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On Alchemy (1541) - Page 19 - Source Library

On Alchemy

Geber; Roger Bacon; Hermes Trismegistus · 1541

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English

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		Folio
Chapter VI.	On the melting furnace.	235
VII.	On the dissolving furnace.	236
VIII.	On the Athanor furnace, or the furnace of fixation. The Athanor, also known as the "Philosophical Furnace," was designed to maintain a steady, uniform heat for long periods without constant attention.	237

In the second part, regarding the things to be prepared, these chapters are contained.


IX.	On the preparation of spirits, intermediate minerals, and alums. In alchemical texts, "spirits" refers to volatile substances like sulfur, arsenic, and mercury. "Intermediate minerals" are substances like vitriol or salts that are neither metals nor spirits.	238.
X.	On the calcination of Jupiter. Jupiter is the alchemical name for tin.	239
XI.	On the calcination of Saturn. Saturn is the alchemical name for lead.	in the same place.
XII.	On the calcination of Venus. Venus is the alchemical name for copper.	240
XIII.	On the calcination of Mars. Mars is the alchemical name for iron.	in the same place
XIV.	On the calcination of intermediate minerals.	in the same place
XV.	On the washings of burned bodies. original: "corporum combustorum." The term "bodies" refers to the metals after they have been heated or oxidized.	in the same place
XVI.	On the waxing of washed calxes. original: "incerationibus." This process involved adding moisture to a dry powder (calx) to give it a wax-like consistency.	241
XVII.	On the reduction of calxes into a solid mass. Reduction is the chemical process of returning a metal to its solid state from its powdered or oxidized form.	in the same place
XVIII.	On the solutions of prepared bodies, and concerning their specific conjunctions in a specific proportion, so they may appear with more brilliance after their reductions.	242

In the third part, regarding perfections and alterations,

these chapters are contained.


XIX.	On the method of the third order of perfection. The "third order" usually refers to the highest grade of alchemical elixirs or tinctures used for transmutation.	245
XX.	On the governance of Jupiter and Saturn.	246
XXI.	On the governance of Venus and Saturn.	247
XXII.	On the governance of Mars.	in the same place
XXIII.	On the governance of the Moon. The Moon represents silver.	248
XXIV.	On the governance of Mercury. Mercury represents quicksilver.	249
XXV.	On the ferment of the Moon for the white stage. original: "ad azymum." This refers to the creation of the white tincture for making silver.	in the same place
XXVI.	On the ferment of the Sun for the red stage. The Sun represents gold. The red stage is the final step in the creation of the Philosopher's Stone.	250
XXVII.	On the ferment of the ferment, both white and red, upon Mercury.	in the same place
XXVIII	A recapitulation of the author's experiments.	251
XXIX.	The Mercurial Games. original: "Ludi Mercuriales." This likely refers to the volatile and "playful" behavior of mercury during chemical reactions.	254
XXX.	The yellowing of the Moon. original: "Citrinatio." This is the process of turning silver into gold or a gold-colored metal.	255

End of the Book of Furnaces.

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