CHAP. XI.
Proceeding now to Metallick fixed Salts, Mercurial volatile and most subtil Spirits, let us see what they are able to effect in Medicine. And first let us speak of Antimony, as the Radical Juice of all Metals.
Recipe of the Minera of Antimony finely pulverised one Pound, of our secret Sal Armomiack six or eight half Ounces; which diligently mixed put into a coated Glass Retort, which set into a Distillatory Furnace, and apply a Receiver thereto, ministring Fire leisurely according to Art, that the Glass be not broken. In distilling first of all ascends a little sowrish Water, then (the Retort being hot) a thick Oil fat and yellow, in which is contained the most excellent Mercury of Antimony, which you may thence thus separate.
Upon the yellow Oil distilled, pour common Water, which Water will draw to it self the Salts, and precipitate the Mercury, like a yellow ponderous and shining Calx, which being edulcorated and dried, will be an Universal Purger. Its dose is very small. I use no more than a quarter of a Grain, which (saving your Reverence) gives me 3, 4, or 5 Stools: but to a robust man I give half a Grain, a whole Grain, and sometimes two Grains. Note: If a larger dose be given, this Mercury excites vomiting also, though very gently. If you would render it Diaphoretick, you must thence abstract rectified Oil of Vitriol. Then this Mercury of Antimony, which before was liquable as Wax, becomes altogether fixed and unmeltable; and then you may give of it from 1, 2, 3, to 8, or 10 Grains, which indeed move not Seidges, but provoke Sweat without weariness to the Patient, and performs the Office of a blessed Medicine against all Diseases, where Sweat is needfull. Reduce the Caput Mortuum taken out of the Retort to Powder (the finer the Powder is the better your Work will succeed) and having put it into a Phial pour Spirit of Wine upon it, mix them by a continued stirring and shaking of the Glass (for otherwise it turns it self into an hard stony Mass) and in Balneo digest it for a natural Day. Thence the Spirit of Wine will acquire a red Colour, which pour off, and repour on fresh Spirit, which also permit to extract as much as it can. Then with gentle heat of Balneo, abstract the Spirit of Wine from the Tincture, which will reside in the bottom like a red Salt. Which Salt is so great a Treasure in Medicine, as exceeds all estimation. For it passeth through the whole Body like Fire, and consumes Diseases, as Fire burns up Wood. For according as it finds any defect in the Body so it operates, expelling Sweat and Urine, purging out all malignant and noxious Humours of the whole Body, and highly purifying the Blood, so as I believe no more noble Tincture and Salt than this can be extracted out of Antimony. Its dose indeed is very small, but of great efficacy, insomuch as using but half a Grain of it you will find a most evident Operation. Therefore, if a Master of a Family provide for himself but one Drachm of this Medicine, he may by the help of that for the space of one whole year not onely preserve himself and family from many Diseases, but also defend himself and them from all other Affects every where prevailing. Therefore let GOD have the Praise of it.
CHAP. XII.
That this way also may be prepared from Auripigment and Arsenick a Mercurial Oil, and a fixed Tincture.
Recipe of Auripigment one Pound of our secret Sal Armoniack four Ounces, which reduced to Powder mix, and distil in a Retort by degrees a volatile yellow corrosive Oil. At last, in the neck of the Retort will ascend a sublimate Red as Blood, transparent and as beautifull as an Oriental Ruby; the external use of which is famously medicinal against Ulcers and gangrenous Affects. And the yellow Oil is a most present Remedy for mortifying all gangrenous Ulcers, and laying a solid Foundation for their Cure, if the part affected be onely anointed with a Feather dipt therein. If any one pour Water upon the aforesaid Oil, that corrosive, which ascended with the Auripigment, will be separated and precipitated into a yellow Calx, which edulcorated and dried, becomes so strong and vomitive, as it cannot safely be given inwardly: but outwardly sprinkled upon Wounds, it lays a good foundation for healing. But if from the aforesaid yellow Powder, Oil of Vitriol be abstracted, it then becomes so fixed, as it will bear the force of a most violent Fire, without any exhalation of fume; and then loseth all its venome, and may be most safely used from 1, 2, 3, 4, to 6, or 8 Grains, against the Pestilence, all Feavers, and such Diseases where Sweat is needfull. It is to be admired, that this Subject so very volatile and venomous, should by one onely abstraction of Oil of Vitriol, become so fixed and constant in Fire. Also it is no less admirable, that this Oil like any other Oil of Minerals, doth not ascend in the form of a Liquor, but like and in the form of some fat Vegetable Oil, whereas in it is not any fatness at all, because all proceeds from the Auripigment.
Moreover, it will be profitable also to teach, that the aforesaid fixed Auripigment (whensoever unto it, by the help of Mercury of Luna, ingress is procured) projected upon a Red-hot Plate of Copper, renders the same totally white and as tractable as Silver. Which things being known, although of little use, do notwithstanding savour of a pleasing Curiosity, by which you will find, that of red Copper, white Silver may be made. Also, after the same manner of white and red Arsenick, such a medicinal Oil and Tincture may be prepared for Venus. Note: Whosoever is desirous to labour herein, must studiously avoid the venomous fume: For Arsenick cannot well be handled without peril.
I might here also say something of the running Mercuries of Metals; but since they rather appertain to the Transmutation of Metals, than unto Medicine, I thought it best to pass over the mentioning of these in this small Treatise, and to publish them in the following Centuries.