TO THE READER.

He Referring to Hippocrates, cited on the previous page from his work On Regimen. says: all other living things, as well as man himself, are constituted from two things, different indeed in their power, but harmonious in their purpose and useful in their application: FIRE and WATER. Both of these together are sufficient for all other things, as well as for each other; yet either one by itself is sufficient neither for itself nor for any other, etc.

This fire—a gentle one, to be sure—and this coagulable water, which have been obscure until now, I have decided to show to the eye in this small manual, solely out of a desire to recognize the truth. In this age, truth is miserably suppressed by those who hate the Hippocratic doctrine Hippocratic doctrine: The ancient medical system attributed to Hippocrates, which emphasizes that health comes from a balance of bodily fluids and elements.; nonetheless, it is impossible for it to be crushed, for truth is so powerful, unshakeable, and triumphant over all things in the world, as is also proven by the sacred writings. ᵃ

ᵃ 1 Esdras, chapters 3 and 4.

For Zorobabel original: "Zorobabel." A reference to Zerubbabel in the biblical book of 1 Esdras, who participates in a famous debate about what is the strongest thing in the world. says: 'Wine is strong, the King is stronger, women are the strongest of all, but above all things truth conquers. For all the earth calls upon the truth, and heaven blesses it; truth prevails, conquers, and lives forever,' etc.