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. XXII. Concerning the Stones.

THe Stones or Testicles so called, as wit∣nessing* 1.1 the courage and strength of a

man, without which a man was no sufficient witness in the Roman Court, are also called Did••••••i or Gemelli Twins, because commonly

They are in Number two. Seldom one great one and no more, as in Sylla* 1.2 and Cotta, Witness A••rianus; seldomer three, as in Agathocles the Tyrant of Sicilie, and some Families of Italy of the Colci, especially at Bergoma, and others at Paris, according to the Observation of Ferne∣lius, which is also proper to a renowned Family in Ger∣many,; and four, which Aristotle partly observed, and Riolanus the Father, so small that they proved barren, because either they do not sufficiently digest the matter of Seed, or they do not easily receive the same, because of the straitness of their passages.

They are seated externally in Men,* 1.3 without the Abdomen, under the Belly, at the Root of the Yard, in their Cod or Covering. 1. For Chastities sake, if we believe Aristotle. For such live-wights as have their Stones hid within their Body, are very le∣cherous, do often couple, and get many young ones. 2. That by reason of the longer passage, the greater stay of the Seminal matter, may cause the better prepa∣ration. 3. Laurembergius would have them nearer that external place wherein they were to generate, viz. the Womb. But that nearness, doubtless, helps no∣thing to Generation, though the nearness of the Yard does: Nor do we find this observed in many Animals which generate out of themselves.

That the Stones have lain hid in the Cavity of the Abdomen, until Puberty or Ripeness of Age fit for Ge∣neration, Martinus Rulandus proves in two Histories, Pareus in one, and Riolanus in a story not unlike. In which kind of persons, if the Yard should also lie hid, we should ever and anon have an appearing change of Sexes.

The Epididymides rest athwart upon the Stones, and compass them as it were, being a kind of little Stones, oblong, round, white, and wreathed, but at both ends, somwhat sharp, of which see the following Chap∣ter.

Their Magnitude in men does commonly answer that of a small* 1.4 Hens Eg. And in men the Stones are greater then in women.

The Figure of the Stones is Oval.* 1.5 Which Figure varies somtimes, by reason of the neighboring Vessels more or less turgent: And therefore some say the right Testicle is more full vein'd, and it is thought to be more hot, and have seed better digested. Whence Hippocrates calls it the Boy∣getter, because it receives more pure and hot blood and Spirits out of the great Vessel, viz. the great Artery. The left Stone is* 1.6 thought to contain colder Seed, more wheyish and and weak, because for the most part, the matter is beleived to be brought from the Emulgent, and there∣fore Hippocrates cals this Stone the Girl-getter. Whence that common Saying, Wenches are begot by the left Stone in the left side of the Womb; Boys by the right Stone in the right side. And Hippocrates saies, there is in a man as wel as in a woman both male and foemale Seed, that is to say, hotter and colder. But I am not of Opinion, that wenches are alwaies begotten by the left Stone, and that it receives a colder sort of Seed, for, 1. There are ever and anon Virago's or manly Women, which exceed Men in strength and courage. 2. Blood is communi∣cated from the great Artery, as well to the left Stone as to the right. 3. The Arteria Spermatica is oftner wan∣ting on the right side then on the left. But the Gene∣ration of the fra••ler Sex, depends not so much upon the coldness of the left Testicle, as upon the cold Consti∣tution of both the Stones, or rather of the whole body, which administers Matter for the Seed. Howbeit the left parts of the body are generally said to be colder then the right.

Moreover the right Stone is fuller of Seed, doth swel more, and hath a greater Vein and Artery, so that Na∣ture seems to design the Generation of Foemales more then of Males. It was therefore ill said of Aristotle, that Nature of her self did al∣waies* 1.7 intend the Generation of Males, as being most perfect, and that a Foemale is ingendred, when Nature being hindered, could not in∣gender a Male, so that a Woman is in his account a kind of Monster in Nature. Howbeit Nature seems more sollicitous for the* 1.8 Generation of Women then of Men, for the Causes aforesaid, nor does Na∣ture alwaies regard that which is best or most perfect, but that which is most ne∣cessary, as a woman is: For many of them are but e∣nough for one man. For women when they are big with Child, are useless to a man; also they are short lived, nor can they bear so long, as a man can beget. But of this, I have discoursed more fully, in my 12. A∣natomical Controversie de patribus.

The Testicles have Coats and Cove∣rings,* 1.9 some proper, others common.

They have two Coats common to them* 1.10 and other parts, to defend them from ex∣ternal injuries.

