Revista CENIC. Ciencias Químicas ISSN: 1015-8553 [email protected] Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Cuba

Wisniak, Jaime Nicolas Lémery Revista CENIC. Ciencias Químicas, vol. 36, núm. 2, 2005, pp. 123-130 Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas La Habana, Cuba

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RESEÑA BIOGRAFICA

Nicolas Lémery

Jaime Wisniak.

Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel 84105. [email protected]

Recibido: 5 de septiembre de 2003. Aceptado: 2 de enero de 2004.

Palabras clave: Nicolas Lémery, enseñanza de la Química, Química, drogas, farmacopea, sales. Key words: Nicolas Lémery, chemical teaching, Chemistry, drugs, pharmacopeia, salts.

RESUMEN. A Nicolas Lémery (1645-1715), uno de los químicos Franceses lí- (1657-1757):2 “Il s’adressa à Glaser, deres de la segunda mitad del siglo diecisiete, se le considera haber escrito alors démonstrateur de chymie au poco, pero haber enseñado mucho y muy bien a estudiantes muy calificados y Jardin du Roi, et se mit en pension haber popularizado la enseñanza de la química en Francia y Europa. Lémery chez lui pour être à une bonne source sacó la enseñanza Francesa de la Química fuera de la tradición Parcelsiana d’’expériences et d’analyses. Mais il hacia la filosofía Cartesiana atomística natural. Aun cuando Lémery no desa- se trouve malheuresement que rrolló ninguna teoría rigurosa de la materia, explicó las reacciones químicas Glaser étoit un vrai chymiste, plein en términos de forma y movimiento de partículas, tal como lo hizo Jean- d’ idées oscures, avare de ces idées- Baptiste Sénac. la-mêmes, et très-peu sociable. Lémery le quitta donc au bout de ABSTRACT. Nicolas L‚mery (1645-1715), a leading French chemist of the sec- ond half of the seventeenth century, is considered to have written little but deux moins ” (Lémery became a taught much and very well to highly qualified students, and of having boarding apprentice with Glaser, popularised Chemistry in France and Europe. Lémery brought French chemi- then demonstrator in chemistry at cal teaching out of the Paracelsian tradition into the Cartesian and atomistic the Jardin du Roi, to be near a good natural philosophy. Although Lémery did not develop any rigorous theories source of experiment and analysis. of matter he explained chemical reactions in terms of particle shape and move- Unfortunately he found him to be a ment, the same as Jean-Baptiste Sénac did. real chemist, full of obscure ideas,

LIFE AND CAREER Nicolas Lémery (Fig. 1) was born at Rouen, France, on November 17, 1645, the fifth of seven children born to Julien Lémery, Procurator to the Parliament of Normandy, and his second wife, Susan Duchemin. When Nicolas was eleven years old, his father died, leaving a widow and four surviving children. Little is known about the initial education of Lémery but it is very possible that for his being the son of a Protestant that he began his studies at the Protestant school of Queville, in the banlieu of Rouen, his natal town.1 Shortly before his fifteenth birthday he was inden- tured as an apprentice apothecary to his uncle Pierre Duchemin in Rouen. In 1666, after serving six years with his uncle, Lémery moved to Paris, where he became a board- ing apprentice with Christopher Glaser (1628-1670). According to Fig. 1. Nicolas Lémery (1645-1715). By permission of Edgar Fahs Smith Collection, Bernard le Bouvier de Fontenelle University of Pennsylvania Library. 123 Revista CENIC Ciencias Químicas, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2005.

