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.

CHAP. IX. Of the Excellency, Scituation, Figure, Substance, and Tem∣perament of the Braine.

BEing to vndertake the history of the braine, me thinkes we may make a diuisi∣on of those parts that belong vnto & fall vnder our sense into foure sorts. One sort of them that are about the braine as the containing parts already spoken of outward and inward, common and proper. Another sort of them that are within the braine as the substance thereof, the figure, the magnitude and the diuers parts which haue diuers names giuen them according to their different formes, * 1.1 of which we will heere and heereafter intreate. A third sort of them that ascend vnto the braine, as the veines and arteries, of which we spake somewhat in the former chapter, and shall do more if God permit in the booke of vessels. A fourth and last sort of them which issue from the braine as the marrow of the backe or spine, the Nerues and the Animal spirit of which also we shall presently heereafter discourse: But to the purpose.

Aristotle (in his 2. booke de partibus Anamalium and the 7. chapter, and in the first book of his History of Creatures, and the 16. chapter) saith, that all Creatures which haue bloud, haue also a braine and none other, vnlesse it be somewhat proportionable as the Po∣lipus. * 1.2

This braine among the auncieut Greekes had no proper name, but because of the scitu∣ation it was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 because it was contained 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the head. Of the gene∣ration of it Hippocrates hath learnedly discoursed in his booke de Carnibus to which were∣ferre the learned Reader; as also for the order of the generation thereof to Aristotle in his booke de generatio e Animalium and the sixt Section.

It is the principall part of the whole body which may be proued by the scituation, the fi∣gure, the defences it hath, and the vse of it. The scituation is in the highest part of the * 1.3 body as it were in a defenced Tower, that it might bee better secured from outward iniu∣ries.

The figure is round, which is the most noble figure of all the rest, for it was propor∣tionable that the diuinest part should haue the most perfect and absolute figure.

The defences of the braine are very many, the haire, the skinne and that the thickest of all the body, the fatte, the fleshy Membrane, the Pericranium, the Periostium, a double tabled Scull and two Meminges or membranes, by all which it is of all sides defenced from * 1.4 violence, so that it cannot be hurt or offended but with extreame wrong. But neyther the heart nor any other part is so prouided for by Nature, wherefore it should seeme she made more of store, as we say, of it then of all the rest.

In respect of the vse it will easily carry away the prize of Excellency; for the soule * 1.5

of man saith Varolius, being not tyed to any bodily instrument cannot apprehend those out ward things which are without it selfe; vnlesse it be by the mediation of a corporeall organ into which the species or formes of materiall things may be transmitted by which afterward they may be exhibited, and in which they may be apprehended and contemplated: euen as * 1.6 he that is shut vp in a roome, cannot see those things which are, or are acted without, vnlesse there be some Tralucent body wherein the Images of those outward things may first be re∣ceiued and after represented to him that is within. Such an instrument is that which wee call Commune sensorium the common sence; for nothing can come into the vnderstanding vnlesse it be first in the sence.

Now this first or common sense according to Plato and Galen is the braine; (for Ari∣stotle * 1.7 did but dreame that it was the heart) and they thought well. For not onely Galen but Aristotle himselfe did resolue that that was the first Sensorium or common sence, which is * 1.8 the originall of sinewes. Nowe Anatomy teacheth vs that all the sinewes arise from the braine.

Hence then it is manifest that the Braine is the seate of the Sensatiue Soule; for if a nerue which is directed vnto any part be obstructed, that part is depriued of sence and motion & so of the sensatiue Soule. If the originall or beginning of the spinall marrow be obstructed all the parts vnder the head doe loose both sence and motion, when as yet the head enioy∣eth them both. But if the fourth ventricle of the Braine be obstructed, then not onely the whole bodie but the head it selfe looseth motion and sence, and is depriued of the sensatiue Soule.

