Touching the Original of this Salt, I have before shewed which way it
should be made of F. and common Salt. Yet I would not have these words
be so taken, as if the same could be prepared no other way than this.
The methods of preparing it are various; for it may be prepared of G.
only, without the mixture of common salt, yea, of allume, sulphur, or
common salt, without the addition of H. or without the benefit of the
Fire of any other salt. No salt can be found, which is not a commodious
matter for this salt of Art; yet it may be collected from one more
easily, and more copiously than from another. But because we exhibited
one only way of preparing that before, as well for other reasons, as
because of want of time, and lest we should be too tedious to the
Reader; therefore we now think it convenient to signifie, that these
wonderful salts may be prepared, and that they are endowed with special
virtues denied to others, which they exercise, as well universally as
particularly, in Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals. For, Who can deny
that salt to be of another nature, which remains after the Destillation
of spirit of common salt, and that which is left in the Destillation of
_Aqua-fortis_ or _R._ although they be salts of a most diverse nature,
of which these are prepared?
Yet every one of these is endowed with power of dissolving and fixing.
But that which is made of _Sal Armoniack_ volatilizeth all bodies so,
as the souls of them pass over by Alembick; in like manner a spirit
separated from _Sal-Armoniack_, by the help of C. manifests other
virtues and properties, than those which are found in the Spirit of
common Salt. To one more accurately considering these, _Arcanums_ of
great note will exhibit themselves: But more of these elsewhere.
_Of the Name of this Universal Salt._
On this Salt we impose the name of, _The Universal Salt of
Philosophers_, respecting those excellent Powers and Virtues, with
which it is endowed above any other Salt. We deservedly call it
Universal, because it is the highest of those Medicaments which
proceed from Minerals, Animals, or Vegetables; as in the following
Treatise shall be demonstrated: Of Philosophers is added, because the
demonstration of this matter is necessarily grounded on Philosophick
foundations.
_Of the Virtues of this Universal Salt._
Touching its virtues, they are innumerable, and we judge it impossible
to discover them all; for if I should undertake only to write what
I know of the virtues thereof, a whole years time, day and night
labouring, would scarcely suffice. Perhaps GOD will discover more to
others; perhaps they, who are younger than I, may find what is to me
unknown. By me the first, by me the Guide is opened to the Searcher an
entrance to things more excellent.
My purpose is to communicate to others those things, which the most
Bountiful GOD hath largely conferred on me, for His Honour, and the
profit of my Neighbour: I intend, I say, to divulge the wonderful
Works of GOD, but at this time (by reason of various businesses and
hindrances) I shall only make mention of some of the virtues, which I
find to be in my _Sal Mirabile_, or Salt of Art, reserving the more
special explanation of all things to a more commodious time.
This Salt is rightly called Universal, because it is the principal
Medicament of the three Kingdoms, _viz._ of Animals, Vegetables, and
Minerals, and hath power to perfect and augment the same. I remember
that heretofore I have attributed to Nitre the Dignity of this,
and not without reason; yet in many things it is inferiour to this
_Sal Mirabile_, so as it deserves not to be compared with the same.
Therefore in no wise correspondent to Verity are those Writings, which
teach, That by the help of a certain Corrosive, a transparent Salt may
be extracted from a Metal, and that Salt, dissolvable in water, is
the true Salt of the Wise. Such Writings are of no other use, than to
seduce the Ignorant by Lyes.
For the salt in which a Metal is dissolved, deserves no more to be
called or esteemed a simple salt, but receives the condition of a
metallick Vitriol, whether that Vitriol is green or yellow, of _Sol_
and _Luna_, or white, of _Mercury_, _Jupiter_, and _Saturn_; or
blewish-green, of _Mars_ and _Venus_; for what is to be an Universal
Medicine, extending it self to all Kingdoms, must necessarily have
no extraneous thing mixed with it. This is consentaneous even to the
Judgment of Rusticks.
The true Universal Salt should be partaker of no metallick matter;
but altogether pure, and most easily able to put on the nature of all
things contained in the kingdoms of Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals,
and so exhibit it self a most excellent Medicine. And since these
Properties are most fully found in our Universal salt, there is no
reason we should ascribe to it less Honour, or not preferr it before
all salts.
Intending to expose the Verity of these sayings to all, we begin first
with Vegetables.
