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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 DictionaryContorsio

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English Edition · Branch 479 of 740

Contorsio

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 479

Contorsio

Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Severe suffering located in the bowels.

In the book. Colica also concerns the bowels but adds a historical explanation involving tartar and the colon.

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

Historical Definition

Contorsio is a torment of the bowels.

Meaning

The definition gives an affected region and a description of suffering. It does not identify a cause, specify an anatomical lesion, or offer a treatment. The older word “torment” conveys the character of the complaint without establishing a modern diagnosis.

Use in the Book

Colica also concerns the bowels but adds a historical explanation involving tartar and the colon. Contractio describes weakness and drawing together of members. Keep those additional features attached to their own entries; they are not supplied by the brief definition of Contorsio.

Places to Read

Colica. A bowel disorder explained through the historical category of tartar.

Contractio. Weakness accompanied by a drawing together of bodily members.

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

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

See also. Colica; Contractio

479

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.