IN the year 1600 a certain man belonging to the Camp, whoſe office was to keep account of the proviſion of Victuals, which was made for the Army, being charged with a numerous Family of ſmall Children, unable to ſhift for themſelves, himſelf being then 58 years of age, was very ſenſible of the great care and burden which lay upon him to provide for them while he lived, and concluded that ſhould he dye, they muſt be inforced to beg their bread from door to door, whereupon he came (ſaith Helmont) and deſired of me ſomething for the preſervation of his Life; I then (being a young man) pittyed his ſad condition, and thus thought with my ſelf, the fume of burning Sulphur, is by experience found powerfully effectual to preſerve Wines from corruption; Then I collecting my thoughts, concluded that the acid Liquor or Oyl, which is made of Sulphur Vive, ſet on fire, doth of neceſſity containe in it ſelf this fume, yea, and the whole odour of the Sulphur in aſ much as it is indeed nothing elſe but the very Sulphurous fume imbibed or drunk up in its mercurial Salt, and ſo becomes a condenſed Liquor. Then I thought with my ſelf, our blood being (to us) no other then as it were the Wine of our Life, that being preſerved, if it prolong not the life, at leaſt, it will keep it ſound from thoſe many Diſeaſes which proceed originally from corruption, by which means the life being ſound and free from diſeaſes, and defended from paines and grief, might be in ſome ſort ſpun out to a further length then otherwiſe; upon which meditated reſolution, I gave him a Viol glaſs with a ſmall quantity of this Oyl, diſtilled from Sulphur Vive burning, and taught him (moreover) how to make it as he ſhould afterward need it; I adviſed him of this Liquor, he ſhould take two drops before each Meale in a ſmall draught of beer, and not ordinarily to exceed that Doſe, nor to intermit the uſe of it, taking for granted that two drops of that Oyl contained a large quantity of the fume of Sulphur. The man took my advice, and at this day in the year 1641. he is luſty and in good health, walks the ſtreets at Bruſſels without complaint, and is likely longer to live; and that which is moſt remarkable, in this whole ſpace of forty one years he was not ſo much as ill, ſo as to keep his bed, yea, although (when of a great age) in the depth; of Winter, he broke his Legg near to his anclebone, by a fall upon the Ice, yet with the uſe of this Oyl he recovered, without the leaſt Symptome of a Fever; and although in his old age, Poverty had reduced him to great ſtraits and hardſhip, and made him feel much want of things neceſſary for the comfort and conveniency of life; yet he lives healthy and ſound, though ſpare and lean.

The old mans name is Iohn Maſs, who waited upon Rithovius, Biſhop of Ypre in his Chamber, when the Earls of Thorne and Egmont were beheaded by the Duke of Alva, and he was then twenty five years of age; ſo that now he is compleat 99 years of age, healthy, and luſty, and ſtill continues the uſe of that Liquor daily.

Thus farr Helmont, which relation, as it is moſt remarkable, ſo it gives the Philoſophical reaſon of his Advice, on which it was grounded: And elſewhere the ſame Authour relates, how by this Liquor he cured many dangerous deplorable Fevers, which by other Phyſitians had been given over for deſperate.

And in other places he commends it as a peerleſs remedy, to aſſwage the inſatiable thirſt which accompanies moſt Fevers.

•• ſo which relation and teſtimony, of this moſt learned Phyſician, and excelling Philoſopher, I ſhall add my own experience.

I find it a ſure Preſervative againſt corruption, not onely in living creatures, but even in dead Fleſt, Beer, Wine, Ale, &c. a recoverer of dying Beer, and Wines that are decayed, a cure for Beer when ſick and ropeing; fleſh by this means may be preſerved ſo ncorruptible, as no imbalming in the world can go beyond it, for the keeping of a dead Carkaſe, nor Salting, come near its efficacy, as to the conſerving Meat, or Fowles, or Fiſh, which by this means are not onely kept from corruption, but made a mumial Balſom, which is it ſelf a Preſervative from curruption, of ſuch as ſhall eat thereof; which being a curious rarity, and too coſtly for to be made a vulgar experiment, I ſhall paſs it over, and come to thoſe uſes which are moſt Beneficial and Deſireable.

