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. LIII After what manner an Odour affecteth or changeth the Medium.

IT is a great controuersie amongst the Masters of Philosophy, how the odorable Obiect doth change the Medium, that is, whether that alteration be Reall or Intentionall. Auerhoes impugning Auicen, saith, it is done Intentionally as a colour is made of that which is coloured, and hee reasoneth on this manner. If the Odour should bee transported through the ayre together with a body, then would there be a penetration of bodies which is impossible to be and absurd to say. But Auerhoes is deceiued, because an Intentionall Obiect cannot really moue the Sense; Now it is ma∣nifest that we Smell really. That which he obiecteth concerning colour, wee haue dis∣puted already in the precedent controuersies. Adde hereto that Intentionall Beings are produced from the Soule, and doe depend thereon, and therefore they are called Entia rationis Notions of Reason. By this concession therefore it would follow, that the Ob∣iect is in the vnderstanding before it is in the Sense, if it were true that a Reall obiect did make an impression of an Intentionall Odour in the Medium.

Did not Auerhoes remember that ruled Axiom, Nihil est in intellectu quod non prius fue∣rit in Sensu? That there is nothing in the mind which is not first in the Sense? And to what pur∣pose should any thing that is in the vnderstanding be remitted or returned vnto the Sense, seeing things are therefore receiued into the Sense, that they might attaine vnto the vn∣derstanding. And whereas Auerhoes saith, that there would be penetration of bodies, if the odorable Obiect did really alter the Medium. I answer the consequence is not good: for the ayre being a most liquid Element, doth easily yield to any body. Adde beside, that afumid exhalation being mingled with the ayre, may be caried and recaried with it hither and thither. After this manner also, the opinion of Philoponus and Iandunus, may bee refuted, who doe affirme that the Odour may really together with the exhalation be ca∣ried * 1.1 a good space through the Medium, marry the rest of the Medium which attayneth vnto the organ of Sense, is altered onely intentionally by the Odour, for a reall Being doth alwayes worke really, and that which is Intentionall dependeth vpon our vnder∣standing. But if some part of the Medium were really changed, and other parts intentio∣nally.

What is the reason why in remote distances a great tract of the medium is really af∣fected; and in little distances (as when we moue the obiect to our Noses) but a little.

Aegidius was of opinion that the odour was really produced in the Medium as is the Sound, which sayth Placentinus is vtterly false, for not so much as colour, which is simply * 1.2 and immediately made out of the mixtion of the first qualities, can possibly after any man∣ner be receiued in the ayre. How then shall odour which is a second quality bee genera∣ted in the ayre. Furthermore second qualities cannot mutually worke one vpon another: for one white cannot produce another white, no more can one odour which expireth or breatheth out of a body beget another odour in the Medium.

And for this cause we also most disclaime Ammonius and Boetius, who say that an odour may passe out of one subiect into another; for although it proceede together with the ex∣halation * 1.3 out of the bodies into the ayre, yet it doth not change his subiect nor flit into a∣nother. But the ayre being made vapoury sustayneth the exhalation together with the o∣dour, conserueth it and is a vehickle vnto it: yet when the vapour is dissipated the odour vanisheth together therewith, which would not happen if it were fit to flit or mooue out of one subiect into another.

Wee therefore with Auicen doe resolue that the Medium is really changed: for that the odour doth really yssue out of the mixed body we haue proued before: from whence * 1.4 it followeth necessarily that some part of the Medium, to wit, that vppon which the odori∣ferous exhalation doth immediatly worke is really affected. Againe, Odours doe really * 1.5 attaine euen vnto the braine, and therefore there is no question but that the Medium is re∣ally affected. Those therefore that say it is affected intentionally, as also those that con∣fesse some part of it be affected really, but other parts intentionally, haue sit downe beside the Cushion.

But although the odour proceede really out of the subiect and reach really vnto the braine, yet no man must conceiue that the odour is diffused through the whole Medium from the obiect euen vnto the organ, but it is wafted vpon the wings of the wind or trans∣ported by the motion of the ayre. That an odour attayneth really vnto the braine may * 1.6 be proued; because such odours do sometimes helpe and sometime hurt. The detriment seemeth not to proceed from the odour but from the quality of the subiect which accom∣panieth the odour, that is, the exhalation. For the odour being a quality cannot haue in it that hurtfull quality vnlesse you will graunt that a quality can bee in a quality. Neither doeth the quality onely of exhalation affect the braine, but sometimes some seedes of the * 1.7 very substance of bodies that are of subtle partes are transported in the exhalation, which setling in the braine brings foorth fearefull accidents and strange effects, as it did in him who smelling oft vpon Basill had a Scorpion bred in his braine. It is therefore necessary * 1.8 we should beleeue that the odour is really perceiued by the organ. For confirmation wher∣of wee may also adde this argument, because all knowledge or science hath his originall from the Senses. Now science is of a reall not of an intentionall Being. How then shall sci∣ence which hath a reall subiect take his beginning from the Senses if they receiue nothing but that which is Intentionall.

It is therefore manifest that the Senses doe not perceiue their obiects intentionally but really; and by consequent that the Medium is also really affected.

But it may be obiected if the odour be really imprinted in the Organ, then there is no * 1.9 neede of an externall Medium, and beside, that axiome will be false, That the obiect vpon the Sense doth not make Sensation.

We grant indeed that there is no neede of a Medium which should be betwixt the re∣all odour and organ, but the vse of the Medium is for the conseruation, preparation and * 1.10 transportation of the odour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Philoponus & Iandunus refu∣ted.
• * 1.2

  As also Aegi∣dius.
• * 1.3

  With Ammo∣nius & Boetius.
• * 1.4

  Auicen redee∣med.
• * 1.5

  The Medium is really affec∣ted.
• * 1.6

  For they re∣ally affect the braine.
• * 1.7

  Confirmed by a strange instance.
• * 1.8

  Science is from the Sen∣ses.
• * 1.9

  Obiection.
• * 1.10

  Solution.