Chapter LXXV: Part I: To the well minded Reader (3)

There are other _Scarabæus’s_ used in Medicine, _viz._ the black and globular ones, usually abiding in Horse dung, and also those that live in Oaks, and be of an ashy Colour, and are pleasant food to Poultry, who by feeding on them do lay abundance of Eggs, but the black ones they abstain from, and do not eat them. I know not whether or no these last mentioned (_viz._ the Oak ones) are any thing at all helpfull in Medicine. But yet thus much they do, if they are bruised and applied to the bare skin they cause Pustles, and so do those too that are called golden _Scarabæus’s_ that are usually on Roses, and Elder-flowers. Both these sorts have this property internally and externally, and so have the _Cantharides_ or those green Flies called Spanish Flies, and do most vehemently provoke Urine. If now these are by Art changed, and their venemous quality taken away, they are profitably used, and safely, in curing the Gout, Stone, and other grievous Diseases and bring a great deal of benefit. The black and globular ones are martial, and are not much unlike to the horned _Scarabæus’s_; the ashy ones are of a Saturnine nature, the green ones of a venereal Quality, and the red and little ones are of a solar property. These last mentioned, are by the _Germans_ called Golden and God Almightie’s Birds, and some do boast that they have gotten out from them good Gold, and put it to the Test, which to me doth seem unlikely. I will not deny but that there lieth hidden in them a strengthening Cordial (as they call it) properly for corroborating a man’s heart if a preparation or correction preceed, I should be unwilling to make use of them crude and unmended. Besides the aforesaid reckoned up _Scarabæus’s_, there is yet another kind of black ones which creep along the Grass in the Months of _May_ and _June_, and cannot flie as the above mentioned ones can, and yet have little Wings. These are exceeding slow creepers, and being put upon ones hand, do turn out a strong smelling Liquor, and are called _May_ Birds, and the Worms of Fat by the _Germans_; the _Latines_ call them the uncteous _Scarabæuses_. They operate most efficaciously, and are used by many for curing those most grievous Diseases of the Gout, Stone, Leprosie, French-pox, and Dropsie, one two or three Grains of them being reduced into powder, are usually administred, in some proper Vehicle. They do most vehemently expel Defilements, by vomit, stool, and Urine, insomuch that the Urine of the Gouty, Leoprous, or those that are afflicted with the Stone will be coagulated like Milk, or will become tenacious, and wax hard like a stone, the which event may well astonish any one to consider of. I know very many that have had the Gout, and been cured of it thereby, though I confess it is a Medicine somewhat hazardous because of the force of its operation. But if it be first corrected by the Universal Salt, it may be most safely afterwards used in the curing of the said Diseases. _Wierus_, a very learned Physician, did heretofore publish a Treatise of the wandring Gout, and highly commended this _May_ Worm, so called by some: And likewise the great common Earth-worms, for curing it. Neither is it without ground that this Worm [or _Scarabæus_] we mention, far exceed all the rest of them that are endued with Virtues, healing Diseases. The _Cantharides_ come far short of it, and the sky coloured Flies, which are formed onely in Carkasses, are far short of the _Cantharides_. In the next place follow those greater Flies, that usually stay in men’s houses, and keep buzzing about till they can find some raw Flesh, whereon they cast their filth in the likeness of small Eggs or Knits, which become Worms in a days time. And I do believe that there is scarce any Creature endued with a smelling so acute and subtile as this Flie, and upon that account I do not question, but that it would shew its Virtues in hidden Diseases. Yet I would not be any man’s Authour or encourager to make use of him, because nature her self cannot by any means endure (when a man by chance eats the flesh that is defiled with their Excrements) their filth in the Stomach, but doth presently cast it forth by vomit as that it were a Poison. I ascribe to these Flies a mercurial Nature, and I likewise affirm that there are in the common Worms medicinal Virtues. For they do strongly expel by Urine and Sweat, and being made use of, crude as they are, they provoke to stool, and cause vomiting. But I verily believe, that being corrected by the universal dissolvent and transmuted into a sweet Essence, they will become an excellent Specifick against Impotency, and a notable corroborative to such that are tired with the venereal Sport. Their signature is testimony enough, and the Figure of their Bodies, for they will sometimes stretch out themselves at length, otherwhile contract themselves into a shortness, one while become thicker, then presently, and as often as they please can they extenuate themselves or become smaller, nor can any Animal do thus besides themselves. Nor know I any Animal that doth (in Coition) more firmly adhere to the Female, than this Worm, whom I have many a time seen, in the Spring Season when the Cold is asswaged and the Earth again open, to join himself to the Female (not under the Earth) but to creep out of the Earth with half his Body, and so apply himself to the half part of the Female, who