The Chemical Hippocrates

PREFACE

...men, to whom we owe the greater part of our fortunes, I think it is beneficial: Indeed, while I bring these instruments of nature into the light, I simultaneously show a certain and open method—seen by few until now—having driven away all obscurities and deceptions; so that ALCHEMY, the most ancient, most noble, and necessary art, may stand safe without the slanders of ignorant and unrefined haters, and may avoid the barking of illiterate and disgraceful men in the future.

For what is more frequently heard from those vast "giants" The author uses "giants" ironically to describe arrogant critics who think themselves great but lack true wisdom., not only against the aforementioned lights of the world, but also against those who, mindful of liberty and piety, strive to open the obscurities and difficulties which the ancients (whom I have always worshipped like deities) set down, through the assiduousness of their labors and through meditation; than that they are called deserters, Empirics Empirics: In this period, the term "Empiric" was often a slur for doctors or chemists who worked by trial and error without understanding the "sacred" theory or philosophy behind the art. (though they unwillingly flee toward experience), and tricksters original: "præstigiatores," literally those who use sleight of hand or illusions.; indeed they even add threats among the unskilled [so that I have wondered how such great arrogance could fall into such a tiny...