the light of egypt volume ii(埃及之光卷2)-第20节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and essences； and the plants themselves； and that certain combinations
produce certain results； obtained from blind experiments； yet； prompted by
the Divine spirit within； but； knowledge born from knowing the why and
wherefore of such effects。 What is called the oil of olives is not a single；
simple substance； but it is more or less combined with other essential
elements； and will fuse and coalesce with other oils and essences of
similar nature。 The true chemist will not confine his researches for
knowledge to the mere examination； analysis； and experiments； in organic
life； but will inform himself equally； in physical astrology； and learn the
nature； attributes； and manifested influences of the planets； that constitute
our universe； and； under which； every form of organic matter is subject；
and especially； controlled by。 Then； by learning the influence of the
planets upon the human family； and that special planetary vibration that
influences the individual； he can intelligently and unerringly administer
medicines to remove disease in man。
A familiarity with the mere chemical relations of the planet to man；
makes still more apparent； the mutual affinity of both to the soil； from
which they appear to spring； and to which； they ultimately return； so much
so that； we have become conscious； that； the food we eat is valuable or
otherwise as a life sustainer； in proportion to the amount of life it contains。
We are so complex in our organization that； we require a great variety of
the different elements to sustain all the active functions and powers within
us。 Man； being a microcosm； or a miniature universe； must sustain that
universe； by taking into the system the various elements； which combine
to make up the Infinite Universe of God。 Animal flesh is necessary to
certain organized forms； both animal and man。 When I say necessary； I do
70
… Page 71…
THE LIGHT OF EGYPT
not mean an acquired taste and habit of consuming just so much flesh a
day； but a constitution； which would not be complete in its requirements；
without animal flesh。 I am thankful such do not constitute the masses。
Science would say； you only require certain combinations of oxygen；
hydrogen； nitrogen； and carbon； to sustain all the activities of the physical
body。 Apparently； this is true。 Upon the surface it is； but in reality it is not；
because if it were really true there could be no famines。 Science could
make bread out of stones； as was suggested at the temptation of Christ in
the wilderness。 And yet； no one knows better than the academies of
Science； themselves； that their learned professors would quickly starve to
death； if they were compelled to produce their food from the chemical
properties of the rocks。 They can make a grain of wheat chemically perfect；
but they cannot make the invisible germ by which it will grow； become
fruitful； and reproduce itself。 They can reproduce from the stones in the
street the same chemical equivalents that go to compose gluten； albumen；
and starchthe trinity which must always be present to sustain life； but
they cannot； by any known process； make such chemical equivalents of
these substances； do the same thing。 Now； if not； why not？ Science cannot
answer this。 A very mysterious shake of the head and profound silence is
the only answer。 Ask Science HOW THE PLANT GROWS； what causes
the atoms of matter to build up root； stem； leaf； bud and flower； true to the
parent species from which the germinal atom came。 What is there behind
the plant that stamps it with such striking individuality？ And why； from
the same soil； the deadly aconite and nutritious vegetable can grow； each
producing qualities in harmony with its own nature； so widely different in
their effects upon the human organism； YET； SO COMPLETELY
IDENTICAL AS REGARDS THE SOURCE FROM WHICH THEY
APPEAR TO SPRING。 There must be a something to account for this； and
this something； ancient Alchemy alone can scientifically reveal and
expound； and； this knowledge lies just beyond that line which calls a halt
to material scientists； and says： 〃You can go no farther； this is beyond your
purview。 The end of the material thread has been reached； and unless you
can connect it with the thread of the next plane； your researches must
stop。〃
71
… Page 72…
THE LIGHT OF EGYPT
Before entering upon and answering these vital questions； we must
digress a little； and make ourselves perfectly familiar with the ideas and
revelations of advanced physical science upon the subject； and for this
purpose no more trustworthy guide can be consulted than the new edition
of 〃The Chemistry of Common Life；〃 by the late James F。 W。 Johnson； M。
A。； England； and revised by Arthur Herbert Church； M。 A。 In chapter IV
on page 56 of this work； upon the anatomy of plant life； we read：
〃How interesting it is to reflect on the minuteness of the organs by
which the largest plants are fed and sustained。 Microscopic apertures in
the leaf suck in gaseous food from the air； the surfaces of microscopic
hairs suck a liquid food from the soil。 We are accustomed to admire； with
natural and just astonishment； how huge； rocky reefs； hundreds of miles in
length； can be built up by the conjoined labors of myriads of minute
zoophytes； laboring together on the surface of a coral rock； but it is not
less wonderful that； by the ceaseless working of similar microscopic
agencies in leaf and root； the substance of vast forests should be built up
and made to grow before our eyes。 It is more wonderful； in fact； for
whereas； in the one case； the chief result is that； dead matter extracted
from the sea is transformed into a dead rock； in the other； the lifeless
matter of the earth and air are converted by these minute plant…builders
into living forms； lifting their heads aloft to the sky； waving with every
wind that blows； and beautifying whole continents with the varying
verdure of their ever…changing leaves。〃
Further on in the same chapter； on pages 62…3； the same eloquent
writer continues：
〃But the special chemical changes that go on within the plant； could
we follow them； would appear not less wonderful than the rapid
production of entire microscopic vegetables from the raw food contained
in the juice of the grape。 It is as yet altogether incomprehensible； even to
the most refined physiological chemistry； how； from the same food taken
in from the air； and from generally similar food drawn up from the soil；
different plants； and different parts of plants； should be able to extract or
produce substances so very different from each other in composition and
in all of their properties。 From the seed…vessels of one （the poppy） we
72
… Page 73…
THE LIGHT OF EGYPT
collect a juice which dries up into our commercial opium； from the bark of
another （cinchona） we extract the quinine with which we assuage the
raging fever； from the leaves of others； like those of hemlock and tobacco；
we distil deadly poisons； often of rare value for their medicinal uses。 The
flowers and leaves of some yield volatile oils； which we delight in for their
odors and their aromatic qualities； the seeds of others give fixed oils；
which are prized for the table or use in the arts * * * These； and a thousand
other similar facts； tell us how wonderfully varied are the changes which
the same original forms of matter undergo in the interior of living plants。
Indeed； whether we regard the vegetable as a whole； or examine its
minutest part； we find equal evidence of the same diversity of changes and
of the same production； in comparatively minute quantities； o
