The Archidoxes and Medico-Chemical Works of Paracelsus

Air is the life of the elements.

It is to be noted therefore here, that no element can be conceived or held without air, although any of the others can be without another. Wherefore we do not take upon ourselves the burden of separating the air separately, since it is in the other three, as life is in the body. For when it is separated from the body, all things perish, as we clearly teach concerning separations in the following practice. Four ways are to be considered in this place: one, indeed, is in watery bodies, that is, herbs, which have more water than any of the other elements. The second is in fiery bodies: such are woods, resins, oils, roots, etc., which contain more fiery substance in themselves than the others. The third is to be understood of earthy bodies, which are stones, clays, and also earths. The fourth, indeed, is of airy ones, and this is in all three others, as we have mentioned. Similarly, the same number of ways are to be considered concerning pure elements, in the same manner as was said above concerning the four preceding ones.

Separations of metals, etc.

Elements, how they are similar and dissimilar in themselves.

Hence it is now easy to know which elements and which are to be separated. Among these, first of all, the separations of elements from metals occur, in which peculiar predetermined virtues are present which are lacking in the other elements. For although all elements are similar in form—namely, by heat, cold, humidity, and dryness—yet dryness or humidity, or heat and cold, do not exist in one as they do in the other; for in some it is appropriative, in others, however, it is specific, in various ways in this manner, just as in each kind whatever is naturalized peculiarly and essentially; since no kind of elements is similar to another in virtues.

Separation of marcasites, stones, etc.

So also it must be established concerning the separations of marcasites a mineral sulfide, such as pyrite, which similarly differ in practice and also in elemental nature from others. For each kind is placed in a peculiar separation, and ought to be practiced particularly. Afterwards, stones and gems ought to demonstrate their elements, appearing with no likeness to others.

Salts have many properties. The nature of herbs and minerals is diverse.

Next, salts are of a peculiar and most excellent nature, also of more properties than are perceived in others. There is also a diverse essence in herbs, which in no way agree with minerals themselves; nor can they be similar, as far as their nature is concerned. Afterwards, of woods, fruits, barks, and similar things, there is a singular property: likewise of meat, drinks, and all edible foods, and those that are not good and clean, and of bad and impure ones, which must be separated into elements.

One mode of separation is twofold.

Of this separation, which we consider, two lives i.e., methods or paths are found: one of which is done by the separation of each element, shut up by itself in a peculiar vessel, beyond the vice of its own corruption, air being excepted.