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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

These and the like Virtues the spirit of salt sheweth in Ships, which for brevity sake, are not all declared.

I have also meditated how the Sea-water may be made sweet and drinkable by precipitation, which would be very desirable in want of water: And so far I have attained, that I can precipitate a good quantity of the salt from the water, which also becomes much sweeter, but yet not so fully, but some saltness remains in it. Although in case of necessity this water may be used in Ships for the boiling of Pease and Beans, as also for the fermenting of concentrated Corn. What I now know concerning this precipitation, I will make manifest for the good of my Neighbour, and shew a good beginning how Sea-water may be made fit to drink.

There is a certain kind of Mineral called Mary’s Ice; it is not the Muscovian Glass, as perhaps some may think, but another thing; when it is heat red-hot in the fire, and so cast into Sea-water, it is presently reduced to a tender and white powder; which being done, the Water will be agitated and moved hither and thither; then the Powder attracteth to it self part of the Salt from the Water, and settleth to the bottom of the Vessel, and the Water groweth clear, which may be poured out, and if this labour be once or twice repeated, the Water, by this precipitation, will indeed be made sweeter, but not altogether potable. Also the salt or solution of Saturn dismisseth much of the salt from Sea-water, yet by that it is not rendered drinkable. The best way which I now know, is this which follows, but it is somewhat costly: Nevertheless when necessity urgeth, sweet and good water profiteth a man more than a Bond of an hundred pieces of Gold. Hence this Art deserveth to be honoured, although it be costly; for a man ready to die with Thirst would give all he hath for a draught of Water to save his Life: Wherefore somewhat of this precipitation may be committed to Ships, for their preservation, which may be used in great necessity, but if no such be, it may be brought home again, and kept for another Voyage, seeing that it will in no wise decay, but be as good after an hundred years, as the first day of its preparation.

But what this is, there is no need openly to divulge, but he who desireth it, may come to me and have it: But for the information of those who are skilful in Chymistry, I will intimate this; That the precipitation of Salt from Water, is necessarily to be performed by a singular sand, which doth not only drive salt downwards, but also all Phlegm, Sordes, and Impurities; so that although the water should be like to a Fen or Dunghill in filth and stink, by the benefit of this precipitation, in a few hours, it should become like clear Fountain water, because the evil odour and taste would also be precipitated.

The same may be done in all Waters, how nasty and muddy soever, and not only in Waters, but also in all potable Liquors, as Wine and Beer, although the Wine were red, seeing that the precipitation casteth to the bottom all muddiness, colour, and stink. And hence not only those Liquors, which are changed red by corruption, or other accident, but also Crystals, which are red by nature, may be reduced to a perspicuous clarity; which is a thing very profitable for Vintners; for otherwise the Sea-waters become sweet when they are carried far through common sand, which imbibeth their salt; for those two have a mutual communion and communication, seeing that both are generated of Water; hence also, by the fire, they are resolved into a dry Water, or pellucid Glass. Whence any man knowing in the nature of things, may apprehend, that this precipitation of Sea-water is built upon a foundation agreeable to Nature.

My Alexipharmac, or Mineral-Electuary, before mentioned, as also the Spirit and Crystals of Salt, may be administred, as well at Land as on Sea, against the Scurvy, Fevers, and other Diseases.

And although in the Second Part of my Pharmacop. I have already described a certain Mineral Remedy, under the Title of a Panacea, and commended it against all Diseases, by which admirable Cures are e’ry where done, yet I prefer my Mineral Electuary before that, because it is more accommodated to use, seeing that when need requires, it may be taken out of a Box with a Knife only; neither is there need of any Vehicle, as Wine, Beer, or others, which are necessary to be used with the Panacea; neither is there need of weighing it, but may be proportioned by the Eye, according to the age and strength of the sick. Those who are of full age and strength, may take as much of the Electuary upon a fasting stomach as will equal the magnitude of a Pease, and fast some hours after it, if time and opportunity permit; also let the Patient avoid the cold Air, and the heat of the Sun in hot seasons. It is to be taken twice, four times, or oftner, in a week, according to the necessity of the sick, to which it must also be proportioned by encreasing or diminishing the Dose; for if one grain should not work, the Patient may take two, ascending to 3 or 4, if need be. When a small Dose is administred, it works insensibly; if a little more, then it worketh by stool, and sometimes by vomit, when it findeth diseasie matter in the stomach; if it findeth depraved salt humours, it casteth them out by sweat, spitting, or urine, and throughly purgeth the body from every evil. In brief, I say, it greatly purifieth the Blood, openeth all obstructions of the internal principal members, as the Liver, Spleen, and Lungs, beyond all Phlegmagogues: It hindereth the growth of all Apostemations both within and without the body; it consumeth Fluxes and Catarrhs, which fall upon the Eyes, Ears, and Teeth; it exterminateth the venereal Pox in a short time; it also cureth the Dropsie, Leprosie, Gout, and Falling-sickness, both in old and young; expelleth the Stone both of the Kidneys and Bladder; cureth all sorts of Fevers; and lastly, it healeth all inward and outward Wounds and Ulcers, being taken inwardly, and a due Diet observed.

This is a safe and approved Medicine in the cure of all curable diseases, nor doth it fail to help in inveterate affects, viz. when a disease hath been long growing, and is now firmly rooted and fixed, that it cannot be totally expelled, as the Gout and Stone, yet then this Medicine mitigateth the pain, and maketh the Fits slower and more tolerable, and suffereth not the Disease to encrease, but to be more and more abated and diminished. It cures all Scabs and Ringworms, or Tetters, proceeding from an impure Blood and Liver, only by taking it inwardly, without any outward unctions. What shall I say more? This Medicine cannot be sufficiently praised, seeing that it operateth universally against all the diseases both of Men and Beasts: But I must forbear, for if I should shew all its Virtues, this Treatise would swell to too great a bulk.

In Maritime Towns, and other places where the Scurvy is regnant, a better Medicine than this cannot be found, for it removeth all pravity of Humours, from which such diseases proceed; it preserveth from the Plague, and other Contagions, and happily cureth their Infections; it strengtheneth the Memory, Heart, and Brain; preserveth from the Palsie and its Concomitants: In time it restoreth those who have their Members contracted, and their Nerves repressed and immovable, after the being anointed with Mercury, for the cure of the Pox. He that will take it every week or once in 3 or 4 weeks as a preservative, shall not have the Tooth-ach, nor shall his Ears be troubled with ringing or other noises, nor shall his Eyes be troubled with sharp Rheums; but by the benefit of this, those continual inveterate Corroders of the Body, Catarrh, Fistula, Cancer, and other almost incurable symptoms, are throughly cured.

Hence both Rich and Poor, and those especially who go long Voyages to Sea, and want Physicians, ought to esteem this Alexipharmac, and provide themselves with it against a time of necessity. If any man carries with him half an ounce of it, it will be sufficient for preservation and curation for more than a year, in many diseases. If a Ship going to the East or West Indies, carry with them half a pound of it, they may save the Lives of many men; one of which is of ten times more value than the price of the Medicine, by help of which the lives and health of many Hundreds of Men may be preserved, and being sick, may be reduced to their former health.