Pomet – Lemery – Tournefort – Hill 1758

[Pierre] Pomet – [Nicolas] Lémery – [Joseph Pitton de] Tournefort – [John Hill], A Complete histor y of Drugs. By Monfieur Pomet, Chief Druggist to the late French King Lewis XIV. To which is added what is farther observable on the fame Subject, from Mess. Lemery and. Tournefort, Divided into Three Classes, Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral. With their Use in Physic, Chemistry, Pharmacy, and several other Arts. Illustrated with above Four Hundred Copper-Cuts, curiously done from the Life; and an Explanation of their different Names, Places, of Growth, and Countries where they are produced; with the Methods of distinguishing the Genuine and Perfect, from the Adulterated, Sophisticated, and Decayed, together with their Virtues, &c. The Fourth Eddition, carefully corrected, with large Additions, London [J. and J. Bonwicke – Samuel Birt – William Parker – Charles Hitch – Edward Wicksteed] 1758.

Book II.

Of FOSSILS

. . .

pp. 116

20. Of Roman Vitriol.

Pomet.

ROMAN Vitriol is a Salt partaking of a mineral Quality, and composed of a sulphureous Earth: its Origin may be ascribed to a Sort of Marcasite, found in Iron and Copper Mines, to which the Antients have given the Name of Pyrites: It is drawn from this by the Means of Water. This Stone is found under our Clay-pits at Passy, within a League of Paris, and several Operations have been performed upon it; and, as I have been assured, it was with this that a certain Abbot made his universal Medicine. The Pyrites, from whence they extract the Roman Vitriol, is found in several Parts of Italy. To reduce this Marcasite to Vitriol, they expose it for some Time to the Weather, that so the Air may penetrate into it, and that it may calcine and turn into a Calx of a greenish Colour. When the Pyrites is fit for working, they throw it into Water, and afterwards, by the Help of Fire and wooden Tubs, reduce it to Crystals, such as we receive from Italy.

In a word, all the Vitriols are made as they make Allum in England, or Salt-petre with us. All the Difference that there is between the several Vitriols proceeds from the different Places where the Mineral is found; and as it participates of the Copper or the Iron: The Vitriols which have most of the Copper are those of Cyprus or Germany. They which have most Iron are the Roman Vitriol, and that from Pisa and England. When the first are rubbed upon the Blade of a Knife, wet with Spittle, they make it look red; on the contrary, the Roman Vitriol, and that of Pisa and England, do not change the Colour of the Knife-blade: And this has given some People an Opportunity of counterfeiting Roman Vitriol by English, which they do by washing it a little, and exposing it to the Air for some Days, till from a green it turns to a greyish Colour; but this is easy to be found out, because the true Roman Vitriol is in thick long Pieces, of a Grass Green, very difficult to melt, and being broke, is transparent as Glass; from whence (the Latin Word for Glass being Vitrum) some pretend that it takes its Name: Others will have it, that the Name of Vitriol is mysterious, and that every Letter of it is the initial Letter of a Word; so that it is as much as to say, Visitando Interiora Terræ, Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem, Veram Medicinam.

The true Roman Vitriol is much sought for at present, both because of its Scarcity, as well as because it is the most proper for the making a white Powder, which they call the Sympathetick Powder, which is only Roman Vitriol exposed to the Air and the great Heat during the Dog-days for a considerable Time. When it becomes extremely white by the Calcination which the Sun has given it, it is made use of for Wounds, and to stop Blood. Some mix Gum Tragacanth with it.

They bring us likewise from Italy another Vitriol, which comes near the Colour of the Roman, only it is greener, and in lesser Pieces, and is what we call Vitriol, or Copperas of Pisa, and is made use of by the Dyers.

The third Vitriol is of a martial Nature, and as it is more common, is also cheaper; this is the English Vitriol, or common Copperas: It is much used by Dyers, Hatters, and others, who have occasion for a black Colour; and they say that that which makes the Copperas dye black, is because the Stone it is prepared from participates of the Iron; others will have it, that it is because they who make it throw old Iron into the Liquor.

