1883. 1(»3 Trans. N. Y. Ac. Sci. 



they gave the same name to many unlike bodies, and used also a great 

 number of synonyms, A highly metaphorical language arose, and 

 when certain enthusiasts attempted to graft .Egyptian mythology 

 and Greek fables on to alchemy, the height of absurdity in nomencla- 

 ture was attained. Nitre, for example, was called a " venomous 

 worm," a " scorpion devouring his children," and a "dragon." The 

 labors of Hercules, the Argonautic expedition, in search of the Golden 

 Fleece, and similar legends received alchemical interpretations. The 

 method of notation, which existed at this period, was no less astonish- 

 ing ; sal ammoniac, for example, being called an eagle, on account of 

 its volatility, was represented pictorially as the bird of prey ; antimony 

 being denoted as a wolf, and gold as a king, the fusion of the two metals 

 was represented by the picture of a wolf devouring a prostrate and 

 crowned man. Allegorical formulae of this character were especially 

 cultivated by Dr. Michael Maier, phj^sician to Rudolph II., and author 

 of several illustrated works now much sought by bibliophiles. 



As early as the thirteenth century, the four Aristotelian elements were 

 represented as follows : 



A Air. 



A Fire. 

 VEarth. 



^ Water. 



At some uncertain period, the elementary prmciples of alchemical 

 theories were represented thus : 



^ 



Sulphur. 

 O Salt. 

 "^ Mercury. 



These are among the earliest of an enormous number of characters 

 which the alchemists introduced into their writings. Many keys to 

 these singular characters have been published ; one of the earliest is 

 that of Heinrich Eschenreuter, a reputed Bavarian priest of the fifteenth 

 century ; similar keys are found in the works [of Crollius, Kircher, 

 Juncker, Lefevre, Lemerj-, Blancardus, et al. 



The multiplicity of names in vogue among the alchemists gave rise 

 to a large number of symbols, each synonyme having its appropriate 

 character ; thus mercury had at least 40 signs, borax 35, a crucible 

 18, cream-of-tartar 31, cinnabar 22. and soon. Dictionaries of these 

 signs exist, the most noteworthy being that entitled the Alchymis- 



