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Chapter IV. Concerning the Universal Medicine, Potable Gold, etc.

§. 1. The twofold powers of the Stone original: "Lapidis" — referring to the Philosophers' Stone, which was believed to have the power to both "heal" base metals into gold and heal the human body of all infirmity. upon Metals and humans.

§. 2. Division of this treatise into two questions.

§. 3. Boastful claims original: "Rodomontaden" — derived from the character Rodomonte in Italian epic poetry, referring to the vainglorious or exaggerated promises often made by "puffers" or fraudulent alchemists. concerning the Universal Medicine.

§. 4. Sigismund Schwärtzer’s A 16th-century alchemist who served the Elector of Saxony and claimed to have achieved the transmutation of gold. opinion on the powers of the Philosophers' Stone original: "Lapidis Philos." in Medicine.

§. 5. What is actually to be understood by a Universal Medicine?

§. 6. That there is no such Universal Medicine for the human body original: "Corpora" as there is for metals.

§. 7. Concerning the science upon which human life depends, and the art of preserving it.

§. 8. Whether the matter original: "Materia" of light is the spirit of life?

§. 9. Phosphorus original: "phosphori" — at this time, this referred generally to various luminescent substances, including the newly discovered element, believed by many to contain the "spark" of life. and other similar substances do not demonstrate a vital flame original: "flammulam vitalem" — the internal fire thought to sustain biological life..

§. 10. Whether there are intermediary spirits between the soul and the body?

§. 11. The proponents original: "Patroni" of these [spirits] may well admit the possibility of a Universal Medicine.

§. 12. Those who do not admit an intermediary essence original: "mitleres Wesen" may well deny the Universal Medicine, and give a reason as to why it cannot perpetuate human life.

§. 13. Whether and how one might argue for a Universal Medicine based on the rapidly penetrating power of poison?

§. 14. What should be the nature of a true Universal Medicine?

§. 15. Wherein the Universal Medicine is to be sought?

§. 16. Whether it must be prepared original: "præpariret" from non-specific things?