Paracelsus

par-a-sel'sus (1493-1541), a noted Swiss physician. At one time professor of medical science at Basle, he was ejected on account of offense given. Paracelsus disputed current authority in medical matters. He taught that sickness is due to chemical disturbances in the system and can be cured by the proper chemical. He was a prominent advocate of a new doctrine that "the object of chemistry is not to make gold but to prepare medicines." He had many queer notions, such as that gout results from a load of sulphur in the system. Paracelsus was in favor of mineral remedies. He adopted a large number of dangerous remedies such as corrosive sublimate, sugar of lead, and copper vitriol. He introduced a number of modern remedies, including tincture of iron and laudanum. His biographers go so far as to call him the "Father of Apothecaries." Paracelsus made many wonderful cures, but he was arrogant and boastful and hard to get on with. He ended his life in utter poverty. See article on GALEN, whose teachings were bitterly opposed by Paracelsus. See Medicine