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.

Another Reason.

If the Spirits of the braine do forsake the Arteries and be transfused into the Ventri∣cles, * 1.1 seeing in the third Ventricle there are two passages, one forward and another back∣ward, why do they rather passe backward then forward? whereby shal it bee conducted after it fal out of the Arteries so that it mooue in a right line, and that without any vio∣lence * 1.2 but with an easie and gentle motion into the fourth Ventricle. I answere, that it is the Soule that directeth the Instruments of the soul, and that it is diffused into this part rather then into the other, because it is the Soules good pleasure so to command.

Thirdly, it seemeth not consonant to reason that a Spirit should be generated & con∣teyned in the Ventricles of the Braine, because those Ventricles were ordained for the * 1.3 expurgation of superfluities. I answere, that Nature vseth one part for diuers vses, for as * 1.4 the Nose was primarily created for smelling and the inspiration of aer, and secondarily for the expurgation of the Braine; so it may be that the forward ventricles of the braine

were primarily made for the preparation of the spirits, and secondarily to auoide excre∣ments.

Fourthly, that whereas one eye being shut, the apple of the other is dilated. It ar∣gueth * 1.5 that the spirits are not transported by the nerues but by the Arteries. For the optick nerues do not touch the apple of the eye, yea betwixt them are interposed many boddies * 1.6 and those very thicke, to wit, the Christaline and the Waterish humors, through which the spirits in such a momēt cannot passe. For if it cānot pearce through a drop of phlegme in the oppilation or stopping of the optick, which maketh the disease we call Gutta Jaerena; how shall it passe the thicknesse of the Christaline humor? The spirit therefore yssueth through the small Arteries, which together with the grape-like coate are conuyghed to the Pupilla. This reason would vrge very much vnlesse Anatomy did teach vs that the opticke nerue when it commeth vnto the Christaline humor doeth not there determine but is diffused and amplified into that coate which is called Reticularis or the Net. Now the Net-like coate passeth euen vnto the apple.

Finally, that there is no Animall spirit may thus be demonstrated. The spirits are * 1.7 those that do conueigh and transport all the faculties, and serue onely for that vse. Now there is no Animall faculty transported from the braine into the body, and therefore there is no Animall spirit. That the Animall faculty is not transported from the braine into the body may thus be prooued.

A faculty is a propriety of the soule, now euery propriety is inseparable from that thing whereof it is a propriety. Wherefore wheresoeuer the soule is, there also shall his facul∣ties be. But we know that the soule is Tota in toto et tota in qualibet parte, that is, wholy in in the whole and wholy in euery part. Whence it will follow that the faculty is not only in the braine but also in euery part of the body, and that as absolute and perfect as it is in the braine it selfe, because the whole soule is absolute and perfect in the least part.

The Philosopher makes answere, that the essence of the soule furnished with all her faculties is indeed euery where; but doth not worke euery where because euery where it * 1.8 hath not Organs. For the Soule doth not moue neyther partaketh of sense without the Animall spirit, as it seeth not without an eye.

VVe conclude therefore that there is an Animall spirit which receiueth an inchoa∣tion in the Textures, an elaboration in the ventricles, & a perfection in the substance of the braine, where also it is the vehicle of the principall faculties, and passing into the spinall marrow and the nerues is the immediate Organ of sense and motion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The second.
• * 1.2

  Answered.
• * 1.3

  The third.
• * 1.4

  Answered.
• * 1.5

  The fourth.
• * 1.6

  Answered.
• * 1.7

  The fift.
• * 1.8

  Answered.