_Of the subtil and most penetrating Medicinal Spirits of Metals._
In my little Book of Fires, and also in my fifth Part of the _Spagyrick
Pharmacopœa_, I have indeed made some mention of volatile Spirits, but
for brevity sake concealed the method of preparing. When I considered,
that such Works were judged by many impossible, I thought it would be
worth while here to insert the Preparation of them; and that onely
from one Metal, that every Man may see the Verity of all the other.
For whosoever is desirous to operate in Metals, he may be able by this
one Process sufficiently to learn so much Skill, as it will not be
difficult for him to extract such volatile Spirits from other Metals
also.
_The way of preparing the volatile Spirits of Metals._
_Recipe_ of the Steel Wyars, which the Needlemakers cannot use, one
Pound, which so heat in the Fire, as all squallidness and filth may be
burned away. Afterward put them into a glass Body, and pour on them
of the hereafter described dissolving Water 4, or 5, Pound. Place the
Vessel in _Balneo_ or in Sand, and administer Fire so to it, as the
Water in the Glass surrounding the Steel may wax hot and not boil; then
the Water preys upon the Iron to be dissolved. For in this Operation
the Steel is dissolved, and fermented like new Beer or Wine. In this
Fermentation a certain most subtil Spirit of _Mars_ ascends, without
any corrosive, breathing a very strong Odour, and endued with a Taste
vehemently penetrating. For such a Spirit so penetrates the Tongue, as
the taste long remains, although a Man wash his mouth, yet this taste
is not unpleasant. By penetrating the Body of him that takes it down,
it provokes Sweat copiously, opens obstructions of the Liver, Spleen
and Lungs, and comforts the vital Spirits and Stomach. Also it is
admirably conducent to the Health of those, who are accustomed to drink
Wine mixt with Water; because it gives the Wine a gratefull Taste,
and that far better, than the best of sowrish Springs are able to
perform. If any one knows how to fortifie, or concentrate this Spirit
by Rectification, he will be able to effect wonders by the benefit of
it; which indeed yields not to be so readily concentrated, as Spirit of
Wine: as you shall hear anon, yet it is possible.
_The Water is prepared in this manner._
_Recipe_ of common Salt one Pound, which dissolve in 4, or 5 Pound
of common Water, and pour upon it half a Pound of Oil of Vitriol, to
which superadd some Steel-wyar, and thence by distilling separate the
Water; then no sharp Spirits will ascend with the Water, but all the
corrosive will remain with the _Mars_, and nothing ascend but a subtil
Spirit void of Corrosion. This moveth admiration, that of such an hard
and fixed Metal, with the help of so gentle heat, should ascend such
a flying and penetrating Spirit. But it is more to be admired, that
this white, volatile and penetrating Spirit, in a few hours space, is
able to turn it self into a fixed red Tincture: yet you will find this
incredible Miracle verified, thus.
Fill a glass Body above half full with our Spirit of _Mars_, yet take
no more of it than 5 or 6 Pound, because that would be more than is
needfull for Probation. Place the Body, with its Head luted well in
Sand, and distil off almost the Water by Ascent, so as onely half a
Pound may be left remaining in the bottom. Take what ascends out of
the Receiver, and you will find it endewed with little more taste than
Rain-water; and that because the volatile Spirit in this Abstraction
or Decoction is separated from the Water, and again converted into
a fixed Body, _viz._ A most red Powder. Which red Powder is indeed
a true Tincture, yet it hath no ingress into Metals, unless that be
procured to it by the help of Gold. Hence is fulfilled the Precept
of Philosophers thus teaching: Make the fixed volatile, and render
the volatile fixed. What, I pray, is more fixed than Iron? What more
volatile than its Spirit? And lastly, what more constant in Fire, than
the Spirit again fixed into a red Tincture?
