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Hence it is clear that there is some star in man, in birds, and in all animals ; and whatever these

do, they do by the impulse of the higher influence which is received from the constellation, and
regulates the unequal concordance.

How, in every single thing which man takes for his use there is a poison hidden under what is
good. The essence is that which sustains the man. The poison, on the other hand, is that which
destroys him and brings diseases upon him. And this is true of every alimentary substance,
without exception, in respect of that animal which uses it. Corruption defiles the body, and it is
produced in this way. Water which is clear and limpid can at pleasure be tinged with any colour.
The body is like such water : corruption is the colouring matter ; and there is no such colour
which does not derive its origin from decay. It is at once the signal and proof of poison.

Those things which are under.the sun are appropriate to the heart, and these are twofold; while
those under the moon are, in like manner, appropriate to the brain, and that in either grade. Those
things which are under Venus are heating to the reins ; those things which are under Saturn
strengthen the spleen ; those which are under Mercury defend the liver ; those under Jupiter have
regard to the lungs ; finally, those subject to Mars are considered wholly adapted to the gall.

Fire in its nature is four-fold, that is, the sun and moon govern one part in water, the second and
the third, which are resident in air and earth, are ruled in like manner by the sun and moon, and
there is hence conjoined in all creatures that magnetic virtue concerning which there must be
nothing more openly spoken, for herein is the knowledge of the labour of Sophia, the mother and
fountain of the Magi.

For, as alkali purifies mercury into the very best silver, so also renovation and restoration
transmute the body into a good essence.

Concerning the four complexions cholera, blood, melancholy, and phlegm, we would by no
means be identified with that opinion which asserts that they are or do derive from the stars or
the elements. We do not regard this as true even in the least degree. The principle or beginning of
cholera is from bitterness ; melancholy is acidity ; phlegm rises from sweetness for every sweet
thing is cold and moist. Blood is from salt ; whatsoever is saline is sanguineous that is, warm and
moist. The four complexions, therefore, are acidity, sweetness, bitterness, and saltness. If salt in
any man predominate from the ens of the complexion, then is he sanguine ; if bitterness, then he
is choleric ; if acidity, he is melancholic ; if sweetness, he is phlegmatic. Thus, therefore, the four
complexions exist in the body as in a certain garden, wherein flourish amarissa, polypodium,
vitriol, and salt nitre. And all these may coexist in the body, put so, nevertheless, that one alone
will prevail.

There are four humours contained in manblood in the veins, moisture in the flesh, viscosity in
the nerves, grease in the fat. These four have each their natural purpose.
Mercury being transmuted into soot, Sulphur into oiliness, Salt into alkali.

Some things preserve a dead body from putrefaction for one year only, as the oleum laterinum.
Others preserve it for ten years, as the corrected oil of the philosophers. Some preserve it for
twenty, as the water of honey. Some for fifty, as the distilled preservative. But some preserve it
for ever without end, asbalsam. Some preserve it only for eight days, as salt ; others for a night,
as distilled water. Some preserve it longer, as vinum ardens. There are also some others which
preserve the body from corruption in a new and strong essence of Nature when a man is
confirmed by them, as aloes, citrine, and myrrh. Some preserve bodies from corruption only by
their great tincture, which is so powerful that it admits no evil, nor suffers it to grow or to enter
secretly, as gold, the sapphire, pearls, arcana, magisteries, and the like, as has been before written
about these.

Hence it happens that Antimony purifies gold and silver more than does the fire or any other
element. Thence, too, it proceeds that it cleanses and purges the body, even as gold and silver are
freed thereby from all their impurities. The magistery of antimony drives out leprosy in a more
than credible manner. And so, too, must it be understood of the others.

