Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	brain_n	part_n	spirit_n	1,451	5	5.2508	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29782	Nature's cabinet unlock'd wherein is discovered the natural causes of metals, stones, precious earths, juyces, humors, and spirits, the nature of plants in general, their affections, parts, and kinds in particular : together with a description of the individual parts and species of all animate bodies ... : with a compendious anatomy of the body of man, as also the manner of his formation in the womb / by Tho. Browne ...	Browne, Thomas, Sir, 1605-1682.	1657 (1657)	Wing B5065; ESTC R16043	87,410	340

aliment blood into the general mass of the body But here another question will arise how can the spirits flow into the inward and most remote parts but by penetration and dimension Answer Some bodies are crass and solid and some thin and tender through those that are hard they cannot penetrate but the spirits because they are thin do fly all manner of sense and are diffused without impediment in a moment this way and that way with a certain kind of celerity and do pervade the members neither by their presence filling them nor by their absence emptying them E And in this spirit all the causes come to be considered the matter is the natural spirit procreated in the liver thence carried by the vena cava with the arterious blood that is the purest of blood upwards going into the right side of the heart where it is attenuated most accurately by the passages not altogether occult but if a dog be dissected it will be found in the left side the efficient cause is the strong heat of the heart attenuating and making thin the vital spirit it 's form its rarefaction not unlike to the tenuity of a little flame its end is to conserve life diffused from the heart by the arteries into the universal body F The matter of this spirit is that vital which is carried by the crevices of the arteries to the basis of the brain and it doth slide thereinto as into a net which is placed there by nature as a labyrinth for when any matter would exactly elaborate it doth devise a longer stay in the instruments of coction and afterwards by another context is intromitted into ventricles of the brain the efficient cause is motion but chiefly the proper force of the solid substance of the brain whereby this spirit doth exactly elaborate and so become animal the form of it is rarefaction made perfect by the degeneration of the vital spirit into the animal its end is to shew a sensitive and moving faculty with great celerity from the middle ventricle of the brain by the nerves into the whole body by which spirit the animal faculty is apprehended in man of reason and memory if its force or motion be not hindred CHAP. 9. Of the similar parts of an Animate body 1. HAving expounded the contained parts the continent do follow which consist of substance by reason of that firmness and solidity they have 2. And they are either homogeneous or heterogeneous similar or dissimilar 3. A similar A part is that which may be divided into similes according to the particles of sense and into the same species 4. Of similar parts some are spermatical others carnous 5. The spermatick parts are those which are generated immediately of the crassament of seed and so coalesced into hard substances 6. Of which sort are Bones Cartilages Ligaments Membranes Nerves Arteries Veins Fibres Fat 's Skin 7. Bones are the hardest parts B of animates dry and cold begotten of the crassament of seed by exustion to the stability of the whole 8. These are endowed with no sense because first no Nerves are disseminated by their substance Secondly if they were sensible they could not endure daily labors without great pain and that sensation would either take away the greatest part of action or render it frustraneous 9. A Cartilage C is a kin to these which is a substance or part a little softer then bones and harder then any other member and flexible after a certain manner made to the keeping of motion in its destinated parts 10. A Ligament D is a simple part of the body hard and begotten of seed yet softer then a Cartilage and yielding to the touch knitting the bones together 11. A certain portion of these is called tendous which is a similar part begotten of Fibres Nerves and Ligaments mixed in a muscle all which are called articles 12. A Membrane is a similar part begotten of seed tender covering several other parts 13. The Nerves are spermatick parts arising from the brain or back-bone the interior part of the marrow the exterior of the membrane carrying the animal spirit to sense and motion 14. They are distinguished into softer or harder 15. They are soft which do arise from the former part of the brain 16. And they are seven conjugations for none of all the Nerves are simple but all conjugated whence they are called paria nervorum 17. The chiefest of these are inserted in the centre of the eye and are called the visive or optick nerves carrying the faculty of seeing unto them 