Oddity of the Week - Chemistry's Not What It Used to Be

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Chemistry's Not What It Used to Be

An alchemical allegory.

The Library of Congress says:

The sixth allegory, showing a man holding a sword and decapitated head standing by dismembered body signifying alchemical purification through separation.

That's the way they put it in Chemistry 101, apparently, back in 1599.

Frankly, that makes about as much sense as most chemistry textbooks. Wonder how many patents the professor had?

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Dmitri Gheorgheni

25.11.13 Front Page

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