The Medical-Chemical Work

BOOK FIVE.

The generation of Antimony.

What Antimony is.

[Antimo]nium Continuing from the previous page: "Antimo-nium.", which takes its body from Mercury, is of the thickest mercurial nature once it has been purged. It also retains all the powers and virtues of Mercury. Therefore, of all the fruits arising from the three first principles The "three firsts" (Tria Prima) in Paracelsian alchemy are Sulfur, Mercury, and Salt., there is none that retains the power of Mercury more clearly than Antimony. It is nothing other than Mercury coagulated by the spirit of Salt and Sulfur; except that the Mercury here is coarse and harsh, because it does not arise from the subtle nature of Mercury, but was ordered thus within the matter: It ascends in the form of a metallic Yliadum original: "Yliadum." In Paracelsian philosophy, this refers to the primordial "spirit of the world" or the formative force that shapes minerals into their specific types., because in respect to its body it possesses much metallic nature, although its value is not ranked as such.

Another Author says Antimony is called stibion, stibi, and simmi by the Greeks; Spießglas by the Germans; Antimoine by the French; Antimonio by the Italians; and El Alchol original: "El Alchol." Derived from the Arabic al-kuhl, this term originally referred to finely powdered antimony used as a cosmetic, eventually becoming the root for the word "alcohol." by the Spaniards. It is a vein of the earth similar to lead, capable of being split. Thrown upon coals, it melts in the manner of Sulfur and exhales a foul odor: but burned for a longer time, it is altered into lead.

The virtues of Antimony according to the mind of the Galenists.

It is cold and dry (say the Galenists Followers of the ancient physician Galen, who categorized medicines by their "degrees" of heat, cold, moisture, and dryness.) in the third degree: it has the power of constipating, binding, cooling, and restraining fleshly growths. It leads ulcers to form a scar. It cleanses the filth and ulcers of the eyes. It is usefully sprinkled on hemorrhoids: it consumes the putrid flesh of wounds and ulcers, whence it is a help against carcinomas. Inserted into the nostrils with "Apostolic Ointment" A famous detergent ointment of the era, so named because it contained twelve key ingredients, representing the twelve Apostles., it removes the excess flesh growing within them. It heals bleary and swollen eyes when mixed in equal portions with yellow Myrobalan An astringent fruit used in medieval pharmacy. and Tutia A term for zinc oxide, traditionally used in eye salves. with rose water. Smeared around the eyes once a week with fennel water, it stops blood flowing from the nose. With the juice of Moonwort original: "Lunaria.", it consumes the filthy flesh of wounds: it fills and cleanses wounds. It is added to clysters enemas with the juice of Cretan Carrot for cleansing hemorrhoids; and if they are on the exterior part, its powder is sprinkled; but if on the interior, the same is introduced with a reed.

The types of Antimony are perfect and imperfect. Vol. 8, tract 1, page 253.

There are, however, three types (as Libavius maintains Andreas Libavius, a transitional figure between alchemy and chemistry.): Black, which they use for refining Gold, and in which there is more of the red Tincture; White or leaden, which they call Magnesia, and is the regulus The metallic mass found at the bottom of a crucible after smelting. drawn out from it—or rather, Bismuth; and yellow or sub-saffron, which they use more for medicine; although from the black variety both the saffron-colored flower A chemical sublimate or fine powder. or color is elicited, and Paracelsus mentions a certain yellow earth like Ochre, which however turns black again in the course of time. There is also the male, which is rough, less heavy, and earthy; and the fe-