covetous of these ideas, and unso- fice of the apothecary to the King prodigious sale of them in Paris and ciable and left him after about two and grand prévôt of France, and in the provinces; the sale of magis- months). In addition to being dem- thus circumventing the legal ob- tere du bismuth (magistery of bis- onstrator Glaser was the apothecary stacles in the path of a Protestant muth, Spanish white, bismuth in ordinary to both King Louis XIV seeking admission to the guild of oxynitrate), of which only he had a and his brother, the Duke of Orleans, apothecaries of Paris. During the successful recipe, alone, sufficed for and had also published a very suc- next seven years he established a all the expenses of his household. cessful chemical textbook, Traité de highly successful pharmaceutical Magistery of bismuth, not a remedy la Chymie.3 Most importantly Glaser, business in the rue Galande, where but a cosmetic, was prepared by dis- like Lémery, was a Protestant, and he lodged, specializing in patent solving bismuth in nitric acid and could offer Lémery legal protection medicines. Fontanelle (1715) de- precipitating out bismuth nitrate from the Catholic-dominated apoth- scribed Lémery’s laboratory in the with salt water. It was also consid- ecaries guild of Paris.4,5 following terms: “ less a room ered by some to be a remedy for After quitting Glaser resolved to than a cellar, an almost a magic cav- chronic diarrhoea and cholera.2 travel through France, to see those ern, illuminated only by the light of For most of the second half of skilled in the art, one by one, and to the furnaces; yet the influx of the sixteenth century France had compose science for himself from people was so great that there was been raged by bloody religious con- the diverse information that he scarcely enough room for his opera- flicts between Huguenots (Protes- would draw from his trip.. Few de- tions. Even women, carried along tants) and Catholics. After Henry IV tails survive of this period in his life. by fashion, had the audacity to (1553-1610) ascended to the throne Lémery traveled for six years; he is show themselves at such learned he decided to put an end to this known to have visited Lyon and assemblies”. In addition, he gained fight and in 1598 he issued the so- Geneva and to spend a considerable a considerable reputation as a called Edict of Nantes, in which part of the time between 1668 and teacher of chemistry by his private Catholicism was declared the estab- 1671 in Montpellier, where he re- courses, which not only catered to lished religion of France but gave sided with the young Protestant the professional needs of pharmacy the Huguenots freedom to practice master apothecary Henry Verchant, apprentices, but also attracted a their religion, the right to work in where he had the convenience of large audience from fashionable any field or for the State, and to working and, what was more impor- Parisian society interested in semi- bring their grievances directly to tant, the advantage of giving lessons popular scientific expositions.5 The the King. The Edict did not solve to a number of his host’s students. most famous named heard his the religious problem but brought He did not fail to profit much from course in chemistry: François some tranquility to the country. his own lessons and soon drew all Bernier (1620-1688), Adrien Auzout By 1680 mounting religious in- the professors of the faculty of medi- (1622-1691, astronomer), Régis tolerance placed Lémery’s legal cine and the curious of Montpellier, (physicist), Jacques Rouhalt (ex- rights as a practicing apothecary in for he already had novelties to offer perimental physicist), and Joseph jeopardy. Louis XIV, under the in- the most adept. In the summer of Pitton de Tournefort (1656-1708, fluence of a radical Catholic contin- 1670 he was registered as a student botanist).2 Lémery’s initiative of gent at court gradually began to of Pharmacy in Montpellier was per- giving private lectures was not a limit the professional liberties of mitted to attend the courses on novelty. From the beginning of the Protestants and purge Protestant “simples” and anatomy given at the seventeenth century on it had be- members of his household. In 1681 Faculty of Medicine for such stu- come very common for scientists to Lémery lost his position as apoth- dents.2 give private courses open to a fee- ecary to the King, being replaced by In 1672 he returned to Paris and paying audience composed of inter- Denis Machereau. Unworried he worked in the laboratory of Bernar- ested students and general public. continued to manage his apoth- din Martin, the apothecary to Louis, What made Lémery’s course so re- ecary commerce and to give chemi- the Prince of Condé and a Catholic markable was his way of teaching cal instruction until April 1683, convert who still had Protestant and the extraordinary successful when the Court ordered Nicolas sympathies. Through his connec- notes he prepared for them,6 which Gabriel de Le Reynie (1605-1729), tion with Martin he was able to at- remained a bestseller during most the Parisian lieutenant general de tend scientific salons at the homes of the eighteenth century, even af- police, to close down Lémery’s shop. of various private persons, such as ter his death. According to Fontane- Friedrich Wilhelm, the Elector of the Abbé Bourdelot, physician to the lle (1715), the book sold like a work Brandenburg seized this occasion prince, and the jurist Henri Justel of romance or satire. Lémery to propose, through Ezechiel Span- (1620-1693), secretary of King Louis brought French chemical teaching heim (1629-1710), his envoy to XIV (1638-1715). In this manner he out of the Paracelsian tradition into France, that Lémery come to Ber- associated with members of the the Cartesian and atomistic natu- lin where the Elector would create household of the prince and was in- ral philosophy; he did not develop for him a commission as chemist. troduced to the main intellectual any rigorous theories of matter but Lémery rejected this offer. circles of Paris. The association with explained chemical reactions in In 1683, in an attempt for a new Martin allowed him not only to terms of particle shape and move- kind of patronage, Lémery sent a profit from the laboratory that his ment, the same as Jean-Baptiste copy of the 1681 edition of his Cours friend had at the mansion of Condé, Sénac (1693-1779) did (see Salts, de Chymie to Robert Boyle (1627- but also to give courses in chemis- below). 