Epithemes

Use in the book

The synopsis puts Epithymes among external preparations beside plasters, poultices, fomentations, bags and scents. Burton’s later definition is particularly useful: Epithemata are moist medicines laid on linen to bathe and cool affected parts. The same catalogue distinguishes them from little bags containing medicinal materials and from odoraments and perfumes intended to be smelled. An epithem is thus a manner of preparing and applying a medicine, rather than a particular plant or a drink.

The application over the heart gives the category concrete form. Laurentius supplies examples of bags, epithemes and ointments, while Bruel’s epithem uses bugloss, borage, water-lily and violet waters, sweet wine, balm leaves, nutmeg and cloves. “for the Heart” names the bodily region over which the liquid dressing is applied. Another use occurs in the attempt to obtain sleep: Ruland recommends epithemes and head washes, followed by other authorities’ dripping applications and foot washes. Laurentius’s strong claim about procuring sleep belongs to that collection of means rather than a controlled claim for each separate preparation.

For hypochondriacal melancholy, the external categories are extended to the liver, spleen, stomach and regions beneath the ribs. Epithyme occurs as a plant ingredient immediately before Epithemes names the medicinal dressing, providing a local test of the distinction. All these applications and effects belong to Burton’s historical therapeutic account, not current medical instructions.

Related entries

Chirurgery

Friction and embrocation

Purging

Places to read

1. Synopsis of the Second Partition · paragraphs 15–18Internal herbal compounds contrasted with the external Epithymes list.
2. Subsection 5 Compound Alteratives Criticism of Compounds and Mixed Medicines · paragraphs 29–31The linen-based definition and the distinct bags, perfumes and other scents.
3. Subsection 5 Alteratives and Cordials That Strengthen the Body, Disperse The… · paragraphs 22–24The heart-region application, its attributed ingredients and neighbouring topical means.
4. Subsection 6 Remedies for Accompanying Symptoms: To Bring Sleep, and Against… · paragraphs 46–49Liquid dressings for the head among historical sleep remedies.
5. Member 3. Subsection 1 Treatment of Hypochondriacal Melancholy · paragraphs 41–46Abdominal applications and the adjacent distinction between herb and dressing.

In this edition

“Epithymes” becomes “medicinal lotions” in the synopsis; “Epithemata” becomes “epithems” beside Burton’s linen-based definition. “Epithemes” is rendered “liquid dressings,” and “an Epitheme for the Heart” becomes “a liquid dressing for the heart.” The phrase describes application over that bodily region. The later “Epithemes and lotions of the head” becomes “liquid dressings and washes for the head”, preserving two named applications. “Epithyme” instead becomes “thyme dodder”; resemblance of spelling is not evidence that the plant and the dressing are one word.

epithem · Epithymes

Printed “Epithymes” (English; lemma).

A moist medicinal application placed externally on a part of the body.

Here: The synopsis places the preparation among oils, ointments, plasters, poultices and other outward medicines.

Context: A dosage-form classification; the similar-looking herb name in the preceding list denotes a different thing.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Epithymes

Modern rendering: medicinal lotions

Word and construction: The phrase medicinal lotions supplies a familiar description of the external preparation.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

epithem · Epitheme

Printed “Epitheme” (English; lemma).

A liquid medicinal dressing applied externally.

Here: Bruel’s preparation is placed over the heart region and contains plant waters with sweet wine, balm leaves and spices.

Context: The recipe is attributed to Bruel, following Laurentius’s examples; for the heart specifies the region treated, not ingestion into the organ.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: an Epitheme for the Heart

Modern rendering: a liquid dressing for the heart

Word and construction: Epitheme contributes liquid dressing; the anatomical complement retains its separate role.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

Further local use

Printed “Epithemes” (English; lemma).

Here: The plural names one of the grouped external applications for the heart region, beside bags and ointments.

Context: Burton says we may do well to apply these preparations; Laurentius provides examples of the grouped applications, before Bruel supplies a separate singular recipe.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: bags, Epithemes, Oyntments

Modern rendering: bags, liquid dressings and ointments

Alignment scope: Equal-scope three-item list

Word and construction: Epithemes contributes liquid dressings; bags and ointments are separate items.

Sense relation: Same external preparation and application site, plural occurrence immediately before the singular recipe.

epithem · Epithemes · local use 1

Printed “Epithemes” (English; lemma).

A liquid medicinal dressing applied externally.

Here: Ruland’s head dressings form part of the historical attempt to procure sleep.

Context: Ruland is the prescriber; Laurentius’s sweeping sleep claim follows a larger group of applications and is not a demonstrated result of every epithem.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Epithemes and lotions of the head

Modern rendering: liquid dressings and washes for the head

Word and construction: Epithemes contributes liquid dressings; lotions contributes the distinct washes.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

epithem · Epithemes · local use 2

Printed “Epithemes” (English; lemma).

A liquid medicinal dressing applied externally.

Here: The same category is carried into the topical care of liver, spleen, stomach and hypochondria.

Context: Burton extends the preceding external-treatment discussion; the named plasters later in the sentence are separate applications.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Epithemes, digestive powders, bags, oils

Modern rendering: liquid dressings, digestive powders, sachets and oils

Word and construction: Epithemes contributes liquid dressings, not the other items in the list.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

epithema

Printed “Epithemata” (Latin; lemma).

A moist medicinal application laid on linen.

Here: Burton defines the preparation by its linen support and its purpose of bathing and cooling an affected part.

Context: The definition occurs in a list of external compounds, distinct from small bags and scents.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Epithemata, or those moist medicines, laid on linnen, to bath and cool several parts misaffected

Modern rendering: epithems, moist medicines laid on linen to bathe and cool the affected parts

Word and construction: The Latin plural is rendered epithems; the remaining words supply Burton’s own material and functional explanation.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

epithyme

Printed “Epithyme” (English; lemma).

The medicinal herb called thyme dodder.

Here: It is one ingredient boiled in a topical preparation, distinct from the dosage-form name epithem.

Context: Burton lists the plant with southernwood, melilot, mugwort, senna and polypody; the modern identification is the supplied edition’s.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: Epithyme

Modern rendering: thyme dodder

Word and construction: The modern phrase identifies the herb; it does not translate the separate plural Epithemes.

Uncertainty: No fresh botanical specimen or historical-witness identification has been made; thyme dodder follows the supplied edition.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.

odorament

Printed “odoraments” (English; lemma).

An aromatic substance or preparation intended to be smelled.

Here: Scents, balls, perfumes and bouquets are distinguished from wet dressings laid on linen.

Context: Burton’s external-medicine catalogue distinguishes modes of application, without asserting that each item acts in the same way.

Source: original body

Source wording and original alignment: odoraments, balls, perfumes, posies to smell to

Modern rendering: scented substances, scent balls, perfumes and bouquets to smell

Word and construction: Odoraments contributes scented substances; the other nouns retain their own objects and the final phrase gives the sensory use.

Alignment conventions: Alignment convention.