If now the common Vitriol of Copper and Iron, do in Distillation yield volatile Gold, why should not the Vitriol of Lune do it much more and yield it nobler, as being indeed the true and onely metallick Vitriol of the Philosophers, which Basilius appoints to be taken for his Work, and doth truely deserve the name of Vitriol. For if you would have your common Vitriol tinge, you must add Galls thereto, but this Vitriol doth truely blacken all things without Galls. But you must not imagine that I do here intend such a Vitriol of Lune, as is by solution (in Aq. Fortis reduced into a white Crystal, or such as is precipitated by the water of Salt out of the Solution (in Aq. Fortis) no such matter? For this resembles not Vitriol, because it may be again reduced (into Silver.) But the true Vitriol of the Philosophers is prepared out of Lune without Aq. Fortis or such like Corrosives, and is not reduceable in the strongest Fire, but remains a Vitriol, tingeth the Tonge, is astringent, and yields a golden Water, which dissolveth Gold and fixeth it therewith. Such a Vitriol will we make use of in medicine and Alchymy, and leave the common Vitriol for the Dyers. The Ancients called their Salt Vitriol, on this account, because that it did as to its external Figure resemble Vitriol, but though they so called it, yet they took not the common Vitriol, which every wise man may be easily perswaded to believe. So then let the Lune be the Earth, Gold the Seed, and Mercury the (Water, but not the common Mercury) with which it is to be watered, and let the rest be committed to God and Art. Thus far have I declared to you my opinion, let every man follow his own. But thus is confirmed the assertion of that excellent Philosopher Basil Valentine, who affirms, that even out of common Vitriol may be extracted a certain goldenishness; how much more credible then is it, that a Vitriol prepared out of the more pure metals may yield a better goldenness. Every one may believe what I here write for I have oft times tried it, but yet I have received more Gold sometimes than at other some according as I ordered my process, and reduced my precipitated Silver; for you are to know, that such a kind of Silver as is precipitated out of Aq. Fortis, by the Water of Salt is wholly volatile, nor melteth it like to a Calx of Lune, but goes away partly in fume, and part is reduced into an horny Stone, and yet by a peculiar Distillation doth all come over, but enough of this. Hereupon is Salt of Tartar to be added to this volatile Calx, lest being molten it vanisheth away in fume, for Borax doth not prevent it. But it melteth better if it be help by that notable fluxing Powder, made of Niter, Tarter, and Sulphur, and it be kindled by a little Coal and burnt up, but then all the Silver doth not melt, but part of it goes away in fume. N. B. If you catch this fume which is a thing easily done, it resembles the form of a red Powder, and will abundantly recompence your pains, nor may that saying of Paracelsus be unfitly applied hereunto, viz. to corrupt is totally to perfect, because these Flores of Silver are not lost, but are of a greater price than the Silver was. He that well knows this labour (for indeed experience is the best master) will not labour in vain. And if he learns nothing from this little here-taught, neither will he find out ought from a greater. For I have in these few words revealed much, yea haply more than I ought to have done. All which we do in the first and chiefest place attribute to God, next him to Niter, which renders Metals so fluxible. From hence may the well minded Reader percieve that there is in Niter, not onely a power to fix all volatile Minerals and Metals (of which I have treated in my [second part of the Prosperity of Germany]) but also of making them wholly volatile, so that they may be distilled and purged, as is sufficiently evident in the aforegoing example: Besides, there is another way of making Metals volatile, as well as by Niter, but so as that they be not wholly dissolved, but are by a moist nitrous Fire reduced so far as to retain the form which they put upon themselves in the said moist Fire, and yet they become so volatile, as to suffer themselves to be wholly distilled and sublimed, and will in the Proba give Gold, the which the gradatory Water hath made in them. But of these things more at large in the [fourth part of the Prosperity of Germany]: Thus with what hath been said, will I finish the third part of my Pharmacopœa Spagyrica.
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The End of the Third Part.
THE
FOURTH PART
OF THE
Spagyrical Pharmacopœa.
Treating of the four principal Pillars of Medicine, viz. Sulphur, Vitriol, Antimony, and Mercury, but chiefly of the great harmony between the Superiour Elementary Sun and Moon, and the Inferiour and Terrestrial Gold and Silver, and the magnetick way of attracting the Virtues of Sol and Lune by the Air, and of rendring them palpable and visible.
READER,
After that I had intended to publish in the Fourth Part of this my Spagyrical Pharmacopœa, some singular and excellent Medicines, and such as might much exceed all others, and so must consequently be prepared of choice and excellent subjects and matters; I accounted it my task in the first place to shew you out of what subjects such efficacious Medicines may be drawn and extracted, viz. out of Gold, Wine, and Antimony, as likewise out of Vitriol and Mercury, but not the vulgar Mercury.
Now although most Men are blinded with a thick darkness, but principally those that prosecute the truth with a deadly hatred, and do prate much, and by reason of their blindness and ignorance do affirm, that Gold being a thick and compact body is not at all fit to admit of such a preparation as thereby to display its most efficacious virtues in Man’s Body: And as for Antimony and Mercury, that they are most present Poisons, and can’t serve as Medicines without great danger; but as for Wine, that it is indeed fit to be drunk, but is of no validity in Medicine, not knowing how to imploy it about any Medicinal use, but are rather ready and skilfull Artists at swallowing it down in full draughts; however though they thus chat yet these objections are frivolous, and do proceed from their ignorance which is wrapped about with most thick Clouds, and which I refute by this brief and strong Reply. But I do not at all deny, that Gold reduced even to the smallest Powder, and so made use of (as ’twas wont of old to be by the Ancient, yea and latter Galenists, and is even too at this day) by mixing it with such Medicines as are for the comforting and strengthning the Heart and Vitals of Men, cannot contribute so much as the least Iota to the health and preservation of the body of Man: And so I say of Antimony and Mercury, that they are not at all salutiferous to Man’s Body, but contrariwise are deadly and destructive Medicaments, untill (by a due preparation) they are deprived of all their Venenosity, and thereby rendred fit to be safely made use of. So Wine it self being taken per se as it is, is a restoring and refreshing Drink for Man, provided it be moderately used: But contrarily is a causer of many Diseases if it be frequently and in large quantities swallowed in, and doth operate in Man’s Body more hurt than good, this daily experience doth sufficiently testifie, and renders it evident, that being so immoderately taken, it fills all the Members of the whole Body with Tartar, and makes obstructions and stirs up intolerable Pains, and principally in the Bladder, Reins, and other parts of the Body, viz. if coagulated in the Hands, Knees, and Feet, whereupon it doth not easily suffer it self to be exterminated, unless by such Artists as well know the properties and nature of Tartar, but of such Men there is at this day a great scarcity, and therefore that proverbial Verse still takes place.
Solvere Nodosam Nescit Medicina Podagram.