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Science; because to make Glass of Antimony is a thing common, and well known to many) know, I say, that every
Glass, whether made of Metals, Minerals, or any other Matter, must be thoroughly cocted in Fire to due Maturity,
that it may have a clear and transparent Colour, and be apt for further Preparation to Medicinal use: which translucid
and pure Maturity Vulcan only effects in his secret and hidden Nature. Therefore, let every man know, consider and
retain this.
*Rightly doth Basilius say, he writes to the Tyro s of this Art, because he begins with the Glass of Antimony, that is,
from the very Rudiments of Chymistry, and so accurately teacheth to make that, as no man how ignorant soever can
be deceived therein: yet the Ancients have not seldom experienced, how often they have erred in the Praxis, for such
I have written these Commentaries. For me, let every One please himself in his own Writings: surely I think I have
offered somewhat, which Posterity will always thankfully accept. For although I did for several years most diligently
read Basilius and other Masters of the Art of Arts, and in Labouring following them, as exactly as possibly I could,
yet I committed so many Errors (the rememberance of which fills me with Horror) lost so much Money, and was so
often constrained to amend those Errors with labour, as I have compassion of all Those, who would enter into this
way, incited thereunto by their earnest desire to help their Neighbours: for I have no respect to Others, who aim at
nothing but Riches, and would make so noble an Art subservient to Avarice, the worst of all Vices; let them sustain
the dammage they deserve to suffer. But do you, who are endued with a more noble Spirit, First seek the Kingdom of
GOD, which is either constituted or propagated by Charity to your Neighbour, and all other Things, which other
men so impiously seek, shall spontaneously (which is the bounty of GOD) be added to you. I need to use no great
Arguments to persuade any man to read those Commentaries; for every One s own Business will sufficiently
admonish him, when he shall see me often with one word, and a most simple Animadversion to save him so great
Charges, which he hath too frequently bestowed in labouring without success. I do here candidly profess to thee,
studious Reader, had the Manual Operations been as sincerely showed to me, as I here open them, I should have
saved a great Sum of Money; for I very often erred, when I would over eagerly prosecute certain Processes of
others, and by that vain endeavour, lost some Thousands of Florens. Yet I seldom twice repeated any of those
Operations, which out Author (most sincerely and openly, of all that I know) hath in this Book inserted. I shall not
here institute a Tyrocinium of Chymistry, as other Authors, well known to young Beginners, have already done; but I
am willing, by Admonition to help those, who long since could loose this Subject from its Bonds, and with most
fervent desire design to arive to the Goal exposed to their Eyes and Mind, least either slippery Blood in the Way, or
Entellus now lying prostrate, should hinder them from gaining the proposed Reward, which is Riches and Health.
When in the Method we have taught, you Antimony is converted into Glass, take a Platter or Dish made of Copper,
which is smooth and broad, heat it hot at the Fire, otherwise your Matter will flie out; then pour in the fluid Matter
as thin as you can, and you will have pure, yellow, transparent Glass of Antimony. This is the best way of preparing
Glass of Antimony per se, without addition; and this Glass, above all others, is endewed with the greatest Virtue and
Power, which it manifests after its further Preparation. This is by me called Pure Glass of Antimony.*
*This is now the Common, and well known way of making Glass of Antimony, which is profitable in many
Operations: but to administer it so to the Sick without Distinction, is a Work full of danger and peril. It indeed
succeeds happily, but this casual or accidental health of some, is not of so great moment, as therefore to expose the
Life of one man to Peril. For I have seen a Sick man, who after he had taken but half an ounce of the Infusion,
vomited and purged above measure, and soon after died. [DOCTORS REPREHENDED] hence are those Tears,
hence those Clamours arise against Chymists, as if the impious rashness of some false Chymists were to be imputed
to the Art, which PseudoChymists care not how many Houses they fill with Funerals, provided one or two that are
healed will blaze their Fame, and they can hear themselves called Doctors, and rob the simple of their money. The
reason of this great danger is, because all the Emetick force of Antimony contained in the fixed Salt thereof, in
which resides all its Venenosity, which weak Natures cannot overcome, and therefore receive not so much good
from the Salutiferous virtue thereof, as hurt from its Venom. But this thing should not deter sound men from the use
of Antimony, since they see it, even then when mixed with Venom, often to produce salutary Effects. They should
rather thus reason; if that salutiferous Virtue be freed fromt he Noxious faculty, what Good would it not do, or what
Diseases would it not heal? Therefore, behold I here offer to you such Glass of Antimony, as I myself use often, and
may be used by every man, without any danger of a mortal Catastrophe.
Take pure Glass of Antimony, made as Basilius here teachet, melt it in a Crucible, and keep it in flux so long, as
until a third part be consumed. Then let it cool, and grind the same to an Impalpable Powder, upon which pour
Spirit of Wine highly rectified, until it stand three fingers above the Powder; close the Vessel firmly, and circulate [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]