The Anatomy of Melancholy

The word. Affection can be a bodily condition, a disorder, or a passion or disposition. The object affected and the surrounding classification determine its force.

In Burton. The definition of disease calls it an affection of the body contrary to nature. Erotic melancholy is later placed among the affections of the brain. In religious controversy, corrupt affection becomes the common root assigned to several distinct errors. These uses connect bodily and moral language, but none is adequately explained by the everyday meaning of fondness.

The places. Affection appears in a definition of disease. (p. 6; DJR-022-02.) Erotic melancholy is counted among disorders of the brain. (p. 446; DJR-115-60.) Corrupt passions are made a common root of religious errors. (p. 692; DJR-163-20.)

In this edition. “Affection of the body” → “condition of the body” (DJR-022-02); “affections of the brain” → “disorders of the brain” (DJR-115-60); “corrupt affection” → “corrupt passions” (DJR-163-20). The modern column distinguishes condition, disorder and passion according to the passage.

See also. Passion; Bowels.

Affinity and consanguinity

Source forms: affinitie; consanguinitie; affinity; consanguinity

The word. Affinity denotes kinship through marriage; consanguinity denotes relationship by blood. Together they distinguish two kinds of family connection.

In Burton. In the satire on quarrels, neither marriage ties nor blood relationships can restrain resentment when self-interest is touched. In the account of scholarly patronage, the same two connections fail to secure advancement from an unyielding patron. Burton treats family bonds as obligations that people disregard, or claims that patrons resist.

The places. Family ties fail to prevent hostility. (p. 36; DJR-010-24.) A scholar pleads family connection when seeking an appointment. (p. 142 [printed 128]; DJR-049-28.)

In this edition. “affinitie” → “marriage tie” (DJR-010-24); “consanguinitie” → “blood relationship” (DJR-010-24); “affinity, consanguinity” → “kinship by marriage or blood” (DJR-049-28). The paired equivalents preserve the distinction; “affinity” here does not merely mean shared tastes or sympathetic feeling.

See also. Dowry and jointure; Bowels.

Air

Source forms: bad ayr; middle Region; rectification of Aire

The word. Air belongs both to Burton’s account of places and to the environmental conditions considered in treatment. The middle region refers to an older layered account of the atmosphere.

In Burton. A supposedly unhealthy atmosphere helps explain the misfortunes of particular settlements. The digression on mountains invokes the cold middle region to account for snow near hot lowlands. The treatment discussion then makes rectification of air a practical concern, distinguishing the choice of a place from human arrangements that alter its air. Climate, geography and regimen thus meet in this vocabulary.

The places. Unhealthy air is listed among disadvantages of place. (p. 47; DJR-013-05.) The middle region figures in an explanation of mountain cold. (p. 248; DJR-074-06.) Natural and artificial air are distinguished in treatment. (p. 259; DJR-076-20.)

In this edition. “bad ayr” → “unhealthy air” (DJR-013-05); “middle Region” → “middle region of the air” (DJR-074-06); “rectification of Aire” → “improving the air” (DJR-076-20). The expanded wording clarifies what Burton’s regional and corrective terms refer to.

See also. Non naturals; Essence and quintessence; Fulsome.

Alteratives

Source forms: alterative; alteratives

The word. Alteratives are remedies intended to change an unhealthy bodily condition or humoral quality, as distinguished from treatment that expels material by purging.

In Burton. The pharmaceutical synopsis places alterative treatment above a group of simple substances that alter melancholy. Later, while defending the proper use of purges, Burton distinguishes alteratives and cordials and announces his selection from the many medicines recorded by physicians and herbalists. The classification describes an intended kind of operation, not a particular ingredient.