From basic descriptions, I know that it is an addictive that was also considered medicinal (renaissance, late medieval period). And from quick internet searches, it's said that vitriolo is actually sulfuric acid but it terms of it being an addictive medicine that doesn't make any sense. Can anyone enlighten me?
Vitriol does have something to do with Sulphur: it originally designated a solution of iron sulfate used by alchemists and later by chemists. Smoking vitriol is a name that was given to sulfuric acid early on, and has since been given up.