The quintessence of gold turns inside out the whole leper, washes him as an intestine is washed
in the shambles, and likewise polishes the skin and the scabs and makes a new skin, loosens the
organs of the voice, takes away the whole leprous complexion, and makes him as if he had
recently been born of his mother.
It belongs to our Supreme Creator to make these things so, or to forbear. For who shall teach us,
that we may know by what powers the quintessence of antimony throws off' the old hair and
makes new hair grow ; why the quintessence of balm destroys the teeth, eradicates the nails of
the hands and the feet, and restores new ones ; the quintessence of rebis strips off and renews the
skin ; and the quintessence of celandine changes the body and renovates it for the better, as
colours renovate a picture ?
One must not be ignorant that there is a difference between a quintessence, aurum potabile,
arcana, magisteries, and other things of that kind ; such as this, for example, that a quintessence
cannot be again reduced to its own body, but aurum potabile is easily transmuted again to its
metallic body ; so that far more noble virtues exist in a quintessence than in the other things.
With regard to metals, then, it must be understood that they are divided into two parts, namely,
into their quintessence and into their body. Both are liquid and potable, and do not mix, but the
impure body ejects the quintessence to its surface, like the cream from the milk. In this way two
fatnesses or viscous liquids are formed out of the metals, and these liquids have to be separated.
The fatness of the body is always white in all metals ; but their quintessence is coloured,

All quintessences have a nature corresponding with the elements. The quintessence of gold
corresponds with fire ; that of the Moon with water ; that of Saturn with earth ; and that of
Mercury with air.

So far as relates to the true signs of these, I would have you know that our red tincture, which
contains within itself the stars of gold, is of a substance fixed above all consistency, of most
rapid penetration, and deepest redness, its powder recalling the colour of the saffron, and .its
entire body that of the ruby. Its tincture is fusible as resin, clear as crystal, brittle as glass, but
very heavy in weight. The white tincture, which contains the stars of Luna, is, in the same way,
of fixed substance, of changeless increment, of consummate w"hiteness, fluid as resin, clear as
crystal, brittle as glass, in weight like the adamant. The star of copper is of supreme citrine
colour, like emerald, fusible as resin, and much heavier than its own metal. The star of tin is
whiteflowing as resin, somewhat dark, and suffused with a claylike colour. The star of iron is of
remarkable redness, clear as granatum, fusible as resin, brittle as glass, of fixed substance, and
much heavier than its own metal. The star of lead is like cobalt, black, but transparent, fluid as
resin, brittle as glass, equal to gold in weight, heavier than other lead. The star of quicksilver is
of a white, glittering colour, like snow in a deep frost, very subtle, penetrating, and of corrosive
sharpness, clear, like crystal, easily melted as resin, very cold to the touch, but extremely warm
within the fire, volatile, moreover, and of a substance which easily flies before fire. From this
description you will know the stars of the metals, and you will understand that for the
preparation of either tincture, the red or the white, you must take at first, not the body of gold or
of Luna, but the first essence of gold or of Luna. If a mistake is made at the outset, all the
subsequent work and labour will be thrown away.

Minerals, among which is found the first essence of metals, that is, the, spirit of metals, as is
evident in marchasites, granites, cachimiae, red talc, lazurium, and the like. In these the first
essence of gold is found by the degree of sublimation. So, too, in white marcasite, white talc,
auripigment, arsenic, litharge, etc., the first essence of silver is found. In cobalt, zinctum,
etc., the first essence of iron. In zinctum, vitriol, atramentum, verdigris, etc., the first essence of
copper. In zinctum, bismuth, etc., the first essence of tin. In antimony, minium, etc., the first
essence of lead. In cinnabar is found the first essence of silver.

