Bartholinus anatomy made from the precepts of his father, and from the observations of all modern anatomists, together with his own ... / published by Nich. Culpeper and Abdiah Cole.

Chap. XVI. Of the Spleen.

LIen or Splen the Spleen, is seated un∣der the short Ribs on the left side, just over against the Liver, as if it were a se∣cond Liver, under the Midriff, between the Ribs and the Stomach, being in some higher or lower then in o∣thers. Yet in all it is nearer to the hinder or back-part, seeing it rests upon the Vertebraes and the bastard Ribs, so that a man cannot feel it with his hand, unless it swell, and so become nearer to the Belly-rim; and this scituation of the Spleen is seldom so changed, as to find the Liver in the left side, and the Spleen on the right.

It is for the most part only one, seldom two (as Aristotle observes in the 4. de Ge∣neratione Animalium, Chap. 4. And Pos∣thius at Montpelier and Panarolus at Rome) and more rarely three one upon another, though not all of like bigness (as Fallopius observed) but a most rare case it is for the Spleen to be wanting (as Aristotle hath ob∣served in the place forecited, and also Laurentius and Schenkius concerning one Matthias Ortelius, and Holle∣rius in a certain Girle) nor can it naturally be wanting, because Nature abounds not in things superfluous, nor is wanting in things necessary. That vulgar Opinion is therefore fabulous, which holds that it may be taken out of the Body without danger of death, and that in such as used to run Races, it was u∣sually taken out, which never any man yet saw or recorded, excepting Pliny, Flud, Fiorovanta, Roussetus, who if they speak truth, doubtless those per∣sons made a very bad shift to live, or died soon after, for want of that most noble Bowel, or only the outward part of their Spleen was cut off. For deep Wounds in the Spleen are to be accounted mortal, because of the plenty of Arteries, and the consent it hath with the principal Parts of the Body. This Conceit sprung Questionless from that old Opinion of Erasistratus, who conceived that Nature had made the Spleen in vain, which Opinion Plautus also follows in his Comedy called the Merchant. And others follow them, who are so far to be born with, if they shall say it is not ne∣cessary in reference to all kinds of Live wights, but on∣ly in respect of some sorts. For such live Creatures as have no bladder do want a Spleen without detriment, as the Chamaeleon, and many others. Insects have no Spleen, and therefore that Proverbial Speech is false: Habet & musca splenem, even a Flie hath a Spleen.

It is not so great as the Liver, yet in Mankind the Spleen is sufficiently thick and big, not so much because of the stub∣born humor which it is to master, and is hard to overcome, as because of the Ar∣terial, fermentative, or leavening, and yeasty Blood, which it was to contain. For it is six fingers long ve∣ry near, three fingers broad, one finger thick, of which greatness it is not found in any other living Creature. Yet is its bigness various, according to the variety of Subjects, and the several Constitutions of Men. 'Tis thought to be larger in such persons, as have Naturally a greater quantity of Melancholy or acid Juyce then others have, which flowing thereunto, it is soon aug∣mented by reason of its loose and spungie substance. Those persons whose Spleen is over grown, are lean, and bad colored. Whence it was that the Emperor Trajan termed the Exchequer a Spleen, because as the Princes Excheque is inriched, the People are impove∣rished; so as the Spleen increases, the Body pines. They who conceive it elaborates the Chylus, do bring this for a reason, viz. that it draws too much Ch••le by the Ramus splenicus, and defrauds the Liver. But because that Action of the Spleen is questioned, ano∣ther reason must be sought after. The most renowned Conringius allows the Premises for true in a praeterna∣tural greatness of the Spleen, otherwise, if it be Natu∣ral and legitimate, the Body flourishes when the spleen does flourish.

Be the state of the Spleen what it will, I conceive the Body is diminished, when the Spleen is augmented, be∣cause it bereaves the rest of the Body of the fermenta∣tive acid Juyce, and either consumes it to nourish it self, if it be naturally great; or is unable to prepare and expel it, when its greatness is praeternatural and sickly.

