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.

QVEST. X. Of the nature of Respiration, and what are the Causes of it.

AND thus much of the proper motion of the Heart, what causes it hath, what manner motion it is, what power or faculty mooueth the Arte∣ries, when and as the heart is mooued; or after and otherwise: Howe * 1.1 and where the vitall spirites are generated and their immediate matter prepared, what is the temperament of the heart, how it is nourished, what his structure is & how many the parts are of his substāce with their vse and functions: Finally, howe able to beare and endure affectes and diseases. There∣solution of which questions, though they do not properly pertaine vnto Anatomy all of them, yet do they so depend one vpon another as it seemeth necessary that he that would know one should also know all; notwithstanding in our treating of them we haue verie of∣ten restrained our Discourse and conteyned it within such limites as are not farre distant from Dissection it selfe.

It remaineth now, that we should a little stand vpon another motion in our bodies and * 1.2 the Instrument thereof which Nature hath ordained to be seruiceable to this motion of the heart, and that is Spiration or breathing. For the Heart being exceeding hot and therfore a part of great expence needed a continuall supply of nourishment for the spirites, and of ventilation for himselfe. For Hippocrates saith in his Booke De Naturapueri, Calidū omne * 1.3 frigido moderato Nutritur & fouet us? That which is hot is nourished and cherished by that which is moderately colde: which sentence Galen in his Book de vsu Respiration is thus ele∣gantly expoundeth; Euen as (saith he) a flame shut vp in a straite roome and not ventilated with the aer burnes dimmer and dimmer till it be extinguished, so our naturall heate if it want cold to temper it growes saint and wasteth away to vtter confusion. For it is like a flame mooued both waies vpward downward, inward and outward; vpper and outward,

because it is light as being of a fiery and aery nature; downward and inward in respect of his nourishment; either of these motions if they he hindred, the heate either decayeth or is extinguished; it decayeth for want of nourishment because it cannot be mooued down ward and inward. It is strangled and extinguished when it cannot be mooued vpward and outward and so refrigerated.

Wherefore, the spiration or breathing of colde is verie necessary for the preser∣uation of naturall heate; but what shall this cold be? Surely either aer or water: aer is more * 1.4 necessary in perfect and bloody creatures, first because it sooner followeth the distention of the brest and so the dilatation of the Lunges, and filleth all that is dilated to keepe out vacuity; secondly it cooleth sooner, as better distributing his partes into euery secret cor∣ner of the heart: finally, it is better expirated or breathed out then water, though it be not more easily drawne in. Aer then is the best cooler for the heart, and that must be brought vnto it by breathing: now this spiration or breathing is double, insensible and sensible; In∣sensible spiration Hippocrates and Galen cal properly 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and the Latins Perspiration & Transpiration. The other and sensible breathing is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Respiration. Trans∣piration * 1.5 is by the secret pores of the skin, Respiration by the mouth and the nose. Those creatures whose heate is weake and faint do liue onely by Respiration, so all that are with∣out blood or which we cal Insecta of certaine diuisions they haue about their necks or bel∣lies; so the infant in the womb transpireth onely but doth not respire; and many women in fits of the Mother (the naturall heate of their hearts being dissolued by a poisonous breth * 1.6 arising from putrified seede) do liue a while in trances onely by Transpiration. But those creatures whose heate is neerer to the nature of flame, by transpiration onely cannot bee tempered. Wherefore such heate needeth a farther helpe to wafte more aer vnto it, and that is done onely by respiration.

This Respiration therefore hath two parts, Inspiration and Expiration; Inspiration is * 1.7 the drawing in of the aer, Expiration the breathing it out. Inspiration is like the Dyastole of the heart, Expiration like the Systole.

This Respiration whether it be Naturall or Animal hath troubled the heads of Schollers a great while, and would also now trouble ours if we shold muster together all the Reasons * 1.8 which are brought on both sides; yet because the question is worthy the decision wee will breefely as we can resolue it with your patience. The arguments to prooue it not to bee Animall or voluntary are. First because voiuntary actions are from election: but men a∣sleepe * 1.9 (when yet there is respiration) haue no election, no will, because sleepe is a rest or * 1.10 cessation of all Animall actions. Hence it is that Galen calleth the Caros a sleepie disease Puiuationem Animalitatis, a priuation of al the animal Faculties; yet in that disease the Re∣spiration is free: as likewise in the Apoplexic which is a resolution or palsie of the whole body. Now where is no sense remaining, can there then remaine any voluntary motion? yet we see Respiration remaineth.

