# The Art of Distillation/Book 4

The Contents of the Fourth Book.
Of Animalls.
Waters, Spirits, and Oils, simple and compound, out of Animalls.
Of Animalls.
BOOK 4
Waters, Spirits, and Oils, simple and compound out of Animalls.
TAke of bloud as much as you please, let it stand in putrefaction in a glasse vessell close covered the space of forty dayes, then distill it in ashes, and there will come forth a Water and Oil, extract the salt out of the feces with the said water, calcine the salt in a crucible, and then dissolve it in the said water, and then distill off the water (which will be a good rectifying of the Water and dry the salt very well, which then mix with the foresaid Oil being first rectified, and digest them both together for the space of a moneth.
Take of the purest bloud as much as you please, put it into a pellican, that three parts of foure may be empty, and digest it a moneth in horse-dung (in which time it will swell and become as much more as it was when it was put in) then distill off the ​flegme in Balneo, and in the bottome will remaine the magistery of bloud, which must be distilled, and cohobated nine times in a Retort in ashes, and then it is persected.
This Magistery is of excellent vertue, which being taken inwardly, and applyed outwardly cureth most diseases, and caseth paine, being very Balsamicall.
Take of Mummie (viz. of mans flesh hardened) cut small foure ounces, Spirit of Wine terebinthinated ten ounces, put them into a glazed vessell, (three parts of four being empty) which set in horse-dung to digest for the space of a moneth, then take it out and expresse it, let the expression be circulated a month, then let it run through Manica Hippocratis, then evaporate the Spirit till that which remaines in the bottome be like an Oil, which is the true Elixir of Mummie.
This Elixir is a wonderfull preservative against all infections, also very Balsamicall.
Take the Brains of a young man that hath dyed a violent death, together with the membranes, arteries, veins, nerves, all the pith of the back, bruise these in a stone mortar till they become a kind of pap, then put as much of the Spirit of Wine, as will cover it three or four fingers breadth: then put it into a large glasse that three parts of foure be empty, being Hermetically closed, then digest it half a year in horse-dung, then take it out & distill it in Balneo and cohobate the water till the greatest part of the braines be distilled off.
A scruple or two of this essence taken in some specificall water once in a day is a most infallible medicine against the falling sicknesse.
Take of Cranium humanum as much as you please, break it in​to small pieces, which put into a glasse Retort well coated, with a large receiver well luted, then put a strong fire to it by degrees, continuing of it till you see no more fumes come forth; and you shall have a yellowish Spirit, a red oyle, and a volatile salt.
Take this salt and the yellow Spirit, and digest them by cieculation two or three moneths in Balneo, and thou shalt have a most excellent Spirit.
This Spirit is of assinity with, if not the same as that famous Spirit of Dr. Goddards in Holborne.
It helps the falling sicknesse, gout, dropsie, infirme stomack, and indeed strengthens all weak parts, and openeth all obstructions, and is a kinde of Panacæa.
Take of either of these, (if you take Cranium it need not be bruised at all, only broke into little pieces; if Harts-horne or Ivory, you must cut them in thin pieces) lay it piece by piece upon a net spread upon any vessell being almost full of water, cover this net with another vessell very close, then make the water boile, and keep it boiling three daycs and three nights, and in that time the bones or hornes, will be as soft as cheese, then pound them, and to every pound thereof, put halfe a pound of Hungarian vitriall uncalcined, and as much Spirit of Wine as will make them into a thin paste. This paste digest in a vessell Hermeticall seald the space of a moneth in Balneo, then distill it in a Retort in sand till all be dry, and you shall have a most excellent spirit.
This Spirit is of wonderfull use in the Epilepsie-Convulsions, all Feavers putrid or peftilentiall, passions of the heart, and is a very excellent Sudorisick.
This Spirit may be taken from the quantity of half an ounce to an ounce in some specisicall liquor.
Fill an earthen Retort with Haire cut small, set it over the fire, and fit a receiver to it, and there will come over a very stinking Water and Oil.
This Water and Oil is used in Germany to be sprinkled upon fences and hedges to keep wild and hurtfull Cattle from coming to do harme in any place, for such is the stink of this liquor that it doth affright them from coming to any place neer it.