likewise creeps out of the Earth, and he so long labours with her, till there is made a thorough conjoining of both their Bodies. And these two Worms are so pertinacious or earnestly bent on this action, that they will rather suffer themselves to be slain than be separated. This venereal Labour being finished, they do each of them betake themselves into their Caverns or Holes. Such Hens as feed on them do plentifully lay Eggs daily, and sometimes two on a day, the which thing no sort of Corn will make them do. That Earthworm is endued therefore with a venereal Nature and Property. There are besides these, other small Vermine that are far more prone (and approach nigher) to a venereal Nature, and they are a sort that have six Feet and run most nimbly, and have wings but do not make use of them. They are small and broad, and are in great companies in old Walls, and old rotten Boards of Stables, and lay their Eggs in the Walls and Wood. They come abroad onely in curious Weather, and in a rainy and cold Season do betake themselves to their Holes, and in fair weather out come they again, and observe no order in their coupling. The Female going, carries the Male along with her sitting on her back, another Male being stronger throws him off, and himself gets up upon the Female, and he again being thrown off in his room comes a new trader, and thus spend they the day in this riding kind of Sport, and the Female is exercised with an uncessant Change of Males. They are not seen to eat any Food. Some of them I shut up in a Glass so that they could not get away, yet (in this captivity) they betook themselves to this venereal Act, and at length setting upon each other, would rather perish with Famine than be separated. They are so small that an hundred of them will but weigh an Ounce: Their wings are red and spotted with black. They run exceeding swiftly, I never could find any thing written of them. I gave them to Cats and Dogs to eat with their meat, and I found wonderfull things. Hens and other Birds will not eat them, haply because they cannot brook the too vehement operation of them. They must needs be endued with singular gifts, he that will make trial, may so do, but yet so as not to use them but corrected, because (amongst all the Vermine that I know of) they do most excell, and abound with the greatest venereal Venome. There are yet besides these, other Worms (or Vermine) that are profitable to make Medicine of. The food and nutriment of the _Aselli_ or Pig-lice is rotten Wood; if you touch them they rowl up themselves into a round Ball. They are for the most part used for repressing of the Stone. The Cimexes, or Knats, or Flies, are of a red colour, and do vex and disquiet a Man at night, they suck his bloud, and usually quarter in old Pine-wood, and in ancient Chambers, and are detestable things because of the stinch they emit. And besides them, there is another kind of such Vermine that are of a green colour, and more venemous, and yield a more filthy stinch than the red Worms do. This Insect has wings, and is four times bigger than the Cimex, and live in the Grass; but when the cold Winter approacheth, they then live in hollow Trees, or hide in the Chinks that be in Walls. If an Ox or Cow do by chance in eating Grass swallow down such a kind of Vermine, they swell up, and sometimes die of it; but yet they do so well know how to shun them, that the Beasts seldom swallow them. I do from hence guess, that there lies hidden in this kind of Animal, some singular matter, because of its wonderfull disposition it hath: For I have tried by certain experiments that it can either retain, or emit its stinch as it pleaseth. It is a notable subtile and fallacious Creature, and this I could confirm by wonderfull stories. It doth exactly imitate the perverse disposition of all Turn-Coats, Lustfull, Venereal, and Bestial Men. It doth presently deposite or lose its stinch in the universal _Menstruum_, but what it will (being thus prepared) perform, I having as yet omitted farther inquisition, cannot tell. Infinite is the number of these and such like Insects, and without doubt they were not created in vain, they prosecute each other with a mutual and deadly hatred, and do by laying snares endeavour to destroy each the other. I have known one little small Worm or Insect, that by sucking out the juice and strength of the great Earth-Worms do wax fat, and is in all places his Superiour or Master. In the Spring-time he is a small lean Worm, and is not so big as the Blatta, that live upon Meal, but in Summer time he doth so fatten himself with the Earth-worms, and becomes so unwieldy that he can hardly creep: He is black as a Coal, and moves himself by the many short feet he has, is about the thickness of a Quill, and about a fingers length, and under the earth shrewdly bites the poor Earth-worm, and sucks from him his best juice, which said Earth-worm being no ways able to defend himself, doth out of meer pain creep out of the Earth, and brings out his fast adhering Enemy: he sticks on to him so close, that he can’t be driven off, and so long sucks, untill being well satiated and full, he at length falls off of his own accord. I have often seen these Earth-worms so long vexed with them and twined themselves to and fro till this little Vermine hath pierced the Worm through, and divided him in twain, but yet closable together again, if he can but onely get into the Earth. You may see