embrocations

Noun

embrocation (countable and uncountable, plural embrocations)

1. (obsolete) The act of moistening and rubbing a diseased part with spirit, oil, etc.
   • The best cure of those who be in a frensie, is by sleepe: and that may be procured easily by the juice of Peucedanum & vineger together infused vpon the head by way of imbrocation, or by rubbing the same with it:1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXVI.] 11.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus....
2. The liquid or lotion with which an affected part is rubbed.
   • “Oh! my dear sir, her throat is so much better that I have hardly any uneasiness about it. Either bathing has been of the greatest service to her, or else it is to be attributed to an excellent embrocation of Mr. Wingfield’s, which we have been applying at times ever since August.”1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 12, in Emma: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC