From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordPreserving medicines explained through astral virtue.
- In the bookBalsamum is also associated with preservation from putrefaction, but names a substance rather than a plural class of medicines.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 17; facsimile PDF page 345.
Historical definition
Conservativa are medicines that preserve Nature from putrefaction, being full of astral virtue.
Meaning
Preservation is the claimed action, and astral virtue is the historical explanation given for it. The definition therefore links a medical class to the book’s larger account of celestial efficacy. Removing the second clause would leave an ordinary description of keeping things sound while losing what the compiler says makes these medicines distinctive.
No specific preparation is named. The entry should be read as a category within historical medicine, whose members would have to be identified from the surrounding author. Neither “astral” nor “putrefaction” supplies a measurable test by itself.
Use in the book
Balsamum is also associated with preservation from putrefaction, but names a substance rather than a plural class of medicines. Confortativa concerns strengthening Nature; Balsamum Elementorum externum connects a preserving liquor with external elements. These links help explain the dictionary’s recurring treatment of preservation as an expression of a thing’s active virtue.
Places to read
- ConservativaRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- BalsamumA preservative substance described in both bodily and external forms.
- Balsamum Elementorum externumAn external elemental balsam explained through Mercury, Mumia and firmamental essence.
- ConfortativaMedicines classified by their claimed strengthening action.
In this edition
The modernised wording preserves the author’s explanatory claim. It does not convert astral virtue into a verified medical property or recommend any preparation for use.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 17; facsimile PDF page 345 — Facsimile