Spirit of cranium-humanum

Spirit of cranium-humanum (Latin: cranium humanum, "human skull") is a distillation of prepared human skull, formerly used in late medieval European period for the relief of epilepsy (falling sickness), gout, edema (dropsy), stomach ailments, and other maladies generally.

John French's Art of Distillation


" A famous Spirit made out of Cranium-humanum. Take a Cranium-humanum as much as you please, break it into small pieces, which put into a Glass-Retort well coated, with the large Receiver well suted, then put a strong fire to it by degrees, continuing of it till you see no more fumes come forth; and you shall have a yellowish Spirit, a red Oil, and a volatile Salt. Take this Salt and the yellow Spirit, and digest them by circulation two or three months in Balneo, and thou shalt have a most excellent spirit. This spirit is of affinity with, if not the same as that famous spirit of Dr. Goddard's in Holborn. It helps the Falling-sickness, Gout, Dropsie, infirm Stomach; and indeed strengthens all weak parts, and openeth all obstructions, and is a kind of Panacæa."