1691), and then traveled to England try.2 His reputation as an apothecary alone, perhaps expecting to secure By 1674 Lémery had saved had also a considerable utility, as a position with King Charles II enough money to secure his profes- the preparations coming from his (1630-1685). He left his family in sional status by purchasing the of- hands were in vogue. He made a France and after much disappoint- 124 Revista CENIC Ciencias Químicas, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2005. ment returned home after one-year Claude Bourdelin (1621-1699) as of minute particles (corpuscles abroad.2 He now moved to Caen chimiste pensionnaire. His subse- ignées) about their common center. where in 1684 he took a medical quent scientific work was associ- Decartes held that flame was di- degree (1684) at the local university ated almost exclusively with the rected upward because it contains in order to establish his profes- Academy. By the time Lémery a large amount of material coelestis, sional status following the loss of joined the Académie des Sciences he lighter than air. In Metzger’s ac- his position as privileged apoth- was possibly the most famous and count Lémery became the primary ecary. Lémery continued his teach- influential chemist in Paris, and figure in this profound revolution ing in increasing difficult circum- according to Fontenelle,2 the Secre- through his replacement of Paracel- stances until 1685 when Louis XIV tary of the Academy, Lémery’s repu- sian analogies, similitudes, and revoked the Edict of Nantes and is- tation alone urged and obtained for sympathies with the mechanical sued the Edict of Fointanebleau de- him the place of associate chemist. and, thus, conceptually superior claring Protestantism illegal. The At the Academy, from which he Cartesian philosophy. 5 new Edict meant that Protestants received a salary, Lémery under- Lémery did not discover new lost their professional and legal took two projects: one culminated facts or added new theories; he just rights, for example, being forbidden in a memoir published in 1700 in presented the contemporary ideas to practice medicine. In spite of this which he hypothesized that sulfu- in a wonderful manner and made set back, Lémery did not give up an rous substances were the chemical them attractive to a large public. His continued to give courses in chem- causes of earthquakes, thunders, primary service to science was that istry under powerful protection, one and volcanoes;9 the other was an of a teacher and textbook writer. course for the two young brothers immense survey of the chemistry of Lémery not only taught practical of Jean Baptiste Colbert, Marquis of the mineral known as antimony chemistry, he also taught a more Seignelay (1619-1683), Secretary of (stibnite), in search for useful me- palatable theory when compared to State, and another for Lord Salis- dicaments. He presented it to the alchemical or iatrochemical theo- bury, who did not believe it possible Academy in installments from 1700 ries, but which was not much more to obtain the same instruction in to 1707 and culminated in the book solidly grounded and which seems England. Only after he and his fam- Traité de l’Antimoine containing a now an isolated incident in the his- ily converted to Catholicism was he description of all the changes to tory of chemistry.2 allowed to reopen his laboratory and which the mineral was subject by Lémery had several attacks of shop in Paris (1686) and to resume dissolutions, sublimations or modi- apoplexy followed by paralysis of the practice of medicine. Le Reynie, fying its virtues. Lémery wrote in one side; this did not prevent his the faculty of medicine, and the the introduction to the book “When going out. He always attended the master and warden apothecaries I resolved to study antimony thor- Academy for which he had con- opposed his request to practice oughly in all its aspects. I believed ceived a strong attraction. He fi- apothecary again.2 Lémery was for- it proper to begin with some reflec- nally had to renounce assemblies bidden to take apprentices, follow- tions on the nature of this com- and remain at home. He gave up his ing opposition from the Paris guild pound and the places where it oc- place as pensionner, which was of apothecaries on the ground that curs; on the names which were ap- given to the elder of his two sons. he had forfeited his right as an plied to it, and their diversity; on He was stricken by a last attack of apothecary by qualifying as a phy- how to select it; and on its medici- apoplexy, which lasted six or seven sician. nal virtues”.10 days and died on June 19, 1715.2 After 1686 he began to rebuild In 1676 Lémery married Made- Johann Gottlob Spitzley (1690- his career, and his chemical writ- laine Bellanger; they had six chil- 1750), a German pharmacist who ings eventually made a profound dren, of whom two of the sons fol- had moved to Paris, took over the impact on the French scientific lowed their father’s interest in laboratory of Lémery. community. During the six years chemistry, and both became mem- before his shop was closed in Paris, bers of the Academy. The elder, SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL Lémery made significant additions Louis Lémery (1677-1743), suc- ACTIVITIES to the second (1677), third (1679) and ceeded his father as chimiste As mentioned above, Lémery fourth (1681) editions to the Cours penssionaire in 1715. A younger son, did not contribute significantly to de Chymie, which became the most Jacques Lémery (1678-1815) was an the experimental and theoretical popular chemical textbook in associate of the Academy from 1715, advance of chemistry, his funda- France, passing through thirty edi- publishing several memoirs on mental apportation was to the tions by 1757, and being translated phosphorus before his early death.4 teaching and diffusion of this sci- from French into Latin, German, Lémery was extremely influen- ence, particular through his books Dutch, Spanish, Italian, and En- tial in changing the French ap- and courses. The content of his glish. The English translation was proach to chemistry and its distanc- books is important because it re- done by Walter Harris (1647-1732), ing from alchemy. He spent his life flects the chemical ideas that were ordinary physician for Charles II.5 first teaching the newer chemistry current at his time, and also his own Lémery devoted the next twelve by simple experiments in his own interpretation of different phenom- years largely to pharmacy, publish- room, and later to larger classes ena. ing at the end of this period his under the auspices of the Academy. Pharmacopée Universelle7 and the Lémery was greatly influenced by Books Traité des Drogues Simples.8 Decartes’s idea of matter as made Lémery’s teaching and textbook In 1699 he was admitted to the up of particles in motion, and fire in chemistry, Cours de Chymie, reorganized Académie des Sciences as resulting from terrestrial par- owed their success to clear and en- as associate chemist, and in Novem- ticles agitated by the “materia tertaining presentation of chemis- ber of the same year he succeeded coelestis”, i.e., fire is violent motion try in corpuscular mechanist terms. 125 Revista CENIC Ciencias Químicas, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2005.

