Confection

Use in the book

The apothecary makes a confection in the passage from Ecclesiasticus used to justify medicine as a use of substances created in the earth. Burton immediately explains why such substances need skilled handling: what benefits one may harm another, and preparation can modify their qualities. The scriptural warrant does not settle every choice of compound.

The synopsis places eclegmes with theriac and mithridate under confections in the thick branch of internally taken liquid medicines. The fuller catalogue repeats the arrangement and the alternative name linctures, before moving to solid aromatic confections, their tablets or lozenges, and then external preparations. Neither the noun medicine alone nor a restriction to sweet foods would preserve this organization.

Chemical confections occur in a dispute over mineral remedies. Burton records Erastus’s attack, the extravagant claims of Paracelsian followers, and a middle position before reporting Mattioli’s approval of potable gold, mercury and chemical distillation. Mattioli’s claim that excellent physicians need this skill is attributed, and the marginal caution against overrating the practice remains alongside it.

The word spans other forms and uses. Hamech’s confection is a solid purgative with named opponents as well as supporters, and later ranks among the stronger choices after gentler remedies fail. The confection of Hali’s powder means its preparation, said to have been revived by the London Pharmacopoeia; the edition’s note leaves the claimed identity unsettled. Ferrerius’s confection is smelled, with benefit compared to drinking it. These historical reports establish the lexical range without supplying recipes or establishing efficacy.

Related entries

Receipt

Tables

Electuaries

Aurum potabile

Purging

Corrected medicines

Distillation and rheum

Places to read

1. Synopsis of the Second Partition · paragraph 13Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
2. Synopsis of the Second Partition · paragraph 14Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
3. Synopsis of the Second Partition · paragraph 15The synopsis groups compound antidotes and licking medicines under confections.
4. Synopsis of the Second Partition · paragraph 16Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
5. Synopsis of the Second Partition · paragraph 17Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
6. Subsection 3. Concerning Medicine · paragraph 1Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
7. Subsection 3. Concerning Medicine · paragraph 2The apothecary’s work supplies Burton’s scriptural warrant for medicines from the earth.
8. Subsection 3. Concerning Medicine · paragraph 3Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
9. Member 4 Exercise of Body and Mind Regulated · paragraph 15Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
10. Member 4 Exercise of Body and Mind Regulated · paragraph 16Household products are exhibited to visitors as evidence of women’s useful employment.
11. Member 4 Exercise of Body and Mind Regulated · paragraph 17Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
12. Subsection 4 Precious Stones Metals and Minerals as Alteratives · paragraph 38Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
13. Subsection 4 Precious Stones Metals and Minerals as Alteratives · paragraph 39Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
14. Subsection 4 Precious Stones Metals and Minerals as Alteratives · paragraph 42Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
15. Subsection 4 Precious Stones Metals and Minerals as Alteratives · paragraph 43Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
16. Subsection 4 Precious Stones Metals and Minerals as Alteratives · paragraph 44Mattioli’s approval includes potable gold and mercury, with an argument for chemical skill in treating chronic disease.
17. Subsection 5 Compound Alteratives Criticism of Compounds and Mixed Medicines · paragraph 23Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
18. Subsection 5 Compound Alteratives Criticism of Compounds and Mixed Medicines · paragraph 24Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
19. Subsection 5 Compound Alteratives Criticism of Compounds and Mixed Medicines · paragraph 25Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
20. Subsection 5 Compound Alteratives Criticism of Compounds and Mixed Medicines · paragraph 26The later compound-medicine catalogue repeats the dosage form with a shorter spelling.
21. Subsection 5 Compound Alteratives Criticism of Compounds and Mixed Medicines · paragraph 27Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
22. Subsection 5 Compound Alteratives Criticism of Compounds and Mixed Medicines · paragraph 28Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
23. Subsection 3 Compound Purgatives · paragraph 38Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
24. Subsection 3 Compound Purgatives · paragraph 39This solid preparation is approved by most in Burton’s account but sharply attacked by Solenander, Randeletius, Fernelius and others.
25. Subsection 3 Compound Purgatives · paragraph 40Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
26. Subsection 3 Preparatives and Purgatives · paragraph 35Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
27. Subsection 3 Preparatives and Purgatives · paragraph 43Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
28. Subsection 3 Preparatives and Purgatives · paragraph 44Here the noun denotes preparing Hali’s powder, not simply the finished product.
29. Subsection 3 Preparatives and Purgatives · paragraph 45Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
30. Subsection 5 Alteratives and Cordials That Strengthen the Body, Disperse The… · paragraph 17Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.
31. Subsection 5 Alteratives and Cordials That Strengthen the Body, Disperse The… · paragraph 18Ferrerius’s mixture is offered for smelling, widening the term beyond swallowed preparations.
32. Subsection 5 Alteratives and Cordials That Strengthen the Body, Disperse The… · paragraph 19Surrounding argument or qualification for the cited medicinal use.

In this edition

“make a confection” becomes “makes a compound”, and “Chymicall Confections” becomes “chemical preparations”. The grammatical comparison is made at phrase level; the nouns alone carry the compound/preparation sense.

“Eclegmes or Linctures” becomes “medicines taken by licking, or linctuses” in the synopsis. The later “Eclegms, or Linctures” becomes “eclegms or linctures”, with the mode of administration explained in its note. The two original spellings are retained.

