The preparation of Metalline Medicaments is almost a-kin, and like to the precedent preparation of Vegetable and Animal ones, and doth herein onely differ, that the most part of Minerals and Metals, are dissolved, corrected, and converted into safe Medicaments by crude and purified Niter, as the following manner demonstrates.
Take of powdered Antimony and purged Niter each alike, mix these equal parts in a covered Pot least the Mass leap out, calcine it, after Calcination pour it forth, and reduce the Mass into a Powder, and wash off the Salt-peter with Water and dry the Antimony, which hath now lost its black Colour, and is become white. Mix it again with an equal part of Salt-peter, calcine it, and wash it, and repeat this Labour a third time. This done, the Antimony hath laid aside all its venomosity and blackness, and become white, and such a medicament, as may be most safely administred in expelling all Diseases by Sweat, the Dose from two, three, four, even to six Grains. Note well, if you use the Regulus instead of the Crude Antimony, it will presently, in the first operation become a white Diaphoretick, and to be adhibited in the same Dose. Even after the same manner may you deprive poisonous Arsenick, Auripigment, and such like Poisons of all their venomousness, and transmute them into most safe Diaphoretick Powders. But forasmuch as the preparations of them do not correspond with every ones mind, yea and may easily injure the ignorant and unskilfull, my advice to such men is this, that they abstain from medling with them and betake themselves to Antimony onely, and to fix him well, for that they may use him with far more safety. But that I speak here of those most highly venomous Objects, I did it for this end, that every one might know, that even the chiefest Poisons may be corrected and transmuted into Medicines, merely by the help of Niter alone. But he that desires yet farther to render Antimony safer and better, let him use the following preparation: Take the aforesaid Diaphoretick Antimony, fixed by the help of Niter, dissolve it up in strong Aqua Fortis: and being dissolved, precipitate it with the fixt Liquor of Niter, that it may settle to the bottom like a snowy Powder: Pour off the moisture, vapour away some part of the humidity, and set by the remainder that the Salt may shoot, and so will you have your Niter again. As for the Powder, dry it and wash it well with water, and it may well be styled a Bezoardicum Mineral, being a most excellent Medicine to expel all Diseases by Sweat, the Dose of which is one, two, three, four, six, even to twelve Grains, according as the Disease and Patient is. But I have sufficiently enough treated of this Medicine at large in my other Writings, and therefore needs not to be repeated in this place. So then all, Metals, Minerals, Stones, and whatsoever is in the World, may by these three ways be dissolved and corrected by Niter, either crude, fixed, or acid, and be transmuted into Medicines void of all kind of danger. Thou maist dissolve all the Metals (Gold onely excepted) with the acid Spirit of Niter, and if thou put thereto a little Sal Armoniack, or rectifie it with common Salt, then it will likewise dissolve common Gold. But the Minerals are dissolved with the fixt Liquor of Niter, and precipitated, and then washed with common water, and being washed are used to make Medicine with. They yield subtile Powders, according to the nature and property of their Metals and Minerals. The Powder of Gold is yellow, and is called Aurum Fulminans, of Silver, Ashy, of Copper, Green, of Iron, Red, of Tin, and Lead, White, of Antimony, white; of Lapis Calaminaris, Tutia, and Cadmia, Ashy: But the common Sulphur, and all the precious and common Stones, it (viz. the acid Spirit) cannot dissolve, but leaves them for her Brother, the fixed Liquor to dissolve. So then what the Sister cannot do, that the Brother can perform with ease, and that which the Brother can’t effect, that the Sister undertakes the accomplishment of; and what neither of them can possibly perform, we see it possible to be done, by their Father and Mother, viz. the crude Niter, insomuch that to this subject is a power given of doing what you please. But that I may perfectly demonstrate, that Niter is able to dissolve all the things that are in the World, and may withall shew, how those subjects, which yields not to a Solution by the acid Spirit may come under the power of the fixt Niter, I will proceed on, and begin with the common Sulphur.
