Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-07-25
FOR TIE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
ON THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF
CHEMICAL SCIENCE.
DEDICATED TO Mss LAURA MURPHY

ARTICLE l. Chemistry but a few years
ago, was, as 1T were, but a mere grain of mus
tard seed q few only of the most wealthy.
were acquainted with it. No science with
which man has as yet become acqpainted.~
has in so short a period made such gigantic
strides towards perfection, and at the pre-
sent day it is the brightest star in all the gal
axy Of science. Let US look abroad, we find
all eyes turned towards it, the Farmer, the
Metallurgist, the Dyer and calico printer,
the Medical Man, the Botanist, the Bleacher,
the Distiller, all, all are looking with anxious
eyes to the sublime science of Chemistry for
assistance. Like the beginnings of other
sciences, the first dawnings of Chemistry are
obscured by the clouds and mists which en-
velope everything relating to antiquity. From
the seventh to the seventeenth century, the
science was enriched by a number of chemi-
cal facts, but these were derived chiefly from
the labors of the Alchemists. These remain
ed useless and %unapplied so long as the minds
of men were exclusively directed to the trans
mutation of metals, the composition of a uni
yersal elixir, and the production of the Al
cahest or general solvent.
Uormss Trismegistis is supposed to have
been the oldest of the Alchemists, and is said
to have lived in the year of the world 2076.
Some Of his writings are still extant, in one
Of which, the Tractatus Aureus, or Golden
Work, he gives the following process for the
nreparation of the Philosophers Stone. First,
he apologizes for divulging the secrets of the
BLACK Art, after which we are conducted into
what is termed the innermost chamber. We
are here directed to " catch the flying bird*
and drown it so that it fly no more then
~nlunge it into the we'll of the Philosophers
bv which its soul will be d~issipated and its
corporeal particles united to the Red Eagle. 3
And now he says, give thanks that this in
estimable treasure has been revealed to you."
The name which we next find as worthy of
notice, is Geber. Not only was his name
great in the History Of Alchemy, but Boer-
! have considers him the first Philosopher of
his age. It is to Geber that we were first in
debted for a full description of Furnaces,
Crucibles and Alembics. He, indeed, de-
serves to be remembered as the inventor OF
numerous apparatus. The name which fol
lows Geber, is the illustrious Roger Bacon
Brand in speaking of this illustrious Chemist
and Philosopher says, she stands alone like
a beacon upon q waste he is ~perspicuous
and comprehensive and full of a%nticipations
of the advantages likely to be derived from
the mode of investigation insisted upon by
his great successor Chancellor Bacon" The
honor of the discovery Of gunpowder is,
think, Justly attributed to this celebrated
Chemist. In a work written by him called
"De Mirabili Potestate Arts" he says
"From saltpetre and other ingredients W,
are enabled to form q fire which will burr
to any distance a small portion of this mat
ter properly placed will make a tremendous
sound and corruscation, by which cities AM
! armies might be destroyed" Passing from
!, Rocon we find the names of Albert of Col
! oone. surnamed the Great, Raymond Lull.
of Maiorca, Arnold of Villanova, and Isaa
and John of Holland, all famous Alchemlca
philosophers of the thirteenth and tourteent
centuries. The next name of celebrity In OF
dor of time. is that of Basil Valentine. A
' though an Alchemist, his works abound wit
0 MANY interesting observations, and so nj
1 merous are his discoveries, that he may JUS
| Iv ba considered as one of those whose laboI
r Contributed very much to the foundation {
Modern Chemistry. He it was who mrs
covo accurate directions for the preparation
9 of Nitric. Hydrochloric and Sulphurlc Acld
and were these the only chemicals Tor whic
8 we were indebted to him. L need NOT Sd
how highly he deserves our praise, when v
romamber how beneficial these acids ha'
s boen 10 ms. and how Numerous the uses
which they are now applied. Basil vale
t;ne was also the discoverer OF Antimony.-
The following story is told Of this discover!
Valentine found som Grey Sulphnret OF a
!. timony and gave a small quantity OF It :,
some hogs, when he found that they at NJ !
Il sickoned, but that in a few days they !
came more fat and plump than they we
y before. This being so withs the hogs,
2 thought he might be able to fatten his orot
I'd @0uicksilver. This is what is termed the rs!
s. ton mercury with gold. tAqua Regia. 8 Clori
es Of gold.