From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordAn art-produced sweetness contrasted with natural sweetness.
- In the bookCalcinatum minus provides the necessary contrast: there the substances are naturally sweet.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 13; facsimile PDF page 341.
Historical definition
Calcinatum majus is anything made sweet by the spagyrical art that was not sweet by nature, such as the sweetness of Mercury, lead, salt and similar things. This is also called their soul and is said quickly to close any wound.
Meaning
The main distinction is between a quality gained through art and one present naturally. Mercury, lead and salt serve as examples. The category is therefore wider than one calcined material: the defining feature is the historically attributed transformation into sweetness. The added soul vocabulary gives that prepared quality a philosophical name.
The closing claim concerns the rapid closing or consolidation of wounds. It belongs to the historical definition and should remain attributed as a promised effect, rather than being converted into present-day advice. The entry supplies no preparation, dose or evidence for that efficacy.
Use in the book
Calcinatum minus provides the necessary contrast: there the substances are naturally sweet. Anima Saturni and Altey plumbi connect the sweetness and soul vocabulary specifically with lead. These cross-references make the major/minor distinction useful without confusing it with a simple scale of temperature or amount of burning.
Places to read
- Calcinatum majusRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- Calcinatum minusA class of naturally sweet substances credited with healing power.
- Anima SaturniThe “soul of Saturn” identified with lead’s sweetness.
- Altey plumbiA lead preparation characterized as sweet.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 13; facsimile PDF page 341 — Facsimile