a. (sb.) [f. as prec. + -AL.] = prec. 1. (In first quot. absol.)
1605. Daniel, Queen’s Arcadia, III. ii. We must now Descend unto the Therapeutical.
1640. Chilmead, trans. Ferrand’s Love Melanch., xxxvii. 336. This Remedy … should rather be Prophylacticall, for Prevention of the disease, then Therapeuticall, for the Cure of it.
1657. [see PROPHYLACTICAL].
1703. T. S., Arts Improv., Prol. p. xxv. Fifthly, Therapeutical, Treating of the Cure of Diseases.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., Introd. Lect. 21. Observation of the progress of symptoms and the effects of therapeutical agents.
b. sb. A therapeutic substance, a medicine.
1845. Ford, Handbk. Spain, II. xiii. 967/2. Mineral therapeuticals still remain a … dead letter.
Hence Therapeutically adv., in a therapeutic manner; in relation to therapeutics.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 97. Dr. Leand affirms that the oxide of manganese is therapeutically equivalent to the preparations of bismuth excepting in that it does not constipate.
1885. G. H. Taylor, Pelv. & Hern. Therap., 28. The local parts are by no means independent, therapeutically, as local therapeutics seem to imply.
