Chemical Lexicon

the volcanic fire, which leads its origin in the center of the world, and is contained by the earth like a pot. But it does not lack its vents yawning around the globe of the earth, through which, now through this one, then through another, it draws life and nourishment from the air. But if it lacks its vents, it must happen no otherwise than it does with the fire of women's pots. See, I pray, what trivial causes have moved the faithless philosophers and tormented them even unto death. You will find a broader account of this natural fire, where I interpreted Paracelsus in the book which is inscribed Concerning the Light of Nature, regarding the great uncreated mystery. Let this much be said concerning the mineral fire of Etna, and the general father, as much as the nature of the place allows.

Æthnici are called igneous spirits, or spiritual men fragrant with fire, who appear in various manners and forms, such as igneous flames, brands, globes, and spherical coals, and this in sulphurous mountains.

Alcali is called every salt which is extracted from ashes, or from the lime of any matter by lixivium lye wash, proper to all things, both liquid and solid.

Æs, while thus. 1. It is in its vein in mines, i.e., where there is much pyrites, that is, marcasite; it causes those native species of vitriol, Colchitis, misy, Sory, and Diphrigas.

2. It is smelted and then becomes: 1. Fictitious cadmia with its species. 2. Pompholix. 3. Spodium is burnt and becomes burnt copper. 4. It is extinguished and becomes copper scale. 5. It is beaten and becomes copper scale. 6. Already on the surface of the smelted metal, scraped verdigris is formed.

Æs is twofold. 1. Pure, which is found in copper and silver mines; it is such even without smelting; implicated veinlets are sometimes seen, sometimes whole bracts that embrace the stone. 2. That which is smelted from pyrites, that is, marcasite; also from other species, such as from that fissile stone of Eisleben; furthermore from