CHAPTER V.

Concerning the Spirit of Venus. We have before made mention of a White Spirit, or colourless Tincture, Now w^e proceed to speak of a red spirit, which is produced from a thick elemental mixture of the former, to which also it is subject* though, neverthe- less, it is more perfect than the spirits and tinctures of the succeeding metals. On this account it remains in the fire more constantly than the rest, so that it is not so soon burnt, nor does it so soon pass away as the other spirits which follow. The air also and the moisture of \Vater are not so injurious to it as to Mars» just as it remains more fixedly and for a longer time in the fire. Venus has this force and property, that is to say, its body has^ on account of the spirit which has been infused into it. Since, then, it produces this effect in its own body, that is, in Venus, it accomplishes as much also in man as is by Nature conceded to it. It preserves wounds in such a way that no accident can affect them, nor can the air or the water injure them. It also drives away all such diseases as are under its degree. This spirit further breaks up the bodies of metals so that they lose their malleability. \ In the bodies of men, too,
• Molten lead destroys ail the metaU, includtng itself, by tneaiis of the ftre, ejrcept Sol and Luna.— Ciw;frw# Paraucfiiicnt c* to.
t Since, then, the spirit of Ltioa, b able to protect from aJl injury by iire or other ocdd^its the body into wbich it enters, that is to say^ Mercury, and lo render it coMt&tent* it U easy to gather from this, if it produces such an effect in Ihecase of an inttable and voUtile body Ukc Mercury, how much more powerfully it will act when diM:ngaged from its own body and projected Into the human hody— /h'd.
i On the other hand, if ii be mixed with certain metals, even among tho4t which are perfect, it tears asunder iheir bodtes, so that they are no longer malleable, or capable of being treated in any way until they are set frc« from it. —
78 The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus.
when it is taken for a disease to which it is not suitable, it produces incon- venient results.* It is necessary, therefore, that the physician who desires to use these should be experienced, and have a good knowledge of metals. It is far better, then, to use the more perfect spirits, which may be taken without any such fear of danger. Still, since the spirits of Sol and Luna are costly, so that it is not every one who can use them for curative purposes, every one ^ must take according to his means whatever he can get and pay for.f Every
1 one is not of such wealth that he can prepare these medicines, so each is com-
I pelled to do what he can. Every one will easily be able to gather from what
has been said that metallic medicines far exceed vegetable and animal products in their strength and power of healing. So far we have said enough, and more than enough, concerning the spirit of Venus. \