104 THE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY, 



that the fraternity fhould be concealed care- 

 fully for 100 years *. In France this fo- 

 ciety gained but little ground; and, after 1630, 

 it pafied almoft wholly into oblivion. In 

 this year one Mormius offered to reveal the 

 whole ofjts fecrets to the magiftracy of Hoi- 

 land; but his propofal was treated with con- 

 tempt. 



It was not to be expected, that fcience whol- 

 ly occupied in the purfuit of other objects would 

 contribute to the improvement of chemical arts, 

 They were however rendered gradually more 

 perfect, partly by accident, as the artifls difco- 

 vercd fhorter an t d better procefles, and partly 

 by experiment, as they fometimes chofe to rilk a 

 path unbeaten by their teachers; and in fome 

 meafure, by the unfuccefsful attempts of the 

 alchemifts. For tfiefe laborious invefligators, 

 though they feldom gained their propofed end, 

 yet often brought to light much ufeful know- 

 ledge, which had otherwife perhaps lain conceal- 

 ed to this moment. 



As to medical chemiftry, and the principles 

 upon which its theory was eftablifhed during 

 this period, we fhall explain them feparately 

 further on: Here it rnay be proper to take no- 

 tice of a few things relating to the pharmaceu- 

 tical part of this fcience. The prolix competi- 



tion 



* Morhofius in Polyhiftorf, Mormiui, in arcany 

 fecrrtiflimii, may chiefly be confultrd. 



