From the book
The Anatomy of Melancholy
Robert Burton · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The word“Alterative” names a treatment that changes an unhealthy bodily condition; “alteratives” are medicines assigned that work.
- In the Anatomy of MelancholyThe pharmaceutical synopsis places alterative simples within treatment by medicines.
- In this edition“Alterative” becomes “Alterative treatment” in the synopsis; “Alteratives and Cordials” becomes “alteratives and cordials” in the medical discussion.
- A place to readThe synopsis makes alteration a branch of pharmaceutical treatment and places simples within it.
Meaning
“Alterative” names a treatment that changes an unhealthy bodily condition; “alteratives” are medicines assigned that work. Burton distinguishes them from purgatives, which evacuate matter. His own definition is broader than a simple change of temperature: they correct, strengthen nature, alter, hinder or resist disease. The classification describes intended action, not one ingredient or one preparation. A remedy may be simple or compounded.
The same vocabulary becomes figurative when Scripture changes an afflicted mind. This extension retains the idea of medicinal relief while transferring its recipient from the humoral body to the distressed soul.
Use in the book
The pharmaceutical synopsis places alterative simples within treatment by medicines. In the fuller account, Burton concedes objections to the weakening effects of purges, then restricts his defence to their seasonable and moderate use. He declares that alteratives and cordials are undisputed and announces a selection from the large pharmaceutical literature. His assurance is part of that argument, rather than proof that all physicians agreed.
The category also organizes competing therapeutic priorities. Burton reports Galen’s preference for alteratives over diminishing remedies and Trallianus’s boast that moistening has cured more melancholy patients than purging. The more extravagant prevention-and-cure claims attributed to Renodæus are not identical to the accompanying margin: its Latin promises prevention, whereas the English body adds cure.
In the later treatment sequence, alteration addresses the supposed residue after purging and improves temperament by strengthening the mutually affected heart and brain. Burton allows that such medicines sometimes help alone, and reports Arnoldus’s high preference for them; the margin specifically praises theriacal medicine. For hypochondriacal melancholy the same scheme must include liver, spleen, stomach and regions beneath the ribs. These distinctions belong to his historical medicine, not to a present treatment recommendation.
Scripture is called the sweetest alterative while its reading is praised as an immediate diversion from worldly cares. Later the apothecary-shop comparison places alteratives beside purgatives, cordials, strengthening remedies and lenitives. The plurality matters: Burton imagines several kinds of relief, not an undifferentiated medicine for every condition.
Related entries
Humoral qualities: The qualities which historical treatment aims to alter.
Complexion and temperament: The bodily balance to be amended.
Places to read
- Synopsis of the Second Partition · paragraph 13The synopsis makes alteration a branch of pharmaceutical treatment and places simples within it.
- Member 4 Exercise of Body and Mind Regulated · paragraph 26Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Member 4 Exercise of Body and Mind Regulated · paragraph 27Scripture-reading receives the language of medicinal alteration among other images of relief.
- Member 4 Exercise of Body and Mind Regulated · paragraph 28Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Member 4 Exercise of Body and Mind Regulated · paragraph 34Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Member 4 Exercise of Body and Mind Regulated · paragraph 36Scripture is compared with a shop containing differentiated remedies for diseases of the soul.
- Member 4 Exercise of Body and Mind Regulated · paragraph 37Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Member 1 Subsection 1 Medical Treatment by Medicines · paragraph 26Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Member 1 Subsection 1 Medical Treatment by Medicines · paragraph 27Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Member 1 Subsection 1 Medical Treatment by Medicines · paragraph 28Burton distinguishes these classes while defending purges used at an appropriate time and in moderation.
- Subsection 2 Simple Remedies Suited to Melancholy Against Imported Simples · paragraph 29Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Subsection 2 Simple Remedies Suited to Melancholy Against Imported Simples · paragraph 30Burton defines the category by intended operation, not by a single ingredient; herbs, stones and minerals may belong to it.
- Subsection 2 Simple Remedies Suited to Melancholy Against Imported Simples · paragraph 33Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Subsection 3 Alteratives Herbs and Other Plant Remedies · paragraph 2Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Subsection 3 Alteratives Herbs and Other Plant Remedies · paragraph 7The cited comparison prefers alteration and moistening to diminishing or purging bodily matter.
- Subsection 5 Alteratives and Cordials That Strengthen the Body, Disperse The… · paragraph 17Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Subsection 5 Alteratives and Cordials That Strengthen the Body, Disperse The… · paragraph 18After evacuation they are supposed to address remaining matter and strengthen heart and brain; Burton also says they sometimes help alone.
- Member 3. Subsection 1 Treatment of Hypochondriacal Melancholy · paragraph 23Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Member 3. Subsection 1 Treatment of Hypochondriacal Melancholy · paragraph 24Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
- Member 3. Subsection 1 Treatment of Hypochondriacal Melancholy · paragraph 25The reuse of the category in hypochondriacal melancholy requires attention to liver, spleen, stomach and subcostal regions as well as heart and brain.
