1722 - Starkey's Chymie: Medicine, Mysticism, and the Universal Solvent
Delve into the cryptic world of 17th-century iatrochemistry with D. Georg Starkey's "Chymie," a treatise that serves as both an explanation and defense of the radical theories of Jan Baptist van Helmont. Starkey, an alchemist of considerable renown, offers readers a glimpse into the arcane processes of spagyric medicine, promising a "short and secure path to a long and healthy life." This is not merely a medical text; it is a portal to a time when chemistry and alchemy were inextricably intertwined, when the pursuit of physical health was seen as a parallel quest for spiritual enlightenment.
Central to Starkey's work is his exposition of the "Liquor Alcahest," the universal solvent sought by alchemists for its purported ability to transmute matter and unlock the secrets of longevity. This elusive substance, shrouded in mystery, represents the pinnacle of alchemical aspiration, a key to unlocking the hidden forces of nature. Starkey's detailed descriptions of medicinal preparations and alchemical processes offer a fascinating window into the practical applications of these esoteric arts. This work is invaluable to those who study early chemistry, or alchemical medicine, and is a strong historical example of period alchemical thought.
1722. D. Georg Starkey. Chymie, Oder: Erklärung der Natur und Vertheidigung Helmonts als Ein kurtzer und sicherer Weg zu einem langen und gesunden Leben. Nebst der Bereitung der wahren Artzneyen, und derselben Gebrauch. Samt einer Beschreibung des Liquor Alcahests. Allen denen, welchen ihre Gesundheit lieb ist, sehr dienlich. 12°. nn, 458 pages. Surgical parchment binding. Title loose, text browning, clean and well preserved. Language: German.
Delve into the cryptic world of 17th-century iatrochemistry with D. Georg Starkey's "Chymie," a treatise that serves as both an explanation and defense of the radical theories of Jan Baptist van Helmont. Starkey, an alchemist of considerable renown, offers readers a glimpse into the arcane processes of spagyric medicine, promising a "short and secure path to a long and healthy life." This is not merely a medical text; it is a portal to a time when chemistry and alchemy were inextricably intertwined, when the pursuit of physical health was seen as a parallel quest for spiritual enlightenment.
Central to Starkey's work is his exposition of the "Liquor Alcahest," the universal solvent sought by alchemists for its purported ability to transmute matter and unlock the secrets of longevity. This elusive substance, shrouded in mystery, represents the pinnacle of alchemical aspiration, a key to unlocking the hidden forces of nature. Starkey's detailed descriptions of medicinal preparations and alchemical processes offer a fascinating window into the practical applications of these esoteric arts. This work is invaluable to those who study early chemistry, or alchemical medicine, and is a strong historical example of period alchemical thought.
1722. D. Georg Starkey. Chymie, Oder: Erklärung der Natur und Vertheidigung Helmonts als Ein kurtzer und sicherer Weg zu einem langen und gesunden Leben. Nebst der Bereitung der wahren Artzneyen, und derselben Gebrauch. Samt einer Beschreibung des Liquor Alcahests. Allen denen, welchen ihre Gesundheit lieb ist, sehr dienlich. 12°. nn, 458 pages. Surgical parchment binding. Title loose, text browning, clean and well preserved. Language: German.
Delve into the cryptic world of 17th-century iatrochemistry with D. Georg Starkey's "Chymie," a treatise that serves as both an explanation and defense of the radical theories of Jan Baptist van Helmont. Starkey, an alchemist of considerable renown, offers readers a glimpse into the arcane processes of spagyric medicine, promising a "short and secure path to a long and healthy life." This is not merely a medical text; it is a portal to a time when chemistry and alchemy were inextricably intertwined, when the pursuit of physical health was seen as a parallel quest for spiritual enlightenment.
Central to Starkey's work is his exposition of the "Liquor Alcahest," the universal solvent sought by alchemists for its purported ability to transmute matter and unlock the secrets of longevity. This elusive substance, shrouded in mystery, represents the pinnacle of alchemical aspiration, a key to unlocking the hidden forces of nature. Starkey's detailed descriptions of medicinal preparations and alchemical processes offer a fascinating window into the practical applications of these esoteric arts. This work is invaluable to those who study early chemistry, or alchemical medicine, and is a strong historical example of period alchemical thought.
1722. D. Georg Starkey. Chymie, Oder: Erklärung der Natur und Vertheidigung Helmonts als Ein kurtzer und sicherer Weg zu einem langen und gesunden Leben. Nebst der Bereitung der wahren Artzneyen, und derselben Gebrauch. Samt einer Beschreibung des Liquor Alcahests. Allen denen, welchen ihre Gesundheit lieb ist, sehr dienlich. 12°. nn, 458 pages. Surgical parchment binding. Title loose, text browning, clean and well preserved. Language: German.