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. XVI. Of the Lap or Priuities.

THE last dissimilar part of the wombe, Galen in his 14. and 15. Bookes De vsu partium, the sixt and the third Chapters, calleth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in La∣tine * 1.1 pudendum muliebre, that is, the womans modesty, [Tab. 9. fig. 2. ^l. fig 4. neere ^{n o}] of some Vulua, as it were vallis a valley, or Valua a Flood-gate, be∣cause it is diuided into two parts by a cleft, which like Flood gates or leafe∣doores are easily opened or shut as neede is. We will call it the lappe. It is that part into * 1.2 which the necke of the wombe determineth, and is seated outwardly at the forepart of the share bone, and is as it were a skinny addition of the necke, as Galen speaketh in his foure∣teenth Booke de vsu partium, and the sixt Chapter, aunswering to the prepuce or foreskin of a man. In this there are many parts to be discerned without dissection. Of which some are altogether outward, offering themselues before the wings be displayed; others inward, * 1.3 not appearing before the wings be opened and seperated on both sides. Of which we will first entreate.

There is therefore a large trench, in which are the passage of the necke [Table. 9. fig, 2. ^m. fig. 3. ^c. fig. 4. ^L] of the bladder with a Caruncle, the Nymphae and the Clitoris. For, al∣though * 1.4 the Hymen and his membranes and caruncles with the slitte and the orifice of the necke may also be seene without dissection, yet because they pertaine not to the lap but to the necke of the wombe, we haue described them already.

At the end therefore of the necke of the wombe, immedietely vnder the share-bone, lightly aboue the lap it selfe, on the fore-part there is an entrance or passage which com∣meth * 1.5 out of the implantation of the necke of the bladder, by which the vrine is let out into the vtmost part of the necke of the wombe, or rather into the lap itselfe, euen as in a man the vrine floweth out of the passage or channell which is appointed for the seede. In the compasse of this there is a caruncle [Tab. 9. fig. 4. ^p] or a little fleshy hillocke by which this * 1.6 passage is couered, that after the vrine is let go, the outward aire shoulde not get into the bladder through his necke which is short and wide; which caruncle also as it regardeth the trench, strengthneth the leafe-gate or locke of virginity.

The Nymphae, so called by Galen, of others 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because they first admit the man, of the Latines Alae the wings, of others skinny caruncles, are two productions on * 1.7 eitherside one in the beginning almost ioyned; which arise from a welt or gard of the skin of the substance of a Ligament in the backe part of the orifice of the necke, and lying hid * 1.8 betweene the two lips of the lap and almost alwayes touching one another, do ascend to the end of the commissure or meeting of the share-bones. These being ioyned doe make a fleshy eminence, and couering the Clitoris with a fore-skin ascend with a manifest rising Line to the top of the great cleft: they are longer from their middle outward and do hang sometimes a little foorth through the great cleft, without the lips of the lap, and that with a blunt angle, being otherwise of a triangular figure.

They are very like in colour and shape to that part of a Cockes combe which hangs vn∣der his throate. Their substance is partly fleshy, partly membranous, soft and fungous, & they are inuested with a thin coate. Somtimes, they grow to so great a length on one side, * 1.9 more rarely on both; and not so ordinarily in maidens as in women, (and then it is called by Ruffus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,) what through the affluence of humours, what through attrectation, that for the trouble and shame (being in many Countryes a notable argument of petulancie & immodesty) they neede the Chirurgions helpe to cut them off (although they bleed much and are hardly cicatrised) especially among the Egyptians, amongest whom this accident * 1.10 (as Galen saith) is very familiar. Wherefore in Maidens before they grow too long they cut them off, and before they marry.

