Bringing Chemistry to Medicine – The Contribution of Paracelsus to Modern Toxicology

Chemical Education

Authors

  • Martin F. Wilks Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology & Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Missionsstrasse 64, Ch-4055 Basel;, Email: martin.wilks@unibas.ch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2020.507

PMID:

32560760

Keywords:

Alchemy, Chemical education, Dose-response, Paracelsus, Poison

Abstract

At the heart of Paracelsus' medical theory is the belief that all matter can be reduced to three basic elements: sulphur, mercury and salt. Their unique properties can be harnessed in the preparation of specific medicines. In this way, poisons can become medicines since it is the dose that determines toxicity.
CHIMIA Vol. 74 No. 06(2020): Non-Noble Metals in Catalysis

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Published

2020-06-24

Issue

Vol. 74 No. 6 (2020): Non-Noble Metals in Catalysis

Section

Columns, Conference Reports

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Swiss Chemical Society

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

[1]
M. F. Wilks, Chimia 2020, 74, 507, DOI: 10.2533/chimia.2020.507.