As concerning the way of preparing this Bloud of Gold, it is already described in the first Dialogue, and its adjoyned Corollary, insomuch that there needs no fuller declaration in this place. But yet you are to know that I have met with (since the writing the first Dialogue) a far easier and more compendious way of converting or turning any Gold, even in a moment, into Bloud, by the help of our occult Sal Armoniack. But this Bloud is not to be used in Medicine, as it is per se, because of the Sal Armoniack, which transmutes the Gold and changeth it into Bloud. For these sharp Saline and Corrosive Spirits are unprofitable, and hurtfull in Medicine, and are therefore to be separated from the Gold, which is done by the pouring on of common Water or Rain water, which imbibes the Spirits of the Salts, and precipitates the most red Powder of the Gold to the bottom of the Vessel. This Powder must be well wash’t by several waters, and be well freed from all its saltishness; which being so freed, may (by the addition of some Cordial Water) be reduced to the consistence of a Syrup, and so kept; the Dose whereof may be augmented or diminished according to the condition of the sick, and the disease. But commonly so much of this Golden Bloud is sufficient as serves to tinge a spoonfull of Wine, Ale, or other Vehicle, with a red Colour. It is usefull in all diseases in which the Heart needs strengthening. But especially it allays the immoderate Flux of Bloud both in Men and Women, and cures the Gonorrhea, Leprosie, and French Pox, if the Body shall be purged with due Purging and Sudorifick Medicaments. It heals those Pustules in the Skin, the Nose, and other places of the Face if outwardly anointed with a Feather several times a day. For it drys vehemently, and makes the Skin it self fair and smooth. And therefore upon this account it is exceeding profitable for Women that have naturally pale Faces and Lips, for being laid on, it changeth the paleness into a comely and natural Colour, especially if a little white Oil made of Talk be thereto admixed, to temper and allay that most red Colour of the Gold, and it likewise is a most delicate Fucus for such Women whose Faces are not onely pale, but also dyed with a duskyish or yellow Colour, and by means of this Cosmetick or Fucus may they paint their Faces of a natural Colour. For no Fucus may compare with this, for it is so commodious and durable that it cannot be distinguished or known, nor be corrupted as others are, which being done with Vinegar, sowre Wine, Lemon-juyce and such like things do presently, by a breathing on them, turn into a filthy Colour, and bewray a painted Face. For this Golden Bloud is so very constant, and doth so keep its most curious Colour, as that it remains safe from all injury of the Elements.
Furthermore, this Bloud (before it is freed from its Saline Spirits) tingeth the Hair, Skin, Wool, Bones of Beasts, and Feathers of Birds, with a most delicate purple Colour; which passing into a redness, is so constant, as that no sharp Waters can corrupt it, and therefore it is far beyond all other purple Colours, what name soever called by, and worthily may it be accounted for a kingly Colour.
It would be too long to reckon up in this place its various other uses: It serves in Medicine for the tinging of divers Confections and Cordial Waters, which Colour is much nobler, and more profitable than those wherewith Confectio Alkermes and Cordial Waters are wont to be tinged. ’Tis evident that the Colour of Gold doth rather benefit than hurt the Sick, which if the said Confections or Cordial Waters are coloured withall, they become the fairer, and they are rendred yet more delicate, if the Atoms of Gold, being thereunto adjoyned, fly about in the Wine or Water like so many very small Stars. For if to an Aq. Vitæ, which is already tinged with the Bloud of Gold, a little of the said Atoms be admixt, they will shine out of that delicate purple Colour, like the most bright Aurora (or day-break) in the Heavens. This is a most excellent way of making Aq. Vitæ’s, for the Atoms of the Gold are so very subtile, as that they easily admit of concoction and digestion by the heat of the Stomach, and emit their Virtues, which those common Gold leaves which are mixt with Confectio Alkermes, Aq. Vitæ, and such like compositions onely for ornaments sake, doe not doe: And therefore they are no ways comparable to those Atoms of ours. ’Tis no small trivial matter that I disclose unto you, and verily it would be well worth the while for the Apothecaries shops of noble men to esteem highly of the same: And as for what and how great things may farther be done with this same Tincture of Gold, as to the Metallick matter, may be found in the first Dialogue.
An easie way of making and preparing the Atoms of Gold.