Take Sulphur reduced into Powder, one part, of fixt Niter two parts, put them in a Cucurbit, pour thereon twice as much water as they both of them weigh, viz. six parts. Boil them about one hour in Sand, in which boiling the Liquor of the fixt Niter, will dissolve the Sulphur into a red Solution. Strain it through Cap Paper, and precipitate it by the acid Spirit, then wash it, and you shall have a white and subtile Powder, profitable in the Diseases of the Lungs. And now it remains that I shew you Flints, Sand, Crystal, all kinds of Stones both precious ones and common, (which the acid Spirit is not capable of dissolving) may be dissolved by the fixt Niter, and display their Virtues, the which is thus done. Make the Flint, Crystal, Marble, or any other Stone that is meltable in the Fire into a Glass, very red hot, and presently squench it in cold Water, and dry it, that it may be powdered with ease. Take one part of this Powder, and three or four parts of fixt Niter, mix them well, put them into a Crucible, and cover the Pot, and melt them with a strong Fire in a Wind Furnace, that it may become a transparent Glass. Then turn it out, Powder it, and set it in a Glass Vessel in a moist Cellar, that the Stone may be turned into a Liquor; or else having powdered the said molten Glass, pour common Water thereupon, which will dissolve the Powder. If now you pour the said acid Spirit of Niter on the clear Solution, then the fixt Niter being deprived of its fiery virtue and force, will let fall the dissolved Stone in the form of a Powder, which is to be washed with store of Water, and be dried, and it will be the Magistery of that Stone, which this operation is bestowed on. These Stones may likewise be digested and dissolved in a strong Glass set on Sand, with the fixt Niter Liquor, but this moist way is more slow and tedious than the former dry way which is done by melting. And besides, the Glasses themselves cannot long endure this liquor, but are therewith also dissolved. Now these Magisteries or Stones thus prepared are profitable in the Stone, the which they do not onely expel out of the Reins, but likewise out of the Bladder, if it be not too much hardned. If you desire to make this Medicine yet better, then do thus. Take the Liquor of the Flints or Crystals, that are dissolved in a Cellar after their having been melted, put it in a Vial having a long Neck, whereon pour twice as much Spirit of Wine, but see that the Belly of your Glass be but half full; then let some body or other shake the Glass in their hands strongly up and down, and commix the Liquor and Spirit of Wine well, then will the Spirit penetrate, dissolve and render it sweet. Note well, this agitation is necessary, because if it be not thus tossed to and fro, the Spirit of Wine will stand at the top of the Liquor, and not attract the fixt Niter to it self. Now when the Spirit of Wine that you poured first on, is sharp enough, pour that out and pour on more, and when that is sharp enough, decant that also, and pour on more, repeat this operation so often, untill the Liquor of the Stones be rendred sweet. Note well, the Spirit of Wine must be void of all Phlegm, for if there be in it any water, the Liquor of the Stones would be precipitated into a Powder. But he that proceeds well and rightly will obtain a noble Medicine against the Stone of the Microcosm.
