like so many Capital Pillars, and that by them mought all things be prepared, as were necessarily requisite for any kind of cure. And indeed the thing it self (or the effect) sufficiently proves the truth of this opinion, and so doe those four Minerals themselves too, if they be but dissected, purged, and prepared according to Art, else they are of no worth, but doe more hurt than good, because if they be not duely prepared, they are not deprived of their Venenosity, and are not turned into wholsome Medicines. But as for such as are set to sale in our days in the Apothecaries shops, they are verily but of small moment. For the Antimony which (being turned into Glass) they sell, hath never as yet admitted of any separation of the good from the evil.
And as for Mercury, they turn him into a Sublimate, abounding with Venom, and likewise into a red Precipitate, both of which are sufficiently hazardous both in external and internal Medicinal uses; For the vulgar Mercury never desisteth from his malice, unless it be exalted by a safer and better preparation. It is sufficient (to say) that being prepared after the aforesaid usual ways, it ought to be wholly shunned, and so it will not create any danger.
As for Common Sulphur, although it be exalted into Flores, and those exceeding subtile too, such as are at this day in use, yet shews it no wonderfull matters; for there is not as yet made any separation of the pure part from the impure, neither is it thoroughly opened by Sublimation, or rendered subtile or fit, to operate upon the Body of Man; for as it was taken in, so it passeth out with the Excrements: For the Acidity of the Stomach cannot dissolve it; so far is it from yielding to the Stomach any efficacy, for a strong Aq. Fortis cannot dissolve it.
As for Vitriol, it yields the Workmen an austere or sowr Oil, and a sharp Spirit, little availing to Medicinal uses, this onely excepted, viz. the mixing it with cooling Syrups and Conserves, gives them a gratefull sowrishness; the which Spirit of Salt well rectified, would perform much better. Hence it comes to pass, that these four Minerals, according as they are at this day used, and sold by the Apothecaries, cannot be accounted for the four Pillars of the whole Body of Medicine, and possess that title, which Paracelsus exalteth them by, unless they are prepared after another manner than they have hitherto been.
As for Sulphur, I bring it to the highest purity by a due washing, and do by suitable and proper Salts turn the same, together with Gold, into a clear water, that so our Nature may assume it to it self, as is to be seen in my Aurum Potabile.
I draw from Antimony its purer part, and I implant it in exceedingly well prepared Gold, that it may make the Gold efficacious, witness my Purging Gold.
Instead of the common Vitriol, I use the Vitriol made of Gold, the which is wont to perform such effects in Medicine as the common Vitriol never will, as shall be taught by and by.
Instead of the common and poysonous Mercury, I make use of a Mercury prepared out of a good Metal, or artificially extracted by a certain Magnet from the beams of Sol and Lune, as shall be taught anon. And this Mercury is rightly called the Universal Mercury of the Philosophers, because being as yet an invisible thing, is extracted out of the Air, and made visible and palpable, and is the effector of wonderfull things in Medicine and Alchymy, as we shall hear anon.
But before I proceed to Vitriol and Mercury, I count it fit, first to set down a good Medicine prepared out of Silver by the help of Antimony, that so every body may know, that even Gold and Silver (how thick and compact soever they be) may, by the addition of other Medicinal Subjects, be quickned and stirred up, and be brought to such a pass as to emit their Vertues, as we have afore mentioned more at large. The preparation of this Medicine out of Silver and Antimony is as followeth.
CHAP. IX.
In the first place prepare out of the Mineral or Oar of Antimony an Acetum by distillation, according to Art: Then take one part of the best Antimony, and two parts of the Calx of Silver; which being well washed, mix it with the Antimony, by grinding them very well together, that they may be changed into a grayish or somewhat a blackish Powder. Put this Powder into a small Glass, Cucurbit or little Retort, and pour thereupon so much of the Antimonial Vinegar as may serve to bring the said Powder into a thin Pultis or Pap. Put the Glass in Sand, and distill off the said Vinegar, this pouring on, and drawing off let be so often repeated untill the Antimony shall have lost its blackness, and the Silver its whiteness, and be both of them turned into a red Stone, like to Cinaber, which is usually done in the third or fourth Cohobation.