The necessary Qualities in right English Copperas is, that it be dry, of a clear transparent Green, with as few small and whitish Pieces as possible.

p. 117

Of the Cyprian or Hungarian Vitriol.

This Vitriol has its Name from the Places from whence it is brought; it is of a Sky-blue, and in large Crystals. Notwithstanding all the Pains I have taken to discover what the Vitriol of Cyprus, which we sell, might be, I have not been able to learn it. The Sentiments of Authors differ exceedingly about it, some say it is a Crystallization made of a blue Water which is found in Copper Mines. A Person of Worth and Honesty has affirmed to me, that the Vitriol of Cyprus was made of Rose Copper dissolved in the Spirit of Vitriol, and afterwards crystallized. Another has told me, that it was made of German Copperas; but not knowing which Part to take amongst the three, I shall only say, that it partakes of Copper, and that two Sorts of it are brought to us from Cyprus; one in large Pieces, which we call the Company’s Vitriol, because the Merchants trading to the Indies bring it to us; the other cut into Bits on Purpose, with Points like Diamonds, to make it look more beautiful, and promote the Sale.

The Vitriol of Cyprus or Hungary is to be chosen of a fine sky-coloured Blue, especially when broken; for being a Commodity easily to be penetrated by the Air, it will come to be of a whitish grey on the Outside, which does not at all diminish its Goodness, but renders it not so saleable to the Eye; and a Sign that it is the Superficies only that is damaged, is this, that by putting it to the Tongue, upon the Approach of the least Moisture, it will come to its Colour. Some Persons have assured me, that so piercing a Spirit is drawn from the Vitriol of Cyprus, that it will break any Glass Vessel of whatsoever Thickness; and yet though so piercing, being mixed with an equal Quantity of Water, it is a sovereign Remedy for consolidating all green Wounds, and stopping of Blood; which is probable enough, because we have no Drug more astringent, or that tops Blood better than the Vitriol of Cyprus. This Vitriol is much used by several Artists. Some Persons carry it about them for Blotches in their Face.

This, as well as the Roman, is used for the sympathetick Powder.

p. 117

Of German Vitriol, or Copperas.

The German Copperas is a Vitriol of a bluish Green, clear and transparent, which is made and crystallized at Gosselar in Saxony, whence it is that this Vitriol is called Gosselar, or Saxon Vitriol. The largest Pieces, clearest, and most transparent, are to be chosen, and the driest that can be.

The German Vitriol is of much use in Medicine, as being that from whence the Chymists draw most of their Preparations, as shall be shewn hereafter. It is also this Kind which is used in making Aqua fortis. It is likewise used by the Dyers. This may be used for stopping Blood in Case of Necessity, instead of the Vitriol of Cyprus, but it has not so much Efficacy.

p. 117

Of White Vitriol.

The White Vitriol which we fetch from Germany, is the Copperas of Gosselar, beforementioned, calcined to Whiteness, and afterwards put into Water and filtred, and reduced to Salt; and when it begins to coagulate, the Germans make it into Lumps of forty or fifty Pound Weight, of the Shape we see them in. It is therefore an Abuse put upon us by a modern Author, who would make us believe that the white Copperas is found near Fountains, and is the most purified of all from any metallick Substance. This Copperas ought to be pretty hard, white, and of the nearest Resemblance to fine white Sugar that can be. Care must be taken to keep it from the Air, for when that gets to it, it becomes yellow and unsaleable.

This Copperas is of some Use in Physick: People put it into Rose or Plantain Water, with Orice and Succotrine Aloes, to cure Diseases of the Eyes. Painters use it, when calcined, to put in their Colours that they may dry; but Farriers use the greatest Quantities of it.

By Help of the Spirit of Vitriol they draw Crystals from this white Copperas, which are what we call Gilla Vitrioli, or emetick Vitriol, because being taken from twelve Grains to a Drachm in Broth, or other Liquor, it gives an easy Vomit. An aperitive Mineral Water may be made by dissolving ten Grains of this Gilla Vitrioli in ten Pints of River Water.

pp. 117–122

Of the Spirit, Salt, and Oil of Vitriol.

