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. XI. Whether the Stomacke be nourished by the Chylus or by Bloud.

FInally, that we may passe from the stomack, we will end with that great con∣trouersie which is amongst Phisitians concerning his nourishment. Some there are who thinke that the Stomacke and the Guttes are nourished by the Chylus, some by crude or raw bloud not laboured in the Parenchyma or sub∣stance of the Liuer; but onely hauing an inchoated mittigation in the braun∣ches of the port or gate veine.

Auicen thought that the vtter coate was nourished with bloud and the inner with Chy∣lus. Zoar writeth that the vpper or neruous part is nourished with the Chylus, and the lo∣wer which is more fleshy, with bloud. We with Galen determine, that the whole stomack as all other membranes is nourished with pure bloud, which hath had his vtmost and per∣fect elaboration in the Liuer. For the proofe whereof beside the vulgar and ouerworn ar∣guments which Physitians vse, these of no light moment may be cast vnto the heape.

The first is taken from Dissection, because through all the coates of the stomacke and his two orificies, there appeare notable and aboundant veines diuersly dispersed, which 1 doubtlesse were not idely or in vein ordayned by Nature, neither yet to transport the Chy∣lus to the hollownes of the Liuer, howsoeuer Bauhine be conceited, (vnlesse happely in ex∣treamity of hunger) for then they should carry it rawe, not yet hauing receiued his perfec∣tion in the guts.

Moreouer if the veines were especially appointed for the transportation of the Chylus, it being made rather in the bottome then at the sides or top of the stomacke, there should haue beene more veines and more conspicuous in the bottome then in the top, which ex∣perience teacheth vs to be otherwise; for the whole basis and circumference of the vpper mouth is incompassed with an ample vessell called Coronaria stomachica or the garland vein of the stomack, because the coats of the orifics are thicker then those of the bottome, and therefore neede more plentifull Aliment. We resolue therefore that these veines were or∣dained for the nourishment of the stomacke; but wee will vnder-prop this reason with a stronger.

In the Chylus although it be laudable and well disposed, yet there remaine some vnpro∣fitable 2 and excrementitious parts; to wit, Choler, Melancholy, and whay or vrine, which cannot be separated or purged there from but by the heate of the Liuer. Now nothing can nourish perfectly vnlesse it be cleansed from those recrements: how therefore shal the Chylus not yet defoecated, be sayd to be conuenient Aliment for the stomacke? And this Galen seemeth to intimate when he sayth; That nothing can perfectly nourish which hath not passed through all the concoctions.

A third argument to proue our assertion, that the stomacke is nourished by blood, is be∣cause those creatures that mew themselues vp all winter in holes and rockes and such secret 3

places are nourished by blood, and not by Chylus, because al that time they feed not at al. The infant likewise as long as it is conteined in the womb, hath his stomacke without con∣trouersie norished with pure blood brought vnto it by the vmbilical vein. Hereto Valetius in his Controuersies answers, that the Stomacke is nourished by the more crude or rawe part of the Mothers blood which is not much vnlike vnto Chylus. But as well might he say, that the Braine, the Bones, and al the Membranes haue their refection there from, be∣cause they are nourished with Flegmatick and crude blood.

Furthermore, in great weakenesse of the stomacke and loathing of meate, that the pa∣tient should not vtterly consume, wee prescribe nourishing Clisters of the best sortes of 4 flesh, Capons, Patridges, and such like boyled to a broath. This liquor ariueth not at the stomacke, but is suckt away by the Veines of the guts, and transported to the Liuer where it attaineth the forme of bloode, and after being carried in the veines as in water-courses vnto the parts, it watereth, nourisheth and refresheth them. Nowe who will say; that at this time the stomacke is nourished by Chylus when there is no chilification therein: and yet I hope they will not deny that it is then also nourished as well as the other parts. Fi∣nally this opinion of ours may bee demonstrated by the similitude or correspondencie of the nourishment of other parts like vnto it; and therefore seeing all the membranous parts 5 of the body are nourished by blood, why should the Stomacke among all the rest bee ex∣empted? We do therefore conclude, that the Stomacke is nourished by blood, and that not onely hauing an initiation or rudiment in the Port-veines, but laboured and perfec∣ted by the power and efficacy of the Parenchyma or substance of the Liuer.

Notwithstanding these things are so, some learned men among the new Writers, as Thomas Veiga and Laurentius Iobertus doe thinke, and mightily contend by manie argu∣ments, that the Stomacke should be nourished by the thinner part of the Chylus, to which we will make some satisfaction.

In the first place they oppose the authority of Galen, who in the third Booke of the na∣turall faculties, and in the fourth of the Vse of parts in plaine words teacheth, that the sto∣macke hath his refection and nourishment by the Chylus. For answere to Galen, out of Ga∣len we say, that there is a double nourishment; the one perfect, which is Assimulation, the last vpshot and accomplishment of natures endeauours in this kinde; the other imper∣fect, as it were the Ape or imitator of the former, which is a kinde of delight the part con∣ceyueth from a quality that is of kinne vnto it; and this kinde of refection Galen calleth Lasciua, as if the entertainment were rather for dallience then procreation. And in this latter kinde the stomacke according to Galen is refreshed by the Chylus, not in the for∣mer.

