The Anatomy of Melancholy

The places. Mountebanks join the catalogue of deceptive performers. (p. 211; DJR-064-30.) Mountebanks and quacksalvers are contrasted with qualified physicians. (p. 226; DJR-069-04.)

In this edition. “Mountebanks” → “quacks” (DJR-064-30); “Mountebanks, Quacksalvers” → “mountebanks, quacks” (DJR-069-04). Quacks gives a familiar equivalent; retaining mountebanks in the fuller list preserves its historical vocabulary. The neighbouring empirics refers to untrained practitioners in this argument, not to modern empirical science.

See also. Physick; Counterfeit.

Music and harmony

Source forms: diapason; concent

The word. Diapason is a complete musical octave, used figuratively for full harmony. Concent means concord or harmony, rather than consent or agreement to an act.

In Burton. The proposed commonwealth turns a musical relation into an image of social ranks bound by affection and law. In the discussion of recreation, the harmony of musicians adorns a banquet like a precious stone set in gold. Music connects proportion and pleasure in two distinct settings.

The places. Diapason figures the harmony of social ranks. (p. 65; DJR-016-37.) Concent names the musicians’ harmony at a banquet. (p. 300; DJR-085-20.)

In this edition. “a diapason and sweet harmony” → “a full and sweet harmony” (DJR-016-37); “the concent of Musicians” → “the harmony of musicians” (DJR-085-20). Full harmony conveys the first metaphor without requiring a technical musical gloss in the sentence. Harmony also prevents a misreading of concent as consent.

See also. Mirth.

Myrach

Source forms: myrach; Mirache; Myrachiall; myrache

The word. Myrach, mirach and myrache refer to the abdominal region or its containing wall. Myrachial is the adjective used for a historical kind of melancholy associated with that region.

In Burton. Burton lists myrachial melancholy among bodily varieties, then equates it with hypochondriacal or flatulent melancholy. He calls it especially distressing and frequent while reporting that other physicians regard it as less dangerous. The symptom account associates the region with swelling, wind and nausea.

The places. Myrach supplies the name of one kind of melancholy. (p. 35; DJR-027-47.) Mirache appears in the anatomical catalogue. (p. 174; DJR-057-02.) Myrachial is equated with hypochondriacal melancholy. (p. 176; DJR-057-29.) The abdominal wall is associated with particular symptoms. (p. 200; DJR-062-16.)

In this edition. “myrach” → “myrach” (DJR-027-47); “Mirache” → “mirach” (DJR-057-02); “Myrachiall” → “myrachial” (DJR-057-29); “myrache” → “abdominal wall” (DJR-062-16). The technical name is retained in the classifications; abdominal wall explains it in the symptom discussion. The article preserves the historical term’s regional breadth.

See also. Organical parts.

Neoterics

Source forms: neotericks; Juniors

The word. Neoterics are more recent writers relative to Burton and his older authorities. Juniors likewise means later writers, rather than younger or subordinate members of a profession.

In Burton. Burton directs readers from ancient and medieval medical books to the meticulous work of more recent authors. A later catalogue of symptoms describes their repetition through successive authorities. The terms locate writers within a learned succession.

The places. Neoterics identifies the more recent medical authors. (p. 7; DJR-022-11.) Juniors identifies later writers repeating the symptoms. (p. 179; DJR-058-09.)

In this edition. “exact Neotericks” → “meticulous modern writers” (DJR-022-11); “all the Juniors” → “all the later writers” (DJR-058-09). Modern is relative to Burton’s time. Later makes the chronological sense of juniors explicit.

See also. Clerk; Humane learning; Schoolmen; Century.

Nepenthe

Source forms: nepenthe