18. The second propagation of moving of the nerves is the eyes 19. The third society is partly scattered into the tunicle of the tongue to propogate to the taste and part dispersed in other parts of the face 20. The fourth conjugation is a certain proportion dispersed in the palate 21. The fifth is carried by the auditory passage to the drum of the ears and they are called the auditory nerves 22. The sixth is a large portion of nerves wandring and running almost through all the bowels 23. The seventh arises from the hinder part of the head and the marrow of the back-bone and inserted into the muscles of the tongue and is said to move the tongue 24. The crasser nerves in which there is a more obtuser faculty and they do come out of the marrow of the back-bone carrying sense and motion to the internal parts 25. And thirty of these are alike and combined seven to the hinder part of the neck twelve to the Thorax five to the Lungs six to the sacred bones all which do disperse themselvs like boughs into the other parts of the body 26. The Arteries F are hollow vessels long having two tunicles and those crass and substantial ordained for the deducing of the vital spirit and for temperating and expurging of the heart and other parts to heat 27. And they do arise out of the heart of which two principal Arteries do spring out of the left side thereof from which two all the other take their original Arteria Aorta et Arteria venosa 28. The great Artery Aorta is the foundation of all other Arteries and doth carry the vital spirit to all the other parts of the body 29. The venous artery is stretched out like a quill from the same side of the heart into the liver from whence it brings air to cool the heart 30. A vein G is a similar part and round and hollow like to a reed arising from the liver consisting of one tunicle contexted of three Fibres carrying blood for nutriment together with the natural spirit to the several parts of the body 31. Veins are distinguished into principal and less principal 32. The Principal are those out of which as out of a trunk or stock others do arise and they are two vena porta and vena cava 33 Vena porta is a great vein coming out of the hollow part of the liver and excepting all the Mesenterian veins

NATURE'S CABINET UNLOCK'D Wherein is Discovered The natural Causes of Metals Stones Précious Earths Juyces Humors and Spirits The nature of PLANTS in general their Affections Parts and Kinds in Particular Together with A Description of the Individual Parts and Species of all Animate Bodies Similar and Dissimilar Median and Organical Perfect and Imperfect With a compendious Anatomy of the Body of Man As also the Manner of his Formation in the Womb. All things are Artificial for Nature is the Art of God By Tho. Brown D. of Physick London Printed for Edw. Farnham in Popes-head alley near Cornhil 1657 OF PHYSIOLOGY Treating of BODIES Perfectly mixed With Comments thereupon CHAP. 1. Of Metalls 1. WE shall here Treat of those Bodies which are perfectly mixed and substantial 2. That Body is perfectly mixed ●…hich is made solid by the Concretion of the Elements and therefore daily grows harder and harder 3. All the Elements do abide and are concentricated in a mixed Body because all mixed Bodies are carried to a place of the Earth and therefore much of earth must needs be in them And if earth be in them then water without which earth cannot consist for all Generation happens from their contraries so that if there be one contrary it 's necessary that there should be an opposite contrary to that Arist. lib. 2. De gen corrupt c. 8. 4. And these Bodies are either Inanimate or Animate 5. Inanimate bodies are such as are void of life As Metalls Stones precious Earths 6. Metall is a body perfectly mixed and Inanimate of Sulphure and Quicksilver gotten in the veins of the earth 7. Sulphure and Quicksilver is often found in the veins of Metalls and of these for the variety of the temperament and mutuall permission the Professors of the Rosie Cross do adjudge Metalls to have their original 8. They define Sulphure to be a Metallick matter consisting of a subtill exhalation fat and unctuous included in the earth 9. Quicksilver B is a Metallick matter consisting of a vapour more subtil then water which is conglutinated with the earth and cocted by the heat of Sulphure 10 The Peripateticks will have a double vapour to lye hid in the bowels of the earth the one dry that is more terrene then water the other moist and glutinous that is more watry then terrene and from these do Stones and Fossiles grow and these do produce proper Metall Arist. 3. Met. c. 7. 11. The Chymists do not dissen●… from this opinion of Aristole for he maketh the matter of Metalls to be a remote vapour They a nearer matter Sulphure and Quicksilver which do grow from the aforesaid vapour as the remote matter of Metalls 12. The efficient Cause of Metall is heat and cold for heat whether Elementary or Celestial doth animate digest and exactly mingle all portions of matter which mass so temperated and prepared for this or that kind of metall doth grow by cold and is condensated 13. The place in which Metals are ingendered is the bosom of the earth Arist. 