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

CHAP. XVIII. Of the Liver.

HAving gone thus farre, order of dissection now requires, that we should treate of the distribution of the gate veine; but because it cannot well be un∣derstood unlesse all the nature of the liver from whence it arises, be well knowne, therefore putting it off to a more fit place, we will now speake of the Liver. Wherefore the liver (according to Galens opinion, lib. de form. fatus) is the first of all * 1.1 the parts of the body, which is finished in conformation, it is the shoppe and Author of the bloud, and the originall of the veines; the substance of it, is like the concrete * 1.2 mudde of the bloud, the quantitie of it is diverse, not onely in bodies of different, but also of the same species; as in men amongst themselves, of whom one will bee gluttonous and fearefull, another bold, and temperate, or sober; for hee shall have a greater liver than this, because it must receive and concoct a greater quantitie of Chy∣lus: yet the liver is great in all men, because they have need of a great quantitie of bloud for the repairing of so many spirits & the substantificke moisture, which are resolved and dissipated in every moment by action and contemplation. But there may bee a a twofold reason given, why such as are fearefull have a larger liver. The first, is be∣cause * 1.3 in those the vitall facultie (in which the heate of courage and anger resides) which is in the heart, is weake; and therefore the defect of it must be supplied by the strength of the naturall facultie. For thus nature is accustomed to recompence that which is wanting in one part, by the increase and accession of another. The other reason is, because cold men have a great appetite, for by Galens opinion In arte parva, coldnesse increases the appetite; by which it comes to passe that they have a greater quantitie of Chylus, by which plenty the liver is nourished, and growes larger. Some beasts, as Dogges, and swine, have the liver divided into five or more Lobes, but a man hath but one Lobe, or two, or three at the most; and these not so much distin∣guished, as which chearish the upper and hollow region of the ventricle, with em∣bracing to helpe forward the worke of concoction. Therefore the liver is almost con∣tent with one Lobe, although it is alwayes rent with a small division, that the umbi∣licall veine pearcing into the roots and substance of it, may have a free passage; but also oftentimes there is as it were a certaine small lobe of the liver, laid under that umbilicall veine, as a cushion.

The figure of the liver is gibbous; rising up and smooth towards the Midriffe; to∣wards * 1.4 the stomacke is the simous or hollow side of it somewhat unequall, and rough by reason of the distance of the Lobes, the originall of the hollow veine, and the site of the bladder of the Gall.

The composition of the liver is of veines, nerves, arteryes, the coate and proper * 1.5 substance thereof which we call the grosse and concreet blood, or Parenchyma. Veines and arteryes come to it from the navell; but nerves immediatly from these which are diffused over the stomack according to Hippocrates; yet they penetrate not very deep into its substance, for it seemes not to stand in neede of such exact sense, but they are distributed upon the coate and surface there of, because this part made for distribu∣tion over the whole body, keepes to it selfe no acrid or maligne humor, for the per∣ception of which it should neede a nerve, although the coate investing it, sends many nervous fibers into its substance, as is apparent by the taking away of the coate from a boiled liver; we must thinke the same of the other entrals. The coate of the liver is from the Peritonaeum, waxing small from the umbilicall veine, when it divides it selfe for the generation of the gate and hollow veines, as is observed by Galen, lib. de format▪ Fatus. The liver is onely one, situate in the greater part on the right side, but with the * 1.6 lesser part on the left, quite contrary to the stomacke. Its chiefe connexion is with the stomacke, and guts, by the veines and membranes of the Peritonaeum; by the howllow veine and artery, with the heart; by the nerve with the braine, and by the same ligatu res with all the parts of the whole body. It is of a hot and moist temper, * 1.7 and such as have it more hot, have large veines and hot bloud; but such as have it cold, have small veines, and a discoloured hew. The Action of the Liver is the * 1.8 conversion of the Chylus into bloud, the worke of the second concoction. For al∣though the Chylus entring into the meseraicke veines, receive some resemblance of bloud, yet it acquires not the forme and perfection of bloud, before it be elaborate, and fully concoct in the liver. It is bound and tied with three strong ligaments, two * 1.9 on the sides in the midst of the bastard ribs, to beare up its sides, and the third more high and strong, descending from the breast-blade, to sustaine its proper part, which with its weight would presse the lower orifice of the stomacke, and so cause a falling or drawing downe of the sternon and coller bone. And thus much may suffice for is proper ligaments, for we before mentioned its common, the veines, arteries, nerves, and coate of the Peritonaeum, by which it is knit to the loines, and other naturall parts. But wee must note, that besides these three proper ligaments, the liver is also bound with others to the bastard ribs, os Sylvius observes in his Anatomicall observations, and Hollerius in his Practife, Cap. de Pleuritide.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What the liver is.
• * 1.2

  Its substance and quantity.
• * 1.3

  Why coward•• have great li∣vers.
• * 1.4

  The figure.
• * 1.5

  The compo∣sure. The vessels.
• * 1.6

  The number and site. The connexi∣on.
• * 1.7

  The temper.
• * 1.8

  The action.
• * 1.9

  The ligaments