“Now a man need not be very conversant in the writings of Chymists to observe, in how Laxe, Indefinite, and almost Arbitrary Senses they employ the Terms of Salt, Sulphur and Mercury; of which I could never find that they were agreed upon any certain Definitions or setled Notions; not onely differing Authors, but not unfrequently one and the same, and perhaps in the same Book, employing them in very differing senses.”

— Robert Boyle

Source: Of the Imperfection of The Chymist's Doctrine of Qualities (1675)

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Robert Boyle 21

English natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and invent… 1627–1691

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