Its Shape is for the most part like on Oxes tongue, whence some have called it linguosum Visous, the Tongue-bowel. On the outside towards the Ribs and the Midriff, it is a lit∣tle bunching and bossie; somtimes it hath marks made in it by the Ribs, being hollow on that side, which is towards the right hand, by reason of the stomach which lies close by it: Where all along the middle part, there is a certain white Line, with prominencies in it, which admits Veins and Arteries with the Caul. Howbeit, praeternaturally it receives sundry Figures, viz. exact∣ly round, triangular, sharp-pointed, made rough with e∣minencies, divided into two parts; as Archangelus hath rightly observed.

Its Color in a Child in the Womb is red, like that of the Liver, because it is nourish∣ed with pure Mothers Blood: But in persons come to age, it is blackish, because of the thick blood where∣with it is nourished, and in such as are yet older, it be∣comes black and blew. I have observed it red in grown persons, and Vesalius before me, as also Spigelius who therefore beleives, that such as have it blackish are unhealthy. Conringius thinks that black color is caused by Intemperance in eating, and in drinking especially. I do attribute much to the temper of particular per∣sons in this case, and to the variety of Heat. Now the Spleen does praeternaturally put on many colors, ac∣cording

to the Humor praedominant, as black and blew, ash-color, &c. In Beasts of hot Constitution, it is blacker then in Mankind, and in Swine it is whiter.

It is knit by thin Membranes arising from the Peritonaeum, to the Peritonae∣um it self, the Call, and the left Kidney, somtimes also to the Septum, which Fernelius denies, nor can he be excused, unless we shall say he intended the Centre of the Midriff, for thereto it is not fastned. But in its hollow part, it is knit to the upper Mem∣brane of the Caul, from which also (according to o∣thers from the Peritonaeum, or as some will have it, proper to it self) it receives,

A Coat thin and single, yet thicker then the Membrane of the Liver, which in aged persons is oftentimes hardned, so as to be∣come bony and gristly. It ought to be thicker, that it might be stronger to endure the force of the Arterial Blood.

Its Substance or Parenchyma, is like thick, black, and congealed blood.

It hath Vessels of all kinds.

It hath from the Vena Porta a remarka∣ble Trunk, which is called Ramus spleni∣cus, scituate far beneath the Liver, and sent ath wart unto the Spleen. The numerous branches of this bough, being for the most part small as Fibres, are spent in the Spleen, saving two which sometimes pass out of the Spleen: The one is called Vas breve entring into the stomach, sometimes by one, otherwhiles by more branches [which more frequently, as Walaeus informs us, is a little branch of Vena splenica, which when it is come to the middle space betwixt the sto∣mach and the Spleen, it is divided forkwise into two twigs, one of which goes to the Spleen, the other to the stomach] which vessel some will have to belch out acid blood to provoke appetite, or to strengthen the stomach, which is afterwards voided by the Guts. A∣nother branch goes unto the Fundament, and makes the internal Haemorrhoid Veins.

It hath many and great Arteries from a branch of the Coeliaca, which the Liver hath not. 1. To cherish life and inbred heat. 2. That the Blood might be more strongly al∣tered. 3. That for its own Nourishment, it might re∣ceive blood, and withal prepare acid Juyce brought thereunto, with Arterial blood, for to ferment the Chyle and all the Blood.

Now we are to take special notice of the frequent Anastomoses of the Ar∣teries of the Spleen, with the Veins thereof, especially one remarkable one, before the En∣trance of the Vessels into the Spleen: the rest are in the Spleen.

Also we must observe its little Nerves, arising from the left Costal branch of the sixt pare, dispersed rather through the Coat, then the Substance thereof.

