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177
The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry
·
M. M. Pattison Muir
22
Looking
around
him,
and
observing
the
changes
of
things,
the
alchemist
was
deeply
impressed
by
the
growth
and
modification
of
plants
and
animals;
he
argued
that
minerals
and
metals
also
grow,
change,
develop.
He
said
in
effect:
"Nature
is
one,
there
must
be
unity
in
all
the
diversity
I
see.
When
a
grain
of
corn
falls
into
the
earth
it
dies,
but
this
dying
is
the
first
step
towards
a
new
life;
the
dead
seed
is
changed
into
the
living
plant.
So
it
must
be
with
all
other
things
in
nature:
the
mineral,
or
the
metal,
seems
dead
when
it
is
buried
in
the
earth,
but,
in
reality,
it
is
growing,
changing,
and
becoming
more
perfect."
The
perfection
of
the
seed
is
the
plant.
What
is
the
perfection
of
the
common
metals?
"Evidently,"
the
alchemist
replied,
"the
perfect
metal
is
gold;
the
common
metals
are
trying
to
become
gold."
"Gold
is
the
intention
of
Nature
in
regard
to
all
metals,"
said
an
alchemical
writer.
Plants
are
preserved
by
the
preservation
of
their
seed.
"In
like
manner,"
the
alchemist's
argument
proceeded,
"there
must
be
a
seed
in
metals
which
is
their
essence;
if
I
can
separate
the
seed
and
bring
it
under
the
proper
conditions,
I
can
cause
it
to
grow
into
the
perfect
metal."
"Animal
life,
and
human
life
also,"
we
may
suppose
the
alchemist
saying,
"are
continued
by
the
same
method
as
that
whereby
the
life
of
plants
is
continued;
all
life
springs
from
seed;
the
seed
is
fructified
by
the
union
of
the
male
and
the
female;
in
metals
also
there
must
be
the
two
characters;
the
union
of
these
is
needed
for
the
production
of
new
metals;
the
conjoining
of
metals
must
go
before
the
birth
of
the
perfect
metal."
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