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 salt name locally identified with intoxicating spirit of wine.
- In the bookVinum correctum is referred to the alcohol of wine.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 41; facsimile PDF page 369.
Historical definition
Sal Mercurii is the spirit of wine that causes drunkenness.
Meaning
The identification can surprise readers who expect Mercurii to require ordinary quicksilver and sal to require a familiar solid salt. The dictionary’s actual gloss is spirit of wine, distinguished by its attributed intoxicating effect.
Use in the book
Vinum correctum is referred to the alcohol of wine. Together the entries show why a compound headword must be read through the local explanation, rather than reconstructed from each word in isolation.
Places to read
- Sal MercuriiRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- Vinum correctumA wine preparation referred to alcohol of wine.
In this edition
The historical equivalence is retained exactly. It is not corrected to an assumed mercury salt solely on the basis of the Latin-looking name.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 41; facsimile PDF page 369 — Facsimile
Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Sal Mercurii; 1650 facsimile PDF p. 369; compare Vinum correctum