READER,
I did some time since, sincerely discover to certain of my Friends, some of the best of the Arcanums (described now publickly) in this Treatise, with such condition as they themselves should prepare the same: but they have not as yet set about the Work, and perhaps for no other reason, than because they thought it a matter not of great but of small moment. Hence it was, that they could not believe so great a Medicine could be prepared in so few days. It is manifest by the Writings of Philosophers, that Maria the Prophetess, Sister of Moses, could ripen the Stone of Philosophers in three Days. Likewise, some Philosophers have absolved their Work in a Week. Others have consumed some Months labour upon the same. But now, those erroneous Fellows (who run from one to another, and although themselves be rude and ignorant of all things, proffer their labour for reward to make the Stone of Philosophers) require to themselves for digestion the space of one, two or three whole years. But what a vast difference is there between three days and three years. As for my self, I indeed as yet have never elaborated so great a Work, but have seen with my Eyes so great a possibility thereof, and with my hands handled things so, as (if time and place be given, and God grant success) I am confident I shall prepare this supream Medicine in a very short space of time. But I can truly affirm, that in all my life I never aspired to things so high; yet what hath been conferred on me by God, I now make common. Wherefore, he (whom God shall favour) may there begin, where I have ended, and happily consummate the Work: but if he (whom God favours not) shall attempt any thing therein, let him not disquiet me with troublesome Interrogatories; for I know not how to answer more, than are here discovered by me. Yet (if God please) after some short space of time, I will clearly expose to publick view, whatsoever I have found and seen in the particular Melioration of Metals. Which indeed will contribute great Light to this later Age of the darkened World.
Get a Furnace made of good Earth (which in burning will be rendred as compact and solid as Glass; such you may find about Colen, Sibburg, Freichiem, or Waltenburg) in its Diameter, at least two Foot broad, but rather (if that well may be) three. Prepare a Vessel like the Hemisphere or half-Globe, having three or four handles, to be hanged up by, fill that with cold Water, and your Recipient or Blind-head will be perfect. Then fit to it a plain Pan of good Earth, the breadth of three or four Thumbs, and a Thumbs breadth high. This Pan fill with common Sulphur, mixt with some other Mineral Subject, as Mercury, Auripigment, Arsenick, or Antimony; which you desire to fix, either particularly into Sol, or universally into Medicine. Kindle the Sulphur that it may burn, then this Sulphur will calcine and fix that subject (in the Fire continually burning,) which was put in to be fixed. If in burning the Sulphur be deficient, it must be supplied with other Sulphur. If the Sulphur should happen to be extinguished, you must kindle it again, that it may constantly burn and never go out. It will not easily go out, if you prevent the extinction, by putting a little Cotton in the midst of the Pan. When the burning Sulphur, with its penetrating and ripening Fire, penetrates the subject added, then the volatile Mineral at first cannot bear patiently the vehemency of the Fire, but a part of the same is elevated upwards with the fiery Oil (fixing all Mineral subjects) which concretes round about to the Vessel, and again distills down upon the burning Sulphur into the Pan, so as it excites no small admiration in the Beholders. The motion of this Oil, which is so often and long driven upwards and downwards; Philosophers have named their Distillation, Ascent, and Descent, also Cohobation and Circulation: but the Sulphur continually burning, they called Calcination and Solution. For, in this operation, two very potent Fires act. The flame of Sulphur is a strong fixing Fire, but stronger yet is that fiery Oil continually distilling. By the help of both which Stygian Fires, the volatile subject in the Pan, is in a short space of time (unless it was very impure before) without any diminution of its weight fixed into a fixed Medicine. It is to be admired, with how great virtue, either Fire is endewed, for fixing volatile Metals; also it is pleasant to behold, how (when any drop of that Oil of Sulphur driven upwards distills down again upon the burning Sulphur) the flame that ascends then, will be red as bloud, which otherwise from Sulphur onely ascends yellowish. The repeated Distillation of that into the under set Vessel was by Philosophers called Inceration: But when the whole resided in the bottom without any ascending fume, that was by them called Fixation.
These operations I have performed with my own Hands, and seen with my own Eyes. More at this time I dare not publish; for more than enough is already spoken to impious Men. Which indeed I should not have done, if this excellent Philosophick Work had not been made too common already, or (to express my meaning more plainly) if it had not fallen into the hands of unworthy Persons, to me most ungratefull. For indeed I permitted onely some few of my Friends to see this Philosophick fixing Furnace; yet the knowledge of it was by them so far divulged, as I repented I had ever communicated it. Nevertheless, instead of that, not long after by God was given to me a certain other, far better and more elegant gift, for he shewed me such an Instrument, as would far more commodiously than the former, receive the ascending sulphureous fume, so as none of it should be lost. Therefore this divine gift shall by me be more warily kept than the former.