evident signs of the malice of this small Vermine, upon some of the older Worms, that have had several such bitings, and yet closed together again. For I know no enemies the great Earth worms have, save onely the Mole, and this same Worm. This black and martial Worm having done with one, presently sets upon another Worm, and so sucks out the best juice, and leaves the body of the said great Worm destitute of any strength. He is of great virtue and as to his excellency is to be preferred far before all other Worms if but well prepared: As for Spiders, there are many talks of them as if they were poisonous, but I could never as yet find any such thing in those that grow in the space of one year, and then vanish away again; they are such that make their Webs on Trees, Bushes, and the like to catch Flies in, and are cross-bearing Spiders, because they have on their backs the figure of a Cross. Every month they put off their old skin, and so do those too that make their Webs in the corners and holes in Houses, and will live three months without either meat or drink befor they die. These are somewhat worser than the former, and yet not so poisonous as the report goes, and as is believed. All the green sort of Spiders, that live in the Grass and among Leaves are void of all Poison, (and all others) save those which abide in cold places, as Cellars, and moist Vaults, and nourish themselves with Insects, and are covered over with a black and roughish skin like black Silk or Velvet, are slow paced, and as being the Kings of all Spiders, do kill the others by their biting, and devour them if they can but get them within their power. If one Spider be thrown into the Nest of another, the stronger drives out the weaker, but they cannot any of them abide these black Spiders, abhorring their presence, and running away as fast as they can. Nay more, neither the Black-bird, nor other Birds (whose food’s the other Spiders are wont to be) will eat them. They grow old very slowly, and live in a Cellar many a year, as being patient endurers of the cold, and do not renew their skin as the rest do. Those likewise that devour the Flies in stores in the Winter, or at least-wise are nourished with the sweet fume or vapour of Hony, Sugar, and such like things, and arrive to an old Age, are also venemous. All these are rarely used in Medicine, there being indeed no need of them amongst such plenty as there is of good Medicaments. This one benefit I have observed in them that they so purge sick Hens, as that they recover their former health, and do presently after get strength and wax fat. Emmets that live by the juices and Rosins of Trees, are also used in Medicine, but yet do no great matters. Locusts, Grylli (a kind of Grass-hopper) and such like Insects, (though they are endued with hidden virtues) are notwithstanding neglected, forasmuch as there is one onely Mineral that can effect more then all the bigger or lesser Animals, Worms, and Insects, and therefore well may they be despised. There are also some things that are taken from the bodies of the bigger sort of Animals that are used in Medicine, as the Stomach, Intestines, and Teeth of the Woolf; the Lungs of the Fox: The Gall, the Hair, the Skin, the Excrement, the Horns, _&c._ of other Animals; but yet no great matters have been hitherto done by all this ado, because they are parts or Members of such Animals, as being altogether void of Poison, are usually Man’s Food, or may so be. Whereas were they the parts of Animals that would alter our nature, or were they the Teeth, Bones, Horns, or other parts of venemous Creatures, and then changed and reduced into good Medicaments, somewhat might be done by them. By such as alter nature I mean, the Teeth of Dogs, Wolves, Bears, Lions, and such ravenous Creatures; the Bones and Horns of the Elfe, Goats, Kids, Does, Stags, Elephants, and the Hairs of Men and other Animals. Amongst the venemous Animals, the Teeth and Skins of Vipers, Serpents, Toads, Salamanders, _&c._ In the third degree are the Teeth of the Sea-dog, and Whale, and of the horned Fishes, and those which the _Dutch_ Marriners call Walrussen, and others the Unicorn: the Horns of them, and of other such like Sea Monsters, whose Flesh is venemous, and therefore their Teeth must necessarily be endued with medicinal Vertues, provided they be changed and converted into a convenient Essence. Besides in the Excrements of all Animals, lies hid a singular medicinal Vertue, nor is the volatile Salt (but especially of those that are poisonous) to be contemned. The fixed Salt being the subduer of many Diseases, doth not a little help to the making of Medicine. But I am not minded to treat of these at present, but will onely demonstrate by what means all Animals are to be dissolved by the universal _Menstruum_, and Poison to be converted into most wholsome Medicine. The Vertues of them are already known, nor is ought more required save a due preparation, the knowledge of which I am minded to manifest in this Treatise. It is apparently evident that the Teeth, Horns, Skin, Hairs, and Claws or Hoofs, are by so much the better and more efficacious Antidote, by how much the greater and more present Poison their Flesh is endued withal, and this we see by experience. Such as desire to know more, of such like venemous Animals, may read my Book, of the signature of things, wherein they will find many profitable things and worthy of consideration.

