to produce all knowncompounds? If transmutation is thus theoretically possible, it only remains to showby practical experiment that it is strictly in accordance with chemicallaws, and by no means inclines to the supernatural. At this juncture theyoung alchemist proceeded to liken the action of the Philosopher`s Stone onmetals to that of a ferment on organic matter. When metals are melted andbrought to red heat, a molecular change may be produced analogous tofermentation. Just as sugar, under the influence of a ferment, may bechanged into lactic acid without altering its constituents, so metals canalter their character under the influence of the Philosopher`s Stone. Theexplanation of the latter case is no more difficult than that of the former. The ferment does not take any part in the chemical changes it brings about,and no satisfactory explanation of its effects can be found either in thelaws of affinity or in the forces of electricity, light, or heat. As withthe ferment, the required quantity of the Philosopher`s Stone isinfinitesimal. Medicine, philosophy, every modern science was at one timea source of such errors and extravagances as are associated with medievalalchemy, but they are not therefore neglected and despised. Wherefore, then,should we be blind tot he scientific nature of transmutation? One of the foundations of alchemical theories was that minerals grew anddeveloped in the earth, like organic things. It was always the aim ofnature to produce gold, the most precious metal, but when circumstanceswere not favorable the baser metals resulted. The desire of the oldalchemists was to surprise nature`s secrets, and thus attain the ability todo in a short period what nature takes years to accomplish. Nevertheless,the medieval alchemists appreciated the value of time in their experimentsas modern alchemists never do. M. Figuier`s friend urged him not tocondemn these exponents of the hermetic philosophy for their metaph...