Againe, to be voluntary and perpetual are contraries; for voluntarie actions do albreed wearinesse, but Respiration breeds not wearinesse in the motion, but if the motion be any whit checked or stayed, that stay or checke breeds wearinesse: Finally when the Respirati∣on is vitiated we apply remedies vnto the region of the heart not vnto the braine, which is the originall of voluntary motion. On the contrary, the great argument to prooue it to * 1.11 be voluntary is, that we can breath when we will, and when we will we can stay our breath: so as many haue thus voluntarily ended their dayes, I meane by staying their owne breath. Galen in his second Booke de Motu Musculorum telleth of a Barbarian seruant, who beeing throughly angred purposed to lay violent hands vpon himselfe, hee threw himselfe there∣fore * 1.12 vpon the ground, and held his breath a long time remaining vnmooued, at length tur∣ning himselfe a little he breathed out his life.

C. Licinius Macer a Pretorian Citizen of Rome, being accused for oppression by exa∣ctions, whilst the Iudges were giuing sentence shut vp his owne mouth, and couering it with his Handkerchiefe reteyned his breath till he fell downe dead.

Coma the brother of one Maximus a Captaine of Out-lawes, when hee was asked con∣cerning the strength and enterprises of the Fugitiues, gathered his strength together, co∣uered his head, and falling vpon his knees held his breath till he dyed euen in the handes of those that guarded him and before the face of the Iudges.

Cato Vticensis, when his sonne had taken away his sword, he perswaded his Seruants to giue it him againe, saying he would keepe it for his defence, not to murther himselfe with,

For sayeth hee, If I listed to die, I could easily hold my breath to serue that turne: Besides Hippo∣crates sayth in his third Section of the second Booke Epidemiωn, that the cure of continuall yawning which Physitions cal oscitation, is long breathing: & Aristophanes in Plato his Sym∣posio, being troubled with a hiccock, intreated Eriximachus the Physition to tell out his tale * 1.13 for him, That wil I saith he, & in the meane time hold your breath some good while & your hic∣cock wil cease, and then you shall take my turne as I haue taken yours. We may then reteyne our breath when and how long we will and therfore it is a voluntary action. For the instru∣ments whereby wee breath are all Animall, as the intercostall muscles, the midriffe which is also a muscle, and the nerues. Finally, if the braine bee offended as in a phrensie, then is the Respiration offended.

Wee see here two opposite opinions, both which wee cannot maintaine vnlesse they will either of them remit somewhat and yeeld a little either to other, and then it will not be * 1.14 hard to reconcile them after this manner. Some actions are purely and simply Naturall, as Concoction, Nutrition &c. Some partly voluntary, as speech and walking. Some mixt, that is partly Naturall partly Animall, as the auoyding of water and excrements, as Galen sayth in the fourth Chapter of his 6. Booke de locis affect; and in the sixt Chapter of his se∣cond Booke de motu musculorum he likeneth Respiration to these. Respiration therefore is a mixt action, partly Natural and that in respect of the final cause and of necessity, part∣ly * 1.15 Animall in respect of the instruments of it, the muscles.

Those that are strangled do not breath because they cannot Animally; the nerues and * 1.16 muscles being intercepted with the rope. Hystericall woemen that are troubled with the mother do not breath, because they cannot Naturally: for there is no vse of respiration, nor no necessity vrging it although the instruments bee at liberty; and Nature hath here very wisely ordayned that although this action were absolutely necessary and so naturall for the * 1.17 preseruation of life; yet there should also be in it some commaund of the will, because it is often very profitable to stay the breath and often to thrust it out with extraordinarie vio∣lence.

If wee be to giue very diligent eare to any thing, if to passe through any vnsauoury or noysome places, if we fall or be throwne into the water, it is very necessary that we should bee able to conteyne our breath: on the contrary, to blow vp any thing, to winde a home or sound a trūpet, to blow the fire or such like; it is very profitable that we should be able to breath with extraordinary violence. Now in a word we will satisfie the arguments on both sides; and to the first in the first place.

