A HISTORY OF SCIENCE 



Arnold de Villeneuve, is reported to have learned the 

 secrets of alchemy from his master. Later he issued 

 two bulls against "pretenders" in the art, which, far 

 from showing his disbelief, were cited by alchemists 

 as proving that he recognized pretenders as distinct 

 from true masters of magic. 



To moderns the attitude of mind of the alchemist 

 is difficult to comprehend. It is, perhaps, possible to 

 conceive of animals or plants possessing souls, but 

 the early alchemist attributed the same thing or 

 something kin to it to metals also. Furthermore, 

 just as plants germinated from seeds, so metals were 

 supposed to germinate also, and hence a constant 

 growth of metals in the ground. To prove this the 

 alchemist cited cases where previously exhausted gold- 

 mines were found, after a lapse of time, to contain 

 fresh quantities of gold. The " seed" of the remaining 

 particles of gold had multiplied and increased. But 

 this germinating process could only take place under 

 favorable conditions, just as the seed of a plant must 

 have its proper surroundings before germinating; and 

 it was believed that the action of the philosopher's 

 stone was to hasten this process, as man may hasten the 

 growth of plants by artificial means. Gold was looked 

 upon as the most perfect metal, and all other metals 

 imperfect, because not yet "purified." By some al- 

 chemists they were regarded as lepers, who, when cured 

 of their leprosy, would become gold. And since nat- 

 ure intended that all things should be perfect, it was 

 the aim of the alchemist to assist her in this purifying 

 process, and incidentally to gain wealth and prolong 

 his life. 



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