Letter, 1536-07-24, Wolfgang Thalhauser to Paracelsus

Author:	Wolfgang Thalhauser
Recipient:	Paracelsus
Type:	Preface
Date:	24 July 1536
Place:	Augsburg
Pages:	3
Language:	German

Quote as:

https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2038

Editor:	Edited by Julian Paulus
Source:	Paracelsus, Der grossenn Wundartzney/ das Erst Bůch, Augsburg: Heinrich Steiner 1536, sig. A2v-A3v [BP015]

CP:	Not in Kühlmann/Telle, Corpus Paracelsisticum

Translation:

Raw translation see below

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[sig. A2v] Dem hochberümpten/ vil erfarnen Herren Theophrasto von Hohenhain/ bayder artzney Doctori/ seinem inn sonder geliebten Freünde/ wünschet Wolffgangus Thalhauser/ der artzney Doctor/ vnd bestelter leybartzet zů Augspurg/ Genad von Gott/ vnnd glückliche wolfart mänigklichen zů gůt/ inn allem gůten fürnemen.

Wjewol die Artzney/ besonder lieber Herr vnnd freünde/ vonn Gott auß der erden/ dem menschen/ der täglicher gebrechligkeyt vnderworffen/ zů gůtem/ vnnd das er inn der noth nit verzweyfle/ erschaffen vnd erfunden/ ist sie aber auß Gottes verhengknuß/ allein durch mißbrauch der vndanckbaren menschen/ so dem gütigen Gott seine gaben nit künden oder wöllen ohn mittel zůschreyben oder haym setzen/ so gar abkommen vnd schwach worden/ das sie selbs eines Artzets bedörffte/ ob sie villeycht inn diser letzten vilkünnenden zeyt/ darinne man sich vnderstanden hat alle kündsten zů repetieren oder wider auffzerichten/ auch layder erstünde/ vnd vor denen/ so sie lang kranck vnd gar vnsynnig gesagt haben/ gesund vnnd wolverstendig erschyne/ Das soll billich von Gott vnser begeren sein/ mit so gůtfürsetzlichem willen/ das/ wo wir sie ein mal recht gepurgieret vnnd gesund empfiengen/ so liederlich nit liessen wider kranck werden vnd inn abfall kommen. Zů solcher auffrichtung aber diser vnserer schwachen kunst/ haben sich jro vil bey vnsern zeyten/ inn mancherley weyse/ bemühet/ doch ist es zum merern tayl mit vnnützem geschwetz/ wölches gleych wol vnsere vil ein grosse zyere vnnd maysterschafft achten/ zůrgangen/ allein wenig außgenommen/ vnd was der theüre lobwürdige Johann Manardus von Ferrar/ außgerichtet hat/ den vns aber Gott nit hat wöllen/ von der menschen grossen vndanckbarkeyt wegen/ wie ichs achte/ auff erden vergünnen/ Dann was vnnd wie vil er Manardus vmb gemaynen nutz der Artzney halben sich bemühet/ die jrrthumb außzůreytten/ nützlichers anzeygende/ ist es doch alles dem merern thayl der vermaynten Artzet/ ein gespötte vnnd verachtung gewesen/ dardruch ich nit wenig angefochten bin/ auch bißher nit inn kleiner sorg gestanden/ es müste vnserer kunst halben noch für vnd für stümplerisch/ ich spräche gern vngründtlich oder gar vnsynnig/ zůgehen/ biß ich yetze erkenne an ewrem schreyben diser eüwerer wundartzney/ darbey auch inn eüwerer disputation mit mir gehalten/ von andern sachen/ das ist der schäden vnd frantzosen halben/ Vnd inn Summa/ was die gantz kunst der Wundartzney betrifft/ mercke ich/ das sich Gott nach der seinen erfarnen/ vnd die lobliche kunst/ wölche vber die Leybartzney weyt gründtlichere vnnd verstendigere demonstrationes hat/ nun eins mals wölle anfahen auffzůrichten/ des wir jm/ als vnserm gnädigen Gott/ zůuor danckpar sein sollen/ Darnach euch als eynem zů solchem nutzlichem handel von Gott erwölet/ billiches lob verjehen/ vnnd genaygten günstigen willen erzeygen. Dann es yhe der krancken halben so jämmerlich vberal vnd erbärmlich zůgehet/ das mich zum höchsten verwundert/ wie es die Oberkeyt allenthalben nur dulden oder leyden kan. Die Rhömer haben auff ein zeyt vmb vil [sig. A3r] geringer vrsach/ alle jhre ärtzet auß der statt verjaget/ solte die selbig oberkeyt jetzo leben/ ich besorg sy wurde die yetzigen ärtzet im gantzen Reich nit leyden mügen/ so gar ist kain kunst/ kain verstand/ kain ordnung mer inn der artzney/ was ohn gefar geradtet/ das lobet man/ ist aber wenig