In this manner the hardest things also, as stones and metals, may be joyned or united with water, whereof more in my other books are extant; it is needless here therefore to relate. I gave a hint of it, only for to shew, that always like with like must be extracted. True it is that one Contrary can mortifie another, and take the corrosiveness from it, whereby the pains for a time are asswaged, but whether the cause of the disease it self be eradicated thereby, is a question.
Here may be objected, that I make a difference between the sulphureous and Mercurial salts, whereas neither Mercury nor sulphur apparently is to be seen in either. It is true, he that doth not understand nor know the nature of salts, is not able to apprehend it. And I have not time now to demonstrate it, but the same is shewed at large in my book de Natura salium, that some of them are sulphureous, and some Mercurial: but he that looks for a further direction yet, let him read my book de Sympathia & Antipathia rerum, wherein he shall find it demonstrated that from the Creation of the World to the time present, there were always two contrary natures fighting one against the other, which fight will continue so long till the Mediator betwixt God and Man, the Lord Jesus Christ shall put an end unto this strife, when he shall come to separate the good from the bad, by whose lightning and fire flame the proud and hurtful superfluous sulphur shall be kindled and consumed: the pure Mercurial being left in the center.
How to make pretious spirits and oyls out of Tartar joined with minerals and metals.
Take any metal or mineral, dissolve it in a fit menstruum, mix it with a due proportion of crude Tartar, so that the crude Tartar being made into powder together with the solution make up a pap as it were; then at once cast in one spoonful of it, and distil it into a spirit and oyl, which after the distillation must be separated by rectification, for to keep each by its self for its proper use.
The use of the metallized spirit and oyl of Tartar.
This Tartarized spirit of metals is of such a condition, that it readily performeth its operation according to the strength of the spirit, and the nature of the metal or mineral, whereof it is made. For the spirit and oyl of Gold and Tartar is good for to corroborate the heart, and to keep out its enemies: the spirit of silver and tartar doth serve for the brain; that of Mercury and Tartar, for the liver: of lead and tin for the spleen and lungs: of iron and copper for the reins and seminary vessels: that of Antimony and Tartar for all accidents and infirmities of the whole body; and these metallical spirits made with Tartar, provoke sweat exceedingly, whereby many malignities are expelled out of the body. Likewise also the oyl hath its operation, though this of several metals, as of Mercury and Copper, is not well to be used inwardly, because it causeth salivations and strong vomits. But externally they are very good for to cleanse all putrid ulcers, and to lay a good and firm ground for healing them.
The remainder, whereof the spirit and oyl is distilled, you may take out, and reduce it in a crucible into a metal, so that what is not come over, may not be lost, but made to serve again.
And as you were taught to distil spirits and oyls out of dissolved metals and crude Tartar; so you may get them likewise out of common vitriol and Tartar, viz. thus, take one part of Tartar made into powder, two parts of good pure vitriol, mix them well together, and distil a spirit of them, which though it be unpleasant to take, for all that in all obstructions and corruption of blood whatsoever it is not to be despised, but very successfully performeth its operation; especially when it is rectified from its Caput Mortuum, and so freed from its phlegm; and its best vertue, which consisteth in the volatility, be not lost in the distilling.
N. B. But if you will have this spirit more effectual, then you may join Tartar and vitriol by boyling them together in common water, and crystallizing; and then cast it in, and distil it, and there will come over a much purer and more penetrating spirit; because that in the solution and coagulation of both, many fæces were separated: but if to one part of vitriol you take two parts of Tartar, and dissolve it together, and so filter and coagulate it, then the Tartar with the vitriol will shoot no more, but there remaineth a thick liquor like unto honey, out of which with spirit of wine there may be extracted a good tincture against obstructions. This liquor taken from ℈ i. to ʒ i. doth purge very gently, and sometimes it causeth a vomit, especially if the vitriol was not pure and good: and it may be also distilled into a spirit not inferiour unto the former in vertue. Besides the way above taught, there is yet (for to distil a metallized spirit of Tartar) another way, whereby several metals and minerals may be reduced into pleasant spirits and oyls, and of more vertue, and it is done in this manner.
Take of the Tartar of white Rhenish wine made into powder, pour upon it sweet rain or running water, so that to ℔ j. of tartar there be ℔ x. or ℔ xij. of water, or so much that the tartar may be dissolved by it in the boyling, and then boyl the mixture with the water in a tinned kettle, or which is better, in a glazed pot, until it be quite dissolved, and in the mean while take off the skum (with a wooden skimmer) still as it riseth in the boyling: and when no more skum riseth, and all the tartar is dissolved, then pour the solution thus hot through a linnen cloth, tyed straight on an earthen glazed vessel, that the remaining sliminess may be separated. The tartar water being strained, let it stand for 24. or 30. hours without stirring, and there will stick a crystallized tartar to the sides of the vessel, which after the water is poured off may be taken out, and washed with cold water, and then dryed. This purified tartar keep, until I shall teach you, what further is to be done with it; and this tartar is pure enough for the above said purpose, viz. to reduce metals into oyl with it, as shall follow anon. It is also good taken of it self for an abstersive to make the body soluble. But if you desire to have it yet whiter and fairer and in great Crystals, you must proceed thus.