Scorpions, May-Worms, Cantharides, and such like venomous Insects, do all minister yellow Tinctures, or such Salts as may most profitably be administred in all grievous and venomous Diseases.
CHAP. XXVII.
What is to be judged of the Tincture of Corals.
When Paracelsus writ of the admirable Virtues of Tincture of Corals, which it manifests in the Expulsion of all grievous Diseases, he said, that very many famous Men endeavoured to perfect that Tincture; but an happy event or prosperous success of the same happened to few. Even so hath it hapned unto me, who have been a searcher of that Tincture above forty years. As to the external face, I could indeed variously extract a Tincture of Corals, but in Medicine it proved not as it seemed. Hence I conjectured that was not the true Tincture of Corals, but that Tincture came from the Menstruum. Yet at length GOD shewed me some particular Feathers of Birds, which might be adapted to fixed Tinctures latent in Stones and stony Subjects, and by help of them the same be extracted from their gross Bodies, and exposed to publick view; yet among them all, three sorts of Feathers onely hold the Principal place.
I.
The black Feathers of Crows,
which are endued with power to elevate such Tinctures as love to ascend.
II.
The white Feathers of Pidgeons,
which, in a sort, contain in themselves the purest, and before (by their natural virtue) lightly volatile Tinctures, invade and carry them upwards with them.
III.
Eagles Feathers,
which rowse even the most fixed and heaviest Bodies, and thence extract the inmost or noblest part of them, and carry it upwards with themselves.