UNIVERSAL MEDICINE AND ELIXIR OF LIFE 97 



the period of that of the Patriarchs. His plan, however, 

 seems to have been the very rational one of limiting all 

 excess of diet and enjoining punctual and frugal meals." 



It is an old saying that history repeats itself. About 

 forty years ago certain medical practitioners strongly urged 

 the use of salts of gold in the treatment of disease, and 

 great hopes were entertained in regard to their efficacy. 

 And the Keeley gold cure for drunkards is strongly in 

 evidence, even at the present day. 



On the other hand, some have held that the elixir was 

 quite distinct from the stone by which metals might be 

 transmuted into gold. In the second part of "King Henry 

 IV," Falstaff (Act III, Scene 2, line 355), says of Shallow: 

 "it shall go hard but I will make him a philosopher's two 

 stones to me," and this saying of his has given considerable 

 trouble to the commentators. 



Warburton's explanation of this expression is, that "there 

 was two stones, one of which was a universal medicine and 

 the other a transmuter of base metals into gold." And in 

 Churchyard's " Discourse and Commendation of those that 

 can make Gold," we read of Remundus, who 



Wrate sundry vvorkes, as well doth yet appeare 

 Of stone for gold, and shewed plaine and cleare 

 A stone for health. 



Johnson and some others have objected to this explana- 

 tion, but it seems to be evident that Falstaff meant that he 

 would get health and wealth from Shallow. He got the 

 wealth to the extent of a thousand pounds. 



The intense desire which exists in the human bosom 

 for an elixir that will cure all diseases, and prolong life has 

 made itself evident, even in recent times, and has called 



