_Proceeding now to Metallick fixed Salts, Mercurial volatile and
most subtil Spirits, let us see what they are able to effect in
Medicine. And first let us speak of Antimony, as the Radical
Juice of all Metals._
_Recipe_ of the _Minera_ of Antimony finely pulverised one Pound, of
our secret _Sal Armomiack_ six or eight half Ounces; which diligently
mixed put into a coated Glass Retort, which set into a Distillatory
Furnace, and apply a Receiver thereto, ministring Fire leisurely
according to Art, that the Glass be not broken. In distilling first of
all ascends a little sowrish Water, then (the Retort being hot) a thick
Oil fat and yellow, in which is contained the most excellent _Mercury_
of Antimony, which you may thence thus separate.
Upon the yellow Oil distilled, pour common Water, which Water will draw
to it self the Salts, and precipitate the _Mercury_, like a yellow
ponderous and shining _Calx_, which being edulcorated and dried, will
be an Universal Purger. Its dose is very small. I use no more than a
quarter of a Grain, which (saving your Reverence) gives me 3, 4, or 5
Stools: but to a robust man I give half a Grain, a whole Grain, and
sometimes two Grains. _Note_: If a larger dose be given, this _Mercury_
excites vomiting also, though very gently. If you would render it
Diaphoretick, you must thence abstract rectified Oil of Vitriol. Then
this _Mercury_ of Antimony, which before was liquable as Wax, becomes
altogether fixed and unmeltable; and then you may give of it from 1,
2, 3, to 8, or 10 Grains, which indeed move not Seidges, but provoke
Sweat without weariness to the Patient, and performs the Office of a
blessed Medicine against all Diseases, where Sweat is needfull. Reduce
the _Caput Mortuum_ taken out of the Retort to Powder (the finer the
Powder is the better your Work will succeed) and having put it into a
Phial pour Spirit of Wine upon it, mix them by a continued stirring
and shaking of the Glass (for otherwise it turns it self into an hard
stony Mass) and in _Balneo_ digest it for a natural Day. Thence the
Spirit of Wine will acquire a red Colour, which pour off, and repour
on fresh Spirit, which also permit to extract as much as it can. Then
with gentle heat of _Balneo_, abstract the Spirit of Wine from the
Tincture, which will reside in the bottom like a red Salt. Which Salt
is so great a Treasure in Medicine, as exceeds all estimation. For it
passeth through the whole Body like Fire, and consumes Diseases, as
Fire burns up Wood. For according as it finds any defect in the Body so
it operates, expelling Sweat and Urine, purging out all malignant and
noxious Humours of the whole Body, and highly purifying the Blood, so
as I believe no more noble Tincture and Salt than this can be extracted
out of Antimony. Its dose indeed is very small, but of great efficacy,
insomuch as using but half a Grain of it you will find a most evident
Operation. Therefore, if a Master of a Family provide for himself but
one Drachm of this Medicine, he may by the help of that for the space
of one whole year not onely preserve himself and family from many
Diseases, but also defend himself and them from all other Affects every
where prevailing. Therefore let GOD have the Praise of it.