Take of what milk thou pleascst a gallon, in it dissolve halfe a pound of Salt, and put to it two handfull of Plantain, and an ounce of Licorish sliced, then distill it in a hot Still with a gentle fire.
This water is of excellent use in hot distempers of the Lungs and Kidneys.
You may put in other ingredients according to the use you would have it for.
Take of womans milk a pint, of white Copperas a pound, distill them in ashes. Note that assoone as thou perceivest any sharp Spirit to come off, then cease.
Let inflamed eyes be washed three or foure times in a day with this water, and it helpeth them wonderfully.
Take of the Urine of a young man drinking much Wine, as much as you please, let it stand in glasse vessels in putrefaction 40. dayes, then pouring it from its feces distill it in a glasse gourd in sand, till all be dry, then cohobate the said ​Spirit on the Caput Mortuum three times, then distill it in a gourd of a long neck, and there will ascend besides the Spirit a crystalline salt, which thou maist either keep by it self being called the volatile salt of Urine, or mix it with its Spirit which will thereby become very penetrating, if they be digested for some dayes together.
Note that the pipe of the head must be wide, or else the volatile salt will soon stop it.
Note that this salt is so penetrating that it penetrateth the body of the glasse.
This Spirit by rectification may be made so pure, and subtle that it will burne as fire, and dissolve gold, and precious stones.
This being often applyed to any place pained with the gout easeth it presently, it also quickens any part that is benumned.
The salt volatile is Helmonts famous medicine for the Jaundies.
Take of Hungarian vitriall a pound, the Urine of a boy that is healthy, four pints: put these into a glasse vessell well closed that three parts of foure may be empty, digest them in Balneo for the space of a moneth, then distill them in ashes till all be dry.
This spirit is of great vertue in the Epilepsie, Gout, Dropsie, Convulsions, being taken from two drams to half an ounce in some specificall liquor.
Take good strong stale Mead, otherwise called Metheglin, as much as thou pleasest, distill it in a copper Still or Alembick, with its refrigeratory, and it will yeeld a spirit like Aqua vitæ.
Take of the purest Honey two pound, of fountaine water one pound; boyle these together till the water be boyled away, taking off all the scum that riseth, then take the Honey and put it into a glasse, four parts of five being empty, close it well, and set it in digestion a whole year, and thou shalt have the essence of Honey swimming on the top in forme of an Oil, being of as fragrant smell as any thing in the world; the flegme will be in the middle, and the feculent matter in the bottome, of a dark colour, and stinking smell.
Take as much Honey as thou pleasest, of the best, put it into a gourd of glasse, first distill off the flegme in Balneo, then extract the tincture out from what remains, with the said water, then calcine the remaining feces and extract from thence the salt with the foresaid water being distilled off from the tinture, calcine the salt, and melt it in a crucible, then let it dissolve in a cellar, then again evaporate it away, and thou shalt have a most white salt, which let imbibe as much of the tincture as it will, digest them for three moneths, and thou shalt have an essence of Honey.
Take of Honey well despumated as much as you please, pour upon it as much of the best rectified Spirit of Wine as will cover it five or six fingers breadth, digest them in a glass vessell well closed (the fourth part only being full) in a temperate Balneo the space of a fortnight, or till the Spirit be very well tinged, then decant off the Spirit, and put on more till all the tincture be extracted, then put all these tinctures together, and evaporate the Spirit till what remains begin to ​be thickish at the bottome, and of a golden colour.
This is a very excellent essence of Honey, and is of so pleasant an odour that scarce any thing is like to it.
It is so cordiall that it even revives the dying if two or three drops thereof be taken in some Cordiall Water.
Take a pound of Honey, put to it of the best White-wine-vinegar six pints, an ounce of white Pepper bruised small, of the strongest Mustard-seed bruised three ounces, put these into a glasse vessell that three parts of foure may be empty, digest them in a temperate Balneo, or set the vessell in the sun for the space of a fortnight, then distill them in Balneo, and thou shalt have a Spirit farre sharper then the common Spirit of Vinegar.
This Spirit is stronger, and better then any common distilled Vinegar for the dissolving of hard things, and extracting the tinctures out of things.
