MENSTRUUM

menstruum. Menstruum, n. a substance which dissolves another

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Men″stru‐um (?), n.; pl. E. Menstruums (#), L. Menstrua (#). [[L. menstruus. See Menstruous.]] Any substance which dissolves a solid body; a solvent. The proper menstruum to dissolve metal. Bacon. All liquors are called menstruums which are used as dissolvents, or to extract the virtues of ingredients by infusion or decoction. Quincy. ☞ The use is supposed to have originated in some notion of the old chemists about the influence of the moon in the preparation of dissolvents. Johnson.