N. B. After that the Liquor of the Stones is brought to a sweetness, it is to be covered over with the Spirit of Wine, in the Glass you keep it in, that so the Liquor may abide in its Liquidity, otherwise it will in a few days space be turned into a Stone in the Glass. When you would use the Liquor, stop the mouth of the Glass with your Thumb, and turn down the Glass that the Spirit of Wine may (as being lighter) give place for the Liquor to flow out by your Thumb, and thus may you take out as much Liquor as you please. I have been the more curious in describing this preparation in this place, that so no error may be committed, seeing this labour requires an expert Man, and not such a rude and insipid Sot as Farnerus is. Experience testifies that the Liquor, and the Magistery of Sand, Flints, Crystals, and such like Stones, are endued with one and the same virtues. Any one may chuse which in his opinion is best. I commend the common white Flints, that are in the Sands of Rivers. The Magistery of these are notably conducive to weak Stomachs, nor is any thing corrupted by the same, whatsoever Diseases they be used unto. The Dose of the Powder is 4, 8, 12, 20, 30 Grains, of the Liquor, 1, 2, 3, 4, even to 10 Grains. This Liquor, wheresoever it comes, adheres to every matter it meets with, if it be kept in a dry place, it becomes a natural and transparent Stone. In Man’s Body, it attracts to it self its like, and carries it off with it self. There lie hid in it many other secrets, which forasmuch as they pertain not to this place, are to be found in my other Writings. Moreover there are Stones found which do not admit of Solution either by the fixt Liquor or acid Spirit, and they are to be thus tamed. Take that Stone which yields not to a Solution by the fixt Niter Liquor, nor by the acid Spirit, beat it into Powder, then mix it with three times as much of the Powder of pure and well dried Niter. Then with this mixture fill a Crucible half full, take up a Coal with your Tongs, and put it into the matter, and hold it hard on, least the flame throw it clear out again. So the Niter being kindled by the Coal doth (together with the Stone) flame and burn up, and cause such a speedy and vehement Fire, that the Stone is thereby penetrated and opened, and may (after this operation) be dissolved with common Water. This done, the Solution which hath imbibed (or which contains) the dissolved Stone, is to be purified by passing it through Cap Paper, and to be precipitated by pouring in of the acid Spirit, that so the Stone may settle down in the form of a Powder, the which is to be washed with Water, to be dried and kept for use. Thus now have we dissolved all the Metals, all Stones, all Vegetables, and Animals, and transmuted them into Medicaments. And were there yet any other thing in nature besides these subjects, or could there be found any thing else, I would have taught its Solution by this my universal Menstruum. But forasmuch as I find nothing else besides Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, as likewise all kinds of Stones, yea and Glass it self, nor can find ought besides, it will deservedly remain an universal Menstruum, and Dissolvent (though the moamish deriders, and brethren of ignorance, and haters of the truth, split for anger) constant, unconquered, and incomparable, as long as the World stands. As to its efficacy in bettering and correcting Metals, the second, third, and fourth Parts of my Treatise of the Prosperity of Germany will testifie, for therein we treat of the concentration of Metals. But as for such other mysteries as concern true Hermetick Philosophy, and that lie hid in this wonderfull subject, they are accurately and succinctly described in my Treatise of the Nature of Gold, and of the concentration of the Elements, in which Book the studious Reader may delight himself with divine and humane Miracles. So now we have proved and demonstrated, that Niter is an universal Menstruum and Dissolvent, seeing there is nothing in the nature of things that is able to resist its dissolving virtues; nor can its like be found out. Well therefore may it most deservedly remain, as in very deed it is, and as ’tis accounted of both by my self and all skillfull Chymists. But now if any one shall object and say, that the before produced proofs are no ways satisfactory to him, neither do demonstrate that this dissolvent is also profitable as to the Philosophick Work, I do not intend to answer him, nor will I so open my Bosom to such Adventerers as Arnoldus did to Lully, but leave secret things in a secret place. I have spoken enough, and do also speak much in my Treatise of the concentration of Heaven and Earth. He that understands not my sayings, and doth as yet despise them, has no reason to reckon himself amongst the Adeptists and Sons of Hermes, but rather is of the rank of the Farnerians sodality, and must remain at the Hogs Trough.
The Use, Power, and Virtues, of the Medicaments out of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals: The Composition whereof we taught above.