_Note_: Whensoever the Glass with the remaining Water, in which the
red Powder is, shall by motion be disturbed, the Water will seem to be
blew, which blew colour ariseth onely from the Tincture, which by that
agitation is dissipated into most small Atoms. For when the Tincture
red as Blood is again setled in the bottom, the Water stands above
it white as before. Touching this flaming Sulphur _Cosmopolita_ thus
speaks: _When Philosophers have freed their Sulphur from his tenebrous
Prison, and see him swimming in his own Sea, they adore him, that is,
are delighted with his Beauty_. But whosoever would operate any thing
to purpose, it will be expedient for him to provide in readiness a
good quantity of this Water, because from ten pound of this Water,
there is no more than one Scruple of our Sulphur to be expected. Which
_Avicen_, in his advice to his Son observed, saying, he had need to
procure to himself sixty pounds of that Water before he began his
Work. Touching which also _Bracescus_ hath excellently discoursed,
although he was [seemingly] refuted by _Tauladanus_, who (by reason
of the great subtilty of his Wit) could not conceive, that any good
could lie hid in despicable gross Iron. But that good Man _Tauladanus_
no more understood the meaning of _Bracescus_ than he knew the nature
of Iron. If any one be seised with the desire of operating in this
Subject, let him reade _Bracescus_, by whom he will be sufficiently
informed. But many by his Writings have erred, through their mistake
of what he mentions in the latter end of his Book, _viz._ that he
spake not of vulgar Iron, which by strong Fire might be again reduced
into Iron; but that such Iron was to be chosen, as by the force of
strong Fire, could turn it self into a green or blewish Glass. Where
the simple Readers following the bare letter, sought their Tincture in
common Scales of Iron, but to no purpose. Here I speak of a blew or
green _Scoria_, which can no more be reduced into Iron. For whensoever
any one shall melt our fixed Sulphur mixt with _Borax_, although with
most vehement Fire, yet he shall never reduce it into Iron, but
into a greenish Glass. This _Crocus Martis_ cannot do, nor any other
destroyed Iron; but in Reduction it will always yield some small Grains
of Iron, wherefore thence no Tincture can be made. For whatsoever is
endewed with a tinging Vertue must not be Metal, according to the
Universal Consent of all Philosophers. If any one would find out some
excellent thing, let him learn the Art of concentrating that, by which
Concentration it will be multiplied in vertue.
These few things I was willing at this time to communicate touching
the volatile Spirit, and fixed Sulphur of _Mars_, for publick good.
The whole work is neither difficult nor chargeable, because we may use
one and the same _Menstruum_ always again and again, nor is there need
of new Expences, which are now easily acquirable. These are things
accurately to be noted, according as that most ingenious Poet _Virgil_
hath perspicuously hinted in these Verses.
_Consider first, what here is to be done:
A =Golden Branch=, with Leaves of Gold thereon,
Upon a Tree concealed groweth: =This=
To the Infernal =Juno= sacred is.
But the whole Grove, with dismal shades of Night,
Obscure and keep this =Tree= from humane Sight;
And till some one shall take down from the Tree
This =Golden Branch=, there can no Entrance be
Into Earths Caverns. Beauteous =Proserpine=
Ordained hath that this rare Gift divine
Shall brought be unto her. No sooner is
The first =Branch= cropt, but in the place of this
A second sprouts; and that most pure and fine,
As did the first, with golden Leaves will shine.
Therefore distinguish Right; when rightly known
This =Branch= is unto thee, then with thy own
Hands crop the same: for it will follow Thee,
If thou, by =Fates=, for this Work chosen be;
If otherwise, no humane Violence,
Nor strength of Iron force it can from thence._
By these it evidently appears, that when one golden Bough is cropped
off that Tree, another follows; and not onely one and another, but
as often as you will crop one, another follows: Provided the Heavens
favour our Enterprize; otherwise all endeavour will be vain. Yea,
it will be impossible with hard Iron, or from hard Iron (as the
Gold-bearing Tree) to acquire or crop one Branch. Consider these things
in your Mind. For here are words plain and clear enough to every man,
whose Ears and Eyes GOD shall open.