Fill an earthen Pan full of Sulphur, and set it under the Blind-head. Kindle the Sulphur and keep it continually burning for eight or fourteen days. And when the burning Sulphur causeth its Oil to ascend, and the same again descends upon it, and this ascent and descent hath so long been made, as untill the Oil is fixed, and no more ascent is perceived, then let the Fire go out, and that which you find in the bottom, looking black as a Coal, take out, pour clear Water upon it, and make them boil together. In this boiling the Water extracts the fixed Oil of Sulphur, which passed into Salt, from the black Fæces. This extracted Salt distill through a Filter, and permit the Water to exhale in Balneo; so the Residue will remain in the bottom sweet, in the form of a sowerish gratefull yellow Salt. Which take out, and put into a clean Crucible, where keep it hot, but not red hot; then the Salt will wax red. This dissolve again and Filter, and it will leave some Fæces. You may reiterate this operation if you will, and the Salt will be so much the more pure. This Salt is of a middle tast between sower and sweet: Of which five or six grains being taken inwardly will penetrate the body and strongly provoke sweat. But a larger Dose will provoke gentle Seidges, especially if the operation be made in some Iron Pan, yet it contracts from the Iron a sweetish tast, but that is not at all to be feared, because the Salt plainly deposits this tast, especially if you heat it hot and dissolve it, coagulate and heat it hot again, unto the third time. For then it loseth that tast, and becomes a sweet red Salt, which is a safe remedy against all Diseases, where there is need of sweating and purging.
Note, here is need of caution, that in making it hot, your Fire be not too strong, and so the virtues of your Salt diminished, which is a thing accurately to be minded. Ancient Philosophers likened this operation to such a Fire vomiting Dragon, as devours his own Tail, and converts it into a salutary Medicine. The Dragon is burning Sulphur, his Tail is its fiery Oil, which slides down upon the burning Sulphur, and in it converts it self into an efficacious Medicine.
Note, I would have you give credit to me, in these Works, which I here have opened in few words, are many things of great worth contained. Therefore, if you be wise, you will more diligently search into the matter, and find out much more than is here disclosed by me.
Rectifie Spirit of Wine so perfectly well from all Phlegm, as it will all burn away. For this way you will have a secret Fire, by help of which you will be able to effect wonders in Medicine.
Prepare you of stony Earth polishable in Fire, or of Metal, a Furnace in such wise, as under it a flaming Fire may burn, and yet none of the fume fly away, but in it condense either into Water or Oil, and thence descend into some fit Receiver. Under such a Furnace, in some earthen Pan kindle an ounce or two of this subtile Fire, and let it burn. The Spirit of Wine being burnt, the volatile Salt as incombustible (yet the volatile Mercury of the Wine) comes forth, is cooled in the Receiver, and so preserved.
Note, when the first Spirit of Wine is burned, more must be put in. Of how great profit it will be in Medicine, you may easily judge, because it is the immortal and incombustible Soul of Wine. How much it is able to effect in Alchymy, is not very well known to me, I not having laboured much in it as yet. Basilius touching this Mercury, thus Writes: Whosoever can obtain it, will be a principal Master in Chymistry. He, as I judge, well knew how from Gold its Tincture was to be extracted by the help of this. But of these enough at this time.
Rectifie Spirit of Urine as highly as you can, according to my Prescripts, largely described in the Book of Furnaces. To this Animal Mercury add five fold or six fold its weight of our Vegetable Fire, with which fill a Pan, and kindle this Fire under our Philosophick Alembick; then will our Fire burn up all the nauseous stink of the Animal Mercury, so as it will ascend with a gratefull odour and tast. If it be not to your mind the first time, commit the same to this purgation a second time, and make it pass over; then you will find your Animal Mercury sweet, by virtue of which you will be able to do great things in Medicine, because it forcibly penetrates. Therefore a diligent Physician should not be ignorant of the use of this. It is known that Spirit of Urine doth much good in Medicine yet it is commonly abhorred by reason of its unpleasant tast. But when it hath sustained the trial of our Philosophick purgation, then it ascends into its Heaven, that is, into the Alembick without stink. Also by help of this purgation, all other fœtid, bitter and unsavoury Vegetable, Mineral, and Animal Subjects, may be purged, rendred sweet, pleasant, and gratefull, as the following examples will prove.
Recipe of common Sulphur, Tartar, and Niter, of each one pound, pulverise, mix and decrepitate them in a Crucible, kindling them on the top, otherwise they will fulminate. When decrepitated, melt and pour out the mixture, reduce it to Powder, and extract thence the Tincture with Spirit of Wine. Burn away the Spirit of Wine under the Philosophick Alembick, and what ascends reserve for your use in Medicine. What remains in the bottom will be sweet and void of all evil savour, because the Spirit of Wine hath burnt up all the stink. This Medicine is a most excellent Diaphoretick.
