^{ambre jaune materia medica}

The geological material in which the threads of Galenism and Paracelsianism most beautifully intertwine is probably amber. Amber could be pro- cessed in such a way as to have its “essence” released and concentrated from the ineffectual remainder or “scurf ” (Quincy, 1728: 637). In this way, three com- mon amber preparations were made:

1. The Sal Succini, or Salt of Amber;
2. The Oleum Succini or Oil of Amber;
3. The Tinctura Succini, or Tincture of Amber. As Hill (1751: 358) explains, the Salt and Oil of

amber were generated together as they involved es- sentially the same process. A glass retort (the “head” or “alembic”) was filled two-thirds full with lump amber, and heated to various temperatures, catching the distilled fraction in a carefully connected “recei- ver” (or “cucurbit”) at each stage of the process.

The progression with increasing temperature in- volved the production of an “acid phlegm”, followed by a “thin limpid oil” and finally a thicker oil. Once these had been extracted, the temperature of the fire was again increased until “the Salt will begin to show itself in white downy Efflorescences on the Inside of the Receiver, and in the Neck of the Retort.” These crystals could then be carefully collected from the walls of the glassware, while the residue in the retort was heated one more time, resulting in a final volatile which sublimated as a thick black bitumen. The Salt was then dissolved in water and recrys- tallised through a series of repetitions designed to in- crease its purity. These three preparations increased still further its potential incorporation into mixtures, and its diversity of therapeutic use.