a naturall prepotency in the right we cannot with constancy affirme if we make observation in children who permitted the freedome of both do oft times confine unto the leâ—t and are not without great difficulty restrained from it and therefore this prevalency is either uncertainly placed in the laterallity or custome determines its indifferency which is the resolution of Aristotle in that Probleme which enquiâ—es why the right side being better then the left is equall in the senses because saith he the right and left do differ by use and custome which have no place in the senses and the reason is allowable for right and leâ—t as parts inservient unto the motive faculty are differenced by degrees from use and assuefaction according whereto the one grows stronger and oft times bigger then the other but in the senses it is otherwise for they acquire not their perfection by use or custome but at the first we equally heare and see with one eye as well as with another and therefore were this indifferency permitted or did not institution but Nature determine dextrality there would be many more Scevolaes then are delivered in story not should we wonder at seven thousand in one Army as wee reade concerning the Benjamites True it is that although there be an indifferency in either or a prevalency indifferent in one yet is it most reasonable for uniformity and sundry respective uses that men should apply themselves to the constant use of one for there will otherwise arise anomalous disturbances in manuall actions not onely in Civill and artificiall but also in Military affaires and the severall actions of warre Secondly the grounds and reasons alleadged for the right are not satisfactory and afford no rest in their decision Scaliger finding a defect in the reason of Aristotle introduceth one of no lesse deficiency himselfe Ratio materialis saith he sanguinis crassitudâ— simul multitudâ— that is the reason of the vigour of this side is the crassitude and plenty of bloud but this is no way sufficient for the crassitude or thicknesse of bloud affordeth no reason why one arme should be enabled before the other and the plenty thereof why both not enabled equally Fallopius is of another conceit deducing the reason from the Azygos or vena sine parâ— a large and considerable veine arising out of the cava or hallow veine before it enters the right ventricle of the heart and placed onely in the right side but neither is this perswasory for the Azygos communicates no branches unto the armes or legs on either side but disperseth into the ribs on both and in its descent doth furnish the left Emulgent with one veyne and the first veyne of the loynes on the right side with another which manner of derivation doth not conferre a peculiar addition unto either Caelius Rodiginus undertaking to give a reason of Ambidexters and left handed men delivereth a third opinion Men saith he are Ambidexters and use both hands alike when the heat of the heart doth plentifully disperse into the left side and that of the Liver into the right and the spleene be also much dilated but men are left handed when ever it happeneth that the heart and Liver are seated on the left side or when the Liver is on the right side yet so obducted and covered with thick skins that it cannot diffuse its virtue into the right which reasons are no way satisfactory for herein the spleene is injustly introduced to invigorate the sinister side which being dilated it would rather infirme and debilitate as for any tunicles or skins which should hinder the Liver from enabling the deutrall parts we must not conceive it diffuseth its virtue by meere irradiation but by its veines and proper vessels which common skins and teguments cannot impede and as for the seate of the heart and Liver in one side whereby men become left handed it happeneth too rarely to countenance an effect so common for the seat of the Liver on the left side is very monstrous and scarce at all to be met with in the observations of Physitians Others not considering ambidextrous and left handed men doe totally submit unto the efficacy of the Liver which though it be seated on the right side yet by the subclavian division doth equidistantly communicate its activity unto either arme nor will it salve the doubts of observation for many are right handed whose Livers are weakely constituted and many use the left in whom that part is strongest and we observe in Apes and other animals whose Liver is in the right no regular prevalence therein and therefore the Braine especially the spinall marrow which is but the braine prolonged hath a fairer plea hereto for these are the principles of motion wherein dextrality consists and are bipartited within and without the Crany by which division transmitting nerves respectively unto either side according to the indifferency or originall and native prepotency there ariseth an equality in both or prevalency in either side and so may it be made out what many may wonder at why some most actively use the contrary arme and leg for the vigour of the one dependeth upon the upper part of the spine but the other upon the lower And therefore many things are Philosophically delivered concerning right and left which admit of some suspension that a woman upon a masculine conception advanceth her right leg will not be found to answer strict observation That males are conceived in the right side of the wombe females in the left though generally delivered and supported by ancient testimony will make no infallible account it happening oft times that males and females doe lye upon both sides and Hermaphrodites for ought we know on either It is also suspicious what is delivered concerning the right and left testicle that males are begotten from the one and females from the other for though the left seminall veine proceedeth from the Emulgent and is theâ—efore conceived to carry downe a serous and feminine matter yet the â—eminall Arteryes which send forth the active materials are both derived from the great Artery Beside this originall of the left veine was thus contrived to avoid the pulsation of the great Arterie over which it must have passed to attaine unto the Testicle Nor can we easily inferre such different effects from the divers situation of parts which have one end and office for in the kidneys which have one office the right is seated lower then the left whereby it lyeth free and giveth way unto the Liver and therefore also that way which is delivered for masculine generation to make a straite ligature about the left Testicle thereby to intercept the evacuation of that part deserveth consideration for one sufficeth unto generation as hath beene observed in semicastration and oft times in carnous ruptures beside the seminall ejaculation proceeds not immediately from the Testicle but from the spermatick glandules and therefore Aristotle affirmes and reason cannot deny that although there be