Recipe of Antimony, Tartar, and Niter, of each alike; decrepitate, melt, pulverise, and extract the Tincture, which cause to pass through this Purgatory Fire, and you will have a safe Medicine against all Diseases. But if you would render it yet more excellent, to this Antimony (which hath already once sustained that Purgation) again add its own weight of Tartar and Niter; decrepitate, melt, extract, and cause it to burn as before, and you will have your Medicine more excellent. And if you shall repeat this labour the third time, you will have it far more excellent, for every time there are some Fæces deposited, whence the Medicine becomes more efficacious.
As is said of Sulphur and Antimony, so also all other stinking and bitter Subjects; yea the stinking Dungs of Animals may be so purified as to become sweet. But there is no necessity to speak hereabout in this place. For whosoever studiously searcheth for some famous Medicine, will easily find some excellent thing, so as he may attain both Riches and Honour according to his wish.
It is very well known, that the greater common Fire doth always (as often as one is set near the other) either extinguish the lesser, or cause it to languish, the same also happens to Philosophick Fires. As for example, Put into a Stone dish or Pan, Spirit of Salt, Vitriol, Niter, or Sulphur, or some other acid Spirit, and three, four, or six parts of the best Spirit of Wine which kindle, and the Spirit of Wine will burn away, but the acid Spirit through the subtilty of the flame becomes sweet. Which sweet Spirits, especially that of Sulphur and Salt, manifest great Vertues in Medicine. Basil Valentine speaks of the dulcified Spirit of Salt, that it extracts from Gold its Tincture; and that he, who knows how to dulcifie it, will be honoured by Philosophers. He in like manner teacheth, that Spirit of Wine is seven times to be abstracted thence: Yet undoubtedly he intended not the vulgar Abstraction, but this secret Abstraction rather, of which we now speak. Because such Spirits are not dulcified at one time, but Spirit of Wine is often to be abstracted thence by the help of Fire, before they will be sufficiently dulcified.
Every man knows, that the Nature and Property of common Fire is, to absume every stinking Sulphur, to drive away Mercury, and leave nothing but dead Ashes, with a little fixed Salt; which is no Correction, but a violent Destruction and Corruption of good things. Therefore, in preparing famous medicines, we should use a better Fire, viz. such, as neither consumes Sulphur, nor drives away Mercury, but onely ripens, cleanseth and swetens them; as will be proved by these following Examples.
First let us make trial with the (to us abominable) Dung of men, and see, whether its Stink can be totally taken away, and of it an Universal medicine be prepared.
It is very manifest, that the Dungs of Animals crude and not prepared, are of some use in medicine, and we know they have been long in use with Galenists and Apothecaries: For they presume to cure the Jaundies with Goose-dung; Feavers with Horse-dung; Inflammations of the Bowels with the distilled Water of Cow-dung, which they call the Water of all Flowers; and the Quinsey, with the white Dung of a Dog, which they call Album Græcum. Pertinent to the purpose, History makes mention of a certain Countryman labouring with a Quinsey. To this man a Physician gives a Bill, by which he was to go to an Apothecaries Shop, and buy Album Græcum. The Bill he gave to a Boy in the Shop, who having read it, looked into the Box in which Album Græcum was wont to be kept; and finding the Box empty, bid the Countryman stay a little, and he would serve him presently. But the Boy not wise enough to conceal the Secret, runs presently into the Church Yard, where he gathered some of the white Dung of Dogs, which he brought home, and put into his Mortar to pulverise. The Countryman seeing this, spake to the Boy thus: I pray thee lay aside those things, and give me what I have need of; for I can stay no longer. To which the Boy answered: This is that the Physician prescribed you; therefore stay but a little while, for it will be beat enough presently. Then the Countryman angerly said: What do you say, you Whelp! Must I buy Dogs-turd of you for Silver? I have enough of that at home: Therefore you and your Doctour shall eat it your selves for me. And having spoken thus, he went out of the Apothecaries Shop in a great rage. Many such Histories are variously commemorated: by which you may clearly see, that the Dungs of Animals, although crude and not at all prepared, have been used by Apothecaries. All which had they not been usefull in Medicine, would long since have been abrogated. But humane Dung, which deservedly is to be preferred before all other, is not used medicinally; and that onely because of its evil smell. Yet I have known some old Women give that to be taken inwardly by such as laboured with Feavers (but without their knowledge) and so have expelled those Feavers. There are some Chirurgeons so skilfull as to know, that the Salt of humane Dung onely generates Putrefaction, but on the contrary all other Salts preserve from it. Wherefore they use that for putrifying such excrescent Caruncles, as they fear to cut off, by reason of the intermixed Veins. Yet, that humane Dung (if inwardly taken) wants not its effects, no man doubts: but because of its great Stink, its use is to be abstained from, and not to be admitted in medicine. Nevertheless, if it can be freed from its abominable Odour, it may be used in medicine, otherwise not. Wherefore, Paracelsus so highly esteemed it, as he said: From him Heaven and Earth is hid, to whom humane Dung is not known. An History, which shews what happened in Cæsar’s Court, between him and the Court Physicians, plainly sheweth this. For when those Physicians asked him to leave behind him some medicinal Experiment unto them, Paracelsus ordered humane Dung to be brought and laid before them. They seeing that, went away in a rage and reviled him. But Paracelsus answered. You indeed run away, thereby proving your selves unworthy of the Secret I purposed to have discovered to you. Whence it is very manifest, that Paracelsus knew how to render stinking Excrements fit for use. For undoubtedly, he never administred them to any man, before they were prepared; because he had other Medicaments always in readiness. Now, that it may be known to be possible to take away the Stink of Dungs, I will prove the same by the following.
