The spirit of Zinck.
Of Zinck there is distilled both a volatile and also an acid spirit, good for the heart; whether it be made by the help of the spirit of vitriol, or of salt, or of allome: or else by the means of Sulphur; for Zinck is of the nature of gold.
The volatile spirit of the Dross of Regulus Martis.
The black scoria of the Regulus Martis, being first faln asunder in the air, yields likewise a very strong sulphureous volatile spirit, not much unlike in vertue unto the former.
The like Sulphureous volatile spirits may be made also of other minerals, which for brevities sake we omit, as also in regard, that they are almost the same in vertue.
How to make a white acid, and a red volatile spirit out of salt nitre.
Take two parts of Allome, and one part of salt nitre, make them both into powder, mix them well together, and cast into the still a little and a little thereof, as above in the making of other spirits hath been taught, and there cometh over an acid spirit together with the volatile spirit; and so many pounds as there is of the materials, which are to be cast in, so many pounds of water must be put into the receiver, to the end that the volatile spirits may so much the better be caught and saved. And when the distillation is performed, the two spirits may be separated by the means of a gentle rectification made in Balneo; and you must take good heed, that you get the volatile spirit pure by changing the receiver in good time, so that no flegme be mixed with the red spirit, whereby it will be weakened and turn white. The mark whereby you may perceive, whither the spirit or the flegme doth go forth is this: when the volatile spirit goeth, then the receiver looketh of a deep red: and afterward when the flegme doth come, the receiver looks white again: and lastly, when the heavy acid spirit goeth, then the receiver to be red again, but not so as it was, when the first volatile spirit came over.
This spirit may also be made and distilled after another way, viz. mixing the salt nitre with twice as much bole or brick dust, and so framed into little balls to prevent melting: but no way is so good as the first, especially when you will have the red volatile spirit.
Of the use of the red volatile spirit.
This volatile spirit, which (being quite freed from flegm) remaineth always red, and doth look like blood, in all occasions may be accounted like in vertue unto the former sulphureous spirits, especially in extinguishing of inflammations and Gangreens it is a great treasure, clothes being dipt in it, and laid upon the grieved place; Also it goeth almost beyond all other medicines in the Erysipelas and colick: and if there be any congealed blood in the body (which came by a fall or blow) this spirit outwardly applyed with such waters as are proper for the grief, and also taken inwardly, doth dissolve and expell it: and being mingled with the volatile spirit of urin it doth yield a wonderful kind of salt, as hereafter shall be taught.