2S0 PARACELSUS 



entirely different from what it has been supposed to 

 be by his critics. It is not a compound of chemical 

 substances, but an Arcanum, "an invisible fire, which 

 destroys all diseases" (Tinct. Fhys., vii.). "The Materia 

 Tincturas is the greatest treasure in the world." ^ 



Paracelsus was an enemy of endless prescriptions, and 

 of all the daubing and greasing, quackery and nasti- 

 ness, connected with the apothecaryship of his time. 

 He says : " What shall I say to you about all your 

 alchemical prescriptions ; about all your retorts and 

 bottles, crucibles, mortars, and glasses ; of all your 

 complicated processes of distilling, melting, cohibiting, 

 coagulating, sublimating, precipitating, and filtering ; of 

 all the tomfoolery for which you throw away your time 

 and your money ? All such things are useless, and the 

 labour for it is lost. They are rather an impediment 

 than a help to arrive at the truth." But he was a 

 practical alchemist. In the preface to his work entitled 

 " Tinctura Physica " he says : " I have a treasure buried 

 at the hospital at Weiden (Friaul), which is a jewel of 

 such a value that neither Pope Leo nor the Emperor 



^ The " tinctura physicorum " is a great alchemical mystery. Hermes 

 Trismegistus of Egypt, Orus of Greece, Hali, an Arab, and Albertus 

 Magnus of Germany were acquainted with it. It is also called the Red 

 Lion, and is mentioned in many alchemical works, but was actually 

 known to few. Its preparation is extremely difficult, as there is the 

 presence of two perfectly harmonious people, equally skilful, necessary 

 for that purpose. It is said to be a red ethereal fluid, capable of trans- 

 muting all inferior metals into gold, and having other wonderful virtues. 

 There is an old church in the vicinity of Kenysten, a town in the south 

 of Bavaria, where this tincture is said to be still buried in the ground. 

 In the year 1698 some of it penetrated through the soil, and the pheno- 

 menon was witnessed by many people, who believed it to be a miracle. 

 A church was therefore erected at that place, and it is still a well-known 

 place of pilgrimage. In regard to the material (if it may be so called) 

 used for the preparation of this great medicine, Paracelsus says : "Be 

 careful not to take anything from the lion but the rose-coloured blood, 

 and from the white eagle only the white gluten. Coagulate (corporify) 

 it according to the directions given by the ancients, and you will have the 

 tinctura physicorum. But if this is incomprehensible to you, remember 

 that only he who desires with his whole heart will find, and to him only 

 who knocks strong enough the door shall be opened." 



