The way of Preparing Mercury out of Metals and Minerals, by the benefit of Tartar only, without any other Salts.
℞. Filings of Steel ℔ j. Tartar ℔ ij. Common Water ℔ xx. If by strong boyling by Alembick in Sand, you distil thence all the Water; the Tartar in that boyling dissolves the ♂, and so will Volatilize the Mercury set at Liberty, in such wise, as it will ascend with the Water, like a subtile Spirit; which, (concentrated and made fit by Rectification) either by a Solution of ☉, or by some other contrary Acidity, is rendred Corporeal, according to the Method above shewed. If any one, to as much Tartar as he hath, take half so much Salarmoniack, the Tartar so much the more readily preys upon the ☿, also much more Mercury issueth thence, than by Tartar only.
Note: But since this way, in one Distillation, but little Mercury ascends, such an Operation may be performed in a large Vesica; yet with this Caution, viz. that the Alembeck and Refrigeratory be not made of Copper, but of Tin or Lead. This way of Operating by a Vesica will be of great use, especially for such covetous Men, as cannot be content with few things; but always labour with the perpetual Poverty of an unsatiable Spirit; although, they more than sufficiently abound with the fulness of all desireable things. For he is only Rich, who is always content with his present Fortune.
The way of Preparing Mercury of Saturn, by Tartar only.
℞. One or two ℔. of the Raspings or Filings of Saturn, upon which pour fifteen, or twenty ℔. of strong Vinegar of Wine, and mix therewith a little pulverized Tartar. But the Vinegar per se should be impregnated with no small quantity of Tartar. Which Tartar, if you distil with the Mixture, the Phlegm in Distillation carries over with it self a subtile Mercurial Spirit; which must be separated from the Phlegm, in manner as we above taught. The Solution of ♄ will remain in the bottom. Thence also, by the help of Salt of Tartar, ☿ may be extracted by Retort; yet it is not so good as the other, which ascended in the form of a subtile Spirit.
The way of Preparing Mercury of Antimony, by the help of Tartar only.
℞. Some Pounds of strong Antimonial Red Lixivium, (made of Antimony duly, decrepitate and melted with Tartar and Nitre) which put into a Glass Body set in Sand, as we above taught, in treating of the Fixation of 🜍: Afterward, through the Tunnel, leisurely and at times, pour upon the Lixivium most strong Wine Vinegar, until both (viz. the Lixivium and Vinegar) cease to Act upon each other. This being done, if by Distillation you separate all the Humidity, the Sulphureous Spirit of Antimony, will ascend in the form of a subtil Spirit, smelling like Sulphur: Which after Rectification, either with a Solution of ☽ or ☉, becomes Corporeal, and so habile, as it may be converted into a fixed Tincture.
The Method of Distilling a tinging Mercurial Spirit from Metals another way.
We above shewed, that from Metals most firmly compact, a tinging 🜍 and ☿ could not be extracted, unless the Metals be first dissolved, or mortified; and that in such Mortification, there is a Spirit so apt to be associated, as, in the very hour of Mortification, it lays hold of, and carries up with it self, the ascending Spirit, or Soul of Metals. Yet among all, pure Spirit of Wine well dephlegmated, I judge best; because in abstraction it carries over with it self the most pure 🜍 and ☿ of Metals, and leaves the Gross dead Body behind in the bottom; so as, such Mercury, as you shall draw forth in distilling by Spirit of Wine, will be much purer, and more Virtuous in Tinging, than the other, which you distil off by common Water only; and that for this especially, viz. because this Spirit, which is extracted by Spirit of Wine, from more pure is rendred most pure by Rectification. Which is a thing impossible to be effected, where the Sulphureous ☿ of Metals shall ascend by the help of common Water; because then the Water only, in Rectification, is distilled off, but the 🜍 remains in the bottom, in form of a Red Powder: And the other, which is sublimed by Spirit of Wine, and afterward by Rectification subtilized to an higher degree, and meliorated in its tinging Virtue, is not only in Medicine, but also in the Melioration of Metals, Gems, and the more ignoble pretious Stones, an hundred fold more efficaciously conducent to tinge them to a Constancy, than the former, which, in distilling, ascends by Water only; and by Rectification cannot be exalted, or multiplyed in its Virtue, so well as the other, made by Spirit of Wine. That Sulphureous ☿, which ascends by help of Spirit of Wine, is endued with so subtil and penetrative Power, as to it in the Vessel is given such Ingress, by which Metals and Gems are tinged with a more constant and durable Red, or Yellow Colour, than can be annihilated or impaired by any Corrosive Waters, or by the violence of Fire; especially if it be distilled from apt tinging Subjects, as the Vitriol of ♂ and ♀, or from Antimony. Of which I suppose enough is now spoken.
Therefore, if any one be desirous of knowing more touching this Matter, him (for his further and more clear Information of the same) I refer to the Seventh Part of our Spagyrick Pharmacopœa; where he will find, we have prolixly taught, touching the extraction of Tinctures, from Red Corals, and other tinging Subjects.