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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

I have herein been more prolix than I intended, which I entreat others to accept in good part: It could hardly be that the things I have delivered, could be couched in fewer words. Wise Men indeed need not many words, but where are such? Better is it therefore to set down things at large.

Now it follows that we shew by what means we may have benefit out of the edulcoratory Water, and not be forced to throw it away.

We have taught in the precedent discourse, how those waters which ☉ is extracted and precipitated with, may be used for a farther extraction of ☉: For when the Aqua-fortis in which ☽ or ♄ is dissolved is mixt with the Aqua-regia wherein ☉ is dissolved, there ariseth not any mutation or changing, but that ☽ or ♄ only which was in the Aqua-fortis settles to the bottom, so that this water wherein such a precipitation is made, may afterwards serve instead of Aqua-regia, and so consequently with it may ☉ be extracted out of the Metals.

But seeing that the precipitated ☽ or ♄ must be excellently well edulcorated by often pourings on of water, afore it be dried, hence it comes to pass that there is gathered a vast deal of such edulcoratory Waters. Now that even this may not be thrown away as useless, and that nothing may be lost in so noble a work, I have here determined briefly to declare, by what means we may likewise catch some benefit even out of that too.

To do this, ’tis necessary that the useless water be separated from the Aqua-fortis; now such a separation cannot be effected in metallick Vessels because of the sharpness of the Aqua-fortis; least in length of time they should be dissolved: But to perform the same in Vessels of Glass would take up much time and fire; there is therefore of necessity another way here required to perform the same; and a better than this, which I will here deliver, I think can hardly be contrived. Make you therefore an Arch of Lime, Ashes, and Horse-dung, according to the afore prescribed manner, where we treated of making Salt-petre (about the beginning of the book) dry it by putting fire thereunder, &c. The Arch being dryed, pour on, by little and little, so much edulcorating water, as the Arch is capable of attracting, and until you shall find it to be made thoroughly moist; the Arch being on this wise moistned, dry it again: and being dryed moisten it again as afore. And so repeat this work of moistning and drying so long till the Arch will receive into it self no more water. This done, there remains no more, but to do thus, viz. Let the said Arch be broken to pieces, and be ground with a Mill into fine powder; upon the powder let be thrown fair water, and so let there be made a Lixivium, out of which by due boiling may be made most excellent and delicate Saltpetre.

But here must be very good heed taken, that you use about the building of the Arch, Wood-Ashes, and Lime made of Stone (or Chalk); whereby the sharpness of the edulcoratory water may be extinguisht (or mortified) by the fixt Salt inherent in the ashes and lime, and the corrosivity be taken away, and most excellent Nitre may arise thencefrom; for if Aqua-fortis be permixt with the fixt Salt of wood-ashes, both of them lose their Nature, and Nitre is made thereof.

But that the operation may more luckily succeed, and we may be the more certain of the event, it will be the best way, to put in, by little and little, some Lee of wood-ashes first of all, (afore the edulcorating water be thrown upon the Arch) and this putting on, to be so long continued till all ebullition and noise cease, whereby all the sharpness of that water may be taken away; this done, that water is to be poured upon the Arch, and you are to proceed on according to the afore-prescribed method; and so shall you have excellent Salt-petre, whether your Arch be made of Lime and Ashes, or of Mud and Ashes.

NB. If this taking away of the sharpness of the edulcoratory water by the benefit of a wood-ashes Lee, be not finished, and done before it be poured upon the Arch, it is clearly requisite that it be done in the Arch it self, by the goodness of the Lime and the said ashes, by which that sharpness may be extinguished.

It is, I confess, all a case whither that sharpness be extinguisht with a Lixivium afore; or else be done in the Arch it self. Yet nevertheless, seeing that Operation is the safer which hath a foregoing taking away of the sharpness afore it be poured on the Furnace, therefore it is better so to institute it; specially, seeing it then matters not at all any thing, what condition the matter is of which the Arch is made with; because then such a water needs no more but an unfolding (or evaporation) and coagulation, and this may as well be done by the help of an Arch made of mud, as by one made of Lime: Otherwise if the sharpness of the edulcoratory water be not taken away by the Lixivium, an Arch made of mud is of no use, for by this means you would not get any Salt-petre at all, but rather all the water would be consumed by evaporation, which need not be at all feared, if we use an Arch made of Lime and Ashes, seeing that that water is by this means mortifyed.

And so, by this means, that edulcoratory water may be most commodiously prepared for farther uses, and the Salt-petre which is extracted thence, is exceeding good to make Aqua-fortis with; and we may gather as much in quantity thereof as the extraction of ☽ and ☉ out of the Metals, Stones, Clay, and Minerals requires.