Disputationes chymico-medicae

...they only then see by reasoning that they have been deceived insultingly, like ridiculous suitors. Therefore, in the presence of the sick, they begin I know not what fable about ounces, scruples, pills, enemas, and ointments; or they start talkative complaints with the bystanders about the errors of the sick person. They weave delays by design for a long time until the strengths of the patient are prostrated by the violence of the disease. Then, to hide their own ignorance, they can pompously devise that they were summoned too late, or that some other impediment was cast in the way. O, the ruined fate of poorly-stuffed Medicine! O, the contaminated course of a despairing practice! Therefore, if some Apollo could find an effective remedy for this heavy and very deep-seated evil, he would surely perform a work greater and more worthy than the trophies and triumphal arches of all kings.

To speak frankly what I feel, I can hardly find a way to place the Physician consulted by Nature, made immune from this common calamity, into a safer harbor of successful practice. Or if perhaps some things remain which might bring the greatest benefit to removing this difficulty, they cannot all be included in this Speech and at this time. Therefore, to use a shortcut, I will say briefly: the journey of Medical Practice is long and difficult through precepts, but short and effective through examples. The company of Hippocrates the father of medicine produced great Physicians more than the school did. I would wish the Physician consulted by Nature to look entirely at two goals in correctly performing practice. First, I would hope he is prepared to imitate: that is, that he looks with his whole mind at those whom he desires to be like. Nor should he direct all his actions only toward the standard of the better and most excellent Physicians, but also toward the clumsy vastness and absurdities of the most foolish and unskilled, as if by the consideration of a certain mirror. For as elsewhere by the testimony of Cato the Censor a Roman statesman known for traditional wisdom, fools by their lack of prudence contribute much to the learned and wise, yet the learned and prudent benefit the dull and lazy not at all. So in correctly establishing medical practice, foolish Physicians provide no small help to the prudent. For daily examples of things to be avoided shine forth in them. But the wise benefit those for whom no limit can be fixed and no bolt can be correctly placed in the propagation of malice. Second, I would command him again to seek medical aids and their genuine method of preparation from Paracelsus the Swiss-German founder of medical chemistry and the Chemists. However, he should seek the method of curing, which consists in the timing of indications and discoveries, from Hippocrates and more recent Physicians of proven faith and experience. For in this way it will happen that, just as long ago Admetus a king in Greek myth would never have received Alcestis as his wife unless, by the counsel of Apollo and Hercules, he had joined a Lion from the former and a Boar from the latter—two beasts of different kinds—to one chariot and the same yoke. So, in my opinion, no one should hope to attain the true and legitimate method of healing unless he is at the same time the legitimate heir of Hippocrates and Paracelsus. That is, unless he has joined that Old Medicine with the New. For these ages will demand that man as a wise preserver of health and a vigorous conqueror of diseases who has plucked the most beautiful fruits of New-Old Medicine. Perhaps by the inscrutable providence of God, our posterity, if there is to be any, will possess a far more exact and divine art of healing well. It will spring from Philosophical Earth, Crystalline Water, and most Ruby-Red Fire, forced and united into one perennial and inviolable center. In this final age, as long ago by no light signs, it strikes through the dense abyss of darkness with the little fires of its power. God himself knows what, to whom, when, and how much. May his name be glorified and blessed forever.

What is it therefore, Audiences, so that I may finally pull in the sails, in which we have proposed, seen, and heard the Philosopher or Physician consulted by Nature occupied...