Oyle of Venus.
Spirit of Salt doth not easily work upon Copper, unless it be first reduced into a calx, and that after this manner. Take plates of Copper made red hot in an open crucible, quench them in cold water, and they will cleave into red scales: then the remainders of the plates make red hot, and quench as before: do this so often, till thou hast got a sufficient quantity of the calx; which being dryed, and powdered, extract with the rectified spirit of salt, in sand, until the spirit of salt be sufficiently coloured with a green tincture, which you must decant, and filter; and then abstract from it the superfluous moisture, that there may remain a green thick oyle, which is an excellent remedy for ulcers, especially such as are Venereal, being applyed outwardly.
Oyle of Jupiter and Saturn.
Neither are these two metals easily dissolved in the spirit of salt, yet being filed, are dissolved in the best rectified spirit of salt. But the operation is performed better with the flowers of these metals (the preparation whereof shall be hereafter taught.) Take therefore the flowers, upon which in a gourd glass pour the spirit of salt, and presently the spirit will work upon them, especially being set in a warm place; filter the yellow solution, and abstract the humidity, until there remain a yellow heavy oyle, which is proper against putrid ulcers.
Oyle of Mercury.
Neither is this easily dissolved with the spirit of salt: but being sublimed with vitriol, and salt is easily dissolved. Being dissolved, it yields an oyle very corrosive, which must be used with discretion, wherefore it is not to be administred, unless it be where none of the other are to be had. For I saw a woman suddenly killed with this oyle, being applyed by a certain Chyrurgeon. But this oyle is not to be slighted in eating ulcers, tetter, &c. which are mortified by it.
Oyle of Antimony.
Crude Antimony that hath never undergone the fire, is hardly dissolved in spirit of salt: as also the Regulus thereof; but the Regulus being subtilly poudered, is more easily wrought upon, in case the spirit be sufficiently rectified.
The Vitrum is more easily, but most easily of all the flowers are dissolved, being such as are made after our prescription a little after set down. Neither is Butyrum Antimonii (being made out of sublimed Mercury, and Antimony) any thing else but the Regulus of Antimony dissolved with spirit of salt; for sublimed Mercury being mixed with Antimony, feeling the heat of the fire, is forsaken by the corrosive spirits associating themselves with the Antimony, whence comes the thick Oyle; whilest which is done the sulphur of Antimony is joyned to the Quick-silver, and yields a Cinnabar, sticking to the neck of the Retort; but the residue of the Mercury remains in the bottom with the Caput Mortuum, because a little part thereof doth distill off: And if thou hast skill thou mayst recover the whole weight of the Mercury again.
And these things I was willing the rather to shew thee, because many think this is the oyle of Mercury, and therefore that white powder made thence by the pouring on of abundance of water they call Mercurius vitæ, with which there is no mixture at all of Mercury, for it is meer Regulus of Antimony dissolved with spirit of Salt, which is again separated, when the water is poured on the Antimonial butter; as is seen by experience; For that white pouder being dryed, and melted in a crucible yields partly a yellow Glass, and partly also a Regulus, but no Mercury at all.