Lloyd - Elixir & Flavoring Extracts Formulae - Soil and Health Library

, "the making of the kimiya," and
, " the making of the iksÎr,,"both meaning
the same thing.
In later, technical language, "Elixir" was used to denote
various preparations more or less alchemistic. It was, for instance,
synonymous with " Liquid Tincture," the first step in the preparation
of the philosopher’s stone; and there was a white and a red elixir
distinguished. Or, it designated any compound preparation of
supposed " sublime " properties, reputed to prolong life and to ward off
disease. Sincerely yours, CHARLES RICE.
By referring to the letter of Dr. Rice it will be seen that at an
early period the term elixir designated "the magical transformation
powder so much sought after, a pinch of which would convert a whole
mass of base metal into gold." Afterward the word was used " to
denote various preparations more or less alchemistic," and it is to be
presumed that curious or potent liquids were gradually introduced and
included among powders. Finally, the word elixir was applied only to
liquids, but these, like the original magical powder, were supposed to
possess the power of transmuting base metals into noble metals.
Dr. Rice states that particular emphasis was once placed on a
white and a red elixir. From a curious little work in our possession,
bearing date 1682, we present, for the reader’s inspection, a facsimile of
the processes recommended for making these preparations; and that
the quaint formulæ may be rendered more intelligible, we give a
facsimile of a table which explains the characters employed in the book,
as follows:
An Explication of Characters used in this Book."
1This name was applied to Tin when the book was written
2This name was applied to Copper when the book was written.