The works of the highly experienced and famous chymist, John Rudolph Glauber

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

The Spices and Flowers which are to be extracted by the aforesaid Alcolizated Spirit of Wine, and to be used in the Aqua Vitæ.

Take the Flowers of the Lilly of the Valley three ounces, Of Red Roses, Cinamon, Mace, Cardamoms, Borage, Rosemary, Sage, Lavender, two ounces, of Ambergrease, Musk, a scruple. All these Flowers fresh gathered are to be put, with the dry Spices, into the Spirit of Wine, and are to be therein macerated, and then distilled. If you can’t get fresh Flowers, you must even content your self with dried ones, but yet the fresh-gathered are better if they can be had.

The Use of the Universal Medicament described in my second Dialogue.

The vertue and efficacy of this Medicament is of such a large extent, as cannot be comprehended nor apprehended by humane understanding. It is prepared of the immature, and as yet volatile, and not fire-brooking Mineral, called by the Philosophers the Magnesia of Saturn.

When this black Mineral is purged from all gross impurity, and reduced into a most white and delicate Colour, and is in the form of a most delicate, fine, bright, and very ponderous Powder, it may be used with notable benefit about the curing of the most grievous diseases. It casts forth out of the Body of Man all hurtfull things, and that both by a visible and invisible operation, freeing and purging it of all hurtfull and ill humours, beyond all other Medicaments, what name soever distinguish’t by. It shews incredible Vertues in a very little Dose, insomuch that there hath not been found hitherto any Medicament, which being exhibited in so small a quantity, hath shown such incredible efficacy. And although Antimonial Medicines are notably vertuous, and cause every one to wonder at them, as appears by my Golden Panacæa, and my Panacæa of Antimony, which for this twenty years space have been famous all over Europe, yet can they not be in any case compared to this Universal Medicament.

1. For first of all, they are far inferiour in virtues to this, for one grain of this will do more than two, three, or four grains of the other can effect.

2. Secondly, this is heavier and more ponderous than the others, for one ounce of this will lie in less room than three, four, or five times as much of my Antimonial, or of my golden Panacæa, and therefore is it much easier and more commodious to be taken by the Sick.

3. Thirdly, this is also to be preferred before the others if you consider them as to tast and smell, for this hath neither odour nor tast, whereas that Antimonial and the golden Panacæa have always some odour and tast of the Salts, and for that reason do breed a nauseate and loathing in the Sick if often used.

Therefore I have determined with my self to substitute this universal Medicament, in the room of my Panacæa made of Antimony, and the rather for this reason, because Deceivers and Cheaters have made a red Powder of Antimony, and perfidiously sold the same for my Panacæa; but now this deceit of theirs must end, for they will never be able by all their deceitfull imitations to counterfeit this ponderous Medicament void both of smell and tast.

As for the Dose of this Medicament, there must care be had that scarce one quarter part so much of it, be administred as is wont to be of my Panacæa of Antimony. There must scarce be given the tenth or twelfth part of one grain at one time, to such Infants as are under six Months old, and which are afflicted with the Epilepsie or Convulsions, the Small Pox or Measels, the Feavers or such like Diseases. To such as are upwards of six Months, even to 12, 13, or 14 Months old, an 8th. 6th. or 4th. part of a grain may be administred, to such as are 2, 3, 6, 8, or 10 Years old, ¼ or ⅓ part of a grain may be given. To such as are upwards of 10, even to 20 years old, ½ a grain, or ¾ or at utmost but 1 whole grain may be administred. Those that are between the 20th. or 50th. Years of their age, may use 1 grain or 1 gr. and ½, nor must they exceed 2 grains at most. From the 50th year, all the rest of their age even to their lives end, the Dose of this universal Medicament is to be again lessened, for old age is not able to brook so much as youth, and as a Man in the prime of his years can. But however you may administer this so notable an universal Medicament to every age, pleasantly, safely, and without any danger at all, if a due Dose be but observed: Insomuch that you need not fear to administer the same even to Women with Child. But yet the lesser half part of the Dose which other Men use is enough for them. In Feavers it must be given afore the Fit, in the Plague as soon as it’s felt and afterwards too, in the Dropsie once (or if that one Dose be not sufficient) twice every month; in the Gout and Stone twice a Week; in the Leprosie, French Pox, and such like Diseases as arise from the impurity of the Bloud, thrice a Week, in obstructions of the Milt, Liver, Mesentery, once a Week; in the Epilepsie, Madness, and other preternatural affects of the Head, let it be given twice a Week, and this so long till the evil be quite removed. The affects of the Chollick will need a Dose every day before they cease. This is the manner of curing the aforesaid Diseases of the Body and all others, by the help of this universal Medicament. Which being used inwardly performs things incredible, and doth likewise work admirably in all dangerous wounds, open or running Sores, as well old as new, the Cancer, Fistula, and the like.