Paracelsus, a Swiss German physician, revolutionized the field of medicine by emphasizing the importance of chemistry. He introduced new chemical remedies involving iron, mercury, sulphur, and copper-sulphate, as documented in the ‘London Pharmacopoeia’. Not only did he publish a renowned book on surgery called ‘The Great Surgery Book’, but he also provided a clear clinical description of syphilis. Paracelsus challenged traditional beliefs by suggesting that silicosis, known as ‘miner’s disease’, was not caused by supernatural forces but by inhaling vapors from metals in mines. His ideas laid the foundation for modern homeopathy, advocating the use of small doses of substances that initially caused illness to cure it. Additionally, he successfully treated the people of Stertzing during a plague outbreak by administering a unique oral medicine. Paracelsus’s contributions extended to psychiatry, where he developed innovative methods for addressing psychological ailments.
Quick Facts
- Died At Age: 47
- Family: father: Wilhelm Bombast von Hohenheim, mother: Elsa Oschner
- Quotes By Paracelsus
- Physicians
- Died on: September 24, 1541
- Place of death: Salzburg, Austria
- More Facts
- Education: University of Ferrara, University of Basel, University of Vienna
Childhood & Early Life
Paracelsus was born Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim in Sihlbrucke near Einsiendeln, Switzerland on December 17, 1493. His father, Wilhelm Bombast von Hohenheim, was an impoverished Swabian doctor and chemist who served as a physician at the Benedictine abbey in Einsiedeln. His mother, Elsa Oschner, was a Swiss woman who worked as a bondswoman in the abbey. Paracelsus was known as Theophrastus in his childhood and was nine years old when his mother died. After her death, he and his father moved to Villach, Carinthia in Southern Austria in 1502.
Education
In Villach, Paracelsus received education in medicine, botany, and mineralogy from his father, who looked after the inhabitants of the cloister and the pilgrims who came there. He also gained theological knowledge from the clerics of St. Paul’s Abbey in Lavanttal and its convent school. Paracelsus attended the Bergschule in Villach, where he learned about various metals and their extraction from ores. This education sparked his curiosity about alchemy and chemistry, which later led to his discoveries in chemotherapy.
In 1507, Paracelsus began his journey throughout Europe in search of a dedicated teacher and an interesting subject to study. He attended several universities, including Basel, Tubingen, Wittenberg, Heidelberg, Leipzig, and Cologne, but was disappointed with each of them. He believed that the knowledge of common people, such as gypsies, sorcerers, and innkeepers, had more common sense than the teachings of recognized medical experts like Galen, Aristotle, and Avicenna.
Paracelsus finally joined the University of Basel in 1509 and later graduated with a baccalaureate in medicine from the University of Vienna in 1510. He received a doctoral degree from the University of Ferrara in Italy in 1516.
Career
After obtaining his doctoral degree, Paracelsus embarked on a journey throughout Europe, visiting countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Germany, France, Spain, Hungary, Poland, England, Scotland, Ireland, Prussia, and Tartary. He gained knowledge from experts and knowledgeable people he met along the way, learning about practical alchemy and effective ways to treat patients using the forces of nature.
In 1521, Paracelsus joined the Venetian army as an army surgeon and traveled through Arabia, Egypt, the Holy Land, and Constantinople. He returned to Villach in 1524 and was appointed as the town physician due to his miraculous cures. He also became a lecturer of medicine at the University of Basel, where students from all over Europe attended his classes.
Paracelsus faced opposition from doctors, magistrates, and apothecaries in Basel, leading him to leave for Colmar in 1528. He traveled through various cities, revising his writings and writing new ones. In 1536, he published a book on surgery titled “Der grossen Wundartzney,” which helped regain his reputation. Paracelsus made significant contributions to medicine, including his clinical description of syphilis and his remedies that were later included in the Pharmacopeia published by the Royal College of Physicians in London.
Personal Life & Legacy
Paracelsus was known for his controversial actions and beliefs. He burned books written by renowned physicians Avicenna and Galen in front of the university, similar to Dr. Martin Luther’s act of burning a papal bull in Wittenberg. Paracelsus died on September 24, 1541, in Salzburg, Austria, at the age of 47.
His legacy lies in his criticism of scholastic teachings in science, medicine, and theology. Although his theories may not align with modern scientific thinking, they brought a more dynamic approach to treating physical and mental illnesses. Paracelsus was also known for giving the metal zinc its name and being the founder of toxicology.