I call the tincture of gold the colour of the body itself, which, if separated from the body, so that
a white body remains, will be a perfect work. For colour and body are two different things, and
for this reason admit of separation, that is to say, the pure (the colour) is separated from the
impure (the body). Unless this be done, all the labour will turn out useless. When, accordingly,
this separation is accomplished, we must immediately hasten to the clarification of the colour,
and to the highest grade of exaltation. But the grade to which the tincture can be exalted is five
times double, that is, five times into five times twenty-four, for it cannot become more
sublimated. - Chirurgia Magna, Part II., Tract III., c. 2.
Tinctures operate approximately as follows: Just as you see fire completely consume firewood
and similar bodies, which, as gold, etc., have no figure of man, so we must believe that tinctures
operate. Thus, as antimony purges away all the dross of gold, perfects it, and raises it to the
highest grade by cementation, in like manner it becomes manifest that the tinctures themselves
have obtained a nature ~imilar to cement, inasmuch as they perform operations com. pletely
similar to those of the latter and of fire. The ancient artists marvellously wearied themselves at
conjoining tinctures with fire, for they anticipated a medicine in their almost sacred conjunction,
but all in vain. -Ibid., c. 8.

Many things in Distillation are fixed by Cohobation, especially if the substances to be fixed
contain water within them, as vitriol does. When this is fixed it is called colcotar. Alum, if it is
fixed with its own water, is called Zuccari. This, too, is resolved into a liquid, and if it be
putrefied for a month it produces a water as sweet as sugar, which, indeed, is of great power and
an excellent arcanum in medicine for extinguishing the microcosmic fire in men of a metallic
temperament, as we write more at length in our books on Metallic Diseases.- And just as you
have heard of vitriol and alum, so also salt nitre and other watery minerals can be fixed by

Here it should be remarked, too, that every metal which is brought to a state of Sublimation by
means of sal ammoniac may afterwards be dissolved into an oil in the cold, or in the air, and,
contrariwise, may be coagulated to a stone in the fire.

It should be remarked, meanwhile, that Sulphur demands a very expert operator, not a mere
boaster or charlatan.

