Description: One of the four humors; natural melanchole (black bile or atrabile) is the sediment of blood, with a taste between sweet and astringent, and of cold and dry quality. It is stored in the spleen. It is responsible for the nutrition of such organs as the bones, contributes to the consistency of the blood, and stimulates the appetite. Unnatural atrabile is produced by the effect of excessive or insufficient heat on various humors.