The Life of Philippus Theophrastus Bombast of Hohenheim, authored by Franz Hartmann, offers a comprehensive biography of the renowned Swiss physician and alchemist, Paracelsus. Born in 1493 in Einsiedeln, Switzerland, Paracelsus embarked on a journey that would revolutionize the field of medicine. His early education encompassed various disciplines, including chemistry, medicine, and natural philosophy, laying the foundation for his future endeavors. Throughout his life, Paracelsus traveled extensively across Europe and the East, gaining followers and challenging established medical practices.

In his professional life, Paracelsus served as a military surgeon during the War of the Netherlands in 1518 and later practiced medicine in various cities, including Strasbourg, Tübingen, and Fribourg. He introduced the concept of disease to medicine and employed the experimental method, incorporating opium, mercury, zinc oxide, and other chemical preparations into therapy. His work Die grosse Wundartzney (Great Surgery Book), published in 1536, gained him fame and wealth. Paracelsus also provided the most accurate description of syphilis of his time, asserting that the disease could be cured with doses of mercury.

Despite his contributions, Paracelsus faced significant opposition from the medical establishment. His behavior and unorthodox methods led to hostility from the medical guilds, and he was even imprisoned in Nordlingen, Germany, as a fraudster. Nevertheless, his reputation grew due to his undeniable competence and innovative approach to medicine. He is considered the creator of modern pharmacology and homeopathy. In his work Paramirum, he emphasized the importance of clinical observation of the patient.

Overwhelmed by his success, Paracelsus claimed to possess the universal panacea and died in 1541 at the convent hospital of Saint-Etienne in Salzburg, Austria. He left behind several published works, including Opus Chirurgicum, Paragranum, and De gradibus. Paracelsism, the medical system inspired by his teachings, echoed Galenism and gave mineral medicines an importance they previously did not have. His legacy continues to influence modern medicine and pharmacology.