03-25-2025, 01:30 PM
"The follies of science at the court of Rudolph II: 1576-1612"
Henry Carrington Bolton (1843–1903) was an American chemist and bibliographer of science.
"Alchemy, after astrology, probably contributed more directly than any other of the six follies of science towards the advancement of the genuine science associated with it. The zealous searchers for the secrets of transmutation, stimulated by golden hopes, laboring with an industry and perseverance in difficulties worthy of imitation, acquired great skill in manipulation, becoming familiar with solution, crystallization, and sublimation, as a means of purifying solids, with distillation of liquids, and particularly with all operations involving the management of fire. By mixing all known chemicals in divers ways and treating these mixtures in every conceivable manner, though intelligent system was lacking, alchemists obtained hundreds of substances, many of which became indispensable agents in medicine, pharmacy, manufactures and household economy."
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https://dfg-viewer.de/show/?set%5Bmets%5...%3D1720816
or
https://archive.org/details/folliesscien...6/mode/2up
Henry Carrington Bolton (1843–1903) was an American chemist and bibliographer of science.
"Alchemy, after astrology, probably contributed more directly than any other of the six follies of science towards the advancement of the genuine science associated with it. The zealous searchers for the secrets of transmutation, stimulated by golden hopes, laboring with an industry and perseverance in difficulties worthy of imitation, acquired great skill in manipulation, becoming familiar with solution, crystallization, and sublimation, as a means of purifying solids, with distillation of liquids, and particularly with all operations involving the management of fire. By mixing all known chemicals in divers ways and treating these mixtures in every conceivable manner, though intelligent system was lacking, alchemists obtained hundreds of substances, many of which became indispensable agents in medicine, pharmacy, manufactures and household economy."
Free download:
https://dfg-viewer.de/show/?set%5Bmets%5...%3D1720816
or
https://archive.org/details/folliesscien...6/mode/2up