Dissolve an Ounce and an half of Gold in strong Spirit of Salt, or if you are not furnished with this Spirit, then dissolve the same in common Aq. Reg. and pour upon the Solution one pound or two of Rain water, whereto is admixt about one pound of Rhenish Wine, mix them altogether in a glass, and shake them well, and shut the glass close that no dust fall therein, set it by for some days in a warm place that so the Gold may precipitate out of the Water, and settle to the bottom of the Vessel in the likeness of most curious small Stars. But if all the Gold shall not be precipitated in this time, set then the Glass in a B, and let the Solution boil a while; then when it is again cool, set by the Vessel some-where that the Gold may settle, which being dissolved into Atoms, (and the Water and Wine poured neatly off) is to be taken out of the Glass, and to be often wash’t with pure water: So shall you have the Atoms of Gold, which you may safely make use of in Medicine.
N. B. But you are to note, that it is impossible for the Gold to be by thus proceeding so dissolved as for nothing at all thereof to remain in the dissolving water. And therefore ’tis necessary that you separate the residue of the Gold out of the water by precipitation. And in my other Writings will you meet with several ways of separating the same. These most fine and subtile Atoms of Gold may you also make use of with most notable profit even in other Chymical operations, concerning which you will find clear instructions in other places of my Writings.
And forasmuch as I here make mention of a most excellent Aq. Vitæ, it seems in my Judgment necessary and profitable to add here a full description of the same, together with the use thereof.
The way of making a Golden Aq. Vitæ, and such as never as yet hath been described and published unto us by any Physician.
Take of the best and purest Salt-petre, and of white and pure Tartar, each one pound, of yellow Sulphur half a pound, make these matters into Powder, and having well mixt them, put them into a Crusible, and by putting thereunto a live Wood coal, kindle them, that they may take fire and burn up; and leave a yellow mass behind in the Crusible; which being molten in the fire, and turned forth into a Mortar, will give you a fiery sulphureous Stone, biting the tongue by reason of its sharpness. Now whilst it is yet warm, powder it, for it presently attracts (when cool) humidity out of the Air, and admits not of pulverization. Being powdered, pour thereupon two or three pounds of the best Spirit of Wine, and set it by in a cold place for some days, but with this proviso, that you daily shake or stir your matter in the Vessel with the Spirit of Wine: By this means will the Spirit of Wine attract a red Tincture out of the Sulphur, and will withall acuate it self with the Salt, by the Calcined Tartar, then filter this Spirit of Wine by Cap-paper or a Filter, as they call it, and draw off two third parts by distillation in a B, that so you may have your Spirit again, but of a very pleasing tast and smell, which it gets out of the Sulphur, as out of the Center of all odour.
This Spirit of Wine, having the following Spices and Flowers steeped therein, and being again distilled off in a B, will give thee an efficacious Cordial Spirit of Wine, which said Spirit you may colour red, with the Tincture of the Gold, and by the apposition of as much of the Atoms of the Gold as is sufficient, make it Aureous. Now as much as there shall be in quantity of this same Spirit, you may thereto afterwards add so much sweet volatile Spirit of Gold, as will allay the overmuch heat of the said Vinous Spirit. But that this yet overmuch heat may be yet more allayed, and that the strong odour it self of the Aureous Spirit may be corrected, you may therein dissolve about some four ounces of Sugar-candy beaten into fine Powder, and this will make this truely Aureous Aq. Vitæ most sweet. This most incomparable Aq. Vitæ may be used in all the Sicknesses of the Body most safely and most profitably where the Vital Spirits the Heart and Brain need strengthening. For the Aromatical Spirit of Wine doth even per se corroborate the Vital Spirits, and now the Spirit of Gold makes it more potent and effectual, and the Atoms of the Gold too, doth render it yet more vertuous, insomuch that this Aq. Vitæ bears away the Bell from all others, nor can a better and more powerfull be prepared. For not onely the red Tincture of the Gold, but likewise even the Gold it self being thus turned into Atoms, is constrained to undergo the concoction and digestion of the Stomach of Mankind: And therefore where ’tis used, the Excrements are generally black, which could not be if the Gold past forth again undigested. Seeing therefore it is an undoubted truth, that it is thus overcome and subdued by the Stomach’s digestion, it cannot be but that by its most wholsome operation it must needs prove helpfull to the sick body. Besides too, I think it not amiss to tell you, that the very Excrements (save your presence) of those sick Patients that daily make use of this Aq. Vitæ, are not to be thrown away, for they will even yet afford some small benefit, if they are laid to the roots of Vines to dung them with, for it will make the Vines produce such Grapes as have their Stones speckled with little Golden Stars, as my self have tried. And perhaps something of greater moment may be effected in the Metallick trade by such kind of Excrements, though I confess ’tis needless, seeing good may be done upon them by other ways.