Tap the page, move to the top or bottom edge, swipe down, or press Tab to reveal reading controls. Use the arrow keys or swipe sideways to turn pages.
MEMB. 3. SUBSEC. 1. Definition of Melancholy, Name, Difference.
Having thus briefly anatomized the body and soul of man, as a preparative to the rest; I may now freely proceed to treat of my intended object, to most mens capacity; and after many ambages, perspicuously define what this Melancholy is, shew his Name, and Differences.
The Name is imposed from the matter, and Disease denominated from the material cause: as Bruel observes, Μελαγχολία, quasi Μελαιναχόλη, from black Choler. And whether it be a cause or an effect, a Disease, or symptome, let Donatus Altomarus, and Salvianus decide, I will not contend about it. It hath severall Descriptions, Notations, and Definitions.
Fracastorius in his second book of intellect, calls those Melancholy, whom abundance of that same depraved humor of black Choler hath so misaffected, that they become mad thence, and dote in most things, or in all, belonging to election, will, or other manifest operations of the understanding.
Melanelius out of Galen, Ruffus, Ætius, describe it to be a bad and peevish disease, which makes men degenerate into beasts: Galen, a privation or infection of the middle cell of the Head, &c. defining it from the part affected, which Hercules de Saxoniâ approves, lib. 1. cap. 16. calling it a depravation of the principall function: Fuschius lib. 1. cap. 23, Arnoldus Breviar. lib. 1. cap. 18. Guianerius, and others: By reason of black Choler, Paulus addes.
Halyabbas simply calls it a commotion of the minde. Areteus, a perpetual anguish of the soul, fastned on one thing, without an ague; which definition of his, Mercurialis de affect. cap. lib. 1. cap. 10. taxeth: but Ælianus Montaltus defends, lib. de morb. cap. 1. de Melan for sufficient and good.
The common sort define it to be a kinde of dotage without a fever, having for his ordinary companions, fear, and sadness, without any apparent occasion. So doth Laurentius cap. 4. Piso, lib. 1. cap. 43. Donatus Altomarus, cap. 7. art. medic. Iacchinus in com. in lib. 9. Rhasis ad Almansor cap. 15. Valesius exerc. 17. Fuschius institut. 3. sec. 1. c. 11. &c.
which common definition, howsoever approved by most, Hercules de Saxonia will not allow of, nor David Crusius, Theat. morb. Herm. lib. 2. cap. 6. holds it insufficient: as rather shewing what it is not, then what it is: as omitting the specifical difference, the Phantasie and Brain: but I descend to particulars.
The summum genus is Dotage, or Anguish of the minde, saith Areteus, of a principall part; Hercules de Saxonia addes, to distinguish it from Cramp and Palsie, and such diseases as belong to the outward sense and motions [depraved] to distinguish it from Folly and Madness (which Montaltus makes angor animi, to separate) in which those functions are not depraved, but rather abolished,
[without an ague] is added by all, to sever it from Phrensie, and that Melancholy which is in a pestilent Fever. (Fear and Sorrow) make it differ from Madness: [without a cause] is lastly inserted to specifie it from all other ordinary passions of [Fear and Sorrow.]
We properly call that Dotage, as Laurentius interprets it, when some one principal facultie of the minde, as imagination, or reason is corrupted, as all melancholy persons have. It is without a fever, because the humor is most part cold and dry, contrary to putrefaction.
Fear and Sorrow are the true Characters, and inseparable companions of most Melancholy, not all, as Her. de Saxonia, Tract. posthumo de Melancholia, cap. 2. well excepts; for to some it is most pleasant, as to such as laugh most part; some are bold again, and free from all manner of fear and grief, as hereafter shall be declared.