3. met c. 7. 14. Many are made amongst Stones and that oftner in mountains then in plains for according to their solid●…ty they do retain their colour better which is easily decayed and dispersed in plains because of the softness of the earth 15. If it be demanded whether their form be one or more C that is to say whether they can be distinguished amongst themselves in specifical differences which do effect divers and incommunicable forms amongst themselves 16. To the latter it is agreed First Because every Species hath its Essence and that perfect Secondly Its Definition Thirdly Its Heats Fourthly It Strength and Use Scal. Exer. 106. sect 2. 17. But it is a great dispute amongst late writers whether Metalls are Bodies Inanimate or whether they Live It is most certain they perform no vitall action as other bodies that are endowed with a vegetive soul therefore they are not Animated Scal. Exer. 102. 18. But Metalls are either pure or impure 19. Pure Metall is when there is a perfect decoction exquisitely made as in Gold and Silver 20. Gold E is a pure Metall begotten of pure Quicksilver fixed red and clear and of pure red Sulphure not too hot but well qualified 21. This of all Metalls is the softest and tenderest wanting fatness It is heavy having a sweet pleasant and excellent sapor and odor 22. But whether the Chymists by the industry of art can make true and approved Gold it is a question much disputed of late yet in my opinion it is clear that though it be very difficult experience witnessing it yet it is ●…ot altogether impossible for if Art be a follower and imitator of Nature I see not why Nature may not be imitated in framing of true Gold 23. And whether it may be made potable that is so prepared that it may be taken into the body without danger is a great controversie between the Chymists and Galenists 24. The favourers of Galen defend the Negative to which Scaliger doth subscribe being perswaded with these two reasons I. There is no similitude to be discerned between Gold and our Body as there is between Aliment and Body to be nourished II. Because Gold is more solid then that it can be overcome by our heat or changed from its substance Scal. Exer. 272. 25. Silver is a pure Metall G begotten of clear Quicksilver shining white and of pure Sulphure almost fixed 26. Such Metalls are impure which do consist of impure Sulphure and Mercury 27. Of these some have more of the Humor or Mercury and some more of the Earth or Sulphure 28. Lead and Tinn do participate more of the Humor 29. Lead H is a Metall procreated of much crass and less-pure Quicksilver and burning Sulphure 30. Its Species are various according to the matter of which it consists and the heat by which it is cocted 31. And hence it is black or clear 32. Black-lead doth consist of impure Quicksilver and it is less elaborate therefore of a baser value 33. Clear or White-lead is fully cocted and doth co●… somewhat of a more purer matter 34. Tin I is a White-metal begotten of much yet not so pure Quicksilver outwardly white but inwardly red and of impure Sulphure not well digested 35. Brass and Iron have more of Earth to which is added Copper 36. Brass K is an impure Metall begotten of much Sulphure red and gross and a little impure Quicksilver 37. Cyprian Brass is a Species of it which doth grow copiously in the Island Cyprus whence it is called Cuprum 38. Iron is L a Metall impure begotten of much Sulphure Crude Terrestrial and burning and a little impure Quicksilver 39. And although it 〈◊〉 hard yet it is bruised with daily labor because there goes to its generation less Quicksilver or Humor but more Sulphure or Terrene 40. Copper is factitious Brass clarified of the colour of Gold or rather more yellow 41. The Native is now of no use and

and nourished with humidity and new always substituted in the place of that which is absumed for I do not see why if radical humidity be wanting that death should follow but answer may be made that the privation or defect of the radical humor depends upon the impotency of heat for whatsoever suffices in the place of its native humour that is necessary to be changed by the help of heat which as Scaliger thinks is altered and grows feeble by use and diuturnity of time therefore what accedes of aliment is more worse and impure then that which decedes therefore heat destitute of idoneous aliment is dissipated And hence it is that man necessarily must dye CHAP. 8. Of Spirits 1. HItherto of humors so called Now we shall handle the doctrine of spirits they are called A spirits because they fly away by their subtil and aereal tenuity which after a certain manner responds to the Nature of Spirits indeed 2. But here the word spirit is taken B for a very small or thin substance aereal and vaporous the first instrument of life as to the performance of action 3. Here its essence is not to