The works of the highly experienced and famous chymist, John Rudolph Glauber

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

How to make the Acid Oyl and the volatile spirit of Vitriol.

Hitherto I have taught, how to distil in general, and to get the subtle spirits. There remaineth now to describe what Manuals or Preparations are fitting for every matter in particular; and first,

Of Vitriol.

To distil Vitriol, there needs no other preparation, but only that it be well viewed, and if there be any filth amongst it, that the same be carefully pickt out, lest being put together with the Vitriol into the distilling vessel, the spirit be corrupted thereby. But he that will go yet more exactly to work, may dissolve it in fair water, then filtrate it, and then evaporate the water from it till a skin appear at the top, and then set it in a cold place, and let it shoot again into Vitriol; and then you are sure that no impurity is left in it.

Now your vessel being made red hot, with an Iron ladle cast in one or two ounces of your Vitriol at once, put on the lid, and presently the spirits together with the phlegm will come over into the receiver, like unto a white cloud or mist; which being vanished, and the spirits partly settled, carry in more Vitriol, and continue this so long, until your vessel be full: Then uncover your vessel, and with a pair of tongs or an iron ladle take out the Caput Mortuum, and cast more in; and continue this proceeding as long as you please, still emptying the vessel when it is filled, and then casting in more matter, and so proceeding until you conceive that you have got spirits enough. Then let the fire go out, and let the furnace cool; take off the receiver, and pour that which is come over into a retort, and set the retort in sand, and by a gentle fire distil the volatile spirit from the heavy oyl; having first joyned to the retort the receiver, which is to receive the volatile spirit, with a good lutum, such as is able to hold such subtle spirits, the making whereof shall be taught in the fifth part of this Book, amongst the Manuals.

All the volatile spirit being come over, which you may know by the falling of bigger drops, then take off the receiver, and close it very well with wax, that the spirit may not make an escape; then apply another (without luting it) and so receive the phlegm by it self, and there will remain in the retort a black and heavy corrosive oyl, which if you please, you may rectifie, forcing it over by a strong fire, and then it will be clear; if not, let all cool, then take out your Retort together with the black oyl, and pour upon it the volatile spirit, which in the rectifying went over first, put the retort into the sand, and apply a receiver, and give it a very gentle fire, and the volatile spirit will come over alone, leaving its phlegm behind with the oyl, which by reason of its dryness doth easily keep it. Thus the spirit being freed from all phlegm, is become as strong as a meer fire, and yet not corrosive. And if this spirit be not rectified from its own oyl, it will not remain good, but there doth precipitate a red powder after it hath stood for some space of time, and the spirit loseth all its vertue, insomuch that it is not to be discerned from ordinary water, which doth not happen when it is rectified. The reason of this precipitation is no other than the weakness of the spirit, which is accompanied with too much water, and therefore not strong enough for to keep its sulphur, but must let it fall: but after it is rectified by its own oyl, it can keep its sulphur well enough, because then it is freed from its superfluous moisture. However the red powder is not to be thrown away, but ought to be kept carefully; because it is of no less vertue than the spirit it self. And it is nothing else but a Volatile sulphur of Vitriol. It hath wonderful vertues, some of which shall be related.

The Use and Dose of the Narcotick sulphur of Vitriol.

Of this sulphur 1, 2, 3, 4. or more grains (according to the condition of the patient) given at once mitigates all pains, causeth quiet sleep; not after the manner of Opium, Henbane, and other the like medicines, which by stupifying and benumbing cause sleep, but it performeth its operation very gently and safely, without any danger at all, and great Diseases may be cured by the help thereof. Paracelsus held it in high esteem, as you may see, where he doth write of Sulphur embryonatum.

Of the Use and Vertue of the volatile spirit of Vitriol.

This sulphurous Volatile spirit of Vitriol, is of a very subtle and penetrating quality, and of a wonderful operation; for some drops thereof being taken and sweated upon, doth penetrate the whole body, openeth all obstructions, consumeth those things that are amiss in the body, even as fire. It is an excellent medicine in the Falling sickness, in that kind of madness or rage which is called Mania, in the Convulsion of the Mother, called Suffocatio Matricis, in the Scurvy; in that other kind of madness which is called Melancholia Hypochondriaca; and other Diseases proceeding from Obstructions and Corruption of the Blood: It is also good in the Plague, and all other Feavers: mingled with spirit of wine, and daily used, it doth wonders in all external accidents: Also in the Apoplexy, shrinking and other diseases of the Nerves, the distressed limb rubbed therewith, it doth penetrate to the very marrow in the bones; it doth warm and refresh the cold sinews, grown stiff: In the Cholick, besides the internal use, a little thereof in a clyster applyed, is a present help: Externally used in the Gout, by anointing the places therewith, asswageth the Pains, and taketh away all tumours and inflammations: It doth heal scabs, tetters and ring-worms, above all other medicines; it cureth new wounds and old sores, as Fistulaes, Cancers, Wolves, and what name soever else they may have: It extinguisheth all inflammations, scaldings, the Gangrene, dissipateth and consumeth the knobs and excrescencies of the skin. In a word, this spirit, which the wise men of old called Sulphur Philosophorum, doth act universally in all diseases, and its vertue cannot sufficiently be praised and expressed: And it is much to be admired, that so excellent a Medicine is no where to be found.