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 described through cold air and growth on stone.
- In the bookSal nitrum follows with a different description: salt boiled from earth, particularly rich earth associated with stables or excrement.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 41; facsimile PDF page 369.
Historical definition
Sal petre is that which grows in cold places upon stones, congealed by the cold air.
Meaning
The compiler defines this material by its place and an account of its formation. Cold air is said to congeal it. The entry therefore preserves a natural explanation as well as a name.
Use in the book
Sal nitrum follows with a different description: salt boiled from earth, particularly rich earth associated with stables or excrement. The two entries should both remain visible when tracing the dictionary’s distinctions.
Places to read
- Sal petreRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- Sal nitrumA salt obtained from earth associated with organic deposits.
- Sal practicumA named mixture of saltpetre and sal ammoniac.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 41; facsimile PDF page 369 — Facsimile