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.

CHAP. XIIII. Of the simple or similar parts of the wombe, and particularly of the bottome and the orifice.

ALthough from the bottome of the wombe to the very lap or priuities there be but one continuated passage, yet because in it there are many and diuerse * 1.1 parts, therefore it is diuided into the vpper part or the bottom, the mouth or inward orifice of the necke, the necke it selfe and the outward priuity or lap. The bottom which is properly the wombe & the matrix, Hippoc. in his booke de nat. pueri calleth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sinus the bosom. Galen so also lib. 14 & 15. de vsu partiū & the 3. * 1.2 chapters, and somtimes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is a cauity or hollownes. This is the chiefe of all the parts of it, because for it al the other parts were made; for in it is the Infant conceiued of the seed, (that we may so say according to our manner of speech, though indeede conception is no∣thing els but the wombs receiuing and imbracing of the seede) formed and distinguished, nourished & increased, made a liuing soule, & preserued euen to the infusion of that diuine & immortal substāce, & thē it thrusteth it into the sea of the world & the tides of the same.

This bottome then is the vpper [tab. 5. ^L tab. 8. ^p tab. 9. fig. 1. ^A fig 2. & 3. ^c sheweth the bot∣tom of the wombe of a woman with child cut open] and broader part of the womb placed aboue the share-bone, that so it might better be dilated as the Infant increaseth; on the out side smooth, equall and lined ouer as it were with a waterish moysture and sendeth out on either side aboue a certaine production or rather a corner, which Herophilus compareth to the turning of a halfe moone; Diocles and with him Galen in lib. 2. de dissectione vteri, chap. 2. and chap. 8. and lib 14. of the vse of parts chap. 11. calleth them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is hornes, be∣cause * 1.3 the superficies of the wombe is there somewhat more eminent, euen as in the heades of young calues there are certaine buds where the hornes vvill aftervvards grovv forth. In∣to these the seed of the vvoman is povvred out in those that be not vvith child, for into the the leading vessels of seed are inserted. [tab. 9. fig. 1. * fig. 2. ^gg fig. 3. ^hh] These you may plain¦ly see if you cut the bottome of the vvombe through the midst; for on the inside at the ori∣fice [tab. 9. fig. 4. ^G] you shall perceiue on each side a little corner [tab. 9. fig. 4. at ^A & ^B] vvhich by degrees [tab. 9. fig. 4. ^AB] inlargeth it selfe tovvard the bottome.

The vse of these hornes is, that the wombe might be made more capacious for the en∣tertayning of the Infant, because vpon these two stocks as vpon bases may two vesselles or * 1.4 Infants bee built or generated. Wherefore because it is the instrument of conception it hath a cauity & yet but one, for there are in it no partitions or chambers: notwithstanding * 1.5 it is vsually diuided into the right and the left bosome; the right in which male childeren are conceiued, the left in which females are conceiued, as Hippocrates and Galen haue deter∣mined: yet is not this diuision made by any wall or partition, but onely by a line or suture and seame [tab. 9. fig. 4. ^{C D}] lightly rising vp but very obscurely through the middle part of * 1.6 the superficies, and running forward & backward according to his longitude; which line or suture is called by Aristotle in the 3. Booke of his History of Creatures and the first Chap∣ter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the mediana or the middle: and thence it is that the antients doe not call it ma∣trix but matrices, or the mothers, as if there were two of them, and sayed they were answe∣rable in number to the breastes, for it is a very rare thing that a womans wombe should be diuided into two as beasts are. This cauity [tab. 9. fig. 4. ^{A B}] is smooth and so narrow that it will scarcely hold a common beane, and when it receiueth the seede from both the Pa∣rents it is filled with it, for any portion of seede that getteth into it filleth it, because it em∣braceth * 1.7 it so narrowly; for in the least portion of seede that may be, the whole formatiue faculty is potentially included, out of which mingled and as it were fermentated and houed vp, the Infant is generated; and is encreased by blood eftsoons comming to it for nourish∣ment, by which also the substance of the wombe groweth into a greater bulke; as a little sponge if it be filled with water will arise to a greater magnitude, which being pressed out * 1.8 againe the sponge will become as small as before.

The bottome hath many pores or passages which are the mouthes of the Cotelydones so called, by which the bloud in the time of gestation reacheth out of the veines of the * 1.9 wombe into his cauity. In women not burdened for the most part it is lined within with a viscous or slimy substance, whitish or of colour betweene a pale yellow and a red. The substance of the bottome of the wombe is harder and more compact then that of the lap, yet softer then that of the necke, and in the corners it is rugous.

