CHAP. X.
The preparation of the Vitriol of Gold and its use in Medicine.
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.