in the Roth-Scholtz Library. Friedrich Roth-Scholtz (1687–1736) was a prominent Nuremberg bookseller and publisher who compiled extensive bibliographies of alchemical and hermetic literature.

Contents of the Entire Work.

The same treats the following five questions in as many chapters.

Chapter I. Whether the transmutation of metals is possible? original: "Verwandlung der Metallen." While "Verwandlung" means "transformation" or "change," "transmutation" is the specific technical term used in alchemy for changing base metals into gold or silver.
Chap. II. Whether transmutation has actually occurred anywhere?
Chap. III. Whether one has any experiments original Latin: "Experimenta" from which the possibility of the transmutation of metals can be inferred?
Chap. IV. What is to be thought of the Universal Medicine, Potable Gold, and similar things? original: "Medicina Universali" and "Auro potabili." The Universal Medicine (Panacea) and Drinkable Gold were legendary alchemical preparations believed to cure all ailments and grant longevity.
Chap. V. Whether Alchemy is to be advised to anyone, and especially to great lords? original: "grossen Herren." This refers to the historical reality where alchemists sought the financial patronage of princes and kings, often with risky results.

Every chapter is divided into its sections; from these are the following summaries, and thus a

Brief Presentation

of the entire work.

Chapter I. Whether the transmutation of metals is possible?

§. 1. Why this question is being treated? §. 2. The first objection against the transmutation of metals: The species of things are not changed among themselves. original Latin: "Species rerum inter se non mutantur." This was a standard Aristotelian philosophical argument used by critics to claim that one substance (like lead) could never become another (like gold). §. 3. The response to the first objection. §. 4. The other objection concerning the disagreement of the philosophers? §. 5. The response to this objection. §. 6. The 3rd objection derived from the vain labors and deceptions of the alchemists. The author refers to "laboribus" and "betrügereyen"—acknowledging the many "puffers" or fraudulent alchemists who gave the field a bad name. §. 7. The response to the objections contained in the 6th section. §. 8. The 4th objection: God