From the lower part of the bottom there runneth a notable portion resembling the nut of the yarde [table 9. figure 1. ^{C D}] which with his blunt head toucheth not the sides of the * 1.10 neck, about an inch long, but as slender as a little finger that it will scarcely admit a Probe or a small penne at the most: but it is rough least the seede that is drawne should fall back, which commeth to passe in those women who haue this part slippery because their hu∣mors are faulty, and so become barren. This part which is betweene the beginning of the bottome and the orifice, Falopius thinks was called the necke by Galen, Soranus, and the an∣tients. * 1.11 It hath a manifest passage [table 9. fig. 1. betweene ^C and ^D] which maketh also ano∣ther part.

This passage is the entrance into the bottome of the wombe, wherefore Hippocrates in * 1.12 the first section of his Aphorismes, and the 51. Aphorisme calleth it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, vel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, os vteri the mouth of the wombe: Galen in his 14. Book de vsu partium and the third Chapter, and in the 7. Chapter of his Booke de dissectione vteri, calleth it the inwarde ori∣fice of the necke, for by this the bottome openeth directly into the necke. This orifice is transuerse or ouerthwart like a Plaice mouth, or most like to the passage in the nutte of the yarde: so that the whole orifice with the transuerse slitte, is like the letter, θ, smal and won∣drous * 1.13 narrow, that the seede once receiued cannot easily fall backe, nor any thing hurtfull get into the cauity of the vvombe. It is direct against the bottome, because the mans seede might passe in a right line through the necke and it to the bottome; and so also it might be better dravvn by the bottom from a leuel, for if it be diuerted or turned aside may euils fol∣lovv sayeth Hippocrates in his first Booke of the diseases of vvomen, for then the vvombe re∣ceiueth not the seede, but it falleth backe againe out of the neck instantly. Then also the courses either come not at all, or with great violence and disease: it is alwayes shut except * 1.14 only at that time, when in coition the bottome draweth the mans seed, and when the seed is conceiued or receiued then is it so closely shut vp saith Hippocrates in the 51. Aphorisme of the 5. Section, that a Needle or a small Probe can hardly be thrust into it: and so it con∣tinues nine moneths; for when women with childe yeelde seede it is not out of the bot∣tome but by the necke of the vvombe, as vve haue sayd before.

Verie rarely is it opened, and that either for the casting out of a false conception a per∣fect * 1.15 conception remaining behinde, or in superfoetation where after one conception an∣other

commeth. So likewise, when the wombe not fit to conceiue doth belch out againe the seed of both parties, or when as in polutions or affrictions women that haue not concei∣ued do loose their owne seed; or when as in women vnburdened the courses or any offen∣siue humors are that way purged, as in the Whites, in which case oftentimes the whole bo∣die * 1.16 is purged that way, the wombe at all not beeing affected; or when false conceptions a∣lone are cast out, as the Mola or Moone-calfe, and such like; or finally, when the Infant it * 1.17 selfe is borne into the world; for when that is perfected, this passage is so distended & ope∣neth so wide, that from the bottome of the wombe to the very lap the cauity is equall, that through it the Infant may passe; which admirable worke of Nature or Natures Mayster God himselfe, we may wonder at, but not vnderstand saith Galen in his 15. Booke De vsu partium, and the 17. chapter. But because it must be opened according to the magnitude of the Infant, and that by degrees, being it is of a thicke and fast substance [Tab. 9. fig. 4. at ^G] and is yet thicker when the birth approacheth, there cleaueth vnto it a certain viscid and slimy body like glew, that by the helpe of it the orifice without feare of dilaceration or di∣vulsion may bee distended and naturally opened. This is round like a crowne, and as often as the passage openeth, commeth away in an orbicular forme. The Midwiues call it the Crowne or the Rose. This Orifice, if it be too much loosened or opened aboue measure, as * 1.18 in ouer-moyst bodies, or in the whites, or by reason of too frequent copulation as in Harlots, it bringeth barrennesse; so doth it also if it be too fat, or thicke, or growe callous or hard; sometimes there growe in it the Scirrhus or the Cancer both incureable diseases, which happen especially when the courses faile.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The parts of the wombe.
• * 1.2

  The bottome or soale.
• * 1.3

  The hornes.
• * 1.4

  Their vse.
• * 1.5

  The cauity of the wombe.
• * 1.6

  The suture or line.
• * 1.7

  The least quā∣tity of seed fil∣leth the wōb.
• * 1.8

  A fit compari∣son.
• * 1.9

  The way of the bloud for the nourish∣ment of the Infant.
• * 1.10

  A secret part wanting a name.
• * 1.11

  Falopius his conceit of the name of it.
• * 1.12

  The orifice or mouth of the wombe.
• * 1.13

  The fashion of it.
• * 1.14

  The closenes of it.
• * 1.15

  By how many meanes it is opened.
• * 1.16

  Note this.
• * 1.17

  The admira∣ble worke of God in the birth.
• * 1.18

  The crowne or rose of the wombe. Why Harlots do not con∣ceiue.