The Anatomy of Melancholy

In Burton. Burton relates Adam’s sin to the physical agents of illness by distinguishing an impelling cause from its instruments. His account of movement distinguishes efficient cause from end, the desired or avoided object. The medical headings then gather internal, antecedent and immediate causes. These are overlapping explanatory schemes, and Burton’s compressed grouping should not be mistaken for a single consistently separated classification.

The places. Adam’s sin is called the impelling cause of human misery. (p. 2; DJR-021-12.) Created things act as instruments of infirmity. (p. 3–4; DJR-021-27.) Efficient cause is distinguished from the end of movement. (p. 25; DJR-025-31.) External and internal causes are classified. (p. 65; DJR-033-28.) A heading groups causes acting on the mind through the body. (p. 172; DJR-056-39.)

In this edition. “impulsive cause” → “impelling cause” (DJR-021-12); “instrumental causes” → “instrumental causes” (DJR-021-27); “Efficient cause” → “efficient cause” (DJR-025-31); “Continent causes” → “containing causes” (DJR-033-28); “Continent, inward, antecedent, next causes” → “Immediate, internal, antecedent and proximate causes” (DJR-056-39). The renderings preserve the distinctions locally. Containing and immediate express the sustaining force of continent; proximate expresses the nearness meant by next.

See also. Consent and essence; Accident; Contingence; Adventitious; Artificial.

Cautery

Source forms: cautery; seared; cauterized consciences

The word. Cautery involves searing bodily tissue. In the selected medical passage, a cautery is the resulting wound maintained as a draining outlet. A cauterized conscience figuratively lacks sensitivity.

In Burton. A reported case attributes madness to the healing of a draining wound and recovery to its reopening. Elsewhere the willingness to endure cauterization illustrates how strongly most people desire life. In the satire on wealthy patrons, seared consciences resist rebuke. The physical action thus supplies both a treatment term and a moral image.

The places. Closure of a cautery wound is given as a cause of illness. (p. 176; DJR-057-26.) Cauterization appears among sufferings endured for health. (p. 215; DJR-066-01.) Seared consciences disregard denunciation. (p. 137; DJR-048-22.)

In this edition. “a cautery” → “a cautery wound” (DJR-057-26); “seared” → “cauterized” (DJR-066-01); “cauterized consciences” → “consciences are seared” (DJR-048-22). Adding wound clarifies the object that dries up; seared preserves the bodily metaphor in the moral passage.

See also. Chirurgery.

Censure

Source forms: censured; censure; censures

The word. Censure can mean judgment or assessment, as well as adverse criticism. Its force depends on who judges and on the surrounding action.

In Burton. The synopsis asks how someone who harms himself should be judged. Addressing patrons, Burton submits himself to their censure and service: their judgment is being acknowledged, not necessarily their condemnation. A scholar who scorns all censures, by contrast, dismisses criticism. The word moves from an act of assessment to the opinions that an author resents.

The places. The synopsis poses a question about judgment. (p. 100; DJR-020-63.) Burton submits to the judgment of worthy patrons. (p. 141; DJR-049-19.) A scholar dismisses criticism. (p. 195; DJR-061-07.)

In this edition. “censured” → “judge” (DJR-020-63); “censure” → “judgement” (DJR-049-19); “censures” → “criticism” (DJR-061-07). Judge and judgement preserve the broader sense; criticism fits the scholar’s defensive attitude.

See also. Fact; Explode; Apologize.

Cento

Source forms: Cento

The word. A cento is a patchwork composition assembled from other writings. Here the term names Burton’s own gathered work.