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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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English Edition · Branch 551 of 740

Preservativa

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 551

Preservativa

Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Remedies classified through preservation from corruption.

In the book. Liquor salis is likewise described through preservation from putrefaction.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 38; facsimile PDF page 366.

Historical Definition

Preservativa are medicines that preserve bodies from corruption.

Meaning

The definition describes an attributed action toward bodies. Corruption concerns deterioration or loss of the body’s condition within the historical vocabulary. It is not restricted in this sentence to a moral fault.

Use in the Book

Liquor salis is likewise described through preservation from putrefaction. Sedativa and Oppilativa classify remedies through different actions, easing pain and stopping flows. Comparing the verbs helps preserve the intended therapeutic classes.

Conservativa likewise concerns preservation from putrefaction, but its entry specifically speaks of preserving Nature and attributes astral virtue to the medicines. The present definition gives bodies and corruption without that additional account.

Places to Read

Liquor salis. A saline liquor understood through its preservative action.

Sedativa. Remedies classified by relief of pain.

Oppilativa. A class of medicines defined by stopping a flow.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 38; facsimile PDF page 366 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Preservativa; 1650 facsimile PDF p. 366; compare Liquor salis, Sedativa, Oppilativa, Conservativa

See also. Liquor salis; Sedativa; Oppilativa; Conservativa

551

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.