Chemical Letters to Excellent Philosophers and Physicians in Germany

PREFACE.

...so that, as until now, one might devour cinnabar mercury sulfide for the essence of gold; copper vitriol for the salt of Venus; spirit and water for oil; and common turbith a purgative root for gold precipitate, etc. These are things to accept if, once errors are exterminated, true preparations are brought to light according to scientific demonstrations. Even the novices will have something in which they may certainly rest, so that they do not fall into the pitfalls of impostors and purchase greater trifles with great money. I wish indeed that the genuine art were called to the profession of the academies. If anyone today wants to take the risk, he must consult the insane Paracelsians followers of Paracelsus, or old women, or idle and desperate goldsmiths, or the most unrefined servants of the seplasia perfumery or medicine shops, and similar expiations of the most honest art. Among liberal professors, every voice of this kind has fallen silent. The art is sought among inertia, wisdom in the brothel of insanity, and light among darkness. Hence it happens that if anything is to be written about chemistry, one must almost return to the alphabet-learners, and before the sentence is formed, one must learn what chemistry is, what a cucurbit is, an alembic, and the rest. But I pass over these things. Because I have not touched upon everyone who is famous for the reputation of chemistry, or even perhaps have not addressed some who are considered less skilled in chemical operations, I ask you, Reader, to hold me excused. I could not know everyone, nor, having left Germany and the company of friends, could I go to France, Italy, or among foreigners. Let all those