As concerning Vegetables, some few of them there are that need correcting by the universal dissolvent. For such things as are in their own nature whole and sound, need not any Medicament. For Rosemary, Fether-few, sweet Marjoram, Sage, Thyme, and such like Herbs needs no correction, but may be reduced into their sweet Essences, according to the ways that I have prescribed in the first part; but those Herbs that are more strongly operative, and used in medicinal affairs, are not without danger, such as are Henbane, Hemlock, Mandrake, Opium, Tobacco, Napellus, Levant-Berries, Nux Vomica, &c. these must be amended by a good correction, or else can they not be safely taken into the body. If they be dissolved by the fiery operative Menstruum and corrected thereby, (as we shewed in the foregoing discourse) then may they be taken into the Body most safely, and without any danger, and will perform things wonderfull in Medicine. And whatsoever was a Poison before is afterwards rendred a Poison subduing Antidote. For Example, Henbane, Mandrake, Opium, have by their nature a stupefactive power, and do suppress the vital Spirit, do infect, or destroy, the Humidum Radicale, do procure overmuch Sleep, yea, do close up the Life in perpetual Sleep. But now those Herbs being corrected by the force of the fiery Water, and being dissolved of their Poison, do no more hurt, but allay all inward and outward pains, do pacifie the vital Spirits being provoked and enraged, do compose all disquietudes with a sweet pleasant rest, do expell venemous humours out of the Body by Sweat, and do by reducing all things into a quiet State, heal many Diseases. The Cicuta or Hemlock, Napellus, Levant-berries, Nux Vomica, &c. do not onely cause a most deadly Sleep, but do also provoke most vehement vomitings, and make most accute prickings in the body, and deprive Men of their Scences and understandings, and do at last bring on Death, if they be admitted into the Body in too great a quantity, and are not drawn out from thence again by strong vomitings. But such Herbs being corrected, and changing the Poison into wholsome Medicaments, do no more cause such horrible and dreadfully painfull Symptoms, but by penetrating the whole Body in a harmless and insensible manner, do take away all obstructions, and cast forth all hurtfull things out of the Body, by sweat, urine, and stool, and frees the inward bowels by purging them from all impure humours, and do happily take away occult Diseases. And now if they did before load the head with a very great heaviness and render it mad and unsound, it doth now mundifie it, and purge it, and free it from grievous and obnoxious Vapours, and do comfort the Brain and make Ingenuity or Memory better. So that what they did corrupt (before their correction) they do now (after their being bettered) amend and refresh it. But however you are to have good regard, that you be carefully provident in the use of these Medicaments, that you exceed not a due measure, and so commit an errour, for it is not lawfull to play with such kind of penetrative Medicaments.
The strongest purgative Medicaments, as Esula, Cataputia, Stavesacre, Gummi Gutta, and such like, being dissolved in this Menstruum, and precipitated, do lose their vehement, and as it were venemous quality, and become safe and gentle purges. N. B. You are here to observe (as concerning this Solution) that forasmuch as the Seed of Esula, Cataputia, Stavesacre, as likewise Guttæ Gambogia, and Scammony, are of a fat and resinous nature, are not to be dissolved with the acid Spirit of Niter, but with its fixt Liquor, or better with the Spirit of Wine corroborated and alkalizated by fixt Niter, and to be precipitated with the acid Spirit. And so with the same Spirit of Wine, being made more strong by the addition of the fixt Niter, all Gums that have a fat quality (may be thus dealt with) and contrariwise such as are not fat may be dissolved with the acid Spirit, and precipitated with its contrary Liquor. So likewise all bitter Juices, as Aloes, Myrrh, and the like, being therewith dissolved and corrected do acquire a more sweeter and more gratefull Savour. It is also very fitting, for the grievously smelling Gums, as Assa Fœtida is, and for correcting other such like stinking things arising from Animals or Vegetables, and so spoil them of their grievous Odour, and for correcting them into a gratefull smell. Insomuch that some things that emit even almost an ungratefull stinch may be so transmuted as that they may afterwards yield a pleasant smell. And although that I made some mention of this Work or Operation some years ago in the first Book of my Philosophical Furnaces, where mention is made of the Spirit of Salt, yet will I not leave it off so, but describe more, yea and compendiouser ways too in my third part of the Spagyrical Pharmacopœa, for effecting such matters, and thereto refer the studious for the preparing of pleasant and efficacious Medicines.
As for such Animals as serve for the Kitchin, as Beef, Mutton, Pork, Hens, Geese, and such like, also Fishes and Birds, they need not much correction. Those of them that are a year old or more may be boiled with Water, Salt, Spice, Wine, and Vinegar, &c. the younger may be roasted on a Spit. These are not hurtfull to such men as are in health, if they feed on them and drink after it a good draught of good Wine or Ale, that so they may thereby wash down into the Stomach any such matters as might stay by the way in the Throat, &c.