be understood ethereal and celestial but in a manner elementary First because such like spirits are what like their matter is but their matter is elementary Secondly they can accend refrigerate increase diminish and extinguish but the celestial on the contrary want these neither can they be changed by natural cause Thirdly because to their preservation the inspiration of the air is necessary Fourthly and lastly the spirits do restore again an elementary body in a swounding fit 4. A spirit is either insited or fixed or influent 5. Insited which is ordinarily C complanatus is an aereal and tender substance lying within several solid members and procreated of the genital seed from the governess faculty of the principal parts the first and proximate seat of native heat and a certain faculty as it were the band of unition of the soul with the body 6. Of this there seems to be so many differences as there are natures and temperaments of parts if it may be accommodated to these and attemperated to the nature of every part 7. The influent is that which is implanted and lest it should dissolve and vanish it remains fixed 8. And here it is threefold natural vital and animal 9. And as in mans body First there are three Vertues Natural Vital and Animal Secondly so also there are three principal bowels if I may so call them the Liver Heart and Brain Thirdly three Organs also administring to these the Veins Arteries and Nerves so there are so many spirits distinct in species and form which are as it were the chariots of strength 10. The natural is D a thin vapour procreated in the liver of the purer part of blood and thence diffused by the veins into the habit of the body to absolve all natural actions 11. Concerning this many great questions are made some do expunge it from the catalogue of spirits First because it takes its natural faculty from the Liver Secondly that it doth renew the same faculty insited from every part Thirdly and by this Spirit or Captain the gross blood is carried to distant parts 12. The vital spirit E is a thin halite vapour or breath begotten of inspirated air and natural spirit carried to the left side of the heart and so runs by the artery over the whole body and so supplies the vivifical strength unto them 13. All the ancient Neotericks do conclude this to be coacted when it is chiefly necessary to life for as Plato doth affirm if the sun should quiesce one moment the whole world would perish because it excites spirit and heat by its motion so here if the spirits be prohibited forthwith the Animal perishes 14. The animal spirit is F a pure halite begotten of a portion of vital spirit carried to the brain and insited in its faculty diffused by the nerves into the body that it may incite it to motion sense and all animal actions 15. This as it pleases some doth not differ from the vital in kinde and nature because they maintain that there is but one universal spirit but as aliment doth take a new form by a new coction and thence a new denomination So that first there are divers Organs Secondly divers faculties Thirdly divers manner of generations so also this spirit is diverse from the rest in species The Commentary A BY spirit here we understand not an incorporeal substance or the intellect of man which is rightly called by the Philosophers a spirit which Scaliger otherwise a man very learned dothseem to dissent from for he speaks Theologically and is to be understood as speaking of an incorporate substance but by spirit we mean a thin and subtil body B Because nature is not wont to copulate one contrary to another unless it be with some medium not unlike a band for mortal and immortal do differ more then in kinde and therefore an incorporate being is not consentaneous to a brittle body and immortality cannot be united to the intellect of man without the concurrence of a medium and this is no other then a spirit which doth bring mortality to the body having a thin and tender substance as it were acceding to the intellect The medium between both is nature and this spirit is not void of a body but begotten of the elements which were in the seed and it is most elaborate nearly acceding to the nature of celestial spirits and most thin that it may fly all sense very apt to pass by an incredible celerity for it passes over the whole body with a great celerity that it may give motion sense and strength to its parts and perform other functions of the soul. D Concerning this spirit many great questions are agitated some do-banish it from the catalogue of spirits moved thereto by these Arguments First because there is no use nor necessity for it We answer Its use is great for first of all it is the chariot of aliment for the humours gotten in the liver can scarce penetrate of themselves through the narrow passages by reason of their crassitude nor can they well be carried to the other parts of the body by reason of the slowness of their motion Furthermore this spirit takes its natural faculty from the liver whose work is to attract retain and concoct familiar aliment to all the parts of the body and by a certain force doth expel the excrements Secondly they will have no place to be given by nature proper for this spirit We answer the liver is its fountain and principle as the heart of life and the brain of the soul. Thirdly they alledge that this spirit doth not lead any thing to any part or carry any thing thereunto But we say that as the animal spirit is carried by the Nerves the Vital by the Arteries so the natural spirit is carried by the veins together with the

