On Alchemy

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Chapter IIII. Concerning the impediments of this work on the part of the body of the craftsman. In the same place.

V. Concerning the impediments on the part of the soul In alchemical literature, "soul" refers to the mental state, moral character, and intellectual capacity of the practitioner. of the craftsman. Page 24

VI. Concerning the external impediments hindering the work of this art. 26

VII. Epilogue of this first part, describing what kind of craftsman is required. 27

VIII. General division of the things to be discussed. 30

IX. Various reasons of those who simply deny the art. In the same place.

X. Anticipation of objections original: "Occupatio." This is a rhetorical term for answering an opponent's argument before they make it.. That it neither can nor should happen, because art imitates nature in all differences of properties of action, and some learned matters concerning the principles of metals. 34

XI. Confutation of the reasons of those who simply deny the art. 36

XII. Various opinions of those who suppose the art to exist. 42

XIII. Reasons of those who deny the art based on the use of sulfur. 44

XIIII. Confutation of the preceding reasons. 45

XV. Reasons of those who deny the art based on the use of Arsenic, and their confutation. 46

XVI. Reasons of those who deny the art based on Sulfur, Quicksilver Mercury, Tutia zinc oxide, Magnesia, Marcasite iron pyrites, and sal ammoniac ammonium chloride, and their confutation. In the same place.

XVII. Reasons of those who deny the art based on spirits In alchemy, "spirits" are volatile substances like mercury or sulfur that vaporize when heated., together with the bodies to be fixed original: "figendis." To "fix" a substance means to make it stable under heat so it no longer evaporates., and their confutation. 48

XVIII. Reasons of those who deny the art based on metallic bodies, and first in white lead (that is, tin, or Jupiter), and their confutation. 49

XIX. Reasons of those who deny the art based on black lead lead. 51

XX. Reasons of those who deny the art based on the mixture of hard bodies with hard ones, and soft bodies with soft ones. In the same place.

XXI. Reasons of those who deny the art based on the mixture of hard bodies with soft ones, and perfect ones with imperfect ones. 52

XXII. Reasons of those who deny the art based on the extraction of the soul, or the governance of fire. 53

XXIII. Reasons of those who deny the art based on glass and gems, and their confutation. In the same place.