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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · English Edition

Gerhard Dorn and John French

A Chymical Dictionary

An Expanded Diotimos Lexicon of Paracelsian and Alchemical Language

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A Chymical DictionaryConstrictiva

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English Edition · Branch 478 of 740

Constrictiva

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 478

Constrictiva

Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A surgical class defined through a styptic action.

In the book. Stiptica is directly glossed as drying medicines.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 17; facsimile PDF page 345.

Historical Definition

Constrictiva are styptic medicines used by surgeons.

Meaning

The definition gives a class of medicines and a field of practice. “Styptic” is retained because it is the compiler’s operative category; the entry does not name a drug or explain its preparation. The word should be understood through related definitions rather than turned into a recommendation.

Use in the Book

Stiptica is directly glossed as drying medicines. Consolidativa and Congelativa name neighbouring actions, respectively healing and drying wounds, and stopping flows. These comparisons make the practical vocabulary more legible while keeping the dictionary’s individual classifications distinct.

Places to Read

Congelativa. Medicines classified by stopping a bodily flow.

Consolidativa. External surgical preparations classified by healing and drying.

Stiptica. A therapeutic class identified by drying.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 17; facsimile PDF page 345 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary 1650, s.v. Constrictiva

See also. Congelativa; Consolidativa; Stiptica

478

About This Reading Edition

The complete 706 historical definitions of the 1650 English dictionary, modernised and accompanied by expanded Diotimos commentary, reading routes, 15 textual notes and complete linked indexes.

Historical Text

A Chymicall Dictionary, London 1650, English version associated with John French, based on Gerhard Dorn’s Dictionarium Theophrasti Paracelsi. The containing volume also prints Sendivogius and Paracelsus; neither neighboring work changes this dictionary’s attribution.

About This Edition

Complete 706 definition paragraphs with new introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes; Diotimos Editions, 2026.

Rights

The historical 1650 English text is in the public domain. New introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes are © 2026 Diotimos Editions and published with the site owner’s authorization.