Paracelsus (1493-1541). Coloured historical artwork of Paracelsus, the Swiss alchemist and physician, with chemical and medicinal equipment. Born Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, Paracelsus was a name he gave himself, meaning insbetter than Celsusins, referring to Celsus, the famous Roman physician. He advocated that physicians should not interfere with natural healing processes, and that pharmacists should be careful to control doses of drugs. He studied tuberculosis and silicosis, was the first person to recognise congenital syphilis, and advocated that lunatics should be treated kindly. He also tried to find a magical medicine or elixir of life. Engraving from the 19th century book Vies des Savants Illustres.