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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 DictionaryNarcotica

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English Edition · Branch 536 of 740

Narcotica

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 536

Narcotica

Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Medicines classified through a sleep-producing effect.

In the book. Mitigativa are defined through allaying pain.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 34; facsimile PDF page 362.

Historical Definition

Narcotica are medicines that cause sleep.

Meaning

The intended effect defines the class. No ingredient, preparation or duration of sleep is specified. The heading therefore covers a therapeutic category rather than one named compound.

Use in the Book

Mitigativa are defined through allaying pain. The two effects may appear together in a medical discussion, but the dictionary does not make their respective classes identical. Laudanum is a particular compound with stated ingredients, a different kind of definition again.

Places to Read

Mitigativa. A class of surgical medicines defined by easing pain.

Laudanum. A Paracelsian compound defined here through gold, coral and pearl.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 34; facsimile PDF page 362 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 362, Narcotica

See also. Mitigativa; Laudanum

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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.