EXTRACTS FROM ANCIENT PHARMACY. 
471 
This emulsion of one per cent, of wood tar is very active. It is impossible to 
suspend a larger quantity of tar by the use of more alkaline salt, for when two 
per cent, of carbonate of soda is employed, a brown liquid is formed, from 
which a black fluid resin soon separates. 
M. Jeannel states that wood tar may be readily distinguished from coal tar 
by this property of forming an emulsion with a one per cent, solution of carbo¬ 
nate of soda. 
EXTEACTS EEOM ANCIENT PHAEMACY, 
COMMUNICATED BY JOSEPH INCE. 
1. The Secrets of Alexis, containing many excellent remedies against divers diseases, 
wounds, and accidents. Done in English by W. Warde. A work well approved 
and very necessary for all men. London. 1568. 
2. PomeCs General History of Drugs, ivith what is further observed by Lemery, 
Tournefort, and others on the same subjects. A.D. 1694. Enghsh Translation. 
1712. 
3 The Codex. Paris. 1866. 
1. INIr. Eobert Howden has presented this curious old work on Pharmacy, the 
second title of which is, “ The Secrets of the Eeverend Master Alexis of Pied¬ 
mont.” It is printed in black letter, and, though not a perfect copy, is in fair 
preservation. The volume is divided into six books. Some extracts, rendered 
in modern orthography, will perhaps not be unacceptable to the student of an¬ 
tiquarian literature. 
“ Don Alexis unto the Gentle Eeader. 
“ They that have known me in time past, or, to speak plain, have useS me 
familiarly all my lifetime, can peradventure tell how God, by his great good¬ 
ness, hath made me to be born of a noble house and blood (according to the 
common, I will not say vain persuasion, of them that stablish nobility more in 
the merits of another man than in our own); and that besides this I have always 
had my pleasures, and great plenty of riches, yea far passing the smallness of 
my deserts; I will say yet more (not to boast of or to announce myself, but to 
the end to reform (? inform) the gentle reader, and to give thanks unto God) 
that there be many which know how I, being given even from my first youth 
unto study, have gotten not only the knowledge of the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, 
Chaldee, and Arabic tongues, and also of divers other nations and countries; 
but, above all things, having by a natural inclination taken a singular pleasure 
in philosophy and in the secrets of nature, have wandered and travelled 
abroad in the world the space of twenty-seven years, to the intent to acquaint 
myself with all sorts of learned and discreet men. By the which diligence and 
curiosity I have learned many goodl;^ secrets, not alone of men of great know¬ 
ledge and profound learning, and noblemen, but also of poor women, artificers, 
peasants, and all sorts of men. Moreover I have been three times in Levant, 
and sundry times have travelled almost all other parts of the world, without 
resting or sojourning at any time in one place above five months.” 
Alexis next states that he was naturally most unwilling to communicate his 
information; but being in Milan when he was fourscore and two years and 
seven months of age, a surgeon requested him to cure a poor artificer who was 
marvellously tormented with the stone. He refused for certain reasons, till, the 
case being urgent the surgeon brought him to the patient, “ whom at my coming 
I found so nigh his end, that after he had a little lifted up his eyes, casting 
them piteously toward me, he passed from this into a better life, not having any 
