Sun Without Clothing or Thirty Experiments to Extract the Purple from Gold

...be found in these thoughts; for this reason, some have even wanted to create the Philosopher's Stone original: "Lapidem Philosophorum." The legendary alchemical substance capable of turning base metals into gold and acting as an elixir of life. from them. However, to this day, I have not yet seen anyone who has produced anything useful, despite their having searched through all kinds of things (though mostly wine) with the utmost scrutiny. On this occasion, I do not wish to leave unmentioned—though I leave it to each person's freedom to believe it or not—what the now late and blessed Prelate A high-ranking member of the clergy, likely the Abbot. of the noble Monastery of St. Florian St. Florian is a famous Augustinian monastery in Upper Austria, known for its learning and library. once told me. He swore solemnly that the following account was true:

"In a prominent monastery, a religious brother original: "Religiosus." A member of a religious order, such as a monk. committed a certain transgression, for which crime he was sentenced to death. The Prelate of that time, being a curious man original: "Curiosus." In the 18th century, this referred to a person with a keen interest in the "secrets of nature," science, and experimental philosophy., arranged for his life to be spared, provided he could endure that which was to be performed upon him. To the monk, the fear of death and death itself were far more terrifying than any torments that could be inflicted upon him; therefore, he accommodated himself to the proposal all the more readily, in the hope of escaping with his life. This malefactor original: "Maleficanten." A criminal or wrongdoer. (for such he was) was locked away, well-guarded, and given nothing at all. Instead of food and drink, he was forced to drink his own urine original: "Harn." Alchemists were fascinated by urine because it contained salts and "vital spirits" extracted from the human body. whenever it passed from him, and to do this repeatedly, even twenty times over; this...