If now any one would make use of venomous Worms, and Insects in Medicines (for sometimes they perform far more in Medicine than Vegetables can, as experience witnesseth) they are not to be adhibited without correction. But I do not here understand the Kitchin correction, which is done by Wine, Sugar, and Spices; but such an one as in which all the parts remain together, and are corrected and amended by the fiery Menstruum, and that without the addition of any other thing as we taught before. And being on this wise corrected, they do not onely safely conduce to a Medicinal help in desperate Diseases, but do also become of greater assistance and comfort to many a sick Person, and purchase to their Authours a greater honour. It is well known even to blind Bayards and Barbars what effects sometimes the great Earth-worms, Scarabæus’s, Cantharides, Aselli or Pigs-lice, and suck like Urine provoking Insects do effect, being administred to the sick, crude, dried onely and so powdered; he that desires to procure a good quantity of Earth-worms, let him but thrust a stick into the Earth, and stir it to and fro thereby to disquiet the Worms, for they will presently guess that the devouring Mole is at hand, and will for fear creep by heaps out of the Earth, so as you may then easily take them. If any one loaths the Worms themselves, let him take that Earth which the Worms do cast out to the top of the ground, after a warm Rain in the Spring time, and is like small bunches; as if they should say, give us our lives for this Earth’s sake; and from thence you may extract an Essence, which will be as profitable to you as if you took us: N. B. The Merulæ or Blackbirds seeks after this Earth and carries it to her young ones lying in the Nest, which thing they would not do, did it contain no good in it, but would rather take the Worms themselves and carry them. A Dog which hath devoured many bones seeks out for some clean place to dung in, either on a smooth stone, or on the grass, as that he should say, This do I give you by way of thankfulness for the food which you have bestowed on me, keep it and use it according to your knowledge. N. B. The greatest Vertues of Animals are placed in their Excrements, and not in their flesh. Next the Excrements are the superfluities of the bodies, which (in men) are, the Hair, Teeth, and Nails: In Beasts, the Hairs, Teeth, Hoofs, and Horns: In Birds, the Claws, and Feathers, &c. And that the May Worm frees from the Gout and Stone, See Doctour Wierus, he hath written a peculiar Treatise of the Gout, and of the wandering or moveable pains of the Joints, and of the intrinsecal and hidden Scurvy, and other such like Diseases, and which are commonly accompted of as uncurable; all which he teacheth the removal of, by the means of the May worms, or unctious Scarabæus’s. Nor indeed is it without ground, that there is sometimes more effected by such abject and contemptible Vermine, than by the most precious and highly esteemed Compositions and Vegetables: This now they do crude as they are, and uncorrected. But if the great Earth-worms, and principally their Enemies, viz. those black, smooth, and many footed Vermine, that suck from the Worms their Juice and Strength; and likewise those broad, and party-coloured, venereous small Vermine, which we have before mentioned (if all these I say) be corrected by the fiery Menstruum, they would not onely drive forth Urine, and the Stone, safely and without hurt, but would withal most notably strengthen the nature of Man, and be a great comfort to many debilitated Gallants. The green Scarabæus’s, the Cantharides, and green Flies, being all of a venereal Nature, do (being corrected) not onely drive forth the Stone and Urine, but do also wonderfully shew their efficacy in the Feet Gout, wandring Gout, and other grievous Diseases which have already gotten deep rooting: But that black and slow creeping May worm, or unctious Scarabæus doth operate the most efficacious of them all, and may be plentifully enough had in the Months of May and June. The whole knack of the business doth consist in this, that such Vermine be well corrected with the Liquor Alkahest, and so prepared before they be made use of. As for those great and horned Scarabæus’s, that live upon the Juice and Rosins of Nuts, Cherries, and Plums, and are wholly of a Balsamick Nature, if they be corrected, I do highly encourage the use of them both inwardly and outwardly, viz. when the internal and external Members are tormented with most vehement pricking Pains and Torments. As for Emmets or Ants they have a wholsome and efficacious Balsam, and are healers both of inward and outward Dolours. But the