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. VI. Of the Heart in General.

THe Heart is called in Latine COR à currendo from running, because of its motion; some peradven∣ture will derive it from the Greek name Kêr which they derive from céo which signifies to burn: the Greeks term it cardia, we the Heart, quasi bieròn a sa∣cred thing. It is the principall part of a living Crea∣ture, which none is found to want according to Arist∣otle, and by the hurting whereof the Creaure does for the most part immediately die, because it is the foun∣tain of Life, and labors the vital Spirits, which having made, it distributes, by the Arteries arising from it self, into the whol body, Yet may you find examples in Schenkius of those that have had no Hearts. See also Gellius book the 16. Chap. 15. Galen relates that beasts sacrificed have lowed at the Altar, after their Hearts were taken out; and the Lord Verulam tells of a man who spake three or four words of a prayer, when his Heart was pluckt out of his Body, and in the hand of the Executioner. Plinie tells us the entrails were twice found without any Heart, when Caesar sacrificed, and Julius Obsequens saies the same. The Lives of such persons were maintained by the remainders of arte∣rial Blood. And Spigelius suspects that among the Bowells, the Heart was rather hid, and unfound then wanting, who saw so much fat in an Ostrich, that a man might easily have bin deceived, so as to think the Fowl had no Heart. Peradventure those Hearts of the sacrifices were stole away by the Devil.

A Live-wight dies not with every hurt of the Heart. For the Heart undergoes all kind of diseases. 1. Putre∣faction, witness Galen, in a pestilential and a putrid Fe∣ver. 2. The Consumption according to Plinie, to be dried like a roasted warden, according to Jordanus. to be wholly consumed by immoderate Heat, as Tileseus a∣verr's. 3. Inflammation, in which Case it cannot live a natural day, as Saxonius found by experience in a certain Reader. 4. Filthy hollow Ulcers have bin found therein by Fernelius, Trincavellius, Riverius. 5. Divers kinds of Tumors, Columbus saw an hard Tumor in the left ventricle of a Cardinal, as big as an Egg. Bene∣venius saw a swelling of black flesh. Massa, Hollerius, Bauhinus, and Joubertus, have other like Stories. I late∣ly found in the Parenchyma of an Oxes Heart on the left side a swelling as big as a Pigeons Egg, in a double Coat, full of Whey and Flegm.

On the out side Gesner saw an Excrescence of Flesh, in the Basis the quantity of an ounce and six drams Bavius makes mention of the Membrane eaten and fretted away round about.

Also Histories shew that it will bear wounds for a season. Paraeus tells of one wounded in the Heart who ran two hundred paces. Jacotius tells of an Hart that carried an old arrow fixed in its Heart, which is confirmed by Thomas à Vega and Alexandrius. Galen saw an Hare wounded in the Heart, run a darts cast after the wound received. Of a Student at Ingolstade, Sennertus and Iohnstonus tells us, who had both the ven∣tricles of his Heart peirced through with a weapon, and Nicholas Mullerus of a Souldier who lived fifteen daies after he had received a wound in his Heart, of which he hung up a Table at Groeningen. He recounts many like examples seen by himself, and Tulpius tells us of one that lived two daies, being wounded in the right ventricle. Glandorpius tells us after Sanctorius, that the Heart of a Rabbit was pierced with a sharp Instrument, and yet it lived many months after.

Wee must therefore note

• 1. That the Heart can endure Diseases, but because it lies far from the way of medicines, it cannot hold out so well as other parts.
• 2. That, as Galen tells us, if the wounds do pierce into the belly thereof, the party or Creature wounded dies, of necessity, but if they be in the Substance there∣of, it may live a day and a night, but then Inflamma∣tion arising death follows.
• 3 That the right Ventricle does more easily bear an hurt, because upon the left depends the life of the whol Body.
• 4. Both Ventricles may endure a small time after they are hurt, if the Vessels that continue the motion of the blood, be undamnified.

The Heart is one in Number, Theophrastus writes, that in Paphlagonia Partridges have two Hearts, an example whereof Galen relates in a man, in his ana∣tomical administrations.

It is situate in the middle of the bo∣dy, not considering the leggs, as it is in brutes; in which the Heart is in the middle, for moveableness and Secu∣rities sake, and in the middle of the Chest likewise, where it is on all sides compassed with the Lungs. Now the Heart in respect of its basis, is exactly in the middle, that nourshing blood and spirit might more commodiously be distributed into the whole body.

Howbeit the Motion thereof is more discernable in the left side.

1 Because in its left Ventricle the vital spirit is contained, and from thence arises the Arteria magna, hence the common people imagin that a Mans Heart resides in his left Side, but Practitioners applie Cordials to the left side.

2 Because the point of the Heart enclines towards the left side, under the left nipple, that it may give way to the Diaphragma: now to the right hand it could not decline, by reason of the Vena cava, which ascends there through the middest of the Chest. Sometimes the upper part of the Heart enclines to the left side, and such persons are left handed if we beleive Massa, those whose Heart is exactly in the middle, use both hands alike.

As to its Magnitude. In a man pro∣portionably the Heart is greater then in other Creatures, as also the brain and Liver. According to the com∣mon Course of Nature, it equalls six fingers breadths in length, and four in breadth. Otherwise, the great∣ness of the Heart differs according to the Difference of the Age and Temperament. For persons cold of Constitution, and fearfull have great Hearts, but such as are more hot and confident, have little Hearts: Of which see Donatus. Hence Aristotle saies of fearfull Creatures, as the Hare, Deer, Mouse, Hyena, Ass, Weazel, &c. that they have a great Heart, conside∣ring the proportion of their bodies. The Philosiphers of AEgypt, in ancient times, as appears by Herodotus in his Euterpe, have dreamed these things of the greatnes of the Heart. That the Heart of such Persons, as are not wasted by any violent disease, does every yeer grow two drams heavier, till they become fifty yeers old, so that a man of fifty yeers Age, his Heart weighs an hundred drams: but from the fiftyeth year to the hundredth, by a retrograde or back motion, it looses every yeer two drams, till it vanish away, and the par∣ty die.