_The preparation and changing of all venemous Animals and Worms,
=&c.= into safe and efficacious Medicaments._

As touching what belongs to their preparation, it doth not consist in the way that hath been hitherto used as to the preparing of Animals for medicinal Use, the which have hitherto been either reduced into Powder, or else have been converted into Spirits, Waters, and Oils, by decoction in a B, or else turned (by Calcination) into Ashes, that so their fixt Salt, may be extracted, or (by sublimation) pass into a volatile Salt. I do no wise contemn these, and other hitherto used ways and methods of preparing Animals for the use of medicine, for in very deed they are good and profitable. But forasmuch as I have the knowledge of a better and more compendious way of doing all these things, I neither would nor could any longer hide the same, but communicate it for the good of mankind, and for the help and comfort of the sick. And now that the well minded Reader, may percieve a difference between the old way of preparing these Medicaments and my way, I will briefly declare and demonstrate the same. I have not hitherto heard or read of any other way than this which followeth, _viz._ The Animals are either wholly or else some part of them, dried in the Air, then powdered and administred in Powder in some appropriate Vehicle, or else some Honey or Sugar is added to the Powder, thereby to make it into an Electuary; or else the Animals are digested (whilst new or fresh) in Oil, then pressed out, and changed into a Balsam, that so they may serve either for inward or outward Uses as necessity requires. Or else they are made up into other Medicines, and so confected and kept for use. Or, being new, are distilled by a B. in water, the residue is by Calcination burnt into Ashes, and the fixed Salt, is (by the benefit of distilled water) extracted out of the Ashes. Some do distil the bodies of Animals, dry, or moist, in a Retort, and do get a stinking Spirit, Oil, and volatile Salt, which parts they Sever from each other, rectifie them, and keep them to use in time of need. Others do put the venemous Animals alive into Oil, or into some other Oil drawn out of an Aromatical Vegetable by distillation, and so suffocate them herein; and do afterwards use that Oil for outward and inward Uses, as is evident in the Oil of Scorpions. These are the ways hitherto made use of for the preparation of medicaments out of Animals, nor have they been fruitlesly used. But whereas I saw, that the Animals being prepared the aforementioned ways are venemous and crude, but especially when they are but onely dried and powdered, and so used, and that the administring them to the sick is not without danger, because they set upon nature with too much vehemency, if any (nay the smallest) errour be committed in the Dose: and besides, they do (by their ungratefull and loathsome savour) beget a nauseate, and withal considering, that the Spirits, Oils, and Waters drawn out of Animals by distillation, do for the most part smell of an _Empyreum_, and are extremely distastefull to nature; and that though the volatile Salt, and the fixt, which contain the greatest Vertues of the Animals, and may more commodiously be taken into the body than the Oil, which is plainly intolerable to sick Persons because of its stinch; yet forasmuch as in such an Operation the chiefest Virtue is burnt up, and corrupted, and that therefore the Medicament so distilled is less profitable than the crude Body of the Animal; this way and method cannot at all be accompted of as worthy the being ranked amongst the best sort of Medicines. Seeing then and well percieving all these Circumstances, I counted it wholly necessary to bethink my self of a more profitable and better way, and such a way too, as by the help whereof, every Animal, or at least such a part of it according as is requisite, may (without any separating of the whole body into divers parts) be dissolved, and changed in its whole substance by a certain dissolving and correcting Water poured upon it, and so its venome be converted into Medicine. Now the dissolving Water, and the dissolved Medicine stand in such a posture, as that it may be again abstracted and separated from the dissolved and corrected body after its dissolution and correction, and this so corrected or purged body may be administred in some convenient Vehicle to the sick, or else alone by its self, as shall be more clearly manifested in the following discourse.

_A universal =Menstruum= by the help of which all Vegetables,
Animals, and Minerals are dissolved, corrected, and reduced into
a most pure and most safe Medicament._

I have in my _Miraculum Mundi_, taught and told you that Niter is the true universal dissolvent, and is operated withall three manner of ways.

1. As it is in its own proper nature and form.

2. When it is changed into a fixt and fiery Liquor.

3. When (by the benefit of the fire) it is distilled into an Acid Spirit. With these three instruments are dissolved all whatsoever is in the nature of things, are amended, and transmuted into a better and purer substance. But the manner how this is done shall clearly be taught in this Treatise, and explained, insomuch that all such as have either out of gross Ignorance, or conceited Pride, or meer diabolical hatred and envy, hitherto contemned, despised, and traduced it as a thing impossible to be done (as _Farnerus_ for one) may be confounded with shame, and be driven to confess, that their meer ignorance, pride, and envy, caused them to oppose the Noonday light, and attempt the extinguishing, blotting out, and obscuring the same. And although that I have described the preparation and use of the universal _Menstruum_, both in my _Miraculum Mundi_, and in its explication, as likewise in my Apology against _Farnerus_; yet notwithstanding many perswade themselves, that that description is too much clad over with darkness, and that without a more accurate and plainer declaration or explication, it cannot be understood, and consequently not made use of. Therefore that such Men may have their food ready chewed, and thrust into their mouths, and may have no farther cause of labour and consideration, I will give a plainer declaration and make (in God’s name, for whose honour, and for the benefit of all mankind, I have thus purposed to do) an initiation, and perfectly demonstrate, that Niter is (by the three aforementioned ways) able to dissolve, and alter all whatsoever is in the nature of things, and to reduce them into a better substance. These are the weapons wherewith I enter the list with all deriders and haters of the truth, and do demand, if they have any better and more powerfull thing, than this universal dissolvent out of Niter, if so, to produce it; if not, then to let this alone. Every man has his liberty, (if he hath better) to publish it for the common good; but if he can’t produce a better, he may well submit himself to the truth. Verily would any man discover a better universal dissolvent, he would do me an acceptable thing, and I wou’d most readily acknowledge any errors I have committed in this matter, and would refuse my own proper writings. But that some such will arise and do this thing, I do not in the least fear. If such an one should come, we will hear and see him, and recieve him with a decent reply. In the mean while we will address our selves, to the preparation of good Medicines, to the honour of God, and benefit of our Neighbour. The bettering and correcting metals, which is to be accomplished by the said Niter, is exactly described and demonstrated in the second, third, and fourth part of the Treatise of the prosperity of my Countrey; in this place we have purposed to treat onely of medicines. But as for the way of reducing Niter into a fixt and fiery Liquor, and also into a Volatile, Acid and fiery Spirit; we have already taught in other places of our writings, so that it is a meer needless thing, here again, to repeat the same. But because it is profitable to the lover of Arts, that he find both the preparations here conjoined, I have deemed it necessary to set them down both to your view.

