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. XVIII. Whether the Senses doe neede a Medium or Meane.

IT seemeth to be no hard question to determine whether the Senses need a Medium or Meane; because out of Aristotles Philosophy wee haue as it vere an Oracle, 1000. times repeated that The Obiect placed vpon the Sense * 1.1 doeth make no Sensation: especially seeing hitherto it is receiued for such an vniuersall principle and ground, that hee which denyes it deserues not to bee confuted. But weighing this as all other Theormes in the equall ballance of Reason, I am bolde to demaund whether this position deserue the Title of a Principle? As for Aristotle he acknowledgeth it indeede for a principle, and in many pla∣ces resolueth vppon it for an infallible and vndoubted axiome without adding any reason thereto: but whether herein he hath well done, and whether it be such a ground and prin∣ciple or no, it will appeare by the due consideration of the conditions required in a princi∣ciple.

The first condition therefore of a Principle is (as it appeareth ex posterioribus Analyti∣cis) that it may be truely affirmed of euery particular of the same kinde, and in my iudge∣ment

sayeth Placentinus this axiome transgresseth this condition, because it agrees not to * 1.2 euery Sense to haue a Medium, for that Tasting and Touching are absolued without.

But some may haply doubt how these two Senses can be perfourmed immediatly, and yet a Medium be required to the rest. The answere is at hand; because the organs of some Senses are so sensible that they would easily bee offended with the contaction of their ob∣iects. * 1.3 So the Sight will not admit of the Touch of any thing, and a vehement motion whereby the sound is generated would offend the organ of Hearing, if it should come im∣mediatly vnto it.

Againe, a fumid exhalation which falleth in with the Sence of Smelling would hinder Respiration, and except it were transported through a Medium or Meane, it would bee of∣fensiue and hurtfull to the Organ.

Lastly, some Senses doe Perceiue their obiects not Materially but Spiritually. Now * 1.4 the species must be drawne from the obiect through a Medium. Some also receiue them Materially, and those haue neuer a Medium. For a colour cannot really attaine to the organ, because an accident out of his subiect is nothing: whereupon it followeth that not the Colour placed aboue the eye doeth offend it, but the coloured or subiect of the colour. But put case that Colour could really without any dammage bee imposed vpon the Eye, * 1.5 yet it would not moue the Sence; because it would condense and thicken the eye: for by this immediate contaction the colour doeth worke vppon the Daphanum or that which is translucent.

The Touch therefore and the Taste haue no neede of a Medium, because they doe not receiue Intentional or abstracted species but reall qualities; for if they should receiue Spi∣rituall * 1.6 formes then they must discerne of them a farre off without the contaction of the obiects; for the species are diffused into an ample distance; but the Tast and the Touch are not perfected without contaction.

We see moreouer in these Senses reall affects of the obiects, which could not be vnlesse they should be perceiued really: but these thinges shall bee more at large discussed in their proper places.

For a playner dilucidation of the trueth, wee must obserue that all Senses haue not a∣like neede of a Medium; but there is a certaine order and degree of this necessity. For the Sight doeth especially neede a Medium, because it is most of all Spirituall, and there is no * 1.7 Sensation at all of a reall colour immediatly placed vpon the eye.

A Meane is also requisite to the Hearing, yet it hath lesse neede thereof then the Sight, for a sound imposed vppon the Hearing maketh a kinde of Sensation, but very imperfect, namely such an one as is offensiue to the organ.

The Smell in like manner hath vse of a Medium if the smoaky exhalation be vehement; * 1.8 for so it may hinder the Respiration and hurt the organ: yet an odour may bee perceiued without a Meane. VVhereupon when we would smell any thing perfectly we hould our noses close to it: so that the Smell seemeth to be in the middle betwixt those Senses which neede a Meane and those which are performed without it.

Taste also though it bee made by contaction yet requireth necessarily an humidity, * 1.9 which may bring the Sapors out of Power into act. But Touching hath need of nothing saue the contiguity of the tactile body, beeing performed without the helpe of any other Meane. And thus I thinke it is plaine what we may determine of this question.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An axiome questioned.
• * 1.2

  Touching and Tasting without Me∣dium.
• * 1.3

  The reason why the other are not.
• * 1.4

  Some Senses perceiue ma∣terially o∣thers spiritu∣ally, as Sight.
• * 1.5

  Not the co∣lour, but the coloured of∣fends the eye.
• * 1.6

  The Taste and Touch receiue reall quali∣ties.
• * 1.7

  The Sight doth especi∣ally neede a Medium. The Hearing lesse.
• * 1.8

  The Smelling yet lesse.
• * 1.9

  Tasting and Touching none.