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Chap. V. Of the Heart-bag and the Humor contained therein.
THe Pericardium which some term* 1.1 the Coat, Case, Box, Chamber, Cover of the Heart, or Heart-bag, &c. is a Membrane compassing the whole Heart, whose Figure it therefore Emu∣lates, as also its Magnitude: But it is so far distant from the Heart, as is necessary for the Hearts mo∣tion, and the reception of the Liquor contained in this Bag. Columbus assures us, that a Scholar of his had no Pericardium.
It arises at the Basis from the Coates which compass the Vessels of the* 1.2 Heart, which proceed from the Pleura (for this Coat is not between the Basis of the Heart and the Pericardium) where for their sakes.
It hath five Holes; viz. for the ingate and outgate of the Vena Cava, and for the* 1.3 letting out of the other three Vessels.
Its Situation is more to the left side then the right; and more to the fore then the* 1.4 hinder part of the Body.
It is knit circularly to the Mediasti∣num, with very many Fibres, and to* 1.5 the neighbouring parts, but especially the Nervous circle of the Midriff, it cleaves exceeding close, which is a thing peculiar to Mankind: For here∣in a Man differs from Dogs and Apes, and in all other Creatures likewise, the difference holes.
Its External Surface is Fibrous, the Internal slippery, and both void of fat.* 1.6
Its Substance is thick and hard, and so much harder then the Lungs, as it is* 1.7 softer then a bone.
Its Vessels. It hath smal Veins. be∣low* 1.8 from the Phrenick Vessels, above from the Axillary.
It hath no Arteries that can well be seen; perad∣venture, because it is so near the Heart. Yet doubt∣less it hath some although hard to be discerned.
It hath very smal Nerves, from the left Recurrent, and the little twigs of the Septum.
Its Use is I. To be a firme tabernacle for the Heart, that in its motion it might not* 1.9 strike against the hard parts of the Body.
II. To contain a wheyish or Watry Humor, like Urin to see to, though neither sharpe nor Salt, tran∣sparently clear, in some like water, wherein flesh hath been washt; Guil. Toletus in Burgensis calls it a flegmatick Humor of an unpleasing tast. And be∣cause of this Liquor Galen resembles the Heart to a Bladder.
This Humor is found in all Ani∣mals naturally constituted, both* 1.10 living and dead, yea and in the Child in the Womb, as appears by the dissection of bodies both living and dead: But in some more in others less; in persons that are in a Con∣sumption, it is very little and inclining to yellowness. In persons Pleuritick it is now and then of a quit∣torish nature, according to the Observation of Salmuth.
In dead bodies tis more plentyful: Because then very many Spirits are* 1.11 in the cooled parts of the body con∣densed into water. In Women▪ Children, and aged persons, tis more plentyful, by reason of the debility of their heat.
If it happen to be in two great a quantity, Palpi∣tation of Heart, and a suffocating death follows there∣from: if it be quite consumed, a Consumption of the body happens. But that it may be bread a fresh when it is spent, we see clearly in those whose Heart∣bag being wounded, the said Liquor hath run out; for in Johannes Saviolus, his Heart-bag being wounded with a Dagger, water issued at every Pulse of his Heart, out of the wound, yet was he happily cured by the Renowned Veslingus.
Whence this water should have* 1.12 its original, the opinions of lear∣ned men are different.
I. The first Opinion is of those, who will have it to be sent out of the Vessels of the Heart, seeing Blood-letting cures the Panting of the Heart procee∣ding from the Super abundance of this Liquor: And they conceive that this waterish Liquor is forced out by the fervent heat of the Heart, as in a stick of wood when it burns the sap runs out. Of kin to this is the Opinion of Nicolas Massa, which will have it to pro∣ceed from the strainings of the blood, which come from the Liver to the Ear of the Heart. And Hofman is much of his mind, who maintaines that it is part of that wheyish moisture which ascends to the Heart with the blood; but because the motion thereof is perpe∣tual, there would no smal danger arise, from so large an Afflux of Humors. I let pass, how that the stron∣ger persons, whose blood is moved most swiftly, have less quantity of this Water then those that are wea∣ker.
II. Others, and among them Hippocrates seems to make one, will have it to proceed from our drink, some portion whereof they conceive peirces like Dew out of the Asperia Arteria, into the Arteria Ve∣nosa.
III. Some conceive it proceeds from a Watry matter in the Seed, as the inbred Air of the Ears, is thought to proceed from a windy matter in the said seed.
IV. Of kin hereunto is the opinion of Jasolinus, who will have it to be a select, most perfect and Elaborate portion of the serons Humor, sent thither by Nature it self, haply in the first formation of the Child, through the Veins and Arteries, besides another part of the drink, of which Hippocrates speaks, and he has experiments touching the same.
V. Some say it proceeds from the watry Excre∣ments of the third digestion.
VI. Others from the spittle, slipping out of the Kernels of the Tongue into the Wezand, and from thence into the Arteries and Heart.
VII. Others, from the fat of the Heart, by agitati∣on turned into water.
VIII. Others from the thicker part of the Air which we draw in, being changed into water.
IX. And lastly, some think (which I conceive to be most likely) that it proceeds from moist Vapors and Exhalations, forced out of the Humors of the Heart by the motion and Heat theerof, and thrust forth into the Heart-bag and there congealed into water, in regard of the compactness of the said Heart∣bag.
Its Use is, I. To moisten and cool the* 1.13 Heart, and to facilitate the motion thereof. And therefore those in whom it is consumed, have their Hearts roasted: As it happened to Casimire the