The Action of the Spleen is by such Doctors as fol∣low the old Opinion said to be chiesly threefold. 1. To draw melancholick, excrementitious, and slimy Hu∣mors out of the Liver. 2. To separate the melancho∣lick Excrement there from, that it may be nourished by the good blood. 3. To void it being separated, into the Stomach and Guts. Also they say that the nutri∣ment of the Spleen is elaborated and broken by the Arteries, because spongy and loose flesh ought to be nourished with vaporous and subtile blood. The Pas∣sages by which the melancholy Juyce is said to be bel∣ched forth, are first the Vas breve, and then the Haemor∣rhoidal Vein. They will have the Spleen therefore to be the Receptacle of the melancholick Excrement, or of thick dreggie Blood separated in the Liver (even as the Gall-bladder receives the yellow Choler) and that therefore the Spleen is set just over against the Liver.

Howbeit I deny that the Spleen is ordain∣ed only to receive an Exerement; For

• 1. In the Spleen there is no large ca∣vity receiving, as in the Gall-bladder, and in the membranous hollowness of the Kidneys, and in the Bladder.
• 2. If it were a Receptacle for Ex∣crements, why was it not seated in an inferior place, that it might more conveniently receive the weighty Exerement as other Receptacles?
• 3. Rondeletius denving that the spleen is the Receptacle of Melancholy, gives this reason: because that humor while it is naturally disposed, is all consu∣med upon the bony, and other hard and dry parts; and seeing it is in us the least in quantity of all humors therefore there is no part ordained to receive it, no more then there is for bloody Excrements, which pass away by Sweat and insensible Transpiration. Yet I conceive this Argument is not very strong.
• 4. Why are there no Branches of this Receptacle spred through the substance of the Liver, or at least of the Ramus splenicus, even as the Gall-bladder receives Branches spred up and down the Liver?
• 5. Why are there not some Passages, which carry this Juyce from the Liver.
• 6. No part is nourished with an Excrement, not∣withstanding the Saying of Columbus, that no part is nourished with an Excrement saving the Spleen.
• 7. It is absurd that an Excrement should flow back into the Vena porta, and afterwards into the Ramus sple∣nicus.
• 8. It should receive in, and purge forth Excrements, by the same Passages.
• 9. The strongest reason, that the Spleen is no Re∣ceptacle of Melancholy is, In as much as it is another Organ of Sanguification, as shall be proved by and by.

Later Anatomists have conceived, that the Spleen doth elaborate Blood, as the Liver doth, but they are not agreed, touching the way, nor the Nature of the Chyle. Casparus Bartholinus my Father was of Opinion, that the Spleen did make a thick, but good sort of Blood, of the thicker part of the Chymus, which by an inbred Faculty it hath, it draws to it self, through the Ramus splenicus. This he proved,

• 1. By the likeness of the structure of the Spleen, with that of the Liver. For as the Liver is a fleshy Bowel, covered with a Coat, furnished with very ma∣ny Vessels, the flesh whereof resembles blood, shed round about: Even so, the Spleen is a Bowel, furnish∣ed with a Coat, and with very many Vessels variously interwoven, whose proper flesh is as it were congealed blood, shed round about the Vessels.
• 2. In the Spleen, there are very many textures of the Vessels and infinite Anastomoses. Now there are no where such textures, and plications, or foldings of the Vessels, save for a new elaboration, as may be seen in the Brain, Liver, Stones, Duggs, &c.
• 3. It appears from the Scituation of the Ramus spleni∣cus, which is far beneath the Liver, out of the Trunk of Vena porta, where part of the Chymus is attracted, or of the Chyle, which hath some disposition towards blood▪ If therefore it receives matter there, of which blood is made, why therefore shall not the Spleen make blood?
• ...

