Paracelsus (1493-1551) was a famous German-Swiss alchemist and physician, botanist, author of several ancient works on medicine, reformer, who established the role of chemistry in medicine. Born Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, after some years of seeking medical knowledge he gave himself the Latin name of Paracelsus, meaning "greater than Celus." Assumed his new name Paracelsus bravely announced that his medicine was greater than that of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
The Book Concerning The Tincture Of The Philosophers is an alchemic tract by Paracelsus. Its main focus is the alchemy itself, on all the traits that are supposed to make it a science, on its history and traditions and most remarkable characters. And it also stresses its relation to medicine and shifting and improving of human nature. If alchemy and medieval science is of any interest for you, than this short tract is a must read, along with other Paracelsus’s works and publications.
