Essais chimiques d’eckartshausen

Observations on the above

Gold is, in the mineral realm, like the sun. Just as the sun leads everything to perfection, so the perfecting of metal is given to gold.

Gold must be dissolved in its water , hylic.

Metals have luster, ductility, density.

These are properties; you have to find out where they come from. As soon as a metal is digested with phosphorus, it first loses its density.

The cause of density must therefore necessarily be found in the close union of phosphorus with the base of the metal, that is, the more phosphorus a body contains, the denser it is. The rarer phosphorus in a body, the lighter the body.

We must consider phosphorus as a matter of heat and light united.

When the luminous matter is condensed in the periphery and the caloric matter inside expands, a body becomes light.

If the luminous matter condenses, it changes into carbonic substance, the fire matter expands and the body appears as dense.

If we decompose the metals with aqua regia, they lose, it is true, their metallic aspect, but they gain in density The acid acts on the causal principle of the brightness, condenses the luminous matter in the form of coal ; coal apprehends the igneous principle of metal and rejects the luminous principle; thus the metal is recomposed.

The more a metal loses of the igneous principle, the more it loses in weight. The more it loses in principle luminous, the more it loses in brightness. The more it loses in caloric matter, the more it loses in ductility.

20. 
    Vulgar Mercury, well purified, philosophical phosphorus. The oil thus obtained is precious, because, once again mixed with its phosphorus and digested, it is one of the paths which lead to the sulfur of the philosophers, according to the processes of the wet way.
    

The caloric matter thus gives the metal ductility; igneous matter, gravity; the luminous material, the radiance. The question is: In what form are light, heat and igneous matter maintained in the metal?

Remark

As soon as a metal is digested, by immersing it in sulfur-phosphorus, it changes into a resinous-appearing body: the igneous substance is removed from it and, consequently, its property: gravity. The lightness is inherent in the caloric material, it is then presented as metallic resin.

As caloric matter is the general instrument for the dissolution of all things, one might call this pitch the universal dissolving agent of metals.

This pitch is the real Mineral Gluten (Elektrum-cement).

One may wonder what connects this cement to metal. We answer: The luminous matter with that of the fire, because the luminous and igneous matter unites everywhere with the caloric matter.

Another question then arises: In what form does luminous matter appear in metal? We answer: In the form of its terra virginea or enclosing substance; while the igneous matter is presented in the form of sulfur-phosphorus or, also, in that of a metallic carbon.

Metallic matter, if it is dilated, gives luminous matter; if it is concentrated, the igneous matter.

We can, therefore, obtain from our pitch the terram virgineam and, at the same time, the metallic charcoal.

He who reflects must and can be directed to particular things, but for this work and research are necessary.