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Tractamentum

Treatise

It is the opinion of all rational physicians that magnificent medicines can be prepared from gold in a chemical and spagyric manner, which then demonstrate their effects oculariter visually/to the eyes. Although these do not proceed from the source of the universal medicine and the metallic bodies are, as some say, in ventriculo immutabilia ac indigestibilia immutable and indigestible in the stomach, nevertheless this corpus solidissimum most solid body, nullae corruptioni elementali obnoxium subject to no elemental corruption, and according to the opinion of Cardanus in his book De Subtilitate, is an arcana res & perfectissima occult and most perfect thing, composed of an equal temperament and wonderful proportion of elemental powers. By a clever method appropriate to nature, it is thus led de potentia in actum from potential into act, so that without doubt, it becomes entirely participant in our nature through its medicinal virtues, by analogy of temperament and a certain occult magnetic power. Can the rooster or the hen digest, consume, and transform gold leaves into their nutriment during the warm digestion of their stomach? Why should our stomachs, which have no lesser digestive heat, not be able to digest such a spiritual medicine of gold or other metals? This is to be proven with prepared iron in jaundice, cachexia, and obstructions of the viscera; lapis lazuli in melancholia, mania, and epilepsy (as a purgative prevailing over all others); the magnet in hysterical conditions; and crystal in nephritic conditions; not to mention other magnificent arcana prepared from minerals.

Those who unreasonably claim that all created things that do not have a growing, breathing power are deprived of life, and therefore do not perform effects in medicine—speaking this not only of gold, silver, and other metals, but also of precious stones, pearls, corals, jet, and all things dug from the earth, through which the highly useful use of mineral waters and baths might also be abolished—my little treatise will be of no use to them, for my opportunity is not...