Johann Friedrich Schweitzer

Johann Friedrich Schweitzer ( born January 17, 1630 Cöthen; † August 29, 1709 in The Hague), also known as Johann Friedrich Helvetius was an advocate of alchemy and the author of several works on alchemy, botany and medicine.

Life

He began his career as a doctor and he was at first apparent opponent of alchemy. He studied medicine in Harderwijk and was awarded his doctorate with a thesis on the plague. Until about 1676 he lived in The Hague, then he moved to Amsterdam, where he served as city physician and personal physician of Prince William III. worked from Orange. He married on 20 May 1658 Johanna Pels ( 1643-1709 ), the couple had three children, two sons, Jean Adrien Helvetius, Josephus Johannes Helvetius ( 1667-1729 ) and a daughter Elizabeth Baldina Helvetius ( 1679-1748 ). His brother was the Andreas Engelhard Schweitzer.

1667, he published under the title Vitulus Aureus a detailed report, which has been repeatedly reprinted and included in alchemical collective works. Although his works were used by later proponents of alchemy, he did not apply himself as adept of alchemy. Carapichea ipecacuanha was brought in 1672 by a South American traveler named Legros to Paris. A trader named Garnier acquired in 1680 approximately 68 kg of it and reported to the physician Johann Friedrich Schweitzer of their qualities in the treatment of dysentery.

In his work Vitulus Aureus he describes his transition to alchemy as follows: On December 27, 1666 Schweitzer got a visit from a mysterious adepts of alchemy, who passed himself off as the owner of the Philosopher's Stone. Allegedly, he had performed with a powdered sample of the stone a successful transmutation of lead into gold. The stranger himself wanted to visit him again the next day, but never reappeared. This encounter made ​​from the original opponent of alchemy a convinced supporter.

His son Jean Claude Adrien Helvetius of (1685-1755) was also a doctor. He went to Paris, where he became the personal physician of Queen Mary Leszczyńska ( surintendant de la Maison de la Reine ). He brought with him the take over his father medications, including also the Ipecacuanha.Sein great-grandson of the French philosopher Claude Adrien Helvetius was.

Publications

• Xistus Herbarum, Funny Spatzierweg of herbs. Samuel Broun, Heidelberg 1661 ( digitized ).
• Vitulus aureus quem et mundus adorat ornat or a very curieuses Tractätlein ... 1705 ( digitized, digitized ).