SCIENCE 



NEW YORK, AUGUST 28, 1891. 



ALCHEMY/ 



When I announce alchemy as the subject of my address, 

 a word of apology is due for selecting a subject so outgrown 

 and alien to the spirit of the age. It is not to revive the 

 wild theories and chimerical hopes of the past that alchemy 

 is brought before you at this hour. Yet it is always interest- 

 ing to trace the evolution of a science, and to note its un- 

 folding and progressive development, like the breaking of 

 the morning. The dawn reveals wild shapes and distorted 

 forms, the shadows of sunrise stretch out limitless, but with 

 the onward sweep toward full day, portentous forms and end- 

 less shadows settle down to the safe and quiet realities of 

 every-day life. So the wild dreams of that dawn of science 

 have subsided into the assured facts of chemical science. 

 Alchemy is often called the forerunner of chemistry, and out 

 of its broken columns there has been built up the enduring 

 temple of chemical science. No science has a more enduring 

 basis of known facts than chemistry, and none can more 

 cilmly examine the basic principles upon which it is built 

 without fear that the foundation stones will turn to dust upon 

 the touch of investigation. 



But no science comes to us like Minerva leaping from the 

 brain of Jupiter, — "adult and full armed," — possibly be- 

 cause Jupiters are so rare, and the bold surgery of Vulcan so 

 seldom invoked. The passage from alchemy to chemistry is 

 full of suggestions, and has often been considered, but usually 

 by contrast rather than comparison. One filled the world 

 with vast hopes but unsatisfied longings; the other has 

 crowned the race with benefactions. Yet the results of the 

 labors and discoveries of the alchemists have been of great 

 value to the world, even though the direct objects they sought 

 forever eluded their grasp and left disappointment and de- 

 spair to their votaries. More than a hundred years ago 

 Harris tersely described alchemy, " Ars sine arte, cujus prin- 

 cipium est mentiri, medium laborare, et finis mendicare," — 

 the art without art, whose beginning is to lie, the middle to 

 toil, and the end to beg. 



We are prone to look back upon this nebulous science with 

 disdain as the product of an age that had full confidence in 

 magic and sorcery, that could accept without hesitation the 

 elusive nature of matter, yet find no difficulty in the belief 

 in the resistless power of occult forces. But let us be candid 

 even in our review of ancient error. Let us see what were 

 the hopes and aspirations of these hermits of science, and see 

 how modern thought stands related to ancient dreams — 

 whether we find in scientific thought, the same as in matter, 

 a tendency to move in recurring cycles. 



The objective points of the alchemists were: 



1. The Elixir of Life, panacea, all-cure, a substance which 

 would confer quasi-immortality upon any one who should 

 swallow it, curing all sickness, assuaging all pain, and trans- 

 forming hoary age mto blooming youth. It was even more 



1 Abstract of an address before the Section of Chemistry of the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science, at Washington, D.C., Aug. 

 19-25, 189], by R. C. Kedzie, vice-president of the section. 



eagerly sought than the transmutation of metals. Life is 

 the highest gift, and without it all other blessings turn to 

 ashes. "All that man hath will he give for his life." But 

 the crowning of life is health. It is not wonderful therefore 

 that men in all ages have sought under various names the 

 elixir of life. 



The alchemists regarded gold as the king of metals, and 

 its symbol was the sun — the giver of light and life. When 

 the Spaniards discovered such astonishing quantities of gold 

 in America, they were confident that some form of the elixir 

 of life was hidden away somewhere in the mysterious conti- 

 nent, and many parties were formed to explore its solitudes 

 in quest of this great gift. For this. Ponce de Leon and his 

 faithful band pierced the swamps of Florida, seeking "the 

 fountain of youth," where their leader was wounded to his 

 death. But these were only the vanguards of a countless 

 host that is still marching on. 



The alchemists regarded gold as the most perfect form of 

 matter; unalterable by fire, incorrodible by air, water, or any 

 simple acid. Its very insolubility was proof of its excellence. 

 This perfection of matter must be able to impart its properties 

 to perishable forms of matter, and "potable gold " was sup- 

 posed to be the elixir of life. 



Roger Bacon was convinced that auric chloride was this 

 elixir, and he informed Pope Nicholas IV. of the case of an 

 old farmer in Sicily who ploughed up a golden vial con- 

 taining a yellow liquid, which he swallowed supposing it 

 to be dew, whereupon he was transformed into a vigorous 

 youth. 



Others sought the elixir as an essence derived from the dis- 

 tillation of a great number of substances, while the Hindoos 

 supposed the Amreeta was obtained by churning the sea with 

 a mountain. 



We smile with superior air at such fantastic imaginings, 

 yet not long ago the world went wild over Brown-Sequard's 

 elixir of life, — extract of mutton. 



2. Tlie Alcahest. — The alchemists searched for some sub- 

 stance that would dissolve all other substances — alcahest, or 

 universal solvent. Crookes forcibly suggests that this is 

 found in fluorine. 



3. The Philosopher's Stone, having the same purifying 

 and ennobling office for mineral matter that the elixir of life 

 would have on animal forms. By means of this substance 

 they could effect the transmutation of base metals into per- 

 fect metals, " curing them of their sickness and perfecting 

 their nature," thus changing copper to gold and lead to 

 silvex', performing " the great work " by projection of the 

 philosopher's stone on base metals in presence of great heat. 



Such were the dreams, the hopes, and the endeavors of 

 the alchemists — life prolonged at pleasure, health perennial, 

 wealth beyond measure. It was a great hope, and it was 

 slow to die. The things sought are indissolubly interlinked 

 with the desires if not the expectations of humanity. Noth- 

 ing debasing entered into this scheme, but rather the aim 

 was to ennoble man and matter, and out of base material to 

 bring forth the flower and fruit of perfection. To a degree, 

 man would become a creator, and a semblance of omnipo- 

 tence would be placed in the hands of mortals, not merely 