Who then will deny that the Brayne is the most noble of all the members, seeing it is the seate of all the Animall faculties, Imagination, Reason or discourse & Memory (wher∣fore Aphrodisaeus called it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Organ of wisedome) and the beginning or o∣riginall * 1.9 of sence and voluntary motion; and beside seeing from it doe issue and on it do de∣pend all the instruments of the senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching yea and speech also. And therefore Plato did worthily call it, because hee could giue it no higher a stile, * 1.10 The deuine Member. For what the Heauen is in the worlde, the same in man is the Braine. The Heauen is the habitation of the supreame Inteligence, that is of God; and the Braine the seate of the Soule, that is the demi-God of this Little-world.

Hence it was that Homer called it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is the Heauen, because as from the Coelesti∣all * 1.11 influence all things below it are moued both in heauen and earth; so all the parts of the body haue sense and motion from the influence of the Braine.

Wherefore with Galen we determine that the Braine as well as the Heart is a Principall part: not that wee think, as some doe, that the Braine is the Prince and King of all the rest, no more then we thinke with Aristotle that the Heart is the most noble of all the parts. But * 1.12 we say that as the heart is of greatest and most instant necessity for life, so the place of dig∣nity belongeth to the Braine. Columbus giueth an elegant reason hereof taken from Gene∣ration.

The Liuer sayth hee is ingendred by the mediation and helpe of the vmbilicall veine, * 1.13 the heart by the mediation and helpe of the vmbilicall arteries, and these are ingendred by the vessels of the wombe: but the nerues which are the instruments of sence and motion doe immediatly arise out of the braine of the Infant.

The Braine is commonly called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Galen in his Book de motu musculorum, cal∣leth * 1.14 it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The marrow of the head, for a difference betweene it and the marrow of the backe which is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and the marrow of the bones from which it much dif∣fereth, because it is not dissolued by fire, nor consumed in hunger, nor contained in the skull to nourish it. Wherefore Galen in his 8. Booke de vsu partium and the 4. Chapter putteth a difference betweene it and the marrow of the bones, because this is fluxible and like vnto fat, neither couered with coates nor wouen with vcines and arteries, neither hath any communion with the muscles and nerues, all which is contrary in the Braine.

Apollidorus thought that none of the Antients had giuen any name to the Brain in any * 1.15 of their writings, and that therefore Sophocles called it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the white marrow; imita∣ting therein Plato, who when he would giue a name to the Brayne called it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and True Loue the Grecians say is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, euen at the vppermost marrow or at the Brane of the Soule, no doubt because they thought that the Soule was in the Braine. * 1.16

It is scituate in the head as in a Castle most safe, because of the defences thereof be∣fore mentioned; as also because it is the highest place, & as it were the Tribunall or throne

of her body. For as God who is the parent yea the Creator of the Vniuerse is said to haue his seate and throne in heauen. So the Braine which is the pallace of the soule was wiselie seated in the height of the body, partly because of the eyes and eares, for their nerues be∣ing soft had neede also be as short as might be, and therefore placed neere vnto the brain. Now aboue they must necessarily be seated because they are the scout-watches of the Bo∣die to foresee and to heare of dangers before they come vpon vs.

The Figure of the Braine is answereable to the Figure of the Scull, not that it is fashio∣ned by the Scull, for if it had beene so, then the Scull shoulde haue bin formed before the * 1.17 Braine. Againe (saith Galen in his 8 Booke of the vse of parts and the 12 chapter) they that say that the Braine is fashioned by the Scull do not obserue that the Brain is manifestly se∣parated from the Dura Meninx, and that the Meninx it selfe although it touch the scul yet it adhereth not vnto it. It expresseth indeede in the surface of it the forme of the cauitie of the scull, and when it is rightly formed it is round and a little longer then globous, bee∣cause of the ventricles which were to be formed therein.

