However, this is true and very sure, that a great Treasure of health (or for the health of man) lyeth hidden in Vitriol: yet not in the common, as it is sold every where, and which hath endured the heat of the fire already; but in the Oare as it is found in the earth, or its mine. For as soon as it cometh to the day light, it may be deprived by the heat of the Sun of its subtle and penetrating spirit, and so made void of vertue; which spirit, if by Art it be got from thence, smelleth sweeter then musk and amber, which is much to be admired, that in such a despicable mineral and gross substance (as it is deemed to be by the ignorant) such a royal medicine is to be found.
Now this preparation doth not belong to this place, because we treat here only of spirits, which by the force of fire are driven over. Likewise also, there doth not belong hither the preparation of the green oyl, because it is made without the help of fire. But in regard, that mention hath been made of it here, I will (though I kept it always very secret) publish it for the benefit of poor patients, hoping that it will do much good to many a sick man.
For if it be well prepared, it doth not only cure perfectly every Epilepsie or Convulsion in young and old; and likewise readily and without fail killeth all worms within and without the body, as the Ancients with truth ascribed unto it; but also many Chronical diseases and such as are held incurable, may be happily overcome and expelled thereby, as the plague, pleuresie, all sorts of feavers and agues, what ever they be called, head-ach, collick, rising of the mother; also all obstructions in the body, especially of the spleen and liver, from whence Melancholia Hypochondriaca, the scurvy, and many other intolerable diseases do arise: Also the blood in the whole body is by the means thereof amended and renewed, so that the Pox, Leprosie, and other like diseases proceeding from the infection of the blood are easily cured thereby: Also it healeth safely and admirably all open sores and stinking ulcers turned to fistula’s in the whole body, and from what cause so ever they did proceed, if they be anoynted therewith, and the same also be inwardly used besides.
Such and other diseases more (which it is needless here to relate) may be cured successfully with this sweet oyl; especially, if without the loss of its sweetness it be brought to a red colour; for then it will do more then a man dare write of it, and it may stand very well for a Panacea in all diseases.
The preparation of the sweet oyl of Vitriol.
Commonly in all fat soyles or clayie grounds, especially in the white, there is found a kinde of stones, round or oval in form, and in bigness like unto a pigeons or hens-egg, and smaller also, viz. as the joynt of ones finger, on the outside black, and therefore not esteemed when it is found, but cast away as a contemptible stone. Which if it be cleansed from the earth, and beaten to pieces, looks within of a fair, yellow and in streaks, like a gold Marcasite, or a rich gold Oare, but there is no other taste to be perceived in it, then in another ordinary stone; and although it be made into powder, and boyled a long time in water, yet it doth not alter at all, nor is there in the water any other taste or colour, than that which it had first (when it was poured upon the stone) to be perceived. Now this stone is nothing else, but the best and purest Minera (or Oare) of Vitriol, or a seed of Metals; for Nature hath framed it round, like unto a vegetable seed, and sowed it into the earth, out of which there may be made an excellent medicine, as followeth.
Take this Oare or Minera beaten into pieces, and for some space of time, lay or expose it to the cool air, and within twenty or thirty days it will magnetically attract a certain saltish moysture out of the air, and grow heavy by it, and at last it falleth asunder to a black powder, which must remain further lying there still, until it grow whitish, and that it do taste sweet upon the tongue like vitriol. Afterward put it in a glass-vessel, and pour on so much fair rain water, as that it cover it one or two inches; stir it about several times in a day, and after a few days the water will be coloured green, which you must powre off, and powre on more fair water, and proceed as before, stirring it often until that also come to be green: this must be repeated so often, until no water more will be coloured by standing upon it. Then let all the green waters which you poured off, run through filtring paper, for to purifie them; and then in a glass-body cut off short let them evaporate till a skin appear at the top: then set it in a cold place, and there will shoot little green stones, which are nothing else but a pure vitriol: the remaining green water evaporate again, and let it shoote as before: and this evaporating and Crystallising must be continued until no vitriol more will shoote, but in warm and cold places there remain still a deep green pleasant sweet liquor or juyce: which is the true sweet and green oyl of Vitriol, and hath all the vertues above related.
But now this green oyl further without fire may at last (after the preparing of many fair colours between) be reduced to a blood red, sweet and pleasant oyl, which goeth far beyond the green both in pleasantness and vertue, and is in comparison to it like a ripe grape to an unripe: Hereof happily shall be spoken at another time, because occasion and time will not permit me now to proceed further in it. And therefore the Philo-Chymical Reader is desired for the present to be contented with the green oyl, to prepare it carefully, and to use it with discretion; and doubtless he will get more credit by it, and do more wonderful things then hitherto hath been done by the heavy corrosive oyl.
The use and Dose of the sweet oyl of Vitriol.
Of this green oyl, there may be taken from 1. 2. 4. 8. 10. or 12. drops at once, according to the condition of the patient and the disease, in fit Vehicles, in Wine or Beer, in the morning fasting, as other medicines are usually taken: Also the Dose may be increased or lessened, and as often reiterated as the disease shall require.