chiefest of them are those that live in Woods wherein are store of Pines, and Fir-trees, and do there feed upon the Rosins of the Trees, and do not as the others do, live upon leaves and grass, but do in the Summer Months store their little Holes with the small Grains of those Rosins for their Winter food. And this the Inhabitants of those Woods know full well, and do seek after it and sell it the Druggists instead of Mastick. For it answers to the Mastick that comes out of India in efficacy, vertues, form, and odour, and haply we might not need that Gum, knew we but how to get and use this. There is great variety and plenty of such like Insects as these, which without all question may be of great use in medicine; but seeing they can’t be gotten in such plenty as the Vegetables and Minerals may be, the use of them is forborn, and rarely are they sought after. Nor indeed is it necessary to seek after and fetch from far, such things as we have present before our Eyes. The drift of my writing is this primarily, that I may demonstrate, that there are in the universal Menstruum, such vertues as are able to correct all venemous Animals, and deprive them of their Poisons, and to convert them into wholsome medicaments, for the honour and renown of it, was I even constrained to write these things. And as to its energetical Operation on venemous Minerals, it is sufficiently enough known, and doth most clearly appear even in its effect upon Antimony alone, the which being burnt twice or thrice with common Niter, is wholly deprived of its blackness, and cloaths it self with a most white colour, and becomes a Diaphoretick and an all-evil-resisting Powder. So is it too with Arsenick and Auripigment, those most vehement Poisons, which may be so changed in a few hours space, as that they may be taken afterwards into the Body without any hurt or danger, and will subdue and expel the greatest Poisons, though indeed there’s no necessity of making use of those venemous Subjects, seeing there is plenty enough of other means. ’Tis sufficient that we have shown, that Niter hath such notable vertues, as to be able to invert the venemous Nature of every Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral, and of transmuting the Poison into a wholsome Medicament. Now because the Animal vertues are more efficacious than the Vegetables, and that the Minerals exceed them both, therefore by good right are those Minerals of greatest use in medicine, which be most efficacious, most sweet, and most safe. But yet we would willingly have the Animals and Vegetables to retain their own dignity and station: And for the better discovery of the difference betwixt these, and that my Neighbour may be the better and more sincerely served, necessity doth even require a larger explanation. This therefore is generally to be observed, that by how much the riper the Minerals be (and so ’tis with the Animals and Vegetables) by so much the nearer they are to the Sun, and abide therein, so much the safer and securer may they be taken into the Body. All Herbs, Vermine, and Animals, that delight in a warm Air, and love to abide therein, are never infected or impregnated with so great a Poison as those are that delight rather in obscure, shady, and darksome places. For Napellus, Mandragora, Cicuta, and such like Herbs are never, or at least most rarely, to be found in other than dark places that are shaded over. And so the most venemous Animals and Vermine, do most willingly take up their abode in holes of the Earth, in cold and darksome Dens; and by reason of the want of the warm Air remain venemous, and do necessarily hurt mankind. But being digested by the Liquor of fixt Niter, they deposit their venemous quality and become wholsome Medicaments. So then all the maturation of things consisteth in heat, but Poison consisteth in cold, witness Wine and the Fruits of Trees, the which being ripened by the solar heat, men may feed on them without hurt, but if they be eaten raw and unripe they corrupt their Stomachs. Now as we have said of Animals and Vegetables, the same is also to be understood of the unripe minerals and metals. By how much the unriper and cruder they be, so much the more do they hurt, and are unfit for the making of medicine. And as for metals, they do by little and little, and step by step go on towards their perfection, and end: Like as an Infant doth by little and little arrive to its highest degree of age. And as there is more to be found in a man that is arrived to man’s Estate than there is in an Infant, so is there in minerals and metals that have in long success of time attained to their maturity. And forasmuch as in them may