HERMETIC

, or Hermetical Art, a name given to chemistry, on a supposition that Hermes Trismegistus was its inventor.

HERMETICAL Philosophy, is that which undertakes to solve and explain all the phenomena of nature, from the three chemical principles, salt, sulphur, and mercury.— —A considerable addition was made to the ancient Hermetical Philosophy, by the modern doctrine of alcali and acid.

Hermetical Seal, or Hermetical Sealing, a manner of stopping or closing glass vessels, for chemical and other operations, so very closely, that no substance can possibly exhale or escape. This is usually done by heating the neck of the vessel in the slame of a lamp, with a blow-pipe, till it be ready to melt, and then with a pair of hot pincers twisting it close together.