num_pages: 58
description: This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1921. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV ADVANCES AND DISCOVERIES ALCHEMY failed in its quest--its grand secret L was never solved. But we have already seen good reasons for rejecting the superficial judgment which condemns the art as worthless. Bacon was not wont to be mild in his criticisms, and fully realised the failings of the alchemists' aims and methods; but he was judicial, and substantially mitigated the severity of his sentence. "The derivations and prosecutions (he writes) to these ends, both in the theories and in the practices, are full of error and vanity; which the great professors themselves have sought to veil over and conceal by enigmatical writings, and referring themselves to auricular traditions, and such other devices to save the credit of impostures. And yet surely to alchemy this right is due, that it may be compared to the husbandman whereof Msop makes the fable, that when he died told his sons that he had left unto them gold buried underground in his vineyard; and they digged all over the ground, and gold they found none, but by reason of their stirring and digging the mould about the roots of their vines, they had a great vintage the year following: so assuredly the search and stir to make gold hath brought to light a great number of good and fruitful inventions and experiments as well for the disclosing of nature as for the use of man's life." * Let us now review the more important of these " good and fruitful inventions and experiments." The Combining Of Theory And Practice. The first great merit of alchemy was that it brought together philosophical speculation and the practical arts. The Egyptian metallurgists and chemists, even those of them who were priests, were neither scientists nor philosophers. No doubt there would be among them a certain spirit ...
language: English
title: Alchemy, Its Science and Romance
publisher: General Books