To a sound and healthfull Man for two days together give nothing to eat, but a little well baked Wheat-bread; or to drink, but good Wine. His Excrements for these two days cast away. On the third day let him eat a peculiar Bread, with which is mixed before it is baked about an Ounce and half, or one Ounce of my Blood of Sol; also let him have an Ounce and half, or one Ounce of the same Blood of Sol mixed with his Drink, that it may thereby be tinged with a red Colour. And all the third day let him eat nothing but this Bread, in which the Blood of Sol, or Gold rendered irreducible hath been baked, and use that Wine onely, which the Tincture of Gold hath coloured. Then on the fourth day, let his Excrements (which will be tinged with blackness like a Coal) be put into a glazed Pan or Dish, yet with this Caution, that no Urine be mixed therewith; because that will be injurious. Indeed these Excrements will have a very evil Odour, but that you may take away their stink, and convert them into an Universal Medicine, proceed thus.
If these Excrements be in weight one pound, or somewhat above, pour on them two Ounces of well dephlegmated Oil of Sulphur, or in defect of that, as much strong and well rectified Oil of Vitriol; mix the whole well stirring it with a wooden Spatula, that the Oil may act upon the Excrements: Expose the whole to the Air for one Night; and that mineral Fire will calcine the Dung Philosophically, and deprive it of all its stink, without any diminution of its Weight; which is very strange. And if any part of the evil Odour should be left remaining, add to it again one Ounce and half of the Mineral Fire, and suffer them to stand together for one Day and Night. Then must you also have in readiness the Animal Fire, viz. Spirit of Urine exactly rectified, of which pour leisurely and by degrees upon the Dung, so much, as until both those contrary Spirits cease to act each upon other, and are still: For then those two contending Fires have mortified each other, whence a middle Salt is generated. Upon this mixture put into a Glass do you also pour so much of the Vegetable Fire, (that is, of the best Spirit of Wine) as may rise in height above it two fingers breadth. Set this glass in Balneo, and digest the whole for twenty four hours: For in that time the Spirit of Wine dissolveth that Salt, which proceeded from both the contrary Fires, together with the Microcosmick Salt, Sulphur and Mercury; and from that Gold, now the second time inverted, extracts the Tincture, which it hath, and is thereby tinged red as Blood. This Tincture pour off, and re-pour on other Spirit of Wine, and let that also stand twenty four hours in Balneo for extracting what remains: but this will have but little Tincture, because the first extraction drew forth almost all. Add both extractions together, and in Balneo, with very gentle heat, by Alembick abstract the Spirit of Wine from the Tincture; then will remain in the bottom of the Vessel a very red and pleasant Salt; upon which must be poured so much Aromatick Spirit of Wine, as will suffice to dissolve all the Salt. Which Solution pour out from the Glass it was dissolved in, into a strong and very clean Glass-bottle, and keep it by you as a most pretious Treasure.
The Dose of it is very small: for if you give, at one time, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 drops, it will provoke Urine, expel Sweat, and the Stone also powerfully. But if the dose be augmented, it purgeth the Belly, and that without any molestation. In a word, this Universal Medicine may safely be used in all Diseases. Yet because I intend brevity, I forbear to write more touching this Medicine.
