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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

That I may discourse in few words whether imperfect metals may by the operation of the more common and gross Salts, and of the fire be broken, destroyed, cleansed, and reduced into a better form, it being that which the [fifth part of the prosperity of Germany] confirmeth by divers experiments.

I affirm that the pure Spirits of Salts, do with a greater efficacy, and far better effect the same, the which, since those simple Spirits are able, better and more easily to perform than gross Salts, why should not also con-centrated Spirits after the best and easiest manner of all perform the same thing?

From a like reason the use of Salts shall not be of so great efficacy in the preparation of medicines, and other arts, as the useing of common Spirits is; the which, notwithstanding being still for the most part clogged with much phlegm, do of necessity not disclose so great virtues, as those con-centred fiery Spirits do which are freed from all phlegm.

The Sun-beams are for an example which do not send forth so great heat, when they are co-mixed with a moist air, as also green and wet Woods do not so vehemently burn with heat, as withered and dry ones are wont to do.

Yea if the hot beams of the Sun are con-centred in or by some hollow glass increasing the fire, or the fires of Coals by a strong blowing of the Bellows, and are as it were constrained into straights or narrow passages, they effect ten times, yea one hundred times more than those which are not centred together after such a sort. But by how much the more strictly those forces of the beams of the Sun, or of other fires are con-centred by so much the greater, stronger, and sharper heat they draw out.

A burning glass of one foot Diameter, onely enflames Wood; but one of two foot Diameter will melt Tin, Lead, and other metallick matters of that sort, which are easie to be melted, as Bismuthum, or the whitest, lightest, and basest kind of Lead, Zink, the non-splendent metallick dark matter Koboltum, &c. But if you extend the Diameter to four foot, the Sun-beams taking the stronger increase will melt silver and copper, and will render iron it self so bright burning hot, that it may be wrought with a hammer, as if it had been heated with Coals. This effect is to be ascribed unto the con-centring of the Sun-beams by an instrument, and to the constraining of the heat of Coals, by Bellows, or Wind.

The same thing is to be understood concerning our con-centred and moist fires, which ought to be compared, not onely with the common beams of the Sun, or with the heat of Kitchin fire, but also with those Sun-beams which are con-centred by a glass, and with the fiery heat of Coals constrained or forced by windy blasts. Whence they must of necessity be of greater virtues than the common Salts, and watery spirits of them, the which the more quick sighted will sufficiently comprehend and believe. Simple Countrey People do see this thing with their eyes, and handle it with their hands, as well knowing that the subtile, hot, sweet Spirits of Wine and Ale, (and those procuring strength to the heart,) when they are freed from all moisture by Distillation, and con-centred by Rectification; effect ten fold more than if they had still remained with their humidites.

That thou mayest understand the thing more clearly, well weigh thou Grapes, Bread-corn, or the Fruits of Trees, which we eat in that substance as the trees bring them forth unto us: and they afford us a nourishment, but not such a one, as their juice being pressed out, and separated from its dreggs, and by fermentation reduced into a clear and sweet drink.

If necessity compell, Bread corn may be used for nourishment as it is, yet not so well as when it is separated from its husks, being changed into meal, and reduced by water into a mass or lump, and Salt and Leaven added, and by fire concocted or digested into Bread of the best Savour. By the same reason Bread-corn being boiled in fair water yields a potion indeed somewhat better than the water it self, but if it be artificially handled, and boyled up into Ale or Bear, the husks are separated from the more pure juice, the which afterwards by fermentation, separates many dreggs from it, and arrives to a more noble nature, yielding a sweeter and better drink. But if the same juice be after that brought by distillation into a greater purity, and con-centred together by rectifying, that the virtues thereof may come into a narrow compass, (because it is a meer fire) it will exercise far greater virtues, than gross Bread-corn which wants a power of exercising so great virtues.

So also doth it succeed with con-centrated Salts, to wit, when the dreggs are separated from them by the help of art, and the more pure parts converted, and con-centred into a fiery substance, performing effects of great moment in Alchymy. But that Salts do commonly destroy metals, as well by a moist as a dry way, is known to every Barber, and persons of no reputation. But after what manner metals being destroyed may be reduced into more noble bodies than they were before, there hath been none hitherto (who being skilled in that artifice or craft) that have not hid it with the greatest care. Hence it hath come to pass, that nothing of profit hath been perceived from metallick transmutations, and Alchymy it self hath been made a mock of by the most unskilfull rout of ignorant ones, as if it were most false, and at the farthest distance from truth.