Its Figure is conick, because it ends in a point. Its upper part by reason of the full vessels therein, is broad and round, although not exactly, and is called the Root and Head, and Basis of the Heart: the lower part be∣ing sharper is called conus, mucro, vertex, cuspis and apex Cordis; the cone, point, top of the Heart. Hippocra∣tes calls it the end and taile. On the foreside the Heart is more bossie, on the hinder side more flat. In the contractions the whole Heart is longer as some hold, but broader and more drawn together according to o∣thers; in its Dilatations or Widenings it is greatest, and of a globous figure, of which I shall speak more exactly hereafter.

Its Connexion is to the Mediastinum and the Midriff by the Pericardium; but to other parts by its Vessels, they are joyned to the Basis. the point being free, and hanging dang∣ling like a bell in the Steeple, that it may the more easily be drawn back to its Basis, or moved to the Sides.

Its Substance is first membranous, like a Bladder, in the Child in the Womb, afterward from the mothers blood there grows flesh or a solid, thick and compact∣ed parenchyma.

• 1. That it might endure the perpe∣tuity of the Motion: for a fence, and that it might more forcibly drive the blood to places far distant in the whole Body.
• 2 Least the subtile and lightfull Spirits contained even in the moveable blood should exhale together with the inbred heat.

In the right side the wall is less thick, because it sends blood only to the Lungs, which have their venal blood not so subtile. The strength of the left side is greater, by reason of stronger motion to drive on the blood, to supply the necessity of the whole body. In the point, the flesh is thicker and harder not so much be∣cause it ought not to be moved, as Riolanus conceives, as because it is free, contracting the whole Heart in a brief manner, and destiture of Vessels and Ears. In its Basis, it is not so much softer as thinner. whose Vessels and Ears do recompence what it wants of firmness. Now this flesh hath all kinds of Fibres, so mingled one with another, and so compact, that they cannot be easily discerned; partly for strength, partly for motion. For all these Fibres being stretched in the Systole of the Heart they draw together the Ven∣tricles and the inner sides, to help the Protrysion or thrusting forward of the blood.

This substance is cloathed with a Coat hardly separable, for the greater firmness, to which it grows in respect of the matter, not of the efficient Cause.

There is Fat about the Pasis of the Heart but hardly about the Cone or sharpe End thereof, because it is moistned by the liquor of the Heart-bag, 1. To anoint the Veins about the Heart. 2. And to moi∣sten the Heart, that it may not be dryed by motion. 3. To heat the water in the Heart-bag, as the fat of the Kidneys doth, according to the conjecture of John Daniel Horstius. Somtimes it is quite hid with the said fat, which Spegelius, Riolanus, Jessenius obser∣ved in a prince of Lunaeburg, so that the by-stan∣ders are apt to be deluded and think there is no Heart.

It was nevertheless rightly said by Aristotle, Galen and Avicenna, that fat called Pimele could not grow about any hot part, as the Heart, the Liver, the Arteries, the Veins, &c. For this kind of Fat is easily melted by heat; but in the mean while, to stea•• Adeps or Tallow, which differs much from Pimele or Greasie fat, in substance, consistency and place, as I have demonstrated in my Vindiciae Anatomicae from Pollux, Suidas, Erotianus and others, may grow about such parts, because it is not easily melted. Which makes a sputtering when it is put to the flame of a Candle, because of a watry substance mingled there∣with, according to the Observation of Jasolinus, which hinders it from suddain congealing: so that it is no wonder that it is not melted by the heat of the Heart. Now this same Tallow is bred about the Heart, either

because the Heart being of a very hard substance is nourished with thick blood, of which suet is bred; or because Excrementitious dregs are bred of the Nu∣triment of the Heart; or because the blood is much stirred, as by the great Agitation of Milk, better is extracted, which is the opinion of Achillinus.

As for Vessels. The Heart hath a Vein which is termed Coronaria the Crown-vein, because it incircles the Heart, and is somtimes double. It arises from the Cava, without the right Ventricle, about whose Basis it Expatiates in a large tract from the right Eare, and with a wide Channel it compasses about externally to the left Ear, which it doth not enter, but turns aside into the Parenchyma of the Heart. Hence it spreads its branches downwards through the surface of the Heart, but the greatest store through the left side thereof, because the flesh is there thicker. A smal valve is fastned in its original, which grants entrance to the blood into the right Ventricle, but will not suffer it to go out.

[illustration]

The III. TABLE.

The FIGURE Explained.

This TABLE shews the Situation of the Heart in the Body and the going out of certain Vessels there∣from.

• A. The Heart in its natural Situation enclosed in the Heart-bag.
• BB. The Lungs.
• CC. The Nervous part of the Midriff.
• DDD. The flesby portion thereof.
• E. A portion of the Vena Ca∣va above the Heart, go∣ing upwards.
• F. Part of the said Vein peir∣cing the Midriff.
• G. The great Artery arising out of the Heart.
• HH. Its branches to med Ca∣rotides, the Drowsie-Arteries.
• I. The point of the Heart enclining to the left side of the Body.
• KK. The Nerves of the sixt Conjugation, from which the recurrent Nerves do spring, which distribute five branches to the Heart-bag & the Heart.
• L. The left Ear of the Heart.
• M. The right Ear.
• N. The Vessels of the Heart∣bag.
• O. The Cartilago Scutiformis, Sheild-fashioned Gristle.
• P. The first pare of the Muscles of the Larynx in their proper place,
• Q. The Situation of Os Hyoides.
• R. The Aspera Arteria or Wezand.
• S. The Axillary Artery, about the Original whereof, the Right-hand Recurrent Nerve begins.

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As for its Use. Some have perswaded themselves, that it serves to nourish the external part, because it is lesser then ordinary, creeps about the external surface only, and the Heart is nourished with Arterial blood. Others will have it to nourish the whole Heart. Licetus assignes its Office to strain the blood to the left Ventricle of the Heart, which I wonder at, Because 1. It is exceeding smal. 2. It creeps about the External parts. 3. It arises externally from the Vena Cava. and not from the right Ventricle of the Heart. Botallus seems to have acknowledged the same way, whose opinion examined by Walaeus. Others, as Riolanus, make it serve not so much for Nutrition, as to repaire the fat; but, first it reaches farther then the fat. 2. No branches thereof are to be seen in the fat. 3. The fat may be generated from

Vapors of the Heart, without any Veins. The true Use of the Coronary Vein is, to bring back the blood of the other Veins, when it returnes from nourishing the heart, into the right Ventricle again, which the Situation of the Valves doth hint unto us, and the unfitness of this blood to nourish the solid substance or Parenclyma of the heart.