_The Process of turning Salt-peter into a fiery Liquor._

Take of pure Salt-peter, and such as is free from all common Salt one pound, put it into a strong and well burned Pot or Crucible, with a Cover to it, put it into a Wind Furnace, urge it so long with Coals till it be a bright red hot, and all the Niter flow; which being molten and in flux, cast in a little Powder of good Char-coals, that so it swimming at top of the Salt-peter may burn up. This Coal Powder being consumed, throw in some more of the same, and proceed on thus with casting on Coal Powder so long till the Coal Powder you cast in will not take Fire any more, and the Salt-peter appear of a greenish and sky-colour. Then pour it out thus molten into a warmed Mortar or Bason, (for if you throw it into a cold Vessel, it will leap up into your Face) and there let it lie till it be cold. If you touch your tongue with some of this Salt, you shall find it fiery like the Salt of Tartar. Beat this Salt into a Powder and put it into a Glass, or else set it in some moist or cold Cellar, and in few days, nay, or hours, it will be dissolved into a clear and fiery liquor, which strain through Cap Paper or a Filter (as they call it) and set it up for use.

_The use thereof in the preparation of such Medicaments as are made
out of Animals, and also Vegetables._

Forasmuch as the use of this _Menstruum_ is already demonstrated in my first Apology against _Farnerus_, and in the first part of this _Spagyrical Pharmacopœa_, wherein the Essences of Herbs are taught. But in this Treatise shall mention be made onely of such Medicaments as are preparable out of Animals. I will here set down the way and manner of operation, whereby not onely Animals, but also Vegetables my be corrected and transmuted into safe Medicaments. And here it is to be noted, that the use of this _Menstruum_, takes place onely in correcting such Herbs and Animals as are strongly operative and as it were venemous, whose malice is to be necessarily removed. For those Herbs that are good, and used in the Kitchin, and without any hurt in them, need not any correction, except one will make out of them, an extract by Spirit of Wine, or make of them a burning Spirit, and Oil, as also a fixed Salt, and conjoin them by the benefit of Art, and make them into sweet Essences, which labour is accurately described in the first part of my _Spagyrical Pharmacopœa_. In this place we treat onely of turning Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals into sweet Medicaments, by the benefit of Salt-peter: And in other places of my Writings is sufficiently enough taught by what other ways, and those various ones too, several Medicaments may be prepared, and that without the help of this universal dissolvent, whereto I refer the well minded Reader, and proceed on here to teach the preparation of the said Medicaments by that hitherto often named fiery dissolvent, which (without any additions) is of notable effect.

_The Preparation of Animals and Vegetables by the fiery Liquor of
Niter, their Dissolution, Correction, and Transmutation into
wholsome Medicines._

