The Archidoxes and Medico-Chemical Works of Paracelsus

These elements can be kept in peculiar glasses, each according to its nature: as from Sol Gold, the hot and dry, without any other property: similarly, the cold and moist, and the cold and dry. Thus, it is to be understood concerning others. One must not be ignorant that the corrosive nature of aqua fortis is to be extracted in such a way as we have handed down in the book on the Fifth Essence.

On the separations of the elements from marcasites.

The mode of solution of marcasites.

Having previously posited the separations of elements from metals, we must come to those which can be made from marcasites pyrites/ores, which exist as follows.

Take one pound of any species of marcasite you wish, whether bismuth, or talc, or cobalt, or garnet, or any other: the same amount of nitre potassium nitrate, grind them very minutely, and by burning them together draw them through an alembic distilling vessel outside the cucurbit vessel, and keep whatever liquid ascends. That which remains at the bottom, however, let this be resolved by grinding into water with aqua fortis, pour the previously collected water into this, and distill it into oil, just as was said before concerning metals. By the same process, you will also separate the elements. Thus, a golden marcasite is to be understood just like gold, and a silvery one just like Luna Silver, bismuth like lead: zinetum zinc like copper, talc like Jupiter Tin, cobalt like iron, etc. Let these suffice for the separation of marcasites of all kinds.

On the separation of elements from stones.

The method of solution of stones.

The separation of the elements of stones and gems is to be understood in this way. Take a stone very well ground, to which you add double the amount of sulfur-wine, and let all the mixed things be placed in a luted vessel in an athanor furnace for four hours, so that the sulfur may be entirely consumed: afterwards let what remains be washed from the dregs and sulfur, and dried. Let such stony lime be placed also into aqua fortis, and let one proceed with it as we said before concerning metals. Stones are therefore compared to metals: as clear gems, not white, nor dark, are compared to gold, but white, sky-blue, and sea-green ones to silver or Luna: afterwards, more common stones to other metals, as alabaster to Saturn Lead, marble to iron, flint to Jupiter Tin. Dulech a stone-like concretion, however, to Mercury.

On the separation of elements from oily things.

How oily things are to be separated.

Oily things are considered to be all oils, woods, roots, seeds, fruits, and similar things which have a flammable nature suitable for ignition. And their separation is twofold, namely of the oily bodies and of the pure oils.

The separation of oily bodies is such.

Take this body, crushed, ground, or in whatever way you can make it fine, put it wrapped in linen, and having been tied, place it in horse dung