Of the spirit and oyl of Harts-horn.
Take Harts-horn, cut it with a saw into pieces, of the bigness of a finger, and cast in one at a time into the aforesaid distilling vessel, and when the spirits are settled, then another, and continue this until you have spirits enough: and the vessel being filled with the pieces that were cast in, take them out with the tongs, and cast in others, and do this as often as is needful. The distilling being finished, take off the receiver, and pour into it dephlegmed spirit of wine, which will cleanse the volatile salt: pour the oyl with the spirit and volatile salt through a filtring paper made wet first and lying in a glass funnel, and the spirit of wine together with the spirit of Harts-horn and the volatile salt will run through the paper, and the blackish oyl will stay behind, but it must quickly be poured out, else it will pass through after them. The spirit together with the volatile salt rectifie through a retort, and the best part of the spirit will come over together with the spirit of wine and volatile salt; and when the phlegme is coming, take of the spirit, which is come over, that the naughty phlegm may not come amongst it; keep it well, for it is very volatile, the oyl may be mingled with salt of tartar, and rectified by a glass retort, and so it will be clear; if you will have it fairer, you must rectify it with spirit of salt.
The first, which is done with salt of Tartar, is of more vertue; it cureth the Quartane, and provoketh sweat extremly, cureth all internal wounds and pains, which were caused by falls, blows, or other wayes: 6, or 8. 10, to 20. drops of it taken in wine and sweated upon it in the bed. The spirit is very good for all obstructions of the whole body, from ℈ ss. to ʒ ss. therefore taken in a fit vehicle, provoketh urine, and forceth down womens courses, it cleanseth the blood and maketh sweat mightily. In the Plague, Pox, Leprosie, Scurvy, Melancholia Hypochondriaca, malignant Feavers, and the like where sweating is necessary, it proveth a rare medicine.
To make the spirit of mans hair an excellent medicine.
After the same manner you may make spirits out of all kind of horns and claws of beasts: but since by reason of their ill smel the use of them is not liked of (though in several heavy diseases, as in the fits of the mother and Epilepsie, they do admirably well:) therefore I will acquiesce. However it is worth observing, that the spirit made of mans hair is not to be rejected in metallical operations, for it dissolveth common sulphur, and reduceth it into a milk, which by further ripening may be turned into blood, the like whereunto no spirit is able to do. The same spirit may also of it self, without addition of sulphur be fixed into a ruby; but that which is ripened with sulphur is the better; and if it be brought so far by the fire, that it have lost its stink, and be made fixed than it will be able sufficiently to pay for the pains and coals bestowed upon it.
N. B. Hither belongeth the Process to pour dissolved metals upon filed hartshorn, and so to distil them.
Of the oyl of Ambar.
Ambar yeildeth a very pleasant oyl and of great vertue especially the white Ambar: the yellow is not so good, and the black is inferior to this; for by reason of its impurity it cannot be well used inwardly; and there cometh over also along with it a volatile salt and an acid water, which must be seperated; the water (for ought that I know) is of little vertue; the salt if it be sublimed from the salt of Tartar and purified, is a good diuretick, and in the Stone and the Gout, may successfully be used both inwardly and outwardly. The oyl if it be rectified, especially that which comes over first, is an excellent medicine against the Plague, Epilepsy, rising of the Mother and Megrim, 6, 8, 10, to 20. drops being taken thereof at once, and the nostrils also being anoynted therewith for to smell to it; and it is to be observed, that when it is rectified with spirit of salt, it proveth much clearer, than done by it self without addition: but if it be rectified with salt of tartar, it is of much more vertue, though it fall not so clear, as that which is done by spirit of salt.
N. B. If it be rectified from a strong Aqua Regia having before once already been rectified with spirit of salt, it will turn so subtle, that it is able to dissolve iron or copper in some sort, and to reduce them into good medicines; and in this second rectification by Aqua Regia all will not come over, but part of it will be coagulated by the corrosive water, so that it turneth thick, like unto mastich, which in the warmth is soft, and may be handled with owns fingers like wax, but in the could it is so hard, that it may be broken and made into powder, and glistereth like gold.