Chemical Theater, or the Opened Door of Chemical Secrets

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endure original: vitstaan [the fire], without evaporating or being lifted up; but the other will fly up with the first degree of fire In alchemy, the "first degree" of fire refers to a very gentle heat, similar to the warmth of a lamp or a brooding hen., and disappear, unless one happens to catch it with appropriate instruments. Among the fixed salts are those which are leached out of burnt ashes, such as salt of tartar original: sal tartari; a salt derived from the residue of wine casks, potash original: cinerum clavellatorum, wormwood original: absinthii, etc. Among the volatile salts original: vlugge, one has salt of hartshorn original: sal cornu cervi; an early form of ammonia, flowers of sal ammoniac original: flores salis armoniaci, etc. There is also a salt that has an affinity with acid, such as vitriol original: vitriolum, common salt original: sal commune, saltpeter original: nitrum, essential salt of herbs original: sal essenziale herbarum, etc. Minerals give fixed salt; animals give volatile salts; and herbs give fixed, volatile, and mixed salts.

XV. The acid is a substance always acting and fermenting upon the salt; it is fluid if it stands on its own, and sharp and biting in taste, such as the spirit of nitre original: spiritus nitri; nitric acid, spirit of sulfur original: salis sulphuris; sulfuric acid, etc., which are called spirits original: spiritus by the Chemists, but they are not actually such The author suggests that despite the name "spirit," these acids are distinct from the volatile "spirit" described earlier.. Among these, one has some that are mixed with other fixed parts, such as crystals of tartar original: crystalli tartari, vitriol, common salt, etc.; these are obtained from minerals and plants.

XVI. To this is added the oil, which one calls sulfur original: sulpher or brimstone original: swavel, being everything that is combustible: this has, according to its various mixtures, also various tastes and smells, such as bitter, sweet, stinking, pleasant, etc.

XVII. Of these, some are easily moved and others are difficult to move, especially the earth, since it consists of coarser parts than the others. And notwithstanding that these bodies are called "simple" In the sense of being basic elements or "principles.", they are nevertheless so entwined with others that they cannot be separated by any art.

XVIII. Coagulation is the complete contrary of solution, and