Forward it is somewhat narrower, backward broader and on either side lightly depres∣sed [Tab. 6, fig. 2 sheweth this] but in those that haue as we say Laesa principta, that is, in I deots it is often otherwise fashioned as we haue said before. But in the Basis it is vnequal & full of variety because the scull hath there diuers dens and bosoms, especially at the wedge∣bone [Tab. 14, fig. 19 betweene ^A and the latter^B] and the inward processe of the Temple∣bones. [Tab. 15, fig. 20, betweene H and N] But aboue all it swelleth out forward at the in∣struments of smelling, and produceth two teates as it were [Table: 14, fig: 19, ^CC] vvhich are therefore commonly named Mamillares processus. But where it coucheth vpon the Cere∣bellum or after-braine it is smooth and more equall. [Tab. 14, fig. 18, ^AA, ^BB]

Concerning the magnitude, the braine of a man (saith Aristotle in his 2 Booke de partibus Animalium and the 7 chapter in comparison and proportion with other creatures is the * 1.18 largest, so that the Braine of one man is more then three Oxen, first because in man there are many Animall functions which beasts haue not, and those that we haue common with beasts are in vs much more perfect. For being in man the instrument and organ of reason, it was necessary it should conteine yea and pertect also great plenty of spirits. Now many spirits cannot be made but of much blood, and aboundance of blood cannot be contey∣ned in a little body. Againe, it was fit that the braine should be large, moist, thick & glu∣tinous that they might not by reason of their notable tenuity vanish away but passe into the whole body by proper and peculiar channels framed for them.

But the magnitude in length, bredth and thicknesse is so great as the capacity of the scul is able to conteine, for together with his Membranes the Flegmaticke Glandule and the vessels that ascend vnto it; it filleth al his compasse [Tab. 6. fig. 1 and 2. Table. 9. fig. 3 and 4] before and behind, and on either side, only leauing so much distance as may suffice for his Diastole and Systole. Finally, it is so great saith Bauhine that in our dissections we haue found it weigh foure or fiue pounds; and Archangelus addeth fiue pound and a halfe; for the lar∣ger a man is the greater and more weighty is his braine, yea children because of the waight of their braine cannot of a long time carry their heads steddy vpon their shoulders.

It is knit by a common connexion of Veines, Arteries and Sinnewes with the rest of the * 1.19 parts, although more familiarly to the spinall marrowe and the sinnewes, because they are produced heere-from. Hence it is, that when the least or basest part of the body is pained the Braine also partaketh of the smart. As for supportation and strength it needed no assi∣stance from the other parts because it is so strongly fortified and as it were intrenched with in the scull.

The substance of the braine hath a double principle of which it is formed, the seede and the Mothers blood. Archangelus thinketh it hath no such principle, it may be he is of the * 1.20 opinion of Praxagoras and Philotimus of whom Galen maketh mention in his 8 book of the vse of parts and the 12 chapter, who thought that the braine was nothing else but a produ∣ction or propagation of the spinall marrow, and that was the reason why it is foulded vp in so many convolutions and revolutions. But this is an idle speculation of a vvandering Brain. We wil determine as is saide that it hath a double principle seed and blood, of which is generated a peculiar kinde of glandulous substance like whereunto there is none in the whole body, so that Aristotle exceeding well in his 2. Booke de part bus Antmalium and the * 1.21 7 chapter saide, that it was suigeneris of his owne kinde, intimating thereby, that there vvas no other kinde in the whole body whereunto it might fitly be referred. For because the in∣genit

functions of the Braine are peculiar vnto it alone as Vesalius hath well obserued, it was framed and fitted by Nature for the performance of those functions, of a peculiar sub∣stance * 1.22 and essentiall forme wherein the principall faculties of the soule, Iudgement, Ima∣gination, Reason and Memory might reside, and which they might vse as their proper in∣strument, and on which the rest of the senses might depend.

It is white, soft and very moist. White by reason of his spermaticall matter, for it is made * 1.23 of the purest part of the seed furnished with abundance of spirits, as also that the Animall spirits therein conteined should be cleare and bright, not muddy or otherwise coloured. Yet is not all his substance perfectly white, for that which is neerest to the convolutions [Tab. 9. fig. 4. Ta. 10, fig. 5 ^EF] is somwhat neerer to an Ash colour, as it is also in the Cere∣bellum; * 1.24 the reason whereof some thinke to be because there are so many small veines disse∣minated through it. For as we thinke the vialactea or Milky Way in heauen is occasioned by an infinite number of small starres which to vs are inuisible, but yet do giue a brightnes to that part of the sky; so though we cannot see how the veines do alter the colour in this place, yet seeing it is altered, it is very reasonable that the insensible membranes of the small veines giue that ashie colour vnto it. The rest of the Braine a little more inward is pure white [Tab. 9. fig. 4, ^GH. Tab. 10, fig. 5, ^G•. Tab. 11, fig. 7 and 8, ^••]