• 4. Nature is wont either to double the Parts of the Body, and set one on each side, as appears in the Kid∣neys, Stones, Lungs, Duggs, Organs of the Senses, &c. or if she makes only one, she is wont to place it in the middle. as the Heart, Stomach, Womb, Bladder, Nose, Tongue, Mouth, &c. Therefore the Spleen must needs be another Liver.
• 5. Diseases of the Spleen, as well as of the Liver, do hurt Blood-making or Sanguification.
• 6. Somtimes the Situation of the Liver is changed, so that it is in the left side, and the Spleen on the right.
• 7. The Liver failing and growing less, the Spleen is augmented, and assists the Liver, as is known by many Examples, whence the Spleen hath been often seen in Dissections, to be greater and redder then the liver.
• 8. Tis unlikely that so many Arteries enter into the Spleen, for the sake of Excrements, but rather to digest & concoct thick Blood, that so by contrary thinness, the stubborn thinness of the said Blood may be overcome.
• 9. In a Child in the Womb, the Spleen is red as is the Liver, by reason of the cause aforesaid.
• 10. Such as the Diseases of the Liver are, such in a manner are those of the Spleen.
• 11. And the Diseases of the Spleen and Liver, are cured well near with the self same Remedies.
• 12. If Authorities are of force, enter Aristotle in the 3. Book of the Parts of living Creatures, Chap. 7. where he saith, that the Liver and Spleen are of a like Nature; also, that the Spleen is as it were an adulte∣rate Liver, and where the Spleen is very little, there the Liver is Bipartite, or of two parts, and that all parts in the Body almost are double. Plato calls the Spleen an express image of the Liver. Others call it the Li∣vers Vicar, the left Liver, &c. The Author of the Book touching the use of Respiration, hath confirmed this, as al∣so Apbrodisaeus, Araeteus, and others. Archangelus makes another use of the Spleen to be, to make more plenty of Blood.

If any shall demand, To what ••nd serves the Blood which the Spleen makes?

Some conceive it serves to the same end, with that of the liver, viz. to nourish the whole body, and to assist the liver.

But he was of Opinion, that this was not done save when necessity requires, in some defect or Disease of the Liver.

But he conceives that ordinarily the Spleen is an Or∣gan to make blood, to nourish the Bowels of the lower Bel∣ly, as the Stomach, Guts, Call, Mesentery, Sweet∣bread, &c. and that the Spleen it self is nourished with some portion of the said Blood, and sends the rest to the parts of the body. And he conceives that the liver makes blood for the rest of the parts, especially the musculous parts. And he proves it,

• 1. Because the bowels of the lower Belly receive their nourishment from the Vena splenica, or from the branches yssueing therefrom, namely from the bran∣ches of Vena port•• only, and not from the Vena cava.
• 2. Because those bowels are thick, more earthy and base: And such as the like parts are not found in the body besides, and therefore these parts stood in need to receive such blood from the Spleen.
• 3. And therefore the liver is greater, because it makes blood for the whole body besides: The Spleen less, be∣cause it makes blood only for the lower Belly, save when in cases of necessity it is forced to help the Liver.
• 4. In Dogs the Spleen is long and thin, because the Parts or Bowels of the lower Belly are smaller in a Dog, and less wreathed and folded, then in a Man.
• 5. There is an evident difference between the Fat bred in the musculous Parts, or those which are nouri∣shed by the Vena cava, and that dirty, and soon pu••rifi∣ing Fat, which is bred in the lower Belly, as in the Cal, Guts, Mesentery, &c. Hence arise so many Putre∣factions in the mesenterick Parts. And by how much an Humor is thicker (as is the muddie Fat we speak of) so much the sooner it putrifies: As the dreggie fat doth sooner, then the Fat in musculous parts. So the Blood of the Spleen is more disposed to Putrefaction, then that of the liver, and this then the blood of the right Ventricle of the Heart. Moreover, the blood of the Arteries is less subject to Putrefaction, then any of the former; and the Spirit least of all.
• 6 He believes this to be a most strong Argument, that where a part is found having the substance of the Bowels, there also there are Veins from the Vena portae, or the branches of the Spleen: but where a part is con∣sisting of musculous flesh, there are Veins which have their Original from Vena cava, as appears in the Intesti∣num rectum, in which by reason of its twofold sub∣stance, Nature hath placed two sorts of Veins. In the musculous Part, there are the external Haemorrhoid Veins, which arise from the Cava: In the ••owellie or guttie substance, there are veins from the Vena portae.

