Chemical-Medical Miracles and Mysteries

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Book Three

Concerning the

Rarer Preparations from

the principal minerals:

Mercury, Antimony, Vitriol, Tartar,

Arsenic . . . 49 original: "☿, ♁, Vitriol. tart. Arsen." These symbols represent Mercury (☿) and Antimony (♁). Tartar refers to the potassium bitartrate deposits found in wine casks, a common alchemical reagent.

Chapter I. Concerning Preparations from Mercury. 52. original: "☿"
1. Preparation of Mercury, which is called the
White Eagle . . . Same page. original: "Aquila alba," a historical name for calomel (mercuric chloride), which was used medicinally despite its toxicity.
2. Mercury of life . . . . . 53. original: "Mercurius vitæ," a white powder of antimony oxychloride, often used as a strong purgative.
3. Mineral Turbith without vomiting. 54. original: "Turbith. minerale," a yellow mercuric sulfate. The "without vomiting" indicates a specific preparation intended to reduce its harsh emetic effects.
4. White powder, the best. . . 55.
5. Balsam . . . . . . . 56.

Chapter II. Concerning Preparations from Antimony. 57. original: "♁"
1. The best preparation of Antimony . . . Same page.
2. Sweet oil of Antimony for human medicine,
the secret of secrets. . . 58. original: "secretum secretorum." "Oils" in this context usually refer to concentrated or viscous liquids produced through distillation.
3. Oil of Antimony for external uses, wonderful. 59.
4. Oil of Antimony for wounds . . . . . 60.

Chapter III. Concerning Preparations from Vitriol. Vitriol refers to metallic sulfate minerals, primarily copper or iron sulfate, which were essential for producing sulfuric acid.
1. True spirit of vitriol. . . 61. A "spirit" is a volatile substance produced by distillation; the spirit of vitriol is a dilute form of sulfuric acid.
2. Most proven oil of vitriol

62. The "oil of vitriol" is concentrated sulfuric acid, a foundational chemical in alchemical practice.