The Excrements or Fæces, from which this Tincture is extracted, are not to be cast away, but must be calcined with Fire till they are red hot, and (after a strong Aqua Regia hath been poured upon them) the remaining Gold, which was not before extracted, must be dissolved. Yet you shall have very little of that; because the Man’s Stomach did a second time invert that Gold, (which was once before inverted) and made it reducible, so as it could be extracted with Spirit of Wine by help of the Mineral and Animal Mercury. It is hard for me to believe, that a more excellent Diuretick and Diaphoretick Medicine can be found, than this Microcosmick Salt, which is tinged with Sol. For you will know of how great vertue this Diuretick and Diaphoretick Salt is, when you shall precipitate the acid Oil of Sulphur (or in defect of that, rectified Oil of Vitriol) with good Spirit of Urine, and reduce it into Salt. And will not such a Salt as this be far more excellent, when Sulphur the (Philosophically calcined) Salt and Mercury of the humane Body, together with the Tincture of Gold have Access?
I have not writ any thing here of this Universal Medicine, to the end it should be preferred before others, because I very well know, we can of other Subjects prepare famous Medicines, and easily be without humane Dung; but whatsoever I delivered here, I did it for the good of all. For my part, I say, if any one hath no mind to proceed in this Operation, let him forbear. It sufficeth me, that I have signified to the World, how by the help of Art, all venomous and stinking Subjects may be amended and cleansed.
Thus may the industrious Physician, by the benefit of the three Principal Fires prepare many excellent Medicines, and before all sluggish and careless Physicians be had in great honour by the Sick, and obtain the favour of GOD and Men. For he may invert the Venom of Vipers, Serpents and Scorpions, and convert the same into an Antidote powerfull against the Pestilence, and other Venoms. He also understands how to prepare a Medicament of Toads safe to be given to dropsical Persons: of Spiders a Medicine healing the Leprous; of Cantharides and May-Woms, a certain Salt good against the Stone of the Reins and Bladder; of Earth-Worms, or Rain-Worms, a venereal Experiment; of Opium, Tobacco and Henbane, a famous Somniferous Medicine; of Wormwood a Stomachal and Antifebrile; of Hellebore, Agarick, Spurge, Asarabacca, Squill, and the like, an Universal Purging Salt; of Pearch-Stones, and Crabs-Eyes, a Nephritick Medicine against the Stone of the Reins and Bladder; and of Napellus, Stavesacre, and Wake Robbin, a famous Antipodagrick. These, and other such most excellent and presently medicinal Salts may after the same manner be prepared: These, for the health of infirm Mankind I could not content my self to conceal. Indeed I could have writ more at large touching this matter; but brevity, which I now study, forbids a more ample Declaration.
Tartar is a Salt, which in Fermentation separating it self from the Wine, adheres partly to the sides of Wine Cask, and partly resides with the Dregs in the Bottom. This Salt or Tartar, although it is numbred among Salts, yet it is of another disposition than all other Salts; because they may be dissolved in cold Water, but this Tartar cannot be dissolved, except in boiling Water onely. No Man hitherto was willing to open the Cause of this hard Tye. But I, seeing Death daily approaching nearer and nearer, was not willing to carry it with me to my long Home, therefore I chose rather to leave it behind me for Mankinds sake. And thus it is with Tartar. Tartar contains in it self a peculiar Sulphur by which the Salt is so bound or fixed, as it cannot like other Salt be dissolved in cold Water. For if the Sulphur be separated from it, it is easily dissolved in cold Water, like other Salts. Yet so soon as such Sulphur is taken from it, the secret Fire which lay hid in it, is also taken away: and thenceforth it can no more serve instead of a secret Fire, by which Metals are ripened into Tinctures; but is rendred onely fit to perform its Office in medicine. Touching which, for brevity sake we shall here make no mention.
The method of depriving Tartar of its tinging Sulphur, that it may be dissolved in cold, is thus: By burning two Pound of Tartar, reduce it into a white Salt, upon which, if you pour Water to dissolve it, it will become a Lixivium. Which Lixivium pour upon one Pound of Tartar, and boil them together in an Earthen glazed Pot: Then the Lixivium dissolves the Tartar, and separates the binding or fixing Sulphur from the Salt. Then pour on one part of common Tartar, boil them together yet once, filter the boiled Liquour through Paper; then in the bottom will remain the Sulphureous Fæces, and the Water of Tartar pass through yellowish; upon which Water pour distilled Vinegar to mortifie the Lixivium. This being done, the Vinegar will also be coagulated with both Salts, and be changed into one Salt; which Salt in Medicine and Alchymy is of great use and benefit; touching which if I should here write more I should be too tedious: but (GOD willing) the manifold use of it shall be shewed in my Third Century. For here my purpose is not more at large to speak of the matter. [vide Helm. Fol. 183. and Basilius p. 240.]
