"
the Reformer of Medicine," " Luther Alter," has been given his truest
conception of personal character in the noble poem of Browning—Paracelsus. He
picked up his scientific knowledge (which was sound, and extensive) by
any means rather than from books. " All reading," said he, " is a
footstool to practice, and a mere feather-broom. He who meditates,
discovers something." His only volume was Nature, whom he interrogated
at first hand. He died at the age of forty-eight, having been attacked
by certain physicians who were his jealous enemies, so that by reason
of a fall, he sustained a fracture of the skull, which proved quickly
fatal.
" The wondrous Paracelsus, life's dispenser ; Fate's commissary, idol of the schools, and courts."
Some
innate virtue, or power, must have been presupposed even by primitive
barbarous nations, who valued as articles of luxury precious stones
(whilst as yet lacking lustre, and play of light, because still uncut)
; and gold, simply for its weight.
"
The deep, and slow action of Silica makes it appropriate to chronic
rather than acute maladies." M. Teste says, " It is especially suited
to fat persons, of a temperament partly lymphatic, and partly
sanguine." For scrofulous troubles of the joints, or bones, silica is
an admirable remedy. And, curiously enough, silica has the unique
virtue of controlling excessive perspiration of the feet; not an
uncommon affliction.
Besides
forming the basic constituent of those Precious Stones which we have
particularized in this respect, silica is a constituent of several
mineral waters ; among others, those of Teplitz, and Gastein, where it
exists in the proportion of three-fifths to three-tenths of a grain in
the pound. In the American springs of Missisquoi,
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