It hath two Coronary Arteries from the great one, at the same place, in its original, before it passes out of the Pericardium, furnished with a Valve which prohibits the regress of the Blood. Through these, because they are moved and Pulse, blood is carryed to nourish the heart and Ears, and here is made a pe∣culiar kind of Circulation, as Harvy teaches, out of the left Ventricle into the Arteries, out of them into the Coronary Veins, out of which it slides into the right Ventricle, being to be forced again through the Lungs into the left Ventricle.

Now some men perswade themselves, and especi∣ally Hogelandius, that the Blood which remains after Nutrition, doth not all pass back through the Veins, but that some particles thereof sweat through the Pa∣renchyma into the Ventricles, and cause Fermentation in the Generation of Arterial blood. But 1. The Fermentation, if there be any, may be made by the reliques contained in the Cavities. 2. The coronary Vessels, do not reach unto the Ventricles. 3. Tis hard when the body is in health, for the blood to sweat through so hard and compact a flesh, unless the blood be very wheyish, and the body of a thin Texture. 4. Why doth not the blood sweat through the Skin, which in some parts is very thin? 5. No particle re∣mains in the flesh, save what is ordained for the nou∣rishment thereof.

Nerves it hath likewise, obscure ones, from the sixt conjugation, inserted into three places: One being terminated into the heart it self: Another into its Ears; A third among its greater Vessels, to cause sense and not motion according to Piccolhomineus, be∣cause the Nerve being cut asunder the heart moves nevertheless. The heart hath not many Nerves, but a great Contexture of Fibres like to the Nerves, which Aristotle perhaps reckoning for Nerves, said the heart was the Original of the Nerves. But that may be Materially true, not formally. Yet I have seen in the heart of a Sow, the branches of the Nerves with intangled twigs towards the Cone or Point, carryed from the Septum to the Wall of the Belly.

Yet that is false which Fallopius tells us, that a great Squadron of Nerves is spread up and down the Basis of the heart, resembling a Net: For the mo∣tion of the heart, is no Animal motion, but a natural motion, because the heart is no Muscle: For the heart is moved without our will, and it beats in the Child in the Womb, before the Child hath received the Animal faculty. And Galen did rightly deny that the heart was a Muscle. 1. Because it hath all kind of Fibres. 2. Because a Muscle is the Instrument of voluntary motion. But if any one shall say the heart is a Muscle subservient to natural moti∣on, I shall oppose such an improper manner of spea∣king: And so that of Hippocrates may be true, that the heart is a muscle. For he defines a Muscle to be flesh made up into an Orbicular shape. Others con∣ceive that being long boyled it resembles a Muscle, and that then it is not one, but divers Muscles, by rea∣son of divers motions contracted into themselves. Others grant it to be a Muscle of a nature by it self, as the Midrifl, which is perpetually moved. Walaeus most rightly of all others calls it not a Muscle, but saies it is contracted in its motion like a Muscle, by Fibres interwoven in the flesh, and especially in the Ventri∣cles, like the temporal Muscle in such as chew their meat.

The Temperament of the heart in re∣spect of active Qualities is hot, yea the hottest of al the parts of the Body. How beit with a gentle and light-ful heat, not scorching and burning, if it be rightly disposed. And therefore tis no wonder, that in live dissections, somtimes we feel so little heat in the heart with our Finger, especi∣ally when our Skin is thick, we hold it but a little while, and the external Air is not rightly prepared before hand. It communicates the same heat to o∣ther parts, and renders ths Arterial blood fit to nou∣rish, which heat being asswaged in the Veins by rea∣son of the long jorney, it must of necessity run back again to the heart, that it may be refurnished and re∣stored with the same heat. But vain is the opinion of Averroes, that the heart is cold, because of the cold parts which it contains, viz. its Vessels and Valves: Unless haply he ment the heart void of Spirit, as ma∣ny will have it.

Those whose heart is hotter then or∣dinary have their Breast rough with hair, and the parts near their Hypochondria; and those men are angryly inclind, and daring.

Seldom is the heat of the heart so great, as that it self should thereby be∣come rough with hair, such as Pliny and Valerius Maximus tell us was found in Aristomenes a Micenian; and in Hermogenes•• a •…•…cian, Coelius Rodiginus relates: and Benevenius, Z•…•… Lusitanus and Murelus avouch that they saw such ••••••••ry heart in certain Famous Theives. Now such 〈…〉〈…〉 are audacious in the highest degree, extream 〈…〉〈…〉 crasty, and for the most part wicked. Riola•••••• ••••∣us, that the matter of these haires, is the thi•••• ••or things of that wheyish humor which is in the Heart∣bag. But I am more apt to beleive, that it is the plenty of Fuliginous Excrements springing from an hot heart.

As to the passive Quallities, the Heart is moist, viz. more moist then the Skin, but drier then the Muscles, because harder: for the parts of the bodie, look how much softer they are then the Skin, by so much are they moister then it. It is a most rare Case for a mans Heart to be so solid, dense and compact, as that it will not burn, such as was the Heart of Germanicus the son of Drusus; or cartilaginous, such as Riolanus observed in a wicked fellow.

The primary Use of the Heart.

1. According to Harvey, Baccius, and other of his followers, is no other then to be the Instrument of the Soul, to force and urge the venal blood received from the Ears into the Arteries, by whose assistance it dis∣penses Nutriment to the whole body, and is rather joyned as an Assistant to the Ears, that being of great∣er force, it may supply the defect of the Ears.

But this is a secondary use of the Heart. For 1. Nutri∣ment was to be prepar'd & filled with vital heat, which it has not else where save from the heart. 2. Nature might have provided for this passage of the blood, by some other member not so laboriously framed, 3. The necessity of the Heart would not be so great as it is. 4. It is a signe that some farther thing is performed i••

the Heart, in that venal blood does not nourish, before it enters the Heart.

Now the primary action of the Heart is to be.

