The Sixth Part of the Books and Writings of the Noble and Highly Learned Philosopher and Physician Paracelsus (1603) - Page 24

Distill this water in the sun for six days. Afterward, set it to the bath water bath, so the element of water comes out first, of which there is not much, which shows itself in the taste. Afterward, when that is changed, the element of fire follows until the taste also changes. Then the portion of earth follows, and it is almost small; thus, it is found at the bottom. And the air mixes itself throughout. Thus it is also to be understood regarding airy herbs, and regarding the aquatic ones; the same ones give the air first, and afterward the water, and according to that, fire, to proceed as with the sage.

Of the Separation of the Elements in Flesh.

Thus, from flesh, and that which lives with blood, the separation is to be understood, so that the corporal element of that animal is also found last and most. As in fish, the main element is water; in worms, fire; in the edible, fleshy animals, air, as we set forth in the Generations of Animals. The separation of these same elements is as follows: In fish, take them and putrefy them well. Afterward, distill them through the horse's belly horse manure, so the water goes over. After that, putrefy it even more, and distill it again through the horse's belly, so more water goes over. Do that for as long as needed with the putrefying, until no more water comes out. Afterward, distill the remainder through sand, so fire comes up in the form of an oil, and earth remains at the bottom. Thus, the entire substance of the fish separates into the elements, and it should not be considered in terms of fat or marrow, for each thing separates into its element through putrefaction. Thus, it is also to be understood regarding worms, for there is this difference: not so much water goes out, but more fire, unless they are water-worms, such as snakes. And in such distillations, many and

strange obstacles occur, which are more to be wondered at than to be pondered. And the like is to be understood regarding edible animals in such a form, which also indicate their elements separately.

Of the Separation of the Elements of the Undossic fluid/suppurating.

And in such, it should be understood regarding the separation of the undossic, or sap-like, or those that are in the form of fluidity, as urine, feces, water, etc. There, note the following: Take the urine, distill it all over, so the elements of air, water, and earth go over, and fire remains at the bottom. Then take it and pour them all back together, and distill four times in such a shape, so that in the fourth distillation, water comes over first, afterward air and fire, and earth remains at the bottom. So take the air and fire into a separate vessel, let it stand cold, so it shoots into icicles; the same are the element of fire, although they sometimes shoot in the distillation, yet sometimes also in the cold. To separate water from its elements is as follows: Let it boil through the horse's belly, so earth settles at the bottom. That which has risen, putrefy for its time, afterward distill it through the bath, so water comes over first, afterward the fire. Feces, vitriol, tartar, and what is thus of sap, as also alum, salt, and their like—all their kinds are as follows: Distill from them what you will through ashes, so air and water go over. Afterward, distill them through fire, so fire goes over and earth remains at the bottom. Thus it is to be noted there, although four elements are separated, there still remain four elements hidden in the earth, just as if they were before it: As in vitriol remains a Caput Mortuum dead head; residue, let the same be sublimed with Salmiar ammonium chloride, so an oil dissolves there; in it is water and fire, and earth remains lying substantially. Separate the two elements through the bath