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on were adverse； and a feeling of gloom cast a shade of serious thought； if not dejection； over his countenance。 〃 'You are of high rank；' said the astrologer； as he calculated and looked on the stranger； 'and of illustrious title。' The stranger made a graceful inclination of the head in token of acknowledgment of the complimentary remarks； and the astrologer proceeded with his mission。 〃The celestial signs were ominous of calamity to the stranger； who； probably observing a sudden change in the countenance of the astrologer； eagerly inquired what evil or good fortune had been assigned him by the celestial orbs。 'To the first part of your inquiry；' said the astrologer； 'I can readily reply。 You have been a favorite of fortune； her smiles on you have been abundant； her frowns but few； you have had； perhaps now possess； wealth and power； the impossibility of their accomplishment is the only limit to the fulfilment of your desires。' 〃 〃 'You have spoken truly of the past；' said the stranger。 'I have full faith in your revelations of the future： what say you of my pilgrimage in this lifeis it short or long？' 〃 'I regret；' replied the astrologer； in answer to this inquiry； 'to be the herald of ill； though TRUE； fortune； your sojourn on earth will be short。' 〃 'How short？' eagerly inquired the excited and anxious stranger。 〃 'Give me a momentary truce；' said the astrologer； 'I will consult the horoscope； and may possibly find some mitigating circumstances。' 〃Having cast his eyes over the celestial map； and paused for some moments； he surveyed the countenance of the stranger with great sympathy； and said； 'I am sorry that I can find no planetary influences that oppose your destinyyour death will take place in two years。' 〃The event justified the astrologic prediction： George IV。 died on May 18； 1830； exactly two years from the day on which he had visited the astrologer。〃＇8＇ This makes a very pretty story； but it hardly seems like occult insight that an astrologer should have been able to predict an early death of a man nearly seventy years old； or to have guessed that his well…groomed visitor 〃had； perhaps now possesses； wealth and power。〃 Here again； however； the point of view of each individual plays the governing part in determining the importance of such a document。 To the scientist it proves nothing； to the believer in astrology； everything。 The significant thing is that it appeared shortly AFTER the death of the monarch。
On the Continent astrologers were even more in favor than in England。 Charlemagne； and some of his immediate successors； to be sure； attempted to exterminate them； but such rulers as Louis XI。 and Catherine de' Medici patronized and encouraged them； and it was many years after the time of Copernicus before their influence was entirely stamped out even in official life。 There can be no question that what gave the color of truth to many of the predictions was the fact that so many of the prophecies of sudden deaths and great conflagrations were known to have come truein many instances were made to come true by the astrologer himself。 And so it happened that when the prediction of a great conflagration at a certain time culminated in such a conflagration； many times a second but less…important burning took place； in which the ambitious astrologer； or his followers； took a central part about a stake； being convicted of incendiarism； which they had committed in order that their prophecies might be fulfilled。 But； on the other hand； these predictions were sometimes turned to account by interested friends to warn certain persons of approaching dangers。 For example； a certain astrologer foretold the death of Prince Alexander de' Medici。 He not only foretold the death； but described so minutely the circumstances that would attend it； and gave such a correct description of the assassin who should murder the prince； that he was at once suspected of having a hand in the assassination。 It developed later； however； that such was probably not the case； but that some friend of Prince Alexander； knowing of the plot to take his life； had induced the astrologer to foretell the event in order that the prince might have timely warning and so elude the conspirators。 The cause of the decline of astrology was the growing prevalence of the new spirit of experimental science。 Doubtless the most direct blow was dealt by the Copernican theory。 So soon as this was established； the recognition of the earth's subordinate place in the universe must have made it difficult for astronomers to be longer deceived by such coincidences as had sufficed to convince the observers of a more credulous generation。 Tycho Brahe was； perhaps； the last astronomer of prominence who was a conscientious practiser of the art of the astrologer。
VII。 FROM PARACELSUS TO HARVEY PARACELSUS In the year 1526 there appeared a new lecturer on the platform at the University at Basela small； beardless； effeminate…looking personwho had already inflamed all Christendom with his peculiar philosophy； his revolutionary methods of treating diseases； and his unparalleled success in curing them。 A man who was to be remembered in after…time by some as the father of modern chemistry and the founder of modern medicine； by others as madman； charlatan； impostor； and by still others as a combination of all these。 This soft…cheeked； effeminate； woman…hating man； whose very sex has been questioned； was Theophrastus von Hohenheim； better known as Paracelsus （1493…1541）。 To appreciate his work； something must be known of the life of the man。 He was born near Maria…Einsiedeln； in Switzerland； the son of a poor physician of the place。 He began the study of medicine under the instruction of his father； and later on came under the instruction of several learned churchmen。 At the age of sixteen he entered the University of Basel； but； soon becoming disgusted with the philosophical teachings of the time； he quitted the scholarly world of dogmas and theories and went to live among the miners in the Tyrol； in order that he might study nature and men at first hand。 Ordinary methods of study were thrown aside； and he devoted his time to personal observationthe only true means of gaining useful knowledge； as he preached and practised ever after。 Here he became familiar with the art of mining； learned the physical properties of minerals； ores； and metals； and acquired some knowledge of mineral waters。 More important still； he came in contact with such diseases； wounds； and injuries as miners are subject to； and he tried his hand at the practical treatment of these conditions； untrammelled by the traditions of a profession in which his training had been so scant。 Having acquired some empirical skill in treating diseases； Paracelsus set out wandering from place to place all over Europe； gathering practical information as he went； and learning more and more of the medicinal virtues of plants and minerals。 His wanderings covered a period of about ten years； at the end of which time he returned to Basel； where he was soon invited to give a course of lectures in the university。 These lectures were revolutionary in two respectsthey were given in German instead of time…honored Latin； and they were based upon personal experience rather than upon the works of such writers as Galen and Avicenna。 Indeed； the iconoclastic teacher spoke with open disparagement of these revered masters； and openly upbraided his fellow…practitioners for following their tenets。 Naturally such teaching raised a storm of opposition among the older physicians； but for a time the unparalleled success of Paracelsus in curing diseases more than offset his unpopularity。 Gradually； however； his bitter tongue and his coarse personality rendered him so unpopular； even among his patients； that； finally； his liberty and life being jeopardized； he was obliged to flee from Basel； and became a wanderer。 He lived for brief periods in Colmar； Nuremberg； Appenzell； Zurich； Pfeffers； Augsburg； and several other cities； until finally at Salzburg his eventful life came to a close in 1541。 His enemies said that he had died in a tavern from the effects of a protracted debauch； his supporters maintained that he had been murdered at the instigation of rival physicians and apothecaries。 But the effects of his teachings had taken firm root； and continued to spread after his death。 He had shown the fallibility of many of the teachings of the hitherto standard methods of treating diseases； and had demonstrated the advantages of independent reasoning based on observation。 In his Magicum he gives his reasons for breaking with tradition。 〃I did；〃 he says； 〃embrace at the beginning these doctrines； as my adversaries （followers of Galen） have done； but since I saw that from their procedures nothing resulted but death； murder； stranglings； anchylosed limbs； paralysis； and so forth； that they held most diseases incurable。 。 。 。 therefore have I quitted this wretched art； and sought for truth in any other direction。 I asked myself if there were no such thing as a teacher in medicine； where could I learn this art best？ Nowhere better than the open book of nature； written with God's own finger。〃 We shall see； however； that this 〃book of nature〃 taught Paracelsus some very strange l