II. The Fountain of Heat, whence it is spred into the whole body, whereby the parts are animated and sustained. Swowneing teaches so much and other de∣fects of the Heart, in which the heat of the Heart be∣ing intercepted, the Members of the Body begin to flag and being destitute of heat, become stupid. And therefore cordials do good in such cases, which stir up the languishing and nummed heat of the Heart. Also the Dissection of living Creatures does shew, that the Heart is hot, yea that the heart of a Creature being ta∣ken out and newly dead, a warm finger, or some other warm thing being laid upon it, is seen to come to its self again and to stir, which the Lord Bacon Constantine, Harvey, and others have observed in a Dove, an Eele, a Salmon, and a Man.

It is therefore the Fountain of Heat, both in respect of its Substance and of the Blood contained in it. I joyn both together. For the Heat springs not from the blood alone, as Harvey would have it, for the Heart in an Egg, and a Child in the Womb, before it is perfect and hollowed with ventricles, is hot and moves, and the same heat remains in Hearts taken out of the Body and cut up. The blood which flows thither from the Coronary Vessels, flowes thither for Nutritions sake and to preserve the Heat. Nor are the rest of the sanguine parts, therefore judged to be hotter then other parts because they more abound with any heat, but because they have Arteries full of arteri∣al blood, and depend upon the influence of the heart, wherewith the blood is heated. So that unless all the blood did pass through the heart, the parts would ne∣ver grow hot, and the further the blood goes from the heart, by so much the sloer in its motion, and the cold∣er it growes. That the coldness of the heart makes the parts of the Bodie cold, though full of blood, the slowness of the Pulse is a sign.

Nor do the Blood and Heart grow hot only from the motion of the Heart, as the followers of Des Cartes wil have it, for 1. they grant that the fiery atomes or indivisible particles of fire, are excited and put into action by motion, though they are only brought into play, but not produced by the said motion. 2. Many things are moved without waxeing hot, as water, unless they have an inbred principle of heat. 3. Before moti∣on there was heat proceeding from the seminary origi∣nal, which is afterwards preserved by continual motion.

III. Not so much to make as to perfect the Blood.

It makes Arterial Blood and perfects the venal, or that which is contained in the Veins. For they are out who attribute too much to the heart, as if the heart alone did make blood of the Chylus, they also are mistaken, who maintaine that the heart contributes nothing to blood-makeing. I goe in a middle way. The Liver challenges the first makeing of the blood of the Chylus, as I have former∣ly demonstrated, which because it is not there perfect∣ed, being to thick and unfit to nourish, it is necessary that it should receive its perfection from other parts. No part is fit for this work save the heart, which is one of the first parts generated in the Womb, and through which in a grown person all the blood in the body has its passage. That the Lungs and heart-ears should perform their Office, no man will beleive.

The heart perfects two sorts of Blood, that of the Liver and that of the Veins. That of the Liver is twofold, the •••••• of the Vena portae, the other a cruder sort newly •…•…f Chyle. The Vein blood i•• likewise twofold one of the descendent trunk of vena cava, and the o∣ther of the ascendent trunk of the said vein. It receivs the Liver blood through the Cava, to which another joyns it self out of the lower and upper Truuk, which remaining over and above after the parts are nourish∣ed, by its long journey is become pauled and sluggish, and has lost its heat, which is necessary for pulsation and nutrition.

This perfection which the Blood receivs from the heart, is hereby confirmed, in that the blood when it comes out of the left Ventricle, has not altogether the same Consistence nor Colour, which it had when it entred the right Ventricle. The diversity consists in Heat and plenty of Spirits, wherewith it is furnished when it goes out of the heart, and which it wants when it enters thereinto; and in Effect or Operation, for that which goes out is fit to nourish, but that which enters in is most unfit, Vital Spirits are added by the inbred faculty of the heart, and the sooty vapors are taken a∣way by that most short Concoction, being evacuated by the Lungs and Pericardium or heart-bag.

For what parts does the heart perfect and renew the blood.

The ancients did beleive that the Heart made blood only to nourish the Lungs. But the Vessels of the lungs are greater then is requisite only for their Nutri∣tion, and there is continually more blood forced thi∣ther by the pulsation of the right Ventricle, then could any waies be useful for the Lungs, unless they were to be nourished with as much blood as is sufficient for the whole Bodie. And that all is not consumed upon the substance of the Lungs, the blood which returnes is a witness, which runs in great plenty at every pulsation, to the left Ventricle, through the Arteria venosa, which in live anatomies being tied, is seen to swell betwixt the ligature and the Lungs. For there is no way for it to return into the right Ventricle, the passage be∣ing stopped by the close shutting of the mitre-fashion∣ned Valves.

The right Ventricle therefore is busied about blood which is to be sent to nourish the Lungs; the left doth perfect the blood which flows back from the Lungs, being there impraegnated with air, for the Nutrition of the whole Bodie. For the arterial blood alone is that which nourishes, because it is only fit for nutriti∣on, and it alone is forced through the Arteries into the utmost parts of the Bodie.

To perfect this blood many things concur. 1. Heat, which is very dull and lasie, as well in the crude blood of the Liver, as in the returning blood of the whole Body. 2. Vital Spirit which by the confession of all men, ought to be joyned therewith, 3. Light the companion of the Spirits, by which the blood receives a more Illustrious color, is moved and made fit for Nutrition. 4. A certain light and momentary Concoction, sweetning the crude: parts, attenuating the whole substance, and drawing forth the latent flame. 5. The whole Fabrick of the heart, internal and external, and the Vessels both re∣ceiving and expelling. 6. The separation of Excre∣ments, though the receptacles of the said Excrements are not very manifest. The sooty Vapors of the right Ventricle do evaporate through the Vena Arteriosa. The Watry Vapors of both the Ventricles, are congea∣led into the water of the Heart-bag, and are spent in∣to the substance of the Hairs under the Arms. The remaining Excrements continue mixed with the Blood, and are carryed into the Arteries, and the wheyish parts are purged by the emulgent Arteries into the

Kidneys, and by sweats into the habit of the Body, the thicker parts by the Hemorrhoidal Arteries and the Ramus Mesentericus. Some parts return with the blood through the Veins into the Heart, that by seve∣ral repeated courses, there, they may be at last maste∣red and overcome.

Whether or no is the Blood equally perfected in the right and left Ventricle?

