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. XLIIII. Of the wonderfull simpathy and Consent of the Eaeres, the Palate, the Tongue, and the Throttle.

THere be many things which do manifest this wonderfull 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or communi∣on of the eares with the instruments of the Voice, which that Genius of Nature * 1.1 Aristotle in the 32. Section of his Problemes hath declared. For when wee would heare any thing attentiuely we hold our breath, when wee yawne we do

not heare so exquisitely. And if you goade the Tympane of the eare with a Pen-knife it will presently cause a drie Cough. Those which be halfe deafe do speak but stuttering∣ly and their voyce is made through their Nose. Againe, those who from their Birth are deafe, are in like manner 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, are dumbe.

Lastly, if you holde an Instrument in your mouth or betwixt your teeth and stop your eares, you shall heare more perfectly; whence it is that deafe men do heare best by theyr mouths. All these are certaine and plaine arguments of that communion and sympathy * 1.2 which is betwixt the eares and the vocall instruments, to witte, the Mouth, the Tongue, and the Throttle.

But the reason of this communion is not knowne to all. Some thinke, that the Au∣ditory nerue, or the Nerue of the fifte Coniugation and that of the seauenth which moo∣ueth the Tongue are couered with the same coate from their beginning, and therfore the affects of those parts are easily communicated. But ocular inspection doth perswade the contrary, for the passages and wayes of either coniugation are diuers, and there is a great distance betweene them. VVe (saith Laurentius) will acknowledge a double cause of this communion, the one is referred vnto the auditory Nerue, the other vnto a little Canale or pipe which was vnknowne to the Ancients.

The Nerue of the first Coniugation brancheth out into many surcles, the larger is dilated into the Eare and the Membrane of most exquisite Sense, and carrieth the speci∣es or formes of all Sounds vnto the Braine; the lesser runnes vnto the Tongue and the * 1.3 Throttle. The affects therefore of the Eares and the Tongue are easily communicated by reason of the communion of the vessels, which according to Hippocrates and Galen is the onely cause of this sympathy. Hence it is that the Membrane of the eare being prouoked or goaded doth cause a drie cough, whereof Auicen maketh mention. Hence also it is, that almost all deafe men be dumbe, or at least haue but an imperfect speech, the audito∣rie * 1.4 Nerue being affected, which is complicated or folded with the seuenth coniugation. For I do not approoue of that common position, that deafe men be therefore dumbe be∣cause they can learne no Language, and because Hearing is the Sense of knowledge. For if they were onely dumbe for this cause, wherefore should they then sigh & mourne with so great difficultie which are Naturall passions? VVhy shoulde they not; as well as those which were the first inuenters of things, faigne Language and words whereby they might expresse the thoughts and Discourse of their mindes if they could vtter them? For Na∣ture hath armed a Man although hee bee deafe with Reason and Vnderstanding for In∣uention.

It remaineth that wee proceede vnto the second cause of this consent which is by a * 1.5 gristly Canale like a water-pipe which is conueighed from the second hole of the Eare vn∣to the Mouth & Pallate. This course or pipe was appointed for the purging of the in∣bred aire, for the auoyding of the excrements of the eares, as also that the in-bred ayre might bee recreated by the arriuall of new aire inspired by the mouth; and lastly, that by this way a passage may bee open for the externall aire rushing forcibly through the hole * 1.6 of the Eares, as it is in the noyse made by Ordinance when wee are neere it. The Ayre therefore doth passe freelie out of the mouth into the Eare, and againe retireth from the Eare into the mouth. VVhence it is, that when wee would heare more attentiuelie wee∣holde our Breath, least the Cochlea or Snaile-shell should bee filled with aboundance of inspired Aire and so the Tympane bee stretched. But such as yawne doe not heare so well, because in this yawning or gaping the Tympane is so stretched and puffed vp, that it cannot receyue outward Sounds.

Lastly, by scratching the Eare wee prouoke Spittle, because by that compressing there is an expression of Excrements into the Cartilagineous or gristlie passage, and so from thence vnto the Tongue. And thus much of the Sense of Hearing, now we come vnto the Smell.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The simpathy of the Ears & instruments of the voice.
• * 1.2

  Whence this cōmunion is.
• * 1.3

  A double cause of this communion.
• * 1.4

  Hippocrates his community of vessels.
• * 1.5

  The second cause of the sympathy.
• * 1.6

  Reasons of the former in¦stances.