is a certain partition which divides either side the vulgar call it the seventh medium which at the first sight appears crass but after a more curious inspection it is found to have many holes in it that there may be an easie passage from the left side to the right notwithstanding what the Neotericks exclaim against it and urge to the contrary 13. Furthermore there are certain appendixes membranous and full of windings leaping to each side of the ventricle which are called Auriculae not from its use or action but similitude 14. On the right side it lies open to the door of the vena cava the left is placed in the orifice of the venous artery and it is larger because it is the receptacle of gross blood the latter is the less because it contains air 15. The chief use of those Auriculars are First that they be ready receptacles of blood and air that they do not confusedly pass into the heart and so to suffocate the heart by oppression Secondly lest the vena cava and the venous artery be broken in violent motions for they have great force in drawing of blood and air in to the heart 16. The lungs E are of rare parts light and spungious and as it were concreted of spumous blood like the substance of a Snail seated in the thorax filling its whole cavity the instrument of breath and voice 17. And although it is but one in body yet it is divided into two parts by the membrane called Mediastinus the right and left 18. Either part consists of two Globes or Knots the one superior the other inferior often discernable and sometimes obscure 19. The use of these is that its flesh or substance should not be collaberated or tyred but that it may be more actively moved and that the heart be embraced on every side 20. The air is transmitted into the lungs by the asper-artery whose structure is constituted of Veins Cartilages Membranes and Nerves The Commentary A DIaphragma hath divers appellations for it is sometimes derived from the verb Diaphratto that is to fortifie because Diaphrattei that is it separates out the middle and low belly and also it is called the seventh transverse it is called Diaphragma and by ancient Medicks called Phrenas because as some judge by its inflammation the minde is hurt It s use is noble for it separates between the spiritual and vital bowels and the heart and the lungs from the naturals which separation Aristotle thinks to be made by nature lest the vapours which do exhale from meat offend the heart in which the soul he thinks doth reside But this opinion is false because the fumes do pass by the Oesophagum To conclude the Diaphragma hath two holes placed in organs ascending and descending Again it helps exspiration and inspiration for when the thorax is contracted then the inspiration is dilated but when it is laxed then inspiration is made Again it helps the ejection of the excrements by its motion with the muscles of the Abdomen Again it is the rise of the organs whereby it pleasantly affects the heart and causes laughter D The covering which defends the heart and contains it in its seat and hinders it lest it should be oppressed with its vicine members is called Capsula which contains also a certain watrish humour lest it should 〈◊〉 and dry with too much heat the substance of the heart is hard and dense lest it should be broken by its violent motions Its substance saith Aristotle is thick and spiss into which heat is received strongly and therefore its temperament is the hottest of all the members it is endowed with three kinds of fibres strait crooked and transverse that it may both draw contain and expel Now Aristotle thinks these fibres to be nerves and the principle of the nerves to be in the heart but he is deceived its figure is Pyramidal but not absolutely so in brutes but it is more flat then in a man it is placed in the thorax as the safest place and on the left side thereof C This is the shop of the vital faculty and therefore it is rightly called by Aristotle the first thing that lives and ●…he last that dies by its perpetual motion and heat it begets vital spirits for when it is dilated which motion is called Dyastole it allures unto it and draws blood by the benefit of the strait fibres from the vena cava by the venous artery but when it is constringed which is called Systole it sends blood from the right ventricle into the lungs by which they are nourished and that by the venous artery but the vital spirit out of the left by Aorta into the whole body and both ways it converts into vital