They draw from the German or English Vitriol, calcined to a Whiteness, by means of Fire and a Retort, a Phlegm, a Spirit, and an Oil; but because the Operation is long and troublesome, I should not advise any one to concern themselves with it: Besides, the Spirit and Oil of Vitriol, which we Apothecaries and Chymists in France make, is not near so good, nor can be afforded so cheap as those brought from England and Holland. This must be taken Notice of, that what we call Oil of Vitriol, is only a Spirit well rectified from its Phlegm, and not an Oil; for Oils are fat Substances, and will swim on Water, but the Oil of Vitriol is not such, but easily intermixes with watry Liquors.

That which is called Spirit of Vitriol is the Liquor which comes immediately after the Phlegm, which, if right, ought to be as clear as Water, of a Taste something sharp, and being put upon white Paper, and held to the Fire, become black. They use this Spirit of Vitriol very commonly in Physick for Cooling, and upon other Occasions.

The Spirit of Vitriol, well cleaned of its Phlegm, is what we improperly call Oil of Vitriol; it ought to be of a dark Colour, of so piercing and caustick a Taste, that it is impossible to endure it upon the Tongue. They are in the wrong who think that acid Spirits need not be stopt, because they pretend that they do not evaporate, which is true; but this Spirit being throughly divested of its Phlegm, if you leave it in a Bottle unstopped, the Air gets into it, increases its Bulk and Weight, and at last becomes as insipid as Water.

The Oil of Vitriol is very corrosive, and therefore made use of to dissolve Metals: It is taken inwardly for the same Distempers as the Spirit, but must be used in lesser Quantities, because it has greater Strength in it. Spirit of Vitriol should be bought of such Persons as one can trust, because there are some who make Spirit of Vitriol, by mixing Aqua fortis with Water, which they are able to afford at a cheap Rate; and this Spirit of Vitriol, made with Aqua fortis, is called the Philosophick Spirit of Vitriol, of which you must carefully beware.

As to the Water and Phlegm of Vitriol, which I mentioned before, it is of no Use because it is insipid, yet some People wash their Eyes with it.

Monsieur Lemery says, that you must use English Vitriol, or Copperas, for the forementioned Operations, because it is not of such Acrimony as the German: However all they who work with Vitriol make use of the German; but I leave the Decision of this Point to them that have more Experience in it than I have. That which remains in the Retort, after Distillation, is a reddish Earth which the Chymists call the Caput Mortuum of Vitriol, artificial Colcothar, or rubified Vitriol.

One may draw a Salt out of it by the Means of Water and Fire, which is what they call Salt of Vitriol, and is made use of as Gilla Vitrioli, only not to be taken in such large Doses. The Salt of Vitriol ought to be white, and faithfully prepared; it is a common Deceit to sell the Gilla Vitrioli, or green Vitriol calcined to a Whiteness, for the Salt of Vitriol.

The Colcothar has some little Use in Medicine, forasmuch as some People employ it instead of Chalcitis, because it is cheaper, and has the same Qualities. Some Apothecaries put Colcothar into their Diapalma, as well to make it red, as to humour the Surgeons, who are pleased that the Publick do not know that it is nothing but Diapalma; and to disguise it the better, they call the Plaister by the Name of Diachalciteos.

They make with the Colcothar, burnt Alum, Sugar-candy, Urine, and Rose-water, a very astringent Water, and proper for stopping of Blood, as Monsieur Lemery has observed, to whom the Reader may have Recourse. There is also another styptick Water of Monsieur Faveur, described by Monsieur Charas.

It is to be observed, that the Colcothar is improperly called Calcanthum, because the Word Calcanthum signifies nothing else but Vitriol.

Vitriol is a mineral Salt drawn, as Salt-petre, by Lotion, by Filtration, by Evaporation and Crystallization, from a Sort of Marcasite, called Pyrites or Fire-Stone, of which I shall speak in its Place. It is found in the Mines in several Parts of Europe, as in Italy and Germany: There are some Sorts also found about Paris.

This Fossil or Mineral, consists of an acid Salt, Earth, Iron, and Copper. The distinguishing Mark of Vitriol consists in the black Colour, which it communicates to an Infusion of Galls.

