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. XVI. The Arguments of the Physitians.

WE come now vnto the reasons which are brought for the confirmation of this opinion both of Plato, of Galen and of the Anatomists, and they are taken partly out of Aristotle and partly out of the propriety of order. For Aristotle in the 37. Text of his 1. Booke of Physicks: teacheth that we must begin with those which bee most common; both because (as Auerhoes ex∣pounds it) those things which be most common are best knowne, and also because the af∣fections which are to bee declared doe primarily agree vnto them: and lastly, least wee should too often fall into Tautalogies, or vaine repetitions. And Aristotle himselfe giues an excellent reason of this his owne Position, to wit, because without the knowledge of those things which be more common, the lesse common cannot be knowne.

Now who will denie that the Sense of Touching is more common then the rest of the Senses? vvho knowes not that this Sense is common to all liuing creatures? yea it is so common in all, that without it no Sense can bee performed; in so much that the same Aristotle confesseth that euery Sense is a kinde of Touching. Beside, Art being the Ape or imitatour of Nature, we therefore in the tradition of our Arts should follow the order of Nature, in which order we must begin with those which are first (not in intention as the former Sect affirmeth) but in originall and generation: wherefore according to the order of Nature Touch seemeth to be put in the first place. To these wee may adde, that this Sense is more knowne then the rest, for a man hath this sense more exquisite then any of the rest; and it doth of necessity follow, that that Sense which we enioy most exquisite∣ly, thereof we should also haue most certaine knowledge.

Notes

• Why we must begin with those which be most com∣mon.
• Touch is the common sense
• Touch accor∣ding to the or¦der of nature is the first.