Note well, if such an errour should be committed as that your fire being too strong should when you draw off the Acetum melt the mass in the Glass, it would be rendred wholly uncapable of admitting or drinking up the Acetum, and then you must of necessity break the Glass and take out the mass and reduce it again into small Powder by grinding, and repeat the operations according to the aforesaid way. This Medicament being turned into a red Stone, and ground upon a Marble into a most subtile Powder, is called by me purging Lune, and may be made use of in all Diseases as a kind of Panacæa, (like as my purging Gold may be) with great fruit and good success. For this Medicine of Silver doth operate very gently, expelling all evil humours out of all the Members of the whole Body of Man, and this scarce any other Medicine will do save my golden Panacæa. For it leaveth no impurity in the Body, (but expels it) not onely by purgation, but also by Sweat and Urine. If you should chance to err and take too big a Dose, it will also cause vomiting, but especially with such as abounding with Choler are prone to Vomit. To Infants under four Weeks old may a Dose be given of about the bigness of a Rape Seed, and be mixt in a spoon with a little of its Mothers Milk, and so given them. It conserves them free from the invasion of the Epilepsie, and frees them. If you find that they are infected with the Small-pox or the like, within a years space, the Dose is to be augmented, and a fourth or eighth part of a grain may be administred to them, the which will bring out of the Infants all the impurities by Stool, and preserve the Face untouched. Those that are from one to two, or twelve years of age, and being troubled with the Worms, do fall into acute Feavers, (and hereby a great many perish destitute of all help) may have the Dose augmented if need be, and that as their age is, from ½ a grain to two grains, for so the Worms will be killed, and the Feaver sent packing. Nay farther, if the Feavers in Children, be they Boys or Girls, do not proceed from the Worms but from other causes, yet may so much of this Medicine be administred to them as may be requisite to purge and sweat them, and by this means will they be (without any hazard of their lives) restored to their former health. There can scarce be found a more profitable and more present remedy against the Plague and other Feavers in young men, middle aged men, and old men than my golden Panacæa or purging Gold, and this same purging Lune here described, the Dose is from one grain to five or six grains with reference to the age and Disease. Such a Dyet is to be observed as I have prescribed in the use of my Panacæa, viz. that the Sick (after the taking of this purging Silver) do abstain from Sleep and all kind of Food for three or four hours at least, and beware of the cold Air, and have an especial regard to keep a good Dyet. This Medicine of mine, together with my Panacæa Aurea (or golden universal Medicine) may be safely, and without any fear of danger made use of in the French Pox, Dropsie, Leprosie, Stone, Gout, and other such Diseases, whatever name they are called by; insomuch that men may (next their trust in God) safely confide therein. And besides by this Medicament may very many things be performed in metalline affairs, the discovering of which we shall at this time omit, contenting our selves with having shewn the things that appertains to the use of Medicine. Furthermore it is likewise notably efficacious in curing of external Wounds and Ulcers, provided it be discreetly administred inwardly, and the external defects of the body be kept sweet and clean. There will in a short time be much more benefit received therefrom, than from such a deal of Ointments and Emplaisters as are frequently used. Praise God and give him thanks for such great benefits.
CHAP. X.
Dissolve Gold in some acid sulphureous Sal Mirabilis, and not alkalizated, viz. by the moist way, pass the solution through a Philter, and abstract the unprofitable Phlegm so far untill there appear a thin skin at the top, which appearing, set the remainder in the cold, and you shall get a green Stone like to an Emrald. That part of the Liquor which is not shot, evaporate again even so long till a skin appears, that so you may get the rest of your Vitriol: So all the Gold will together with the Sal Mirabilis shoot into a Vitriol, resembling the greenness of Grass, (and so green) as nature never produced the like. In this Smaragdine Table are found written (or engraven) many wonderfull things, which will neither be read nor understood by every body. I will hint some few things concerning it, and such as appertain to Medicine: And in the first place, what kind of Vitriol this ought to be, and what notes and marks it is to be distinguished by, (as thus) a little of it being rubbed with your thumb, on pure or cleansed Iron, doth guild it of a golden colour, whereas the common Vitriol makes the Iron look of a coppery colour. This is a sign of this golden Vitriol’s being prepared after a due manner, which said Vitriol will effect those things in Medicine which I am about to ascribe to it. Besides, it makes Copper and Brass shew of a golden colour and performs wonderfull things with Mercury, if digested with it, in the moist way, but for brevity sake I omit these things. For it grows like a little Tree, and sends forth golden Sprouts.
As touching its Medicinal Virtues such of them as I have found out, are here briefly described; without question there lie hid in it yet more and more excellent Virtues, which as yet are unknown unto me, but will come to light in process of time.
