Digitization of ancient works on chemistry and alchemy

Abstract

The classification by subject of works belonging to ancient collections related to the sciences has a special problem, since they were written in times prior to the definition of the different scientific disciplines as we know them today. In addition, it is characteristic of the works of the past to incorporate in the same text materials of a diverse nature, which makes the process of attributing specific subjects to these works even more complex. This situation particularly affects chemistry, whose titles are classified under a large number of different categories, which hinders both the use and the correct appreciation of this valuable bibliographic heritage.