White vitriol, red vitriol, cuprine vitriol, rock alum, alumen plumosum, alumen scissum, alumen
entali, alumen usnetum, sal gemmae, rock salt, mountain salt, sea salt, spring salt all these
species originate from the salt of the three prime principles, and are subject to calcination,
reverberation, or sublimation. Now, if all these things subsist in a proper proportion or, so to
speak, essence, they are called by one universal name, liquor of Nature, or liquor of salt, or
balsam of salt. Besides these, there are arsenic, realgar, ogertum, black auripigment (that is,
orpiment), antimony, mercury, asphalt. These, in like manner, are subject to calcination,
reverberation, distillation, etc., and if they subsist wholly in one essence they are called the
balsam of Nature, the liquor of Mercury, or the balsam of Mercury. Finally, there are the various
species of sulphur, petroleum, carabe, pitch, etc., which are also subject to the same processes,
and if they subsist unseparated in a single essence they are called the tincture of Nature, liquor of
sulphur, or balsam of sulphur. Fragmenta Medica, No. 3.
There is also another kind of salt which is called nitre. It is composed naturally of the natural salt
of animals' bodies, and the salt of nutriment in those bodies combined. One salt having thus been
formed from two, the superfluity is decocted into urine, and, falling on the earth, is again
decocted in due course. The two constituents are more and more closely united, so that from
them results one single and perfect salt through the chemical separation brought about by
artificial decoction from its earth. It shews itself very clearly in the form of cones or of clods,
provided it be thoroughly separated from the superfluous nutrimental Salt not yet digested by the
animal decoction when it is driven off into the urine. In Alchemy its use is very frequent. It
would be idle to recount how great was the violence which a first experiment demonstrated
therein with disastrous result, when it was compounded with sulphur and formed into blasting
powder, whence it has been deservedly called terrestrial lightning. In the same way, from the salt
of the liquor of the earth, which is an universal natural balsam, by which all things are built up in
their special combinations, returning at length from this by resolution into the earth again - there
is produced, as was stated above, a single salt, which afterwards percolating through the pores of
the earth is coagulated in the form of cones of ice adhering to the rocks, from which
circumstance it changed its name of Nitre into Saltpetre. Neither the one nor the other is
particularly useful as an internal medicine, except in the way of reducing too obese bodies; nor is
it a very safe remedy, unless the two are mixed with Salt of Copper, or else the three are
subjected to a process of extraction, and formed into one body for employment in this special
* Every urine is a resolved salt.-De Judicio Urinarum, Lib. II. Salt passes into urine. - De
Tartaro, Lib. I., Tract III., c. I, expositio.
Nitre forms in the pens and stables where cattle make water. For the earth whereon they make
water is afterwards cooked and the salt nitre obtained from it. For all urine is salt. - De Tartaro,
Lib. I., Tract III, annotationes in c. 2. Nitre is excrement and the dead body of esile and
nutrimental matter. And this dead body is that out of which putrefaction grows. - Fragmenta
Medica, De Tararo Nitreo. It is an essential spirit and excrement of all salts, possessing a
hermaphroditic nature. - De Pestilitate, Tract I.
Nature produces from the bowels of the earth a certain kind of salt, named Vitriol, possessed of
such virtues and powers as can scarcely be described to the full by any. In it are contained
perfect cures for the jaundice, gravel, calculus, fevers, worms, the falling sickness, and many
other diseases which are very difficult to treat, and arising from obstructions, as we shall
describe at greater length below. In both faculties, that is to say, in Medicine and in Alchemy, it
produces marvellous effects, varying according to the method of its preparation. As from one log
of wood different images are carved, so from this body various most excellent medicines are
prepared, not only for internal disorders but also for surgical cases, such as ringworm and
leprosy. In a word, whatever other remedies are not able to effect against diseases, on account of
their own weakness, this it does from the very foundation by removing the cause of the disease.
Some of its powers it puts forth in a crude state, others when it is reduced to water, others when
it is calcined, others when it is reduced to a green oil, others in the form of a red oil; others,
again, it possesses when in the form of a white oil. It assumes new powers with every fresh form
of preparation which it receives. It can serve for a fourth part of all the diseases and all the drugs
ever thought of. There is no need for the true physician to turn his eyes hither and thither. Like a
modest maid, he can keep them fixed on the ground, for there, beneath his feet, he will find more
power and wealth in this treasure of Nature than India, Egypt, Barbary, and Greece could bring
An important variation of this and the following chapters on vitriol occurs in the Geneva folio.
