Experiment X.
Then I added to this fix’d Powder (IX.) some Borax in a Crucible, and increased the Fire by blowing. It became one Mass, brittle, growing like Glass, and fix’d in this great Fire.
About This Book
The essay presents experimental observations and theoretical reflections on mercury's role in the generation and transformation of metals, outlining alchemical claims that metals develop within mineral matrices and are nurtured by a metallic seed. It explores the idea that a common mercurial substance together with a sulphureous principle yields distinct metals, considers the difficulty of purifying mercury from adhering impurities, and offers practical laboratory guidance such as enclosing reacting matter in glass vessels and applying gentle, sustained heat. It also discusses why alchemical writings appear obscure and emphasizes empirical work and careful purification as the basis for their assertions.