BOOK FIVE

...not hard or stubborn to break, but easily crushed, shattering into the smallest particles and having long rays This likely refers to the needle-like crystalline structure of stibnite, the primary ore of antimony. The female [antimony], however, is hard and stubborn to break. Now, concerning the fusion and the Glass of Antimony original: "vitro Antimonii," a transparent, reddish-orange substance produced by roasting and melting antimony ore, used as a powerful emetic.

The melting of Antimony.

Some take 1 part of the female and 2 parts of the male Alchemists often categorized minerals as "male" or "female" based on their perceived potency or physical characteristics, such as luster and brittleness antimony, calcined as described above; they crush them together and afterwards place them in a thick, strong crucible a ceramic or metal container used for melting substances at very high temperatures over a very strong fire until they liquefy, and no trace of the dark, cloudy vapor from the crude antimony remains. Finally, after the aforementioned calcination the process of heating a substance to high temperatures in air to achieve decomposition or oxidation, it is poured drop by drop onto a stone. Take Antimony and place it in a crucible until it dissolves by itself, though not with too much heat; pour out that which is dissolved each time, and then it will have a very clear red color. However, it must be dissolved little by little with a small fire, otherwise it would take on a dark, blackish-red color.

Others calcine the Antimony, as above, until it is the color of ash; then they place it in a small crucible among coals so that it is well covered. It is liquefied for half an hour, or three-quarters of an hour, blowing occasionally with bellows; finally, they pour it out onto a tile.

Others place the antimony, calcined as above, into a crucible and into a fire that is not too strong until it liquefies by itself, and they immediately pour out that which is melted. Then they put the crucible back into the fire again, and that which liquefies, they immediately pour out as before; they proceed in this way until all the Antimony is liquefied and successively poured out. In this way, it will be the reddest of all. For if the whole mass were liquefied at once with a strong fire, and afterwards the whole poured out, then its redness would be too dark and would decline entirely toward blackness. Its use in medicine: Some dissolve its finest powder in wine for one night and give this liquor to the sick.

Theophrastus Referring to Paracelsus (Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, 1493–1541), the father of iatrochemistry makes his Antimony beautiful and red beyond all others: He himself calcines it like the others, always stirring it without melting it at all, until it turns white; then he places it in a crucible and dissolves it by itself with a fire that is not too hot, and that which is dissolved, he pours out carefully each time, and