Take any Animal or Herb, what you please, if it be new, cut it small; if the Animal or Herb be dry, beat it into Powder, and pour thereto the liquor of fixt Niter, that it may well moisten the Animal or the Herb, and may cover it all over; set the Glass in a B. and digest the venemous Animal or Herb for one day and night, in which time the liquor of Niter will ripen the venemous Animal or Herb, and transmute it, and make a Medicine of the Poison. After the Cucurbit is cooled in the Balneo, take it out and pour forth the liquor, together with the corrected Animal or Herb into another Glass having a long Neck, and pour thereon the best Spirit of Wine, or burning Spirit of Corn, and such as is well purged from all Phlegm, that it may swim on the solution the height of two fingers. Note well, that the liquor of Niter, and likewise the burning Spirit, must be well freed from all Phlegm, so that the Spirit may not conjoin it self with the Niter, but swim on the top of it. For if both of them be watery or phlegmy, there would be a conjunction or commixion of them both, and your labour would miss the event hoped for, and this is well to be observed. Therefore seeing that such a commixtion, is prevented by removing of the aquosity, the burning Spirit will attract to it self, the true and corrected Essence of the Herb or Animal, and leave the fixt liquor together with the unprofitable Fæces of the Herb or Animal. Separate the burning Spirit thus impregnated with the Essence, and so much that it can attract no more, by pouring it off from the liquor, and pour more Spirit thereupon, repeating this labour so long and so often, untill all the Essence shall be extracted out of the liquor of the Niter. Then take all these extractions which contain the transmuted or corrected venome of the Herb or Animal, and put them together in a Cucurbit, in a B. M. and draw off the burning Spirit with a gentle heat, that so at length the remaining liquor, may be of a thick and dark coloured reddishness. Note well that the best part of the burning Spirit may be also separated in a B. and reserved for farther use, but its remaining and weaker part may be taken out with the extract, out of the B. M. and be evaporated in a Glass Vessel, over a vaporous B. to the thickness of Honey. For in so doing, there’s no fear of burning the extract in the Cucurbit, if the B. should be over hot; and this you are to have an especial regard unto. But if the evaporation cannot be done in Glass Vessels, by a vaporous B. then when the Essence is brought to such a pass in a little Cucurbit, pour thereto some of that burning Spirit, that came first over, and presently shake it well about, and mix it well, and this will again forthwith extract the purest part of the Essence, and leave behind a few Fæces, with a little of the fixt Niter Liquor, from the which, the burning Spirit together with the Essence, is to be forthwith separated, by pouring it off, lest it should (by any longer stay on the Fæces) draw also to it self the Salt, and so not get the sweet Savour and Odour of the Essence. But if any one doth yet desire to make the Essence more pure and more sweet, he may extract it yet a third time after the aforesaid manner, and after this third labour there will remain again some more Salt, and the Essence will become sweeter. If a diligent regard be not had hereunto, there will (for the most part) some of the fixed Salt abide with the Essence, and render it of an unpleasant savour: this admonition therefore is not to be neglected, but such a one that covets the obtaining of any good must bestow his labour with all kind of diligence.

This is an exact description of the manner of preparing most efficacious Medicines, out of the most venemous Herbs and Animals. Furthermore this is to be noted, that when the Essence is extracted by the burning Spirit, out of the Alkalizated Herb or Animal, the remainder is to be boiled in an earthen or glazed Pot even to driness, and afterwards to be made red hot, that all the impurity may be consumed by calcination, and the pure fixt Niter may remain alone, which if you set in a Cellar, and do again let it dissolve into a liquor, it will be of the same virtues as before, and thus will it be many a time, and so may the Spirit of the Wine be used for the like operation.