That it is an acid Salt appears plainly, not only by its being chymically analized (for a great many cavil, that an acid Spirit may be produced by the Violence and Force of the Fire) but also from the bright red Colour that a Solution of Vitriol imparts to blue Paper. The Earth of Vitriol precipitates or falls to the Bottom of the Crucible, when the Solution of fixed Nitre is poured upon a Solution of Vitriol. As to Iron and Copper, it is not to be doubted that they are contained in Vitriol; for by pouring the Spirit of Salt, or Vitriol, upon the Filings of Iron, an excellent Vitriol of Mars or Iron is made, and by placing Plates of Iron or Copper in a Crucible, with some common Brimstone interspersed, a Vitriol is produced by the Help of Fire: Wherefore it is very probable that the Vitriol of Mars, or Iron, and the Vitriol of Venus, or Copper, are bred in the Bowels of the Earth, from the acid Juices or Liquors corroding the Copper.

White Vitriol, vulgarly called Eye Copperas, is a Mineral Vitriolick Salt, found in the Earth near unto Fountains, and the most of all depurated from a metallick Mixture; or it is made by dissolving the Roman or dark Green Vitriol in Water, and then boiling it till all the Water is evaporated, and the Vitriol turned into large white Lumps like Sugar, which being exposed to the Air, turn outwardly of a reddish or yellowish Colour. It is the least acrid of any of the Vitriols.

It is to be chosen in large white Lumps, pure and clean, resembling Loaf Sugar, of a sweet Taste, astringent, accompanied with an Acrimony. It contains abundance of Phlegm and acid Salt, a little Sulphur like common Sulphur, and some Earth.

The white natural Vitriol needs no Manner of Preparation, being of great Use and Force in a Looseness and Bloody Flux, and frequently used for that Purpose in Camps and Hospitals. The other White Vitriol is thus purified: Take White Vitriol, what Quantity you please, dissolve it in Phlegm of Vitriol, or in Rain Water; then filtrate, evaporate, and set it to crystallize. This is that which is called Gilla Vitrioli, and Gilla Theophrasti.

It heats, desiccates, astringes, or constipates, yet excites Vomiting. It powerfully extricates tough Phlegm out of the Ventricle, by its emetick Force, yet may be given to Children. It kills Worms, and strengthens the Stomach and Brain, and is good against Convulsions and Epilepsies; it cleanses and strengthens the Womb, and is used in Injections against a Gonorrhœa, and the Whites in Women, a Drachm thereof being mixed with a Pint of Spring Water, and so used with a Syringe. Inwardly, as a Vomit, it is an excellent Remedy against Fevers; Dose from twelve Grains to a Drachm in Broth, or other Liquor. It cleanses the Stomach from all Impurities, eases the Head-ach, stops Fluxes, and is good against Quotidian and Tertian Agues.

There are two Things observable in Regard to this Gilla Vitrioli, First, That in making it all the Liquor may be evaporated away without any Crystallization, so the Gilla will remain at the Bottom in a white Powder. Next, that after taking this Vomit, the Sick sometimes voids by Stool a black Matter, like Ink; because it often happens that some Part of the Gilla decending into the Guts, meets with a styptick Matter, almost of the same Nature as Galls, which causes that Blackness.

The sympathetick Powder is white Vitriol opened and prepared; it ought to be placed upon a Stone, so as to receive the Beams of the Sun reflexively, from a large Burning-glass, by which it will be sooner done than by any Furnace whatsoever, and the calcined Powder is to be kept in a Glass close stopt for Use. It is used in the magnetick Cure of Wounds. Dissolved in Water, and used outwardly, it dries, binds, and heats much, and has the Virtue of the Gilla.