The strong influence of his friends operations of chemistry, to make on chemistry and pharmacy in the Pierre-Sylvain Régis (1632-1707) them easy to understand and to ex- term Glaser’s salt (impure potas- and François Bernier’s (1620-1688, ecute.1 sium sulfate), which he first pre- staunch partisans of Cartesian and In the preface to his book pared by the heating of a fused mix- Pierre Gassendi’s (1592-1655), natu- Lémery wrote that his intention was ture of niter and sulfur, and in the ral philosophy, led Lémery to drop to describe each operation first as a name of the mineral glaserite, natu- the prevalent chemical French view- simple recipe and only afterwards ral occurring crystalline potassium points of Paracelsus (1493-1541) and present a mechanical explanation sulfate. In practice it was he the one Johannes Baptiste van Helmont for it. Early editions of Lémery’s that first wrote a simple textbook of (1579-1644) and replace it by the text described chemical operations laboratory preparations in chemis- Cartesian one. Nevertheless, his and pharmaceutical recipes identi- try, the first book in chemistry in presentation of chemistry remain- cal to the ones found in Glaser’s which substances are discussed ing closely tied up to the pharma- text. Lémery also employed the from the perspective of their source ceutical goals of the teaching tradi- same iatrochemical terms to ex- and chemical relationship as min- tion established at the Jardin du plain chemical operations, but he eral, vegetable, and animal sub- Roi, and in practical content and insisted that all the entities he uti- stances, a practice that would be organization his text follows very lized in his explanations were ma- followed by many other famous closely the world of his predeces- terial. Whereas Paracelsian iatro- chemistry teachers as Rouelle. In sors Nicolas Le Fèvre (1620-1674) chemists described chemistry as practice, by a twist of history this and Glaser. spagyria, the purification and ma- credit has been universally ac- Cours de Chymie, while treating nipulation essences, Lémery de- corded to Lémery. As claimed by de theory in a minor manner, did offer fined chemistry as the “art of sepa- Milt, a quick comparison of Glaser’s an explanation of chemical activity. rating different substances that are recipes with those reported by It defined chemistry as “that art encountered in the mixt.” The term Lémery in the early versions of his which teaches the separation of dif- mixt described the compound state book, will show their strong similar- ferent substance encountered in a of naturally occurring bodies. He ity, with Lémery even using the mixture,” a definition that seems held that mixts were composed of same phrases in describing the op- less satisfactory than those of some five chemical principles: spirit, oil, erations and commenting on the of Lémery’s predecessors. Its “sen- water, salt (see below) and earth. “We product. sible principles,“ which he does not mean by the principles of chemis- The ancient physicians, begin- regard as elementary, he found by try only those substances separated ning with Hippocrates (460-377 analysis to be mercury or spirit, salt, and divided as far as we are capable BCE), were physicians, apothecar- phlegm, and earth. These modest by our own efforts; and since chem- ies, and surgeons. But subsequently and, for the time, sensible observa- istry is a demonstrative science, it medicine had been divided into tions are not, however, the basis of only received as its foundation that three parts. Lémery, however, his explanations of chemical activ- which is palpable and demonstra- united all three for he was also a ity. That role is played by his doc- tive. It is as a matter of fact a great surgeon, and in his youth he had trine of figured particles, which de- advantage to have principles so sen- conducted surgical operations, in rived both from contemporary at- sible and of which one may be rea- which he had succeeded very well, omism and from René Descartes sonable assured”.5 especially in bleeding. Because of (1596-1650). The first editions of his book his great knowledge of pharmacy The book contains the following followed very closely that of Glaser’s and the actual practice of that art, parts: Introduction treating the but in a more verbose manner. he was the double of an ordinary principles of chemistry, the vessels Lémery began his discussion of physician. He proved it by his two employed, the different bitumen, chemical principles with the tradi- great works Pharmacopée Univer- fires and their degrees, and terms tional “first principle” of mixt bod- selle and Traité des Drogues Simples, used. The first part deals with min- ies, the “Universal Spirit”. Accord- for which he asked a copyright for erals, metals and non metals and ing to Powers5 he did not deny the 15 years, the judges believing it too their combinations, the second part existence of the Universal Spirit but short, granted him twenty.2 These of vegetables, the third of animals, discarded the idea that it should be two books are alphabetically ar- in this part the author gives a long the basis for the understanding of ranged list of composites and description of the distillation of chemical action. Instead, he de- simples respectively, giving the snakes, and of the head and brain fended the need to establish empiri- source, doses, and therapeutic ac- of humans, urine, phosphorus, cal and material principles. Simi- tion of the various medicaments honey, wax, etcetera. At the end of larly, when he considered the and represent a comprehensive dic- the book it is found a list of the vir- chemical principle, spirit, he main- tionary of pharmaceuticals. Their tues of medicines, a list of the new tained that chemical spirits were chief rival was Pierre Pomet’s (1658- procedures added to Lémery’s essentially material liquors. By de- 1699) Histoire Générale des Drogues.12 course, and a list of the principal op- fining certain non-material entities Although in his book he di- erations described. Distillation as unintelligible and transforming vulged some chemistry secrets, he equipment corresponds to most of others into material substances, reserved some of them for himself. the plates, which contain also an Lémery erected a boundary that For example, an emetic, very gentle explanation of the chemical charac- distanced his chemistry from iatro- and more certain than the ordinary, ters of the epoch. The chemical chemical concepts that were anti- and a mesenteric opiate with which course, as conceived by Lémery, thetical to the mechanical philoso- he was said to have made surpris- does not present in practice new phy. ing cures, and which none of those facts or notions, but it exposes very According to de Milt,11 the name who worked under him had been simply and with many details all the of Glaser is perpetrated in old books able to discover.2 126 Revista CENIC Ciencias Químicas, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2005.

