Ignis Persicus

Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A medical condition named through burning heat.

In the book. Ignis leonis names the element of fire itself, while Pruina is referred directly to Ignis Persicus.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 26; facsimile PDF page 354.

Historical Definition

Ignis Persicus is a hot, burning ulcer.

Meaning

The definition uses fire language to identify an ulcer characterised as hot and burning. It supplies no cause or treatment. The bodily subject controls the sense of the expression.

Use in the Book

Ignis leonis names the element of fire itself, while Pruina is referred directly to Ignis Persicus. Those cross-references help distinguish an elemental use from a medical name and recognise an alternative name for the latter. The modernised definition keeps the historical description rather than assigning a particular contemporary diagnosis.

Places to Read

Ignis leonis. A fire name directly identified with the element.

Pruina. A name for the hot, burning ulcer defined under Ignis Persicus.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 26; facsimile PDF page 354 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary 1650, s.v. Ignis Persicus

See also. Ignis leonis; Pruina