CHAP. XXIII. Of the distribution of the Nerves to the naturall parts.
IT remaines, that before the bowels be taken away, we shew the nerves * 1.1 sent to the entrailes and naturall parts, that as wise and provident men we may seeme to have omitted nothing. First we must know that these nerves are of the sixt conjugation, which descend as well to the stomacke all alongst the Gullet and the ••ides thereof, as those at the roots of the ribbes on both sides within. But when they are passed through the Midriffe, those which are distri∣buted amongst the naturall parts follow the turnings of the veines and arteryes, but specially of the arteryes. Wherefore if you have a mind to follow this distribution of the nerves, you must chiefely looke for it in those places, in which the artery is distri∣buted amongst the Guts above the loynes.
These nerves are but small, because the parts serving for nutrition, needed none * 1.2 but litle nerves, for the performance of the third duty of the nerves, which is in the discerning and knowing of what is troublesome to them. For unlesse they had this sense, there is nothing would hinder, but these bowels necessary for life, being posses∣sed with some hurtfull thing, the creature should presently fall downe dead; but we have this benefit by this sense, that as soone as any thing troubles and vellicates the bowels, we being admonished thereof may looke for helpe in time.
And besides if they were destitute of this sense, they might be gnawne, ulcerated and putrified by the raging acrimony of the excrements falling into and staying in them; but now (by meanes hereof) as soone as they find themselues pricked, or pluckt, presently by the expulsive faculty they endeavoure to expell that which is trouble∣some, and so free themselves of present and future dangers.