In this edition
“Alterative” becomes “Alterative treatment” in the synopsis; “Alteratives and Cordials” becomes “alteratives and cordials” in the medical discussion. The technical vocabulary remains visible. In the spiritual image, “sweetest alterative” becomes “the sweetest medicine for changing one’s condition”, and “alteratives” becomes “medicines that alter its condition”. These are local explanatory renderings; they do not make every occurrence figurative.
alterative · Alterative
Printed “Alterative” (English; lemma).
A treatment intended to change an unhealthy bodily condition or its qualities.
Here: The synopsis makes alteration a branch of pharmaceutical treatment and places simples within it.
Context: Burton’s synoptic classification; the expanded modern noun treatment makes the heading’s function explicit.
Source: original body
Source wording and original alignment: Alterative
Modern rendering: Alterative treatment
Word and construction: The indexed form names or supplies a treatment intended to change an unhealthy bodily condition or its qualities in this expression.
Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.
alterative · Alteratives · local use 1
Printed “Alteratives” (English; lemma).
A medicine classified by corrective, strengthening or disease-resisting action rather than purgative evacuation.
Here: Burton defines the category by intended operation, not by a single ingredient; herbs, stones and minerals may belong to it.
Context: Burton gives a historical medical definition, not a demonstrated modern pharmacological mechanism.
Source: original body
Source wording and original alignment: Alteratives are such as correct, strengthen nature, alter, any way hinder or resist the disease
Modern rendering: Alteratives correct or strengthen the body’s natural powers, bring about change, or in some way hinder or resist the disease
Word and construction: The indexed form supplies a medicine classified by corrective, strengthening or disease-resisting action rather than purgative evacuation in this expression.
Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.
alterative · alteratives · local use 1
Printed “alteratives” (English; lemma).
A remedy intended to change the bodily condition without the characteristic evacuation of a purgative.
Here: The cited comparison prefers alteration and moistening to diminishing or purging bodily matter.
Context: Burton attributes the preference to Galen and the superior number of cures by moistening to Trallianus; the latter is expressly called a boast.
Source: original body
Source and modern wording: alteratives
Word and construction: The indexed form supplies a remedy intended to change the bodily condition without the characteristic evacuation of a purgative in this expression.
Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.
alterative · alteratives · local use 2
Printed “alteratives” (English; lemma).
A medicine intended to alter and amend bodily temperament.
Here: After evacuation they are supposed to address remaining matter and strengthen heart and brain; Burton also says they sometimes help alone.
Context: Burton’s clinical scheme is conditional on circumstances; Arnoldus’s preference is reported. The marginal praise of theriacal medicine is narrower than the body’s general claim.
Source: original body
Source wording and original alignment: by alteratives, cordials and such means
Modern rendering: by alteratives, cordials and similar means
Word and construction: The indexed form supplies a medicine intended to alter and amend bodily temperament in this expression.
Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.
alterative · Alteratives · local use 2
Printed “Alteratives” (English; lemma).
A medicine intended to change a disordered condition.
Here: The reuse of the category in hypochondriacal melancholy requires attention to liver, spleen, stomach and subcostal regions as well as heart and brain.
Context: Burton expressly qualifies the earlier scheme for this bodily distribution; these are historical prescriptions.
Source: original body
Source wording and original alignment: Preparatives and Alteratives may be used as before
Modern rendering: Preparatory medicines and alteratives may be used as before
Word and construction: The indexed form supplies a medicine intended to change a disordered condition in this expression.
Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.
alterative
Printed “alterative” (English; lemma).
A figurative remedy that beneficially changes a distressed mental condition.
Here: Scripture-reading receives the language of medicinal alteration among other images of relief.
Context: Burton praises Scripture within a restricted recommendation of study for the otherwise idle or troubled; the theological praise is not a drug claim.
Source: original body
Source wording and original alignment: sweetest alterative
Modern rendering: sweetest medicine for changing one’s condition
Word and construction: The indexed form names or supplies a figurative remedy that beneficially changes a distressed mental condition in this expression.
Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.
alterative · alteratives · local use 3
Printed “alteratives” (English; lemma).
A figurative remedy for changing the mind’s afflicted condition.
Here: Scripture is compared with a shop containing differentiated remedies for diseases of the soul.
Context: Burton’s extended pharmacy metaphor; the claim of a particular medicine for every spiritual disease is attributed to Austin.
Source: original body
Source wording and original alignment: alteratives
Modern rendering: medicines that alter its condition
Word and construction: The indexed form supplies a figurative remedy for changing the mind’s afflicted condition in this expression.
Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.
alteratives and cordials
Printed “Alteratives and Cordials” (English; phrase).
Condition-changing medicines and heart-strengthening or restorative medicines.
Here: Burton distinguishes these classes while defending purges used at an appropriate time and in moderation.
Context: The assertion that no one doubts their value is Burton’s generalization; the preceding objections concern purgatives.
Source: original body
Source wording and original alignment: Alteratives and Cordials
Modern rendering: alteratives and cordials
Word and construction: The indexed form names or supplies condition-changing medicines and heart-strengthening or restorative medicines in this expression.
Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.