CHAPTER XIX.

Concerning Quicksilver.
Having dealt with salts and sulphurs, we come to Quicksilver. This cannot be properly termed a metal, but rather a metallic water; but it is called a metaj for this reason, because, by means of Alchemy » it is brought to a solid substance and into a metallic colour, sometimes being fixed and some- times not fixed. It can only be known as the chief material of Alchemists, who are able from it to make gold, silver, copper, etc., which will stand the test. So, too, perhaps tin, lead, and even iron. It is of a wonderful naturet inscrutable save after great labour. In a word, it shews itself to be the first material of Alchemists in metallic degrees, and the chief arcanum in medicine. It is a water which wets nothing it touches, an animal without feet, and the heaviest of all metals. It consists of Sulphur, Salt, and Mercur>% The first and last matter it discloses in liquefactions of the metals, especially those which liquefy by heat without fire, and in others by flux.