92 OF THE ORIGIN OF CHEMISTRY; 



Of the fevcn perfect metals hitherto known, 

 they were acquainted with all except Platina ; 

 But they were ignorant of the imperfect. Some 

 authors, indeed, make a diftinclion between tin 

 and white lead ; which was perhaps zinc, bifV 

 muth, or regulus of antimony. But it is impof. 

 fible to draw any certain concluiion with re- 

 fpedl to this; when even Pliny cliflinguiflies 

 hydrargyrum from argentwn vivum. 



ExprefTion r >, digeilions, and decoclions were 

 alrnoil the only operations in their chemitlry. 

 Perhaps, indeed, they ufed fomc varieties of e- 

 lixation, evaporation, and infpiil'ation ; as like- 

 \vifenfcryftallization, fublimation, calcination, 

 dirtillation per defcenfuWt fuiion, eliquation, VN 

 trification, and fermentation. 



From the authorities, therefore, already cited, 

 k may be naturally inferred, that, at the peri- 

 od under confideration, the dawn only of che- 

 rniftry had made its appearance ; and that it 

 -was rather a collection of unconnected and ill- 

 founded axioms, the rcfult of obtcrvation and 

 remark, than a fcicncc cflabliflied upon the 

 brnad bafis of an infinite variety of experiments. 

 At this time they were in want ulfo of the pro- 

 per inflrumcnts, and unacquainted with the ne- 

 ccf]hry llcps by which the principles of natural 

 bodies can be cxaclly feparated, collcclctl, and 

 properly defined. They were, therefore, with- 

 out thole means fo nccefliiry to the evolution of 

 truth, and the conflruftion oi.' a genuijie-'fyilem. 



TJIU 