_Of the wonderful power of the =Universal Salt= in the kingdom of
=Vegetables=._
I said in my _Miracle of the World_, and the Continuation thereof,
that a sulphureous sweet salt is the most excellent Medicament of all
Vegetables: The Truth of which no man hath cause to doubt; for I have
shewed in various places, that barren grounds are made fruitful by the
addition of that. Of this salt, which we may use instead of Dung, there
is great diversity, for it is prepared of Wood-ashes, of Stones burnt
to Lime, and of other bodies putrefied by length of time. But the Chief
of all these is Salt-petre, being the salt of Vegetables, Animals, and
Minerals putrefied, especially because it is endowed with a certain
occult and sweet Fire. Also the signature proper to it, clearly
exposeth to our sight its augmentative virtue; for it exhibits not it
self in a Cubical form, as is observed in corrosive salts, (altogether
adverse to the augmentation of Bodies) but Dart-like or acuminate. By
this signature Nature intended to shew of what condition and virtue
salt-petre is. And indeed, if Experience be consulted, the things we
have proposed will be found true, _viz._ that in Nitre is a principal
Virtue, augmenting Bodies. As for example: R. what Corn you will, steep
it for a night and day in Rain-water, wherein Nitre is dissolved,
commit it to the earth, and you will find, that it not only shoots up
more copious stalks and ears, and hath a more swift germination and
ripening, but also is endowed with a much more acceptable taste, than
other Corn in the vulgar manner produced by the help of the Dungs of
Animals. But of this matter, more at large elsewhere.
Pure Nitre is a salt genited in old Stables, from the Dung and Urine
of Animals. Urine and Dung are no other than Vegetables themselves,
putrefied by digestion in the stomachs of Animals; which concoction is
wont to be perfected in 24 hours space: But Vegetables and Animals,
out of the stomachs of Animals, cannot be putrefied without long time,
especially when they have acquired some undue hardness.
Thus we see Putrefaction differs in respect of time, yet it
acknowledgeth no diversity; for whether it be made in the stomach of an
Animal, or out of it, it is all one, and never different in virtues. By
this _medium_ the Vegetable kind hath its propagation and encrease, but
altogether in a rustical manner, because a better way is not yet known.
Indeed, unto Philosophers is known a more easie and more compendious
way of reducing Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals to their first
matter, or into a sulphureous sweet Salt; yet they reserved the same
among their _Arcanums_, lest such a most noble Art should be made too
common.
As it is altogether impossible that the seed of any Vegetable set in
dry Herbs should grow, or Man himself, or any other Animal, should be
able to sustain Life, encrease, or be multiplied, with the only use of
Sand or Flints; but earth moistened with a saline liquor, is required,
unto which the seed must be committed; and in Man such Aliment must be
digested in the stomach, as will easily be changed into nutriment of
the Parts: so it is impossible to augment Metals, unless they have been
before reduced to their first matter, and so spiritually conjoined each
to other, as one may give nourishment and encrease to the other. All
these things are far more easily and more readily performed by Art than
by Nature.
By Art that all Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral subjects may most easily
and swiftly be reduced to their first matter, which is a sulphureous
sweet Salt; and by that means be multiplied, the true Universal Salt
clearly demonstrates; which salt, if we observe its signature or
long figure) is not only more excellent than Salt-petre, but is also
generated easily in the air. We have discerned sand or a stone to
imbibe this salt, if exposed to the air, and from an ingenited virtue
thence to grow, yea, and that which first grew being taken away, in a
few daies space another hath shewed it self, and so to Infinity. Indeed
these things seem impossible, but they are not so to him who rightly
knows Nature; for that augmentation is effected in a Magnetical manner,
of which we do more fully treat in another place.
Hence, not without good cause, do we ascribe to this Universal Salt the
title of HERO, and a most rich and liberal Monarch.
The PROCESS.
_A most easie Way of acquiring =Spirit of Salt= together with the
=Sal Mirabile=._
R. of common salt two parts, dissolve it in a sufficient quantity of
common water; pour _A._ upon the solution; put the mixture into a glass
Body, or a glass Retort well coated, or else into an earthen Body or
Retort. If a Body, set on an Head, and begin to destil with Fire of
sand, encreasing your Fire gradually; with the first heat comes off
the unsavoury Phlegm, which gather apart; when the Liquor comes forth
sowrish, change your Receiver, and receive the sowre Spirit: Continue
the operation till no more spirits will arise, then let out the Fire,
and permit the Vessel to stand in sand till all is cooled, when cold,
take it out, and if it be unbroke, fill it again with the aforesaid
matter, and proceed as we taught: The Phlegm is not to be cast away,
but must be kept, that in it may be dissolved Salt (because it is
better than common Water) for another destination. Thus from every
pound of Salt you will have ℔ j. of the best and most pure spirit.
