MEDICINE 217 



heavens, the qualities of the stars, and the time of the 

 appearance and conjunctions of planets. The impossi- 

 bility to grasp at once all these things intellectually 

 shows that the power of spiritual perception is a most 

 necessary qualification for the true physician. 



It is not within the scope of this work to enter into 

 a detailed account of the treatment of special diseases 

 adopted by Paracelsus. It may suffice to say that the 

 difference between the system of medicine of the present 

 day and that of Paracelsus is a difference growing out 

 of an entirely different apprehension of fundamental 

 truths. Modern science looks upon the universe as 

 being a conglomeration of dead matter, out of which, by 

 some unexplainable process, life may become evolved in 

 forms. The science of Paracelsus looks upon the whole 

 of the universe as the manifestation of a universal 

 principle of life, acting through the instrumentality of 

 forms. Modern science seems to regard the forms as 

 the sources of life ; the science of Paracelsus looks upon 

 the forms as being the products of life. Forms are, 

 so to say, condensed forces or crystallised space ; but 

 space itself is an aspect of the one life, and there is no 

 dead matter in the universe, for that which dies returns 

 again into the matrix of Nature, to be reborn into other 

 forms, and to serve again as an instrument for the mani- 

 festation of life. 



In the universe of Paracelsus there is life everywhere, 

 and all beings are connected together by a common link. 

 Some forms are in a close mutual sympathy, while be- 

 tween others an antipathy is prevailing. Some attract 

 and others repel each other. During the ascendency of 

 a planet^ its essence will be especially attracted by 

 plants and by animal organs that are in harmony with 

 it ; but what else is this radiating planetary essence but 

 the elixir of life, the invisible vehicle of a quality peculiar 

 to that power? And therefore a patient may grow better 

 ^ The " ascendency of a star " meani the increase of a power. 