The Aqua Styptica Composita, or the Compound Styptick Water, is made of this Vitriol, and other Ingredients in the following Manner. Take purified white Vitriol, Roch Alum, of each an Ounce; Saccharum Saturni, half an Ounce; Spring Water, two Quarts; mix and dissolve over a gentle Heat, digest close stopt ten Days; decant the clear, filtrate, and keep it for Use. This is an easy Preparation, and of few and simple Ingredients, but of no mean Use. It is a good Injection (Universals being first premised) against the Whites in Women, and the Gonorrhœa in Men, though of never so long standing, and possibly may do more in two, three, or four Days Time, being injected, than all other Medicines could do in as many Years: It stops Bleeding in any Part, heals Ulcers, and infallibly cures all Sorts of Tetters, Ringworms, Scabs, Scurf, Morphew, and inveterate Herpes in any Part of the Body, if daily washed therewith, two or three Times a Day, for half an Hour at a Time, and as hot as can be endured; injected as a Clyster, it kills the Worms called Ascarides.

There are several Sorts of Green Vitriol, as the German or Hungarian Vitriol, the English Vitriol, and the Roman Vitriol.

As for the Green Hungarian Vitriol, the Native is found in Mines like Copper. The Factitious is made of the Marcasite, called Pyrites or the Fire-Stone, with or without Additions of Copper, and is brought to us from Dantzick, out of Germany, Hungary, &c. The best is the greenish, and of that, that which participates more of Copper than of Iron, which rubbed on a Knife, colours it red; that which is subceruleous, pale, aquose, and moistens the Hands, is not so good.

The Factitious is that which is made either of Water coming from vitriolick Springs, evaporated and crystallized, or else made from vitriolick Marcasites, the Pyrites, or Fire-Stone (with Additions of Copper) which is found in Grounds abounding with metallick Seeds, and inclined naturally to the Generation of Sulphur. It is known by burning, for it yields a sulphureous Fume, not unlike Brimstone. This powdered and exposed to the Air, yields on its Superficies a little white and sharp Salt melting in the Mouth, at first sweetish, then ending in a vitriolick Harshness. From this Powder Vitriol is thus extracted; it is dissolved in Rain Water, by boiling in a slow Heat, then filtrated, evaporated, and crystallized; so you have an excellent greenish Vitriol.

Out of any of these three Kinds of greenish Vitriols, all the great and famed Medicines are made. It goes sometimes by the Name of Dantzick Vitriol; it may be purified after the same Manner as the white, and the Gilla of it has all the Virtues as the other, but is much stronger, and ought to be given with Caution and Discretion, and only to strong Persons; and if given to the Sick, they ought to be provoked to vomit, lest it should ulcerate the Tunicles of the Stomach and Bowels.

The sympathetick Powder is much better to be made with this than with white Vitriol, as being much more powerful to all the same Intentions of curing Wounds, and the like: And as to the Compound Styptick Water of white Vitriol, the same may be done with the Hungarian, only the Proportion of it must be something less. It is superior in Virtue, and may do Wonders, if in a wise Man’s Hand; but for vulgar Use the former is better, because it may be trusted with Persons that are less skilful, and there will be no Danger of their doing Mischief with it.

The Styptick Water of Monsieur Faveur is made after this Manner: Take of Vitriol twenty-five Pounds, dissolve it in fair Water, strain it through a coarse Cloth, boil it in a Copper Vessel for a Quarter of an Hour; remove it from the Fire, and put to it immediately half a Pound of Spirit of Vinegar to cause the earthy Parts to settle; let it stand twelve or fourteen Hours, that the Terra may precipitate, then decant the clear Liquor. This Terra or Precipitate wash well, dulcify, and dry over hot Embers; of which take eight Ounces, put it into a Glass Retort, upon which pour Spirit of Vitriol, well rectified from its Phlegm, eight Ounces; distil with a gradual Fire, soft at first, and at length very violent, continuing it so till nothing more will come. Take the Caput Mortuum, reduce it to Powder, and with Alcohol, or tartarized Spirit of Wine, enough to cover it five Inches over, in a Matrass well luted. Set it in a soft Heat to digest for twenty-four Hours, till the Spirit of Wine becomes very red; filtre it hot, and draw off the Spirit in a Glass Alembick, so you have at the Bottom a whitish Powder: Take of this Powder one Ounce; Rain Water four Ounces, digest in the Sun for some Days, then filtre and keep it for Use: But the same Person, in making the same Water, did sometimes put double the above limited Quantity of Spirit of Vitriol, and then only drying the Caput Mortuum in a Crucible till it became yellowish, he to two Ounces of it put only three Ounces of Rain Water; digested them together for some Hours, then filtrated, and kept the Liquor close stopt for Use, as an extraordinary Remedy against all Hemorrhages, or violent Fluxes of Blood.