It is an excellent cleanſer of the Teeth, being ſcoured with it, they will become as white as the pureſt Ivory, and the mouth being waſhed with this Oyl, dropped in water or white Wine, ſo as to make it onely of the ſharpneſs of Vineger; it prevents the growing of that yellow ſcale, which uſually adheres to the Teeth, and is the fore-runner of their putrifaction; it prevents their rottenneſs for future, and ſtops it (being begun) from going further; takes away the pain of the Teeth, diverts Rhumas, and is a lure help for the ſtrongeſt ſavour of the Breath, making it very ſweet.

In a word, There is not a more deſirable thing can be found, for ſuch who would have clean or found Teeth, or ſweet breath, or to be free from Rheums; for which uſe, let the water be made, by dropping this Oyl into it, as ſharp as vineger, as I ſaid before.

Againſt a tickling Cough and Hoarſneſs, it is an excellent Remedy; not onely taken two or three drops twice or thrice a day inwardly, in the uſual drink one uſeth before each meal, but alſo by gargling the Throat with it; and (ſo uſed) it is excellent againſt ſwelled Throats-Squinances, Wenns, Swellings or Knobs like Kernels in the fleſh, all inflamations in the mouth, whether it be the Vuula extended by an afflux of humours vulgarly ſaid to be the falling of the Palate, or inflamations of other Muſcles, cauſing the Almonds of the ears to ſwell, which compreſs the Weaſand, and conſequently cauſe extream dolour.

It is excellent alſo againſt the Head-ach, and to divert Rheums from the eyes, to waſh the Temples therewith; likewiſe to take away Tetters, Morphew, Itch, or Scabs: This dropped in water is a pleaſant, ſafe, and effectual Remedy.

Beſides which Outward application, it is an amicable Balſom to the Internal parts. And Internally taken, preventing corruption, rooting out the ſeeds thereof, though never ſo deeply concealed in the body, and by that means it openeth inveterate Obſtructions, eradicating old Pains, and preventing otherwiſe uſual relapſes into Stranguretical, Colical, or Arthritical pains.

It is Abſterſive, cleanſing all excrementitious ſettlings in the Meſaraick, or Meſenterial Veſſels, and ſo cutting off the Original Sourſe, and taking away the cauſe of putrifactive corruption, which is the productive beginner of very many diſeaſes.

On this account it lengthens the life, and frees the body from many pains and evils, to which otherwiſe it would be ſubject.

It is a pleaſant Remedy, having onely a little ſharpneſs, which to the Palate is moſt grateful, and yet this accidity is contra-diſtinct from that accidity, that is the fore-runner of putrefaction, which it kills and deſtroys, as the accidity of the ſpirit of Vitriol, is deſtroyed by the fixed Acrimony of its own Caput mortu • m; or that of Vinegar, by the touch of C • ruſſe or Minium.

Preternatural heat and thirſt in Fevers, is no way allayed ſo ſpeedily and eaſily, as by this; nor is there any thing that for a conſtant continuance may be more ſafely and profitably taken. Spirit of Salt (ſuch as the Noble Helmont ſpeaks of) alone may be joyned with this, for its ſafety, and continual uſe with profit; eſpecially in the Stone, in the Bladder, and gravel in the Kidneys, and other diſtempers in the Reines, as heat and ſharpneſs of Urin.

Likewiſe it is a moſt effectual preſervative againſt all Corruption, and indeed there is no remedy more prevalent then this againſt contagious Fevers, ſmall Pox, and Meaſels: It is alſo a moſt ſoveraign Antidote and Remedy againſt the Plague or Peſtilence, being a ſingular preſerver of the body againſt all contagion and putrifaction whatſoever.