The plural “Confections” is rendered within a list as “Confections: theriac, mithridate, and medicines taken by licking, or linctuses”. Treacle here denotes theriac, a compound antidote. The supplied apparatus also distinguishes the k margin’s measured approval from the stronger body claim about chemical preparations, and records the l margin’s additional reference to corrupted blood.

chemical confection

Printed “Chymicall Confections” (English; phrase).

A compounded medicine produced within chemical practice.

Here: Mattioli’s approval includes potable gold and mercury, with an argument for chemical skill in treating chronic disease.

Context: Mattioli’s claims are reported after Burton rejects both polemical extremes; the k margin tempers approval and the l margin adds corrupted blood.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Chymicall Confections

Modern rendering: chemical preparations

Word and construction: The indexed form supplies a compounded medicine produced within chemical practice in this expression.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

Confection · confection · local use 1

Printed “confection” (English; lemma).

A compounded medicinal preparation.

Here: The apothecary’s work supplies Burton’s scriptural warrant for medicines from the earth.

Context: Burton cites Ecclesiasticus 38:4 and 38:8; the following passage makes skilled management and differing patient effects important.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: make a confection

Modern rendering: makes a compound

Word and construction: The indexed form names or supplies a compounded medicinal preparation in this expression.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

Confection · Confections

Printed “Confections” (English; lemma).

A compounded medicine.

Here: The synopsis groups compound antidotes and licking medicines under confections.

Context: Burton’s synoptic arrangement; the word does not designate only sweet food.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Confections; Treacle, Mithridate, Eclegmes or Linctures

Modern rendering: Confections: theriac, mithridate, and medicines taken by licking, or linctuses

Word and construction: The indexed form supplies a compounded medicine in this expression.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

Confection · confections

Printed “confections” (English; lemma).

A preparation made by combining ingredients.

Here: Household products are exhibited to visitors as evidence of women’s useful employment.

Context: Burton’s gendered description of domestic work; the passage does not determine whether every confection is culinary or medicinal.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: confections, conserves, distillations

Modern rendering: confections, preserves, distilled preparations

Word and construction: The indexed form supplies a preparation made by combining ingredients in this expression.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

Confection · confection · local use 2

Printed “confection” (English; lemma).

The making or preparation of a compound medicine.

Here: Here the noun denotes preparing Hali’s powder, not simply the finished product.

Context: Burton reports a revival; the supplied note finds a similarly named powder with different ingredients and does not establish that historical identity.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: the confection of which our new London Pharmacopœa hath lately revived

Modern rendering: Our new London Pharmacopoeia has recently revived its preparation

Word and construction: The indexed form names or supplies the making or preparation of a compound medicine in this expression.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

Confection · confection · local use 3

Printed “confection” (English; lemma).

A compounded medicinal preparation.

Here: Ferrerius’s mixture is offered for smelling, widening the term beyond swallowed preparations.

Context: Ferrerius’s claimed benefit is reported; his Latin compares smelling with drinking and Burton then adds a separate English explanation.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: an excellent confection of his making

Modern rendering: an excellent confection he made

Word and construction: The indexed form names or supplies a compounded medicinal preparation in this expression.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

confection of Hamech

Printed “Confection of Hamech” (English; phrase).

A named compound purgative.

Here: This solid preparation is approved by most in Burton’s account but sharply attacked by Solenander, Randeletius, Fernelius and others.

Context: Burton records disagreement rather than a unanimous endorsement; the later sequence treats it as a stronger remedy.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Confection of Hamech

Modern rendering: Hamech’s confection

Word and construction: The indexed form names or supplies a named compound purgative in this expression.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

consisting

Printed “Consisting” (English; lemma).

Having a thick consistency.

Here: This division contrasts thicker internal medicines with fluid ones; confections also occur under a subsequent solid division.

Context: Burton’s classification, not a universal equation of all confections with one physical consistency.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Consisting, are conserves or confections

Modern rendering: Thick preparations are conserves or confections

Word and construction: The indexed form names or supplies having a thick consistency in this expression.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

eclegme · Eclegmes

Printed “Eclegmes” (English; lemma).

A medicine taken by licking or slowly swallowing.

Here: A dosage-form name within confections, following theriac and mithridate.

Context: Original plural form in the synopsis; the explanatory modern expansion identifies administration, not one ingredient.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Eclegmes or Linctures

Modern rendering: medicines taken by licking, or linctuses

Word and construction: The indexed form supplies a medicine taken by licking or slowly swallowing in this expression.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

Further local use

Printed “Linctures” (English; lemma).

Citation key: lincture.

Here: The explicitly coordinated alternative Linctures names the same administration form as Eclegmes; the full original or construction is retained.

Context: Original plural form in the synopsis; the explanatory modern expansion identifies administration, not one ingredient.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Eclegmes or Linctures

Modern rendering: medicines taken by licking, or linctuses

Word and construction: The indexed lincture form is the alternative name for a medicine taken by licking.

Sense relation: An explicitly synonymous printed form for the same defined mode of administration.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

eclegme · Eclegms

Printed “Eclegms” (English; lemma).

A medicine taken by licking or slowly swallowing.

Here: The later compound-medicine catalogue repeats the dosage form with a shorter spelling.

Context: Burton’s original variant Eclegms remains distinct from Eclegmes; the supplied note explains its mode of taking.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Eclegms, or Linctures

Modern rendering: eclegms or linctures

Word and construction: The indexed form supplies a medicine taken by licking or slowly swallowing in this expression.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.