To conclude, the German or Dantzick Vitriol is in green Crystals, inclining to a blue, of an astringent acrid Taste; it participates of Copper, and is that which is used to make Aqua fortis.

The English Copperas is in Crystals of a dark green Colour, of a sweet astringent Taste, coming near to that of white Vitriol: It participates of Iron, and does not make it change its Colour. It is more than half of it Phlegm, a great deal of acrid Salt, Sulphur, and Earth. One may draw from this Vitriol a very good Spirit of Vitriol by Distillation, as I have shewn in my Book of Chymistry.

This Vitriol is made in England, upon the River of Thames, from vast Quantities of the Marcasite Pyrites, or Fire-Stone, with the Addition of old Iron. Of this Copperas, with Galls, or any other astringent Vegetables, you may make Ink, and the Black for Dyers; yet some think that the Vitriol of Copper is better, because that Experience teaches the Refiners that Aqua fortis made with Copperas, or Vitriol of Iron, will carry its Foulness through all their mediate Solutions.

Dark Green, or Roman Vitriol, vulgarly called Common Green Copperas, is prepared about Rome in Campania, being extracted out of Clots or Lumps, of an Ash-colour inclining to black, like Potters Clay; which being exposed to the Air, gradually heat and ferment, and being dissolved some Days after in fair Water, they yield this Sort of Vitriol, but from the fresh Clots no Vitriol can be obtained. The Roman Vitriol is also prepared in some Parts of the Kingdom of Naples; it is of a paler Green than the German Vitriol, but almost of the same styptick Taste.

The blue Vitriol, or celestial Stone, is called Cyprian, or Hungarian Vitriol, because it is brought to us from those Countries. It is in Crystals of a very fine sky-coloured Blue. It is not certainly known after what Manner it is made; some think it is extracted by the Evaporation and Crystallization of the blue Water that is found in the Copper Mines: Others say it is an artificial Operation, performed by a Dissolution of Copper, in a weak Spirit of Vitriol, evaporated and crystallized. However it be, it participates much of the Copper, which gives it the blue Colour. It is acrid and something Caustick; it comes in great and lesser Pieces; the little ones are pointed like Diamonds. It contains much acrid Salt, or a corrosive Acid of Sulphur, but less Phlegm and Earth than other Vitriols.

The artificial Vitriol of Venus is made by taking little thin Pieces of Brass, about the Bigness of a Shilling; first put a Layer of Sulphur, then a Layer of Pieces, filling a Pot full, Stratum super Stratum, and calcine in a Furnace for two or three Hours; or calcine first the Copper by itself, and then beating the Calx to Powder, calcine it again, having first mixed with every Pound of Calx six Ounces of Sulphur, stirring it continually as it burns, that it may not stick to the Pan, and become black. Powder the Calx again, and calcine and repeat it three Times, till the Calx becomes very red. Take of this red Calx in Powder one Pound; fair Water six Pounds; boil them together for about four Hours; let it cool and settle; decant the clear sapphirine Liquor, and filtrate it after it has stood about two Days. The remaining Copper calcine, as before, with Sulphur three Ounces; and with Water in like Manner draw the Tincture. This Process of calcining, boiling, settling, and filtrating is to be done six or seven Times, till with the Water you have extracted the whole sapphirine, azure, or blue Tincture out of the Copper. These blue filtrated Liquors put together, in a large earthen Bell, in a Sand Heat, not violent; evaporate the Water till a Pellicle arise, which being then put into a cold and moist Place for a Night, will shoot into Crystals like great Gems. Glauber extracts the Tincture from calcined Copper, with Spirit of Sal Armoniack, by frequent Ignition and Extinction, and in an Hour’s Space extracts a blue Colour; which being set to crystallize in a cold Place, shoots into most elegant blue Vitriol. Beguinus does it with Spirit of Vinegar; but then the Vitriol will be of an obscure green Colour.