as it is largely opposed unto pronenesse or the posture of animals looking downewards carrying their venters or opposite part to the spine directly towards the earth it must not be strictly taken for though in Serpents and Lizards we may truly allow a pronenesse yet Galen acknowledgeth that perfect Quadrupedes as Horses Oxen and Camels are but partly prone and have some part of erectnesse and birds or flying animals are so farre from this kinde of pronenesse that they are almost erect advancing the head and breast in their progression and onely prone in the act of their volitation and if that be true which is delivered of the Penguin or Anser Magellanicus and often described in Maps about those Straits that they goe erect like men and with their breast and belly do make one line perpendicular unto the axis of the earth it will make up the exact erectnesse of man nor will that insect come very short which we have often beheld that is one kinde of Locust which stands not prone or a little inclining upward but in a large erectnesse elevating alwayes the two fore legs and susteining it selfe in the middle of the other foure by Zoographers called mantis and by the Common people of Province Prâ—ga Dio that is the Prophet and praying Locust as being generally found in the posture of supplication or such as resembleth ours when we lift up our hands to heaven As for the end of this erection to looke up toward heaven though confirmed by severall testimonies and the Greek Eâ—ymology of man it is not so readily to be admitted and as a popular and vaine conceit was anciently rejected by Galen who in his third De usu partium determines that man is erect because he was made with hands and was therewith to exercise all Arts which in any other figure he could not have performed as he excellently declareth in that place where he also proves that man could have beene made neither Quadruped nor Ceâ—taur The ground and occasion of this conceit was a literall apprehension of a figurative expression in Plato as Galen plainely delivers the effect of whose words is this To opinion that man is erect to looke up and behold the heavens is a conceit onely fit for those that never saw the fish Uranoscopus that is the Beholder of heaven which hath its eyes so placed that it lookes up directly to heaven which man doth not except he recline or bend his head backward and thus to looke up to heaven agreeth not onely unto men but Asses to omit birds with long necks which looke not onely upwards but round about at pleasure and therefore men of this opinion understood not Plato when he said that man doth Sursum aspicere for thereby was not meant to gape or looke upward with the eye but to have his thoughts sublime and not onely to behold but speculate their nature with the eye of the understanding Now although Galen in this place makes instance but in one yet are there other fishes whose eyes regard the heavens as Plane and cartilagineous fishes as pectinals or such as have the Apophyses of their spine made laterally like a combe for when they apply themselves to sleepe or rest upon the white side their eyes on the other side looke upward toward heaven for birds they generally carry their heads erectly like man and some have advantage in that they move not their upper eyelid and many that have long necks and bear their heads somewhat backward behold farre more of the heavens and seeme to look above the aequinoxiall circle and so also in many Quadrupeds although their progression be partly prone yet is the sight of their eye direct not respecting the earth but heaven and makes an higher arch of altitude then our owne The position of a Frogge with his head above water exceedeth these for therein hee seemes to behold a large part of the heavens and the acies of his eye to ascend as high as the Tropick but he that hath beheld the posture of a Bitour will not deny that it beholds almost the very Zenith CHAP. II. Of the heart THat the heart of man is seated in the left side is an asseveration which strictly taken is resutable by inspection whereby it appeares the base and centre thereof is in the midst of the chest true it is that the Mucro or point thereof inclineth unto the left for by this position it giveth way unto the ascension of the midriffe and by reason of the hollow veine could not commodiously deflect unto the right from which diversion neverthelesse wee cannot so properly say t is placed in the left as that it consisteth in the middle that is where its centre resteth for so doe we usually say a Gnomon or needle is in the middle of a Diall although the extreams may respect the North or South and approach the circumference thereof The ground of this mistake is a generall observation from the pulse or motion of the heart which is more sensible on this side but the reason hereof is not to be drawne from the situation of the heart but the site of the left ventricle wherein the vitall spirits are laboured and also the great Artery that conveyeth them out both which are situated on the left and upon this reason epithems or cordial applications are justly applyed unto the left brest and the wounds under the fist rib may bee more suddenly destructive if made on the sinister side and the speare of the souldier that pierced our Saviour is not improperly described when Painters direct it a little towards the left The other ground is more particular and upon inspection for inâ— dead bodies especially lying upon the spine the heart doth seem to incline unto the left which happeneth not from its proper site but besides its sinistrous gravity is drawne that way by the great arterie which then subsideth haleth the heart unto it And therefore strictly taken the heart is seated in the middle of the chest but after a carelesse and inconsiderate aspection or according to the readiest sense of pulsation wee shall not quarrell if any affirme it is seated toward the left and in these considerations must Aristotle be salved when hee affirmeth the heart of man is placed in the left side and thus in a popular acception may wee receive the periphrasis of Persius when hee taketh the part under the left pappe for the heart and if rightly apprehended it concerneth not this controversie when it is said in Ecclesiastes The heart of a wiseman is in the right side but that of a fool in the left That assertion also that man proportionally hath the largest brain I did I confesse somewhat doubt and conceived it might have failed in birds especially such as having little bodies have yet large cranies and seeme to containe much brain as Snipes Woodcoks c. but upon triall I finde it very true The braines of a man Archangelus and
