TO THE READER.

(subject) they now apply themselves with the pen, to manifest the vanity of CHEMISTRY to the world; they, however, have never known the most ancient Mistress The "Mistress" refers to the art of Alchemy/Chemistry itself., nor have they even greeted her at the threshold original: "in limine salutarunt," a Latin idiom meaning to have even a basic or passing acquaintance with a subject.. Alas! How poorly they understand our Galen Galen of Pergamon (129–c. 216 AD) was a prominent Greek physician whose theories dominated Western medicine for centuries., whose followers they boast to be, who teaches—

[ a ] "In every matter," he says, "it is necessary first to be a craftsman, then the work should be undertaken." There is truly a great difference between the skill of performing experiments and the habit of pouring out empty and hollow words. Of these men, Heraclitus A pre-Socratic Greek philosopher known for his doctrine of change and his "weeping" over human ignorance. once said: it is not better to hide one's ignorance, but it is necessary (as Plutarch A Greek historian and philosopher. says) to bring it into the open and apply a remedy to it.

Learned men, whose minds are not darkened by preconceived and vain opinions, feel far differently about this art. For Mattioli Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501–1577) was a famous Italian physician and botanist, best known for his commentaries on Dioscorides. writes (b) to Andreas de Blau:

"That no one can be a complete physician—indeed, not even a mediocre one—who is not practiced in CHEMISTRY." But what necessity is there to bring forth the testimonies of learned men here? Nature herself, on her own behalf...