Mikrokosmographia a description of the body of man. Together vvith the controuersies thereto belonging. Collected and translated out of all the best authors of anatomy, especially out of Gasper Bauhinus and Andreas Laurentius. By Helkiah Crooke Doctor of Physicke, physitian to His Maiestie, and his Highnesse professor in anatomy and chyrurgerie. Published by the Kings Maiesties especiall direction and warrant according to the first integrity, as it was originally written by the author.

How profitable Anatomy is to Philosophers, and in a manner to all Artificers and Handy-crafts men. CHAP. VII.

THese two fruites of Anatomy, as they are abundantly beneficiall and profita∣ble, so they seeme to be common to all in general; first the knowledge of our owne Nature, and then of the inuisible God. There are also other benefites and commodities of Anatomy proper and peculiar to Poets, Painters, yea, and to the most part of handy-crafts men and Artificers, to teach them the better to bring their Arts to perfection. And first, Galen dooth account Anatomy verie * 1.1 proper to a naturall Philosopher, though it were but onely for speculation sake, or other∣wise

to teach him the singular workemanship of Nature in euery particular part. For in∣asmuch as the proper and proportionable subiect of his art is a body Naturall, and the bo∣dy of Man is as it were the square and rule of all other bodies, he ought not, nor cannot be truly accounted a Naturall Philosopher, who is ignorant of the historie of Mans body; and for this cause, that most excellent Genius, and interpreter of Nature Aristotle, wrote those elegant and eloquent Books of the History of the parts, and of the generation of li∣uing * 1.2 creatures. Anatomy is also very profitable for a morall Philosopher: for hee shall * 1.3 easily learne by the mutuall offices and duties of euery part, and by the constitution of the Naturall houshold gouernment appearing in our bodies, how to temper and order the manners and conditions of the minde, how to rule and gouern a Commonwealth or Ci∣tie, and how to direct a priuate house or family.

I spare to speake how profitable it is for Poets and Painters, for the perfection of their Art and Science; for euen Homer himselfe hath written many things, and those verie ex∣cellent * 1.4 concerning Anatomy. But my purpose is onely to shew, that for a Physition, a naturall Philosopher, a Chirurgion, and an Apothecary, it is not onely profitable, but euen also absolutely necessary.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Anatomy ve∣rie profitable for a naturall Philosopher.
• * 1.2

  Aristotle.
• * 1.3

  Anatomie is profitable for a morall Phi∣losopher.
• * 1.4

  Profitable for Poets & pain∣ters. Homer.