These Nymphae, beside the great pleasure women haue by them in coition, doe also de∣fend the wombe from outward iniuries, being of that vse to the orifice of the necke which the foreskin is to the yard; for they do not onely shut the cleft as it were with lips, but also * 1.11 immediately defend the orifice as well of the bladder as the wombe from colde aire and o∣ther hurtfull things. Moreouer, they leade the vrine through a long passage as it were be∣tweene two walles, receyuing it from the bottome of the cleft as out of a Tunnell: from * 1.12 whence it is that it runneth foorth in a broad streame with a hissing noise, not wetting the wings of the lap in the passage; and from these vses they haue their name of Nymphes, be∣cause they ioyne vnto the passage of the vrine, and the necke of the wombe; out of which,

as out offountaines (and the Nymphes are sayed to bee presedents or dieties of the foun∣taines) water and humours doe issue: and beside, because in them are the veneriall delica∣cies, for the Poets say that the Nymphes lasciuiously seeke out the Satyres among the woods and forrests.

Clitoris in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 commeth of an obscoene worde signifying contrectation but properly it is called the womans yard. It is a small production in the vpper, forward [table 9. figure 4. ^m] and middle fatty part of the share, in the top of the greater cleft where the Nymphes doe meet, and is answerable to the member of the man, from which it differs * 1.13 in the length, the common passage and the want of one paire of muscles; but agrees in sci∣tuation, substance and composition. For it consisteth of two neruous bodies (which Lau∣rentius cals ligaments) round without, hard and thick; but within spongy and porous, that * 1.14 vvhen the spirits come into it, it may bee distended and grow loose when they are dissipa∣ted, these bodies, as those of the mans yarde, are full of blacke, thicke and sprightfull blood.

Their originall is from both the share-bones where they ioyne with the bone of the hip, and are seuered at first, but after they are gone a little foreward they are vnited about the * 1.15 coniunction of the sharebones, and so make the body of a yard harde and solide, and haue a termination like the nut, to which on either side is adioyned a small muscle.

The head is properly called Tentigo by Iuuenall, which is couered with a fine skin made of the coniunction of the Nymphae as it were with a fore-skinne. It hath an entrance but no through passage; there are vesselles also running along the backe of it as in a mans yarde; and although for the most part it hath but a small production hidden vnder the Nymphes and hard to be felt but with curiosity, yet sometimes it groweth to such a length that it hangeth without the cleft like a mans member, especially when it is fretted with the touch of the cloaths, and so strutteth and groweth to a rigiditie as doth the yarde of a man. And this part it is which those wicked women doe abuse called Tribades (often mentioned * 1.16 by many authours, and in some states worthily punished) to their mutuall and vnnaturall lustes.

The vse of this part is the same with the bridle of the yard; for because the Testicles of the * 1.17 women are far distant from the yard of the man, the imagination is carried to the sperma∣ticall vessels by the motion and attrition of this Clitoris, together with the lower ligatures of the wombe, whose originall toucheth, cleaueth and is tyed to the leading vesselles of the seede, and so the profusion of their seede is stirred vp for generation, for which businesse it was not necessary it should be large: wherefore although by this passage their seede is not eiaculated, yet by the attrition of it their imagination is wrought to call that out that lyeth deeply hidden in the body, and hence it is called aestrum Veneris & dulcedo amoris; for in it with the ligaments inserted into it is, the especiall seate of delight in their veneral imbrace∣ments, as Columbus imagineth he first discouered.

For Nature who wisheth as Galen sayth in his 14. Booke de vsu partium and the second Chapter, that if it might be, her worke might be immortal, and falling from that hope be∣cause * 1.18 of the contrariety of the matter, hath giuen to all creatures both the instruments of conception, and hath also infused into them a straunge and violent kinde of delight, that none of the kindes of the creatures should perish but remayne euer after a sort immortall. And truely it was very necessary that there should be a kinde of pleasant force or violence in the Nature of mankinde to transport him out of himselfe or beside himselfe as it were, in the act of generation; to which otherwise being maister of himselfe he would hardly haue beene drawne; which extasie, (for it is called a little Epilepsie or falling sicknes) is caused by the touch of the seede vpon the neruous and quicke sensed parts as it passeth by them.