Dissolve the salt remaining in the Body or Retort (if neither be broke)
in Water, filter and evaporate the Water, let it crystallize, the
Crystals will be white, endowed with wonderful Virtues, to be declared
here following.
Note, If the Glass be broke, there will be no necessity of dissolving
the Salt, it will be enough to take out the dried _Sal Mirabile_, and
reserve it for Use.
Note, This destillation may be performed in a silver Body, for so
doing, we shall be free from all danger of breaking; yet the Vessel
must be made of very pure Silver, void of all Copper, lest those most
sharp spirits do attract the Copper from the Silver, and so the Body
become altogether porous and soft. Although in the salt is no property
agreeing with silver, yet every destillation it raceth off some of
the silver, which that you may save, gather the white Powder left in
the Filtre, after filtration of the dissolved salt. Dry this Powder,
moistened with a strong _Lixivium_, and melt it in a Crucible into
silver; yet you must not institute this melting of the silver _per se_,
because it hath acquired such volatility from the spirit of salt, as it
will fume all away.
And although every destillation some quantity of the silver be raced
off, yet you may destil the same matter some hundreds of times in the
same Body, before you shall need a new one. Thus we shall have the less
need of Glasses, and sooner perform the destillations, because a strong
Fire may be given at first, without fear of breaking the Vessel.
A yet more compendious way is, when we set the Body alone upon a
Trivet, and by putting Fire under it, extract the spirit; for so we
shall need no Furnace, unless we will, for better constringing the
heat: Nor will any great quantity of Coals be spent in such extraction,
because ℔ j. of salt may be destilled with two or three ℔ of Coals.
This spirit being of it self sufficiently clear, and of a grateful
taste, needs no rectification.
Yea, it is able to effect more than we ascribe to it in our Writings.
Also the remaining salt effects other incredible things, besides those
we ascribed to it in our Treatise of the nature of salts.
Plainly, after the very same manner as we have taught spirit of salt
to be prepared, so may also be made _Aqua-fortis_ and _Aqua-regis_.
Instead of salt, take Nitre, and you will have _Aqua-fortis_; and if
to a solution of Salt and Nitre, equal parts, you add a sufficient
quantity of B. you will, by help of Destillation, acquire _Aqua-regis_.
Therefore since the infallible _Basis_ and Foundation of _Medicine_
and _Alchymy_ is C. or else D. it is now known to us, which way, and
for little Charge, we may produce large quantities of this Medicine;
whereas in the vulgar way great Costs and Labour is required; and the
more easily we can obtain it, the more abundantly profitable will it be
to us, especially when we intend to bestow time in the transmutation
of the more vile Metals. Wherefore its principal Use is directed to
the Preparation of F. as is said most easily. Hence also the spirit of
salt and _Sal Mirabile_ may duly be used in true Medicine and fruitful
Alchymy.
Of a Lyon and Panther is produced a most sharp-sighted Lynx; yea, of a
Lyon and Eagle is genited a most potent Dragon, vomiting Fire, flying
on high, and carrying up in the air an Horse, with a man sitting upon
him. Although these can do very much, yet they could not preserve
the most noble Art of Alchymy from being accounted unprofitable
and neglected by evil-minded and ignorant men. Yet at length an
unsatiable _Gulo_ consuming all things, being genited of a Dog and a
Wolf, restored the same to a due splendour. This dares to demonstrate
the species of Metals to be mutable, contrary to the opinion of
_Aristotle_, and by this means plainly shew and confirm, that _Alchymy_
is most profitable, and contemned without cause. _Alchymy_ stands
obliged to this, because by the same it hath recovered its pristine
and truly royal honours; to this, because it both acquires favour and
praise.
_Of the Utility which our =Salt of Art= contributes unto all Men,
of what state or condition soever they be._
The Utility of this is very great, for if seeds, before they be sowed,
be steeped in it, they will yield an incredible encrease; which is a
thing of very great concern to all men dwelling on the Earth, because
they shall never sustain the want of Bread.
And will not the Husband-man, gathering in his Fruits for less labour
and charge than in the vulgar manner, be able the more certainly to pay
his Dues to the Magistrate?