Although the heat of both the Ventri∣cles doth seem to be equal, because in Mankind they are both made of spiritful seed, and as much is afforded to the right Ventricle by the Liver-blood, and the returning blood of the Veins, as to the left by the Lungs; moreover in Live Anatomies we can hardly perceive that the one is hotter then the other.

Yet that in the left the blood receives greater per∣fection, these signs and tokens do perswade me; be∣cause

• 1. It receives the Blood in some measure prepa∣red from the Lungs.
• 2. It ought to perfect it for the whole Body, where∣as the right perfects it only for the Lungs.
• 3. It hath thicker Walls, more compacted fleshy Pillars, wherewith the heat is both more easily pre∣served and reverberated, and the blood more strongly driven.
• 4. The blood is therein more frequently clottered by heat, and Cartilaginous and boney substances ap∣pear being dryed by heat.
• 5. When the left Ventricle is hurt, there is greater danger of death, then when the right is hurt.
• 6. Many Live-wights want the right Ventricle.
• 7. In dying persons it is sooner dead and void of motion then the right.
• 8. The Cavity thereof is more narrow, and there∣fore it doth more easily preserve and perfect that which is contained therein.

We cannot exactly define the place. It is the whole Cavity, endued with the virtue of the Parenchyma, because the blood fils the whole in the Diastole, and the inbred spirit, is every where diffused. Nor is there any token, of any stay which the whole blood makes in one place more then another, nor of any peculiar virtue of any particle.

The Time. It is perfected in a Moment, be∣cause

• 1. It is forthwith received and expelled, and makes no tarriance.
• 2. From its abidance there, the blood would not be perfected but become adust.
• 3. The flame on the Candle snuf, lights another Candle in the twinckling of an Eye.
• 4. The Arterial Blood doth continually run to the extremities of the Body, and therefore it ought to be continually and suddenly perfected in the Heart.

IV. A fourth use of the Heart is perpetually to move. 1. That it might preserve the Blood and all parts of the Body from putrefaction. 2. That it may help the heat and Elaboration of the Blood. 3. That it might kindle and stir up the vital Light. 4. That it might send fitting nourishment to all parts.

This motion of the Heart is termed PULSUS the PULSE, which is continual without ceasing, raised by the influent Blood, and the Pulsifick or Pulsative fa∣culty, there resident.

It consists of a Systole, Diastole •…•…∣systole. Which must be diligently •…•…ned by all their causes, according as Oc•…•… Inspecti∣on of living Bodies and reason shall Dictate.

Systole, being the proper and natural motion of the heart, is a contraction and drawing of the heart into a narrow compass, that the blood may by that means be forced out of the right Ventricle through the Vena Arterialis, into the Lungs, and out of the left Ven∣tricle through the Aorta into the whole Body.

Diastole, being an accidental motion, is the wid∣ning of the heart, that Blood may be drawn in through the Vena Cava into the right Ventricle, and through the Arteria venosa into the left,

Peri-systole is a certain rest and stop going between both motions, when the Blood is about to enter into or go out of the Ventricles, so smal in healthy persons that it cannot be discerned, being very manifest in such as are at the point of death, It is only one be∣tween the Systole and Diastole, or between the Dia∣stole and Systole. This is the natural state of the heart.

Besides these motions two others are Observed.

1. A certain Undation or waving towards one side according to the carriage of the right Ventricle, as if it did gently wreath it self, as we see in an horse when he is drinking; of which Harvey speaks. 2. A tremb∣ling motion of the Heart, when it is cut in sunder. The former depends upon the Situation of the right Ventricle: The latter is preternatural to the heart, not arising from other particles or smal Bodies, sent in by the Coronaria, which is then cut in sunder, but from the remainders of the vital Spirits.

We are taught by the testimony of our Eyes, that in every Diastole blood is plentifully received in, and in e∣very Systole plentyfully expelled, both into the Vena Arteriosa and the Aorta. This appears I say to our Eye-sight.

1. By Ligatures or bindings in live Anatomies. If the Cava and the Aorta with the Vessels of the Lungs shall be bound or pressed down with the Finger or any other Instrument on either side; we shall mani∣festly perceive that the part of the Cava which is inser∣ted into the Heart is made empty; that in the Diastole of the Ear, it is filled, and thereby the Heart; and that the other part of the Ascendent and Descendent Vein, on this side the Ligature, doth swel. In like manner, the Arteria Venosa being tied near the heart, by the Diastole of the left Ear, it is made void and empty on this side the Ligature where it looks to∣wards the heart, but towards the Lungs it arises and swels. The Arterial Vessels of the heart, do shew themselves in a contrary fashion: For the Vena Arte∣riosa being tied, it swels towards the heart, because it is filled by the Systole of the right Ventricle; the Arte∣ria Magna being bound, swels between the heart and the Ligature, being filled by the Systole of the left Ventricle.

2. Besides the Ligatures, we may gather as much from the vessels being opened or wounded. The Ve∣na Arteriosa and the Aorta Arteria being opned by a Lancet, at every Systole or Elevation and Contraction of the heart, it pours forth plenty of blood, as long as the heart continues strong, for when it languishes, it intermits some Pulses, before it voids any Blood. Now we observe no such thing, when the Cava or Arte∣ria Venosa, are opened between the heart and the Li∣gature.

3. The point of a living Heart being cut off, or the 〈…〉〈…〉 being cut asunder through the middle, in e∣••ery •…•…ction blood issues out, as long as the 〈…〉〈…〉 vigorous, which by the Information

[illustration]

[illustration]

The IV. TABLE.

The FIGURES Explained.

This TABLE doth in some measure express the Systole of the Heart in a Living-Creature, and the Circulation of the Blood.

FIG. I.

• AA. The Lungs drawn back.
• B. The Aorta Artery bound, and swelling towards the Heart.
• C. An Orifice made in the swoln part.
• D. The Vena Arteriosa tied, in like manner swelling towards the Heart, growing yellow where it looks towards the Lungs.
• ...ee. The Ears on both sides.
• FF. The Fore-side of the Heart, be∣ing in the Systole somwhat hard, and bent, and with its sides extended, its point being drawn back to the Basis or broad End.
• ...gg. The Coronary Vessels.

FIG. II. Shews the form of the Heart in its Diastole, and the motion of Humors in its vessels.

