Ahava Oct 21, 2010 7:04pm

wonderful. there were three forms of alchemy in the ancient world. in europe its primary goal was the attempt to transform base metals into gold. In the middle east it''s goal was to find the "fountain of youth." While in the eastern world, particularly India and China, is chief goal was to create elixirs that would instantly heal people. Chief alchemysts in China who served the emperor would literally mix potions using any chemicals, including arsenic in attempt to make a healing elixir. If the emperor died of arsenic poisoning the cause of death was blamed on the stars, rather than the alchymists potion! ;)