164 The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. 



relics, or were grateful to God, but per- 

 sisted in their mockery and scorn. 



The following preparation of Anti- 

 mony is useful against fevers and the 

 plague itself, as I have myself experi- 

 enced : Pulverize Antimony, place in a 

 glass retort, distil over a strong fire three 

 or four times ; let it be kept in a large 

 vase till it becomes a red powder ; ex- 

 tract with vinegar, circulate, extract ten 

 days over a gentle fire, remove vinegar 

 by distillation, and transfuse what re- 

 mains by a skilful process into an oil.* 



Four grains of this oil, taken with 

 St. Benedict's cordial, cures quotidian, 

 tertian, and quartan fevers, if the patient 

 be well covered and perspire freely. 

 The same dose is an efficacious remedy 

 against the plague, being mingled with 

 spirit of wine or distilled vinegar, accord- 

 ing as the disease first makes itself felt 

 in an excess of heat or cold. Three 

 friars in our monastery, who had already 



* This extract must be made volatile with spirit of wine, 

 as above. Let the humidity of the oil be removed by cir- 

 culation, so that it becomes a dry powder. 