These, and such like Reasons prevailed with my Fa∣ther of pious Memory, to prove that the Spleen drew Chymus, by the Ramus spenicus. Which Opinion was at that time embraced by most Anatomists, as Varolus, Posthius, Jessenus, Platerus, Baubinus, Sennertus, and Rio∣lanus in his first Anthropographia. But that Age de∣serves excuse, as being ignorant of what Posterity hath since found out. For the milkie veins discovered by Asellius, do shew, that no Chyle thick or thin, is drawn by the Mesaraick Veins, or carried any whether, but by the milkie Veins only to the Liver, and not to the Spleen. Moreover, a Ligature in live Dissections de∣clares, that nothing is carried through the Mesaraicks to the Spleen, but contrariwise from the Spleen to the Mesaraicks. Yet I allow thus much to the foresaid reasons, that there is a certain Generation of Blood made in the Spleen, by the manner hereafter to be ex∣plained, not of Chyle, which hath here no Passages, but of Arterial Blood, sent from the Heart.

Hofmaannus and Spigelius bring the dreggie part of the Chyle, through the mesaraick Veins unto the Spleen, that it may be there concocted into Blood. Who are in the same fault. For the Arteries are ordained to car∣ry blood to the Mesentery, which is very manifest by Ligatures, and it is contrary to the course of Nature, for the blood to be carried, and the Chyle brought back the same way, least they should be mingled toge∣ther. Moreover, in live Anatomists, there was never any Chyle observed there. And the dreggie Portion of the Chyle, which no part stands in need of to nou∣rish it self, is more fitly purged out by the Guts.

Sperlingerus a learned Man, conceives that this work is performed by the milkie Veins, as to the Liver. Which were a ready way, if the milkie Veins do go to the Spleen, which no man as yet hath been able to ob∣serve. Those that thought otherwise were deceived by nervie Fiberkies.

Others who very well saw, that the Mesentery sent nothing to the Spleen, would have the Chyle to come right out from the Stomach to the Spleen, by waies manifest or hidden. They account the manifest waies to be the Vas breve, and its branches, by which the spleen sucks the more wa••ry part of the Chyle. But the Vas breve, carries acid Juyce from the Spleen, but nothing

to the Spleen, no more then the other Veins. More∣over, somtimes it is not inserted into the Spleen, but there is a Branch of the Splenica without it. I omit, that the Vas breve is never full of the white liquor. Da∣niel Florstius indeed hath in this case substituted the Vena splenica, but contrary to Experience, and the Office of the Veins. The splenick Vein receives all its blood from the Spleen and its Arteries, and returns nothing, and therefore being bound in living Anatomies, it is filled, and swells towards the Spleen, according to the Observation of Walaeus, but towards the Liver it is em∣ptied. Howbeit Regius appeals to the Ligature, that the Vas breve swells betwixt the Ligature and the Stomach, and that it is lank between the Ligature and the Spleen. Bachius is nothing moved herewith, though he cannot untie the knot, and Hogeland is various in this Observa∣tion; so that I much doubt, whether the Vas breve is a∣lone so filled, before I shall see it attested by the Eyes of some others.

Besides the Vas breve, Carolus Piso proves that the wheyish and potulent matter, is drawn out of the Sto∣mach, by the Gastrick and Epiploick Veins; who was ignorant of the motion of humors in these veins. Both the vessels disburthen themselves into the Ramus spleni∣cus, and then the blood is sent by a straight Passage un∣to the Liver, and returns unto the Spleen, without any hindrance of the Valves.

Those who are for hidden Passages, would force up∣on us, either the Pores of the Stomach, or a distinct vessel, to us as yet invisible and unknown. Among the former is Veslingus, among the latter Conringius, who nevertheless differ, touching the Concoction of the Humor. Veslingus will have the Spleen to make blood of the mor•• ••arry Portion of the Chyle, with the ear∣thy and slimy parts mixed therewith, drawn by the in∣visible Pores, like the milkie veins, resting upon the stomach it self, and the Pancreas. Conringius will have only the potulent liquor to pass by a vessel to us invisi∣ble, by reason of the close sticking of the Spleen to the stomach, and the Serum therein contained, which is not so white: Which Vessel will at one time or o∣ther be discovered. But all would be well, if those men that have eyes in their heads, would shew us ei∣ther those Passages, or that peculiar Vessel. The Pores are too narrow for the dreggie parts of the Chyle to pass through, and who can hinder them sweating out some other way, rather then into the Spleen? Many times when the Spleen stuck not so close to the sto∣mach, I could see no vessel, nor could I see any such thing in a Youth, who having largely drunk, was here lately choaked with a bit of a Neates-tongue.

