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itself. If the seed of the diamond were not in the marble, granite, and sand, a diamond
could not be grown therefrom. But as the seed is within all these things, a diamond may
be grown out of any other substance in the universe. In some substances, however, it is
easier to perform this miracle because in them these germs have already been long
fertilized and are thus more nearly prepared for the vivifying process of the art. Likewise,
to teach some men wisdom is easier than to teach others, for some already have a
foundation upon which to work, while in others the thinking faculties are entirely
dormant. Alchemy, therefore, should be regarded as the art of increasing and bringing
into perfect flower with the greatest possible expedition. Nature may accomplish her
desired end or, because of the destructiveness exercised by one element over another, she
may not; but with the aid of the true art, Nature always accomplishes her end, for this art
is not subject either to the wastings of time or to the vandalism of elemental reactions.

In his History of Chemistry, James Campbell Brown, late professor of chemistry in the
University of Liverpool, sums up the ends which alchemists sought to achieve, in the
following paragraphs:

"This, therefore, was the general aim of the alchemists--to carry out in the laboratory, as
far as possible, the processes which Nature carried out in the interior of the earth. Seven
leading problems occupied their attention:--

"1. The preparation of a compound named elixir, magisterium medicine, or philosopher's
stone, which possessed the property of transmuting the baser metals into gold and silver,
and of performing many other marvelous operations. * * *

p. 155

"2. The creation of homunculi, or living. beings, of which many wonderful but incredible
tales are told.

"3. The preparation of the alcahest or universal solvent, which dissolved every substance
which was immersed in it. * * *

"4. Palingenesis, or the restoration of a plant from its ashes. Had they succeeded in this,
they would have hoped to be able to raise the dead. [Professor Brown takes a great deal
for granted.]

"5. The preparation of spiritus mundi, a mystic substance possessing many powers, the
principal of which was its capacity of dissolving gold.

"6. The extraction of the quintessence or active principle of all substances.

"7. The preparation of aurum potabile, liquid gold, a sovereign remedy, because gold
being itself perfect could produce perfection in the human frame."

ALCHEMICAL SYMBOLISM