The first is formed of a thinner skin* 1.11 and scarf-skin, then is to be found in o∣ther parts of the Body, and is called Scrotum or Scortum, hanging out like a purse or bag, and subject to the touch. Tis soft and wrinkled, void of Fat, that it might be more easily extended and* 1.12 wrinkled together: because the oylie mat∣ter which should make Fat, goes into the Stones to make Seed. In the lower part it hath a line running out according to the length thereof, which di∣vides it into a right and left part, and is called a suture or seam,

The second Coat consists of a fleshy Pannicle, which is also thinner then is found in other places, full of Veins and Arteries, and called dartos. Which Cove∣ring is by others comprehended under the term Scro∣tum.

The proper Coat or Coverings, which on* 1.13 either side do cloath each Stone are three.

The first proper Coat is called Vaginalis the scabberd Coat, and by some Helico••ides, by reason of its shape, which is thin, but yet strong, full of Veins, arising from the processes of the Peritonaeum. It cleavs to the Dartos, by many membranous Fibres, which o∣thers have reckoned for a peculiar Coat. Whence it is externally rough, internally smooth.

The second is termed Eruthroeides the red Coat, being furnished with some fleshy Fibres, bred out of the Cre∣master, and inwardly spred over the former. Rufus names this in the first place, and Riolanus and Veslingus following him, account it the first Coat, because it compasses the former, and is propagated from the Cre∣master.

The third last and lowest, immediately encompas∣sing the substance of the Stone, and is as it were bind∣ing the same, is termed Albuginea, and by some Nervea,

[illustration]

[illustration]

The XXIII. TABLE.

The Coats of the Stones, their Substance, and Ves∣sels are propounded in this TABLE.

The Explication of the FIGURES.

FIG. I.

• AA. The Skin of the Cod separated.
• BBB. The fleshy Membrane which •••• here called Dartos.
• CC. The first Coat of the Stones cal∣led Elythroeides.
• DD. The Muscle Cremaster.
• E. The second Coat of the Stones, which the Author calls Ery∣throides.
• FF. The Coat of the Stones called Albuginea.
• G. The kernelly Substance of the Stone.
• H. The Pyramidal or Pampini∣form Vessel.
• II. Epididymis.
• DD. The Parastates variciformis.

FIG. II.

• A. A Portion of the preparatory Vessels.
• BB. The Pyramidal Vessel.
• CC. Epididymis.
• DD. Parastates variciformis.
• E. The Stone covered with its pro∣per Membrane.
• F. A Portion of the Vas deferens.

FIG. III

• AA. The Veins and Arteries in the Pyramidal Vessel laid open.
• B. The Epididymis.
• CC. The Parastates variciformis.
• D. The Vas deferens.

Page 56

because it is white, thick, and strong, arising from the Coat of the Seminal Vessels.

The Substance of the Stones is glan∣dulous, white, soft, loose and spongy, by* 1.14 reason of very many Vessels there dis∣persed and loose, though without Cavi∣ty, as the Liver also and the Spleen have no Cavities. They have Vessels of all* 1.15 kinds. Veins and Arteries from the Se∣minary Vessels: An indifferent large Nerve from the sixt pare; somtimes also they have two Nerves from the one and twentieth pare of the Spinal Marrow, con∣joyned to the Seminal Vessels, carried with them through the production of the Peritonaeum, and disse∣minated into the Tunicles.

They have on each side one Muscle, ari∣sing from a strong Ligament, which is in the* 1.16 Share-bone, where the transverse Muscles of the Belly end, of which they seem to the Parts. They go along through the production of the Peritonaeum, which they compass about well-near, and grow to the beginnings of the Stones. They are ••••••••ed Cremasteres or Suspensores, hangers or sustainers, for they hold up the Stones, that they may not too much draw down the Seminal Vessels. Also in the Carnal conjunction, they draw back the Stones, that the Seed-channel be∣ing shortned, the Sperm may be sooner and easier con∣veigh'd into the Womb. In some persons these Mus∣cles are capable of voluntary motion, who can draw up, and let down their Stones as they list: where these Muscles are doubtless stronger then ordinary, that they may not only hold the Stones suspended, but move them from place to place.

The Use of the Stones is, by their* 1.17 Heat and inbred Faculty, to make seed. For the Efficient cause of Seed is the proper flesh or substance of the Stones, both in regard of their hot and moist temper of their specifick Property; since no flesh in the Body is found like that of the Stones. Now they turn the blood be∣ing prepared into Seed, which is requisite to preserve the Species of Mankind: And that which remains o∣ver and above, either goes back by the Spermatick Veins into the Heart, or turns to nourishment for the

