The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry

New and Enlarged Edition

“It is neither religious nor wise to judge that of which you know nothing.”
A Brief Guide to the Celestial Ruby, by PHILALETHES (17th century)

Preface

The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry is very interesting in itself. It is also a pregnant example of the contrast between the scientific and the emotional methods of regarding nature; and it admirably illustrates the differences between well-grounded, suggestive, hypotheses, and baseless speculations.

I have tried to tell the story so that it may be intelligible to the ordinary reader.

M.M. PATTISON MUIR.

CAMBRIDGE, November 1902.

Note to New Edition

A few small changes have been made. The last chapter has been re-written and considerably enlarged.

M.M.P.M.

FARNHAM, September 1913.