concerning its crude form. By way of saying something about the hidden alchemical powers in
Vitriol, I would first of all submit to you, concerning crude vitriol, that each separate kind of
crude vitriol makes copper out of iron. It is not the Alchemist who does this, but Nature or
Vitriol by the operation of the Alchemist. In the light of Nature it is the subject of no small
wonder to observe how any metal, as it were, puts off itself and becomes something else. It is
really very much the same as if a woman should be produced from a man. In these matters,
however, Nature has her own peculiar privileges conferred upon her by God, for the benefit of
man. I say this concerning transmutation in order to make you understand how that envious
philosopher, Aristotle, in his philosophy, has no sure foundation, but is simply fatuous. I will lay
before you, in due course, the recipe itself, so that in all parts of the German nation you may
know how to make copper out of iron. From this power of transmutation we can easily gather
that many other transmutations are possible, though they are at present unknown to us. It cannot
be denied that many arts are still occult, and that these are not revealed by God because we are
not worthy of knowing them. Of course the change of iron into copper is not of the same
importance as the change of iron into gold. God manifests the lesser, but the greater is kept
occult until the time of knowledge and of Elias who is to come. For these arts are not without
their Elias. The following is the recipe for transmutation: Take raspings or filings of iron,
without any other metal, such as copper, tin, etc., one pound; add quicksilver, half a pound. Put
both into an iron pan or pot; pour over them one measure of acetum and a quarter of a pound of
vitriol, with one ounce and a half of sal armoniac. Let these be boiled together and constantly
well stirred with wood. If the acetum be expended, pour in some more and add fresh vitriol. By
this decoction the iron is transmuted into copper. If the copper is made it all passes away to the
quicksilver. Having continued the decoction for ten or twelve hours, then separate as much of the
quicksilver as is left from the iron, and wash it carefully so that it may be quite clean. Receive
the quicksilver in a bag made of soft leather or cotton and squeeze it out. Then you will see an
amalgam left. Let that amalgam expend itself, and you will find pure and good copper. Of this
copper take half an ounce and the same quantity of silver. Let them pass into a state of flux or
liquefaction, and the silver will forthwith ascend to the sixteenth degree. And this is the method
of proving that such copper is made from iron. It is not, however, true that the grades are fixed.
But whoever can work well with regale will be abundantly rewarded. Everything in this
operation depends on skill in working. This is where most operators fail. By the above
mentioned process you can always make copper out of iron. I mention this to confirm the
transmutation of one body into another. The nature of vitriol is such that if its colcothar be
calcined it is at once, even with slight liquefaction, turned into copper. A remarkable cuprine
nature is in it, and there is also an equally remarkable vitriolic nature in copper. If the copper be
dissolved in aqua fortis and granulated, all the copper becomes vitriol. There is no more copper
left. So, also, copper is made out of vitriol, and no more vitriol remains, unless it be reconverted
into vitriol by a sufficient quantity of aquafortis. This kind of kinship between vitriol and copper
is remarkable. Whatever is of the nature of copper gives good vitriol. Thus verdigris gives good
and highly graduated blue vitriol. Although for us to discuss these matters at any length would
perhaps be ridiculous, still none can deny that there is latent in vitriol a tincture, which is of
much higher excellence than most people imagine. Happy he who understands this matter! Note
other facts about the oil of vitriol. If the oil of quicksilver and this oil of vitriol be joined and thus
coagulated according to their own special process, a sapphire of marvellous nature and condition
is produced. It is not, indeed, the sapphire stone, but like it, with a wonderful tinge, concerning
which I have much more to say. Hence it is evident that stupendous secrets lie hidden in Nature
and in the different creations of Nature or of God; and it would be much more to our credit if we
looked into these and investigated them, instead of indulging in revelry and debauchery. At
present the palm is given to debauchery, until one-third part of mankind or of the population of
the world shall be killed, another shall be finished off by disease, and the remaining third only
shall be saved and survive. In the present condition of depravity the world cannot last or the arts
flourish. It must needs be that the present condition and order of things go to destruction and be
altogether eliminated, otherwise no good thing can be compassed. Then at last will flourish the
Golden Age: that is, then at last man will use his intelligence and live as a man, not as a brute;
nor will he act the swine, or live in caves and dens of the earth. Since, then, I have so far