Now although this fixed Niter doth change as well venemous Minerals, as Animals and Vegetables, and reduce their venenosity into wholsome Medicine: yet is it more fit for the sulphureous Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, than for mercurial ones; and for such the Acid Spirit of Niter is more fit, though it doth also dissolve, correct, and transmute Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals; the which is chiefly observable in the Minerals, for therein may be learned the wonderfull property, and the all-things-changing efficacy of this Fire. For Niter crude as it is in its body, being mixed with combustible Animals and Vegetables, and enkindled, burns up all things, and drives them with the flame up into the Air, insomuch that nothing save the fixt Salt onely is left remaining: And therefore this crude Niter is altogether unfit for Vegetables and Animals, if you would have any good from them. But in the venemous Minerals it performeth its office better than the fixt Niter, or than the volatile corrosive or Acid Spirit, as shall be afterwards shown where we treat of Minerals. This I thought expedient to advise you of, and have thus done to this end, that those that are desirous of the Art may learn the divers operations of Niter. The crude Niter doth (by its flame) display its virtues upon the venemous Animals, and changeth them in few hours space into safe Medicaments). Being reduced into a fixt liquor, it dissolveth all sulphureous Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, the which thing the common or crude Niter, as also the acid and corrosive Spirit will never do: As this fixt liquor of Niter also dissolveth wholly the sulphureous Minerals, and leaves nothing behind save the onely Fæces. So the acid Spirit of Niter dissolveth all mercurial Minerals, that nothing remains undissolved. From whence ’tis evident, that every nature doth lovingly embrace its like, and is willingly conjoyned therewithall, and especially if such natures are pure and clean, and not mixed with any other things. But that you may yet better understand these things, hearken a little farther. There is no Herb, no Animal, no Mineral, that consisteth not of its three first principles, _viz._ Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, but yet are these very unequal: for in one subject, the Salt is most powerfull, in another, the Sulphur, in a third, the Mercury: But when in such subjects consisting of the three principles, there is not too much inequality, and that no principle bears sway over another, then either the acid Spirit, or the fixed Salt of the Niter will alike dissolve them, as is evident in many Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals, which being compounded of well tempered Principles, do admit of Solution and Correction, both by the fixt Liquor, as also by the volatile acid Spirit: For example. I take some Herb, be it _Napellus_, or _Mandragora_, or _Opium_, or some Animal, as a Spider, Scorpion, or Golden _Scarabæus_, I deal on this Subject now with fixt Niter (as I afore taught) and the whole will be dissolved, changed, and become a safe Medicament, (for they consist of well tempered Principles.) If now I pour upon either Subject the acid Spirit of Niter, it will be dissolved therein, changed, and corrected, and put on the nature of an wholsome Medicine, as well as when dissolved in the aforesaid Liquor. Now though both Liquors, _viz._ the fixt Liquor and the acid Spirit do arise out of one Root, yet do they exceedingly differ in their nature, and do prosecute as it were each the other with a deadly hatred: And that because the fixt Liquor, as well as the acid Spirit, are in some sort as yet adversaries, and do not absolutely bear such sway as if they were in one Nature. For they are from one subject, and are by the fire drawn out of common Salt-peter, and reduced into two contrary parts and into Enemies opposing each other. But they are again conjoined, that they may mutually set upon each other, with that enmity they have received from the fire, and may overcome and kill each other, then neither the fiery Liquor, nor the acid Spirit is any more discerned, but they return unto that which they were before, and from which they were born, _viz._ unto Niter or common Salt-peter. Excellently well therefore say the Philosophers, make the fixt Volatile, and the Volatile fixt. _Hermes_ also saith, that our Dragon dieth not without his Brother and Sister, many things might be spoken of this matter, but they belong not to this place, but to the fourth part of the Prosperity of _Germany_, in which is treated of the Concentration of Gold and Silver into Tinctures, but if so be that one of the aforenamed Principles, whether it be Sulphur or Mercury (for the Salt is not to be here considered) do bear overmuch sway in any subject, then both the dissolvents cannot alike dissolve that body, but that dissolvent onely which is appropriated to the nature of that Subject: As for example. The seed of any Herb (though it hath a mercurial Salt) yet the Sulphur hath the predominancy, and therefore admits of dissolution by the fixt Liquor rather than by the acid Spirit. But if the Oil be separated from the mercurial Salt, either by expressing it or distilling it out of the Seed, then the fixt Liquor hath a greater efficacy of operation upon its like, and dissolves all the Oil, without leaving any part thereof behind. But contrariwise, the Oil being severed from its mercurial Salt, which admitteth of the acid Spirit onely, the acid Spirit hath no power at all to dissolve it, though he be arisen from the very same Subject, as his brother the fixt Liquor is. So then the Sister answers not the brother in the like operation, and ’tis impossible for the Sister to accomplish those things that the Brother doth. But when both brother and sister are mixed together, they do again beget Children like to their Parents, _viz._ _Hermaphrodites_, from whence themselves had their Original, returning to simple and crude Niter, out of which there do again proceed the like Procreations and Generations of the masculine and feminine Sex. And so one birth transmutes it self into another, augmenteth and bettereth each other and that even to infinity, if it do but get its own conjugal bed, and be dealt withal in a Philosophical manner. And what we have said of the vegetable Sulphur, the same may likewise be understood of the Animal and Mineral. For such a Sulphur as is severed from its Salt and Mercury, the acid Spirit of Niter will not dissolve, but its sulphureous Liquor doth readily perform it, and this doth wholly dissolve the common mineral Sulphur, whereas the acid Spirit leaves it untouched. But such a Subject as participates of both Natures, _viz._ of the sulphureous and mercurial one, doth admit of dissolution both by the fixt Liquor, and by the acid Spirit, whether it be a Vegetable, Animal, or Mineral. Therefore the extreams, _viz._ the beginning and the end, the first Ens and last Essentiality, the volatile and combustible, and the fixt and incombustible, are to be compared with each other, (as thus.) Let the common combustible Sulphur and which adheres to Minerals and Veins of Metals be accompted of as the beginning, and let Gold be accompted the end. The fixt Liquor now dissolves the Sulphur wholly, but cannot do so with the ripe Gold; but the acid Spirit dissolves that, and cannot at all dissolve the Sulphur. But now such as are middle Subjects and do partake of both natures, _viz._ of a sulphureous and a mercurial, such as are _Saturn_, _Jupiter_, _Mars_, _Venus_, _Mercury_, _Lune_; for they are dissolveable by both, _viz._ by the fixt Liquor, and also by the acid Spirit. But by how much the more either of them partake of combustible Sulphur, by so much the easier doth it admit Solution by the fixt Liquor. So this Liquor doth easily dissolve these Minerals, _viz._ Antimony, Auripigment, common Sulphur, red Arsenick, _&c._ and of metals these, _Mars_, _Venus_, _Jupiter_, _Saturn_, difficultly; _Lune_ more difficultly; _Mercury_ most difficultly; but for _Sol_, which is the last and best of all, it doth in no wise dissolve, because it is plainly freed by nature from its superfluous, extraneous, and burning Sulphur, and is washed, purified, and maturated into a most pure mercurial Substance. Contrariwise the acid Spirit (if it be strong enough) doth dissolve all, even from the supreamest metal, to the lowest Mineral, Sulphur onely excepted, which it can’t dissolve. Yet doth it more easily dissolve one Subject than another according as it is of more affinity with, or remote, from its own Nature. And therefore every Chymist may easily know the Nature and Properties of every metal and mineral by the dissolving them, with these two, _viz._ Liquor and acid Spirit. Note well, I have (by this means) found out what Metals and Minerals are of nearest Affinity with Gold, and this kind of enquiry is far more certain and safer than the reading of many Books; nor will it be hurtfull to him if he did understand the signature of metals and minerals, and thereby know how to learn their Nature and Property; but my intent is not to treat of that, in this place, but will refer my labour to the second part of my Treatise of the Prosperity of _Germany_, where we will speak of the Concentration of Metals and Minerals. But that I may trifle out no more time in the discoursing of the difference of metals and minerals, I will go on and describe how the venemous Subjects of Animals and Vegetables are to be dissolved by the acid Spirit of Niter, to be transmuted and ripened thereby, and converted into safe Medicaments.

