very ſubtle, then put on a like quantity of the ſaid Spirit as before, and diſtillit oſſ, and thus do ſo long till the water that comes over, is not inſipid, but the Spirit comes over again hot as it was poured on: for by this time the ſixed matter is glutted with the ſalt Armoniack, and ſulphur of the Spirit. Then put this dryed matter into a glaſſe ſublimatorie, and put fire to it, and there will ſublime a ſalt from thence, even as Camphire is ſublimed. This ſalt is the true eſſence of Wine indeed, and its vertues are wonderſull, for there is no diſeaſe whether inward or outward that can withstand it. This is that eſſence of Wine the of[errata 1] philoſophers, which is ſo penetrating, o wonderſull cordiall, and balſamicall, which if thou doſt once obtaine thou ſhalt need but few other medicines.
Now this Spirit or Aqua vitæ is in all vegetables as you may ſee in malt, and vegetables that are putrefied before they be diſtilled, which then yeeld a burning Spirit; yet it is in Wine more then in any other Liquors; I ſay Liquors, for if you take eight gallons of Sack, and as much Wheat, which is a ſolid body, the Wheat being malted will yeeld more Aquavitæ then the Sack.
2. The flegme is that which remaines after the Spirit is diſtilled off, and is a putrid inſipid, cold, narcotick, and inebriating Liquor, debilitating the ſtomack, and offending the head. A ſew ſpoonſulls of this will preſently make a man drunk, nay the flegme of halſa pint of Wine will make a man drunk, when as two pints of Wine it ſelf would hardly doe it: whence you may collect what a great correcter of Malignant Spirits, and vapours the Spirit of Wine is, which, whileſt it is mixed with the flegme before diſtillation doth temper and correct this inebriating quality thereof, and as it doth thus, ſo alſo being given (I mean the pure dephlegmated Spirit) to them that are already inebriated, doth much allay their diſtemper. This flegme therefore being of ſo narcotick a quality is the cauſe of pallies, and ſuch like diſtempers.
Moreover it is to be obſerved that when this flegme is diſtilled off, there remains at the bottome a viscous corroſive matter which by reaſon of its viſcoſity is the cauſe of obſtructions, and
- ↑ Correction: the of should be amended to of the
