Treatise on aspects of corruption of matter

[Wolfie]

On the theoretical application of the humoural system to matter as to
enlighten the aspects of corruption in nature by Vilmos Anodov, circa 310.

This was taken from TI:A. I had done some work on trying to find a TI compatible basis for historical alchemy, but this is all that survived. I consider it advanced for the age, but still firmly based on period-accurate assumptions of matter. Most people would not try to figure out what things were made of. It was a given that they were things and there was no fundamental construction other than that it had been created by the divine godhead.

As stated in Dr. ____ _______’s work on the humoural systems, the human
body is composed of four essential humours (black bile, yellow bile, phlegm
and blood) whose balance is crucial to the continued healthy operation of
the physical form. In the following treatise, it is submitted that this
internal balance, or derivative properties thereof, may be found in other
materials that were created by the same divine hand.

The crux and focus of this theoretical exploration lies in the pursuit of
the underlying causes of corporeal corruption: those processes which
transmute matter in one state to that of another. Here I exclude those
forces understood to corrupt the flesh through the vector of the immortal
Soul. While a man’s ill-chosen life may see him imbalanced because of
excess spirits or the fraternization of those of weak character, when his
body is injured, the cut or bruise can be treated in the same manner as if
he were an innocent. This does not remove the moral responsibility from
the patient or the healer, but rather treats the system of the body as a
device to be fixed so that moral authority in place may render judgment
upon the patient’s living body rather than dead. As this is not a moral
treatise or discussion of ethics, I will treat the preceding statement as
granted in order to continue.

It is the injury upon the corporeal body, and therefore the changes that
other lesser matter that is otherwise unoccupied by a Soul that are our
focus. Corruption can set within the body in a variety of means, though
the easiest is plainly seen through a surface wound upon the skin that does
no injury to muscle or bone. By rending flesh, the body’s immediate defense
is breached. Just as with an injured tree beneath an axe, the hidden
pathways of fluid will be broken and directly exposed to the air and
corrupting elements within it. It is possible that the air (an ethereal
device which has the capacity to be moist, dry, hot or cold just as the
elements of the humoural system) can greatly tip the balance of the
internal fluids. As a hospital orderly, I have seen air turn bright blood
black or to shades of brown when it has lost its moisture to the open air.
This change alone hints at the alteration of the properties of the humoural
fluid once it is exposed to the air. No longer pure, it will alter its characteristic coloration.

The most extreme example of this corruption is seen to occur when the Soul
has passed from the confines of the body upon death. Without the purity of
the Soul to act as bane to corrupting elements, the body will quickly
succumb to bloating, discoloration, generation of maggots and flies,
eventually breaking down into foul offal of mixed fluid, bone and hair. It
is theoretically possible that other things which possess a similar
essential purity to the Soul (alcohol, herbal distillates) may aid in the
retardation of corruption.

While other physical materials are not held fast against decay with a soul,
such as plants or animals, there is some hint that the same corrupting
forces may act upon them. A metal blade, exposed to air that is salty and
moist, will develop rust upon its surface that is of a similar color that
that of drying blood. In this process, an otherwise pure object (be it
blood or metal) can be corrupted by the same air and its imbalance of
moisture. This transmutation of materials can also be seen in the common
application of fire to wood. A once living piece of matter, sprung from
the earth, must possess within it some hidden force that enables it to
burn. A damp log, with its abundance of moisture, will not succumb to the
hot tendency as easily and simply put off smoke. A dry log, however, when
exposed to flame will likewise engender flame as a decaying body will
generate flies.

As mentioned previously, there is a possibility that items of an essential
purity might aid in the retardation of corruption merely on principle of
their potency. As witnessed with the brewers and perfumers art, a great
amount of plant material may be distilled down through application of both
fire and water (first heating and dampening and then cooling to a new form)
into its essence be it beer or materials like rose water. As herbs are
already widely used in the medical field, it would seem prudent to
experiment with their distilled liquids or oils.

[Kinaed]

There's some poetry in how one can take commonly observable facts and come to false or simplistic conclusions. I do quite love this treatise, and I think it fits the theme perfectly. Thank you for writing it and bringing it here, Wolfie!

[Kaemgen]

Wow, great read!