1572-1637

German physician notable for his chemical theory that sought to reconcile the rival systems of the traditional four Aristotelian elements, three Paracelsian chemical principles, and newly revived corpuscularian theories. The elements constituted the principles, which in turn combined to constitute all chemical substances. The matter of these compounds consisted of minima naturalia, or microscopic particles which, while infinitely divisible in theory, in actuality had a minimum natural threshold of indivisibility, beyond which they underwent destruction and lost their distinctive properties.