Salty principle

Like his predecessor, the Arabian alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan (sometimes known as Jabir), al-Razi was influenced in his alchemical views by Aristotle s theory of the four elements. Arabic alchemists had modified the Aristotelian system with respect to the composition of minerals, whereby two elements, mercury and sulfur, were responsible for the mercnrial and sulfurous principles of a given substance. Later called philosophical Mercury and Sulfur, these elements (or principles) were thought to be the substances from which all metals were formed. This Sulfur-Mercury theory later became highly influential among European thinkers, for example, Isaac Newton. To this Sulfur and Mercury, al-Razi added a third constituent, a salty principle (which was later reproposed by Paracelsus). In al-Razi s opinion metals were comprised of particles of these elemental constituents, while the identity of the metal depended on the relationships between these indivisible particles and the empty spaces between them. 

As soon as a treatment principle is established, the composition plan and treatment strategies can be arranged. For instance, to treat the syndrome of excess heat in the Lung and Stomach, one would first prescribe herbs that have sweet-cold, bitter-cold or salty-cold properties, and which have the functions of clearing heat and reducing fire in the Lung and Stomach. Second, herbs that are sweet and cold and that can nourish body fluids and protect the Yin, which has been severely consumed by the excess heat, should be selected. Herbs that can tonify the Qi should be selected if the Qi is weakened severely by the heat. Herbs that moderate the actions of the harsh herbs in the formula, and reduce their side effects, should also be added. 

Figure 10. Principle scheme of SCM TOROS-3k (Pioro and Pioro, 2006) (1) SCM, (II) cyclone, and (111) bubbler, 1 - combustion products, 2 - salty-solution inlet, 3 - lining (melt-lining), 4 - tap-hole, 5 -cooling-water inlet, 6 - gas-oxygen-air burner, 7 - water-cooled flue-gases duct, and 8 - inertial precipitator.

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