Book Description

"PROFESSOR STILLMAN explains the apparent mysticism of much of the teaching of Paracelsus by the fact that his great aim was to break the bonds of tradition and dogma by which medicine was held enchained, which he thought could only be done by the "Light of Nature" which included not only the study of natural objects by means of our hands and eyes but also the influence of the stars and other agencies usually regarded in his time as supernatural upon the life and health of man. The science of medicine rested according to Paracelsus on four pillars, philosophy (in which he included natural philosophy), astronomy (which included astrology), alchemy (meaning chemistry), and virtue (or righteousness). Instead of the four Aristotelian elements, earth, air, water, and fire, Paracelsus taught that there were three elements-mercury, the principle of liquidity or volatility; sulphur, the principle of combustibility; and salt, that principle which is permanent and resists the action of fire. Paracelsus attempted, as the ancients, to find an accordance between the macrocosm or universe, and the microcosm or man. Thus the macrocosm consisted of three worlds, the visible and tangible; the astral (or sidereal), the world of the heavenly bodies; and the celestial, or the divine and spiritual. Man, the microcosm, consisted of three corresponding spheres, the visible and tangible, that is, the fluids, organs, bones, etc.; the astral, the sensations, seeing, feeling, perception; and the celestial, the soul. "Stillman gives a most excellent exposition of the Paracelsian theory of disease, the five entities or "ens" which influence the health of man, and the "archaei" which situated in the various organs act as their directing force and regulate their functions. Paracelsus was a great believer in the healing power of nature: "In nature's battle against disease the physician is but the helper, who furnishes nature with weapons, the apothecary is but the smith who forges them. The business of the physician is therefore to give to nature what she needs for her battle-Nature is the physician." "Paracelsus strove to reform the medicine of his day but his efforts were marred by the arrogance with which he behaved. Some of his pages read like the compositions of a paranoiac. He heaps abusive epithets on the ancients as well as on his contemporaries, and continually asserts the vast extent of his knowledge over theirs. "Professor Stillman ranks very high the chemical achievements of Paracelsus, not so much for any epoch-making discovery as for their general importance in the introduction of chemical substances and methods into more general use: "By pointing out a rational and promising field for chemical activity and by his own successful application of chemically prepared remedies he inaugurated a movement which has continued without interruption and with increasing importance to the present day." The contributions of Paracelsus to practical medicine and surgery were quite considerable. He wrote much on syphilis and was the first to state that it might be inherited. He is said to have been the first to point out the relationship between cretinism and goiter. Instead of the customary treatment of wounds with plasters or poultices, he said: "Every wound heals itself if it is only kept clean." He advocated cleanliness, protection from dirt and "external enemies," and the regulation of the diet. "Professor Stillman's book contains a number of interesting illustrations. By those who have studied the life and writings of Paracelsus, it will be esteemed as a useful contribution to the literature. By those who have been awed by the difficulties in the way of a correct understanding of the character and work of this enigmatical being the book should be read, and we feel sure that by it they will be stimulated to further effort." -Annals of Medical History, Volume 3