Science and Medicine
The work of Paracelsus, a 16th century physician and alchemist who made bold claims for his science, was also one of the inspirations to Hartlib and early chemistry. Harlib was very open-minded, and often tested the ideas and theories of his correspondents. For his own trouble with kidney stones Hartlib took to drinking diluted sulphuric acid — a cure that may have contributed to his death.
Hartlib was interested in theories and practices that modern science would deem irrational, or superstitious — for example, sympathetic medicine. Sympathetic medicine was based on the concept that things in nature that bear a resemblance to an ailment could be used to treat that ailment. Hence, a plant that looked like a snake might be used to treat snakebites, or a yellow colored herb might be used to treat jaundice.
Read more about this topic: Samuel Hartlib
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