communicated to you these facts about vitriol, with every good disposition, I now pray you all,
that when you see those unlucky and unhappy creatures suffering from critical disease, for the
sake of your own conscience, for God's glory, and the love of your neighbour, you will seriously
reflect and not despise or lightly esteem the gifts implanted by God in vitriol. Let love constrain
you, so that by night and by day you may be occupied herein, and none be found taking his ease,
but all ready to do anything for his neighbour's good. Will this not move you lawyers? Listen to
what Christ says: "Woe unto you, lawyers!" This saying is not effete. Nor do you theologians
place a stumbling block in the way, you who think so much more of your returns and your
salaries than about your sick folk. These are they who pass by on the Jericho road. Be you like
the Good Samaritan, and follow the example of his virtue. Then God will so enlarge your gifts
that in helping the sick you shall suffer no lack. All that you need shall be given you. You only
sell this treasure!
The species of Vitriol are as varied as the mines or sources from which it is extracted. The tests
of its greater or less excellence vary in equal proportion. First, if it tinges an iron plate to the
colour of copper, the more deeply it does so, the better it is considered. But this is the highest of
all kinds. Secondly, when it is taken internally in a crude form it drives out intestinal worms
better than any other medicine, and the more effectually it does this the better it is considered to
be as a medicine. A third test is when it transmutes iron into copper. The more perfectly and the
more rapidly it does this, the better should it be esteemed in both faculties, for there is the
greatest affinity between these two metals. Nor is this remarkable when by means of borax water
quicksilver is made in like manner from lead. There are other kinds of cachimiae which convert
metals; and besides these there is a fountain in Hungary, or rather a torrent, which derives its
origin from Vitriol, nay, its whole substance is Vitriol, and any iron thrown into it is at once
consumed and turned to rust, while this rust is immediately reduced to the best and most
permanent copper, by means of fire and bellows. A fourth test is when its red colcothar,
subjected to a strong fire, exhibits copper of itself. This is comparatively weak in Medicine, but
of great excellence in Alchemy. We must not omit to speak of its colours. That which is
altogether coerulean is not so strong in medicine as that which under the same colour has red and
yellow spots mixed together. That which is of a pale sky blue colour should be selected before all
others for the prepar-of the green and the white oil. That which inclines to a red or dark yellow
colour is best for preparing the red oil from it. The last test is when with gall nuts it makes a very
black and dark ink. This should be selected in preference to all the others. The species, therefore,
are reckoned according to the tests.
For the most severe pains in the stomach and discomforts arising from the inordinate use of food
or drink, exhibit crude Vitriol to the extent of six cometz or three drops, say, three grains. To
weak patients it should be administered in wine or in water, to stronger ones in distilled wine. It
purges out every failing from the roots, driving it up and down. In arcana it is called Vitriol
Grillus, or Grilla. Neither hellebore, nor colocynth, nor digridion purge so strongly or cure so
perfectly as this, nor have they the same faculty for driving out worms. For curing the falling
sickness, too, the purgation by Vitriol is of all methods the best. These properties accrue to it
from its twofold nature, that is to say, its acetosity and its saltness. On this account it is a much
nobler medicine than others. Its colcothar, or, as they call it, its red Caput Mortuum, should not
be taken internally, unless as an adjunct to surgical treatment for putrid ulcers of the first grade
of malignity ; but its oil may be taken for those of the second or third grade. Its medicinal virtues
are contained in other medical books, as, for instance, in the treatise entitled De Naturalibus
Rebus. Here we had intended only to treat and to bring to one focus what it does for Alchemy in
the way of transmutation. Sometimes medical topics tempt one to stray from one's set purpose.
Let us see, then, what Vitriol does in Alchemy beyond the transmutation of iron into copper, as
we described above, giving the formula at the outset. Although, then, it is not so difficult a work
to transmute iron into gold, God wills that the lesser operations shall be performed first, and that
the greater ones should remain occult until the Elias of the Art arrives. All arts have some one
person specially their own, as is understood in other arts. Now, take one pound of iron filing,
without the admixture of any other metal, and half-a-pound of Mercury. Over these pour one
measure of the strongest Acetum, with a quarter of a pound of Vitriol. Throw in an ounce and a
half of Sal Armoniac. Boil all together, and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. As the Acetum
wastes pour on fresh, and also Vitriol. After twelve hours let the chief part of the Iron which has