spirit by attenuating the pure blood into vapour D There are two remarkable ventricles of the heart the right and the left between these there is a partition which distinguishes the one from the other which whereas it is crass and firm it is not rightly called by Aristotle the third side or belly but lest that the passages may seem to be made by this it sends out blood into another ventricle by narrow pores E The lung is called by the Greeks pneumon a pneo which is to breath because it is the organ of breathing therefore the lung ought to consist of such a substance that it may be filled and distended with air like a pair of bellows The primary Cause of which action is its proper substance which helps the motion thereof for when it is dilated it draws air and by the venal artery carries it to the heart by which the heat of the heart is allayed and the vital spirit as with food thereby cherished The figure of the Lung resembles the hoof of an ox which is divided by the Mediastinum into two parts it is the organ of voice which I prove because no animal hath a voice that hath not a lung there are some that say that there are two lungs but truly it is but one divided into two parts the right and the left And again both the parts consist of two Globes the one superior the other inferior sometimes seen open and sometimes shut the use thereof is that it may be moved more nimbly and so amplex the heart more easily CHAP. 13. Of the parts of the Animal faculty 1. VVE have spoken sufficiently of the parts of the middle belly Now we proceed to the organs of the supream region serving the animal faculty and they are such as are ●…ontained in the brain 2. The brain A is a soft part white and medullous fabricated of pure seed and spirit involved as it were in folds compassed about with a thin skin and contained in the cavity of the brain the principle of the animal faculty c. 3. And this is the highest of all the bowels and the next to heaven this is the tower of the senses the highest pinnacle the regiment of the minde 4. For the

brain is not onely the seat of sense but the artifex of motion and the house of wisedom memory judgement cogitation in which things man is like to God 5. Therefore nature hath exceedingly fenced it not onely by enrolling it within the skull but also by covering it with other parts therein contained which are two membranes whereof the one is called dura mater the other pia mater 6. Menynx or dura mater is an exterior membrane hard and cuticular covering the brain and fencing it on every side 7. After that is taken away the pia mat●…r is visible which is a tender membrane the immediate and next cover of the brain not covering the exterior superficies onely but going deep into part of the substance 8. But its substance is thin that it may insinuate it self about all the sides and parts of the brain and thin also because it need not be troublesome to the brain neither in gravity nor weight and that it may deduce the vessel through the whole body of the brain 9. But the whole body of the brain is divided into two parts the anterior and posterior 10. The anterior by reason of the magnitude of it obtains the name of the whole and is properly called Encephalon the brain 11. The posterior is called Pacencephalis that is cerebellum which seems to be 〈◊〉 by nature for the succor of the former that it may keep the animal spirit transmitted from the ends of the brain and that it may be adapted to the marrow of the back 12 The brain above the anterior hath two cavities distinguished clearly by internals called ventricles 13. And these are the receptacles of the spirits which are daily brought out of the heart by the artery and in them they are made more lucid like to celestial flames of fire and that for the better perfecting of the animal actions 14. And they are three in number the right left and middle the two formost are called by some anteriors but more properly superiors 15. The dexter therefore consists in the right part of the brain reaching over the whole length of it from the anterior to the posterior resembling the figure of a half circle its use is the preparation and generation of the animal spirits 16. The left consists in the left part of the brain and it hath the same form seat and use with the former 17. Whence experience doth testifie and the observation of Physitians doth confirm that if the brain be violently compressed or the ventricles bruised that then the animal must needs be deprived of sense and motion 18. For they place in these superior ventricles common sense which doth discern the objects of divers senses 19. The middle or third ventricle is nothing else then the concourse or common cavity of the two former ventricles 20. This doth produce of it self two passages the first whereof receives phlegme the latter is extended to the fourth corner or bosome 21. They place also in it the faculty of imagination and cogitation 22. These are the three ventricles of the anterior part of the brain the fourth is common to the