To draw to an end. Those parts which appeare outwardly are the great slit, the lips and the groyne or leske for as soon as the lippes are diuided, there appeare three clefts or flits; * 1.19 one and the greatest which is the first and vtmost, and two lesser and collaterall betweene the Nymphes, the vse of which is to close vp the parts more safely. But that cleft which is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or the great and long fissure is made by the lips and bendeth backward to the * 1.20 Fundament from the share-bones downward toward the cleft of the buttocks: for it ought to bee longer then the orifice, least the Infant should bee hindered in the birth, because the skinne is much thicker and not so yeelding as are membranes: and the more it tendeth backward the deeper and broader it is, and so degenerateth into a trench or valley, repre∣senting the figure of a boate, and endeth in the welt of the orifice of the necke. In the mid∣dle

of this trench is placed the orifice of the necke, and this is the fissure that admitteth the yard, and is a part thought too obscoene to look vpon; which is the reason sayth Pliny that * 1.21 the carcasses of women doe floate in the water with their faces downeward, contrary to mens which swimme vpward; euen Nature itselfe yeelding to modesty; although the cause also may bee referred to the largenes of a womans belly, as also because the water getting into the lap filleth the belly, and for that the waight of her breasts turneth her body down∣wards.

The two lips which Hippocrates in his Booke de locis in homine calleth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 follow next, * 1.22 which make the fissure of the outward orifice; they are long, soft and of a skinny substance and fleshy withall, after a sort glandulous and spongy, and vnder them haue a hard fat and are as it were callous. They are couered with a thin skinne, and are in married women more smooth and depressed.

The extuberations of these winges are called hillocks or mountainets (Vesalius calleth these extuberations alae or wings, the other labra or lippes) and the mount of Venus: these * 1.23 in mature or ripe women are adorned with haire, the bush of which is called pubes or pec∣ten. These hayres are in women more curled then in Virgins, and do reach as a couering vnto the lippes; the lippes were made for ornament and for defence that the womb might be kept from refrigeration.

But if in the demonstration of the wombe we will begin at the externall parts, wee must proceede by the guide of a vterine probe, and then the partes will thus arise. First the regi∣on * 1.24 of the share-bones, then the bush, the hillocks whereon the hayre growes, the two lips, the great outward fissure betweene the lippes making the outward orifice, the trench like aboate, the two smaller clefts or fissures between the Nymphes, the two Nymphes them∣selues; the Tentigo or head or nutte of the Clitoris couered by the Nymphes as by a fore∣skin and the impassable passage of it; the two bodies of the Clitoris and two muscles be∣longing to it; the passage of the necke of the bladder with the Caruncle or fleshy hillocke which couers it; the skinny ligament which wee sayed was a signe whether a woman had beene a mother or no; the rugous fissure or cleft making the orifice of the necke; the foure Caruncles and the foure membranes between them making the Hymen in virgins, the neck or canale of the wombe, all these may be seene without incision, the rest must be found by incision.

And thus much of the parts of generation belonging to women: now the discourse of Hermophradites or of Androgunes that are both man and woman, wee will referre to ano∣ther place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The names of the lap.
• * 1.2

  The position of it.
• * 1.3

  The parts of it.
• * 1.4

  The inner partes of the Lap.
• * 1.5

  The passage of the vrine.
• * 1.6

  The caruncle belonging to it.
• * 1.7

  The Nymphae.
• * 1.8

  Their scitua∣tion.
• * 1.9

  Their sub∣stance.
• * 1.10

  The Egyptian women lasci∣uious.
• * 1.11

  Their vses.
• * 1.12

  Why they are called Nymphae.
• * 1.13

  How it diffe∣reth from a mans.
• * 1.14

  The substāce.
• * 1.15

  The originall of it.
• * 1.16

  Tribades odiosae feminae.

  Leo Africanus, Coelius Aurelia∣nius.
• * 1.17

  The vse of it.
• * 1.18

  The wise dis∣position of na¦ture.
• * 1.19

  The outward parts of the lip.
• * 1.20

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the great fissure.
• * 1.21

  The reasons why the car∣casses of wo∣men floate with their fa∣ces downe∣ward.
• * 1.22

  The lips.
• * 1.23

  Monsvencris the mountain o•• Venus. Pubes, pecten, or the bush. Their vse.
• * 1.24

  Another way of demonstra∣tion of the parts and ap∣puttenances of the wombe.