Page:Hocus pocus, or, The whole art of legerdemain in perfection (2).pdf/16

 of art. Some put bole armoniack into this receipt, a cold thing and spoils the whole composition, and so leaves out hamitatis and liquid storax; but let them beware how they use it.

Take half an ounce of camphire, dissolve it in two ounces of acquavit, add to it one ounce of quick-silver, one ounce of liquid starax, which is the droppings of myrrh, and hinders the camphire from firing; take also two ounces of hamitatis, a red stone to be had at the druggists, and when you buy it, beat it to powder in their great mortar, for it is so very hard, that it cannot be done in a small one; put this to the afore-mentioned composition, and when you intend to walk on the bar, you must anoint your feet well therewith, and you may walk over without danger.-By this you may wash your hands in boiling lead.

When you are in company, and intend to make mirth, have a pot full of water standing on a table, then take a piece of whale-bone about three inches long, let it be pretty stiff, it will spring the better; take also a new stiff card, and fold it down the middle long ways, cut a hole through both folds at each end, half an inch or more from the ends; put one end of the whale-bone in at one end of the card, bend it like a bow, then put the other end of the whale-bone into the other end of the card; set this into the pot, two inches deep in water, then place the handle of your