Alſo it wonderfully prevaileth againſt all diſeaſes coming of putrifaction, cold or wind; againſt all Feavers and Agues, the Quotidian, Tertian, and Quartin; as alſo the foul diſeaſe, Wounds, and Ulcers; the ſeveral defect; and infirmities of the Brain, Mouth, Teeth, Liver, Stomack, Spleen, Matrix, Bladder, Entralls, and Arteries. And outwardly applyed, it helpeth Fiſtulaes, Ulcers of the mouth, and Gangrenes.

Now as this is ſo Noble a Medecine, ſo there is none in the world more baſely adulterated and counterfeited; therefore it behooveth all perſons that ſhall make uſe thereof, to be well ſatisfied firſt of the ingenuity, honeſty, and ability of the Artiſt, before they preſume to make uſe of it.

Now as to its goodneſs, and great care taken in its preparation, I could have had many both honeſt and learned Atteſtators, who have had the experience of it upon ſeveral of their Patients, and ſtill daily uſe it in their practice with good ſucceſs.

Thoſe now, who know not by ſad experience the difficulty of gaining credit to truths of this kind, might well ſuppoſe enough had already been expreſſed to perſwade at leaſt a Tryal of ſo noble a medicine, if not a fair and clear acceptation, but ſo great a prejudice againſt new diſcoveries, remaines upon the minds of the moſt by abuſe of Deceivers; that what hath been ſaid in its behalf will hardly prevail for ſuch a reliance upon its uſe, as its vertues really deſerves; therefore to ſilence all oppoſers, and to obtaine its chearful embracement; take here the ſure teſtimony of ſome inſtances of its happy Victories and ſucceſſes in divers remarkable caſes and conflicts; wherein though the Operator of it hath much to ſay for daily benefits to himſelf and relations (too numerous to recount) yet knowing, who ever duly weighs the other inſtances, will eaſily conclude, it muſt needs have been moſt ſerviceable, where it hath been moſt imployed: I refer you wholly to its other performances and cures elſewhere.

The firſt of which ſhall be of a Gentlewoman about twenty years of age, that by much weakneſs, ſickneſs, and an empty dry Cough, haveing withall paſt through the whole courſe of Phyſick, and even hopeleſs of recovery, being recommended to the uſe of this Oyle (by one who had received much good by it) uſing of it about three moneths continually day by day according to former directions, recovered beyond expectation, and ſtill is reſolved to continue the uſe of it.

The ſecond ſhall be of an Ancient, weak woman, fallen into a tedious fit of ſickneſs, Feveriſh, and ſo fluft in her breaſt, as ſhe was even breathleſs, much means of Phyſick by councel of Phyſicians ſhe had uſed, but left helpleſs of all.

She hearing of my Oyl, ſent for an ounce, I ſent it with directions how to uſe it, and a while after that, another; and ſo after that another, by the uſe whereof, continually a little and a little, ſhe became hearty and well againe; but near upon a Twelve-moneth after fell ſick againe, and then timely betaking her ſelf to the ſame Remedy, ſhe with ſomewhat a leſs quantity recovered: and againe, about a year after that falling ill againe, by the very ſame meanes againe recovered and continued well for about twelve or fourteen moneths, as well as her years conſidered could be expected.

3. The third I ſhall inſtance, is of a young man which for a long time had an Ague and a Fevour, and had uſed all the means that he could poſſible, and all in vaine, in ſo much that he was paſt hope of recovery, but at laſt was adivſed by a Phyſician to uſe the Oyle of Sulphur according to the direction that is in this book, the man took his adviſe, and in a ſhort time his Ague and Fever left him, and he reſtored to his former ſtrength.

4. The fourth experiment is of a man of middle age, who had been along time under an extream ſickneſs, with a great pain in his ſtomack and bowels, and had uſed much means with advice in Phyſick, but ſtill became worſe and worſe; a friend of his who had made uſe of my Oyle, recommended its uſe unto him, as what was likely to do him good; ſo he ſent for two ounces of my Oyle, with directions, how to uſe it, which I readily ſent him, and before it was half taken, he ſent me word he had received ſo much benefit by it, that he would never be without it.

