88 LITERATURE OF THE ARABS. 



of chymical knowledge, teaching- a greater degree 

 of facility in operations, and leading to the discov- 

 ery of many new and valuable substances which, 

 without some such strong incentive, would have 

 perhaps remained much longer in obscurity. Struck 

 with the result of investigations which they did not 

 understand, the Arabs applied themselves to this de- 

 partment of science, with the view of making it 

 subservient to the composition of medicines and the 

 cure of diseases. In conducting distillations, and 

 detecting the properties of various bodies, they 

 made great improvements. The three mineral 

 acids were discovered ; the vegetable and mineral 

 alkalies were distinguished from each other; and 

 the preparation of alcohol made known. Rhazes is 

 generally allowed to be the first regular practi- 

 tioner that made use of chymical remedies ; and 

 from his mentioning corrosive sublimate and mer- 

 curial ointment, various preparations of arsenic, the 

 sulphates of copper and iron, saltpetre, and borax, 

 it is evident that the science had already passed its 

 infancy. 



But the true patriarch of Arabian chymistry was 

 the famous Geber, a native of Harran in Mesopota- 

 mia, who lived in the eighth century. Little is 

 known of this writer, except his works, which con- 

 tain many and important chymical facts. Besides 

 the metals, sulphur, and salt, with which the Greeks 

 and Romans were familiar, he knew the method of 

 preparing sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and aqua regia. 

 He was familiar with the art of dissolving the metals 

 by means of these acids, and actually prepared 

 nitrate of silver and corrosive sublimate. He was 

 acquainted with potash and soda, both in the state 

 of carbonates and caustic. He was aware that 

 these alkalies dissolve sulphur, and he employed the 

 process to obtain it in a state of purity. 



Of Geber's works, so far as they have appeared 

 in Latin or English, we possess only four tracts ; 



