Pot for mercury preparation
Date
1670s-1680s
Creator
Robert Bacon (British) , Amanuensis
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p55
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 193mm
width (page): 155mm
width (page): 155mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Marginal sketch of a cylindrical vessel used in conjunction with other chemical equipment for the production of a mercury elixir. From Robert Boyle's papers.
Transcription
Title of section (p.53): ‘Hic chara Philosophia mea Elixir in solo Mercurio.’
Accompanying text reads: ‘Sublime mercury cleanly then grind strongly upon a Marble stone with Oyl of Tartar, and sublime up the mercury into the top of the Limbeck as crude as ever it was cleansed off many times before, and strained through a Linen cloth, til it be very dry. Then put it into a Gripes Egg and close it , and bury it in the midst of a Pot of this shape full of sand and set it in a deep brass Pot’s bottom in boiling water, or scalding hot, so continue 40 dayes (he bids three months) and so shall the mercury dissolve into pure milk.’
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Accompanying text reads: ‘Sublime mercury cleanly then grind strongly upon a Marble stone with Oyl of Tartar, and sublime up the mercury into the top of the Limbeck as crude as ever it was cleansed off many times before, and strained through a Linen cloth, til it be very dry. Then put it into a Gripes Egg and close it , and bury it in the midst of a Pot of this shape full of sand and set it in a deep brass Pot’s bottom in boiling water, or scalding hot, so continue 40 dayes (he bids three months) and so shall the mercury dissolve into pure milk.’
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Related fellows
Robert Boyle (1627 - 1691, British) , Natural philosopher
Associated place