The Pharmacopée Universelle is frequently than his predecessors, a Preface of his work, Lémery ac- a comprehensive collection of the fact reflected in the description of knowledged this connection, but he compound remedies described in his recipes. They look like a cook- demarcated his approach to the sub- the books of pharmacy of all Euro- book, but frequently he gives an ject from that of the alchemists. He pean nations. It is so arranged that explanation of the gains and losses stated that he included some “ex- a particular country, which, either in weights. These explanations in- traordinary preparations when by the differences of climate and volve, when such are needed, the they have been clearly described,” temperament, or by ancient usages, loss in volatile parts, the retention but that he “does not wish nor is used different remedies, could find, of fire particles, and the like.2 able to undertake a great number of as in a grand pharmacopeia, the preparations recorded in enigmatic particular remedy, which best Chemistry terms in the books of the alche- suited it. Of all the medicines that When Lémery began his chemi- mists”.5 Lémery retained, of which the num- cal career during the 1660s, chem- Lémery also published in the ber is prodigious, he advises as to istry was a controversial subject Mémoires de l’Académie papers on their virtues and gives the method among the French scientific estab- the physical and chemical explana- of preparation, thus facilitating lishment. Leading French natural tions of subterranean fires, earth- preparation or curtailing useless philosophers saw the philosophy of quakes, hurricanes, thunder, and ingredients. For example, from the the chemist as a rival to their own lightning,9 which he attributed to famous theriac of Andromachus (a Cartesian mechanical philosophy the spontaneous reaction of iron universal protection against poi- and, thus, portrayed chemical meth- and sulfur, and on the analysis of sons), composed of sixty-four drugs, ods as careless and questionable. camphor,14 honey,15 cow’s urine,16,17 he omitted twelve, and that perhaps For example, Jean-Baptiste Du and experiments on corrosive mer- too few.2 Hamel (1623-1706), the secretary of curic sublimate (mercuric chlo- The Traité des Drogues Simples the Académie des Sciences, attacked ride).18 is the basis of the Pharmacopée chemical theory in his Philosophica The first edition of Cours de Universelle. The book about drugs Vetus et Nova de Usum Scholae Chymie contained nothing on the carries an explanation of the names Accomodata.10 In his discussion of phenomenon of luminescence. of the authors listed in the book, a the principles of physics, Du Hamel Lémery regarded light as “fire, bibliographic list of the authors that rejected the chemical elements on which coming tempestuously from have specialized in particular drugs, the ground that they did not occur the sun in great rays, divide them- an alphabetical list of the drugs, giv- in nature: they were products of the selves into an infinite number of ing for each the Latin and other chemist’s fire and undisciplined small rays, which cover the Uni- names, a description and their ori- imagination. All chemical phenom- verse, and turn weaker in propor- gin, two long tables of Latin and ena could be better explained in tion as they go from their Center ” French names, and a collection of 25 terms of the congregation, texture, In the year 1669 phosphorus was plates, each one with 16 drawings.1 and motion of corpuscles. Du accidentally discovered in human The treatise is an alphabetical col- Hamel claimed, “The spirit of chem- urine as “a dark, unctuous, daubing lection of all the materials, mineral, istry is more confused, more hid- mass” by Hennig Brandt, a mer- animal, and vegetable that enter den, whereas the spirit of physics, chant and alchemist of Hamburg, into the accepted medicines. Since that is, the mechanical philosophy, while searching for a liquid capable there were very few that were not is more distinct, more simple, more of transmuting silver into gold. This involved, a good part of the treatise clear.” new material appeared in the sec- is natural history. One finds there Lémery’s last major work was ond edition of Cours du Chymie the description of drugs, their vir- theTraité de l’Antimoine,11 which where Lémery defines phosphorus tues, how to choose them, and their contained the results of his investi- as “A luminous matter distilled history. As regards to foreign drugs, gation into the properties and from Urine that has been fer- Lémery furnishes all available in- preparations of mineral antimony, mented,” and gives information formation. There were many drugs was his chosen research topic on about its discovery and detailed in- in common use at that time about admission to the Academy of Sci- structions for its preparation, to- which little was known. For ex- ences in 1699. It is a thorough and gether with the following remark: ample, he points out that the com- systematic collection of prepara- “It is observed, that those who com- mon opinion that true opium is a tions of antimony arranged accord- monly drink Wine their Urine doth tear is false; also that coffee is not a ing to technique of preparation, scarce afford any phosphorus, prob- bean. very similar as those discussed in ably because the Wine being spiri- Lémery knew all the remedies his Cours de Chymie. The book con- tuous, its luminous matter doth described well but trusted only but sists of a methodical review of all very easily evaporate; for a viscous a few. He used chemicals only with the chemical operations involving substance is necessary to retain it, a great caution, although he might antimony, described in the context like that of Ale or Beer. Hence it is have been inclined in their favor. He of more than180 recipes and experi- that they succeed in this operation gave most of the analyses merely to ments. The choice of antimony for in England, Flanders, and Germany, satisfy the curiosity of physicians, such a work was in itself significant, much better than in France.” and believed that as far as medicine because in alchemical lore anti- Lémery describes various proper- was concerned, chemistry because mony was believed to be a magnet ties of phosphorus, such as its solu- if had to reduce mixtures to their for extracting philosophical mer- bility in turpentine or better in oil principles, often reduces them to cury from other metals, and was of cloves, which “corrects its offen- nothing.2 thus a key component in a number sive smell,” its ability to set fire to Lémery reported the use of the of alchemical recipes for making paper or to bedclothes, and its lu- weight balance more explicitly and the Philosopher’s Stone. In the minosity: “After some experiments 127 Revista CENIC Ciencias Químicas, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2005.

