From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordMedicines classified through upward and downward action.
- In the bookCompare Oppilativa, defined through stopping fluxes.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 29; facsimile PDF page 357.
Historical definition
Laxativa are medicines that work upwards and downwards.
Meaning
The direction of action, rather than a named ingredient, marks this therapeutic class. The plural description includes action upwards as well as downwards, so the narrower modern expectation attached to the word laxative would omit part of the definition.
Use in the book
Compare Oppilativa, defined through stopping fluxes. The two headings give different intended effects upon bodily movement. They are classes of medicines, not names of a single preparation.
Places to read
- LaxativaRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- OppilativaA class of medicines defined by stopping a flow.
In this edition
Both directions are kept. The edition does not silently narrow the historical class to bowel evacuation alone.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 29; facsimile PDF page 357 — Facsimile
Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 357, Laxativa