On the Secrets of the Adepts

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...established Continuing from the previous page's "Para..." this completes the word "constituta" (established or arranged)., as if prepared with that liquid Alkahest Alkahest: In alchemy, a theorized universal solvent capable of dissolving any substance into its primary matter., or a similar liquid, I saw more and more that they varied from the authentic sources; indeed, they were even contrary to them. For this reason, I began to hold back regarding the preparation of medicines; in fact, I ceased to inquire further into the obscure matter, preparation, and use of that liquid Alkahest. This was because I found it described in only a single passage of Paracelsus Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (1493–1541), a Swiss physician and alchemist who credited nature, rather than ancient texts, as the primary source of medical knowledge. as a medicine, but not at all as a solvent menstruum: A liquid substance used to dissolve a solid or extract its medicinal virtues..

Once such a great obstacle was removed, it was an easy transition for me from Paracelsus to Lull Raymond Lull (c. 1232–1315), a philosopher to whom many influential alchemical works on solvents and the "spirit of wine" were attributed., Basil Basil Valentine, the pseudonymous author of legendary 15th-century alchemical texts, most notably regarding the properties of antimony., and other Philosophers Philosophos: Here referring to "natural philosophers" or alchemists who studied the hidden laws of nature. of the same rank. I saw that all of them "blew into one horn" original: "spirare... in unum cornu" — a Latin idiom meaning to be in total agreement or to act in concert. to confirm the Paracelsian solvents. Indeed, such a light appeared—adding light to light—that their preparation, variety, and simple, literal sense became accessible all at once. Only a single word remained unknown, but it is one that [serves as] the universal basis of all the Adepts... The text ends mid-word; the catchword at the bottom of the original page, "rum," indicates the full word is "Adeptorum," meaning "of the Adepts" (those who have mastered the alchemical art).