CHAPTER IV.

Concerning the Spirit and Tincture of Luna.
After having spoken with sufficient clearness concerning the tincture of Sol, it remains to put forward something about the tincture of Luna, and of the White Tincture which, in like manner, is produced from the perfect spirit, though it be less perfect than the spirit of Sol \ but, nevertherless, it excels in purity and subtlety all the other tinctures of the metals which follow it in order This, indeed, is well known to all who handle Luna, even rustics. It does not
• II is well imdentood ihat the body of Sol Is Merctuy^ wKkh cannot at all stand iHe fire, but Jlces from it*—/?/ TranxmuiatioHtbui MetnUeirum^ c. lo.
t IiJ Lhe cotleciion of treatises to which reference b here niade, there is ihc follDmng process for the manufactim: of ii tincture of gold :• Let the body be first deprived of iLs metaltic nnd malleable iiaturc ; that is to say, let it be corrupted ; then let the residue be cleansed with sweet water, and I he colour extracted by mean> of spirit of wine^ when the desired tincture will remain at the bottom. To compose the Water of Salt : Take very white sail, but not tbat which ha* been whitened ariificially ; melt it several limes ; reduce it to on exceedingly subtle powder ; mix it with the sap of raphanumH. Shake it. Dl>c|l^ after rc^u^Kluiiont with an equal portion of the sap of blood. Theri again d'tstil five timei». Thin plates of gold which ha%'e been purged by antimony arc easily reduced to pov^-der in this water. The powder thus prepared must be washed wiih sweet distilled water until it no longer &avours of salt. As the sail does not penetrate inlo its lubtiitancc it is cosily removed by ablution. To compose the Spirit of Wine : Take one sextariu^ (about a pint) of generous wine ; let ic be poured into a circulnior>' vessel of appropriate sijret that Is, of «uch capacity that the wine can be shaken therein. Place it in a Balneum Maris to the depth which the wine occupie^^ and decoct for ten da>'s. Seal all apertarcs of the vessels^ io that nothing can escape. Then place in a cucurbiie, and abstract the spirit by a alow fire. A* soon tu it hu piused away (which you will ktiow by the usual signs), cea.se to urge the fire, for the residue is a simple suhUmale. Pour the spirit of wine upon the above vmeutioncd powder (which ^iboutd be hke alcohol) to the height of a palm, enclose it In a glass, keep it for a month in a warm bath to dcgesi^ when the colour will be separated and commingled with the spirit. A white powder will remain aL the bottom. Having separated all these things, melt the powder, and it will be separated into a metallic water. Evaporate the spirits accoTding to art, and the desired sjMrit will remain at the bottom. Perform its gradation in a retort of the proper sitt. Thiii is done most com^enieotly by elevation, which U highly attenuAling. - Ckirtirgia Magna ^ Part !L, Tract HI., c. a.
Concerning ike Spirits of Ike Planets.
77
acquire rust, nor is it consumed in the fire like the other metals, all of %vhich Saturn draws with himself when flying from the fire, but not this one.* Hence it may be g-athercd that this tincture is far more excellent than those set down below, for it preserves in the fire the body it has assumed without any accident or loss. Hence it is quite clear that if this in its own corruptible body by itself produces Mercury, what it will be able to effect when extracted from it into another body. Will not that in the same way protect and defend from accidents and infirmities? Surely if it produces this Mercury in its own body, it will do the same in the bodies of men.t And it not only preserves health, but causes (ong^ life, and cures diseases and infirmities, even those which are beyond its own special grade. For the higher, more subtly and more perfect a medicine is, so much the better and more perfectly it cures. Wherefore those are mere ignorant physicians who waste their skill only on vegetables, as herbs and the Jike, which are easily cormpted. With these they endeavour to accomplish results which are firm and fixed, but they do this vainly as those who beat the air. But why speak at length about these? They have not learnt better in their universities. If they were compelled to go back to the beginnings learn and study, they would think it a great disgrace. Therefore they remain in their former ignorance.