Take of the best Wax a pound, as much of pure sand well washed from all its impurity, and again dryed; First melt the Wax, and then mix the sand with it very exactly, then put them into a glasse Retort well coated, fit a strong receiver to it, and set it in sand, give it fire by degrees continuing it foure daies, which at last must be very strong, and there will come off a spirituous Oil, which must be rectified seven times in a glasse Retort, every time changing the Retort, and you shall have a subtle oil of a golden colour.
This Oil extracts the vertues out of all flowers presently, being set in the sun, it is wonderfull Balsamicall for the cure of wounds or ulcers both inward, and outward, it also being applied outwardly easeth all pains, quickens any deaded member, as in the palsie.
Take what flesh you please, the bloudiest part thereof, unwashed, being cut very sall, and then bruised (or if it be a feathered fowle, take it being chased up and down, untill it be wearied, and then suddenly strangled, the feathers being plucked off without putting of it into water, and being thus plucked bare, and the bowels taken out, cut the flesh, bones, gizard, liver, heart,) and powre upon it as much water as will be sufficient, with what spices and hearbs thou pleasest, then set it over a gentle fire in an earthen vessell glazed the space of 24. houres, then put the head upon it and lute it close, and there will distill off a comfortable restorative water.
Take of what flesh you please, or feathered fowle prepared as before, bruise it small, and put it into a copper vessell tinned within side, without any water being put to it, put a cover to it and lute it close, and set it in Balneo, or over the vapour of seething water, and if the flesh be tender it will be turned into a clear liquor the space of twelve houres, if harder it will require a longer time: You may put in what spices or hearbs you please to give it a good relish and odour; after all is done you may strain it and keep it for use being very restaurative and good for weak stomacks that cannot concoct hard meat.
If this be digested in a pellican, or bolt-head a fortnight, it will be farre better.
After this manner may be prepared
    Snailes
    Wormes &c. and such like,
Which are very medicinable.
Take of the heart, lungs, and liver of a calfe, the same parts of a fox new killed, cut them small, put to them a quart of Shell snails well scoured in salt water, let these be put into a Copper vessell tinned within side, and covered close that no vapour come forth, set this vessell over the vapour of seething water, and in 24. houres or thereabouts, they will be for the most part of them turned into a liquor of themselves; then take out this liquor, and put it into a large Pellican, or bolt-head, putting to them a quart of old Mallago-wine, Rosemary flowers, Betony-flowers, Marygold-flowers, Marsh wallow-flowers, of each a handfull, half a pound of Raisins of the sun stoned, Mace and Nutmeg, of each two drams; digest all these together the space of a fortnight, then pour off that which is clear from the feces and sweeten it with sugar, or syrup of Gilly-flowers, and let the patient take thereof five or six spoonfuls, three or four times in a day.
This liquor recovereth the decaying strength wonderfully; they that by reason of their weaknesse can neither cat) or digest any manner of common meat, will in a short time be sensibly strengthened if they drink a quarter of a pint of this morning and evening.
It is very good in consumptions, and repaires the radicall moisture marvellously.
Take of Bears fat a pound, distill it in a Retort, and rectifie it three or four times: to this thus rectified put the tincture of Rosemary and Sage made with spirit of Wine, of each three ounces, mix them well together, in these insuse Cloves, Cinnamon, Saffron, Nutmegs, of each three drams, in warm ashes the space of a night, then strain them and put to the Oil four ounces of the best wax melted, and mingled well together.
This is a most incomparable balsame for the Gout, and Palsie.
Take Snakes, or Adders, when they are fat, which will be in June or July, cut off their heads, and take off their skins, and unbowell them, and put them into a Glass-gourd; and pour on so much of the pure spirit of Wine well rectified, that it may cover them four or five fingers breadth, stop the glass well, and set it in Balneo til all their substance be turned into an Oil, which keep well stopt for your use.
This Oil doth wonderfull cures in recovering hearing in those that be deaf, if a few drops thereof be put warm into the Ears.
A Noble man of Germany that was famous for curing the deaf ussd this as his chiesest medicine, by which they say he cured those that were born deaf.
