Lesson plan
Clyssus
In the pre-modern chemistry of Paracelsus, a clyssus, or clissus, was one of the effects, or productions of that art; consisting of the most efficacious principles of any body, extracted, purified, and then remixed. Or, a clyssus is when the several constituents of a body are prepared and purified separately, and then combined again. Thus, the five principles, reassembled into one body, by long digestion, make a clyssus. So, clyssus of antimony is produced by distillation from antimony, nitre, and sulfur mixed together. There is also clyssus of vitriol, which is a spirit drawn by distillation from vitriol dissolved in vinegar; this was used by pre-modern physicians in treating various diseases, and to extract the tinctures of several vegetables. Clyssus is used among some authors for a kind of sapa, or extract, made with eight parts of the juice of a plant, and one of sugar, seethed together into the consistency of honey.
Article summary
In the pre-modern chemistry of Paracelsus, a clyssus, or clissus, was one of the effects, or productions of that art; consisting of the most efficacious principles of any body, extracted, purified, and then remixed. Or, a clyssus is when the several constituents of a body are prepared and purified separately, and then combined again. Thus, the five principles, reassembled into one body, by long digestion, make a clyssus. So, clyssus of antimony is produced by distillation from antimony, nitre, and sulfur mixed together. There is also clyssus of vitriol, which is a spirit drawn by distillation from vitriol dissolved in vinegar; this was used by pre-modern physicians in treating various diseases, and to extract the tinctures of several vegetables. Clyssus is used among some authors for a kind of sapa, or extract, made with eight parts of the juice of a plant, and one of sugar, seethed together into the consistency of honey.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
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