If it be given from 1. 2. 3. drops to ten, and fifteen with sutable vehicles, it purgeth the dropsy, leprosy, gout, and other noxious fixed humors not yielding to vegetable Catharticks, of which more at large in the second Part of the spirit of urine and salt of tartar. It serves outwardly for an excellent vulnerary balsome, the like to which can scarce be shewed, not only in reducing old corrupt wounds, but also in those that are green, for it doth powerfully dry, mundify, and consolidate.
It is also used in houshold affairs, for birdlime being dissolved in it, yields a certain tenacious matter serving to catch birds, mice, &c. about the house or in the field. For it is as permanent in the heat of the Sun, as in the cold of Winter, wherefore it may be used at any time of the year; all small animals stick to it if they do but touch the matter.
A ligature or string smeered therewith, and bound about any tree prevents the spiders from climbing up thereon, and other kinds of insects that are noxious to the fruit; a thing worth taking notice of.
This oyl is not by the pouring on of water corrupted, neither is it precipitated, as that of Antimony: wherefore it is useful for many things. Common yellow sulphur boyled in it, viz. in a strong fire, so as to be dissolved in it, swims upon it like fat, is thereby purified and made as transparent as yellow pellucid glass, and a better medicine than those common flowers of sulphur: it serves also for other uses, all which to relate here it would be too tedious.
This oyl being mixed with clean sand, and distilled by retort in a fire that is very strong (otherwise the spirit of salt will not leave the lapis calaminaris) yields a most fiery spirit, the lapis calaminaris remaining in the bottom of the retort.
This spirit is so strong, that it can scarce be kept; it dissolves all metals, and all minerals (excepting silver and sulphur) wherefore by the help thereof many excellent medicaments are made, which cannot be made with the common spirit though never so well rectified, which although it be often rectified, yet it is not without flegm, which cannot be separated from it by the power of rectification, so well as with lapis calaminaris.
This spirit doth perform many things in medicine, & alchymy, as also in other arts, as you may easily conjecture; but here is not opportunity to speak more of these things, yet for the sake of the sick I shall add one thing, to which few things are to be compared; the plain & short process whereof I would not have thee be offended at. And it is this, viz. mix this spirit with the best rectifyed spirit of wine, digest this mixture some while, and the spirit of salt will separate the spirit of wine, and will make the oyl of wine swim on the top, the volatile salt being mortified: and this oyl is a most incomparable cordial, especially if with the said spirit of wine, spices have first been extracted, and with the said spirit of salt, gold hath been dissolved. For then in the digestion of this mixture, the oyl of wine being separated, attracts the essence of the cordial species, and of other vegetables, being extracted before with the spirit of wine, as also the tincture of gold, and so by consequence a most efficacious incomparable and universal medicine for all diseases, fortifying the Humidum radicale, that it may be able to overcome its enemies; for which let praise and glory be given to the immortal God for ever who hath revealed to us so great secrets.
Of the Extrinsecal use of the spirit of Salt in the Kitchen.
I said before that instead of Vinegar, and verjuice it may be used, as also instead of the juice of Limons, now it remains that I shew you how it is to be used, and that indeed as well for the sake of the healthy as the sick.
Let him therefore that will dress a pullet, pigeons, veal, &c. in the first place put a sufficient quantity of spices, of water, and butter, and then as he pleaseth a greater, or lesser quantity of spirit of salt: and by this means fleshes are sooner made ready being boyled, then that common way; an old hen though the flesh thereof be old is made as tender as a chicken by the addition of this spirit: but he that will use it instead of the juice of Limons with rost meat, must put into it the pill of Limons for preservation sake, because it preserves it. It is used instead of verjuice by it self alone, or mixed with a little sugar, if it be too acid.