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Anodyna
Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary
At a Glance
The word. A class of medicines grouped by their intended sleep-producing effect.
A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 4; facsimile PDF page 332.
Historical Definition
Anodyna are medicines that induce sleep.
Meaning
This is an effect-based category rather than the name of a single ingredient. The plural matters: different preparations may be gathered under the same intended action. The dictionary records how the historical medicines were classified, without identifying their constituents or establishing their effectiveness.
Compare Narcotica and Sedativa when an author distinguishes sleep, stupor or calming. The existence of neighbouring effect terms is a reason to follow the particular author’s description rather than assume that all such medicines are equivalent. A modern therapeutic recommendation cannot be inferred from this historical gloss.
Places to Read
Narcotica. Medicines classified through a sleep-producing effect.
Sedativa. Remedies classified by relief of pain.
Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 4; facsimile PDF page 332 — Facsimile
Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Anodyna ; compare Narcotica, Sedativa