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Which powder put into a Glass with a Plain flat bottom, called a Cucurbit, and there pour upon it strong Vinegar
well rectified: then set the Vessel in a Digestive fire, or if it be Summer, expose it to the Sun, stiring it twice or
thrice* a Day, and so long digest it in that temperate heat, as until the vinegar contract a Yellow Colour inclining to
Redness, like the colour of most clean and well purified Gold.
*Thou art happy, if thou canst be wise by my Dammage, O Love of Art. I exactly followed this short Admonition,
stirring the Cucurbit twice or thrice a Day, but the Matter was always coagulated like a Stone, and stuck so firmly
to the bottom, as it could by no force be removed thence; but afterward, being more wary, from the first I began to
stir the Matter with a Wooden Spatula five or six times a Day, or oftner; you may imitate the same, if you be wise,
not only here, but also in the Superior Preparation of Antimony, and in every Extraction of Tincture from Antimony.
Then pour off this clear and pure Extraction, and pour on fresh Vinegar, and repeat the Operation, as long as the
Vinegar is tinged, and until no more Tincture can be extracted. Filter all these Extractions mix d together, and put
them into a Glass Body, with its Head annexed, and by B.M. distil off the Vinegar; until in the Bottom remain a
Yellow Powder, inclining to Redness. Upon this Powder pour distill Rain-water often times, and as often distill it off
again, still pouring on fresh distilled Rain-water. Repeat this labour so long, as until the Powder remain Sweet and
*grateful.
*Our most sincere Author here deceives you not, but conceals a certain manual Operation, which if you attend to
me clearly discovering the same, the Work itself will never fail to Answer your desire. If you have much Tincture,
you must have a great Cucurbit; if Little, a less will serve. For if you take a greater Vessel, than your Tincture
requires, the vinegar must necessarily have a great fire to cause it to ascend, by reason of the height it must
unavoidably rise, or it cannot be distilled; and in sustaining so forcible a Fire, there is great danger of Corrupting
the Tincture itself. Here also is required another Caution; viz. this, after two thirds are distilled off, you must
change your Vessel and put the remaining Matter into a less Glass body, and thence distill off the Vinegar, until the
Remanency acquire the just thickness of a Poultis. Also take heed, as Basilius seems to intimate, that you distil not
off the Vinegar unto dryness, lest the Tincture by Adustion be wholly corrupted.
Notwithstanding all This my own Precaution now given, I could not choose, but labour a whole year to little
purpose, often repeating this Tincture with a vain endeavour, whence I was almost as often weary of Chymistry
through desperation; for my Tincture was of no efficacy in Medicine; because a meer Caput-Mortuum only,
unsavoury and of no value. Hence consider how little any Process profits, whether set down in Writing, or received
from a Friend by word of mouth, unless you set to your hand, and practically learn every particular of the Work fit
to be observed in operating. Also see, how liberally I deal with you, in revealing that, the ignorance of which hath
put me into great trouble and charge. The manual Operation, which is requisite for edulcorating this Pap-like
Matter remaining in the bottom, is this. Upon this Matter pour distilled Water, and gently abstract the same by
Balneo. When you have repeated this a third time, you will find the Water to come off sweet; which time must be
observed and with very great diligence. For if you be deceived in that, your work is at an end, all your labour lost,
and you shall get nothing, but a Caput Mortuum. For as soon as twenty, or at most thirty drops of sweet water come
forth, an Acidity appears again and distils forth, which the unwary judging to be an Acidity of the Vinegar formerly
added, proceed in distilling, expecting the Water to come forth sweet; but this being the Acidity of Antimony, which
(the Vinegar being extracted) immediately follows the Sweet Water, that persisting to distil destroys the whole Virtue
of the Antimony, and leaves nothing remaining but an unsavoury Caput-Mortuum. Therefoer be thou more wary,
and as soon as this Sweet Water comes forth, cease to distil, and take out the Pap-like Matter residing in the Bottom,
and putting that into another Glass, permit it to dry at the Solar-Heat; or else evaporate all its Moisture with most
gentle Fire, that it may remain a dry Powder: and when you have avoided this danger, then go on.
[TINCTURE OF ANTIMONY, FROM ITS GLASS]
This Powder grind upon a Marble or Glass, first made hot; then put it in a Glass Body, and pour upon it of the best
rectified Spirit of Wine, so much as will stand above it three Fingers thickness: then set it in a Digestive heat, as
above, for extracting the Tincture of Antimony, which will be high coloured and pleasantly red to amazement; and it
will deposit a certain Earth, or feculency in the bottom.
This Extraction is sweet, grateful, and so very efficacious in Medicine, as no man, that hath not experienced the
same, will give credit thereunto. The Feces in the bottom retain the Venenosity, but the Extraction Medicine only,
which Experience hath taught to be profitable Remedy for men and Beasts. For if three or four Granes of this
Medicine be taken, it expels the Leprosie and Gallick Lues, purifies the Blood, drives away Melancholy, and resists
all Venom: and whosoever labours with Shortness of Breath, Difficulty of Breathing, or Pricking of the Sides, he
may be cured by the Use of this Medicine: *which effects many wonderful Things, if rightly administered, and in
due time.
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