On the subject of inedible, I have here a description of how to make the "Fifth Essence of gold". This was certainly not intended for drinking (despite the use of wine and wine vinegar):
* Salt is known to be a chemical compound consisting of sodium and chloride, but the alchemists believed it to be a single element. I do not know if this salt is meant. It could also mean, for example, a nitrous salt, such as saltpeter.
Quote:Rupescissa maintained that once a successful process was found that it could be used in the pursuit of fifth essence on a variety of materials. The materials first needed to be “digested” by being slowly cooked over a low heat and have salt * added to it. Once the resulting subtle parts were removed they could be mixed with a quintessence of wine (obtained through its own regiment of distillations). In order to find the fifth essence of gold Rupescissa recommended mixing gold with mercury and then combining that with distilled “philosophical vinegar” (the result of a distilled wine vinegar and nitric and hydrochloric acids) and heating the oil mixture over a fire.
* Salt is known to be a chemical compound consisting of sodium and chloride, but the alchemists believed it to be a single element. I do not know if this salt is meant. It could also mean, for example, a nitrous salt, such as saltpeter.