Howbeit, Reusner, Piso, and Conringius lately praised, do suppose, that only potulent matter, is by the Spleen presently suckt out, and that therefore it makes only watry Blood ordinarily. But there is no strong and sufficient reason for this Opinion, seeing there are no manifest Passages. Nor must it only draw that which is thin, which both the Blood and Chylus stand in need of, as a vehicle or carrier, though it flow not alone, but is variously mixed with grosser matter, according to the Constitution of the blood; till having plaid its part, it is either separated by the Kidneys, or sweats through the whole Habit of the Body. If the whey∣ish moisture be praeternaturally separated in the sto∣mach, from the thicker Chyle, either it is voided by Vomit, and the grosser Chyle wanting the help there∣of to carry it, will make the Colick in the Guts, as I saw in our famous Wormius; or it is voided through the Pylorus, which is alwaies open for liquid meats, and such as are easily digested, according to the Observati∣on of our most desired Walaeus; much more after much drinking, which is somtimes in great Drinkers, quick∣ly voided by urin, not passing through the Spleen, but through the Guts, if there be a conveniency of quality, thinness of Humors, loosness of the Vessels, and strength of the attractive Faculty. All which conspi∣ring, Asellius rightly avouches there is no way so long, which is not soon passed over. In such as are other∣wise constituted, Drink does not so soon slip away by Urin. For some will drink all day, and never use a Chamber-pot. In some also their Belly becomes loose, and the Drink goes away, questionless, by the Guts. The blood, indeed, of Splenetick persons, is thin and warry, not that it comes such immediately from the stomach, but the fault is in the whole blood, commu∣nicated by the Arteries to the Spleen. I pass over, how that these are the signs of a disordered Spleen, from the praeternatural state whereof, no good Argument can be drawn to prove any thing, touching its Natural condi∣tion; by which Answer, all other Arguments brought by most learned men, for this potulent Chylus are an∣swered.

It is a doubtful question, why only such Creatures have Spleens, which have Kidneys and Bladders, accor∣ding to Aristotle, which Panarolus found true in a Cha∣maeleon. Is it because of the Attraction of wheyish Humors? I cannot beleive it. But they have no Spleen, because they make little blood, and therefore the wheyish Humor did not want peculiar Recepta∣cles, but the Superfluities of the blood is spent upon Feathers, Skin, Scales, &c. They are therefore with∣out a Spleen, because Fermentation was not necessary, in the imperfect Concoction of those kind of Crea∣tures, who have a perpetual and Natural Lientery.

Riolanus hath lately in his Enchiridion out of all these Opinions, hammer'd a mixt action of the Spleen, to attract slimy Blood for its own Nourishment, and after that to pour out a certain particular fermentative Whey, through the splenetick Arteries into the stomach, and because its flesh is of a drinking Nature, to draw and suck superfluous Liquor through the Veins out of the stomach. To which I have already answered, part by part. The Action verily of the Spleen is more no∣ble, then to receive superfluous Humors out of the sto∣mach. And through what Passages should it do that? For the Office of the Veins is, to carry back the blood in the parts, out of the Arteries to the Trunk, according to the Doctrine of the Circulation, which Riolanus does here vainly oppose. And Ligatures in living A∣natomies do shew the same.

Franciscus Ulmus, Carolus Piso, and Aemilius Parisa∣nus, will needs have it that the Spleen makes Arterial blood, for the left Ventricle of the Heart, as the Liver doth for the right Ventricle. Which Opinion is coufuted, because, 1. There is no way by which the blood here made, can go into the left Ventricle of the Heart; for it cannot go by the Aorta, because of the Valves there placed at the mouth thereof. 2. There would •••• a mixture of perfect and imperfect Juyce, if by the same way, and at the same time the Heart should receive and return blood. 3. Many Creatures live without a Spleen, which generate Vital Spirits nevertheless.

