Friedrich Hoffmann was the son of a physician of the same name (who died in 1675 - confusingly his father's name was sometimes spelt 'Hofmann'). He visited England and met Robert Boyle. He was Professor of Medicine at Halle for forty-eight years. He carried out important work on spa waters, including the Epsom spa and is associated with Hoffmann's drops (solution of ether in ethanol).