ABSTRACT
The chymical constitution of a plant preceded its other qualities for Duclos, both epistemologically and ontologically, since its properties and virtues derived from its constitution. The implied examinations involved the content and characteristics of various salts, commonly considered in traditional chymistry as vital-generative constitutive elements. In 1668 Duclos discussed in detail the history and applications of the Paracelsian circular salt, and Van Helmont's alkahest and matter theory. Echoing Boyle's critique of fire analysis, especially as seen in the SC, Duclos claimed that fire may alter the components not only did it fail to decompose mixts into their elementary constituents but it also created new combinations. The combination of a natural historical investigation and chymical analysis indeed formed" most treacherous intellectual problem", in Alice Stroup's words. Duclos's view of what constitutes a radical analysis of plants and mixts echoes his matter theory, which, as we have seen, was informed by Helmontian ideas.