genůg/ das bläet sich dann der maister auff/ erwarmet allso inn der kunst/ vndersteet sych on grunde mit den menschen seins gefallens vmbzůgehen/ alls weren es eyttel bestie/ gedenckt vylleicht es schadet nit auß frembder haut ryemen schneyden/ Dises verderbens vnnd vnmenschlichen schadens/ achte ich die Physicos oder leibartzet gründtliche verursacher sein/ Dann dieweyl drey ding seind/ darinnen die gantz kunst der Artzney begriffen vnnd gehandlet wirt/ Nemlich der leib/ die kranckheyt/ vnnd die artzney darmit man helffen mag/ so ist von nötenn/ das dero dreyer/ ain jeder artzet gewyse vnnd rechte erkandtnuß soll habenn/ wie gewyß man aber jetzo lange zeyt darinnen/ ist mer offenbar weder ich geren daruon höre sagen/ Darauß volget/ dieweyl vor zeitten die scherer/ bader/ lasser/ parbierer/ vnnd was des gesinds mehr/ seind der leybärtzet knecht vnd diener gewesen/ nichts gewüßt zů handlen bey den krancken/ weder was dye Doctores geboten oder beuolhen haben/ So nun aber vmb ein schlechts gelt Doctor zů werden/ also gar gemain vnnd wolfayl ist/ verwunderet mich nit/ das die kunst ist theür vnnd seltzam wordenn/ dann es wanderet kayner der kunst mer nach/ nur von der Hohen schůl/ mit etlich hundert/ auß den büchern beschreyben/ oder sonst ererbten recepten/ etwan inn die nechst statt da gelt zů gewynnen hoffnung ist/ daselbs angefangen/ vnnd was ayner schon nit kan/ mag er sich dannocht berümen/ dann das ist bey den artzetenn jetzo so gar gemain/ das man nit mehr achtunng darauff hatt/ schaw er nun das er sich wol zůschmaichlen künne/ vnnd jederman recht lasse/ als dann so der kirchhof wol getunget/ ist der artzet dest reicher/ entstehet ein schaden der der wundartzney bedarffe/ kan ein sollicher Doctor nichts darzů sagen/ so kompt dann ein scherer oder bader/ der kennet an menschlicher complexion nicht mehr/ weder eyn metzger an eyner saw/ der schneydet/ prennet/ flycket vnnd trennet seines gefallens/ nyemandts kan jhm eynreden/ warumb er also thüe/ dann der Doctor hats nit gelernet/ auch vor nye gesehen/ wiewol sy sich im Teütschland jetzo bayder artzney Doctores schreyben/ auff wöllicher Hohenschůl man aber die wundartzney studiert/ wissent jr am basten/ dann jhr dessen genůg erfarn habend/ also kompt es/ das der scherer/ so ein jar oder zwey ein knecht gewesen darnach durch ein weibnemen inn einer nacht ein mayster warde/ alles recht hatt gehandlet/ ob es schon hend vnnd füß/ leib vnnd leben hatt golten/ Darumb erfrewet mich das jhr on zweyfel von Got darzů verordnet/ angefangen habend disen wůst zů rüren/ das henckerisch marteren/ anzůtasten zů beschreyen/ vnnd zů entdecken/ bin gůtter hoffnung yhr werdent durch ewr vilfältige lange erfarung/ der rechten wundartzney bey vyl gůthertzigen aynen grunde legen/ auch inn jhnen eynen rechtgeschaffnen eyfer vmb der menschen gesunde/ verursachen/ vnangesehen das euch auß neyde schier die gantz menig der ärtzet widerwertig ist/ ich achte aber ewer ding wie ein neüwes hauß das ainer an der strassen bauwet/ daruon reden/ rathschlagenn vnnd lernen/ auff [sig. A3v] mancherlay weiß/ alle die es sehen/ doch wer es verstehet/ der erkennet darbey den mayster/ Man můß die leüt lassen reden/ dann man sagt die hunnd künnens nit/ nur allain pellen/ wölche gern wolten besser sein/ die werden diß ewr schreiben mit höchstem danck annemen/ die andern werden sich mit jrem vrteyl des vnuerstands halben zůerkennen geben/ Das sollent jr aber nit achten/ zeit bringt rosen/ wer vermeint es seind alle frücht mit den erpern zeytig/ der waißt nichts vom weinbeer lösen/ Jch hoff aber es werden etlich jr frücht erkennen lernen/ das nachgültiger verlassen/ vnd einem bessern nachsinnen/ das sy warlich bey euch wol mügen finden vnd bekennen/ das ich kuntschafft zů geben/ mich hiemit erbieten wil/ vnd euch alls meinem lieben herrenn vnnd freund beuolhen haben. Datumb auß meiner herberg zů Augspurg/ den xxiiij. Julij. Anno xxxvj.

