The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. XII. Of the Tongue.

THE tongue is of a fleshy, rare, loose and soft substance; it enjoyes flesh * 1.1 of a different kind from the rest of the flesh, as chiefly appeares when you cut it from the first originall of the muscles thereof; which thing hath moved some, that they have made a fourth kind of flesh proper to the tongue and different from the rest, viz. the Fibrous, musculous, and that of the bowells. The quantity thereof is such that it may be conteined in the mouth, and * 1.2 easily moved to each part thereof. The figure of it is triangular, which it rather ex∣presses * 1.3 in the basis, which is at the root of the bone Hyoides, than in its point, or forepart, where from a triangle it becomes more dilated. It is composed of a mem∣brane * 1.4 (which it hath from that which lines all the inside of the mouth) muscles 4. nerves two on each side, the one whereof is sent from the third conjugation, into the coate thereof; the other from the seaventh is sent into the musculous substance * 1.5 even to the end thereof for motions sake; so that those sensificke nerves from the third conjugation onely give to judge of tastes, compose the coate, and touch or enter not the flesh. Besides it is composed of veines and arteries on each side one, which it receives from the externall Iugular and Carotides, running manifestly to the end thereof on the lower side, that so they might be easily opened in the di∣seases of the mouth and throtle; they commonly terme these the Vena nigra or blacke veines.

The muscles of the tongue are absolutly ten, on each side five. The first narrow at the beginning, and broader at the end, descends into the upper side of the tongue * 1.6 from the Appendix Styloides, and together with its copartner drawes it upwards. The second hath its originall within from the lower jaw about the region of the Grindinge teeth, and is inserted into the lower side of the tongue, the which with its partner drawes it downeward. The third proceeds from the inner part of the Chin and goes to the root of the tongue, that when need requires it may put it forth of the mouth. The fourth the greatest and broadest of them all, composed

of all sorts of fibers, passes forth from the basis of the bone Hyoides, and ends at the lower part of the tongue, which with its companion plucks it backe into the mouth. The fift & last most usually arises from the upper part of the hornes of the bone Hyoides and goes to the roots of the tongue betweene the two first, that it may move it to the sides of the mouth. The temper thereof, as of all other flesh, is hot and moist. The first * 1.7 action & commodity therof is, to be the organ of the sense of tasting, wherfore it was made fungous & spongy, that by reason of the rarity of it, it might more easily admit the tasts conjoyned with the spettle, as a vehicle. Another to be an instrument to di∣stinguish the voice by articulate speech, for which it was made movable into each part of the mouth. The third is to be a helpe to chaw & swallow the meat. For which cause it is like a scoope or dish with which wee throw backe the corne into the mill, which hath scaped grinding. And because, when the tongue is dry, it is lesse nimble & quicke to performe its motions, as appeares by those which can scarse speake by reason of thirst, or a burning feaver: therefore nature hath placed very spongy glandules at the * 1.8 roots therof, on each side one, which like sponges sucke and receive, both from the braine & other places a waterish and spettley humor, with which they humect and make more glib, not onely the tongue, but also the other parts of the mouth, as the throate and jawes; these glandules are called the Tonsillae, or Almonds of the throate.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What kinde of flesh the tongue hath.
• * 1.2

  The quantity,
• * 1.3

  The figure.
• * 1.4

  Composure.
• * 1.5

  The nerves.
• * 1.6

  The muscles of the tongue.
• * 1.7

  The temper, action, and manifold use of the tongue.
• * 1.8

  The use of the glandules pla∣ced at the roots of the tongue.