_The Process and Preparation is as follows._

Take either _Nux Vomica_, or venomous party-coloured Toads, Scorpions, Cantharides, or such like venomous Vegetables or Animals. Cut your Vegetables, but take your Animals whole as they are, that so dying (in the _Menstruum_) they become greater and safer Medicaments, put them in some glass: As for example. Take one Ounce or two Ounces of the Spirit of Niter; put it in a glass with a narrow neck, that so it may be stopped, and put into that Spirit such Vegetables as you would dissolve; which being dissolved into a Liquor, then put yet more Herbs, thus doing so long till the Spirit grows thickish, and can dissolve no more. After the same manner may you proceed with the Animals if dead; but if alive, then to the Spirit add some water before you put the Vermine thereinto; for the too vehement force of the Spirit, is to be so allayed, that the Vermine being put in alive may not presently die, but may kill himself with his own proper Poison. For if the Spirit be too strong, such kind of Animals will die in less than a moment, and not know what hath happened unto them. But now they live longer in the milder Spirit, and when they see that they must needs die, they are extreamly enraged, do prick, and bite, and kill themselves with their own Poison, insomuch that the venome is increased, and the Medicine acquires the greater Virtues. So then those which thou hast put in being dissolved, add more untill the Spirit becoming thick, can dissolve no more; strain this Solution through a thin Linnen Cloath into another glass, and pour thereon by little and little, or drop by drop, the fixt Liquor of Niter, that it may kill the acid Spirit, and they both having lost their strengths return into Salt-peter as they were before, and the corrected Vegetable or Animal may be precipitated to the bottom in the form of a Powder. When you have so done pour on some more fresh Water, or Rain-water, that the Salt-peter may be the better dissolved. Then pour out all the Solution, through a thin Linnen Cloth placed in a glass Funnel, into another glass, that so the Salt-peter, which before was partly an acid Spirit, and partly a fixt Liquor, and is again become Niter, may (being dissolved with the water poured thereon) run through the Cloth, and that corrected Vegetable or Animal may stay behind in the same, the which by pouring on store of fair water, is to be freed of all Saltishness, and afterwards to be put together with the Cloth upon Cap-paper several times doubled. This Paper will drink up all the moisture, and the remaining Animal or Vegetable Powder will stay behind: which being thus dried is to be lay’d up for use, and may afterwards be used either _per se_ in the form of a Powder or be reduced into Pills, which before this preparation could not be safely used, nor without much danger. There is besides, another way of turning Animals and Vegetables by the acid Spirit of Niter, or by the fixt Liquor into wholsome Medicaments: and the manner thereof is thus.

Those Subjects which refuse to be dissolved by the fixt Liquor, are dissolved by the acid Spirit, and precipitated with the fixt Liquor, or contrariwise those which are not dissolveable by the acid Spirit, are dissolved by the fixt Liquor, and precipitated by the acid Spirit. All being precipitated, and the Dissolvent sufficiently slain, let some more of the fixt Liquor be poured thereupon, so that it may much exceed in quantity the acid Spirit. This done, let the Phlegm be drawn off in a vaporous B, and to the remaining Liquor, let be poured as much burning Spirit as is sufficient, that so it may by extraction extract all that is to be extracted. This burning Spirit operates upon, and attracteth to it self, no other thing save the onely Essence of the Herb or Animal alone, and leaves the Dissolvents untoucht. But this Essence is no ways inferiour neither in virtue or efficacy, to that which was prepared after the before described manner. And thus much let suffice to have been said of the preparation of Vegetable and Animal Medicaments. And now we will betake our selves (in God’s Name) to speak likewise of Mineral and Metalline Medicaments, and see what good thing the Omnipotent God bestoweth on us by the benefit of these things.

The preparation of Metalline Medicaments is almost a-kin, and like to the precedent preparation of Vegetable and Animal ones, and doth herein onely differ, that the most part of Minerals and Metals, are dissolved, corrected, and converted into safe Medicaments by crude and purified Niter, as the following manner demonstrates.