Apparatus

Corrections

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 highly renowned and experienced gentleman Theophrastus von Hohenhain, doctor of both medicines, his beloved friend, Wolfgang Thalhauser, doctor of medicine and appointed physician in Augsburg, wishes everyone the grace of God and a happy journey in all good endeavors.

Although medicine, dear sir and friend, was created and discovered by God on earth for the benefit of mankind, who is subject to daily frailty, and so that they may not despair in times of need, it is by God's decree alone, through the misuse of ungrateful people who refuse to acknowledge or attribute His gifts without intermediary or self-aggrandizement, that it has become weak and fallen. It is now necessary to have a physician, even in this era, in which we have tried to revive or restore all the sciences, and unfortunately, it often happens that those who have been ill for a long time and were considered incurable become healthy and robust again. Therefore, it is reasonable for us to ask God to grant us such a goodwill that, once we have been purified and healed, we will not allow ourselves to become ill and fall again. However, many people have tried to improve this weak art of ours in various ways in our time, but for the most part, it has been with useless chatter, which, unfortunately, has been considered by many as great adornment and mastery. Only a few have been exempt from it. What the precious and praiseworthy Johann Manardus from Ferrara has accomplished, which God, in my opinion, did not want to grant to people because of their great ingratitude, has been very helpful and has given useful information for the common benefit of medicine. Nevertheless, it has mostly been a source of ridicule and contempt for most of the reputed physicians, which has caused me a great deal of concern and worry that our art may continue to be considered superficial, I would say ignorant or even foolish, until now, when I recognize in your writing about your wound healing medicine, and in your debate with me about other matters, such as the damages and French, and, in summary, as far as the whole art of wound healing medicine is concerned, I realize that God, according to His experience, wants to begin to establish the praiseworthy art that has more profound and intelligent demonstrations than mere medical knowledge. We must be grateful to Him for that. Then, as you have been chosen by God for this useful purpose, you deserve fair praise and favorable intentions. It is surprising to me that the authorities can tolerate or endure the terrible suffering of the sick everywhere.

The Romans once banished all their physicians from the city for a very trivial reason, and if that same authority were alive today, I am afraid it would not tolerate the current physicians throughout the whole empire. There is no art, no understanding, no order in medicine that does not entail danger, and people praise it, but it is not enough; then the master becomes arrogant and becomes so absorbed in the art that he interacts with people according to his own whims as if they were mere beasts. Perhaps he thinks it does not matter to cut leather from a foreign hide. I believe that physicians or medical doctors are the primary cause of this ruin and inhumane damage. Since there are three things that are included and dealt with in the whole art of medicine: the body, the illness, and the medicine that can help. Therefore, it is necessary for each physician to have a wise and proper understanding of all three. However, for a long time now, it has become clear that no one knows how to handle the sick, neither what the doctors have commanded or ordered. In the past, the barbers, bath attendants, cupping therapists, and others like them were servants and assistants to physicians, who knew nothing about treating the sick. However, now, becoming a doctor for a meager sum of money is so common and widespread that I am not surprised that the art has become expensive and rare. No one now follows the art for its own sake, but only from high school, where a few hundred recipes are written in books or inherited, and they start there, hoping to make money. Anyone who already cannot do it can still boast about it, for it is so common among physicians that it is no longer considered important. Then he tries to flatter everyone and lets everyone do what they want. Then, if the cemetery is filled, the physician becomes richer. If there is a need for wound healing medicine, and such a doctor cannot help, then a barber or bath attendant comes, who knows no more about human complexion than a butcher knows about a saw, who cuts, presses, cleaves, and cuts according to his own will. No one can persuade him why he does it that way because the doctor has not learned it, nor has he ever seen it. Although both medical doctors and wound healing doctors are now called doctors in Germany, you know best where wound healing medicine is studied at a high level. Therefore, it happens that the barber, who was a servant for a year or two, then became a master overnight through a marriage, has done everything right, even though life and limb were at stake.

Therefore, I am delighted that you, without doubt ordained by God, have begun to stir up this wasteland, to describe and uncover the tortures of executioners. I have good hope that through your varied and lengthy experience, you will lay a solid foundation for true wound healing medicine, and in them, you will cause a righteous zeal for the health of humanity, despite the fact that many physicians oppose you out of envy. But I regard your work as a new house that someone builds on the street, which people talk about, advise and learn about in many ways, all those who see it. However, whoever understands it recognizes the master. One must let people talk because they say that dogs cannot do it, only peelers, who would like to be better. They will accept your writing with the highest gratitude, while others will acknowledge their ignorance and lack of understanding. But you should not worry about that because time brings roses. Anyone who thinks that all fruit is timely does not know anything about grape harvest. But I hope that some will learn to recognize your fruit, abandon what is outdated, and think more wisely about what they can truly find and acknowledge in you. I offer my skills and expertise to you, my dear lord and friend. Written from my lodging in Augsburg on July 24, 1536.