西洋人所造，性最猛烈，能蚀五金。王怡堂先生云∶其水至强，五金八石皆能穿漏，惟
玻璃
可盛。西人造强水之法，药止七味，入罐中熬炼，如今之取露法，旁合以玻璃瓶而封其隙，
下以文武火叠次交炼，见有黑气入玻璃瓶中，水亦随气滴入，黑气尽，药乃成矣。此水性猛
烈，不可服食。西人凡画洋画，必须镂板于铜上者，先以笔画铜，或山水人物，以此水渍其
间一昼夜，其渍处铜自烂，胜于雕刻。高低隐显，无不各有肖其妙，铜上有不欲烂处，先用
黄蜡护之，然后再渍，俟一周时，看铜有烂痕，则以水洗去强水，拭净蜡迹，其铜板上画已
成。绝胜镌镂，且易而速云，入药取其气用。
治痈疽拔疔。谢天士云∶凡痈疽已溃或未溃，用强水可蚀恶肉，胜于 砂，只须置强水
于玻
璃瓶内，以瓶口对痈疽上，掩少时，其药气自升入患处，疽肉变白而腐，毒亦拔出，然后再
敷他药治之。疔有根，亦以此治法，则根自烂出。
物理小识∶有 水，剪银块投之，则旋而为水，倾之盂中，随形而定，复取 水归瓶，
其取
水法，以琉璃窑烧一长管，以炼砂取其气道。朱公为余言之∶崇祯庚辰进坤舆格致一书，
言采矿分五金事，工省而利多。壬午， 公鸿宝为大司农，亦议之。而政府不从，今日番
甚少，但有气 ，真番 乃能干汞。按此 水取强水也，特古今异名耳。
由西洋人制造的强水，药性最为猛烈，能够腐蚀金、银、铜、铁、锡等五种金属。王怡堂先生曾说：这种水性极强，金银铜铁锡铅汞及八种矿石都能穿透渗漏，只有玻璃容器可以盛装它。西洋人制作强水的方法，药物仅有七味，放入罐中熬炼，如同现在提取蒸馏露的方法，旁边连接玻璃瓶并密封缝隙，下面用文火和武火交替加热炼制，看到有黑气进入玻璃瓶中，药水也随着气体滴入，黑气排尽，药液就制成了。这种水性猛烈，不可内服。西洋人凡是绘制西洋画，必须先在铜板上镂刻的，先用笔画出铜板上的图案，或是山水人物，用这种水浸泡其间一昼夜，被浸泡处的铜自然腐烂，效果胜过雕刻。高低隐显之处，无不生动逼真，铜板上不想腐蚀的地方，先用黄蜡保护起来，然后再浸泡，等待一周时间后，查看铜板上有腐蚀痕迹，就用清水洗去强水，擦拭干净蜡迹，铜板上的画作就完成了。效果远胜于镌刻镂雕，而且容易快速。入药使用是取其气味。
治疗痈疽拔除疔毒。谢天士说：凡是痈疽已经溃破或尚未溃破，用强水可以腐蚀恶肉，效果胜过白砒霜（砂），只需将强水置于玻璃瓶内，以瓶口对准痈疽患处，遮盖一小会儿，药气自然升入患处，疽肉变白而腐败，毒素也被拔出，然后再敷其他药物治疗。疔疮有根，也用这种方法治疗，则根自然腐烂脱落。
《物理小识》记载：有一种硝水，剪碎银块投入其中，银块随即化为液体，倒入盂中，随容器形状而定型，再取硝水归瓶。获取硝水的方法，是用琉璃窑烧制一根长管，通过炼砂来获取其气道。朱公告诉我：崇祯庚辰年进献《坤舆格致》一书，讲述采矿分理五金之事，用工少而利润多。壬午年，朱鸿宝担任大司农，也提议此事。但政府未采纳，如今外国硝石很少，只有带有气味的硝石，真正的番硝才能干汞。按此硝水即指强水，只是古今名称不同罢了。
Strong water (Qiangshui, strong acid) manufactured by Westerners has the most violent nature and can corrode the five metals (gold, silver, copper, iron, tin). Mr. Wang Yitang stated: This liquid is extremely potent; it can penetrate and leak through the five metals and eight stones (minerals), and only glass vessels can contain it. The method used by Westerners to produce strong water involves only seven medicinal ingredients boiled in a jar, similar to the modern method of extracting distillates (Lu). A glass bottle is connected to the side with sealed gaps, and heating is alternated between mild fire (Wenhuo) and vigorous fire (Wuhuo). When black gas enters the glass bottle, the liquid drips in along with the gas. Once the black gas is exhausted, the medicine is ready. Due to its violent nature, this liquid must not be ingested.
When Westerners paint Western-style paintings that require engraving on copper plates, they first draw patterns such as landscapes or figures on the copper. They then soak the plate in this liquid for a day and night. The soaked areas naturally corrode, achieving results superior to carving. Highs and lows, hidden and visible details are all rendered vividly. Areas on the copper plate that should not corrode are protected with yellow wax beforehand. After soaking for a week, if corrosion marks appear, the strong water is washed off with water, and the wax traces are wiped clean, completing the drawing on the copper plate. This method is far superior to engraving and is easier and faster. In medicine, it is used for its aroma/vapor.
It treats carbuncles and sores (Yongju) by extracting toxin-filled boils (Ding). Xie Tianshi said: For carbuncles and sores whether ulcerated or not, strong water can cauterize necrotic flesh, being more effective than arsenic trioxide (Sha). One need only place strong water in a glass bottle, position the bottle mouth against the lesion, and cover it briefly. The medicinal vapor will naturally rise into the affected area, turning the diseased tissue white and putrid, thereby extracting the toxin. Subsequently, other medicines can be applied. For toxin-filled boils with roots, this same method causes the root to rot and fall out spontaneously.
*Wuli Xiaoshi* records: There is a type of nitric acid (Xiaoshui). If silver pieces are cut and thrown into it, they immediately dissolve into liquid. Pouring it into a basin allows it to take the shape of the container. To retrieve the nitric acid, a long tube is fired in a glaze kiln, and its airway is obtained by smelting cinnabar. Mr. Zhu told me: In the Gengchen year of the Chongzhen reign, the book *Kunyu Gezhi* was presented, discussing mining and separating the five metals, noting that it requires less labor but yields greater profit. In the Renwu year, Zhu Hongbao, serving as Minister of Agriculture, also proposed this. However, the government did not adopt it. Nowadays, foreign saltpeter is rare; only nitrous fumes exist, whereas true foreign saltpeter can dry mercury. According to this, "nitric acid" refers to strong water; it is merely a difference in ancient and modern names.