III. Those Metals, Minerals, Stones, and other compact Subjects, not dissolvable by the aforesaid waies, it dissolveth, maturateth, purifieth, and in an hours space exalts Metals, more than the two former Solutions can do in a whole day, whose change into better may be observed in every hour: It dissolveth Metals and Minerals into a penetrating spirituality, so that the Metal is not separated from the Menstruum, but a solution is made of both, either by the dry or moist way, from which the more pure part of the Metal, or that which is Gold or Silver, after the premised fixation, is precipitated by Art, especially if many were jointly dissolved. Whence it is sufficiently manifest, that in all the Imperfect Metals Gold and Silver is notably absconded, not discoverable by the vulgar Examen of Cupels: which Operation being performed by a Menstruum, prepared in so gross a manner, it is credible, that if this volatile Hermaphrodite and spiritual Mercury were again fixed, and rendered Corporeal, that it would be by many degrees more subtile, penetrant, and efficacious, for the dissolving, altering, and perfecting of Bodies, than it was before.
This is its Use in general; but specially it abundantly exerts its manifold Virtue; before whose description, it seems not amiss to point out the common Name of this subject, and what the common People think of it. Which, that I may expedite in few words, know, that it is nothing else but the naked salt of the Earth, of which Salt-Peter is made. But that every salt of the Earth, or common Salt-Peter, hath those Virtues which I here assign to my subject, I shall in no wise say, seeing that it ought to be diversly prepared for divers uses, according to which, thou maist expect divers Virtues.
This subject is necessary to be known by all the Inhabitants of the whole Earth, to all orders and degrees of men, because not to man only, but also to every Creature, it is profitable or noxious, according to its various application.
This subject serveth for Physicians, Chirurgions, and Apothecaries, of which they may prepare excellent Medicines against the natural Diseases of Men. Whence the truth of that common saying of Philosophers is undoubtedly asserted, viz. That of the greatest Venom the greatest Medicine against Diseases is to be prepared. And that Nitre is the word of Venoms, I have evinc’d in the second part of my Furnaces, where I preferr it to the Basilisk himself; and that from the same Nitre, and its mediation, is to be prepared a most excellent Medicine. In the First Part of my Mineral Work, for the sake of Physicians, Chirurgions, and others, applying themselves to Physick, I have shewed how by the help of my Alkahest, Medicines are to be prepared from Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, far exceeding the ordinary waies of Preparation.
But it is not my mind at present to discourse much of Medicines, it may suffice to have shewed what Virtues this Universal subject hath, and to what uses it may be appointed. I say, that it may be profitable to all orders of men, as well to the superiour, as to the inferiour, to spiritual and secular, noble and ignoble, rich and poor: of which orders the Physician is not to be deemed the lowest.
That I may perform my promise, what unheard of things may be done, by the benefit of this subject, in natural diseases incident to man, who is obnoxious to all kind of miseries, I will in the next place reveal somewhat for his health and comfort.
But this my Medicine, which I deliver, is not of great price, but of great Virtue, and of which the poor as well as rich, may be partakers, and (by the blessing of God) may be freed from every curable disease.
The Preparation.
Take two or three pounds of this Menstruum, whose corrosive nature transmute by force of fire into a nature not corrosive; and you have the Menstruum prepared, with which you shall elaborate this Medicine, in this manner: Dissolve in this Menstruum as much of the first Ens of Gold (which is to be found in all places of the World, but especially in golden Mines more copiously) as it will attract in the heat; so that a red Solution may be made, which digest for some daies, with its own weight of the dissolving Wine; make separation of the pure parts from the impure, by removing the fæces which sever themselves from the Medicine, by falling to the bottom, this being concentrated by an easie heat, will be a red pellucid stone; very like to a soluble salt, which is to be carefully preserved. This Medicine will be second to none, except the stone of Philosophers, and will be of the same goodness, after a Hundred Years, that it was the first day it was made, performing all things which I shew with amazement, for which no mortal man can ever render sufficient Thanks to God.