be found, most safe, sweet, and efficacious Medicines, I have deemed it necessary briefly to detect their dignity and degrees, and shew the Ladder as it were, or Scale, wherein the metals stand in order, and how by their signature that perfection which they have gradually arrived unto, may be known. I do resemble the mines of metals to a Tree, thus, Saturn is the Root, Mars the trunk or body, Jupiter the bark that covers the Tree over, Mercury the Juice that sticks between the bark and the trunk, Venus the green leaves, Lune the flower, and Sol the fruit. The ancient Physicians or Naturalists, compared the seven principal metals with the seven Planets, the which comparison squares notably well with them. For the Planets and Metals have a mutual correspondency with each other. The Chymists ascribe Lead to Saturn: Tin to Jupiter: Iron to Mars: Copper to Venus: Quick-silver to Mercury: Silver to Lune: and Gold to Sol: And even as the Planets do excel one the other in brightness, vertues, and other things; even so do the metals, and this their nature informs us of, and their different signature demonstrates. Verily when the ancients would mark out to us a perfect thing, they described it under the form of a round Circle: And by how much imperfecter the thing was, by so much the less rotundity did they give unto it. The Character of the Sun is Sol, viz. a Circle with a point in the midst: The Circle denotes the Golds perfection, the point in the middle of the Circle signifies the Original of perfection. The sign of Silver or the Moon was this Luna: which consisteth of two half Circles, and tells us of its half perfection: So is it with the other signs, and signatures of the other metals. How much the nearer they approach to a roundness, so much the nearer are they to perfection, and so on the contrary. The Sun being the noblest amongst all the Stars, doth also yield and make the noblest metal, viz. Gold, the which is likewise to be observed of the other metals. But by how much perfecter the metals be, so much excellenter are the medicaments that proceed therefrom. Saturn or Lead, is not much profitable for the inward use of the body, except it be in the Plague, and in other most hot Diseases. Being outwardly applied it dries up the moist affects of the body, and moist Ulcers, and healeth heat and all the external affects arising thencefrom. Jupiter or Tin is somewhat hotter than Saturn, but yet is withal very dry. Mars or Iron is hot and dry. Venus or Copper is hot and moist. Mercury or Argent vive is hotter and moister. Lune or Silver is of a midling heat and moisture. Sol or Gold is at length of temperate heat and moisture. If now any good thing be made our of Gold, it corroborates the heart as being the most noble member of the body of man. And so in like manner, Silver doth the brain: Argent vive the Liver: Tin the Lungs: Iron the Gall: Lead the Milt or Spleen: and Copper the Reins. Thus have the ancient Philosophers and Physicians distributed the metals and distinguished them, the which I leave as I find it, though perhaps some of them may yet admit of another distinction. But so long may they remain (as they are) until Elias the Artist, shall by his coming release us of our Errours. Amongst the Minerals Antimony is the chiefest, in whom the Vertues of all the Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, are collected and concentrated into one, as its signature declareth. For the Philosophers have signed it with a round Sphere (by which the Earth is deciphered) and on it a cross put, and is without doubt for this reason, because the Earth never produced any fitter Subject for medicine, and this is attested by all true Chymists, as may be read in their Writings; but especially in Basil Valentine’s triumphant Chariot of Antimony, being a Treatise he wrote in honour of this Mineral. The same thing doth that Philosopher testifie, saying, common Gold and Silver doe not effect it, but their first Ens does it. Now that Antimony is the first and true genuine Ens of Gold, is not onely testified by all the Philosophers, but also daily experience it self witnesseth the same, from whence it is as clear as Noon day, that Antimony is rarely to be found in any other places but in Gold Mines, nor is there (besides) any Antimony but what is pregnant with Gold, but yet some Antimony contains more Gold and other some less. Nay farther, amongst the very Veins of Gold it self is Antimony often met with, and may therefore undeservedly be stiled an unripe Gold. I my self have seen a piece of golden Vein, which was digged out of the Gold Mines, and contained some pounds weight, in one side there was pure Gold, mixt with