New Philosophical Furnaces

PART I.

...[providing] a small aid to the physician and the chemist original: "chymico"; referring to the early modern practitioner of both chemistry and alchemy..

This small furnace, once built, lasts for many years, and if broken, is easily repaired.

And for this reason, at least regarding the work of distilling materials, we do not need retorts Flasks with long, downward-pointing necks used for distillation; they were often fragile and expensive., nor are the receivers The vessels that catch the distilled liquid. in any danger, by which costs are remarkably saved. Besides the aforementioned ways, I have yet another, even more concise and easier method for distilling and sublimating, by which an incredible abundance of spirits of salts original: "spirituum salium"; acids or volatile liquids derived from minerals., and flowers of minerals original: "florum mineralium"; fine powders produced through sublimation that collect at the top of the vessel. and metals, can be produced in a short space of time; which I will reserve for another time, as it is enough to have said these things now. However, I do not doubt that diligent spagyrists original: "spagyros"; practitioners of the "spagyric art," which involves separating and recombining the essential components of substances to create medicines. will follow in my footsteps and discover things unknown even to myself; for it is easier to add to things already discovered than to find the unknown.

Therefore, since the construction of the furnace has been most clearly explained (in my opinion), there will now follow the method of its use, and the logic of distillation and sublimation itself.

Even if by chance, and contrary to hope, some obscurity should occur, the process itself will explain the process; and the result will follow for the diligent operator and seeker of nature in practice, without any doubt, in the manner I have prescribed. This I heartily pray for the pious spagyrists, as well as the blessing of God, Thrice Best and Greatest. Amen.