Mr. De la Chambre in his Treatise of Digestion, sup∣poses that the Spleen makes Spirits for the use of the Belly. But there is Spirit enough to nourish and vivi∣fie the inferior Parts, supplied from the Aorta. But if he understand some qualification of the spirituous blood accommodated to the use of the belly, he de∣serves to be excused.

Helmont a late Writer, hath destined the Spleen for more noble Actions. He gives it out to be the seat of his Archeus, which being the immediate Organ of the sensitive Soul, determines the Acti∣ons of the ••i••••l Soul residing in the sto∣mach. He calls it the Seat. 1. Of the Understan∣ding, wherein the Conceptions thereof are formed, be∣cause it is of all the Bowels the fullest of Blood, and en∣riched with very many Arteries; and the Brain does only keep the Conceptions sent to it from the Spleen. 2. Of Sleep and Dreaming. 3. Of Venery, because Pollutions are in the dig••••; and there about the sto∣mach, the first motions of lust are perceived: For they are said to proceed out of the Loins, in which the Spleen is the principal Vital Member. Finally, per∣sons troubled with the Quartan Ague, are not subject to lust, because their Spleen is diseased. 4. Of sundry Diseases, which are accounted to be Diseases of the Brain and Chest, as the Tissick, Pleurisie, Apoplexy, Falling-sickness, Night-mare, Swimming of the Head, &c. But 1. All these Conceits bottom upon a false Foundation. 2. No sound Anatomist will grant that the stomach and not the brain is the seat of the Soul. 3. The Spleen is full of blood for other uses, that it may prepare acid blood for the fermentation of the whole blood and the Chylus. 4. There are Living-Creatures, that both sleep, and are addicted to Venery without any Spleen, or though they have a Spleen, when the same is diseased. 5. Nocturnal Pollutions spring from an hot Constirution of the Spermatick Vessels, and wheyish sharp Blood, as the Dissection of the said Parts does declare. 6. That is rather to be affirmed touching the Kidneys in the Loins, as shall hereafter appear. 7. Other Parts in the Belly are dis∣eased besides the Spleen; in such as have Quartan A∣gues. Yet it cannot be denied, but that the Spleen does assist in some measure, by administring acid blood 8. The Spleen is but the remote seat of the foresaid Diseases, by reason of Vapors raised from thence; but proper Diseases which spring not from Sympathy, do primarily depend upon the Brain.

The last and truest Opinion, is that of Walaeus, my quondam most wor∣thy Master, founded upon ocular In∣spection, and most certain reason. He finding in live Anatomies no motion of Humors through the Ramus spleni∣cus of Vena portoe to the Spleen, did certainly conclude, that it was unlikely, that either Melancholy or Chyle is carried out of the Liver into the Spleen, by the Ra∣mus splenicus; and that therefore the Spleen receives no melancholick Excrement from the Liver, not that any blood is made in the Spleen of Melancholy or Chylus. But contrariwise he observed alwaies, that all the blood was carried, both swiftly and strongly e∣nough perpetually out of the Spleen into the Liver, as also the blood which comes out of the Haemorrhoidal Vein, the Vas breve, and other Veins which are joyned to the Ramus splenicus. And that there is no motion of Humors to the Spleen, unless by the Ramus splenicus of the Arteria Coeliaca: And therefore the Spleen does not receive any matter to change and alter from any place, save the Arteria Coeliaca. And he conceives that it is most likely, that the blood being further to be per∣fected, is dissolved by the Heat of the Heart, and that when it is forced from the Heart, through the Coelia∣cal d••••eries into the Spleen, the whole mass of blood is not retained by the Spleen, but as the Gall-bladder contains only Choler, so the Spleen holds only the a∣cid or sharp part of the Blood, which you may call Melancholy, just as we see the acid Spirit separated from things that are distilled: And that the said acid Humor is perfected by the Spleen, by means of which the Spleen appears black and acid. And that this sharp humor is afterwards mingled with Blood in the Veins, and with Chyle in the Stomach, and makes them thin: And that therefore the Spleen being obstructed, gross Humors are multiplied in the Body, not because thick Humors are not drawn by the Spleen, which natural∣ly are never found there; but because the Spleen can∣not communicate that attenuating acid Humor to the Blood or Chyle. And that as much of this acid Hu∣mor, as is unfit for Digestion, is voided with the Serum by Urin, for such acid Liquors, as Vinegar, Spirit of Sulphur, &c. are easily mingled with Water; and the said acid Humor by Distillation may again be separa∣ted from the Urin.

