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"The dose makes the poison" (Latin: dosis sola facit venenum 'only the dose makes the poison') is an adage intended to indicate a basic principle of toxicology. It is credited to Paracelsus who expressed the classic toxicology maxim "All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; the dosage alone makes it so a thing is not a poison."
The study of poisons and toxic substances has a long history dating back to ancient times, when humans recognized the dangers posed by various natural compounds. However, the formalization and development of toxicology as a distinct scientific discipline can be attributed to notable figures like Paracelsus (1493–1541) and Orfila (1757–1853).
A toxicologist working in a lab (United States, 2008)Toxicology is a scientific discipline, overlapping with biology, chemistry, pharmacology, and medicine, that involves the study of the adverse effects of chemical substances on living organisms [1] and the practice of diagnosing and treating exposures to toxins and toxicants.
Paracelsus was born in Egg an der Sihl [], [18] a village close to the Etzel Pass in Einsiedeln, Schwyz.He was born in a house next to a bridge across the Sihl river.His father Wilhelm (d. 1534) was a chemist and physician, an illegitimate descendant of the Swabian noble Georg [] Bombast von Hohenheim (1453–1499), commander of the Order of Saint John in Rohrdorf.
Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories (IBT Labs) was an American industrial product safety testing laboratory. [1] [2] [3] IBT conducted significant quantities of research for pharmaceutical companies, chemical manufacturers and other industrial clients; at its height during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, IBT operated the largest facility of its kind and performed more than one-third of all ...
Paracelsus (1493–1541), the father of toxicology, once wrote: "Everything is poison, there is poison in everything. Only the dose makes a thing not a poison" [2] (see median lethal dose). The term "poison" is also used in a figurative sense: "His brother's presence poisoned the atmosphere at the party". The law defines "poison" more strictly.
Using the texts of Paracelsus and Quercetanus as a guide, he determined that acid was the digestive agent in the stomach, demonstrating a major chemical process within bodily function. He also offered new methods derived from Paracelsus for preparing chemical medicines, advancing in particular recipes involving mercury.
Alice Hamilton (February 27, 1869 [3] – September 22, 1970) was an American physician, research scientist, and author. She was a leading expert in the field of occupational health, laid the foundation for health and safety protections, and a pioneer in the field of industrial toxicology.