Lethargyrium

Metals minerals and metallic preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A separated scum from the purification of three named metallic materials.

In the book. Caput mortuum likewise identifies a material through its residual relation to an operation, although it specifies distillation and sublimation.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 30; facsimile PDF page 358.

Historical Definition

Lethargyrium in Paracelsus is the scum of mercury, silver or lead, separated when they are refined and purified.

Meaning

The entry identifies the material by its position within refining: it is something separated from mercury, silver or lead. The list prevents the headword from being restricted without qualification to one of those materials. Spume names the scum, not the purified metal remaining after separation.

Use in the Book

Caput mortuum likewise identifies a material through its residual relation to an operation, although it specifies distillation and sublimation. Martath leads to litharge through another naming route. The particular operations and subjects in each definition should remain visible.

Places to Read

Caput mortuum. The material left behind by distillation or sublimation.

Martath. Two forms leading to litharge.

In This Edition

The phrase in Paracelsus marks the scope of the attribution. It does not establish that every later use of the word covers the same three materials.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 30; facsimile PDF page 358 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 358, Lethargyrium

See also. Caput mortuum; Martath