A Chymical Dictionary

Calcinatum majus

Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. An art-produced sweetness contrasted with natural sweetness.

In the book. Calcinatum minus provides the necessary contrast: there the substances are naturally sweet.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 13; facsimile PDF page 341.

Historical Definition

Calcinatum majus is anything made sweet by the spagyrical art that was not sweet by nature, such as the sweetness of Mercury, lead, salt and similar things. This is also called their soul and is said quickly to close any wound.

Meaning

The main distinction is between a quality gained through art and one present naturally. Mercury, lead and salt serve as examples. The category is therefore wider than one calcined material: the defining feature is the historically attributed transformation into sweetness. The added soul vocabulary gives that prepared quality a philosophical name.

The closing claim concerns the rapid closing or consolidation of wounds. It belongs to the historical definition and should remain attributed as a promised effect, rather than being converted into present-day advice. The entry supplies no preparation, dose or evidence for that efficacy.

Use in the Book

Calcinatum minus provides the necessary contrast: there the substances are naturally sweet. Anima Saturni and Altey plumbi connect the sweetness and soul vocabulary specifically with lead. These cross-references make the major/minor distinction useful without confusing it with a simple scale of temperature or amount of burning.

Places to Read

Calcinatum minus. A class of naturally sweet substances credited with healing power.

Anima Saturni. The “soul of Saturn” identified with lead’s sweetness.

Altey plumbi. A lead preparation characterized as sweet.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 13; facsimile PDF page 341 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Calcinatum majus ; compare Calcinatum minus, Anima Saturni, Altey plumbi, Consolidativa

See also. Calcinatum minus; Anima Saturni; Altey plumbi; Consolidativa