i88 A Treatise oh 
perience in diflilling Vitriol. Nor is this Fixity, 
if we may fo term it, to be afcribed to an aftrin- 
gent Earth in Iron or Copper ; becaufe the fame 
Sait is Hill more fixt in vitriolated Tartar, in 
Glauber* s Salt, and Alum, wherein it is combined 
with a fixt Alkali, the abforbent Earth of Sea-Salt, 
and a calcarious Earth, from which it is not to be 
feparated by the Force of Fire. Moreover, if the 
vitriolick acid Salt be joined with Oils, or likewife 
with Spirit of Wine, and the Mixture be digefled 
a fufiicient Time, they are at length fo intimately 
united that they form a refinous Mafs, whereof 
the greater Part is converted by Fire into a black 
Earth, extremely fixt, and void both of Tafle and 
Smell. Therefore the acerb auftcre Tafle appears 
to me to depend chiefly upon the like Combinati- 
on of this Acid with Oil : But of this elfe where. 
The Bark of the Pomegranate has a bitterifh, 
auflere Tafle. It is very aflringent, and on Ac- 
count of this Property is ufeful in preparing or 
tanning Hides, wherein it may be employed to 
the fame Purpofe as Oak-Bark ; and forafmuch as 
it turns the Solution of green Vitriol black, it may 
ferve inflead of Galls to make Ink. It is efficaci- 
ous in Loofeneffes, Dyfenteries, and all Fluxes of 
the Belly, in Hemorrhages, the Fluor dibus , and 
Gonorrhoeas ; provided neverthelefs that it be given 
cautioufly, and not too foon. It powerfully flrength- 
ens the Tone of the Parts, whence it often pro- 
duces contrary Effedls : For Bartholin gives an Ac- 
count of a certain W r oman, who, by taking Pome- 
granate-Bark, was cured of a Supprefiion of her 
Menfes ; and we have before obferved the fame 
contrary Effects of opening and allringing in the 
Ufe of Chalybeates. Conjtantius afferts that a De- 
co£lion of this Bark with Wine kills Worms in the 
Belly, particularly thofe which are called dfcarides. 
