ALCHEMY
Alchemy. We've all heard something about this, but do we really know what, exactly, it is.
Alchemy is the art of transmuting baser elements into gold and silver. It was the predecessor of modern chemistry,
for the first steps in the development of modern science were based on the work of the old alchemists.
Chemistry itself dates back to the latter half of the 18th century. Alchemy itself, however, dates much farther back than this,
however the etymology of the name 'alchemy' can only be traced back accurately to around the 14th century, although alchemy is
known to have been used much, much earlier than the 14th century.
From old Egyptian times men had studied the chemical properties of bodies without establishing any tangible or tenable theory.
The name alchemy has been applied to the work of all early investigations. By their means were determined a vast number of facts,
which were only classified and reasonably explained by the new science of chemistry. Many of the alchemists were earnest seekers
after truth, and some of the greatest intellects of their time figure among them. Two motives actuated many investigators: the hope
of realizing the transmutation of metals, and the search for terrestrial immortality by the discovery of the elixir vitae. The
fantastic element apparent in such desires operated to give alchemy a bad reputation, and it is not always accorded the place in
the history of science to which it is entitled. As the belief in the possibility of the transmutation of metals was almost universal,
much of the work of the alchemists was directed to the production of gold. Often the work was perfectly honest, but many instances
of charlatanism are on record. Dishonest men practised on the greed of rulers. If discovered to be guilty of fraud, capital
punishment was sometimes administered. Henry IV of England exhorted the learned men of his kingdom to study alchemy, and pay off
the debts of the country by discovering the philosopher's stone. In the sixteenth century practically all rulers patronized
alchemists.
Many clerics were alchemists. To Albertus Magnus, a prominent Dominican and Bishop of Ratisbon, is attributed the work
'De Alchimia', though this is of doubtful authenticity. Several treatises on alchemy are attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas.
He investigated theologically the question of whether gold produced by alchemy could be sold as real gold, and decided that
it could, if it really possess the properties of gold. A treatise on the subject is attributed to Pope John XXII, who is also
the author of a Bull "Spondent quas non exhibent" (1317) against dishonest alchemists. It cannot be too strongly insisted on
that there were many honest alchemists. Chemists have never given up the belief that the transmutation of elements might yet be
effected, and recent work in radio-activity goes to prove its possible accomplishment in the case of radium and helium.
The literature of the subject is extensive. Many of the works of the old writers have been preserved, often unintelligible on
account of the terminology. Modern authors have also written treatises on the history of the subject. Berthelot has edited a work
"Collection des anciens Alchimistes Grees" with the Greek texts. He has written "Les Origines de l'Alchimie" and other works on
the same subject. Schmieder's "Geschichte der Alchimie" (Halle, 1832) is useful. Observations on the subject will be found in
treatises on the history of chemistry, such as Liebig's "Familiar Letters", and Thomson's "History of Chemistry", and in the
introductory portions of manuals of chemistry.
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