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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 DictionaryLaxativa

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English Edition · Branch 516 of 740

Laxativa

Book Mode

A Chymical Dictionary

p. 516

Laxativa

Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Medicines classified through upward and downward action.

In the book. Compare Oppilativa, defined through stopping fluxes.

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

Historical Definition

Laxativa are medicines that work upwards and downwards.

Meaning

The direction of action, rather than a named ingredient, marks this therapeutic class. The plural description includes action upwards as well as downwards, so the narrower modern expectation attached to the word laxative would omit part of the definition.

Use in the Book

Compare Oppilativa, defined through stopping fluxes. The two headings give different intended effects upon bodily movement. They are classes of medicines, not names of a single preparation.

Places to Read

Oppilativa. A class of medicines defined by stopping a flow.

In This Edition

Both directions are kept. The edition does not silently narrow the historical class to bowel evacuation alone.

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

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

See also. Oppilativa

516

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.