The Sixth Part of the Books and Writings of the Noble and Highly Learned Philosopher and Physician Paracelsus

vessel without destroying their power, except for the air. The other way is to separate purum ab impuro pure from impure beyond the four elements: that is this way. When one element is separated from the other, they are in a coarse shape and unformed. Therefore, there follows hereafter the separation, specifically upon the separated elements. Therefore, we want to give to understand the practices of the Separation, where it is first to be understood that the Quinta Essentia fifth essence should be taken from the things as follows: because the elements are not mastered from the Corporibus bodies in the nature of the fifth essence, or left by them, because it may tincture the elements, less or more strongly. And it is to be understood that nothing is lost to the four elements in their power when the predestined element, that is, Quinta Essentia, is taken aside, which is also elemented and may be separated quo ad formam elementalem, sed non quo ad diuersas naturas, vt patet de Quinta Essentia according to the elemental form, but not according to the diverse natures, as is evident concerning the fifth essence. Through such Separationes, all elemental diseases can be cured from a Simpler simple herb or medicine in the manner in which the Prædestinationen predestinations are ordered against this, as we set forth de Prædestinatione concerning predestination.

So we want to give to understand that we have discovered enough of the beginning, and follow the practice of the Separation, of which there are ten. One for the metals: the second, for the marcasites: the third, for the stones: the fourth, for the oily ones: the fifth, for the resinous ones: the sixth, for the herbal ones: the seventh, for the flesh: the eighth, for the saps: the ninth, for the glassy ones: the tenth, for the fires. To this belong three ways in the separating of the elements. The first per Destillationes by distillations: the second per Calcinationes by calcinations: the third per Sublimationes by sublimations. And to this come all the pieces of manual dexterity in the fire and the work, and this which is necessary, is recounted hereafter.

Concerning the Separations of the Elements in the Metals.

Concerning the separating of the elements from the metals, there is a process for which you should provide yourself with good tools, and with diligent work, and with well-experienced art of handling and works. First, make an Aquafort strong water thus: Take alum, vitriol, salt, nitre, of each an equal amount, distill them into a strong Aquafort. Put that again over the fæces dregs, and in a retort glass, distill it a second time. In this Aquafort, cleanse silver, then dissolve sal-ammoniac in it. After this is done, take the metal, laminated, and dissolve it into water: when that has happened, separate it from it in a Balneo Maris water bath, pouring it over again until an oil is found at the bottom: of gold almost brown, of silver almost azure, of iron red to almost dark, of Mercurio mercury entirely white, of lead lead-colored, of copper entirely green, of tin ice-colored. And although it is that not all metals become oil in this way, unless they were Præparirt prepared beforehand: as the Mercurius should be sublimated, the lead calcined, the copper flowered, the iron erected, the tin reverberated, but silver and gold yield easily to it. When the metals have thus been reduced to oil in a Liquidam substantiam liquid substance, and have thus prepared themselves to give their elements from one another, which cannot happen in the metallic way, for every thing must first be prepared for that for which it is to be used. Thereafter, add to the oil one or two marks of new, unused Aquafort, in a good glass, in horse dung for a month: afterwards, distill it through a gentle fire, so that the matter coagulates at the bottom. And the Aquafort that has come over, distill that per Balneum by a water bath, there you find two elements together. And