The Washington herald., 1908-07-26
TRANSMITTING THE METALS
Modern Chemists Do Not Look with
Scorn on the Theory.
French AIchemist in the Thirteenth
Century Wrote Precise Direc-
tiOns for Making Gold.

The possibility OF transmitting one me-
tai into another IS not looked upon with
scorn BY modern chemists Theoretically
some Of them seem now almost willing 70
grant Il. although practically we are as
Ear from Il as ever. The aIcheuists had
no doubts whatever. and were even ready
with precise directions for soId-making.
but these appear 70 modern netaIlCrgists
70 be largely recipes FOR making alloys
that look more OF less Ike gold. One of
these. couched IN curious mystical
phrases. is given IN Cosmos Paris. to-
mis- paper
AT a time when the terrible nalady
known a. gold fever seems 70 be break
ing out anew, II VIII not perhaps be
undressing 20 note a curious recipe for
making gold which doubtless tried the
wisdom and patience Of more than one
alchemist Of the fourteenth century.
Cod says Armand Ie ViTeueuve "a
French alcheDist and physician who was
born about 1910 and died in 1879. has
deigned. as he inspires those whom he
wishes. 70 reveal 10 me the excellent Sc
cret o. the philosophers. though / merit
Il not Hide. friendly reader. this book
in thy breast and never place It IN the
hands OF the impious. for Il contains the
whole secret This pearl must not be
cast before swine. for Il IS the gift Of
God Whose reveals this secret IS ac-
cursed and shall die Of an apoplexy.'
Despite these recommendations and
threats. we shall reveal this secret text
Ually. and, after all. it IS worth quite as
much as that OF Lemoine for making
diamonds. Here il is
Know. ny son, that in this chapter
I shall teach thee the preparation OF the
Philosophers Stone.
As the world was lost through
woman. II Is necessary also that it
should be saved BY her For this -ea-
son. take the mother. place her II bed
with her eight sons; watch her. she
must do strict penance until she be
washed Of all her sins Then she viii
give TO the world a son who will sin
Signs have appeared in the sun and in
the moon; seize this son and chastise
him, so that pride may not ruin him
This done, replace him n his bed and
when thou seest that ne IS in his right
mind seize him anew and give him 70
the Jews 70 be cTuCifed- The Sun be-
ing thus crucified. the Moon will be no
longer seen. the ve:I Of The temple viii
be rent and there wiz be a great earth
y
fire. and a spirit that shall deceive the
whole world viii be seen 20 arise
Doubtless al first sight this mysti-
cal language seems 20 be nothing but a
farrago Of nonsense. Nevertheless. on
examination. we shall find that It is a
perfectly definite meaning and that IL
Indicates only Ineligible and reliable
processes The task is TO get at the
real meaning"
neUve's commentators. Mr. Tdmburin. in
terprets this recipe: Take the mother. d"
that IS TO say. mercury (the mother OF
metals ,; place her in her bed (crucible)
with her eight sons (the eight metals,
lead. antlmcny. iron, tin. &C.; watch
her'-that is. keep careful watch of the
crucible until the fusion is conplete.
Then she viii give to the world a son
who VIII be sinful in other words. -he
mass viii assume a pronounced yellow
color IN the upper part. due 20 a mixture
OF lead oxide and lead chlora;e The
sinful son is the gold that is still 70
De purified The signs In the sun and
moon refer 10 the colors of gold and sill
yer designated as "suu-and moon by
the alchemists) IA the mixture. the latter
due to the fused autimOny- GRASP the
son and chastise him. that is, remove
the gold from the crucible, that he
may not De lost through pride" that is,
be not puffed up by apparent success. for
a slight mistake may spoil the result On
removal the mass is TO be beaten OF
pounded tchastisedl- Then II is replaced
IN It's bed (the crucible). and when it has
: ~egatned its senses Cbeen melted again) it
sNea 2e Jews treated with inter
and carbon " black fiux'D TO be cruci-
red treauc Then the moon shall be
70 1soFs sea, the ven Of the temple VIII