PREFACE

TO THE

READER.

Ornamental woodcut initial 'Q' with floral motifs and foliage.

In what manner, kind Reader, vegetables—such as wine and beer—might be condensed and reduced into a smaller compass by the benefit of concentration (if I may call it so), so that they may affect mortals with greater benefit than has hitherto been the case, and how any wood whatsoever may be changed into Salpeter saltpeter/potassium nitrate, I taught in the first part of this booklet. In this second part, I shall now show the reason and the way by which minerals, likewise condensed and concentrated by the use of saltpeter and worked into metallic masses, may bring greater utility to men than has been known until now. Regarding this condensation and concentration, it is thus: since no small part of minerals is not applied to necessary and proper uses, and partly, as useless and unknown, is even entirely neglected, it lies cast aside without any fruit or profit. Yet, it would produce the greatest benefit for any region, if it did not suffer from a lack of men who understood such an excellent and necessary art. It was my intention to reveal this to our common Fatherland, doubting not that skillful minds will present themselves, who, by accurate meditation, will apply their hands to the work