That feculent Slime, which adheres to the sides of the Filter you should not cast away, but endeavour to fix. For then you will find some admirable thing, and more than here I dare discover. Because that is the genuine Coagulator of running Waters, which it hardens, and is joined in a singular familiarity with metals, and especially with Sol; as I with admiration have experienced. For in a few hours it tinged Sol with whiteness, and turned it into brittle Glass; whereas otherwise Sol is an Enemy to every volatile Sulphur. I do not believe there is any other thing in Nature second to this wonderfull Sulphur; which is endewed with a potency coagulating and hardning running Subjects. For nothing, except Sulphur onely, can be found, which coagulates and tingeth. Mercury and Salt tinge not: but Sulphur doth that. Consider I pray, how great power common Sulphur hath over Mercury, since four Ounces of it can coagulate a Pound of running Mercury into hard and red Cinnabar. Also four Ounces of common Sulphur can coagulate two or three Pounds of Oil into a Liver-like Mass: and one Pound of Oil reduce ten Pounds of Lixivium into hard Soap. Likewise one or two half Ounces of the volatile Vapour of Sulphur in subterranean Veins, can coagulate serene Water into hard Rocks and Stones, as also all sorts of minerals and metals. So, that little Sulphur which is found in Tartar, can render much sower Wine or Water hard as a Liver; as is known to those that labour in Wine and Vinegar.
I once purposed and endeavoured to extract from Gold its Tincture by the benefit of Salts, among which Salts Tartar also was; whence my Gold came out white and altogether brittle as Glass. But I, being willing to prove whether my Gold was constantly white or no, cupellated that with Saturn; and then I found my Gold not to remain white, but to have received its pristine yellow Colour. That whiteness proceeded from nothing else, than the tinging Sulphur of Tartar, and because the Colour was not fixed, therefore in cupellating it vanished away:
Note: Hence, when I had broken small a little of this tinged white and brittle Sol, and cast it upon a little vulgar Mercury made hot in a Crucible, it presently had ingress, and coagulated the Mercury into an heavy white Body, which when I exposed to a cineritious Examen, all the Mercury vanished, and the Sol onely remained in its Colour. The Reason hereof was because the aforesaid Sulphur of Tartar was not fixed. Yet thence I observed, that it might be fixed with Sol into a constant Redness. If any one hath convenient time and place, he may more profoundly search into this Work, because in it lies a great Arcanum. But how otherwise from Gold its Tincture is to be extracted, shall afterward be taught. Enough of that at this time.
But there remains this one thing to be spoken, viz. that whosoever knows how to conjoin the Sulphur of Tartar with the Sulphur of Metals, send to fix it with them, may certainly obtain the Tincture: As Ripley clearly intimated, when he said, He saw a red Toad so long and so often drinking of the Juice of Grapes, as until his Bowels burst. If you do more seriously think of this (and GOD judge you worthy of his Grace) you will experience wonderous things; if not, then conclude thou wast not worthy of those Secrets. So much may suffice for this time to be spoken touching the admirable Sulphur of Tartar. More elsewhere of it, if GOD will.
Recipe of the Minera of Antimony finely pulverised one Pound, of our secret Sal Armomiack six or eight half Ounces; which diligently mixed put into a coated Glass Retort, which set into a Distillatory Furnace, and apply a Receiver thereto, ministring Fire leisurely according to Art, that the Glass be not broken. In distilling first of all ascends a little sowrish Water, then (the Retort being hot) a thick Oil fat and yellow, in which is contained the most excellent Mercury of Antimony, which you may thence thus separate.
Upon the yellow Oil distilled, pour common Water, which Water will draw to it self the Salts, and precipitate the Mercury, like a yellow ponderous and shining Calx, which being edulcorated and dried, will be an Universal Purger. Its dose is very small. I use no more than a quarter of a Grain, which (saving your Reverence) gives me 3, 4, or 5 Stools: but to a robust man I give half a Grain, a whole Grain, and sometimes two Grains. Note: If a larger dose be given, this Mercury excites vomiting also, though very gently. If you would render it Diaphoretick, you must thence abstract rectified Oil of Vitriol. Then this Mercury of Antimony, which before was liquable as Wax, becomes altogether fixed and unmeltable; and then you may give of it from 1, 2, 3, to 8, or 10 Grains, which indeed move not Seidges, but provoke Sweat without weariness to the Patient, and performs the Office of a blessed Medicine against all Diseases, where Sweat is needfull. Reduce the Caput Mortuum taken out of the Retort to Powder (the finer the Powder is the better your Work will succeed) and having put it into a Phial pour Spirit of Wine upon it, mix them by a continued stirring and shaking of the Glass (for otherwise it turns it self into an hard stony Mass) and in Balneo digest it for a natural Day. Thence the Spirit of Wine will acquire a red Colour, which pour off, and repour on fresh Spirit, which also permit to extract as much as it can. Then with gentle heat of Balneo, abstract the Spirit of Wine from the Tincture, which will reside in the bottom like a red Salt. Which Salt is so great a Treasure in Medicine, as exceeds all estimation. For it passeth through the whole Body like Fire, and consumes Diseases, as Fire burns up Wood. For according as it finds any defect in the Body so it operates, expelling Sweat and Urine, purging out all malignant and noxious Humours of the whole Body, and highly purifying the Blood, so as I believe no more noble Tincture and Salt than this can be extracted out of Antimony. Its dose indeed is very small, but of great efficacy, insomuch as using but half a Grain of it you will find a most evident Operation. Therefore, if a Master of a Family provide for himself but one Drachm of this Medicine, he may by the help of that for the space of one whole year not onely preserve himself and family from many Diseases, but also defend himself and them from all other Affects every where prevailing. Therefore let GOD have the Praise of it.
