Of the Use of my Sal Mirabilis, as well in the Solution of Metals, as in the Preparation of Medicines.
First, it is to be noted, That not only Metals, but also all Stones, and Bones themselves, refusing the solution of all corrosive Salts, may be radically dissolved by my Sal Mirabile, and most things so dissolved, whether they be Metallick, Vegetable, or Mineral, put on a green colour, of some of which the greeness remaineth, but of others, in process of time, is changed into a yellow or red colour.
Concerning this wonderful mutation and solution, I could write a great Volume, if I had not designed this Labour for another place, intending here only to describe the solution of Gold, because another better cannot be found. I have found the solution of the rest of the Metals which are adhibited, to be unfit either for the preservation or recovery of Health, as I have admonished a little before; but I have found Salt and Gold to be most noble subjects, of which an excellent Medicine must necessarily be prepared: For Salt exalteth the Powers and Virtues of all things to a high degree of perfection, and insinuateth them into the humane body: This seems to me not unlike the volatile and fugacious Spirit of Vegetables, as of Wine and Beer, &c. which coming into the Body of Man, addeth strength to the Animal Spirit, that it moveth it self more readily, and with greater alacrity. Indeed every other Meat and Drink, whether it be Bread or Water, communicateth some strength to the Body, but not so powerfully and efficaciously as any generous Wine, whose Spirit is very pure, efficacious, and subtile; so that its too plentiful use awakeneth all things that lie hid in a Man, and brings them to light. In the same manner Salt encreaseth and confirmeth all things, & being united with them, maketh manifest all their hiden Virtues, which without Salt would remain in darkness. Who could have manifested to us that great Poison which lies hid in Arsenick, if Salts had not revealed it? If any melancholly Person (who otherwise in his own nature is prone to stilness, like one dead) shall drink any spirituous Wine, or strong Drink, his Spirits, that were before dull, and as it were buried in a Dream, will presently be awakened, and his Tongue set at liberty. The same doth Salt perform, which addeth an encrease to the powers of all things, especially of the Metals, which it rendereth manifest and known. And indeed without Salt Poisons could not have been known, as I have said a little above, concerning Arsenick and Argent-vive: If Salt worketh those things in evil subjects, by dilating and encreasing their malignity, Why should it not effect the same in good subjects, by augmenting their goodness? Therefore, because among Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral subjects, there are none more noble and eminent than Gold and Salt, which have their original from the Sun, it would be ill done to pass them by, and to seek viler subjects, for the making of an excellent Medicine, seeing that if we take Wine, Salt, and Gold, there are no other things which afford us so excellent Virtues. Therefore acquiescing in these, we will endeavour of them to make a most noble Medicament.
The PROCESS.
Take three or four parts of Sal Mirabile, and one part of Gold (rightly fitted or prepared for this Operation) mix them, and put the mixture into a strong Glass Retort, well luted, which place in an open fire, encreasing the fire by degrees, until the Glass be red hot, urge the fire, and continue it stronger, for an hour, then cease, and let all cool, take out the Retort, and free it from the Lute, that it may not be mixed with the matter contained in the Glass, but that may remain pure, which is to be accurately separated from the Glass, and together with what is sublimed into the neck of the Retort, to be put into a clean glass; which matter will look of a greenish colour: To this matter pour some Rain-water, that it may be dissolved in an easie heat, and the Salt, with part of the Gold, may be mixed with the Water. Filter this grass-green Solution through Paper, and draw off some part of the water by destillation, that the green Liquor may remain, not corroding nor tasting sharp, nor yet too urinous, but fit to be drank in all Vehicles. The Gold which the Sal Enixum hath not dissolved, you will find after the solution, which you may again use for the like Work; but the green Liquor you may presently use, as well in Medicine as in Alchymy, which will afford you many profitable things. He that will draw off all the Phlegm to a green Salt, and then extract that salt with an alkalized Spirit of Wine, will obtain a Medicine yet more efficacious: For the Spirit of Wine will not be tinged with a green, but a red colour, and will be very sweet, rendering the Golden Virtues of the Salt more efficacious, and more commodiously and readily insinuateth them into the Members of the Humane Body.
NB. This is to be noted, That the Sal Enixum doth not imbibe the whole mass of Gold in dissolving, but only its purer part. Now, if you repeat this Operation upon the same pure mass, as yet once more, you will extract the greatest purity, and without all doubt obtain a most noble Medicament, which no man can refute, although he be a capital Enemy to the Truth. This is the Operation, no less compendious than true, of preparing a great Medicine of Gold, Salt, and Wine, meriting the name of an Aurum Potabile, whose great Powers and Virtues are now to be manifested to the necessitous Sick.
Of the Powers and Virtues of my Green-Lyon, Vitriol of Sol, or Wonderful Golden Salt.
This green golden Liquor may be safely and pleasantly used by all, whether young or old, sick or in health, without any difference of Persons, because it containeth nothing which is evil or prejudicial: For a cleansed Salt and Gold, never inferr any ill, but are alwaies profitable, exercising their wholesom Operations, as well in Vegetables, as Animals and Minerals, as in the following Treatise shall be clearly demonstrated.