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.

Quest. 6. Whether a similar part may be called Organicall; and whether the acti∣ons belong to the similar Parts, or to the Organicall.

ACcording to the Doctrine of Aristotle and Galen, a dissimilar and an or∣ganicall part are not distinguished. But because according to the same * 1.1 Galen, the essence of an Organicall part consisteth onely in the confor∣mation, that is, a conuenient figure, magnitude, number and scituati∣on, all which are found also in similar partes; I am easily perswaded to be of the opinion of some of the late Writers, who thinke that similar * 1.2 particles, may also be called organicall, and therefore that the dissimilar is better opposed to a similar, and to an organical a rude & vnformed part. Neither do I think that Galen was heereof ignorant; but because the variety of composition, and the neatnesse of the Figure was more conspicuous in those that are dissimilar (the similar being vniforme) hee pleased to call them absolutely and by an excellence, organicall. So the Philosopher in his first Booke de ortu & interitu, calleth the head, the chest, and the belly, principall-Organs, be∣cause * 1.3 the most irresolute Scepticke, cannot but acknowledge their action and diuerse com∣position.

Some vntie this knot on this manner. An organicall part is to be considered either as * 1.4 it is figurated, or as it performeth some organicall action. In the first respect, almost all si∣milar parts are organicall; for euen the bones haue a proper figure, magnitude, number & scite. In the second onely dissimilar, because these alone do performe organicall actions. For who will affirme, that in a bone there is any action organicall? It is true, that their Fi∣gure, magnitude, and scite are of good vse, but they performe no action. Whereas the Veine and the Muscle, although of all Organs they are the most simple, do performe each

of them a manifest organicall action; the one distributing and dispersing the blood, the o∣ther accomplishing voluntary motion. But that these things may be more manifest, and descend deeper into the capacity of those that are but initiated, it shall not be amis to recal them againe to the ballance, and weigh them ouer more precisely.

Galen in the sixt Chapter of the first Booke of his Method, and in his Booke de inaequali * 1.5 intemperie, defineth an Organ to be that part of the creature which can perform a perfect, that is, a proper action. More fully it may be defined thus. A Part which onely produceth an action proper and peculiar to it selfe; so a Muscle and an Eye may be called Organes, because only the Muscle mooueth, the Eye onely seeth. As for the similar parts, their action is perfect indeede, but common, not proper or peculiar to themselues, to wit, Nutrition; & there∣fore they cannot properly be called Organs. Now that nutrition is a similar, and not Or∣ganicall actiō, it appeareth by both their definitions. That action is said to be similar, which * 1.6 is commenced or begun onely by the temper of the part, and by the same perfected, and is beside wholly and perfectly wrought by the least portion of the part, as well as by the whol. That Nutrition is of that nature, it is so manifest, as it needeth no demonstration; for eue∣ry part or portion of a Bone, draweth, retaineth, boyleth the Aliment; and beside expelleth that which is superfluous; the reason is, because euery part of a bone is a bone, and hath the forme and nature of the whole bone: this forme is called temperies or the temper, wher∣fore onely from the temper proceedeth the original and perfection of nutrition. Againe, * 1.7 Flesh (as Galen saith in the 9. Chapter of the first booke de vsu partium) is flesh onely through his temper, and a Nerue is a Nerue by his temper. And in the first booke de Naturalibus facul∣tatibus, He that endeuoureth to preserue the action of the similar parts, it is necessary that he pre∣serue their temper. So that it is manifest, that Nutrition accordeth with the definition of a similar action. Now how repugnant it is to the definition of an organicall action, it remai∣neth * 1.8 that we shew. That is called an organicall action, which neither is begun, nor absol∣ued or perfected by the temper alone, but requireth to his integrity and perfection the whole instrument. So vision which is the proper action of the eye, is not accomplished by the Christalline humour alone, nor alone by the opticke nerue, or the coates of the eye, but by all togither. Neyther is the forme of this organicall action the temper, but the lau∣dable conformation of the whole instrument. The eye seeth not, the hand handleth not, the foote goeth not forwarde, the muskle mooueth not onely by the temper; but because the organs are thus or thus disposed or framed. * 1.9

Here some ouertaken with irresolution, because of the obscurity of the question, doe sweate and contend to proue, that all actions belong to the similar parts and proceed from them, none from the organicall. And they alledge the authority of Galen for their war∣rant; who in the second chapter of the seauenth booke of his Method, and the third chap∣ter of the sixt booke de locis affectis, and in his booke de optimo corporis habitu; sayth, That in euery organ there is one particle similar, which is the principall cause of the organicall action, and that the rest are onely assistant, conferring some vse but no action. So vision proceedeth from the Christalline humour, sanguification from the parenchyma of the Liuer, voluntary moti∣on from the flesh of the muskle; but the coates of the eye, the muskles, the nerues, the two humours, doe eyther make the sight more perfect, or onely conserue it. Moreouer, in the fift chapter of his booke de constitutione artis; hee writeth that the actions are primarily and perse, that is, of it selfe, from the similar part; and secondarily and by accident, from the orga∣nical. Adde hereto that the functions doe flowe from the faculties, the faculties from the temperament; now the temper is the forme of the similar part, not of the organicall: and in the fift booke de locis affectis, he sayth: That the very essence of al the faculties doeth consist in the temper. In the sixt booke de locis affectis: he sayth, that the actions doe flowe from the proper and peculiar essence of the parts not from the position: for if the Heart or the Lyuer should change their place, yet would they performe the actions they doe in the places wherin now they are. And in the tenth booke of his Method, speaking of a cold bath: Those that are Hectical, that is, in a consuming and lingring ague, are easily offended by the occursion or touch of cold water or ayer, because theyr solid and similar parts, (they being more neare the threds) are bare and na∣ked, by which all the actions of lyuing creatures are performed. Aristotle also is of opinion that * 1.10 all sence commeth from the similar parts.

This their deuice I must needs say is probable, but yet they trouble the pure fountain * 1.11 of Galens Philosophy. It is true that he acknowledgeth in euery perfect organ one similar particle, which is the principall cause of the action, but yet hee neuer meant to referre the

cause of the perfect action onely to the temper of that particle: so hee acknowledgeth the temper of the Christalline humor, to be the efficient cause of vision or sight, together with his purity, smoothnesse, and scituation, which are all organicall. For if the position of the Christalline humor be changed, if it be drowned too deep in the glassy humour, although * 1.12 the temper of it remaine neuerso exquisite, yet the vision cannot bee perfect. In a word therefore I answere, that the originall of the action dependeth vpon the similar part and his temper, but the perfection of the action followeth the frame of the whole organ. And this Galen teacheth in the sixt chapter of his book de differentijs morborum, and in his book de optima corpor is constitutione, where he willeth and resolueth, that the actions doe first of all and originally, issue from the similar particles, but their accomplishment and perfection depen∣deth vpon the frame of the whole organ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A similar part may also be said to be Or∣ganicall.
• * 1.2

  Fernelius.
• * 1.3

  Aristotle.
• * 1.4

  A twofolde consideration of an organi∣call part.
• * 1.5

  Galens disi••iti¦on of an or∣gan. Another.
• * 1.6

  What is a si∣milar action.
• * 1.7

  The forme of a similar part is his temper. Galen.
• * 1.8

  What is an organical ac∣tion.
• * 1.9

  Whether the action do pro¦ceed from the similar parts Authorities of Galen to proue that they do.
• * 1.10

  Aristotle.
• * 1.11

  The explica∣tion of the question, wherin Galen is interpreted
• * 1.12

  What we must resolue vpon accor∣ding to Galen.