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whatsoever shall be sublimed, that dayly put down with a Feather, that at length it may remain in the
Bottom, and there persist until nothing more of it can be sublimed, but the whole remains fixed in the
Bottom. Then is your Regulus fixed, and precipitated per se. But consider, here is required a sufficient time,
and repitition of the Labour often, before you can obtain that. This Red Precipitate take out, grind it to a
subtle Powder, which spred upon a flat and clean Stone, set in a cold moist Place and there let it remain for
six Months; at length the Precipitate begins to resolve it self into a red and pure Liquor, and the Feces or
Earth is separated from it. [TRUE SALT OF ANTIMONY] The Salt of Antimony, I say, only resolves itself
into Liquor, which filter, and put into a Cucurbit, that it may be condensed by extraction of the phlegm; and
again set it in moist Place, then will yield you fair Crystals. Separate these from their Phlegm, and they will
be pellucid, mixt with a red Colour; but when again purified become white. Then is made the true Salt* of
Antimony, as I have often prepared it.
*Like with like, is a Proverb among the Greeks, and is here manifest in our Chymical Work. For
this Salt acuates all Menstruums, for their more easie extraction of Metals; but those
Extractions most, which are made of Antimony, as of a Mineral to it of affinity and like.
82. [SALT OF ANTIMONY, AND ITS USE, WHEN REDUCED TO OIL OR SPIRIT]
This Salt dry, and mix with it Venetian Earth (which is called Tripel) three Parts, and in strong Fire distil it.
First a white Spirit comes off, afterward a red Spirit, which also resolves itself into white. Rectify this Spirit
gently and subtily in a dry or moist Balneo, and so you will have another white Oil distilled from the Salt of
Antimony. This Oil, but why do I call it Oil? this Spirit, I should rather say, since the Salt is distilled in a
Spiritual Manner, in Quartans and other feavers often manifests its Virtues, and is very conducent in
breaking the Stone of the Bladder; it provokes Urine, and is profitable in the Gout. Outwardly applied to old
corrosive Wounds, which have their Operation from Mars, it purifies them. Also this Spirit of the Salt of
Antimony purifies the whole Blood, as the Salt of Gold doth. And although, in healing very many other
Diseases it may be profitably applied, yet it is not so perfect, as the above described red Oil of Antimony, in
which its Sulphur is deduced to the highest, purified and separated, as I said; therefore I forbear to speak
more of this.
Now, since I have treated of the Sulphur and Salt of Antimony, and shewed how they may be reduced into
Oil and Spirit, to be subservient to Medicine; I here treating further, purpose to speak of its Mercury also,
and to manifest what Medicine lies absconded, and as it were buried in it.
83. [MERCURY LIVING EXTRACTED FROM ANTIMONY]
Take the Regulus of Antimony, made in such manner, as I above taught, eight Parts. Salt of Humane Urine
clarified and sublimed, one Part. Sal-Armoniack one Part: and one Part of Salt of Tartar. Mix all the Salts
together in a Glass, and having poured on strong Wine- Vinegar, lute it with the Luting of Sapience, and
digest the Salts with the Vinegar for an entire Month in convenient Heat; afterward put all into a Cucurbit,
and in Ashes distill off the Vinegar, that the Salts may remain dry. These dry Salts mix with three Parts of
Venetian Earth, and by Retort distil the Mixture with strong Fire, and you will have a wonderful Spirit. This
Spirit pour upon the aforesaid Regulus of Antimony reduced to a Powder, and set the whole in putrefaction
for two Months. Then gently distil the Vinegar from it, and with what remains mix a fourfold weight of the
filings of Steel, and with violent Fire distil by Retort: then the Spirit of Salt, which passeth out, carries over
with itself the Mercury of Antimony in the Species of Fume. Wherefore in this Operation you must apply a
great Recipient with a large quantity of Water in it, so doing, the Spirit of Salt will be mixed with the Water,
but the Mercury collected in the Bottom of the Glass into true living Mercury.*
Triumphal Chariot Page 51
*What were Arcanum s in the times of Basilius, are now in our times but vulgar Chymical
Works. How often shall we find any One, who numbers himself among true Chymists, that is
ignorant of the way of making Mercury of Antimony? either in this manner, as Basilius
teacheth, or in another. For various Artificers have now invented various Methods, and every
One useth that, he best approves of.
84. Behold, O Lover of Art, I have showed you, how of Antimony may be made running Mercury, which
very many have so long, and in so many Parts of the World sought; and how we may use this Mercury with
praise in Medicine, I will here discover and set down in Writing.
[MERCURY OF ANTIMONY, ITS MEDICINAL PREPARATION AND USE] Take in the Name of the
Lord, of this Mercury one Part, express it through a Skin, and pour on it of red Oil of Vitriol highly
rectified, four Parts. Extract the Oyl, and the Spirits of the Oyl will remain with the Mercury: Force it with
vehement Fire, and somewhat will be sublimed. Thus Sublimate again put down upon the Earth in the
Bottom. Then pour on other Oil, of the same weight as before, and repeat this labour a third time. The
fourth time, put the Sublimate which ascends with the Earth, and grind both together, and the whole will be
clear and pure, like a Speculum or Crystal. Put this into a Circulatory, and pour on it a like weight of Oil of
Vitriol, and thrice so much Spirit of Wine. Circulate until Separation be made, and at length the Mercury
resolve itself into Oyl, and float about like Oil Olive. When you see this, separate this Oil from the other
Liquor, and put it into a Circulatory, and there pour on strong distilled Vinegar, and permit it so to rest foro
about twenty Days. Then this Oil again acquires its own Gravity, and settles to the Bottom; and whatsoever
Veneosity was in it, remains in the Vinegar, which will be tenebrous and altogether confused.*
*There is no need of Torches at Noon Day, nor or of Commentaries in so perspicuous a
Description, by which Basilius teacheth to make the Mercury of Antimony. Begin leisurely, give
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