Recipe of Auripigment one Pound of our secret Sal Armoniack four Ounces, which reduced to Powder mix, and distil in a Retort by degrees a volatile yellow corrosive Oil. At last, in the neck of the Retort will ascend a sublimate Red as Blood, transparent and as beautifull as an Oriental Ruby; the external use of which is famously medicinal against Ulcers and gangrenous Affects. And the yellow Oil is a most present Remedy for mortifying all gangrenous Ulcers, and laying a solid Foundation for their Cure, if the part affected be onely anointed with a Feather dipt therein. If any one pour Water upon the aforesaid Oil, that corrosive, which ascended with the Auripigment, will be separated and precipitated into a yellow Calx, which edulcorated and dried, becomes so strong and vomitive, as it cannot safely be given inwardly: but outwardly sprinkled upon Wounds, it lays a good foundation for healing. But if from the aforesaid yellow Powder, Oil of Vitriol be abstracted, it then becomes so fixed, as it will bear the force of a most violent Fire, without any exhalation of fume; and then loseth all its venome, and may be most safely used from 1, 2, 3, 4, to 6, or 8 Grains, against the Pestilence, all Feavers, and such Diseases where Sweat is needfull. It is to be admired, that this Subject so very volatile and venomous, should by one onely abstraction of Oil of Vitriol, become so fixed and constant in Fire. Also it is no less admirable, that this Oil like any other Oil of Minerals, doth not ascend in the form of a Liquor, but like and in the form of some fat Vegetable Oil, whereas in it is not any fatness at all, because all proceeds from the Auripigment.
Moreover, it will be profitable also to teach, that the aforesaid fixed Auripigment (whensoever unto it, by the help of Mercury of Luna, ingress is procured) projected upon a Red-hot Plate of Copper, renders the same totally white and as tractable as Silver. Which things being known, although of little use, do notwithstanding savour of a pleasing Curiosity, by which you will find, that of red Copper, white Silver may be made. Also, after the same manner of white and red Arsenick, such a medicinal Oil and Tincture may be prepared for Venus. Note: Whosoever is desirous to labour herein, must studiously avoid the venomous fume: For Arsenick cannot well be handled without peril.
I might here also say something of the running Mercuries of Metals; but since they rather appertain to the Transmutation of Metals, than unto Medicine, I thought it best to pass over the mentioning of these in this small Treatise, and to publish them in the following Centuries.
In my little Book of Fires, and also in my fifth Part of the Spagyrick Pharmacopœa, I have indeed made some mention of volatile Spirits, but for brevity sake concealed the method of preparing. When I considered, that such Works were judged by many impossible, I thought it would be worth while here to insert the Preparation of them; and that onely from one Metal, that every Man may see the Verity of all the other. For whosoever is desirous to operate in Metals, he may be able by this one Process sufficiently to learn so much Skill, as it will not be difficult for him to extract such volatile Spirits from other Metals also.
Recipe of the Steel Wyars, which the Needlemakers cannot use, one Pound, which so heat in the Fire, as all squallidness and filth may be burned away. Afterward put them into a glass Body, and pour on them of the hereafter described dissolving Water 4, or 5, Pound. Place the Vessel in Balneo or in Sand, and administer Fire so to it, as the Water in the Glass surrounding the Steel may wax hot and not boil; then the Water preys upon the Iron to be dissolved. For in this Operation the Steel is dissolved, and fermented like new Beer or Wine. In this Fermentation a certain most subtil Spirit of Mars ascends, without any corrosive, breathing a very strong Odour, and endued with a Taste vehemently penetrating. For such a Spirit so penetrates the Tongue, as the taste long remains, although a Man wash his mouth, yet this taste is not unpleasant. By penetrating the Body of him that takes it down, it provokes Sweat copiously, opens obstructions of the Liver, Spleen and Lungs, and comforts the vital Spirits and Stomach. Also it is admirably conducent to the Health of those, who are accustomed to drink Wine mixt with Water; because it gives the Wine a gratefull Taste, and that far better, than the best of sowrish Springs are able to perform. If any one knows how to fortifie, or concentrate this Spirit by Rectification, he will be able to effect wonders by the benefit of it; which indeed yields not to be so readily concentrated, as Spirit of Wine: as you shall hear anon, yet it is possible.
