Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
177
The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry
·
M. M. Pattison Muir
58
The
image
used
to
set
forth
the
mortification
of
metals
is
a
king
swallowing
his
son.
Figs.
II.
and
III.
are
reduced
from
Basil
Valentine's
Twelve
Keys.
Both
of
these
figures
represent
the
process
of
mortification
by
images
connected
with
death
and
burial.
In
his
explanation
(?)
of
these
figures,
Basil
Valentine
says:--
"Neither
human
nor
animal
bodies
can
be
multiplied
or
propagated
without
decomposition;
the
grain
and
all
vegetable
seed,
when
cast
into
the
ground,
must
decay
before
it
can
spring
up
again;
moreover,
putrefaction
imparts
life
to
many
worms
and
other
animalculæ....
If
bread
is
placed
in
honey,
and
suffered
to
decay,
ants
are
generated
...
maggots
are
also
developed
by
the
decay
of
nuts,
apples,
and
pears.
The
same
thing
may
be
observed
in
regard
to
vegetable
life.
Nettles
and
other
weeds
spring
up
where
no
such
seed
has
ever
been
sown.
This
occurs
only
by
putrefaction.
The
reason
is
that
the
soil
in
such
places
is
so
disposed,
and,
as
it
were,
impregnated,
that
it
produces
these
fruits;
which
is
a
result
of
the
properties
of
sidereal
influences;
consequently
the
seed
is
spiritually
produced
in
the
earth,
and
putrefies
in
the
earth,
and
by
the
operation
of
the
elements
generates
corporeal
matter
according
to
the
species
of
nature.
Thus
the
stars
and
the
elements
may
generate
new
spiritual,
and
ultimately,
new
vegetable
seed,
by
means
of
putrefaction....
Know
that,
in
like
manner,
no
metallic
seed
can
develop,
or
multiply,
unless
the
said
seed,
by
itself
alone,
and
without
the
introduction
of
any
foreign
substance,
be
reduced
to
a
perfect
putrefaction."
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
