Laudanum

Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A Paracelsian compound defined here through gold, coral and pearl.

In the book. Opopopyron Laudani is another named medicine attributed to Paracelsus, defined through stopping fevers.

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

Historical Definition

Laudanum is a compound medicine made by Paracelsus from gold, coral, pearl and other things.

Meaning

The ingredients and attribution supplied by this dictionary should govern the first reading of Laudanum. It is explicitly a compound, and the list is not exhaustive: the historical et cetera is preserved as other things. No proportions or method accompany the list.

Use in the Book

Opopopyron Laudani is another named medicine attributed to Paracelsus, defined through stopping fevers. The shared name-element invites comparison, but does not establish that the two entries describe an identical compound.

Places to Read

Opopopyron Laudani. A medicine attributed to Paracelsus and defined by its use against fever.

In This Edition

A later familiar use of laudanum must not replace this stated composition. The entry’s gold, coral and pearl are part of its meaning, even though they do not amount to a complete recipe.

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

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

See also. Opopopyron Laudani