The native blue Stone is good against Diseases of the Eyes, taking away Films, Clouds, Pearls, &c. Rheums, Redness, Inflammation, and Blood-shot, if you take the Stone and put it into a little Spring or Well Water for about two Minutes Time, and then take the Water with a Linen Rag to wash the Eyes, and drop two or three Drops into them at Bed-time. It cureth any running Sore, or Ulcer, or inveterate Fistula, Tetters, Ringworms, Scurf, &c. but for these latter Diseases the Stone ought to lie in Water for a Quarter of an Hour. It also helps the Canker in the Mouth, by rubbing the Place with the Stone, and washing the Mouth with the Water.

The factitious blue Stone is given from two or three Grains, to twelve or fifteen, in proper Liquors, against Diseases of the Head, Stomach, and Parts of Generation. It is often used in Injections in proper Vehicles, one Drachm to one Pound of Liquor, for all Sores, Ulcers, Scabs, Itch, Tetters, or any other cutaneous Disease. Inwardly it kills the Worms. It may be given in a small Dose against Diseases of the Stomach and Brain. It strengthens the Brain against a growing Epilepsy. It is also a Specifick to cleanse the Womb; and it is held as a great Secret, to dissolve a little of it in Water, against the burning and intemperate Heat of the spermatick Vessels, and so to use it for Injections: For as this Vitriol possesses a large Portion of the Sulphur of Venus, which is able to appease the Irritation of those Parts, so also it produces rare and eminent Effects, by virtue of its detersive and refrigerative Salt.

The red Vitriol, called Calcanthum, is a Vitriol that has been naturally calcined in the Mines by subterraneous Fire, or artificially by ordinary Fire. That which is found naturally in the Mine, is called Chalcitis, because it is taken from Copper Mines. It is a brownish red Stone, which is brought to us from Sweden and Germany. It is rare, and we have scarce enough of it to use in our Venice Treacle, of which it is one of the Ingredients.

That is best which is of a reddish brown, of the Taste of Vitriol, and easily dissolved in Water.

The Colcothar, calcined by the common Fire, is of a pleasant Red. The best is that which remains in the Retorts after the Distillation of the Spirit and Oil of Vitriol. Both the one and the other Colcothar contain a great deal of metallick Earth.

Vitriol is chymically analized after the following Manner: Fill a Glass Matrass, or Cucurbit, up to the middle with Vitriol powdered; then clapping on the Head, fitting the Receiver, and luting the Joints, distil it with a Sand Heat, that the Ros, or Phlegm of the Vitriol, being of a strong sharp Taste, may be drawn off; then take off what remains in the Matrass, bruise or powder it, and throw into a Retort, increasing the Fire gradually three or four Days, and you will obtain a Spirit and an Oil: And, lastly, from the Caput Mortuum of the Vitriol dissolved, an Earth and Salt is obtained.

The Ros or Phlegm of Vitriol is prescribed by the Chymists from one Drachm to two, and is mightily commended by them for its Virtues, being diuretick, vulnerary, anodyne, and good to strengthen the Bowels.

The Spirit of Vitriol provokes Urine, excites an Appetite, and allays the burning Heat of Fevers, being given in a Cupfull of cold Water, to a grateful Sharpness. This Spirit may be sweetened, digesting it with the rectified Spirit of Wine; and then it may be used in Diseases of the Gums, and cutaneous Distempers.

The Salt of Vitriol is endued with an emetick Faculty. It may be given from half a Drachm to two Drachms.

The Colcothar, or red Earth, out of which the Salt was extracted, is effectually used in a Looseness, Bloody Flux, Hemorrhages, and Wounds.

The spiritous Parts of Vitriol may be easily again recovered, if you expose the Caput Mortuum for some Time to the open Air, keeping it from Rain; so that by Distillation you may obtain another Spirit: But this Spirit is a great deal sweeter and weaker than the common.

Paracelsus corrects the Spirit of Vitriol by pouring it upon the Caput Mortuum, and then distilling it nine Times over, every Time pouring on more fresh Spirit; and taking it out of the Alembick, he put it into a Retort, and distils it over again with as much Spirit of Wine as is sufficient to make it into a Paste. This he highly commends in an Epilepsy, or Falling Sickness.

