embrocation

plural embrocations

1. countableobsoleteuncountableThe 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. […], (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 260

   1 more example

   1684, uncredited translator, Observations on the Mineral Waters of France, made in the Royal Academy of the Sciences by Samuel Du Clos, London: Henry Faithorne and John Kersey, “Advertisements and Corollaries,” p. 121, The Observations of the Effects of these Waters on Persons who use them in Drinking, Bathing, Pumping, Washing, Embrocation, &c. are reserv’d for the Physicians, whose Duty it is to know the Particular Constitutions of those Persons, and the State of their Health Declining or Improving.

2. countableuncountableThe liquid or lotion with which an affected part is rubbed.

   Here you can also stick your nose in a box and experience what a rugby changing room smells like—embrocation, I think they mean.

   2010 September 6, “Scrum deal: Warm up for the World Cup with a tour of New Zealand”, in Daily Mail

   2 more examples

   “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

   You are hereby notified that my embrocations burn and tingle as if distilled from liquid flame. My medicines taste vilely, of cimiter, dogbane and gall: the body quickly returns to robust health so that it need assimilate no more of my foul concoctions! That is the secret of my success.

   1983, Jack Vance, chapter 25, in Suldrun’s Garden, New York: Berkley