The Anatomy of Melancholy

The places. Black bile links the substance with the affliction. (p. 4; DJR-002-13.) Melancholizing supports Burton’s claim to experience. (p. 6; DJR-003-11.) Melancholizing describes pleasurable solitary fantasy. (p. 88; DJR-038-07.) Adventitious melancholy is discussed as acquired. (p. 175; DJR-057-14.) Asinine melancholy names a disparaging historical subtype. (p. 191; DJR-060-16.) Degrees and ratios express the condition’s variety. (p. 195; DJR-061-10.) The name is explained through black bile and disputed categories. (p. 31; DJR-027-03.) The source index gathers the word’s different meanings and subjects. (unnumbered Table and closing notice; DJR-172-013.)

In this edition. “atra bilis” → “black bile” (DJR-002-13); “melancholizing” → “melancholizing” (DJR-003-11); “so to melancholize” → “to indulge in melancholy like this” (DJR-038-07); “adventitious Melancholy” → “acquired melancholy” (DJR-057-14); “Asininam melancholiam” → “Asinine melancholy” (DJR-060-16); “melancholicus ad octo” → “melancholic to the eighth degree” (DJR-061-10); “black Choler” → “black bile” (DJR-027-03); “mel. equivocations” → “the different meanings of melancholy” (DJR-172-013). The modern text generally retains melancholy while explaining its changing sense. Black bile identifies the material substance; acquired explains adventitious. The source index’s old numbers remain source references, not a newly verified clinical or navigational system.

See also. Adust; Humour; Habit and disposition; Madness; Hypochondria; Religious melancholy.

Memory and recollection

Source forms: reminiscentia; recollect

The word. Reminiscentia means recollection or remembering. Recollect can also mean gather together, so the later use need not describe recovering something from memory.

In Burton. Burton reports Plato’s account of learning as the soul remembering what it knew before entering the body. In the consolation for troubled consciences, Burton instead promises to collect useful sayings from extensive books and Scripture for readers who cannot readily obtain them.

The places. Recollection belongs to the reported account of the soul’s earlier knowledge. (p. 26; DJR-026-09.) Recollect describes gathering passages for the afflicted reader. (p. 705–706; DJR-166-16.)

In this edition. “reminiscentia, or recalling” → “recollection or remembering” (DJR-026-09); “recollect out of their voluminous Treatises” → “gather from their extensive treatises” (DJR-166-16). Recollection serves the philosophical account, while gather makes the editorial activity plain.

See also. Faculty.

Meseraic

Source forms: miseriack; Meseraick veines; Meseraicke veins

The word. Meseraic and the variant miseriack mean mesenteric: belonging to the mesentery, the tissue supporting the intestines. Meseraic veins are the veins of that region.

In Burton. The synopsis lists these veins among possible internal causes of windy melancholy. The anatomical catalogue repeats them, and the symptom discussion associates them with a particular appetite pattern. Their role belongs to Burton’s historical map of abdominal causes.

The places. Miseriack veins occur among internal causes in the synopsis. (p. 98; DJR-020-33.) Meseraic veins appear in the catalogue of bodily parts. (p. 174; DJR-057-02.) The veins and liver are associated with diminished appetite. (p. 200; DJR-062-17.)

In this edition. “miseriack veins” → “mesenteric veins” (DJR-020-33); “Meseraick veines” → “mesenteric veins” (DJR-057-02); “Meseraicke veins” → “mesenteric veins” (DJR-062-17). The same anatomical equivalent covers the spelling variants. On the other hand in the third passage marks a contrast in symptoms, not the side on which the liver lies.

See also. Organical parts.

Metempsychosis

Source forms: metempsychosis; palingenesia