the hard Flint, on the other side was a black Vein of Antimony. There is a place in Germany called Gold Granack, nigh which in the Sudetis Mountains called Fichtelberg by the Germans, was found heretofore much Gold, but now at this day is there digged out onely Antimony, cleaving on to the hard Flints and Rocks. And herewithal is immixed a golden Marquesite, which being separated therefrom, and prepared after a due manner, becomes a most excellent Medicament, of which we shall hereafter make mention. Further, had we not this testimony of a daily experience, yet have we the witness of the true Alchymy, which doth most assuredly affirm, that true Gold may by the help of Art be extracted out of Antimony. Nay more, this incomparable Art, doth not onely perform this, viz. of bringing Antimony to the true ripeness of Gold, but doth also so change the Gold (by extracting its Soul) that it is no more Gold, but is plainly indistinguishable from any Regulus of Antimony both as to the form, volatility, nature, and properties of the same. And although an infinite number of men will contradict these sayings of mine, yet shall they never draw me from this my opinion, for I believe but what my Eyes have seen. One Eye-witness is of more value than ten hear-say ones. Such as do gainsay these things, do build on no other foundations save such as they have gotten by reading or hearsay, and what will not at all correspond with experience. Well, I will remain stable in my opinion and in very truth demonstrate, that there is no subject to be found in the nature of things, that may be preferred in Medicine, before Antimony, so that it be but duely brought into its true Essence. I confess that whilst it is crude and as yet unprepared, it is a mere Poison, and the use thereof is accompanied with a great deal of danger. And such as do use the common glass of Antimony, and other Medicaments made thereof after a rude manner, and so hurt the sick, must impute the blame to themselves and not the Antimony.
I have mentioned in my Miraculum Mundi, and in my first part of my Spagyrical Pharmacopœa, the preparation of a Medicine out of Antimony, and have called it a Panacæa. This now out strips the capacity of very many rude and ignorant men, to whom it seems unlikely and impossible, that a Medicine of such wonderfull efficacy should lie hidden in so contemptible and base a thing as to deserve such a Title as a Panacæa: but especially seeing some unskilfull men, have instead of it, administred to the sick crude Antimony, and by saying it is my Panacæa have with a wicked boldness deceived men, and have hereby brought an Odium and contempt amongst very many men, upon this true Medicine of mine. Amongst these is that faithless Farnerus none of the least, yea rather is more eminent or standard-bearer to the rest, and such a one as may rightly be termed the blot and scandal too of other men. For my part, he that lists may persecute Antimony with as much hatred as he pleaseth. But whereas I have already praised it, and the thing doth withal concern my Neighbour’s profit, I could not omit yet farther to magnifie and exalt it with greater praises, and in very deed confirm this truth, viz. that such a Medicine may be made thereout of as I have described, and therefore every one that judgeth of the truth without prejudice must confess, that there is not a better, an effectualler, or a more harmless medicament, and purchasable by a meaner price, insomuch that both rich and poor may enjoy the same, if so be it be but prepared and used as it ought. But that he who is studious after good medicaments may withal see, that I have not spent my labour altogether on Antimony, but on other Subjects too, I will adjoin the description of the preparation, use and efficacy of other Subjects, and will take care for the preparation of those medicaments for the benefit of mankind, and of the sick, and for the distribution of them amongst the needy. For by this means shall I satisfie my conscience and shall not be accused thereby of burying the Talent given me, out of envy and hatred to my Neighbour. And whoever he be that hath any good thing, let him make it common, and being moved with pity and commiseration become serviceable unto his Neighbour. But if he neither hath, nor knoweth ought better, let him desist from contemning this, and omit despising the things he is ignorant of. And let him not deprive the miserable poor sick people of such things as himself cannot give, that so he may remain an honest and pious man. But as touching the Medicaments, which are here treated of, they are indeed but few, however they are such as may next God be safely confided in.