Incipit: From a certain manuscript of the Philosopher R.C. (17th Century) - Page 22

In a laboratory or workshop setting, possibly of an alchemical nature, the description explains the construction of a furnace and its components for various chemical processes.

A furnace is to be built from specific clay, with a foundation set approximately one span (about 9 inches or 23 cm) deep. A mound of the same clay should be built up around the base, extending about one span outwards. The furnace itself should be oblong in shape and have a cover. There should be small, straight openings, about a finger's width apart, arranged according to the furnace's design. Above these openings, vessels for calcination (the process of heating a substance to high temperatures in the presence of air or oxygen) should be placed, utilizing heat from a cold chamber with coals. This setup suggests a controlled heating process for chemical or metallurgical applications.

A summary of the text:
The text describes the construction and use of a specialized furnace for chemical processes like distilling and vitrifying. It specifies building a stable foundation with a specific type of clay, forming an oblong-shaped furnace with a cover, and incorporating small, evenly spaced openings for ventilation or heat control. Calcination vessels are positioned above these openings to utilize heat from a coal-filled chamber, indicating a setup designed for precise thermal applications.

Keywords: furnace construction, alchemical processes, calcination, vitrification, distillation, laboratory setup, thermal application.

Transcript:

De praeparatione / Sal communi

Multi furni fiunt; alii sunt physici, alii furni pro perstillando, alii pro vitrificando. Furnus physicus est sui generis, proprie factus pro partibus et pro sustinendis vasis furni, ut distet a basi sua ad longitudinem brachii. In hunc modum fiat fundamentum, foris, ex quadam portione ipsius luti, quod contineat massam. Desuper, dasadzra imfzig. Sed extra, fiat spatium inter fundamentum et basim, unius palmi. Et desuper, ponatur stratum, et fiat ex luto, et adhibeatur fundamentum circa basim, quasi ad unum palmum, et massa luti et luti quae superponitur et antea applicatur.

Pro foraminibus situs: tunc fiat tumulus supra stratum ad altitudinem brachii; est unus palmus in basi compacta, in modum furni. Et fiat oblongus in modum furni, et fiat operculum, et fiat brevis apertus tumulus recte. l. T. s. Foramina ponenda applicentur. Est digitalis latitudo secundum formam furni. Et desuper, vasa calcinationis e camera frigida cum carbonibus debent poni secundum stratum desuper. c.

Translation:

Of preparation / Common salt

Many furnaces are made; some are physical, others are for distilling, others for vitrifying. A physical furnace is of its own kind, properly made for its parts and for supporting the vessels of the furnace, such that it stands at a distance from its base of one arm's length. In this way let the foundation be made, on the outside, from a certain portion of the same clay, which contains a mass. Above that, [German phrase meaning "that is fifty"]. But outside, let there be a space between the foundation and the base of one span. And above, let a layer be placed, and let it be made of clay, and let the foundation be applied around the base, as it were to the extent of one span, and a mass of clay and mud which is placed over and applied beforehand.

For the placement of the openings: then let a mound be made above the layer to the height of an arm; it is one span in the compacted base, in the manner of a furnace. And let it be made oblong in the manner of a furnace, and let there be a cover, and let there be a short, open, straight mound. L. T. S. The openings to be placed should be applied. It is a finger's width according to the form of the furnace. And above, vessels for calcination from the cold chamber with coals ought to be placed according to the layer above. c.