But the chief efficacy and virtue of this golden Vitriol as far as I know, doth consist in purging and bringing out all evil and noxious humours out of the whole body of Man, and withall in corroborating and strengthening him. And as to this office it outstrips all other Medicines whatsoever. Nay more, it performs its operation speedily, yea more speedily than any other purge doth. For as soon as ever it shall be taken into the body it doth presently begin to work, because the Salt is soluble, and therefore such bodies as are not opened, can’t at all compare with it, for they must necessarily lie in the Stomach at least half an hour, or a whole hour before they begin their operation. And because every common Vitriol is a capital enemy to all the Worms of the Belly, and the Feavers arising therefrom, wherewith a very many Infants both Boys and Girls do die, void of all kind of help, I do most highly commend this Vitriol of Gold to all such Fathers and Mothers of Families, whose Children are dear unto them, that they at all times have it in a readiness, to be made use of in cases of necessity. For verily I never found any better or certainer Remedy against the Worms than this very same, because it not onely kills them, but also casts them out, and doth by strengthening the Sick, take away all the Feavers both of old and young. It is also a most great secret in the Plague, in which Disease verily, a longer delay or abiding of a Medicine in the Body (without working) is hurtfull. Besides, it is not onely a certain and safe curative Medicine, but likewise a preservative too in the Plague, and in all acute and contageous Feavers, as well of young as old, the like to which is scarce, yea very rare to be found. For this Vitriol doth speedily and swiftly draw back from the heart every Poison, and every burning heat, and being drawn back from all the Members of the whole Body, doth drive it forth by all the Emunctories of the whole Body, but principally by Stool and Sweat. Furthermore, if the Disease require it, and the Patients strength permit it, it may be administred in a bigger Dose, and then ’twill provoke to Vomit, and powerfully expel Choler. It doth in the Lues Venerea shew it self most efficaciously virtuous, and powerfully casts out Tartarous Fluxes and acute humours out of all the whole Body: By which operation it likewise brings much help and comfort to such as are troubled with the Stone and Gout, it removes the Epilepsie both from young and old, and frees the Hydropical of the Water betwixt the Skin. And that I may comprise all as ’twere in one word, ’tis such an universal purge as that it roots out of the whole Body whatsoever is found to be hurtfull and offensive therein. It hath not its fellow as to Remedy the Feavers of Children whether proceeding from Worms or from a corrupted Stomach, the which kill such abundance of Infants of both Sexes, without any help left. Nor do I think that there can be found a better Remedy in the Plague, and in all other acute Feavers which usually kill Men suddenly, than this Vitriol of Gold, if it be but rightly made use of. The Dose is small, and is easily made pleasant to Childrens Palats, by putting a little Sugar thereunto, or some such like sweet things. To Infants newly born, you may give scarce an eighth part of a grain, against (or to prevent) the Epilepsie, or Convulsions. To such as are from one year old, to 10 or 12 years of age, the Dose may be one, two, or three grains, according as their age is, the which Dose may be augmented in such as are older, according as the age and condition of the Sick requires. Where the Disease is Worms, there the Dose must be so strong as not onely by well purging to kill them, but also to cast them forth when killed. For from those slain Worms, if they abide in the Bowels, other new Worms usually breed. I hope that by my thus revealing this Medicament, I shall so bring it to pass, as that for the time to come, so many Infants both Boys and Girls will not be destroyed by Feavers arising from Worms, but very many will be safely preserved from so immature a death.
