106 The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. 



the second is digestion, by which the ex- 

 tract is perfected ; the third is coagula- 

 tion ; the fourth is its distillation into an 

 oil, the subtle being separated from the 

 gross. Then follows fixation by the last 

 coagulation, and thereby you obtain the 

 pellucid fiery Stone - which can operate 

 on metals only when it is fermented, and 

 rendered penetrative. Even so, it can 

 only act in a particular manner, as I 

 shall explain further on, when I speak 

 of the Fire Stone. 



The distilled oil, of which I have 

 spoken, accomplishes all purposes for 

 which it can be employed by the phy 



sician.* 



* If I did not know that Basilius is here declaring no 

 more than the bare truth, I should take him for one of the 

 quacks and mountebank charlatans of the market place. 

 But experience has taught me that he rather understates than 

 exaggerates his case. If you do not believe me, the way is 

 open for you to try. I repeat that this Oil, if properly used, 

 is truly an Universal Medicine. The body must, however, 

 first have been purged of its gross humours by means of 

 general remedies. Moreover, there are some diseases which 

 are incurable, r.nd I do not say that our Oil is of any avail 

 against these. I have the most irrefragable evidence that this 

 medicine acts like magic in all fever, and especially the quartan 

 fever, the reproach of the old system. In 1665 I cured a 