5. A fifth inſtance, is, of a Woman about the age of thirty, which was very often troubled with pain in her Teeth, by reaſon they were ſo much waſted and corrupted, and her gums ulcerated: I adviſed her to make uſe of my Oyle of Sulphur, and gave her directions how to uſe it, and in a ſhort time it ſcaled her teeth, and made them as white as Ivory, and alſo perfectly cured the Ulcers in her mouth, which gave great content to the party.

6. A ſixth proof hereof, is, of a Girl about ten years old, in an extream Fever, with thirſt, ſhortneſs of breath, Cough, with tough flegm, and vehement paines in her ſide, yet in this ſad condition found no releif, like to what ſhe had by continual uſe of my Oyle of Sulphur day and night, for it cooled and quenched her thirſt, ſtayed her Cough, ripened her flegm, removed her paines, and ſhe recovered without bleeding, which every one that ſaw her thought impoſſible.

7. One for many years troubled with a very ſtinking breath, and continual Head-ach, by reaſon of Vapours aſcending from putrified Lungs; by often uſing this Oyle in the diſtilled water or decoction of Egrimony, and in common drink, in a ſhort time recovered to perfect health, and all ill ſcents of the breath totally ſeaſed.

8. A man aged 60 and odd years, who for a long time had laboured under the great paine of the Tyſick, and difficulty of breathing, ſo that he could not lye down, but always ſlept upright in a Chaire for fear of ſtopping his breath; he was directed to me, and by a few dayes uſe thereof, it ſo opened the paſſages, that he breathed perfectly, and the Tyſick or or wheeſing troubled him no more.

9. A Gentlewoman in the Country being very much troubled with Riſing of the Lights, ſo that every night ſhe feared dying in her ſleep, was by providence of a friend, who had good teſtimony of my oyle, directed to ſend to me for ſome of it; I ſent her two ounces which ſhe daily uſing, according to my directions, ſoon became very well to her great comfort.

10. In the Pleuriſie, and all pains and Stiches in the Sides, it hath wonderful effects; one violently taken with pain in the ſide, ready to ſtop his breath, ſent to me for an ounce, which I immediately furniſhed him with, and following the directions how to uſe it, was perfectly healed in 24 hours, when nothing but death was expected.

11. A Child of three years old, ſuddenly ſurprized with Convulſion-fits, in thrice taking hereof was well, and the fits came no more.

12. A Gentlewoman violently oppreſſed with the Pangs of the aſcention of the Matrix, uſing this Oyl in Aqua partheine, was in a few times taking perfectly cured.

13. One grievouſly vexed with Belchings and loathing of meat, having a depraved and loſt Appetite by a foul ſtomack, was by taking hereof, in a few days brought to a good appetite; all belchings and riſings of the Stomack ceaſed, without vomiting or purging.

14. A man having by cold got a grievous Horſeneſs, Cough, and Soreneſt of his throat and ſtomack, ſo that he could ſwallow no meat; by taking hereof in his drink and broth, in ſix days was cured.

15. One much troubled with griping in the guts, being that diſtemper vulgarly called the Plague in the guts and having his bowels grievouſly excoriated, ſent to me for ſome of my Oyl of Sulphur, after all other means were tryed in vain; which I directed him to take, two or three drops at a time in Plantane-water, and gave him preſent eaſe.

16. One who was much troubled with ſcalding Urin, and pisſing by drops, with much pain and anguiſh; by taking hereof according to my directions found eaſe in one night, and by a little uſe, a perfect cure.

17. A woman grievouſly labouring with ſhortneſs of breath, filthy ſcents ariſing to her mouth, from her lower parts inwardly, often aſcertions and grievous pangs in her Matrix; after much miſery, and waſting both of body and Purſe upon Phyſitians, Providence directed her to me, and by uſe hereof, according as I preſcribed, found a remedy beyond hopes or expectation.