We are yet moreover to see what spirits are, but principally what con-centrated spirits are, and what they are able to do.
And because the matter in hand gives occasion of treating thereof in this place, we will briefly give you a declaration of the same.
LXII. What spirits are, and by what means they operate good or evil.
In the first place, there are spirits called vegetable ones, viz. When vegetables are beaten to pieces, and being contused are moistened with water, (provided they have not juicyness enough of their own, or do altogether want it) and so fermented, being fermented they are to be distilled, which distillation brings forth subtile and efficacious spirits, and such as are the effecters of many profitable things in Alchymy and in other arts, besides the use thereof in medicine.
Secondly, sundry and divers spirits are also made out of animals by distillation, as out of Blood, Urine, Hairs, Horns, Hoofs, and such other parts of animals, also which spirits have their use in Medicine and Alchymy.
Thirdly, there are also spirits which are expelled, or forced out of minerals and metals by the force of fire, but principally out of Salts, as Vitriol, Allum, Salt Peter, common Salt and such like; of the preparations of which kind of spirits, the Books of Chymists are full, and therefore stop us from the superfluous repetitions of the same. But as for the concentrating of them and the utility of them, it hath been already described by us.
I hereby give occasion for all the diligent searchers after true Medicine and Alchymy; to contemplate, what may be effected in Medicine and Alchymy, if those fugitive spirits were, by our fixing and moist fires which separate not any one part from each other, but do fix all the parts together, deprived of their volatility and made fixt. These few things we were willing to mention concerning the spirits which are subjected to a Man’s power and are within his reach, and serviceable for the use of mortal Men.
LXIII. The particular medicinal use of the con-centrated spirits of salts.
We have heard that the con-centrated spirits or moist fires of salts do reduce all things into a Calx, after a Philosophical manner, without a forcing away of the mercurial part, and a burning up of the sulphureous: insomuch that (by conserving, altering and bettering) they fix the whole. Being therefore compelled by a love to my neighbour, I have a mind to set down in this place some medicaments, as well universal as particular; but yet so as that they may not fall into the clutches of [my] unworthy enemies, but may be reserved onely for friends.
And first, here shall be a medicine mentioned, that amendeth the weak digestion of the Stomach.