Abstract
Throughout the seventeenth century, the Hippocratic-Galenic medical tradition suffered growing criticism from emerging medical currents, especially iatrochemistry, largely influenced by the alchemical heritage of Paracelsus (1493-1541). In Portugal, part of the historiography has pointed out that the rivalry observed in other European contexts, such as France and England, was expressed in a more lenient or conciliatory way. Portuguese doctors generally tended to approach both schools of thought as complementary, which contributed to the dissemination of chemical medicines in the kingdom despite the Galenic hegemony in medical education and the persecution from inquisitorial authorities. By analyzing the use of plants and minerals in the treatment of fevers, the article seeks to show how these issues were reflected in the works of João Curvo Semedo, one of the most prominent Portuguese doctors of the period and an avid promoter of chemical remedies in the kingdom. Throughout the investigation, it became clear that, despite his strong position in the chemical pharmacy and pathology field, his positions seemed more accustomed to the Galenic tradition. At that point, he diverged from several doctors who were also sympathetic to the alchemical principles of his time.
Keywords
Fevers; João Curvo Semedo; Chemistry; Galen; Plants