cerebellum and the marrow of the back the last yet the most solid of all the rest because it receives the animal spirits from the former and so transmits it to the marrow of the back 23. This is the place where they say the memory is contained The Commentary A THe substance of the brain is soft and medullous and they say it is so called because it carries the substance of marrow but it differs much from that marrow which is found in the cavity of the bones because it is neither to be melted nor absumed as the other is its use is famous and noble for in this consists fear or courage as also a voluntary motion of the senses without which man stands as an image or pillar And it is not onely the place of sense and motion but the house of wisdom and the shop of the cogitations judgement and memory whereby man comes to resemble God And lastly it is the treasure of the animal spirits therefore by right the brain is the noblest of all members whose excellency if Aristotle had known he would never have written of the nobility and dignity of the heart B Whereas in the opinion os Plato the brain is the first and common sensery The question will be and it is full of intricacy and obscureness whether the brain be endowed with the sense of feeling It is the general answer of modest Physitians and Philosophers that the substance of the brain doth want sense though it be stirred with a daily motion but the membranes which encompass the body of the brain are endowed with a most exquisite sense But some will say how can the brain be void of sense and yet be adjudged the principle of sense this is a nonsequitur If the heart according to Aristotle be the principle of the motion voluntary shall we therefore say that it is moved by the arbitrement of the will when it is rather moved naturally so the brain communicates sense to other members therefore it is endowed with sense this is a nonsequitur Again I answer that Theoreme to be true in logick onely in Homogeneous causes and those also that are conjoyned and not remote for the senses do not remain in the brain immediarely but mediately by the benefit of the nerves which arise out of the brain Yet Scaliger answers the brain to have the force or faculty of sense dunamei but not the act CHAP. 14. Of the Species of Animals viz. of Beasts and they both perfect and imperfect 1. HItherto of the parts of an Animate body the species and differences of animals do follow 2. Therefore an animal is either A Alogon or Logicon 3. Alogon is called a Beast and it is an animal wanting Reason and onely endowed with Sense 4. But here B some go about to make a noise in opposing this both ancient and later writers in declaring that certain beasts by a singular sagacity and art may be obstupefied by artificial operations that they will act those things which cannot proceed from them but they must be endowed with some prudence and reason and besides their particular sense something that deserves to be ascribed to reason 5. It s true they are endowed with some remarkable actions but we must not conclude them to proceed from any reason in them but from a natural instinct 6. And how can Brutes be said to have common reason when reason is a faculty of the soul which doth move and bufie it self to finde out causes from the effects and again from the causes to those effects which are the causes of them 7. Furthermore beasts are either perfect or imperfect 8. They are perfect C which have a perfect body in substance and not in shadow and endowed with blood procreated in them 9. And they are such as either go or flie 10. They are terrestrial which draw

to be Dearticulated and absolute after forty five days living at first the imperfect life as it were of a Plant after the manner of an animal and at last the life of a man 47. And this happens not by reason of the form which is simple and individual but by reason of the matter that is of the organs 48. But the embryon takes aliment onely by the navel but after the liver is made it ministers to all the members but it doth not yet move though it hath life by reason of the imbecility of the brain and softness of nerves 49. The weak and tender members of the infant by little and little are dried by heat and so made more solid and then the yong begins to feel by perfect Sensories and by and by to be moved in the womb 50. But a man-childe doth move sooner then a female for boys because they are conformed in thirty days do move on the ninetieth day which compleatly make three moneths but because the female is framed in forty or forty two days she moves not till the hundred and twentieth day which is about the latter end of the fourth moneth 51. And the infant is nourished and doth increase all this space of time and when it is ripe it is brought forth partly by the endeavor of the womb for it being burthened with its weight and abundance of excrements it strives to be exonerated partly by its proper motion for the necessity of breathing the want of aliment and the narrowness of the place do enforce the yong