Preface

good hope that the
reader, who already understands
chemistry, will find enough
probability in the presented
judgments and rational
conclusions Rational conclusions: The German "Vernunfft-Schlüssen" refers to logical deductions derived from observed facts, a hallmark of the shift from mystical alchemy to empirical chemistry.:
But those who have no
foundation in it as of yet may
easily build their knowledge
through the reading of this book.
For I have labored for this
purpose, to make myself
entirely understandable and to
set aside all obscure representations original: "dunckle Fürstellungen". This is a critique of older alchemical writing, which often used "Decknamen" (cover-names) or riddles to hide secrets from the uninitiated.,
which my predecessors in this
work have employed.
Most of the names that I
use are well-known:
Furthermore, I leave no technical-