[Vitriols are either natural or fictitious; the former are found in Crystals, or Siria, sticking to the Roofs and Sides of Mines; the latter are obtained by various Arts from Waters, Earths, Stones, vitriolick Veins of mineral Ores, and particularly from the Pyrites: the most usual Ways of obtaining them are by Fermentation, Coction, and Crystallization. In Galen’s Time, blue Vitriol was made in Cyprus by the Sun’s exhaling vitriolick Waters; and the same Kind is now made in Hungary, by boiling and evaporating a Water of that kind; and the green Vitriol of Germany is, at this Time, made by a Method not much different. It is also made in some Places by Ablutions of an ash-coloured Earth, spotted with Specks of a Rust of Iron Colour; and others of a Verdigrise Colour, with a strong sulphureous Smell, an unpleasant acerb Taste. This Vitriol is therefore composed of a Mixture of Iron and Copper, and accordingly its Colour is between blue and green. The other common Vitriols of the Shops are, 1. The blue Vitriol, the Vitriolum Cæruleum, Charlt. Foss. 11. Vitriolum Cyprinum Cæruleum, Worm. 25. Calcanthum Cyprinum, Ald. Mus. Met. 329. This is brought to us from Cyprus and the East-Indies, and is made from Copper, or Coppery Waters, by Solution and Crystallization.

2. The green Vitriol, or common Copperas, is the Vitriolum Viride, Charlt. Foss. 11. Calcanthum Viride factitium, Atramentum Sutorium Officinarum, Schw. 273. Atramentum Viride durum solide coctum. 13. This is made in England, principally at Rotherhithe and Deptford, from a ferrugineous Kind of Pyrites, common on the Eastern Shores of Sheppey Island, and in other Places, with a Mixture of rusty Pieces of old Iron by Coction and Crystallization. The Copperas Stones are heavy, dense, and of a darker or paler Colour on the Outside; but their inner Surface is marked with Lines or Spangles of a Gold or Silver Colour. They are insipid to the Taste, and by lying long in the open Air, acquire an intestine Fermentation, and fall spontaneously to Pieces.

3. The White Vitriol of the Shops, is the Vitriolum Candidum, Charlt. Foss. 11. Calcanthum Candidum, Ald. Mus. Met. 339. Atramentum Album durum Fossile, Kentm. 13. It is an Error to think that this is a Preparation of any of the other Vitriols, for it is found in proper Mines like a downy Efflorescence, which is dissolved in Water, is boiled to Evaporation, and formed into Cakes. It is also sometimes found in the Mine in small transparent Pieces like Crystal. This is used as an Emetick, and in Diseases of the Eyes.]

p. 122

Of the medicinal Stone of Crollius.

Pomet.

The Stone of Crollius is made of English Copperas, white Vitriol, Allum, white Pot-ashes, or Natrum of Ægypt, common Salt, Salt of Tartar, Salt of Wormwood, Salt of Mugwort, Salt of Succory, Salt of Plantain, Salt of Armart, white Lead, Bole Armoniack, Myrrh, Frankincense, and Vinegar of Roses. Of all these in proper Quantities, as they are set down in Crollius, Pag. 442. by the means of Fire, is made a red Stone, endued with very excellent Properties, which would be too long to be described in this Place: But as this Stone is of great Consequence, both because it costs a great deal of Money, and because few Persons have the true Knowledge of it, the greatest Part of the Apothecaries substitute in the Room of it the medicinal Stone described by Monsieur Charas, because they can afford it cheaper than they who sell the true Stone of Crollius; this latter being made of Drugs of a much lower Price, as shall be shewn hereafter.

p. 122

Of the other medicinal Stone.

Pomet.

Monsieur Charas, in the Page 1041 of his Pharmacopeia, describes a medicinal Stone composed of the Vitriol of Cyprus, Salt of Nitre, white Lead, Allum, Bole Armoniack, Sandiver, Sal Armoniack, and common Vinegar; so that one may see by these two Descriptions, that there is a great deal of Difference betwixt this Stone and that of Crollius: And that more of this is likely to be sold for its Cheapness than of the other.