made one day at my house upon the the light of various luminescent first, to the pasturage of the Beasts; Phosphorus, a little piece being left bodies. Some of his explanations for it is certain that in some Coun- negligently upon the Table in my follow: “from considering all the tries the herbs are more spirituous Chamber, the maid making the bed kinds of Phosphorus both Natural than in other they have a disposi- took it up in the bedclothes she had and Artificial, and from the Experi- tion to the making of phosphorus put upon the Table, not seeing the ments that have been made upon Secondly, to these Beasts having little piece; the person who laid af- them, I cannot but conclude that the been heated more than others in terwards in the bed, waking at general case of the light they give their driving upon the road, or else night , perceived that the coverlid does proceed from a very great agi- to their having been killed before was on fire”. The phosphorus itself tation of insensible parts; and they had sufficiently rested after can be used for writing when “the whereas it is very probable that fire their journey; for the spirits being letters do seem to be a perfect fire” is only a very violent motion of little put into a great motion, there by, do or “you may also mix carefully a bodies round their center, the parts not every where lose it after the little Phosphorus with a good quan- of our Phosphorus may be said to beast is killed, and so long as the tity of Pomatum, and anoint such have received the same determina- spirits do continue their rapid mo- parts of the body with it, as you tion by the fermentation it that un- tion, so long the Phosphorus is to would have to appear luminous, dergone; for Wood never shines in be seen .But you will not fail to without any danger, for the burning the dark until it becomes rotten, make me this Objection; If the particles of the Phosphorus are tem- that is to say, until it has gone a suf- Phosphorus does consist in a vio- pered by the Pomatum”.14 ficient fermentation to make its lent motion of the insensible parts, The second edition of Harris’s more subtle parts move nimbly then stinking meat should be more translation devoted fifteen pages to around their center. The Bolonian luminous than that which was the element, phosphorus, and four Stone is not luminous until it has newly killed, because the smell pro- pages to the Hermetick phosphorus been calcined a certain time, in or- ceeds from the separation of the of Christian Adolph Baldouin (1632- der to excite a motion of its parts, A principles of a mixt body by fermen- 1682). However, the third English Cat is not luminous throughout the tation there foe there must needs edition (and succeeding ones), ed- whole body but if you rub its back be a great motion in parts in stink- ited by James Keill (1673-1719) in against the hair, in the night, it will ing meat than in that which is fresh. 1698, gave a really extensive ac- shine, because this irritates the I answer, that which makes the count (pages 684-732) of phospho- Animal, and determines the Spirits Phosphorus in meat newly killed is rus, was well as Homberg’s, the to more strongly than otherwise a matter much more active and Bolognian and the Balduinian phos- they would do. We may also say, that more subtle than that which gives phors. This edition was entitled A the Eyes of a Cat are a kind of the ill smell to stinking meat; it is a Course of Chymistry Containing Phosphorus The Viper being irri- remainder of the spirits which do and Easie Method of preparing this tated darts forth its Tongue with so run with prodigious swiftness Chymical Medicins which are used much quickness, that it appears all through the body of a living crea- in Physick.” Detailed descriptions on Fire. Many little creatures, such ture in all its parts In considering (page 701) are given for making the as some kinds of Caterpillars and the light which appears upon the “New Phosphorus of Monsieur Woodlice do shine in the night, be- surface; of standing Urines, I have Homberg” from fusion of “exactly cause they have a matter so exceed- been led to think that there are of- one part Sal Ammoniack powdered ingly subtle towards their Tail, that ten ferocities that settle in the bod- and two parts of Quicklime quenched it produces a sort of fire; and it is ies of sick persons, which might be by the Air If you strike this mat- for the same reason of the motions in a condition to make kinds of ter with the Hammer of Pestle, you of parts that Urine becomes lumi- Phosphorus, if they had but air shall presently see it on fire.” A de- nous That which gave occasion to enough to illuminate them...”18 tailed description of the discovery the working upon Urine for the It is important to note that of the Bolognian Stone and prepa- making of Phosphorus was, that in Lémery held that the crushing of ration of the Bolognian phosphor is some little holes of the earth Bolognian stone must be made in a given, together with various obser- wherein there had been some stand- brazen mortar in order to have some vations and conjectures regarding ing puddles of Urine, a light has success in preparing the phosphor. it. The chapter ends with a short been observed to be seen at nights.” An iron mortar was particularly bad, account of “The Hermetick Phos- Lémery’s explanation of lumi- as grinding in iron led to products phorus of Balduinis“ which results nous meat is very interesting. He that did not shine at all. He wrote: from the fusion of a “mixture of wrote (page 698): “Sometimes there “So it seems there is something in Chalk, and the Acid Spirits of Aqua has been found in the Shambles Iron prejudicial to this quality and fortis, which makes it lucid This pieces of Veal, Mutton and Beef, that on the contrary Brass is agree- phosphorus is in its effects very like which do shine in the dark, though able to the Nature of the Stone, As to the Bolonian Stone, but that they have been but newly killed, and to the Marble, Porphyry and Crys- takes the Air much sooner than this yet other pieces of the same kind tal, without doubt they want the Stone, because it contains abun- dilled at the same time hall not agreeable quality of the Brass but dantly more salt; its light does not shine at all. Nay, this very year was they do not make such a prejudicial endure so long as that of the Phos- seen at Orleans, in a very temper- impression as iron. This bad qual- phorus which I have described be- ate season, a great quantity of meat ity of the Iron, it may be, proceeds fore” (page 732). of this sort, some of it would shine from the Vitriolick acid of this Lémery’s contribution to the all over and others it would shine metal, which unites with the exalted knowledge of phosphorus is not only in certain places, in form of Sulphur of the Stone, thereby fix- based in experimental work but in Stars I conceive that this Phenom- ing it so that it hinders the light his attempts to explain the origin of enon may be imputed to two causes, from kindling it to make it shine.” 128 Revista CENIC Ciencias Químicas, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2005.