to endeavor a passage out 52. At the time of birth the doors are opened which immediately after delivery are shut again This we see done saith Galen but how it is done we know not onely we may admire it Avicen calls it a work to be wondred at above all wonders 53. The womb being opened the infant begins to come out by the head and by many painful throws it draws out and brings with it three membranes and thus by the prescript of nature are we born into the world 54. The time of bringing forth is not fully defined nor can it for some are delivered at seven moneths end some at nine and most then some at ten but seldom and very seldom at eleven but in the eighth moneths end seldom any are delivered with a live childe 55. And this is the manner of the Conception Conformation and Procreation of the noblest of Creatures The Commentary A THe definition of a Man delivered consists of a Genus and Difference As to the Genus he is an animal and as to the Difference one endowed with reason And in this it is that man hath a Prerogative Dignity and Excellency above all other Creatures for his minde which is Divine is the Image of God and he differs much from other animals and as it were exercises a regality over them for are not Lyons and Elephants tamed by the strength of man and overcome and made subject to him Man is created with his face looking up to Heaven as it were contemplating upon God Hence Ovid could say Pronaque cum spectent animalia caetera terram Os homini sublime dedit caelumque tueri Jussit erectos ad sidera tollere vultus For whereas God created all other animals with their faces downwards to the ground man alone he erects with his eyes fixed upon heaven whither he should tend B The generation of man is made after this manner the seed of both Sexes being perfectly mixed the whole doth proceed from thence therefore the matter of the generation of mans Body is the seed both of the man and the woman plentiful and fruitful This seed doth consist of two parts watrish Humidity and Spirit the watrish Humidity proceeds from the blood whence Aristotle affirms blood to be a profitable excrement of the last aliment that is of the sanguineous aliment I say it is an excrement not supervacaneous in its nature or substance as Stones and Worms nor in its quality as Dung Sweat c. but onely in its abundance or quantity for because it superabounds from nourishing the parts of the body and cannot be assimilated thereunto it obtains the place of an excrement C The spiritual part of seed is no other thing then the vital Spirit which by reason of this Spirit it becomes hot and sometimes this Spirit is ingendred in the heart and thence sent out into the whole body so doth the Seed also according to the Spirit proceed from the whole because the Spirit is communicated from the heart to the whole Hence Aristotle saith if the Seed did not proceed from every part of the animal the cause of the similitude were false therefore seed ejected by the yard into the womb becomes fruitful when it is exquisitely mixed with the womans seed and it is the principal motion that is the first agent for the formotion of the yong by reason of the spirits contained in it For this going to the bottom as to its centre is cherished and preserved and so proceeds to action as to formation all which things are necessary for the framing of the yong for besides the seed of the man and the woman it is necessary that this vital spirit concur to the conception because the seed of man cannot besmear all the parts of the womb which else will impede conception and if the seed of the woman be onely present that will not cause conception by reason of its imperfection for the seed of man is more hot then womans and although this seed be not so perfect yet it concurs as an agent to the formation although not as the first agent for as Galen observes the mixture of the seed of man and woman is perfect seed whence Aristotle saith that what arises from the seed of man and woman do arise from contraries as when there are contraries in the same Genus and although each seed according to Aristotle is in its Genus an agent yet they do not act alike in power and strength but differ in these functions magis minus the seed of the woman doth concur as the matter of which both by reason of the seed of man which is its aliment for mans seed is nourished and made more perfect by womans seed as also by reason of the membranes which are produced out of it But in this place we may take notice what the Peripateticks in a manner aledge that the woman emits no seed but they are basely and injuriously dealt withall it is an aspersion cast upon them by some later Philosophers because Aristotle saith That the seed of the woman is not so crass while hot and full of spirit as the seed of man but he doth not say that women emit no seed at all D Besides the seed of both Sexes the menstruous blood of the woman concurs to generation it is called menstruous blood because it is an excrement yet it differs from that blood whereby a woman is