Alchemy and Remedies — Chemical Recipes

as that of reverberation, and in the same way let the fire be above, or let there be salt from it. With rain water or other water distilled through an alembic, you will find a salt more acute than all others for congealing; and it is of greater efficacy if it be the salt of Luna, on account of the greater decoction and power which it contains; whence also if one part of it is subtilized, and with salt of nitre and common salt, they will be perfected more subtly and more quickly, nor will it be of less efficacy than because it was Jupiter; and in the life imprius? of its creation, calcine the feces omit all things which remain in the vessel of the sublimatory, and make therefrom a salt as was said. And work similarly likewise with Saturn, because some part of it will be sublimated; and procure the feces, just as was said above, by taking them from it.

Note that if Saturn and Jupiter are to be formed, let them be calcined in a reverberatory furnace for one day, just as potters do; afterwards that powder will be more quickly perfected in its calcination for making salt and those things which shall be mentioned below.

Likewise, every single metal can be converted by calcination not only into salt, as was said above, but even into true Sol and true Luna.

Saturn is calcined for 20 days in the aforesaid furnaces.

Concerning which, know that the glassmakers' furnace is better

for this work, but the reverberatory furnace is more useful for making salt.

Nor should you believe that after any metal has stood in such a fire for 20 days, or 22 at most, that any of its coldness can remain within. And so that it may be converted into true metal, it is not expedient to hold it longer in the fire. Then it appears that Saturn in its depth is truly gold; for thus the fire extracts that which consists in the inner parts of the thing.

In like manner also Venus is perfected in 12 days and is changed into true gold when she has been reduced; and she in her depth is gold, but on the side, silver.

Also the filings of Mars, imbibed in vinegar for 10 days and calcined for 12 days—though it is safer to calcine it for 20—you will have the work perfected into gold. And this happens by virtue of calcination and infusion, with things for softening.

Luna in her depth is gold, but in herself, as it is said, she contains the tincture of whiteness, however long she remains in the fire, unless perhaps she be calcined for many days. And then, her salt having been extracted, if her feces be calcined, perhaps it is not impossible.