Chemical Letters to Excellent Philosophers and Physicians in Germany

TO THE READER
1

Whoever, therefore, brings something to the public benefit, to him shall be left both his place and honor. Nor let anyone think us so needy by the grace of God of resources that we cannot encounter the Paracelsian follower of Paracelsus daws, if they wish to prick and disturb with restless noise. Those safeguards are at hand which they themselves would hardly have seen even in a dream. I speak of the safeguards of science. I do not delay over the multitude of works. The simplicity of certain men must also be admonished, who deny that chemical matters should be disseminated so that they are useful to novices, because that precept of Hippocrates Greek physician, the father of medicine must be kept, by which he bars the profane from sacred physicians. I, however, think that no one should be admitted unless he has been initiated into the apprenticeships of the art. But the door to the beginnings must not be closed. So that many may become sacred, I invite many. Do not doubt; chemistry is not so trivial that it endures unwashed hands. original: "Tu nihil inuita dices faciesve minerua." You will say or do nothing against Minerva Roman goddess of wisdom. If God has rendered anyone naturally apt for chemistry, and has thus consecrated him, will you then profane him again, or forbid him from the law of the sacred? Will you then wage war in alliance against God, nature, and duty? If you can teach something laudably, why should you be less of a teacher than the insane Paracelsus influential but controversial Swiss physician? Do you not know that you were called to teach through that gift? Would you hide a committed talent? It is the infamy of the avaricious that they lack what they have just as much as what they do not have.