Alchemy - LIEBAULT (Jean). Four books of the secrets of medicine, and of the chemical philosophy. Esquels sont descrits plusieurs remedes singuliers pour toutes maladies, tant interieures que exterieures du corps humain. Traictees bien amplementes les manieres de distiller eaux, huiles, & quintes essences de toutes sortes de matieres, preparer l'Antimoine & la poudre de Mercure ; faire les extractions, les sels artificiels, & l'or potable. Rouen, Behourt, 1628.
In-12 of [7] ff.-[1] f.bl.-297-[15] pp. Missing the last ff. of the table.
Numerous woodcuts in the text representing distillation instruments.
This collection of distilled remedies is to be placed in the filiation of Conrad Gesner's book (1552) and marks the beginning of the influence of Paracelsian chemical medicine in France. After recalling some classical definitions of distillation, Liébaut discusses the various techniques. He presents the manufacture of various oils and balsams and dwells at length on brandies. In chapter IV, he reviews some of the apparatus used to distil eau-de-vie. He also gives much importance to the methods of elaboration of antimony. A chapter is devoted to metallic waters and to etching based on the dreaded sublimated mercury. The work ends with the drinking gold produced by the alchemists, which can prolong life, including the recipe of Raymund Lull. (Caillet 6679.)
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