From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordA lead preparation characterized as sweet.
- In the bookAnima Saturni, Butyrum Saturni and Dulcedo Saturni form a connected vocabulary.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 3; facsimile PDF page 331.
Historical definition
Altey plumbi is the sweet matter of lead.
Meaning
The entry identifies the material through both its source, lead, and an attributed quality, sweetness. It does not supply a preparation that would establish a single modern compound. That distinction matters because the dictionary can use “sweetness” and “soul” as related descriptions of prepared materials. A reader should therefore attend to how the passage says the lead has been treated, rather than treating sweetness alone as a complete identification.
Use in the book
Anima Saturni, Butyrum Saturni and Dulcedo Saturni form a connected vocabulary. Their different names can illuminate one another without proving that every author intends the same preparation. In particular, the name Anima introduces a philosophical description alongside the sensory one.
Places to read
- Altey plumbiRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- Anima SaturniThe “soul of Saturn” identified with lead’s sweetness.
- Butyrum SaturniA “butter of Saturn” name referring back to the sweet matter of lead.
- Dulcedo SaturniA Saturnian sweetness linked with Altey and ceruse.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 3; facsimile PDF page 331 — Facsimile