Salts sulfuric acid was limpid and color- alkali was added to an acid solution During a long time in the devel- less.20 was caused by the dislodging of par- opment of chemistry the concept of A curious detail is the way salts ticles of fire (atomes ignées) that salt remained obscure and ill de- were visualized by Lémery and remained in the pores of the alkali fined. For the ancients, salts had the some of his contemporaries. The after its synthesis through the com- two characteristics dominant in violent reactions generated by com- bustion of plant matter. Lémery marine salt: taste and solubility in bining mineral acids with alkaline supported his rationalizations re- water. These ideas about salts re- substance, such as potash, had tra- garding particle shape with simple mained extant during the Middle ditionally been explained anthropo- empirical arguments. The fact that Ages and on their basis completely morphically in terms of the antipa- acid particles possessed sharp different compounds such as ma- thy between acidic and alkaline sub- points, he reasoned, was observed rine salt, rock salt, ammonia salt stances. An acid salt was an assem- in the crystallization of acid salts, (ammonium chloride), nitre salt (po- blage of rigid particles, oblong and “all acid salts crystallize with tassium nitrate), and vegetable salt pointed at both ends. Why was this edges”, and “these crystals consist (potassium tartrate) were grouped so? Acid salts were capable of dis- of points differing both in length together. Vitriols (sulfates) were solving most solid bodies, hence its and shape from one another, and placed in a different class although particles had to be very rigid and this diversity must be attributed to they possessed the two essential sharp. An acid would burn the the sharper of blunter edges of the characters of a salt (taste and solu- tongue without roughening it like different types of acids.” Lémery bility); some chemists did not con- an acrid salt; hence its particles noted that the points of acids may sider them even as salts.20 were rigid and piquant. An acid al- be verified simply by tasting any The qualification of solubility in ways penetrated bodies easily: acidic substance, “I hope nobody water led to the inclusion in the cat- hence it was necessary that its two will offer to dispute whether an acid egory of salts compounds having extremes be pointed and sharp. has points or no, seeing every one the most opposed properties, such Contrary, alkalis were composed of experience does demonstrate it, as acids, and animal and vegetable earthy solid particles whose inter- they need but taste an acid to be matter. According to Joachim stitial pores were so shaped as to satisfied for it, for its pricks the Becher (1635-1682), salt represented admit entry of the spike particles of tongue like anything keen and that which was fixed and incombus- acid. Alkalis were those substances finely cut.6 These ideas were readily tible, and in a certain manner, that that reacted with acids producing accepted because of the wide use of which was mineral in bodies. George ebullition or effervescence. The lat- both organic acids and basic carbon- Ernst Stahl (1660-1734) defined salt ter phenomenon was a result of the ates in chemical tests. This geomet- in various confusing and contradic- shape of the respective particles; ric atomism made Lémery mark- tory terms and considered salts, ac- when the sharp acid particles pen- edly different from chemists both ids, earths, and alkalis, to be ana- etrated into the pores of the alka- before and after him.2 logues, and the same as Becher; he line particles, they met with resis- Lémery suggested that all salts included under this term all chemi- tance with the resulting efferves- had a common origin: the fossil or cal combinations. He accepted the cence.20,21 Lémery regarded salt as gem salt (common salt), which was analogy between acids, salts, and one of the five basic chemical prin- formed from the acid liquor flowing alkali, and thought that one could ciples, but the structure of any par- in the veins of the earth. The acid be converted into the other. In ad- ticular salt was determined by its liquor penetrated into the pores of dition, he considered that salts were acid and alkaline components. For stones and after brewing for several in some way, a stage in the transfor- Lémery, the acid-alkali reaction also years it formed this primordial salt. mation of alkalis into acids. Accord- served as the model for his general Fossil salt was the source of all salts, ing to Stahl and the ancient chem- understanding of chemical activity, with the exception of saltpeter, ists, sulfuric acid was the only sub- but in the Cours de Chymie he re- which was generated from acidity stance saline by itself, a unique sa- placed the antipathy model with an directly from acid particles present line principle that by the more or explanation based on the shape of in the atmosphere. He cautiously less intimate union that it achieved motion of acid and alkali cor- suggested, however, that the acid with other non saline substances, it puscles. Lémery postulated that, for liquor responsible for the formation was able to form a large number of reaction to occur between a particu- of fossil salt could also derive its saline substances, less simpler in lar acid and alkali, there had to be acidity from the acid particles in the structure. Although sulfuric acid an appropriate relationship be- atmosphere. Terrestrial was absorbed was the only substance saline, it was tween the size of the acid spikes and by vegetables from the ground and a secondary principle, formed by alkaline pores. During a chemical could be transformed into three dif- the intimate contact between the reaction, the acid points broke off ferent kinds of vegetable salts: the two primitive elements of water and or were blunted inside the alkali acid or essential salt crystallized earth. Hence, salts should present pores, forming a salt. Lémery found directly from the juice of plants; the properties intermediate between that he could explain a wide range volatile alkaline salt produced by these two components. Thus, sul- if chemical phenomena employing distilling macerated and fermented furic acid had a density larger than this model. For example, he ex- seeds and fruits; and the alkaline water and smaller than earth and plained the fact that some acids fixed salt derived from the ashes of its crystallization at a temperature would not react with certain alka- combusted plant materials. In other above that of melting ice (because line substances by positing that the words, one type of salt was present of hydrate formation) was due to points these acids had were of im- in the living plant and the two other the tendency of the earth to so- proper size or shape to penetrate salts were the result of the action of lidify. Another proof of its resem- the pores of the alkali. Similarly, the fire on the plant. Lémery’s discus- blance to water was the fact that bubbling that occurred when a fixed sion of vegetable salts led to con- 129 Revista CENIC Ciencias Químicas, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2005.

