In its search for the ''Philosopher's Stone'' that would transmute base metals into silver and gold, alchemy took on many philosophical, religious and mystical insight and erudition in this classic work. E.J. Holmyard, a noted scholar in the field, begins with the alchemists of ancient Greece and China and goes on to discuss alchemical apparatus, Islamic and early Western alchemy; signs, symbols, and secret terms; Paracelsus; English, Scottish and French alchemists; Helvetius, Price, and Semler, and much more.