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 mercurial liquor defined as the seat of healing power.
- In the bookLiquor salis is called Nature’s balm and is assigned a preservative action.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 30; facsimile PDF page 358.
Historical definition
Liquor Mercurii is the balm of things, in which the power of curing or healing resides.
Meaning
The explanation gives a role rather than a recipe. Balm names what carries the curative power of things; it does not identify one starting ingredient or specify a physical consistency. The possessive Mercurii must therefore be read alongside this functional account, rather than treated as sufficient proof of ordinary mercury.
Use in the book
Liquor salis is called Nature’s balm and is assigned a preservative action. Together the entries show balm-language organising claims about the maintenance or restoration of bodies, while the attached names distinguish particular expressions.
Places to read
- Liquor MercuriiRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- Liquor salisA saline liquor understood through its preservative action.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 30; facsimile PDF page 358 — Facsimile
Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 358, Liquor Mercurii