_The way of preparing another Medicine of Sulphur onely._
Fill an earthen Pan full of Sulphur, and set it under the Blind-head.
Kindle the Sulphur and keep it continually burning for eight or
fourteen days. And when the burning Sulphur causeth its Oil to ascend,
and the same again descends upon it, and this ascent and descent hath
so long been made, as untill the Oil is fixed, and no more ascent is
perceived, then let the Fire go out, and that which you find in the
bottom, looking black as a Coal, take out, pour clear Water upon it,
and make them boil together. In this boiling the Water extracts the
fixed Oil of Sulphur, which passed into Salt, from the black Fæces.
This extracted Salt distill through a Filter, and permit the Water to
exhale in _Balneo_; so the Residue will remain in the bottom sweet, in
the form of a sowerish gratefull yellow Salt. Which take out, and put
into a clean Crucible, where keep it hot, but not red hot; then the
Salt will wax red. This dissolve again and Filter, and it will leave
some Fæces. You may reiterate this operation if you will, and the Salt
will be so much the more pure. This Salt is of a middle tast between
sower and sweet: Of which five or six grains being taken inwardly will
penetrate the body and strongly provoke sweat. But a larger Dose will
provoke gentle Seidges, especially if the operation be made in some
Iron Pan, yet it contracts from the Iron a sweetish tast, but that is
not at all to be feared, because the Salt plainly deposits this tast,
especially if you heat it hot and dissolve it, coagulate and heat it
hot again, unto the third time. For then it loseth that tast, and
becomes a sweet red Salt, which is a safe remedy against all Diseases,
where there is need of sweating and purging.
Note, here is need of caution, that in making it hot, your Fire be
not too strong, and so the virtues of your Salt diminished, which is
a thing accurately to be minded. Ancient Philosophers likened this
operation to such a Fire vomiting Dragon, as devours his own Tail, and
converts it into a salutary Medicine. The Dragon is burning Sulphur,
his Tail is its fiery Oil, which slides down upon the burning Sulphur,
and in it converts it self into an efficacious Medicine.
Note, I would have you give credit to me, in these Works, which I here
have opened in few words, are many things of great worth contained.
Therefore, if you be wise, you will more diligently search into the
matter, and find out much more than is here disclosed by me.