The Anatomy of Melancholy

In this edition. “the primum mobile of all other affections” → “the first moving sphere of all the other affections” (DJR-108-27). First moving sphere preserves the physical image behind the claim about emotional dependence.

See also. Astrology; Essence and quintessence.

Privy

Source forms: jakes; Draughts

The word. Jakes and draughts can mean privies or latrines. Here draughts names a source of foul air, not a current of air or a drink.

In Burton. The humiliating labour assigned to the poor includes emptying privies and clearing drains. The medical account also groups privies with dunghills and carrion as sources of unhealthy air. The same object serves a social argument and a historical account of disease.

The places. Emptying privies appears in the catalogue of degrading labour. (p. 156; DJR-053-03.) Privies and drains are listed among sources of foul air. (p. 83; DJR-037-02.)

In this edition. “empty jakes” → “empty privies” (DJR-053-03); “Draughts, Sinks” → “privies and drains” (DJR-037-02). Privies makes the shared meaning plain without weakening the degrading imagery in the first passage.

See also. Meat; Bewray.

Professor

Source forms: Christian Professors; Professor

The word. A professor can be someone who professes a religion. Christian professors and a true professor name believers, without requiring an academic office.

In Burton. In the attack on diverted church revenues, a decline among Christian professors accompanies increased ignorance. In the consolation for religious distress, the wish to be a true professor becomes evidence that the sufferer has not wholly rejected faith.

The places. Those professing Christianity suffer from the deprivation of church support. (p. 137; DJR-048-17.) The desire to be a professing believer supports hope of reconciliation. (p. 710; DJR-167-11.)

In this edition. “Christian Professors” → “those who profess Christianity” (DJR-048-17); “a true Professor” → “a true professing believer” (DJR-167-11). Professing identifies the religious commitment in both contexts. The later passage retains the distinction between being reconciled now and being reconciled in the future.

See also. Divine.

Prognostics

Source forms: prognosticks; event

The word. Prognostics concern an illness’s expected course and outcome. Event can mean the outcome itself, rather than an occurrence considered without reference to what preceded it.

In Burton. Burton warns melancholy readers that descriptions of symptoms and prognoses may be misapplied to their own cases. His prognosis chapter then presents different consequences of humoral heat and cold. Reading these general descriptions as personal predictions is precisely the danger named in the warning.

The places. Readers are warned against treating general prognoses as personal descriptions. (p. 17; DJR-006-27.) Event names the supposed outcome of increasing humoral heat. (p. 213; DJR-065-12.)

In this edition. “prognosticks” → “prognoses” (DJR-006-27); “the common event” → “the usual outcome” (DJR-065-12). Prognoses and outcome clarify the predictive purpose. The historical categories of frenzy, stupefaction and possession remain distinct reported claims.

See also. Physick; Present; Century.

Proletary

Source forms: proletaries; proletariique

The word. Proletaries are people of low social rank; in the battle example they are common soldiers. The Latin proletarii can also be used disparagingly of low fellows.