Of Artificers also the Reason is the same; because they being hereby
better able to exercise their Crafts, may also return the benefits
thereof to their superiours.
Unto Physicians, by the help of this, are known more excellent
Medicaments, and they being present, more speedy and certain relief is
procured to the sick.
So is it with Apothecaries, Chirurgions, and their Medicines, Plasters,
and Unguents, which by this are more perfectly prepared, and therefore
the Cure is sooner, and more happily absolved, than by Medicines
vulgarly known.
And I believe every Artificer and Trading Man, when he can perform
his Work with less labour and charge, and acquire his Wares for less
trouble and cost, will sell his Commodities to his Neighbours, at a
cheaper rate than he could before he found the benefit of this salt.
Husbandmen and Gardeners, and other such labouring men, when they can
more easily, sooner, and more abundantly reap their Fruits than before,
cannot chuse but sell to the buyers for less price than they could
afford them at when they had no benefit of this.
Thus we generally see, of how great Utility our _Salt of Art_ is, or
what benefits may thence redound to men of every condition. What man,
considering these things, will not imploy all his faculties that he
may become the Master of such a salt, whence he may not only benefit
himself, but his Neighbour also?
_Of the Use of this =Sal Mirabile= in Medicine._
1. This Salt ought to be numbred among Universal Purgers, for by a
Magnetick Virtue it extracts all sorts of noxious humours out of the
Body.
2. This purging Property is augmented by Metallick or Mineral Bodies
dissolved in it.
3. For expelling all depraved humours, the most profitable to be
dissolved in it, is Antimony; when the Medicine is to be appropriated
to the Heart, Gold; when to the Brain, Silver; to the Liver, Spleen,
and Reins, Iron; to the Lungs, Tin and Sulphur; to the Habit of the
Body, Copper and Mercury.
4. If purging Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals be boiled in the Water
in which this salt is dissolved, and that decoction be used in a
Clyster, we know all corrupt humours will be evacuated thereby.
5. In all those Persons, young or old, which cannot or will not take
purging Medicaments, either by the mouth, or otherwise, it will be
very profitable to free their bodies from corrupt humours, to make
suppositories of Honey and this salt mixed.
6. In _Head-achs_, all _Fevers_, and the _Epilepsie_, it will deserve
the praises of a suitable Purger.
7. In _Catarrhs_, when the Head is full of Phlegmatick Humours, half a
grane, or a whole grane of this snuffed up the Nostrils early in the
morning, or in the day-time, wonderfully evacuates the Phlegm.
8. It is an admirable Remedy in Affects of the Jaws, and parts
adjacent, as the Tongue, Tonsils, Cheeks, and Gums, having their
original from a sharp Catarrh falling down, and oftentimes conjoined
with Ulceration and Corruption, as is frequently known to happen in
Scorbutick Diseases. For it extracts the humours causing the _Evil_,
and heals the part vitiated, if it (dissolved in Water) be often used
hot as a _Gargarism_, and the use of Purging not neglected.
9. In like manner, in the _Tooth-ach_ it performs Wonders, drawing out
the Humours causing dolour in the Teeth; if as much as will lie on the
point of a knife, or ʒ j. of it, be applied, tied up in a fine Cloth,
to the aking Tooth, yet after the use of some gentle Purgation.
10. It is a famous Medicine in Affects of the Eyes and Ears, drawing
their Original from a _Catarrh_, provided the use of some Purging
Medicine be not neglected.
11. This salt is egregiously useful, and especially after Metallick
Bodies have been dissolved in it, against green Wounds of the Body and
old Fistula’s.
12. If it be mixed with a due quantity of common Water, and thence a
Bath be made, it admirably clears away the _Scab_ and like Affects of
the skin, better than natural Baths themselves; for by its famous power
of attracting depraved Humours, lying between the skin and flesh, and
producing such Affects, it heals and extracts the same, especially if
that power be helped by some other Medicine.
13. It extracts Humours of every kind, sharp, gnawing, or which, are
most firmly inherent in the external parts, or which often produce
Vermin like Lice, and cannot be removed by Baths or Unguents.
14. This used internally and externally, (_viz._ in a Bath) extracts
the Water out of Dropsical persons; and this it effects so much the
more powerfully, if Gold be dissolved in it.
15. It is a famous Medicine for removing Dolours of the Gout, or
diminishing the same.