The Anatomy of Melancholy

In this edition. “philters” → “love potions” (DJR-031-41); “Philtrum” → “love potion” (DJR-036-07); “such like philters” → “similar love potions” (DJR-110-23). Love potion makes the material name plain and preserves the metaphor when applied to social manipulation. The merchant’s initial suspicion remains distinct from the case’s reported conclusion.

See also. Fascination.

Phlebotomy

Source forms: phlebotomy

The word. Phlebotomy means bloodletting. Burton discusses it as an intervention intended to remove an excess of blood or corrupt humours.

In Burton. The passage argues that both omission and misuse can be harmful. Timely bleeding is said to prevent the effects of heated humours, while excessive or ill-timed bleeding is said to cool the body and deplete its spirits. The balance of the argument depends on retaining both claims.

The places. The discussion weighs neglect of bloodletting against its excessive or unsuitable use. (p. 80; DJR-036-22.)

In this edition. “Phlebotomy” → “bloodletting” (DJR-036-22). Bloodletting supplies the familiar term. Without judgement, at an unsuitable time and to excess clarify the separate qualifications on its use.

See also. Purging.

Phlegm

Source forms: pituita

The word. Pituita means phlegm, named here as a bodily substance received by a passage of the brain’s middle ventricle. Its place belongs to the historical physiological description.

In Burton. Burton surveys the brain’s chambers and the faculties assigned to them. Phlegm appears beside the pathways of the animal spirits and the supposed locations of imagination, thought and memory.

The places. Pituita occurs in the account of the middle ventricle’s passages. (p. 19; DJR-024-19.)

In this edition. “Pituita” → “phlegm” (DJR-024-19). Phlegm supplies the English term. They place and they say preserve Burton’s attribution of the faculties’ locations to the writers he summarizes.

See also. Humour.

Phrenitis

Source forms: phrenitis; Phrensie

The word. Phrenitis is the historical disorder defined here by continual mental disturbance with acute fever. Phrensie, rendered frenzy, can likewise denote fever-associated delirium, rather than merely intense excitement.

In Burton. Burton distinguishes phrenitis from melancholy and madness through fever and contrasts its clamour with melancholy’s usual silence. In the later account of causes, frenzy appears among illnesses said to develop into melancholy. The classification and the claimed transition are separate uses of the medical vocabulary.

The places. Phrenitis is defined and distinguished by acute fever. (p. 8; DJR-022-19.) Phrensie is listed among preceding illnesses. (p. 173; DJR-056-57.)

In this edition. “Phrenitis” → “Phrenitis” (DJR-022-19); “Phrensie” → “frenzy” (DJR-056-57). The technical name remains in the definition. Frenzy is retained in the list with its historical medical sense explained; ague is rendered fever.

See also. Calenture and ague.

Physick

Source forms: physick; kitchin Physick; Pharmaceutice

The word. Physick means medicine, either the field of study and practice or remedies used for treatment. Kitchen physick is domestic medicine. Pharmaceutice is the branch concerned with treatment through medicines.

In Burton. The sufferer’s study of physick makes illness a motive for medical learning, as in Burton’s own reading. The treatment section distinguishes remedies prepared by apothecaries from the preceding regulation of life. Its subsequent polemic contrasts professional medicines with household remedies and country living.

The places. Physick names the subject studied in search of relief. (p. 6; DJR-003-09.) Kitchen and apothecaries’ physick are contrasted. (p. 362–363; DJR-098-45.) Pharmaceutice introduces treatment by medicines after regimen. (p. 362; DJR-098-40.)