How to make a Tartarised spirit of Gold and Silver.
Gold and silver also can by no means be dissolved with tartar in a wet way: but in a dry way adding its helper to it, it will easily dissolve, which doth not belong hither; but if you will draw a spirit of it, then the gold and silver must first by dissolving and coagulating be reduced to crystals, and then dissolved with purifyed tartar and water, and of Gold you will get a yellow solution, and of silver a white inclining unto green, which being reduced to the consistency of honey, may be used safely and without fear. The solution of Gold doth loosen and keep the body open; it effectually strengtheneth the stomach, heart, lungs, and liver, and other principal members: and that of silver purgeth very forcibly, according to the quantity given, like another purge, but without harm or danger, so that in all diseases where purging is necessary, it may be used safely from ℈ i. to ʒ ss. but that of gold is used in a smaller quantity: and both the liquor of gold and of silver may very successfully be used externally: but because for external uses inferiour metals will serve the turn, it is needless to use costly things thereto.
The spirit which is forced from it by distillation, is endued with great vertue: for the volatile part of the metal cometh over-joyned with the spirit of tartar, the remainder may be reduced, so as it was taught of other metals. This spirit, especially that of Gold, is exceeding good in the plague and other diseases, where sweating is necessary: for it driveth not only by sweating, all Malignities from the Heart, but also doth strengthen the same, and preserveth it from all hurtful symptomes. Likewise also that of silver is very commendable, especially if it be first dephlegmed from its Caput Mortuum, as above was taught in the preparation of the common spirit of tartar. For any Physitian expert in Chymistry may easily guess what the spirit of tartar well rectifyed and impregnated with the vertues of gold may effect, and therefore it is needless to make any further mention of it, but it shall be left to the tryal thereof.
To make a Tartarised spirit of Antimony.
Crude Antimony cannot be dissolved in such a manner as above hath been taught: but if it be first prepared into flores, or a vitrum, it yieldeth easily its vertue in boyling, and it is done thus: Take to one part of the flores or of small ground vitrum Antimonii made per se, three parts of pure tartar, and 12. or 15. parts of clean water, boyl the Antimony with the tartar and water in a glazed pot for three or four hours, and the evaporated water must be still supplyed with other that the tartar may not burn for want of water, and the vitrum must be sometimes stirred about with a wooden spatula (which the flores being light do not need): This done, the tartar water will be deep red coloured by the Antimony, and leave the remaining Antimony settled in the bottom, from which pour off the solution, and after having filtred it, evaporate the water from it, and then extract it once more with spirit of wine, and you will get a blood-red Extractum, whereof 1, 2, 3. to 10. or 12. drops given at once, causeth gentle vomits and stools, which may be safely used by old and young in all diseases that have need of purging, and you need not fear any danger at all: For I know no vomit, which purgeth more gently than this, and if you please, you may make it work only (per inferiora) downward, so that it shall cause no vomits at all: and you need do nothing else but make a toast of brown bread, and hold it hot to your nose and mouth, and when this is almost cold, have another hot in readiness, and so use one after another by turns, till you feel no more loathing, and that the vertue of Antimony hath begun to work downward: This is a good secret for those that would use Antimonial physick, but that they are affraid of vomiting, which they are not able to endure. But if you will not spend so much pains, as to make such an Extract, then do as you was taught above to do with the copper, and take ten or twelve grains of prepared Antimony for an old body, but for a young one 5, 6. grains or more or less according to the condition of the person, and ℥ ss. or ʒ vj. of pure tartar, and together with ℥ iiij. or ℥ v. of water put it in a little pipkin, and boyl it a quarter of an hour, then pour the solution only into a cup, and disolve a little sugar in it, whereby the acidity of the Tartar will somewhat qualified. The decoctum drink warm, and keep your self as it is fit, and it will work much better, than it if had been steeped over night in wine, which not every one can abide to take fasting; but this decoctum, because it tasteth like warm and sweet wine, is much pleasanter to take.
N. B. It is to be admired, that well prepared Antimony is never taken in vain: for although it be given in a very small quantity, so that it cannot cause either stools or vomits, yet it worketh insensibly, viz. it cleanseth the blood, and expelleth malignities by sweat, so that mighty diseases may be rooted out thereby without any great sensible operation. Which many times hapned unto me, and gave me occasion to think further of it; and therefore I sought how to prepare Antimony so, that it might be used daily without causing of vomits or stools, which I put in execution accordingly, and found it good, as afterward shall follow.
Of the solution above described, viz. of the flores of Antimony with tartar make a good quantity, and after the evaporation of the water distill a spirit of it, and there will also come over a black oyl, which must be separated from the spirit, and rectified per se; and externally applyed it will not only do the same wonderful operations, which above have been ascribed to the simple oyl of tartar, but it goeth also far beyond it, for the best essence of Antimony hath joyned it self thereunto, in the distilling and so doubled the vertue of the oyl of Tartar; and this oyl may with credit be used not only for all podagrical tumors to allay them very readily, but also by reason of its dryness it doth consume all other tumors in the whole body, whether they be caused by wind or water: for the volatile salt by reason of its subtlety, conveyeth the vertue of Antimony into the innermost parts of the body in a marvellous and incredible way, whereby much good can be performed in Chyrurgery.
As for the spirit, you may not only use it very successfully, in the Plague, Pox, Scurvy, Melancholia Hypochondriaca, Feavers, and other obstructions and corruptions of blood, but also if you put some of it into new wine or beer, and let it work with it, the wine or beer comes to be so vertuous thereby, that if it be daily used, it doth stay and keep off all diseases proceeding from superfluous humors and corrupted blood, so that neither Plague, Scurvy, Melancholia Hypochondriaca, or any other disease of that kind can take root in those that daily use it, wherein no metal or mineral (except gold) can be parallel’d with it: but in case you have no conveniency to make that spirit, and yet you would willingly have such a medicinal drink made of Antimony, then take but of the solution made with tartar, before it be distilled, and put ℔ j. or ℔ j ss. of it into 18. or 20. gallons of new wine or beer, and let it work together, and the vertue of the Antimony by the fermentation of the wine will grow the more volatile and efficacious to work. And if you cannot have new wine (in regard that it doth not grow every where) you may make an artificial wine of Honey, Sugar, Pears, Figs, Cherries or the like fruit, as in the following third part shall be taught, which may stand in stead of natural Wine.
These medicinal wines serve for a sure and safe preservative, not only to prevent many diseases, but also if they have possessed the body already, effectually to oppose and expel them. Also all external open sores (which by daubing and plaistering could not be remedied) by daily drinking thereof may be perfectly cured. For not only Basilius Valentinus, and Theophrastus Paracelsus, but many more before and after them knew it very well, and have written many good things of it, which few did entertain, and (because their description was somewhat dark) most despised and defamed them for untruths.
In like manner, and much more may this my writing be lightly esteemed of, because I do not set down long and costly processes, but only according to truth, and in simplicity do labour to serve my neighbour, which doth not sound well in the ears of the proud world, which rather tickle and load themselves with vain and unprofitable processes, than harken unto the truth; and it is no wonder, that God suffereth such men, which only look after high things, and despise small things, to be held in Error.