• aa. The Arteria Venosa without bin∣ding, being ful towards the Lungs, empty towards the Heart.
• b. The left Ear, which receives blood from the Arteria Venosa.
• C. The Vena Cava tied, empty towards the Heart, ful towards the Liver.
• d. The right Ear swoln or heaving.
• E. The hinder-side of the Heart, as it is in its Diastole, flagging.
• ...ff. The hinder part of the Lungs, which are bunching or Bossie.

FIG. III. and IV. Represents the Inside of the Earlets or little Ears of the heart. The third Figure Represents the left Earlet; The fourth, shews the Right

• aaa. 3. 4. The Plane Membrane of the Earlet.
• b. 3. The Orifice of Arteria venosa. 4. The Ori∣fice of Vena Cava.
• cccc. 3. The three-pointed Valves with seven Fibres, in 4. the same with five only.
• ...ddd. The larger fleshy Pillars.
• ...eeee. The lesser fleshy Pillars, Interwoven one within another with wonderful artifice.
• ...fff. Many-fold Cavities formed between the Pil∣lars.

page 102

of Harvey, I have often seen in the Dissections of Walaeus.

4. The swelling of the Heart and the Flagging thereof, being Palpable and visible to the external sense, do sufficiently demonstrate, when it is made strait in the Systole, that of necessity somwhat must be squeezed out as it were forcibly, and that when it is widened in the Diastole, it must needs be filled with humors.

5. The Ventricles in the Diastole appear greater, and in the Systole lesser.

6. From the largness of the Vessels of the Heart: the Vena Cava and Arteria Venosa, do open into the heart with wider mouths, then to suffer only a smal quantity of blood to enter. Also the Arterial vein and the Aorta are larger, then to send forth nothing, or only Spirits.

The Quantity of Blood which fills the Heart in the Diastole, and which goes out by the Systole at every pulsa∣•…•… not be exactly measured▪ be∣•…•…ies according to the different state of the

heart, and the temper of Animals, their Age, Sex, course of Diet and Life, &c. It is apparent to our Eyes in live Anatomies, that much is received and ex∣pelled. But it moves not in and out in so great quan∣tities in persons that are well in health, when the Heart is more quiet and hath the command of it self. The Antients supposed that a drop or two was e∣nough at a time, and that the blood did freely pass and repass the same way. But one drop of blood unaltered, is not able to fill the heart, nor doth pro∣voke it to pulsation, not to speak how the foresaid experiments do shew the plenty that passes to and fro. Now the Valves do hinder the free passage and repassage of the blood by the same waies, of which the three pointed ones or Tricuspides so called, do hinder the blood which enters the heart from passing back the same way, and the Mitre-shap'd Valves do hinder the blood which goes out of the heart from re∣turning the same way.

Later Physitians, are divided in their opinions. Some suppose that a drop or two is either so rarified as to fill the heart, amongst whom is Des Cartes; or is turned into spirit, as Riolanu's Primrose, Leichner and others suppose, who measure it by grains, whom we shall answer when we come to the Causes: Others being Patrons and favourers of the circular motion of the blood, as Harvey, Walaeus, Conringius, Slegelius, &c. do calculate the quantity, by ounces, drams and scru∣ples.

To clear up this Question, three things are to be considered, 1. How much blood is contained in the Diastole of the heart. 2. How much is expelled or driven out of the heart, in its Systole; whether all that enters the Heart in its Diastole, is squirted out in the next Systole. 3. How many pulsations the heart makes in one hour; or how often the heart re∣ceives somwhat by its Diastole, and expels somwhat by its Systole, in the space of an hour.

1. In the heart being in its Diastole, Harvey hath found above two ounces of blood. Also Plempius found near upon two ounces of blood, in the left Ventricle of the heart of a man that was hanged. Rio∣lanus will hardly allow half an ounce in the left Ven∣tricle of one that was hanged, and saies there was more blood in the right Ventricle. Hogeland also wil have half an ounce or a dram at least, to enter, at every opening of the Ear.

Now the quantity of all the blood contained in the body, doth seldom exceed twenty four pounds, or come short of fifteen.

2. In the Systole there is expelled either a fourth part, or a fist, or a sixt, or at least an eight, or all toge∣ther that is contained in the heart.

Harvey supposes half an ounce in a man, or three drams, or one dram, in a Sheep and a Dog he saies a scruple. And he proves the same by that suddain ef∣fusion of all the blood, if the very least Artery be cut, and because in the space of one half hour, all the blood may be passed through the heart, he certainly con∣cludes, that in every Systole of the heart, much blood is expelled. Conringius approves of his Computa∣tion. Walaeus admits of half an ounce, but he sup∣poses only one scruple, as doth Slegelius. Regius has many times observed half an ounce, somtimes two or three drams, in the heart of a Dog dissected. Hoge∣land contents himself with a dram. I being more sparing suppose half a scruple, in the smallest propor∣tion to the quantity which issues in such as •…•…ded. For there goes not out so much i•…•… free heart, ••s in one that is bound and forced; 〈…〉〈…〉 there so much expelled in the following Systole, as was drawn in by the Diastole, some part sticks in the hollow pits of the heart, much states in the Cavity formed by the production of the three pointed Valves and Distinct as it were from the Ventricle; finally, the heart cannot be so straitly contracted in the Sy∣stole, as to squeeze out every jot of the Blood therein contained. Therefore Conringius doth rightly suspect that abides there the space of one or two Pulses, till by little and little it raise it self, which I understand of the reliques and part of the Blood, not of the whole re∣ceived by the foregoing Diastole.

3. Primrose numbred in one hour 700 pulsations of the Heart. Riolanus 2000. Walaeus and Regius 3000, Harvey, 2000. in some 4000, 6000, 8000. Cardan 4000. Plempius 4450. Slegelius 4876. I have told upon mine own wrist about 4400, But the number varies accor∣ding to the Age, Temperament, Diet &c. of every person. So many Systoles therefore and so many Di∣astoles there will be in one hour, as long as the Heart is vigorous, for a languishing heart has more Diasto∣les then Systoles.

From these three Praemises I have calculated, how much blood may in an hour be squirted out of the Heart, by its sundry pulsations.

