signaturistn.

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 96 Signaturists have somewhat advanced it, who..have made men suspect there was more therein, then ordinary practice allowed. View more context for this quotation

1786 J. Ferriar in Manch. Mem. (1790) III. 50 Baptista Porta was not only a demonologist, but a signaturist, that is, a believer in the conformity of the virtues of plants to certain external appearances, supposed to be impressed by guardian angels.

1809 B. Parr London Med. Dict. II. 137/2 at Materia Medica The signaturist prefers plants which resemble the part diseased.

1858 Homœopathic Rec. 1 July 173 The bile being yellow, the signaturists sought for yellow substances to cure jaundice.

1905 St. Louis Med. Rev. 7 Jan. 436/1 The doctrine of the signaturists pressed into the service of the enemies of old age an immense number of new and powerful remedies.

1996 R. Mabey Flora Britannica 189/1 The round, rust-speckled flower-heads, a little like scabs or blood clots, made it a signaturist's favourite, for staunching wounds.