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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 DictionaryLethargyrium

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English Edition · Branch 133 of 740

Lethargyrium

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 133

Lethargyrium

Metals minerals and metallic preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A separated scum from the purification of three named metallic materials.

In the book. Caput mortuum likewise identifies a material through its residual relation to an operation, although it specifies distillation and sublimation.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 30; facsimile PDF page 358.

Historical Definition

Lethargyrium in Paracelsus is the scum of mercury, silver or lead, separated when they are refined and purified.

Meaning

The entry identifies the material by its position within refining: it is something separated from mercury, silver or lead. The list prevents the headword from being restricted without qualification to one of those materials. Spume names the scum, not the purified metal remaining after separation.

Use in the Book

Caput mortuum likewise identifies a material through its residual relation to an operation, although it specifies distillation and sublimation. Martath leads to litharge through another naming route. The particular operations and subjects in each definition should remain visible.

Places to Read

Caput mortuum. The material left behind by distillation or sublimation.

Martath. Two forms leading to litharge.

In This Edition

The phrase in Paracelsus marks the scope of the attribution. It does not establish that every later use of the word covers the same three materials.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 30; facsimile PDF page 358 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 358, Lethargyrium

See also. Caput mortuum; Martath

133

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.