CHAP. XII.
That this way also may be prepared from Auripigment and Arsenick a Mercurial Oil, and a fixed Tincture.
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.