But here, some or other may say or at least think within himself, what is the reason that I have such an especial regard to Infants and Children, and am so very solicitous of preserving them from an untimely end. I answer hereunto, that nothing is more necessary than to afford some comfortable due help to Infants, and poor innocent Babes, who do evil to none, and whose loss their Parents do sadly brook. For it is certain and without all kind of doubt, that (amongst Diseases) the Epilepsie or Convulsion is the first that sets upon new born Infants and sweeps them away. Then presently follows Measels, Small Pox, and such like, and these kill not a few. Then comes the Worms, and they cause Feavers which afflict them with a continual burning, whereby they lose all their Appetite to eating, and covet nothing but drink, and the Parents use no remedy to suppress them, being ignorant that such guests are lodged there, and do not perceive them when the poor sick Babes Bellies do not swell. But further, when by the swelling of their Bellies, they do know that they have the Worms, and though they desire to use some Remedies, yet can they hardly make their little ones to take them as being so averse to them. Nay more, though sometimes they do administer common Worm-feed, or some other Vegetable Powders good against the Worms, yet there’s scarce one in ten that is help’d, and the poor sick Children grow worse and worse: And at last when the Disease hath gotten such head as that the Parents see that death is at hand, then is the Physician sent for, who (if he knows the Disease to arise from Worms, and be furnished with a good Medicine) doth presently help the Sick, and free him of the Disease. But if he be destitute of a good Medicine, and attempts to refresh or cherish the Sick with his sweet Syrups, &c. he widely erreth, for by such kind of sweet Juices he gives Nutriment to the Worms. Neither doth it at all avail to put Linnen Cloaths, dipped in Rose water, to the Head, thereby to allay its burning heat, and to little purpose are the gentle purging drinks prescribed. For as soon as ever the Worms do perceive any thing given to the Sick, which is contrary to them, they presently hide themselves (or run to holes) and do wreath themselves into a kind of Ring, and pass out with the Excrements. But if they perceive any sweet thing which is pleasant to them to be given to the Sick, they do receive their nourishment thencefrom and remain alive. And if by some hap or other it doth so chance that one or more is hurried away with the Excrements, yet the rest of them remain unhurt, and the Disease is not taken away, but prevaileth more and more, and at last deprives the Sick of Life. He therefore that endeavoureth after the happy curing of such Feavers as arise by reason of Worms, must of necessity (in defect of this golden Vitriol) give his Patient such things to drink for three or four days as do cause a bitterness in the Stomach. And although bitter things are unpleasant to the Palate of poor Sick Infants, yet are they enemies to the Worms, and do kill them. Such bitter things therefore being drunk for three or four days, the Worms do sometimes in some Sick Children die the first or second day, but in other some ’tis the fourth day e’re they die.
Now then as concerning such bitter Medicaments, which I here write of, that they may not be bitter in the Mouth, but be made so in the Stomach, I say, that the Metals are such, and especially Iron, Copper, Gold and Silver, the which being dissolved do obtain a very bitter and ungratefull Savour. But the reason why Gold and Silver being taken into the body, when they are filed and ground most exceeding small, do not operate any thing at all, comes from thence, viz. because the Acidity of the Stomach is too weak to set upon them: And therefore ’tis necessary that they be first converted into Vitriols, if you would have them operative in the Stomach, as I have taught you concerning Gold. But forasmuch as every Body cannot be Masters of such a golden or silver Vitriol, it seemed expedient to me to reveal to the poor, a certain and never failing Secret, by the help whereof the Worms both in old People and young are killed.
It is not unknown to Physicians that every common Vitriol wherewith Dyers use to dye their black Colour, doth (being administred to young People) kill the Worms and cast them out too. But because of its unpleasant and odd tast ’tis a hard matter to make Children take it. But now if you do a little more accurately examine the properties of common Vitriol, you will find it to be nothing else but a mere acid Salt, by which Iron or Copper, or both together are dissolved in the Earth, by nature. If now we are so minded, we can also make a Vitriol in the Stomach, which will be equally as operative as that which is made by nature and taken in at the mouth, and ’tis done thus. If we give most small filings of Iron or Copper to little Infants in a due weight, these now may be easily administred unto them, as containing no ungratefull tast. For, being reduced into thin or curious filings, and being a metal easily admitting of Solution, as soon as ever it comes into the Stomach, the Acidity of the Stomach doth meet with it, by which ’tis easily dissolved, and turned into a Vitriol, and so endued with the very same operation as that is, which is prepared in the Earth by Nature.
But you are here to observe the difference that is betwixt the filings of Copper and Iron, and that is this, the Copper works strongly, and the Iron much milder. Besides the Copper makes the Stomach vomit, but the Iron causeth no Vomits, and doth very rarely disturb the Stomach, and when it doth, ’tis onely in this case, viz. when ’tis administred in too great a Dose. Therefore amongst all such Medicaments, Iron is the best, the safest, and the least cost, though to proud men it may appear sufficiently vile and base. Nor is it to be questioned but that the brethren of ignorance will entertain it with derision, and say; if Glauber knows no better remedy for the Worms than this, which consists of the gross filings of Iron, he had done a great deal better to have kept it onely to himself: And if Iron abounds with such Vertues there’s no reason for him so to praise his pretious Vitriol of Gold with such a deal of commendations. To this I answer, that my aim in teaching the preparation of the Vitriol of Gold is not directed for the Worms in Children so much. But I have added this remedy of Iron to the description I have made of the vertues of the golden Vitriol, to this end, that I may demonstrate it self also is so excellent a remedy against Worms, and for the removal of those Feavers as are caused by them. But because their cure can be more easily perfected (as we just now spake about the filings of Iron) ’tis worth the while to have regard to the way that is most compendious. He that pleaseth may administer of the Vitriol of Gold, but I commend Iron to such as are poor, for they may have that even every where. There is no Village so small but hath a Smith living in it, who can when your necessity requires supply you with some filings of Iron.
