408 PHYSIOLOGICAL REMAINS. 



(5.) Silver hath its proper menstruum, which is aqua for- 

 tis. The colour is green, with great heat and ebullition. 



(6.) Gold is dissolved with aqua regia, into a yellow liq- 

 uor, with little heat or ebullition. 



(7.) Mercury is dissolved with much heat and boiling, into 

 the same liquors which gold and silver are. It alters not the 

 colour of the menstruum. 



Note. Strong waters may be charged with half their 

 weight of fixed metals, and equal of mercury ; if the work- 

 man be skilful. 



9. Sprouting. This is an accident of dissolution. For if 

 the menstruum be overcharged, then within short time the 

 metals will shoot into certain crystals. 



10. For induration, or mollification, they depend upon the 

 quantity of fixed mercury and sulphur. I have observed 

 little of them, neither of toughness nor brittleness. 



11. The degrees of fixation and volatility I acknowledge 

 except the two utmost, which never were observed. 



12. The question of transmutation is very doubtful. 

 Wherefore I refer your honour to the fourth tome of Thea- 

 trum Chymicum : and there, to that tract which is intitled 

 Disquisitio Heliana ; where you shall find full satisfaction. 



The fourth letter of the cross-row, touching restitution. 



FIRST, therefore it is to be enquired in the negative, 

 what bodies will never return, either by their extreme 

 fixings, as in some vitrifications, or by extreme volatility. 



It is also to be enquired of the two means of reduc- 

 tion ; and first by the fire, which is but by congregation 

 of homogeneal parts. 



The second is, by drawing them down by some body 

 that hath consent with them. As iron draweth down 

 copper in water ; gold draweth quicksilver in vapour ; 