been transmuted be entirely separated with Mercury from the other part of the Iron which has not
been transmuted; and when the Mercury has been pressed out by a leather, there will remain a
paste of amalgam, and when this is reduced by fire it exhibits the purest copper. Half an ounce of
this is at once mixed with an equal part of silver, six degrees being held back, though not fixed
but ready to be fixed in regale, so that therefrom the industrious Artist may have moderate gain
for food and clothing. Vitriol is also made from Venus, dissolved by means of aquafortis and
granulated. This does not return again to copper. So also from the colcothar of vitriol Venus is
made (as we have mentioned above among the tests), which is not brought back to vitriol of itself
except by a special water. Verdigris, in like manner, exhibits a Spagyric Vitriol of highest
degree. In Vitriol so great and powerful a tincture lurks as an inexperienced person could
scarcely believe, though he can who understands its arcana. As often as Oil of Vitriol is mixed
with Oil of Mercury, and both are coagulated together, they change to a stone of wonderful tint
and condition, very like a sapphire.
It seems right to connect Arsenic generically with Sulphurs rather than with Mercuries, and to
treat it immediately after Sulphurs. Some old chemists, or rather sophists, labouring at chemistry,
swelling with jaundice, that is, with desire of gold, and a sort of yellow dropsy, when they saw in
arsenic the white Tincture of Venus, and the red tincture in the calamine stone, believing, too,
that the true arcanum of the stone was contained in these, thought the white and red electrum
were silver and gold until they found out the contrary by tests, and learnt that they had been
engaged in a vain work. And not content with that they went on perversely in order to arrive at
fixation, and persevered until they had neither house nor possession left. They had wrought a
transmutation in themselves rather than in the metals! And what wonder? They approached this
work without judgment, and possessing no knowledge of minerals and metals, as so many of
those who embark in the Art at the present day do. Since the time when the name of electrum
given by the ancients passed into oblivion, there has forthwith followed the ruin of those who
changed that name into fictitious gold and silver. That has been the destruction ot modern
chemists. To define Electrum: it is a metal made from some other by Art, and no longer
resembling that from which it was made. For example: arsenical metal, prepared according to the
form of metallic preparation, cemented with Venus in the accustomed manner, converts the
whole copper into white electrum more worthless than its own copper. What need is there to
deprave metals at great expense? Would it not be better to leave the copper in its own natural
essence, to keep one's money, and devote time and labour to a more useful work? The ancients
called Electrum by its proper name; the moderns falsely call it silver. The ancients were not
losers, because they knew the Electrum itself; the moderns, because they have no knowledge of
Electrum, throwaway their faculties, labour, and time. Now, since in Alchemy all mistakes are
constantly propped up with some new hope, it was tried to fix Arsenic by means of
reverberations for some weeks, and by other devices. Thence it ensued that the Arsenic became
red and brittle like coral, but of no use in Alchemy except for Electrum, as was just now said.
Then by descent and precipitation they effected nothing more than by their calcinations. Thus it
happens that in Alchemy obstinate men are deceived because they do not learn thoroughly from
the foundation all the terms of the Art. It is true that Arsenic does, in its own natural condition,
contain gold; and that this gold, by the industry of the artist, can sometimes be separated in a
cement, or a projection, or otherwise, into silver, copper, or lead by attraction; but it does not
therefore follow that this is produced by his operations and his tinctures. It means only that the
gold which was there before has been derived by a process of separation, as it generally is, from
its ore. It is nearly always found golden, and very seldom lacks gold, 'as is the case with many
other substances. So far, then, have I given concerning Arsenic what I know, or what it is
advisable to write. Let everybody first of all diligently examine its name, so that he may
understand. Otherwise error is apt to arise easily in both faculties, which is only at length
discovered by the result.
* In this case, also, the Geneva folio offers considerable variations from the text as it stands
invented and put forth by our ancestors, namely, electrum. Electrum is a metal proceeding from
another metal, and unlike the metal from which it descends. For example: Copper turns to white
metal. When its redness is removed it is called electrum. In like manner, from copper, by means
of cadmia, is made orichalcum, and this is called red electrum. These different kinds of electrum
certain alchemical sciolists and artists reckoned as silver, and sometimes took in place of gold;
nor did they understand or believe anything else save that this was silver, and so that silver could
