Lac Virginis

Salts solvents and liquid preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Virgin’s milk as a name for mercurial water.

In the book. Acetum Philosophorum gives mercurial water and virgin’s milk together, and associates the liquid with the dissolution of metals.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 29; facsimile PDF page 357.

Historical Definition

Lac Virginis is mercurial water.

Meaning

The milky name does not require an animal source. The compiler identifies the referent as mercurial water, placing it within the language of prepared or philosophical materials. That phrase itself is broader than a declaration that ordinary liquid mercury is intended.

Use in the Book

Acetum Philosophorum gives mercurial water and virgin’s milk together, and associates the liquid with the dissolution of metals. Aqua celestina also leads to mercurial water. These explicit connections provide a reading route through the changing names.

Places to Read

Acetum Philosophorum. A philosophical solvent described as a mercurial water and Virgin’s Milk.

Aqua celestina. A water identified through Mercury.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 29; facsimile PDF page 357 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 357, Lac Virginis

See also. Acetum Philosophorum; Aqua celestina