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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

But forasmuch as neither my desire nor will tends to be any occasioner of hurting my Neighbour by the help of Salt-petre, but inclines rather to benefit him thereby; and to this end I have already clearly enough disclosed many most profitable Arts which proceed therefrom, viz. in my Miraculum Mundi, and in the Explication of the same, and moreover shall do in the following third and fourth part of this Book, about the bettering and concentrating of Metals: I am, verily, confident, that none will interpret it in the worst part, if I shew the way of making Salt-petre out of Wood and other things, that so, our Country may by the benefit of (such) Herbs, Grass, and Wood, which otherwise, ly a rotting, and are of no profit, be enriched (if it be only sold) with abundance of Treasure, and may afterwards be spent on most profitable Arts, as may be seen in the Miraculum Mundi, and in the Concentration of Minerals and Metals. So that he that would not make it into Gun-powder, has no need so to do.

Besides these Virtues of Salt-petre which we have reckoned up, there do daily more and more new and admirable ones spring up out of the dark, all which, were they here to be summed up they would even draw the whole World into an admiration of them. But we will forbear to multiply more words concerning things of such moment; for it may easily be perceived from what has been hitherto demonstrated, and from those Publications I have made (by my Writings) that many more, and greater things lie hidden in this Subject, which neither I, nor others know of. Deservedly therefore may Salt-petre, or Nitre, be termed an Universal Subject, and Wonder of the World, notwithstanding many rude and unskilful Fellows, will upon this saying, shrink up their Noses, and audaciously contradict me (and say) that Nitre is not the true and Universal Dissolvent.

But if Nitre be not that Universal Subject, then let those that prate against this Judgment or Opinion of mine, produce another and better Subject; which, yet, in my Opinion they will never be able to do. If it were not an Universal Subject, how comes it to be so plentifully found to be in all things. Is it not found in all Vegetables? Is it not in all living Creatures that live either under the Earth, or in the Waters, or in the Air, or on the Earth? Is it not met with (or found) in the inmost Bowels of the Mountains, and even in the most hard Stones? I will demonstrate it in this small Treatise by most clear Arguments, and will most evidently evince it.

In the first place, that all Vegetables have it, is already clearly demonstrated and proved, for I my self (and I am the first, as I know of) made trial and turned their Juices into natural Salt-petre. But I will now so evidently shew the truth of this thing, that even those blind Back-biters and Detracters shall feel it with their hands.

In the first place therefore, I demand, whence the common Nitre is gotten? Is it not out of the Earth, which is digg’d out of the Stables where Beasts stand? For it has insinuated it self into (or joined it self with) this (Earth) passing out of the Excrements of the Beasts in length of time, and hath coagulated it self therein, out of which it is at length drawn by pouring on of water, and then is boiled up into Salt-petre. Who can deny this? I think no body can. So then if this be granted, that Nitre is found in the Stables where Cattle stand, the Question is, By what means, and way it came into the Stables? It is by the help of the Urine and Excrements which the Beasts have there cast forth. Then again, I ask whether or no those Beasts have those Excrements from their Meat and Drink, or from elsewhere? They cannot arise from water, forasmuch as they drink nothing but Water: So that they must necessarily have their rise from the food they eat, and that consists of the Vegetables, Grass, and Herbs. Therefore we affirm, that the Salt-petre was of necessity in these Herbs, and Grass, afore the Beasts feeding on them. For if it had not been there it could never have been made in the Beasts Bodies that which it was not afore. For their Stomachs contribute nothing to this Operation, save a bare putrefaction. And besides, the Countreymen do even the same thing, for they gather up Stubble, the Leaves that fall from the Trees, the Grass, and such like things, and put a great quantity of them into a Pit together, and there leave them so long, till by the help of Putrefaction they are all turned into Dung, and therewith do they afterwards Dung their Ground (in such wise) as is wont to be done with the Excrements of Beasts. Therefore, forasmuch as that putrefied Grass and Stubble doth dung the ground and render it fruitful, (as well) as the Excrements of Beasts, it must needs be granted, that they have likewise Salt-petre in them. For it is not the Dung, but the Nitre in the Dung, that is, the Author of that Dunging Impregnation and Fertility, as I have already confirmed by Arguments in my Miraculum Mundi, and which will be sufficiently convincing proofs here in this place.

I would therefore fain see that Man that dares be so bold and heady as to deny this thing, that the Essential Salt neither is, nor can be made, Nitre.

And now we come to treat of the Beasts in the Fields, of the Fish in the Waters, and of the Birds in the Air, that so by a thorough examination of all these sorts we may see, whether or no they are enriched with Salt-petre, and whether or no their Essential Salt be like the Essential Salt of the Vegetables, and can by the same means pass into Nitre.

In the first place, and above all, this is here to be considered, as a main principle, (viz.) That all those things which dung the Fields and Lands, and fatten them, most necessarily contain in them Salt-petre. For from this only, and alone, comes all the fertility throughout the whole Earth, which Axiome cannot be gainsayed. But now, that the Animals, or Beasts, Birds, and Fishes are Partakers of the same Virtues, I firmly gather from hence.

First of all, it is not unusual for the Gardiners to put the Horns, Hoofs, and Bones of Beasts, to the Roots of Trees, and so cover them over with Earth, and that on this account, because they make them exceeding fruitful. This now is every where used: Likewise the Gardiners do every where buy up Hens Feathers, Hens, and Pidgeons Dung; as also from the Tanners and Curriers the Offals or Shavings of the Beasts Skins, and their Hairs, and use them to enrich their Gardens. The Vine-dressers also buy up the shavings of Horns of the Comb-makers in many places where they can get them, by which, they fatten their Vines, far better than with Dung, and that lasts for nine or ten years. The Gardiners do likewise buy up from the Tailors bits, or pieces of Woollen and Linen to dung their Gardens when they plant Colworts. If they did not find any Nitre, or Fertility in them, to what end would they lay out their Money on so base a Matter? To the Ignorant and Unskilful, these things may seem wonderful and incredible, because such a kind of dunging Land is not every where in use. He that is incredulous, let him go to Colen on the Rhine, and there he’ll find that I have spoken nothing but the truth. All these things do the Gardiners make use of according to their ancient custom, for from their Predecessors learned they these Secrets. Nor know they what other reason to alledge for their doing this, but only tell you, that they serve exceeding well to enrich their Fields and Vineyards.

But I do assuredly affirm, that ’tis the Nitre that is hidden in these things, performs this effect: There is therefore far more abundance of Salt-petre in the Superfluities (as Nails, Horns, Hair, &c.) than in their Excrements, or Dung. And I thus prove it.