Take of the biggest and fattest Snakes, Adders or Vipers, which you can get in June or July, cut off their heads, take off their skins and unbowell them, then cut them into small pieces, and put them into a Glass of a wide mouth, and set them in a warm Balneo, that they may be well dryed, which will bee done in three or four dayes. Then take them out, and put them into a bolt head, and pour on them of the best alcolizated Wine as much as will cover them six or eight fingers breadth. Stop the glass Hermetically, & digest them fifteen days in Balneo, or so long til the Wine be sufficiently covered, which poure forth; then pour on more of the foresaid Spirit of Wine till all the quintessence be extracted: Then put all the tinged Spirits together: and draw off the Spirit in a gentle Balneo, till it be thick at the bottom, on this pour Spirit of Wine Caryophyllated, and stir them well together, and digest them in a Circulatory ten days, then abstract the spirit of Wine, and the quintessence remaineth at the bottome persect.
​This quintessence is of extraordinary vertue for the purifying of the bloud, flesh and skin, and consequently of all diseases therein. It cures also the Falling-sickness, and strengthens the Brain, Sight, and Hearing, and preserveth from Grayhairs, reneweth Youth, preserveth Women from Abortion, cureth the Gout, Consumption, causeth sweat, is very good in, and against Pestilentiall infections.
Take the best fat Vipers, cut off their heads, take off their skins, and unbowell them, then put them into the best Canary Sack; four or six according to their bigness into a gallon: Let them stand two or three months, then draw off your Wine as you drink it.
Some put them alive into the Wine, and there suffocate them, and afterwards take them out, and cut off their heads, take off their skins, and unbowell them, and then put them into the said Wine again, and doe as before.
This Wine hath the same vertues as the foregoing quintessence, it also provoketh to Venery, and cures the Leprosie, and such like corruption of bloud.
Take of Pismires, or Ants (the biggest, that have a sowrish smel, are the best) two handfuls, spirit of Wine a Gallon, digest then in a Glass vessell close shut, the space of a month, in which time they will be dissolved into a Liquor, then distil them in Balneo, til all be dry. Then put the same quantity of Ants as before, digest, and distill them in the said Liquor as before: doe this three times, then aromatize the Spirit with some Cinnamon:
Note that upon the Spirit will float an Oil, which must be separated.
This Spirit is of excellent use to stir up the Animall Spirit: in so much that John Casmire Palse-grave of the Rhene ​and Seysrie of Collen Generall against the Turkes did alwayes drinke of it when they went to fight, to increase Magnanimity and Courage, which it did even to admiration.
This Spirit doth also wonderfully irritate them that are slothful to Venery.
It also provoketh urine even to admiration.
It doth also wonderfully irritate the Spirits that are dulled, and deaded with any cold distemper.
This Oil doth the same effects, and indeed more powerfully.
This Oil doth besides what is spoken of the Spirit, help deafness exceedingly, two or three drops being dropped into the Ear, after it is well syringed, once in a day, for a week together.
It helpeth also the Eyes that have any film growing on them, being now and then dropped into them.
Take of Ants or Pismires a handfull, of their Eggs two hundred, of Millepides (i) Woodlice one hundred, of Bees one hundred & fifty, digest all these in two pints of Spirit of Wine being very well impregnated with the brightest Soot. Digest then together the space of a month, then pour off the clear Spirit, and keep it safe.
This water, or Spirit is of the same vertue as the former.
Take of any dung as much as thou pleasest, whilest it is fresh, put it into a comon cold Still, and with a soft fire distill it off; it will be best if the bottome of the Still be set over a vapour, if thou wouldest have it be stronger, cohobate the said water over its feces severall times: for we see there is great vertue in dung, it makes ground fertil, and many sorts thereof are very medicinable.
Take of Doves dung dryed as much as you please, to every pound put a pint of Rhenish-wine, in which let it sreep all night in a gentle Balneo, then distill it in a glasse gourd in ashes: Cohobate this Liquor three times, if there be any volatile salt mix it with the water.
This water is very excellent against all obstructions of the kidneys, bladder, it helpeth the Jaundics presently, two or three spoonfull thereof being drank once every morning and evening.
