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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 DictionaryConservativa

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English Edition · Branch 476 of 740

Conservativa

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 476

Conservativa

Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Preserving medicines explained through astral virtue.

In the book. Balsamum is also associated with preservation from putrefaction, but names a substance rather than a plural class of medicines.

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

Historical Definition

Conservativa are medicines that preserve Nature from putrefaction, being full of astral virtue.

Meaning

Preservation is the claimed action, and astral virtue is the historical explanation given for it. The definition therefore links a medical class to the book’s larger account of celestial efficacy. Removing the second clause would leave an ordinary description of keeping things sound while losing what the compiler says makes these medicines distinctive.

No specific preparation is named. The entry should be read as a category within historical medicine, whose members would have to be identified from the surrounding author. Neither “astral” nor “putrefaction” supplies a measurable test by itself.

Use in the Book

Balsamum is also associated with preservation from putrefaction, but names a substance rather than a plural class of medicines. Confortativa concerns strengthening Nature; Balsamum Elementorum externum connects a preserving liquor with external elements. These links help explain the dictionary’s recurring treatment of preservation as an expression of a thing’s active virtue.

Places to Read

Balsamum. A preservative substance described in both bodily and external forms.

Balsamum Elementorum externum. An external elemental balsam explained through Mercury, Mumia and firmamental essence.

Confortativa. Medicines classified by their claimed strengthening action.

In This Edition

The modernised wording preserves the author’s explanatory claim. It does not convert astral virtue into a verified medical property or recommend any preparation for use.

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

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

See also. Balsamum; Balsamum Elementorum externum; Confortativa

476

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.