It is soft, and softer saith Galen in his 8. Booke de vsupartium and the sixt Chapter then the Cerebellum, because it is the originall of the soft Nerues pertaining to the Organes of * 1.25 sense, but the Cerebellum is the originall of the hard Nerues commonly thought to bee the Nerues of motion. In Children the Braine is so soft that it is fluid. The reason of the soft∣nesse is because it is to receiue all the species or representations of the outward senses, as also of the imagination and vnderstanding. For vnlesse the alteration or impression that is made in any of the senses do proceede first from the Braine and after returne againe vnto it, the creature hath sence of nothing; which is proued by the example of su••h as are taken with the Apopleixe. Wherfore seeing sensation is a passion, it was requisit that the braine should be of such a substance as is fit to receiue the impressions of other things. Yet it be∣hooued not it should be so soft as that the impressions made therein, should presently sink * 1.26 away and be obliterated, as it hapneth in water and other fluide bodies, but that it should haue with the softnes a kind of consistence of solidity, which solidity is so exquisitely min∣gled with the softnes, that the fire cannot melt it as it doeth fat or wax and such like. To conclude it is like the substance of a nerue, of which also his marrow is the originall, but a * 1.27 little softer: Hippocrates in his booke de Glandulis likneth it vnto a kernell, because as a kernel it is white and friable, and beside is of the same vse to the head that a glandule would bee, drawing vp the exhalations of the lower partes which after vapour out by the Sutures of the skull.

The Temperament of the brayne is cold and moyst, as wee may easily with Galen in * 1.28 the 8. booke of the Vse of parts conclude from the softnes and moystnes of his substance. Wherfore Hippocrates in his book de Carnibus, calleth it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Metropolis or chiefe seate of cold and glutinous moisture. Glutinous to hold and conteine the subtile Animall spirits which otherwise would soone vanish and decay; and colde that the part ordained for the exercise of reason and therefore fulfilled with hot spirits should not easily be set on fire or enflamed. For when the braine by any accident or distemper growes hot as we see in phreniticall patients, the motions thereof are furious and raging, and the sleepe turbulent and vnquiet. And indeede the Heade is verie subiect (colde al∣though * 1.29 it be by nature) to hot distempers, partly because of the perpetuall motion thereof and of the spirits, partly by reason of the aboundant Veines and Arteries and great quanti∣ty of blood therein conteyned, and finally because whatsoeuer hot thing is in the body ei∣ther naturall or vnnaturall if it be inordinately mooued flieth vp vnto the braine, or at lest sendeth hot vapors vnto it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A diuision of the Head.
• * 1.2

  Aristotle.
• * 1.3

  The braine the principall part of the whole body, and why.
• * 1.4

  The defences of the braine.
• * 1.5

  The excellen∣cy of the vse of it.
• * 1.6

  Comparison.
• * 1.7

  Arist: dreame.
• * 1.8

  The common sence is the braine.
• * 1.9

  Aphrodisaeut.
• * 1.10

  Platoes
• * 1.11

  Comparison
• * 1.12

  The braine not the prince but a prin∣cipal part.
• * 1.13

  Columbus his reason.
• * 1.14

  The name: of the braine.
• * 1.15

  Sophocles.
• * 1.16

  A greeke phrayse.
• * 1.17

  Figure.
• * 1.18

  Magnitude. Aristotle.
• * 1.19

  Connexion.
• * 1.20

  Substance. Archangelus Praxagoras. Philotimus.
• * 1.21

  Aristotle.
• * 1.22

  Vesalius
• * 1.23

  why the brain is white.
• * 1.24

  Comparison.
• * 1.25

  Why soft.
• * 1.26

  Why not like to Fat.
• * 1.27

  Why it mel∣teth not.
• * 1.28

  The tempera∣ment of the Braine.
• * 1.29

  The Reason thereof.