be produced from copper. Omitting the name of electrum, they took it for silver or for gold, and
die! not leave off their investigations so long as a house or a court remained. I point out this in
order that error may be avoided, and that due consideration may be given to the questions, What
is electrum ? what is gold? and what is silver? and that in this way no rash measures may be
taken. Now, I will lay before you a certain medicament. Take the metal arsenic, prepared in a
metallic way; cement the same with Venus in the usual manner, and you will find a large
quantity of electrum in the copper. No one need incur great expense for this substance, because it
costs a good deal to make electrum. So, then, it is better to leave copper as copper in its own
form. In no respect is its electrum better, but rather commoner. So by dissolving it in graduated
water it leaves a calx. It is not that silver is produced, but electrum ; and it is rendered so subtle
that nothing whatever remains, but it vanishes, and because it is not fixed it is consumed. Thus
not only in copper, but also in iron, tin, steel, etc., a residuum is left; but nothing of a fixed
character is present, and in this way many are deceived. Eventually matters came to this crisis,
that electrum lost its name and was called silver, whereupon there began for the alchemists
destruction, exile, misery, and disappointed hopes. There are many recipes of this kind which it
is not necessary to recount. They are well known to artists who follow me in this chapter, who
also have well weighed their own error in seeking it in vain elsewhere. There is a good deal of
seduction for juniors to desert the method of their elders, and when the pupil wishes to be more
learned than the master, and no longer remains in the right path. but judges things for him-elf,
and is prepared to abide by his own opinion. All that comes of it is, he labours in vain, thus
atoning for his fault and incurring grievous loss. The ancients called this substance electrum, and
such is its proper name. The moderns call it silver - its improper name. Our forefathers avoided
all loss because they knew what they were about; the rising generation do not know, and so incur
loss. It has been a constant custom in alchemy that investigations shall be made with persistent
good hope. Hence operators have tried to fix arsenic, and to transmute it into another essence, on
the chance that it may be; or may be rendere, better, and prove of greater efficacy. Hereupon
followed the reverberation of arsenic, and its circulation in a reverberatory of reeds for some
weeks, or by some similar process. Arsenic has been rendered like crystal, red and beautiful, like
red glass for its hardness, light weight, and fragility. There is no place for the virtues of this
arsenic in medicine. It regards only electra, as has already been said. Moreover, it has been
attempted to deal with this, too, by another method of preparation, namely, by descent. By this
method it is rendered red and yellow, and in potency is equivalent to the species already
mentioned. Some have precipitated it, and it has approached, or even reached, a red colour; and
yet not all the operators in this way have reaped the fruit of their labours or arrived at the result
they contemplated, but only at the electric stage of it, which, on account of their ignorance and
inexperience, led many artists astray. Wherefore it is necessary that everyone in these things
should be farsighted. He who has not full knowledge and comprehension of all names does
nothing, and the heads, however full of brains,' do not get at the foundation of the matter. One
thing is wanting to them for a foundation - to know electrum and other substances when they see
them. Then they understand of themselves whether they can progress with electrum or not.
Nevertheless it often happens that arsenic is auriferous in its nature, and contains gold in it. Now,
if an operator is skilled in separating gold from arsenic, whether by a cement or by some method
of projection. or by another process, so that he can reduce that gold to some metal, such as silver,
copper, or lead, without doubt he will find it to be gold, and of excellent quality too. To follow
this up so that a tincture shall be produced, or it shall issue forth from a tincture, is nothing; but
the gold is in the arsenic, and the whole matter lies in depurgation, separation, and kindred
processes, according as anyone has experience therein. Arsenic, especially, which comes from
auriferous districts, or from gold, is rarely without gold. The only point of importance is that the
separation shall be properly made. I know nothing more of arsenic and its species beyond what I
have put forward; at least, nothing which it is lawful and expedient to make known, whether with
reference to medicine or to alchemical operations. Whoever has prudence ought to be sufficiently
skilful for this purpose. If he has it not, let him altogether abstain. No faculty can subdue itself;
but failure must ensue if due order and a genuine mode of procedure have not been preserved.
You should follow the guidance of your own judgment. The man who follows no other guide is
not in a state of subservience to any.