Take of the dung of a horse that is sed in the stable as much as you please, let it stand two dayes out of the sun, and out of the wet, to every pound of this pour a pint of White-wine, let them stand in a warme Balneo a fortnight; then distill them in a glasse gourd in sand, cohobate this three or foure times; if there be any volatile salt, mix it with the water.
This Water is very excellent against the bastard plurifie, stitches, wind, obstruction of the reins, bladder, very good in a dropsie, jaundies, seurvy, &c. If three or four spoonfulls be taken every morning in the Water of Juniper-berries, it also causeth sweat.
Take of Cow-dung, and distill it in Balneo, and the water thereof will have the smell of Amber gryse.
This water is very excellent in all inward inflamations.
Take of the young buds of Harts-horne, whilest they are full of bloud and moist; bruise them into a paste, then mix as much Canary-Wine as will make a very thin past, distill them in ashes till they be very dry.
This is an excellent Sudorifick in all burning feavers and Epidemicall diseases; if a spoonfull be taken by it selfe or in any appropriated Liquor.
Take of what bones you please, reduce them to a grosse powder, put them into a Retort, putting a strong fire by degrees thereunto; and there will come forth an Oil, and volatile salt, both which thou maiest mix together, and digest them into an essence, the Oil being first rectified with Spirit of Wine.
Take of Swallowes, but them into pieces without separating any thing from them six ounces, of Castoreum cut small an ounce, mix them together, infuse them twelve houres in half a pint of Canary-wine, then put them into a glasse gourd and distill them in sand till all be dry, then cohobate the Liquor three times.
This Water being drank to the quantity of two spoonfull every morning cureth them that have the Falling-sicknesse.
Take of the yelks of Egges boyled very hard, rub them in pieces with your fingers, then fry them in a pan over a gentle fire, continually stirring them with a spoon till they be​come red, and the Oil be resolved, and flow from them; then put them into a hair-cloth, and to presse forth the Oil.
This Oil cleanseth the skin from any filthinesse contracted by heat, It cureth pustles, chaps, excoriations, ring-wormes, but especially all burnings.
Take as many Egges as you please, boyle them very hard, then cut them in the middle, and take out the yelks, filling up the cavities, with some of those whites being first bruised into a paste, then put both sides of the Egges together as before, and tye them together with a thred, and with a string hang them in the middle of a gourd glasse, that they touch not the sides, stop this glasse very close and set it in Balneo, and you shall see those whites which were bruised drop down into a Liquor: which you must gather up out of the bottome of the glasse, and keep.
You will have very little of this Liquor.
This Liquor applyed to any greene wound with a feather cures it presently wheresoever it be, without any visible searre. It cures most wonderfully all wounds in the eyes.
Take Crabs or Craw-fish, as many as you please, break them to pieces, then macerate them in water of Sengreen for the space of a day, then distill them, cohobate the water three times.
This Water is of singular vertue in all manner of inflamations inward and outward.
Take of Crabs eyes very finely powdered five parts, Oil of Tartar Per Deliquium six parts (This Oil of Tartar must bee made of salt of Tartar after it hath flowed in the fire) digest them in horsedung the space of a moneth, then coagulate the Liquor and make an extraction with the best rectified Spirit of Wine that can be made (or else you lose your labour) then evaporate the Spirit of Wine, and there remaines an an Oil at the bottome.
This Oil is of wonderfull vertue in all putrid feavers, and such like distempers, also in all obstructions especially of the Kidneys.
Take of the Spawne of Frogs gathered in March, as much as you please, put a handfull of Salt to every quart, and put them into a common cold Still and with a gentle fire distill off the Water till no more will distill.
Take of the Sperme of Frogs gathered in March about the new of the moone foure pound, of Cow-dung fresh six pound, mix them well together, and let them stand the space of a day, then distill them in ashes.
This Water allayes all hot paines both inward, and outward, especially of the Gout.
Take of the sperme of Frogs gathered in March two ​pound and halfe, the Urine of a young man three pints, new Treakle two ounces and a halfe, white Vitriall, Salt, Allum, of each foure ounces, then distill them, and put to the Water an ounce and halfe of the Salt of Vitriall, Camphire, and Saffron, of each an ounce.
This Water being applied outwardly helpeth all paines, especially of the Gout, and such like, also allayeth hot or cold swellings; It also strancheth bleeding.
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