From 1 scruple 3000	times re∣peat∣ed, a∣rise.	10l. 5 ounces.
1 scruple 4000	13l. 10 oun. 5 dr. 1 scr.
1 scruple 4450	15l. 5 oun. 3 dr. 1 scr.
half a scruple 4400	7l. 7 oun. 5 drās, 1 scr
1 dram 2000	20 l. 10 ounces.
2 drams 2000	41 l. 8 ounces.
half an ounce 2000	83 l. 4 ounces.
1 ounce 2000	166 l. 8 ounces.

Now supposeing all the blood contained in a mans body to be fifteen pounds, if that be taken away which goeth into the Nutriment of the parts, the defect whereof is suplied by new blood bred in the Liver, it will follow,

• 1 That more blood passes through the Heart every hour, then can be afforded by the Concoction of the Liver and the Stomach.
• 2 That all the Blood in the Body passeth through the Heart, in the space of a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, or an hour, or an hour and an half, or two houres at the most. For I cannot agree to Riolanus his conceit, that the blood is circulated only once or twice in a day, because he builds upon a false supposi∣tion of drops, and that only half the blood is circula∣ted.
• 3 That the parts to be nourished do not need so much blood for their nourishment.
• 4 Because neither the Vessels are broken, nor the Arterial blood can run back again because of the valves nor is elsewhere dissipated, of necessity it runs back through the Veins into the Heart, and the Circulation is performed, of which I shall speak more in my book of Veins and Arteries.

What the form of the Heart is in its Systole and Diastole, is known by three tokens. 1 By the Anatomy of living Creatures 2 By the Comodi∣ty and Convenience of motion and Rest. 3. By the carriage of the fibres and the situation of the parts.

In the Systole

• 1 The Point of the Heart draws up to the basis or broad end, and it becomes broader be∣cause it is busied in expelling the blood, the length 〈…〉〈…〉 being changed, into breadth, because the basis •••••• broad ••nd is immoveable in respect of the point,

• which is tied to no Vessels. But according to the ob∣servation of Walaeus in those living Creatures, whose Aorta Arteria does not proceed from the Basis, the broad end or basis of the Hea••t withdraws it self from the Point. Riolanus will have the Pasis of the Heart alwaies to draw towards the Cone or Point thereof, because the said Cone is harder then to be drawn or bended backwards. But else where, he denies that the Basis being strongly fastened to the vessels, can be drawn towards the Point. And therefore other, whom he and Slegelius do follow, conceive that it is extended long-waies, that its walls being contracted, it may ex∣pel the Blood. But then the Orifices of the Vessels being drawn downwards in the lengthening of the Heart, would be shut, and a contrary motion would happen; besides that living Anatomies do shew, that the heart becomes shorter in its Systole. Nor can it appear longer but shorter, if either the point draws to the Basis or the Basis to the point. Both forms serve for expulsion of the blood, for whether you press a bladder ful of water longwaies or broadwaies, you will squeeze out the water as soon one way as another.
• 2. The inner walls are on each side, drawn up to themselves towards the Ribs, because they are con∣tracted and straitned, as we find by putting our Fin∣ger in: But the outer parts being swelled, seem to be made broader, by reason of the contraction of all the parts, blown up in the distension. It differs therefore from Galens Systole, which Leichnerus will have to be drawn likewise into it self, the Longitude of the Heart being changed into Latitude. For in∣deed and in truth the Diastole is, when the heart is made wider, either long-waies or broad-waies, to the intent that it may be filled, unless the inner parts be straitned.
• 3. The foreside of the heart is lift up towards the Breast-bone, especially obout the Basis. For the Broad end or Basis of the heart, smites the Breast where the Pulse is felt, because that part is raised, and nearest the Breast-bone; in the Systole the Heart is, vigorated and mettlesome, not in the Diastole, and then the Arteries are dilated and filled, whereas the heart is emptied in the Systole, and at the same time the Pulse is felt, in the Wrist and the Breast, at one and the same time. But the Pulse is most of all dis∣cerned, in the left side of the Breast, because there is the Orisice of the Arteria Aorta.
• 4. The whole heart becomes every where tight and hard.
• 5. It is more contracted and straiter then within, and less in bulke, which we judg by our sight and feeling.
• 6. It appears white, especially in the more imper∣fect sort of Animals, by reason of the voidance of blood in its Systole.

In the Perisystole, when the heart is loose and soft, before the Diastole follows, and the heart is in its pro∣perstate.

• 1. The point withdraws it self from the Basis, and the Basis from the point in some persons.
• 2. The lateral parts internal and external do extend themselves towards the Ribs.
• 3. The foreside falls in, the hinder part is de∣pressed, especially above at the Orifice of the Aorta, according to the accurate Observation of Walaeus.

The other Perisystole which goes before the Sy∣stole, is hardly by any notes discernable from the Dia∣stole▪

In the Diastole, which Backius tells us begins in the middle way to Dilatation, and ends in the middle way to contra∣ction,

• 1. The upper side is lifted up and swolne by blood flowing in on either hand by the Venal Vessels, the swelling proceeding by little & little to the point. But it doth not then smite the Breast, as Laurentius and Rosellus would have it, because the Arteries undergo the Systole, and the heart ceases from expulsion, for which cause it is not Vigorated.
• 2. It is more flagging and softer, because it suffers in its reception of blood.
• 3. The fides remain more lank and extended, and the Cavities remain wider, and therefore when a man puts his Finger into a living heart, he feels no constri∣ction.
• 4. It is red, because of the thinness of the walls, and the Blood received in, which is Transpa∣rent.
• 5. The Cone departing from the Basis in the Peri∣systole, renders the heart more long. that it may be more capacious to receive the blood. That it is drawn back towards the Cone, as many write, our Eye-sight will not allow us to believe, nor can it or ought it so to be. It cannot because the Fibres are relaxed and not bent; nor ought it, because it must be enlarged to receive, which you may in vain expect, the Ventri∣cles being straitned and revelled. Nor do I assent to Des Cartes and Regius men of most subtile wits, that in the Diastole the point draws near to the Basis, in the Systole it departs therefrom; for they confound the Perisystole or quiet posture of the heart, in which the heart is soft, loose and void of blood, before the Dia∣stole is performed, after the Systole is ended. More∣over, Walaeus believes, that those men were deceived, who in a wounded living heart, pretend to have seen blood expelled in the Diastole; because they took that to be the Dilatation, which was indeed and in truth the contraction. The blood which goes out of the wound, goes out in the Diastole, not driven by the Pulse, but because the way lies open downwards, it gently slides out, drop by drop.

