manifestly Observ'd in the making a Medecine somewhat like _Helmont's
Balsamus Samech_, with Distill'd Vinager instead of Spirit of Wine,
wherewith he prepares it: For you would scarce Beleeve (what I have
lately Observ'd) that of that acid Spirit, the Salt of Tartar, from
which it is Distill'd, will by mortifying and retaining the acid Salt
turn into worthless Phlegm neere twenty times its weight, before it be
so fully Impregnated as to rob no more Distill'd Vinager of its Salt.
And though Spirit of Wine Exquisitely rectify'd seem of all Liquors to
be the most free from Water, it being so Igneous that it will Flame
all away without leaving the least Drop behinde it, yet even this
Fiery Liquor is by _Helmont_ not improbably affirm'd, in case what he
relates be True, to be Materially Water, under a Sulphureous Disguise:
For, according to him, in the making that excellent Medecine,
_Paracelsus_ his _Balsamus Samech_, (which is nothing but _Sal
Tartari_ dulcify'd by Distilling from it Spirit of Wine till the Salt
be sufficiently glutted with its Sulphur, and suffer [Errata: and till
it suffer] the Liquor to be drawn off, as strong as it was pour'd on)
when the Salt of Tartar from which it is Distill'd hath retain'd, or
depriv'd it of the Sulphureous parts of the Spirit of Wine, the rest,
which is incomparably the greater part of the Liquor, will remigrate
into Phlegm. I added that Clause [_In case what he Relates be True_]
because I have not as yet sufficiently try'd it my self. But not only
something of Experiment keeps me from thinking it, as many Chymists
do, absurd, (though I have, as well as they, in vain try'd it with
ordinary Salt of Tartar;) but besides that _Helmont_ often Relates it,
and draws Consequences from it; A Person noted for his Sobernesse and
Skill in Spagyrical Preparations, having been askt by me, Whether the
Experiment might not be made to succeed, if the Salt and Spirit were
prepar'd according to a way suitable to my Principles, he affirm'd to
me, that he had that way I propos'd made _Helmont's_ Experiment
succeed very well, without adding any thing to the Salt and Spirit.
But our way is neither short nor Easie.
I have indeed (sayes _Carneades_) sometimes wonder'd to see how much
Phlegme may be obtain'd from Bodies by the Fire. But concerning that
Phlegme I may anon have Occasion to note something, which I therefore
shall not now anticipate. But to return to the Opinion of _Thales_,
and of _Helmont_, I consider, that supposing the _Alkahest_ could
reduce all Bodies into water, yet whether that water, because insipid,
must be Elementary, may not groundlesly be doubted; For I remember
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