They say that men Respire when they sleep, but in sleepe there is no vse of election or will. I answere there is a double will, as Scaliger sayeth, One from election proper to men and men awake, the other from instinct and this is in men a sleepe and in bruite beasts. The mo∣tion * 1.18 of respiration when we sleepe is by instinct, neither are all the Animall faculties idle in sleepe, or extinguished in those diseases before named; but in sleep they are remitted as Ga∣len sayth not intermitted; for euen the muscles haue a motion which we call Tonieum me∣tum Arigid motion, especially the two sphincter muscles, and in the diseases they are de∣praued. * 1.19

The reason why we are not wearied with continuall respiration, is because there is con∣tinual vse and necessity of it, although it cannot be denied that euen respiration being con∣strayned wearieth the creature much.

On the contrary, they that affirme this respiration to bee meerely voluntary, alleadge that we are able to stay it when we will and to moue it when wee will; to which I answere. That is properly and absolutely a voluntary action which may bee stayed at our pleasure when it is doing, and againe done when it is stayed; but respiration is no such action: for if the Respiration be altogether stayed, as in those whose histories are aboue mentioned, then is the creatures life extinguished and the respiration cannot againe bee mooued. And for the two other arguments that respiration is by Animall instruments, & that in a phren∣sie which is a disease of the brayne, the respiration is vitiated. I answere, that they proue indeed that in respiration there is somewhat voluntary, but they doe not proue that there is nothing naturall. We therefore do determine that Respiration is a mixt action, and to it do concurre both principles ioyned together the Brayn and the Heart, the Animall and * 1.20 the Naturall faculties.

To conclude this Chapter and discourse of Respiration: The pulse and respiration we see are two distinct motions, yet so neare of kinne as men doe not ordinarily obserue the

differences betweene them: wee will therefore in a word tell you wherein they differ and wherein they agree.

They agree in that that they both serue one faculty that is the Vitall; for they were both ordained onely for the heart which is the seate of the vitall faculty. Moreouer, they haue both one finall cause a threefould necessity; of nutrition, temperation and expurgation: nourishment of the spirits, tempering of the heate and purging of smoky vapours. Third∣ly, they agree in the condition of their motions, for both of them consist of a Systole and a Dyastole, and a double rest betweene them: but in these things they differ. That the pulse is a Naturall motion, continuall not interrupted, and without all power of the will. Respi∣ration is free, and ceaseth some whiles at our pleasure; the efficient cause of the pulse is on∣ly Nature, of Respiration Nature and the Soule together; the instruments of the pulse are the heart and the arteries, of Respiration the muscles: the pulse is from the heart, Respira∣tion not from the heart but for the heart. Finally, the heart beateth fiue times for one mo∣tion of Respiration.

Lastly, whether is the pulse or Respiration more necessary or more noble? More noble * 1.21 surely is the pulse, because his instrument the heart is more noble, his effect the vitall spirit is more noble then the ayre; and the end is better then that which serueth for the end: but Respiration was made for the preseruation of the pulse: but nowe for their necessity there needeth a distinction. There is one pulse of the heart and another of the arteries; the pulse of the heart is more necessary for life then Respirution, but the particular pulsation of the arteries is lesse necessary then Respiration; for though the arteries bee bound or inter∣cepted the creature dyeth not presently, but if the Respiration be stopped hee is presently extinguished.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A briefe enu∣meration of the difficul∣ties about the motion of the heart.
• * 1.2

  Of Spiration.
• * 1.3

  Why neces∣sary.
• * 1.4

  Whether aer or water is fittest to cool the heats.
• * 1.5

  Transpiration & Respiratiō.
• * 1.6

  Fittes of the Mother.
• * 1.7

  The partes of Respiration.
• * 1.8

  Whether Na∣turall or Ani∣mal.
• * 1.9

  Not Animall.
• * 1.10

  The Reasons.
• * 1.11

  That it is A∣nimall.
• * 1.12

  Histories.
• * 1.13

  How to cure yownings & the hiccock.
• * 1.14

  A reconcilia∣tion of 2. ad∣uorse opini∣ons.
• * 1.15

  Respiration a mixt action.
• * 1.16

  2. instances.
• * 1.17

  Why it was necessary that respiration should be partly volun∣tary.
• * 1.18

  Wil is double
• * 1.19

  Motus Tonic ••••
• * 1.20

  The determi∣nation.
• * 1.21

  Whether is more noble and necessary the pulse or respiration.