Paracelsus

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Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombast von Hohenheim became known as Paracelsus.




Paracelsus (1493-1541) was an alchemist and physician who founded the modern field of pharmacology. His thinking was revolutionary for its time, and he both profited and suffered for his non-adherence to conventional practice. He lectured in German rather than Latin, and he treated Galen's notions of the four humors sceptically. He applied chemical treatments to illnesses. "The word "bombastic" comes from his original name and is an ironic tribute to his aggressive and combative personality."(reference for quote:"Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombast von Hohenheim." World of Health. Online. Thomson Gale, 2006. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2007. )