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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

If we would go the nearest way to work with niter to extract its soul, then the gross niter is first to be mundified by distillation, then afterwards out of this purged body is the most pure part to be extracted by a convenient magnet, and the gross fœces to be removed; and this most pure soul to be brought by concentration and fixation to the utmost degree of perfection and dignity.

And albeit I could here set down in more clear expressions, the manner of extracting it, yet I am not so minded to do because of the unworthy. Let this manuduction suffice, whereby is shown what means it is to be done by, viz. by some magnet attracting to it self its like by a magnetick operation. I can at all times exhibit such a yellow gold like soul of niter, and use it in the sicknesses of my neighbour. But, enough as touching these matters, we shall be more large concerning them, in the following Centuries.

XCVI. How the moist and cold fire of niter is to be so ordered as to yield its visible flame.

Put some ounces of our con-centrated and moist fire of niter in a glass, and pour thereupon drop by drop a sharp Lixivium made of Wood ashes, or rather of fixed niter, and keep pouring on so long, till all the noise, fuming, and ebullition cease, and that the moist fire it self be wholly allayed and slain. This done, all the corroding faculty is taken away from that fire, which said fire doth by this operation return to its former nature, and is changed into such a salt peter as it was afore its being converted into a moist fire. Out of this salt peter, being now made purer and better by so many conversions and operations, may a new moist fire be extracted by distillation and con-centration, which is far better and much stronger than the former.

And now if this second moist fire be again extinguished with a Lixivium of fixt niter, and be again turned into salt peter, and this peter be by a new distillation and con-centration turned into a moist fire, this said fire will be endued with far greater virtues: For in every mortification and vivification it becomes one degree stronger, nobler, and more efficacious; and so is the salt peter it self too by those conversions and reductions exalted several degrees, and is at length brought to that pass, that it can do more wonderfull things than the common is wont to do; for one pound of such a salt peter being exalted to the utmost degree of subtilty is far more efficacious than many pounds of common salt peter, and stronger, and much excels it in virtue. But it is not expedient that every one should know, what may be effected with such a most subtile and most pure salt peter.

The ancient Philosophers hid the preparation and use of common salt peter; and why should not we also hide such a salt peter exalted to the utmost degree of subtilty, wherewith the common peter is not at all comparable, especially in all such labours whereunto the common sort is wont to be applied, this operates much readiler, and far better and more effectually.

But that the truth may be clearer than the noonday, I will add one operation of a metallick transmutation, by which it shall be clearly evidenced unto every one what such a most subtile salt peter is able to effect.

XCVII. An operation shewing the manner how by the help of salt peter promoted to the highest degree of subtilty, the superfluous combustible sulphur of the imperfect metals may be kindled and burnt up; even as common fire burns up wood, insomuch as nothing will be left remaining save a little fixt salt and ashes; so likewise in this burning up of the impure metals by our most pure salt peter, there remains also nothing save that fixt gold and silver which lay spiritually hidden in the metal, and is [now] left by the combustible Scoria’s.

Every one knows that out of the common Salt Peter and Brimstone, may Gunpowder be made; but yet short in goodness, of that which is made of purified salt peter. By how much the purer and subtiler the salt peter is, so much the better and stronger powder doth it make. The same may be understood as touching the other uses of salt peter.

Further, every one knows that the common salt peter reduceth the common metals into a Scoria by burning them, and washeth gold and silver, and leaves them pure, concerning which fiery washing I have hitherto mentioned several things. But that the common salt peter doth perform this washing better than the pure, and this pure better and more efficaciously than the purest, is no such matter in the least, which thing experience will most manifestly open to him who will try the same. Verily a small fire will not do those things which a greater will do, nor will this greater effect such things as the greatest will, and this is so evident and manifest that there is none dares deny it.