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CHAP. XVI. Of the Thymus.
THe Thymus is a glandule of a soft, rare, and spongeous substance, of large bignesse, situate in the furthest and highest part of the Chest, amongst the * 1.1 divisions of the subclavian or Iugular veines and arteries, as yet contained in the Chest, for this use; that it might serve these vessels for a defence against the bony hardnesse of the Chest, and besides, that as it were by this prop or * 1.2 stay, the distributions of these vessels might become the stronger; for so we see that nature hath provided for others, especially such as are the more noble and wor∣thy. This glandule appeares very large in beasts and young men, but in such as have * 1.3 attained to full growth it is much lesse, and scarse to be seene.