Definition

1. Noun (plural): A medicinal preparation consisting of a mixture of powders (typically sodium bicarbonate, Rochelle salt, and tartaric acid) that effervesces when dissolved in water, historically used as a mild cathartic or laxative.

Usage

• The term is used as a plural noun to refer to the specific medicinal compound. It is typically used in historical or pharmaceutical contexts.
• Example:
• Example:

Advanced Usage

• The term is often capitalized as Seidlitz powders, named after the mineral springs in Sedlitz, Bohemia (now Sedlec, Czech Republic).
• It can be used metonymically to refer to an old-fashioned or outdated remedy.
  • Example: His economic policy is about as effective as a dose of seidlitz powders.

Variants and Related Words

• Seidlitz powder (singular form, though often used plurally).
• Effervescent powder: A general term for any powder that fizzes in water.
• Cathartic: (noun) A substance that accelerates defecation; (adjective) having a purgative effect.
• Rochelle salt: Potassium sodium tartrate, a component of the powder.
• Tartaric acid: An organic acid, another component.

Synonyms

• Effervescent cathartic
• Saline purgative (a broader category)
• Aperient (a general term for a mild laxative)

Notes on Meaning

• The primary meaning is historical and pharmaceutical, referring to a specific compound.
• In modern contexts, its use is largely archaic, as more effective and standardized laxatives have replaced it. It is now primarily encountered in historical texts or discussions of medical history.

Noun

1. an effervescing salt containing sodium bicarbonate and Rochelle salt and tartaric acid; used as a cathartic