judge of the affections of the heart by the one as well as the other and although in indispositions of liver or spleene considerations are made in Phlebotomy respectively to their situation yet when the heart is affected men have thought it as effectuall to bleed on the right as the left and although also it may be thought a nearer respect is to be had of the left because the great artery proceeds from the left ventricle and so is nearer that arme it admits not that consideration for under the channell bones the artery divideth into two great branches from which trunke or point of division the distance unto either hand is equall and the consideration answerable And therefore Macrobius discussing the point hath alleadged another reason affirming that the gâ—station of rings upon this hand and finger might rather be used for their conveniency and preservation then any cordiall relation for at first saith he it was both free and usuall to weare rings on either hand but after that luxury encreased when pretious gems and rich insculptures were added the custome of wearing them on the right hand was translated unto the left for that hand being lesse employed thereby they were best preserved and for the same reason they placed them on this finger for the thumb was too active a finger and is commonly imployed with either of the rest the Index or forefinger was too naked whereto to commit their pretiosities and hath the tuition of the thumbe scarce unto the second joynt the middle and little finger they rejected as extreams and too big or too little for their rings and of all chose out the fourth as being least used of any as being guarded on either side and having in most this peculiar condition that it cannot be extended alone and by it selfe but will bee accompained by some finger on either side and to this opinion assenteth Alexander ab Alexandro Annulum â—nuptialem prior aetas in sinistrâ— ferebat credideriâ— ne attereretur Now that which begat or promoted the common opinion was the common conceit that the heart was seated on the left side but how far this is verified we have before declared The Aegyptian practice hath much advanced the same who unto this finger derived a nerve from the heart and therefore the Priest anointed the same with pretious oyls before the altar but how weake Anatomists they were which were so good Embalmers we have already shewed and though this reason tooke most place yet had they another which more commended that practice and that was the number whereof this singer was an Hieroglyphick for by holding downe the fourth finger of the left hand while the rest were extended they signified the perfect and magnified number of six for as Pierius hath graphically declared Antiquity expressed numbers by the fingers of either hand on the left they accounted their digits and articulate numbers unto an hundred on the right hand hundreds thousands the depressing this finger which in the left hand implied but six in the right indigitated six hundred In this way of numeration may we construe that of Juvenal concerning Nestor mortem Distulit atque suos jam dextrâ comptuat annos And how ever it were intended and in this sense it will be very elegant what is delivered of Wisdome Prov. 3. Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour As for the observation of Lemnius an eminent Physitian concerning the gowt how ever it happened in his country wee may observe it otherwise in ours that is that chiragricall persons doe suffer in this finger as well as in the rest and sometimes first of all and sometimes no where else and for the mixing up medicines herewith it is rather an argument of opinion then any considerable effect and we as highly conceive of the practice in Diapalma that is in the making of that plaister to stirre it with the stick of a Palme CHAP. V. Of the right and left Hand IT is also suspicious and not with that certainty to be received what is generally believed concerning the right and left hand that men naturally make use of the right and that the use of the other is a digression or aberration from that way which nature generally intendeth and truly we do not deny that almost all Nations have used this hand and ascribed a preheminence thereto hereof a remarkable passage there is in the 48. of Genesis And Joseph tooke them both Ephraim in his right hand towards Israels left hand and Manasses in his left hand towards Israels right hand and Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraims head who was the younger and his left hand upon Manasses head guiding his hands wittingly for Manasses was the first borne and when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim it displeased him and he held up his fathers hand to remove it from Ephraims head unto Manasses head and Joseph said not so my father for this is thy first borne put thy right hand upon his head And the like appeareth from the ordinance of Moses in the consecration of their Priests Then shalt thou kill the Ram and take of his bloud and put it upon the tip of the right eare of Aaron and upon the tip of the right eare of his sonnes and upon the thumb of the right hand and upon the great toe of the right foot and sprinkle the bloud on the Altar round about That the Persians were wont herewith to plight their faith is testified by Diodorus That the Greeks and Romans made use hereof beside the testimony of divers Authors is evident from their custome of discumbency at their meales which was upon their left side for so their right hand was free and ready for all service nor was this onely in use with divers Nations of men but was the custome of whole Nations of women as is deduceable from the Amazones in the amputation of their right breast wheâ—eby they had the freer use of their â—ow all which doe declare a naturall preheminency and prefâ—rment of the one unto motion before the other wherein notwithstanding in submission to future information we are unsatisfied unto great dubitation For first if there were a determinate prepotency in the right and such as ariseth from a constant roote in nature wee might expect the same in other animals whose parts are also differenced by dextrality wherein notwithstanding we cannot discover a distinct and complying account for we â—inde not that Horses Buls or Mules are generally stronger on this side and as for animals whose forelegs more sensibly supply the use of armes they hold if not an equality in both a prevalency oft times in the other as Squirrels Apes and Monkeys and the same is also discernible in Parrets and men observe that the eye of a Tumbler is biggest not constantly in one but in the bearing side That there is also in men