Page:Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus Vol I (IA cu31924092287121).djvu/333



Note concerning alcali, which has been made from the strongest lixivium. If a mineral be imbibed therewith in a glass vessel, it will be fixed.

Make a ball the size of your fist. Dry it and burn it for ten hours in a closed vessel or a hollow globe. Having done this, break and wash it, imbibe it with litharge and anatron in Saturn, with glass or sand strewn over it, for two or three hours. Afterwards it must be fulminated; but note this, that it should be imbibed with the sand until no smoke ascends, and then fulminated.

Every mineral should be first evaporated in Saturn before it is placed in the ashes.

Distil the sulphureous or antimoniac minerals by descent for 6 or 8 hours. Then the sulphur is distilled by descent, and the mineral holds Luna or Sol, which is purged by lead, as you well know how.

But if a lixivium is put into the lower vessel, then the sulphur is converted into an oil.

Take equal parts of arsenic and saltpetre. Dissolve by successive degrees over a slow fire. Then the money in a state of flux is put in, piece by piece, and left in a state of fusion for about a quarter of an hour. Pour in a regulus, and the Luna is separated from the Venus.

Fill an egg-shaped crucible with mercury, fasten the opening with a lute, then place it in an open vessel. Pour on lead, and put it to cool. Thus you will have it coagulated.

Let it be distilled by descent, and afterwards let water be placed in the lower vessel. The sulphur will adhere, and will be coloured red.

Mix together and place in a glass vessel in cold water, so that it may be dissolved. When dissolved put in it 6 oz. of calx of Luna. Let this dissolve,