he opening of the single substance the two things or seeds, red
and white, are obtained.

But what is the "subject" that is put through these operations, the matter
that must be so worked out? That is exactly what the alchemists most
conceal. They give the prima materia (raw material) a hundred names, every
one of which is a riddle. They give intimations of interpretations but are
not willing to be definite. Only the worthy will find the keys to the
whole work. The rest of the procedure can be understood only by one that
knows the prima materia. Much is written on it and its puzzling names.
They are, partly as raw material, partly as original material, partly as
prime condition, called among other names Lapis philosophicus
(philosopher's stone), aqua vitae (water of life), venenum (poison),
spiritus (spirit), medicina (medicine), coelum (sky), nubes (clouds), ros
(dew), umbra (shadow), stella signata (marked star), and Lucifer, Luna
(moon), aqua ardens (fiery water), sponsa (betrothed), coniux (wife),
mater, mother (Eve),--from her princes are born to the king,--virgo
(virgin), lac virginis (virgin's milk), menstruum, materia hermaphrodita
catholica Solis et Lunae (Catholic hermaphrodite matter of sun and moon),
sputum Lunae (moon spittle), urina puerorum (children's urine), faeces
dissolutae (loose stool), fimus (muck), materia omnium formarum (material
of all forms), Venus.

It will be evident to the psychoanalyst that the original material is
occasionally identified with secretions and excretions, spittle, milk,
dung, menstruum, urine. These correspond exactly to the infantile theories
of procreation, as does the fact that these theories come to view where
the phantasy forms symbols in its primitive activity. It is also to be
noticed that countless alchemic scribblers who did not understand the
works of the "masters" worked with substances like urine, semen, spittle,
dung, blood, menstruum, etc., where the dim idea of a procreative essence
in these things came into play. I will have something to say on this
subject in connection with the Homunculus. I should meanwhile like to
refer to the close relationship of excrement and gold in myth and
folklore. [Cf. Note B at the end of this volume.] It is clear that for the
art of gold production this mythological relationship is of importance.

To the action of analyzing substances before the reassembling or
rebuilding, besides washing and trituration, belongs also putrefact