We can compare and draw parallels with a somewhat different approach & application involving Sea Salt, by Abbe Rousseau, also from RAMS:
Primum Ens of Salt
By Abbe Rousseau
I have understood since some years, that the universal salt, by Paracelsus and Van Helmont called the Primum Ens of salt, is nothing else than the universal spirit and universal Dissolvent, corporified in the most simple of all sublunary Salts, being as it were an embryonated Seminal salt.
This salt is not found separately in Nature, but it can be separated from the Body of other salts, as their Heart, Life and Center.
This Separation cannot conveniently be done without the Action of that very same Universal Spirit dispersed in the air and in all things!
Which Universal Spirit (in fire) corporifying itself with this universal salt, decorporifies it again and renders it incoagulable, and this universal salt proceeds from seawater, nay it is the very Life and Soul thereof, (sea salt).
I have shown to some friends what this nitre is, but I do not think they will ever take the trouble to carry it to that perfection; it is capable of being brought to, by Art and patience!
Process upon Sea salt, in order to obtain the first Ens of salt, or the very Leaven of salt and its Life and spirit.
Note that the process upon the Mother Lye of nitre and vitriol is the very same as this upon the Mother Liquor of Sea salt.
It is very curious to observe in the first preparation of this salt, (Mother Liquor is Primum Ens Salis) the different Figures of Crystals and the different smell and taste of them, proceeding from the Sea water, before it is reduced to a State, (by continual evaporations and crystallisations) so as to crystallise no more, but remains an oily Mother Liquor, wherein is Primum Ens Salis.
It becomes then a Liquor, which is incoagulable and will not crystallise; a thick and fat water of a Fiery Taste, attracting continually the Universal spirit, in the Shape of humidity out of the air.
This fat matter resolves itself into a very ponderous Oil, which is distillable in a sand heat, if you have but patience sufficiently. It rises in the retort in the same manner as honey does and requires a great deal of time, attention and patience.
After the distillation of this oil, there remains a Residuum, which is fusible like wax, and which by Labor, Art and patience all comes over as a spirit and volatile salt, without mixing any intermediate Substance therewith such as bole or clay, which would absolutely destroy it.
The whole Substance of this salt passes over into the receiver as a Liquor and this is not of trifling Consideration, as it is a proof that it is now become of a Universal Nature.
After this I think it would be superfluous to ask from whence the Salt proceeds in the Ocean. As we see clearly that is nothing else but a sensible and Visible Corporification of the Universal Sal Mundi, which is invisibly dispersed throughout all Nature and resides in the vast Extent of the air where it is generated and multiplied by means of the Suns and Moon's Light and the Stars.
All the great Philosophers, since Hermes Trismegistus, have taught this Doctrine, but as they have not proved it by Experiment, as I have done, our modern little Philosopher's have looked upon that Doctrine as a Metaphysical Chymaera and have ridiculed it: although it is an essential Truth, founded on the invariable principles of Nature!
Observe that you ought to have at least 400 lb. weight of seawater, in order to obtain a reasonable or moderate quantity of the Primum Ens Salis.
We can note how each different variation/approach can provide us with additional "keys", not mentioned in the other "methods"...
