FIFTH PART.

whether it be good or evil, revealing the fruits of time and Nature.

I have a few things to mention concerning those things which I have decided to demonstrate and show in my laboratory this summer for the honor of God and the benefit of the Fatherland.

I therefore wish every man to be kindly asked to omit any immature prejudice regarding my undertaken work and to wait patiently until the appointed time has passed; once it has passed, the matter itself, God willing, will speak and will protect itself by its own defense.

So that somewhat more light may shine upon the benevolent reader, and so that he himself may see upon what foundations my undertaken work rests, I have deemed it absolutely necessary to put before his eyes in a few words what Alchemy the transmutation of metals itself is, and whether it has any foundation in Nature and art. For if anyone endowed with intelligence imposes a name upon some herb, animal, or man, he surely does not do it rashly or without reason, but has it well examined and understood for what reason he marks a thing with this or that name; this is done primarily so that from such names the nature and properties of an herb, animal, or some man may be known. The matter will become clearer through examples.

Why did the ancient Physicians and Philosophers call the herb Perforated original: "Perforata", i.e., Hypericum or St. John's Wort by this very name? Because