In as much therefore as the Spleen draws the sharp part of the blood out of the Heart, and ••••••••ds it prepared to the Mesentery, that the rest thereof be∣ing to be wrought by the Liver, may become more pure and clear; the Opinion of the An∣cients may be allowed, which held the Spleen to be the seat of Laughter. For the cheerfuller, and livelier A∣nimals, or live Wights, have great spleens; the more lascivious have great livers; the gentler have little gal∣bladders; the fearfuller have great hearts, and the lou∣dest, have large lungs, &c. Whence that Verse had its Original.

Cor ardet, pulmo loquitur, fel commovet iras, Splen ridere facit, coget amare secur.

Heart fears, Lungs speak, the Gall moves' anger fel, Spleen makes us laugh, Liver doth Love compel.

The Spleen therefore perpares blood to accommodate the Bowels of the lo∣wer Belly, and of the whole Body af∣ter the manner aforesaid. And the ex∣crementitious part of the blood, which cannot be separated by the Spleen, if it be thin and watery, it is purged out. 1. By the Arteries, not only to the Guts, but also to the Kidneys by the emulgent Veins. Hence in Diseases of the Spleen, Urins are many times black, for which cause in such cases we administer Diureticks. And splenerick and melancholick persons so called, abound with wheyish Humors, as is well known from Hippo∣crates and Galen, for serum ought to be the vehicle or carrier of the grossest Humor. Hence is it, that per∣sons troubled with the Quartan Ague, do most plenti∣fully sweat and piss: Also when it is very plentiful, by the Haemorrhoid Veins. 2. By the stomach, whence in the S••urvey, the Patients spit exceedingly, as also in the Quartan Ague, so that Galen places spitting and spawling among the signs of that Disease. Hence al∣so melancholick persons are wont to be extream spit∣ters. Now it comes from the Spleen to the stomach, not only by the Vas breve, but also by other near Ves∣sels.

If the Excrement of the Spleen be thick and earthy, it is voided directly by the Fundament, and comes not at the stomach, for 1. From Melancholy as Galen cells us, comes the blackness of the Excrements. 2. By reason of its weight and heaviness, it setles downwards. 3. The e∣vacuation of Melancholy by the internal Haemor∣rhoid

Veins, does free men from melancholick Disea∣ses present, and preserves from future, as the divine Hip∣pocrates teaches in many places.

Notes

• Scituation of the Spleen,
• See Table XV.
• Its Number.
• Whether the Spleen may be taken out of the Body.
• Why a man hath a large Spleen.
• Its Shape.
• Its Color.
• Connexion.
• Its Coat.
• Substance.
• Its Veins.
• Its Arteries.
• Its Anastomoses.
• Whether the Spleen receive Melancholy from the Li∣ver?
• The argument of Rondele∣tius invalid.
• Whether the Spleen make Blood?
• For what Parts the Spleen makes Blood?
• Whether any portion of Chyle be carried to the Spleen, and what way?
• What Creatures have no Spleen
• Whether the Spleen be an Organ of the sensitive Soul?
• The Opinion of Walaeus touch∣ing the use of the Spleen.
• How the Spleen may be said to be the seat of Laughter.
• Tis called Lover in the North of En∣gland, & pos∣sibly that is the Etymology of the Word.
• How its thick.