Letter, 1536-07-23, Paracelsus to Wolfgang Thalhauser
| Author: | Paracelsus |
| Recipient: | Wolfgang Thalhauser |
| Type: | Preface |
| Date: | 23 July 1536 |
| Place: | Augsburg |
| Pages: | 1 |
| Language: | German |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2034 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Paracelsus, Der grossenn Wundartzney/ das Erst Bůch, Augsburg: Heinrich Steiner 1536, sig. A2r [BP015]
|
| CP: | Not in Kühlmann/Telle, Corpus Paracelsisticum |
| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Back to Paratexts Back to Texts by Paracelsus |
[sig. A2r] Dem Hochgelerten Herrn Wolffgangen Thalhauser/ der Artzney Doctori/ Physico/ vnd Stattartzet der loblichen Statt Augspurg/ seynem günstigenn Herren/ wünscht Theophrastus von Hohenhaim/ bayder Artzney Doctor/ Sein grůß.
Drey ding seind die mich hye zůschreyben/ vnd ein bůch der Wundartzney zůsetzen/ verursachen/ besonder lieber Freünde/ vnangesehen anderer vermaynten prachtlichen artzet wissen vnd künden/ Vnd das nit vnbillich/ dann ich mich mer der kunst zů gůtem geflyssen hab/ mer dann ander/ so mir yhe bekannt/ meine gůten Herren vnd freünde/ Doctores vnd[c1] Mayster. Das erst ist/ das die bücher der Alten/ so vor vns gewesen/ wieuil noch an tag seind kommen/ gar mit einem so vnuolkommnen grunde gestellet/ also das ainicherley rechte vertröstung/ des vermügens halben der natur/ bey jnen nit gefunden mag werden. Das ander/ Jst der vnbillich verderblich schaden/ so durch vngeschickligkeyt vnd mißverstand der vermaynten Wundärtzet/ den krancken schadhafften wirt zůgefügt. Das drit/ Betrifft den zůfuall/ so bey den verwundten sich zůtregt/ als zůfäl/ mir zum höchsten zůbedencken/ So auch allein der gröste schatz diser kunste ist/ weder bey den Alten noch neüwen yhe gedacht worden. Sölche thorheyt/ sag ich/ verursacht mich/ nach meiner vilfeltigen erfarung/ zůbeschreyben/ vnd den nottürfftigen zů gůt nit weyter zůschweygenn: Wiewol ich mir ein bürde hyemit auff lade/ dann mein widerthayl ist ein schweres joch/ Jch hoff aber/ vnd bin gewiß/ was auff den sande gebauwen ist/ das mag keinen bestand habenn/ Jch bin auch nymmer so ein junger wolff/ das ich solches geschray nit gehört noch gewont hette: euch will ichs zů bedencken beuelhen/ als eynem der den rechten grunde lyebet/ vnnd dem mit fleyß nachsůchet/ Vrthaylend deßhalben hyerinne nach ewrem gebrauch vnpartheisch. Jch het wol lust gehabt diß bůch mit grossen vnd subtilen künsten/ deren jhr zum thayl gůten grunde vnnd wissen tragend/ zů zyeren/ vnnd am hüpschten anzůgreyffenn/ Dieweyl aber die Wundartzney bey denen ist/ die solchs nit verstond/ hab ichs nit höher wöllen verfassen/ weder das die selbigen möchten vernemen vnnd ertragen. Darumb ich die höhern künsten diser Wundartzney inn einem besondern büchle/ die klein Artzney gehayssen/ Vnd aber bey andern von den schäden vnd frantzosen/ anzeygen vnd volenden will/ Achte vngezweyffelt/ euch inn sonderheyt wolgefelig/ angesehen der krancken grossen nutz/ dem jr täglich nachtrachtend. Wolt Gott das ein jegklicher artzet ein solch gemüt trüge/ vnnd sich seyner krancken dermassen/ dem grund nachzůgedencken/ beflysse/ wie dann billich sein solte/ es wurde den Artzeten vnd der kunst nit so vbel geredt. Auff solchs beger ich/ wöllend gegen meiner widerparthey/ inn disem handel/ ein vnangefochtner vrthayler vnd verthädinger sein. Damit Gott beuolhen. &emps; Geben zů Augspurg den xxiij. Julij/ Anno M. D. XXXvj.
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT on 3 April 2023. Attention: This translation is a machine translation by artificial intelligence. The translation has not been checked and should not be cited without additional human verification.
To the esteemed Mr. Wolfgang Thalhauser, Doctor of Medicine, Physicist, and State Physician of the praiseworthy city of Augsburg, from his obliging friend Theophrastus of Hohenheim, Doctor of both Medicine disciplines, greetings.
Three things prompt me to write this letter and compose a book on the art of surgery, particularly to dear friends regardless of the other well-known and illustrious physicians' knowledge and skill. And this is not unreasonable, as I have dedicated myself more to this art than others I have come to know, my good lords and friends, doctors, and masters.
Firstly, the books of the ancients, as many as have come down to us, have been composed with an imperfect foundation, so that no real trust in the natural abilities can be found among them.
Secondly, there is the unjustifiable and damaging harm inflicted on the sick by the incompetence and misunderstanding of renowned surgeons.
Thirdly, the occurrence that presents itself among the wounded, such as accidents, is of the utmost importance, and this alone is the greatest treasure of this art that neither the ancient nor modern thinkers have ever considered. Such foolishness, I say, compels me, from my diverse experience, to write about it and not remain silent about the necessary things. Although I am burdening myself with this, as my opposition is a heavy burden, I hope and am certain that what is built on sand will not last. I am not such a young wolf that I have not heard or lived through such an uproar; I entrust this consideration to you as one who loves the true foundation and diligently seeks it, judging impartially according to your needs.
I would have enjoyed adorning this book with great and subtle arts, which would have contributed to your understanding and knowledge of the good foundation, and to make it look as beautiful as possible. However, since surgery is for those who do not understand such things, I did not want to write it any higher than they could comprehend and bear. Therefore, I intend to indicate and complete the higher arts of this surgery in a separate booklet called "The Small Medicine," and to reveal the damages and French practices among others. Without a doubt, you will benefit greatly from it, considering the great benefit it will bring to the sick, which you attend to daily.
I wish that every physician had such a mindset and devoted themselves to the fundamental considerations of their patients, as they should, and that the physicians and the art itself were not spoken of so poorly. Therefore, I ask, wanting to be an undisputed judge and arbiter in this matter against my opponent.
With God's blessings,
Given in Augsburg on July 23, 1536.
