Apophlegmatisms

Use in the book

The compound-purger classification first divides medicines by their route. The synopsis separates swallowed preparations from gargles and masticatories, then moves to the nostrils and the lower parts. The fuller paragraph names gargarisms commonly used after a purge, when the body is soluble and loose; it then gives apophlegmatisms and masticatories to hold and chew. Gentle examples include hyssop, origan, pennyroyal, thyme and mustard; strong ones include pellitory, pepper and ginger. The distinction concerns both intended evacuation and application, while the condition of looseness concerns the patient’s bowels. These historical categories and examples are not instructions for self-treatment.

The same chewing category reappears with sneezing and nasal preparations among remedies intended to divert humours. Montaltus and Hildesheim are cited for recipes; the following anecdote describes a Venetian empiric’s highly valued liquid for purging through the mouth and nostrils. That liquid is a separate reported preparation. It does not turn all masticatories into drinks or erase the explicit distinction between chewing and swallowing. The warning immediately before the compound classification, that an uninformed reader might practise on himself without a physician, remains part of the setting.

Related entries

Purging

Clister

Evacuation and retention

Places to read

1. Synopsis of the Second Partition · paragraph 19The synopsis’s separate routes: swallowed, retained in the mouth, nasal and lower-body.
2. Subsection 3 Compound Purgatives · paragraphs 43–46The self-treatment warning, gargles, apophlegmatisms and masticatories, with gentle/strong examples and adjoining route categories.
3. Subsection 4 Remedies That Divert the Humours · paragraphs 4–7Masticatories among averters and the distinct secret-liquid anecdote.

In this edition

“Apophlegmatisms, Masticatories” becomes “apophlegmatisms, or masticatories”. The modern or makes the contextual relationship explicit; it does not mean that the two names have identical lexical emphases in every use. “held and chewed in the mouth” remains “held and chewed in the mouth.” “masticatories” becomes “preparations to chew.” “Gargarisms” becomes “gargles,” and “the body is soluble and loose” becomes “the bowels are open and loose,” clarifying the post-purge condition without making soluble describe the medicine.

apophlegmatism

Printed “Apophlegmatisms” (English; lemma).

A preparation intended to draw off phlegm.

Here: Here the preparation is held and chewed in the mouth rather than swallowed.

Context: Burton classifies application and strength; the explanatory intended effect is supported by the supplied local apparatus.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Apophlegmatisms, Masticatories

Modern rendering: apophlegmatisms, or masticatories

Word and construction: Apophlegmatisms names the intended phlegm-drawing preparation; the modern or explicitly links the two names in this context.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

gargarism

Printed “Gargarisms” (English; lemma).

A gargle, a liquid medicine used in the mouth and throat without swallowing.

Here: The preceding example distinguishes gargles from chewed preparations and places them commonly after purging.

Context: Commonly is Burton’s frequency qualification; soluble and loose describes the body or bowels after the purge, not the medicine’s texture.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Gargarisms used commonly after a purge, when the body is soluble and loose

Modern rendering: gargles, commonly used after a purge when the bowels are open and loose

Word and construction: Gargarisms contributes gargles; the remaining construction preserves timing and the bodily condition.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

masticatory · Masticatories

Printed “Masticatories” (English; lemma).

A medicinal substance held and chewed in the mouth.

Here: The name emphasizes chewing and is followed by gentle and strong examples.

Context: Burton groups hyssop, origan, pennyroyal, thyme and mustard as gentle, pellitory, pepper and ginger as strong; this is his historical classification.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Masticatories, to be held and chewed in the mouth

Modern rendering: masticatories, held and chewed in the mouth

Word and construction: Masticatories retains the technical name; the following clause explains the manner of administration.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

masticatory · masticatories

Printed “masticatories” (English; lemma).

A medicinal substance intended to be chewed.

Here: Chewed preparations are grouped with sneezing and nasal medicines among averters.

Context: Burton reports general acceptance and named recipe collections; the Venetian empiric’s secret liquid is a following separate report, not a definition of every masticatory.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Sneezing, masticatories, and nasals

Modern rendering: Remedies that provoke sneezing, preparations to chew, and nasal medicines

Word and construction: Masticatories contributes preparations to chew; the neighbouring two routes remain separate.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.