Secondly, they obiect that no branches of the Hollowe veine are deriued vnto the sto∣macke and the guts, but onely certaine small rills from the Gate-veine, who haue but one vse, which is, to transport the Chylus vnto the Liuer, and therefore (say they) the organs or instruments of nutrition are not nourished with blood perfected in the Liuer (for there is no commerce by vessels betweene them) but onely with Chylus. This Argument I take to be very ydle and friuolous: for if onely the riuerets or channels of the Hollow-vein did containe Alimentary blood, and the branches of the Gate-veine were onely ordayned to transport the Chylus, then should the Spleene, the Mesentery, and the Kell bee likewise nourished with Chylus, because they haue no allowance of Vessels from the hollow vein. In like manner the great guts should assimulate Chylus into their nourishment, in which it is certaine there is nothing conteyned but the excrements, the iuice being before drawn from them.

Their third Argument is taken from Dissection, because (say they) the Veines do on∣ly open at the Stomacke, and are not disseminated through his coates, and therefore they suck iuice from it, rather then nourish it with their owne allowance. But (alas the while) what new Anatomy is this? Is there not a double Gastrick or Stomacke-veyne stretched through all the Coates of the same? Beleeue me, the insertion of these and other veines is altogether alike.

The fourth Argument is that of the Learned Veiga. The Organs (saith hee) of the first concoction are more ignoble, and are framed of farre impurer iuyce then the Flesh; and therefore it is fit they should be nourished also with impurer iuyce, before it is concocted in the Liuer. But this reason drawes many absurdities with it; for the bones are more ig∣noble then the stomacke or the guts, and colder by farre, and yet are nourished by blood

conueyed vnto them from the Liuer by the Hollow-Veine, yea, and almost all the Mem∣branes colde and base though they be, do draw that blood and no other, which is perfect∣ly concocted in the Liuers parenchyma or substance.

The Fifte reason followeth, which they put great confidence in, and it is such. If the Stomacke bee not nourished with Chylus, how then commeth it to passe, that presently vppon the taking of Meate both hunger and thirst is appeased. Wee An∣swere, that there is a Double hunger, one Naturall, and another Animall: the Natu∣rall is without sense, and placed in the particular partes of the bodye. The Animall is with most exquisite sense, and proper onely vnto the Stomacke, yea especiallie to the mouth thereof: the first is appeased onely by Assimulation; the latter, because it is a sense or apprehension of Divultion, when the Divultion ceaseth, then it is also ap∣peased.

Vpon the eating of meate, the Animall hunger of the Stomacke presently falleth, be∣cause the Stomacke being filled, his divultion and compression ceaseth: but the Natu∣rall hunger is indeede appeased some-what when the inwarde coates are moystened as it were with a pleasant Dewe, yet not altogether before perfect Assimulation, which is not accomplished without some distance or interposition of time. Thus farre theyr Ar∣guments.

Now because Galen saith, that whatsoeuer nourisheth must passe through three concoctions. Veiga to saue his owne Stake, would interprete Galen as if hee meant this onelie of the nourishment of fleshie parts, when as in a thousand places he witnesseth that blood alone is the fit and conuenient Aliment of all the parts.

Againe, to establish his false Opinion, hee coyneth verie cunninglie, a three-folde Concoction in the nourishment of the Stomacke. The first (sayth hee) is Chilificati∣on, which is made in the bottome: the second, is Sanguification and perfourmed in his Veynes: the third, is Assimulation, which is accomplished in his coates. So that his pleasure forsooth is, that the Chylus is sucked by the Veynes, in them they are turned into Blood, and from them againe are they drawne by the Stomacke for his nourishment.

But in this Triple faigned Concoction, there is a three-folde errour. For first, it is most certaine that the bloode by no meanes becommeth redde but by contaction or touching the Parenchyma or Flesh of the Liuer. Againe, I see no reason why that the Chylus shoulde bee rather drawne by the Veynes then by the Coates of the Sto∣macke, if there bee so great similitude of substance betwixt the Chylus and his Mem∣branes.

Finally, if the Chylus were to bee drawne by the Veynes, and there get some rudi∣ment of bloode, it followeth necessarily that the Stomacke is not immediately nourished by Chylus but by blood. And so much concerning the Appetite, Scituation, and Con∣sent of the mouth of the Stomacke, as also of the Chylification and nourishment of the Stomacke it selfe. Now proceede we to the Liuer.

Notes

• Diuers opini∣ons about the nourishment of the sto∣macke.
• Auicen.
• Zoar. Galen.
• 1

  1. Reason.
• 2

  2. Reason.
• Galen.
• 3

  3. Reason.
• Valetius dis∣proued.
• 4

  4. Reason.
• How Clisters do nourish.
• 5

  5. Reason.
• Their reasons who auouche the stomacke to be nourishe with Chylus.
• First.
• Answere
• Galen ex∣pounded.
• Second.
• Answered.
• Third
• Answere.
• Fourth.
• Answere.
• Fift.
• Answere.
• A double hun∣ger.
• Galen amisse inter∣preted by Vei∣ga.
• A quaint con∣ceite of Veiga.
• Wherein is a threefold er∣rour.