Stones. Nor can Seed be ordinarily* 1.18 bred without the Stones, nor perfect Ani∣mals without them, for from them the Seed receives both its form and colour. That some have ingendred without Stones, though not according to the ordinary Course of Nature, Smetius in his Miscellanies, Fontanus in his Physica, Cabrolius, Hofmannus de Generatione, and others, do testifie. Now the place wherein the Seed is bred, is not any large Cavity in the Stone, but certain very small Vessels therein formed, covered with a very deli∣cate thin Coat, as Vesalius rightly teaches. Now these following Authors after Aristotle, have taken away the faculty of Seed-making from the Stones, viz. Fallo∣pius, Cabrolius, Posthius, Casparus Hofmannus, Caesar Cre∣moninus, Adrianus Spigelius, Regius, and others, because the Matter of Seed does not go into the Stones, nor is there ever any Seed found in them. But they wil have them principally to be Receptacles for the wheyish Humor which flows in with the Blood; which they collect from their glandulous substance, and the large∣ness of the left Stone. But they are confuted by Eu∣nuchs and gelt persons, whose Stones being cut out or bruised, they become unable to engender. Also Seed hath been frequently observed in the Stones. Witness Dodonaeus in his 39. Observation touching a Spanish Soldier, Hofman de Generatione Chap. 18. Carpus and Riolanus. It is indeed not to be found in some Bodies, because it was not bred, by reason of some sickness, or Imprisonment, or upon Death the Spirits being dissi∣pated, a watry Liquor appears instead thereof. Nor can the Seed come to the Vasa deferentia otherwise then by the Testicles, which begin at the Stones, as the prae∣paratory Vessels end in them, by the Observation of very many Anatomists, and why the left Stone is grea∣ter then the right, another reason is alleadged by lear∣ned men.

Also the Stones seems to give strength and courage to Mens bodies, as may* 1.19 be seen in gelded persons, who are changed well-near into Women, in their Habit of Body, Temperament, Manners, &c. And doubtless the stones do exceedingly sympathize with the upper Parts of the Body, especially with the Heart. For we see that cor∣dial and cooling Epithems in fainting Fits and bleed∣ing at the Nose, being applied to the Stones, do help as if they were applied to the very Heart and Part af∣fected. The Cause hereof is hard to tell; Jaccbinus, Laurentius, Hofmannus, conceive that it comes to pass by reason of Passions of the Mind, which are joyned with fleshly Lust. But Eunuchs also are lustful, for they are great Lovers of Women: And Eunuchs are often transported with anger and other Passions of the Mind, but they receive not never the more the Habit of Men. Galen seems to have been of Opinion, that a Spirit was bred in the Stones and diffused thence al the Body over. But glandulous Bodies of the number of which the Stones are, are unfit to engender an hot Spi∣rit; nor are there any Passages about the Stones, for the distribution of that new Spirit, according to the O∣pinion of Galen. Nor is therefore the Opinion of Mercatus allowable, viz. that those Spirits are not in∣deed bred there; but that the Vital Spirits are collect∣ed in the Stones in great quantity, that from them they may return back into the whole Body; for those which are there collected, are collected to engender Seed. But the Opinion of Thomas a Vega does better please me, til I shall find a more probable, viz. that a Seminal Air is raised up in the Generation of Seed, which thus changes the whole Body. The flesh truly of ungelt Creatures, hath a rammish tast of the Seed, which the flesh of such as are gelt hath not. This Vapor or Air of the Seed is carried to the Heart, either by the inner Pores of the Body, or by the Veins which reconveigh to the Heart the superfluities of the generated Seed. Helmont imagines the Stones do act by a ruling power, at a distance, as the stomach does upon the Womb, the Womb upon the upper Parts, and that without any right waies or marks; which nevertheless an Anato∣mist seeks to find, if it be possible. Vestingus ingeni∣ously makes the reason of the change of voice, tempe∣rament, strength, &c. in persons guelded, to be the oppression of their inbred Heat by plenty of Matter, which ought to turn to Seed. Now their Sympathy with the Heart, depends partly upon the Nerves, partly (for we hold the Circulation in the Stones) from the foresaid Veins, returning back to the Heart, by which both the vertues of Cordials ascend, and of cooling Medicaments, even as we apply Cordials and Coolers to the Hands, with like success.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Stones.
• * 1.2

  Their Number.
• * 1.3

  Why placed without in Men?
• * 1.4

  Their Greatness.
• * 1.5

  Their Figure.
• * 1.6

  Whether the left Stone be colder then the right.
• * 1.7

  The Error of Aristotle.
• * 1.8

  Whether Na∣ture alwaies intends to be∣get Boys.
• * 1.9

  Their Coats.
• * 1.10

  Common.
• * 1.11

  The Cod.
• * 1.12

  Why void of Fat.
• * 1.13

  Porper.
• * 1.14

  The Substance of the Stones.
• * 1.15

  Vessels.
• * 1.16

  Muscles.
• * 1.17

  The Efficiens cause of the Seed.
• * 1.18

  Without the Stones there is no Gene∣ration.
• * 1.19

  The Sympathy of the Stones with the whole Body,