On the Tincture of Gold or True Potable Gold

if they were to weigh the remaining calx and reduce it, they would discover by the thing itself that nothing at all had departed from the gold; which one may also test by placing the spirit or menstruum in a gentle heat, or for a longer time in the cold, which will turn red by itself spontaneously, as if it had been poured upon the calx of sol. The cause of this redness (unknown to them) is nothing other than a certain volatile urinous salt, such as that of urine, sal ammoniac, tartar, hartshorn, hair, etc., which exalts the color of any sulfur whatsoever.

Wherefore, when artists add to the spirit of wine—in which a certain sulfur lies hidden—such exalting salts, it follows necessarily that it is exalted in color from that and therefore turns red! Which same thing also happens to those who are accustomed to extracting a Tincture with distilled oils provided with a volatile salt, such as oil of amber, cinnamon, cloves, soot, etc.

For such a Tincture or potable gold is ineffective, as experience testifies.

I would not, however, say that no other medicine can be prepared from gold besides the said Tincture: for when it is dissolved with sweet menstrua in such a way that it cannot be separated by the benefit of precipitation, it can perform wonders in many most desperate diseases; yet one must always choose the living metal in place of the dead.

For truly, let potable gold be provided not only in name and appearance (such as various waters colored with a yellow or red hue) but also with golden faculties and virtues, so that it is, in act,