alexipharmacal

English

Adjective

alexipharmacal (comparative more alexipharmacal, superlative most alexipharmacal)

1. (obsolete) Alternative form of alexipharmic
   • 1699, Etmullerus abridg'd: or, a Compleat system of the theory and Practice of Physio:

     Distill'd Vinegar, Camphyr. and alexipharmacal Ingredients are proper Preservatives.

   • 1725, Thomas Short, A Rational Discourse of the Inward Uses of Water, page 65:

     Diluting and demulcent Drink then is best; as the whiete Decoction made strong with Hatshorn, which is an excellent Obtunder of the Blood, and Sheather of it's Acrimony, and duly Thickner of it's Parts; or Oatmeal, Water-gruel, or boyled Milk and Water plentifully drunk, and swill'd down in great Quantities, when the Heads of the Pustles fall down, and Pocks seem to go back by some Irregularity, which has promoted some of the Evacuations, is the best Cordial in theWorld; for Saffron and all the cordial or alexipharmacal Crew, are only a slow (nay sometimes a quick) Poyson, by fusing the Blood, rarefying and sending it a packing,by Sweat, Perspiration, Urine, or Stool: And what must raise the Pustle then?

   • 1852, Sir Thomas Browne, Simon Wilkin, The Works of Sir Thomas Browne - Volume 1, page 239:

     What is the poyson in the tooth of serpents, and of thelamprey, and the mus araneus, and the trantula, but the gall? which according to the condition and qualitye of the creature, as the spirits that accompany those ejactulations are more subtile, aerial, or fierye, soe they appeare more or lesse furious in their effects; whereas, those parts (by which they ejaculate this gall) being taken away, the other parts become not only edible and of high nourishment, as in the thornback and lamprey, and in the honey of the bee; but in some they become the most soveraigne antidotes, as in the flesh of vipers: nay, the very spirits of some of these being received into apte bodyes, in their full strength, imprint such an alexipharmacal or alexitarial virtue into those bodyes, against all poyson, as seemes almost miraculous, as in viper wine and oyle of scorpions.

Noun

alexipharmacal (plural alexipharmacals)

1. (archaic) Alternative form of alexipharmic
   • 1988, Avram Davidson, “One Morning with Samuel, Dorothy, and William”, in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, volume 12, page 61:

     It is not the minute quantity of French brandy, which I take purely upon the advice of my medical man, who pronounces it a sovereign alexipharmacal against the vapours, it is that Mr. Fitzgeorge has again offered to place me in an establishment which—

   • 2000, Francesco Torti, The Clinical Consultations of Francesco Torti, page 366:

     but to speak frankly with regard to the syphilitic trait, whatever it may be, it seems to me that at all times it requires its alexipharmacals and that, according to many, it does not readily permit the use of baths, and I had rather turn to the genuine and plain antimonial, according to the original and skillful formula, which, not being very unpleasant to the taste, by its continued use during meals and also apart from meals instead of any other drink and instead of wine, which is totally forbidden, it usually becomes acceptable to any stomach and in these circumstances usually produces marvelous results;