Afterward take off the receiver, and put the spirit into such a Glass (as in the fifth part of this book, amongst the Manuals, shall be discovered) wherein it may be kept safely without wasting or evaporating. In this manner all things, Vegetable, Animal, or Mineral, may be distilled in this Furnace, and much better, than by means of a Retort: especially such subtile spirits (as by the other way of distilling cannot be saved, but pass through the lutum) are got by this our way; and they are much better than those heavy oyles, which commonly are taken for spirits, but are none, being only corrosive waters. For the nature and condition of a spirit is to be volatile, penetrating and subtile, and such are not those spirits of salt, Vitriol, Allome and Nitre, which are used in Apothecary shops, they being but heavy oyles, which even in a warm place do not evaporate or exhale. But a true spirit, fit for Medicinal use, must rise or ascend before the phlegm, and not after; for whatsoever is heavier than phlegm, is no volatile spirit, but a heavy spirit or (rather called) a sowre heavy oyl. And it is seen by experience, that the Apothecaries spirit of vitriol will cure no falling sickness, which vertue is ascribed to that spirit, and indeed justly: for the true spirit of vitriol performeth that cure out of hand. Likewise their spirit of Tartar (as they call it) is no spirit, but only a stinking phlegm or vinegar. The way to make such true spirits, I will now shew, because much good may be done by them in all manner of Diseases. And this way of distilling serveth only for those which seek after good Medicines: but others which care not whether their medicines be well prepared or no, need not take so much pains as to build such a furnace, and to make their spirits themselves, for at any time they can buy for a small matter, a good quantity of dead and fruitless spirits at the common sellers and Apothecaries. Hence it is no marvel, that now adaies so little good is done by Chymical medicaments, which of right should far out-strip all the Galenical in goodness and vertue. But alas! it is come to that pass now, that a true Chymist, and honest Son of _Hermes_, is forced almost to blush, when he heareth men talk of Chymical medicines, because they do no such miracles, as are ascribed unto them. Which infamy is occasion’d by none more, than by careless Physicians, which though they make use of Chymical medicines, (because they would fain be esteemed to know more than others) yet they do take greater care for their kitchen, than for the welfare of their Patients; and so buying ill-prepared Medicines of unskilful stillers, and withal using them undiscreetly (whereby they many times do more hurt than good to the sick) they lay such foul aspertions upon the noble Art of Chymistry.