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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 DictionaryNitrum

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English Edition · Branch 262 of 740

Nitrum

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 262

Nitrum

Salts solvents and liquid preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A name for saltpetre.

In the book. Sal nitrum gives an account of a salt boiled from earth, especially rich earth in places associated with excrement.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 35; facsimile PDF page 363.

Historical Definition

Nitrum is saltpetre.

Meaning

The compiler supplies a direct material equivalent. No source, preparation or degree of purity is added under this heading.

Use in the Book

Sal nitrum gives an account of a salt boiled from earth, especially rich earth in places associated with excrement. Sal practicum names a mixture of saltpetre and sal ammoniac. These further entries should be read for their own qualifications, rather than imported wholesale into the plain Nitrum equivalence.

Places to Read

Sal nitrum. A salt obtained from earth associated with organic deposits.

Sal practicum. A named mixture of saltpetre and sal ammoniac.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 35; facsimile PDF page 363 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 363, Nitrum

See also. Sal nitrum; Sal practicum

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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.