clude that fire destroyed and con- 5. Powers J.C. “Ars Sine Arte”: Nicho- Mineral, et un Recueil d’un Grand founded most things it dissected, las Lémery and the End of Alchemy Nombre d’Opérations, J. Boudot, and there was no reason to believe in Eighteenth-Century France, Paris 1707. that it yielded substances in their Ambix, 15, 163-189, 1998. 12. De Milt C., Christopher Glaser J. 6. Lémery N. Cours de Chymie Conte- Chem. Educ., 8, 53-60, 1942. natural state. The virtue of fire as a nant la Manière de Faire les Opera- 13. Pomet P. Histoire Générale des tool in vegetable analysis became a tions qui sont en Usage dans le Drogues, J.B. Loyson, 1694. subject of much discussion and de- Mèdecine, Paris, 1675. Translated as 14. Lémery N. Sur le Camphre, Mém. bate in the Academy of Sciences in A Course of Chemistry by Walter Har- Acad. Roy. Sci., 38-42, 1705. Lémery’s lifetime and subsequently. ris, London, 1677. 15. Lémery N. Sur le Miel et son In spite of this and other curi- 7. Lémery N. Pharmacopée Universelle, Analyse, Mém. Acad. Roy. Sci., 272- ous interpretations, Lémery has Laurent d’Houry, Paris, 1697. 275, 1706. been portrayed as the chemist who 8. Lémery N. Traité des Drogues 16. Lémery N. Urine de Vache Distillée, Simples, Mises en Ordre Alphabé- Hist., Acad. Sci., 45-48, 1707. formulated the first successful sys- tique, où l’on Trouve Leurs Différns 17. Lémery N., De l’Urine de Vache, de tem of chemistry based on the me- Noms, Leur Origine, Leur Choix, les son Analyse et de Ses Effets en chanical philosophy. Principes qu’Elles Renferment, Leur Médecine, Mém. Acad. Roy. Sci., 42- Qualitez, Leur Éthymologie, et Tout 44, 1707. BIBLIOGRAPHY ce qu’il y a de Particulier Dans Les 18. Lémery N., Observations et Expérien- 1. Guedon J.C. Protestantisme et Chimie: Animaux, Dans les Végétaux, et dans ces sur le Sublimé Corrosif, Mém. le Milieu Intellectuel de Nicolas les Minéraux, Laurent d’Houry, Paris, Acad. Roy. Sci., 42-43, 1709. Lémery, Isis, 65, 212-228, 1974. 1698. 19. Harvey E.N. A History of Lumines- 2. Fontenelle B.B. Éloge de Nicholas 9. Lémery N. Explication Physique & cence, The American Philosophi- Lémery, Histoire de l’Académie Royale Chymique des Feux Souterrains, des cal Society, Philadelphia, 143-147, des Sciences, 73-82, 1715 (appeared in Tremmens de Terre, des Ouragans, 1957. 1717). des Eclairs & du Tonnerre, Mém. 20. Wisniak J., “Guillaume François 3. Glaser C. Traité de la Chymie, Chez Acad. Roy. Sci., 140-152, 1700. Rouelle”, Educ. Quím., 14, 240-248, l’Autheur, Paris, 1668. 10. Du Hamel J.B. Philosophica Vetus et 2003. 4. Dorveau P. Apothicaires Membres de Nova de Usum Scholae Accomodata. 21. Sécretan C., Un Aspect de la l’Académie Royale des Sciences. VI. S. Michellet, Paris, 1663. Chimie Prévaloisienne, Mém. Nicolas Lemery, Rev. d’Histoire 11. Lémery N. Traité de l’Antimoine Valoise Science Naturelles, 7, 219- Pharmacie, 19, 208-219, 1931. Contenant l’Analyse Chimique de ce 244, 1943.

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