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177
The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry
·
M. M. Pattison Muir
104
The
change
from
alchemy
to
chemistry
is
an
admirable
example
of
the
change
from
a
theory
formed
by
looking
inwards,
and
then
projected
on
to
external
facts,
to
a
theory
formed
by
studying
facts,
and
then
thinking
about
them.
This
change
proceeded
slowly;
it
is
not
possible
to
name
a
time
when
it
may
be
said,
here
alchemy
finishes
and
chemistry
begins.
To
adapt
a
saying
of
one
of
the
alchemists,
quoted
in
a
former
chapter;
alchemy
would
not
easily
give
up
its
nature,
and
fought
for
its
life;
but
an
agent
was
found
strong
enough
to
overcome
and
kill
it,
and
then
that
agent
also
had
the
power
to
change
the
lifeless
remains
into
a
new
and
pure
body.
The
agent
was
the
accurate
and
imaginative
investigation
of
facts.
The
first
great
step
taken
in
the
path
which
led
from
alchemy
to
chemistry
was
the
substitution
of
one
Principle,
the
Principle
of
Phlogiston,
for
the
three
Principles
of
salt,
sulphur,
and
mercury.
This
step
was
taken
by
concentrating
attention
and
investigation,
by
replacing
the
superficial
examination
of
many
diverse
phenomena
by
the
more
searching
study
of
one
class
of
occurrences.
That
the
field
of
study
should
be
widened,
it
was
necessary
that
it
should
first
be
narrowed.
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