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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

N. B. The Tin must be very pure and clean, for by how much the whiter it is, and the acuter sound it has, so much the fitter is it for this work. And in the Composition it self you may use this following weight or measure.

Take of the Calx of Gold one Lot [or half ounce] and dissolve it in three or four Lots of strong rectified Spirit of Salt: Pour unto the Solution twelve or fifteen Lots of pure water; then to all this, put two Lots of Tin, and set the Glass that the Solution is in, upon hot Sand, and heat it scalding-hot, but let it not boil. When it hath thus stood for one or two hours, all the Gold will be turned into Powder, of a Purple and Gold-like hue, and settle to the bottom. Then having poured out the Water, and separated the Tin, separate all the Acrimony from the Powder by several washings, and so will you have it fitted for the Confection. This done, take twelve Lots of Sugar-candy, and one Lot of rectified Spirit of Salt, and as much pure fair water as is sufficient to reduce the Sugar into a thick Syrup; Hereto add one Lot of that purple and tender golden Powder, and it will tinge all the Sugar with a Purple or Scarlet-colour. Then add likewise thereunto, two Lots of Pearls made into fine Powder, and one Quintula (about two drams and an half) of Amber-grease, mix them well together and set it by for use, as being a most efficacious Confection. And if you please, you may add to the former ingredients other strengthning and refreshing Powders. The Dose of this Confection is from 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, to 20 Grains, according as the persons are. It corroborates the Heart, Brain, and the whole Body, and doth likewise (by reason of the Spirit of Salt) allay thirst, and stirs up the appetite to food.

And thus much may suffice this time about Sawces or Junkets. It now remains that we likewise search after some select and harmless Purges out of the Metals too, and adjoyn them to the former. When in feastings (or merry-meetings) the Guests are wont to drink Healths to their Lords, and tope off many Cups, and store of Glasses full of strong Wine, it cannot possibly be, but that their Stomachs must be stufft with tenacious and clammy humours, and the Head much oppressed with Catthars, and the Bowels fill’d with store of wind. Now here cannot be a better and more profitable way of succouring these Stomachs and Heads, thus beset with so many tenacious humours, and of helping the whole body thus corrupted by so often repeated draughts, than by a purgative Medicine, which by expelling all the evil and offensive humours opens all the passages of the Body, and again brings the so necessary respiration. We will therefore present you here with three such purging Medicaments, and those very good ones. One is of Antimony; The second of Silver and Antimony; And the third of Gold and Antimony: Each of which, by it self, doth far exceed the other purging Medicaments made of the Vegetables.

For Metals do penetrate the Body far better, and do perform their Operations with less hazard than the Vegetables do, most of which abound with a resinous clamminess, which doth often stick to the Bowels, and cause great gripings, which is not to be feared at all from metallick purgative Medicines: which (upon this account) are to be preferred before those that are prepared of the Vegetables; nor do I contemn these Vegetable Purges, for they are good, and may be made use of, where better are not at hand.

Therefore, forasmuch as I have in my time, made trial of many such Medicaments, and have in very deed found, that metallick Purges do excel the Vegetable ones both in pleasantness and efficacy, and are far safer; I could not but commend the same above all other Purges to such as come after me, but yet leaving every one at his pleasure to make use of either these or them.

A Purge of Saturn.

Dissolve two ounces of Lead in pure Aqua Fortis, and pour upon the Solution one ounce of Butter of Antimony, that so they may be precipitated together into a white Coagulum or Curd, whereto you must put a good quantity of fair water, and stir it very well about, that it may imbibe the Spirit of Salt which was in the Butter.

Then pour off this water, and put on more, and repeat this labour so long, untill all the sharpness be washt out of the precipitated Powder. This white Powder being dried is a most excellent Purge, educing all evil and hurtfull humours out of the Body without danger, and being administred from one Grain to ten, according as the Patient is, doth work downwards, especially when it is given in a lesser Dose. But if there be need of vomiting too, then the Dose may be encreased, especially unto those that can brook vomiting, and cast with ease. It may be used without danger as a good and safe Purge, in all such Diseases as purgative Medicaments are, and may be administred.

A Purge of Lune.

Dissolve two ounces of pure Silver in four ounces of Aqua Fortis, and pour upon this Solution one ounce of the Butter of Antimony, which together with the Silver will go into a white Curd, as we said but now of the Lead in the preceeding Process. Wash this Powder with common water, and dry it and administer it in the same Dose as the Saturnine Powder is to be given; and it will perform its part in all Diseases, but especially in those of the Head.