The Anatomy of Melancholy

In this edition. “spectrums” → “apparitions” (DJR-028-40); “Ambulones” → “Ambulones, “wanderers,”” (DJR-030-34); “a Puck” → “a puck” (DJR-038-09); “spectrum” → “ghost” (DJR-051-08); “raise and lay them” → “summon and dismiss these spirits” (DJR-030-33). Apparitions and ghost give the local senses of spectrum; summon and dismiss make the paired actions clear. Puck remains a named kind of figure, with the story qualification preserved.

See also. Daemon and genius.

Despair

Source forms: Despair

The word. Despair is the loss or rejection of hope and comfort. Burton reports a theological distinction between final despair, persisting to the end, and temporary despair, which may pass.

In Burton. The classification expressly allows temporary despair to afflict the best of God’s children. Its description as rejection of hope for a time is therefore essential to the argument, not an incidental qualification. The later catalogue of fatal outcomes records particular cases attributed to Platter; it does not show that every person called despairing follows that course.

The places. Final and temporary despair are distinguished. (p. 694; DJR-163-40.) Particular fatal cases are attributed to Platter. (p. 704; DJR-166-04.)

In this edition. “final and temporal” → “final and temporary despair” (DJR-163-40); “rejection of hope and comfort for a time” → “rejection of hope and comfort for a time” (DJR-163-40); “desperate as he was” → “in despair” (DJR-166-04). Temporary makes temporal clear. Despair names the condition described without supplying a present-day clinical diagnosis.

See also. Sorrow; Desperate; Faith and assurance; Grace; Salvation; Scruple.

Desperate

Source forms: desperate

The word. Desperate can mean despairing, but it can also mean recklessly heedless. It does not by itself specify a suicidal act.

In Burton. In the jealousy cases, desperate describes people who have fallen into despair, with different behaviours narrated separately. The religious classification likewise calls excessively distrustful and fearful people desperate. A later denunciation joins desperate with secure and excessive pleasure: there the sense is reckless disregard rather than afflicted hopelessness. The immediate contrast governs the reading.

The places. Despair follows jealousy in several reported cases. (p. 614; DJR-148-12.) Desperate persons are excessively distrustful and fearful. (p. 683; DJR-161-29.) Desperate accompanies complacency and reckless indulgence. (p. 684; DJR-161-49.)

In this edition. “became desperate” → “fell into despair” (DJR-148-12); “desperate persons” → “despairing people” (DJR-161-29); “so desperate” → “so reckless” (DJR-161-49). Despairing and reckless preserve two different senses. Actions described in individual cases are not imported into every occurrence of the adjective.

See also. Despair; Secure; Feral; Make away.

Diet and regimen

Source forms: diet; regiment

The word. Diet can mean food or board supplied as part of someone’s maintenance. Regiment can mean a regimen, a plan or ordered account for preserving health.

In Burton. A poorly rewarded scholar receives a small wage and his diet: the food included with his employment, not a programme of restriction. In the pharmaceutical discussion, a physician’s regiment of health names the kind of work in which a remedy is reported. The first usage concerns provision; the second, the organization of health care.

The places. Food is included in a scholar’s meagre remuneration. (p. 131; DJR-047-12.) A remedy is cited from a regimen of health. (p. 375; DJR-101-23.)

In this edition. “his diet” → “his food” (DJR-047-12); “regiment of health” → “Regimen of Health” (DJR-101-23). Food states the employment benefit directly. Regimen removes the misleading association of regiment with a military unit.

See also. Concoction; Non naturals; Luxurious and riot; Meat.

Distillation and rheum

Source forms: distillation; rheume