Recipe of common Salt one Pound, which dissolve in 4, or 5 Pound of common Water, and pour upon it half a Pound of Oil of Vitriol, to which superadd some Steel-wyar, and thence by distilling separate the Water; then no sharp Spirits will ascend with the Water, but all the corrosive will remain with the Mars, and nothing ascend but a subtil Spirit void of Corrosion. This moveth admiration, that of such an hard and fixed Metal, with the help of so gentle heat, should ascend such a flying and penetrating Spirit. But it is more to be admired, that this white, volatile and penetrating Spirit, in a few hours space, is able to turn it self into a fixed red Tincture: yet you will find this incredible Miracle verified, thus.
Fill a glass Body above half full with our Spirit of Mars, yet take no more of it than 5 or 6 Pound, because that would be more than is needfull for Probation. Place the Body, with its Head luted well in Sand, and distil off almost the Water by Ascent, so as onely half a Pound may be left remaining in the bottom. Take what ascends out of the Receiver, and you will find it endewed with little more taste than Rain-water; and that because the volatile Spirit in this Abstraction or Decoction is separated from the Water, and again converted into a fixed Body, viz. A most red Powder. Which red Powder is indeed a true Tincture, yet it hath no ingress into Metals, unless that be procured to it by the help of Gold. Hence is fulfilled the Precept of Philosophers thus teaching: Make the fixed volatile, and render the volatile fixed. What, I pray, is more fixed than Iron? What more volatile than its Spirit? And lastly, what more constant in Fire, than the Spirit again fixed into a red Tincture?
Note: Whensoever the Glass with the remaining Water, in which the red Powder is, shall by motion be disturbed, the Water will seem to be blew, which blew colour ariseth onely from the Tincture, which by that agitation is dissipated into most small Atoms. For when the Tincture red as Blood is again setled in the bottom, the Water stands above it white as before. Touching this flaming Sulphur Cosmopolita thus speaks: When Philosophers have freed their Sulphur from his tenebrous Prison, and see him swimming in his own Sea, they adore him, that is, are delighted with his Beauty. But whosoever would operate any thing to purpose, it will be expedient for him to provide in readiness a good quantity of this Water, because from ten pound of this Water, there is no more than one Scruple of our Sulphur to be expected. Which Avicen, in his advice to his Son observed, saying, he had need to procure to himself sixty pounds of that Water before he began his Work. Touching which also Bracescus hath excellently discoursed, although he was [seemingly] refuted by Tauladanus, who (by reason of the great subtilty of his Wit) could not conceive, that any good could lie hid in despicable gross Iron. But that good Man Tauladanus no more understood the meaning of Bracescus than he knew the nature of Iron. If any one be seised with the desire of operating in this Subject, let him reade Bracescus, by whom he will be sufficiently informed. But many by his Writings have erred, through their mistake of what he mentions in the latter end of his Book, viz. that he spake not of vulgar Iron, which by strong Fire might be again reduced into Iron; but that such Iron was to be chosen, as by the force of strong Fire, could turn it self into a green or blewish Glass. Where the simple Readers following the bare letter, sought their Tincture in common Scales of Iron, but to no purpose. Here I speak of a blew or green Scoria, which can no more be reduced into Iron. For whensoever any one shall melt our fixed Sulphur mixt with Borax, although with most vehement Fire, yet he shall never reduce it into Iron, but into a greenish Glass. This Crocus Martis cannot do, nor any other destroyed Iron; but in Reduction it will always yield some small Grains of Iron, wherefore thence no Tincture can be made. For whatsoever is endewed with a tinging Vertue must not be Metal, according to the Universal Consent of all Philosophers. If any one would find out some excellent thing, let him learn the Art of concentrating that, by which Concentration it will be multiplied in vertue.
These few things I was willing at this time to communicate touching the volatile Spirit, and fixed Sulphur of Mars, for publick good. The whole work is neither difficult nor chargeable, because we may use one and the same Menstruum always again and again, nor is there need of new Expences, which are now easily acquirable. These are things accurately to be noted, according as that most ingenious Poet Virgil hath perspicuously hinted in these Verses.