But that my mind may be fully understood, I judg it necessary yet more clearly to give you a Declaration of this thing, viz. in what manner and with what conveniency the filings of Iron may be administred to the sick Infants. And ’tis thus done. Whilst the Infants are unweaned, some Grains of the said filings from 2, to 6 or 8 Grains, may be mixt with a little Sugar and put into their mouths, and then presently give them suck, that so those filings may be suckt down together with the Milk into the Stomach. Do this three days together and the Worms will be destroyed, and the Feaver vanish. But if any body will make use of any other Vehicle than what is the Child’s ordinary food, he may do so if he please. But as for such as do not suck, but do drink out of a sucking Bottle according as the usual custom is, you may easily give it them, on this wise; Put a little into the Bottle and stop the hole of the Bottle with your finger, and so turn it upside down that the filings may slide down to the hole, and so let the Infant suck it down, and ’twill pass with the drink into the Stomach. To such Boys and Girls as are bigger, and have more understanding, it may be given easily and any way you please, onely telling them that they will be restored to their former health. To such as are 10 or 12 years old a quarter part, or an half of the weight which we usually call Quintlein [from 10 to 20 grains] may be given safely, for 3 or 4 days. But in the mean while let not the meats they use be of hard Concoction, but made of Pottage, Prunes, and such like mollifying and loosening things, which may help forward the operation of the Iron, and so the sick will become the sooner well. I could not refrain from highly commending to all tender Mothers that love their Children, this most safe and not at all costly Medicine against all the Feavers proceeding from Worms, which do kill so many poor little ones destitute of all kind of help. Let no body matter its vileness, but rather think with himself, that God hath also endowed vile and contemptible things with great vertues. Verily this Cure, and thus taking away the Worms, and the Diseases arising therefrom, is strongly founded on natural reasons, or arguments. For seeing that the common Vitriol is a Poyson to Worms, but because of its bitter and nauseous tast ’tis exceeding unpleasant to the Palate, they do very well, that substitute Iron as being void of all Savour, in the room of the common Vitriol, that so being given to their Children it may be converted to Vitriol in their Stomachs, and so kill and drive out the Worms. I my self have tryed many experiments about the Cure of the Worms in my Children, but never found any thing safer and better than contemptible Iron.
A Story of a Child that had Worms.
I will tell you an instructing Story, concerning a great and eminent man’s Child in such a Disease proceeding from the Worms, in which my self was concerned. A certain rich man did on a time consult with me, (or ask my advise) about this Child’s Disease. I gave him as much filing of Iron as was sufficient for one Dose, for his Child to drink. It seemed an absurd thing to the good man, to give an Infant filings of Iron, upon this conceit he omitted to use it, and having called two Physicians he shews them the filings, and askt them whether they would advise him to administer it to his Infant. They earnestly disswaded him from using it, saying that if he used it his Child would be killed, and that it was a Medicine onely fit for curing of Horses, and that they would prescribe a far safer and better one. They said there was no danger in the Child of Worms, and therefore they prescribed it a cooling and purging Syrup, thereby to take away the Feaver, and they also added confections of Pearls, with other cooling Waters. Death despised these kind of Potions, and snatcht away the Infant: The Child being dead, there crept out of his mouth great Worms, and clearly testified to the Parents their unseasonable rejecting my advise, haply because the Medicine I prescribed was not costly, but prepared out of a vile Subject. But it repented the Parents too late: The Mother coming afterwards into the House of a certain Neighbour, gave that filings which I had delivered them, unto an Infant troubled with a Feaver and the Worms, who upon the taking of that one dose onely became better, and by little and little returned to its former state of health, I was willing to set down this history to the end that I might demonstrate, that vile and abject things are many times capable of performing more than Pearls and precious Stones can.
And so I conclude this so very necessary a discourse concerning Worms, and the Feavers arising from them, whereby great multitudes of poor Infants are destroyed. I hope that no body will take it amiss that I have made so long a discourse concerning Worms. For I judged it necessary to shew the cause from whence so many little ones do dye in the flower of their Age. He that refuseth to believe what I say, let him try the thing by his own loss.