The Efficient Cause of the motion of the heart, is either immediate or remote. The Immediate is twofold, the Blood and the Pulsifick faculty. Pulsifick or Pulsative faculty.

The Blood either remains in the same quantity as it flowed in, or it is changed in quantity by boiling, wor∣king and rarifying.

1. Pure blood and sincere, flowing in through the Vena Cava and Arteria Venosa, and remaining such, only becoming more perfect and vital, raises the heart into a Tumor like water in a Bladder or Skin∣bottle, which being for the greatest part distended, because the plenty of blood is burthensome, it raises its self to expel the same, by gathering together its Fibres; and this motion happens to the heart in this case, as the motions of other Members, viz, the sto∣mach, Guts, Bladder, Womb, which are extended by the reception of Chylus, Whey, Wine, Blood, &c. which being expelled they fall again; and like the Muscles, which are stretched being swoln with Ani∣mal Spirits. By this Blood the Heart is continually moved, as a Mill-wheele is by the perpetual falling down of the Water, which ceasing the Wheel stands still. There is plenty of blood enough to distend it, no•• so much furnished from the Liver, as from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and descendent branches of the Cava, run∣ning

back from the remotest Veinulets or smallest branches of the Veins, and it is continually forced along, with Celerity and Vehemency, according to the Demonstrations and Doctrine of Harvey and Wa∣laeus. I shall justifie what I now say with only one experiment: If the Vessels which bring into the heart be tied and so stopt, the Hearts motion ceases, and there remains nothing but a Wavering and a Palpita∣tion; but the Ligature being loosned, it recovers its motion.

Aristotle makes the Cause to be Blood which is not pure, nor in so great quantity as to be able of it self to distend the Heart, but boyling and working, which boyling of the blood many have followed, though explained after a different manner. Caesar Cremoninus makes the cause to be the resistency of the Heart, and the swelling thereof by reason of the Ebullition, which afterward falls, by reason of the inbred heavyness of the heart, as parts puft up with wind, do of their own accord settle when the wind is out, and the heaving of the Earth caused by repletion and blowing up of wind, settles again, by the peculiar heavyness of the Earth. Caspar Hofman flies to the inaequality of the boyling blood, which is like boyling water, part whereof ascends and part descends.

Others do interpret the matter with greater subtilty saying that the blood is changed into an Airie spirit. Primerose saies, that blood just as Milk, Honey, and very many things besides, doth exceeding swel and rise, so as to become nothing but a kind of Spirit or light Air. Leichnerus saith that of one grain of good blood a great quantity of Cordial Balsam is made: even as by one grain of Odoriferous Gum cast upon a Cole, an whole Chamber is filled with a delitious smel.

But many difficulties stand in the way of this Opi∣nion.

• 1. No boyling is of it self equal, but the Pulse is somtimes equal.
• 2. The Pulse should be greater according as the Boyling is greater. But the boyling of the blood is greatest in burning Fevers, by reason of the extremity of bubbling heat and the various nature of the Blood, yet is the Pulse in such cases very smal, and in Putrid Fevers it is evermore little in the beginning according to Galen.
• 3. In live Anatomies, if you wound the heart or the Arteries near the heart, pure blood leaps out abun∣dantly, not frothy, nor boyling, nor heaving, and it continues as it came forth. Nor can it in a moment of time, either boyl in the Heart or Leave boyling, if it did boyl. Yea and if in two Vessels you shall receive the veiny blood out of the Cava near the heart and the Arterial blood out of the Aorta near its orignal, you shall find no difference: neither at the first, nor afterwards. This Harvey, Walaeus, and as many as have made trial can witness with me.
• 4. It cannot all be turned into pure spirit by the heart, nor ought it so to be. Not the former, be∣cause there is not so much heat in a sound heart, nor can the blood taken out of the Arteries set over a great fire be all extenuated, as Conringius hath observed. Not the latter, because the parts for whose nourish∣ment it is ordained, are not meerly spiritual.
• 5. Plunging into cold water would asswage the boyling. But the Arm being hard bound till it swel and grow red again, and then thrust into most cold Water or Snow, when you unbind the same you shall perceive how much the Blood returning to the Heart doth cool the same, as Harvey hath taught us.

The most subtile Renatus des Crates and Cornelius Hogelandius, and Henricus Regius who tread in his foot∣steps, with equal commendation, do after another manner demonstrate the motion of the Heart to pro∣ceed from a Drop or two of blood rarified: when the Ventricles of the Heart are not distended with blood, of necessity two large drops do fall thereinto, one out of the Cava into the right Ventricle, another out of the venosa Arteria into the left, because those two Ves∣sels are alwaies full, and their Mouths towards the Heart are open, which drops because of their aptness to be dilated, and the heat of the Heart, and the re∣mainders of blood therein burning, presently they are set on fire and dilated by rarefaction, by which the Valves through which the drops entred are shut and the Heart is distended. But because of the straitness of the Ventricles, the blood rarifying more and more cannot there abide, therefore at the same moment of time, it opens in the right Ventricle the three Valves of the Vena Arteriosa which look from without in∣wards, and being agitated by heat, it breaks out through the said Vena Arteriosa, and by distending the same and al its branches and driving on the blood, makes them beat the Pulse: but in the left ventricle it opens the three valves of Arteria magna looking from without inwards, and through them breaks into the great Artery, which it widens, and drives the next blood warmed and ex•…•…led by the former pulsations, into the rest of the Arteries of the whole body, that they might be thereby distended. And so they con∣ceive the Diastole is caused. And they say the reason of the Systole is, because the blood being expelled out of the ventricles of the Heart, the Heart is in part evacuated, and the blood it self in the Arteries cooled, wherefore of necessity the heart and Arteries must flag and sink, whereupon way is again made for two drops more to enter, that so the Diastole may be re∣peated.

I dare not deny a light Rarefaction from a gentle heat, such as we observe in the opening of a Vein, and I grant that it may be somtimes praeternaturally aug∣mented; but that a few drops should be rarified into so great a bulk, as to cause the motion of the Heart, and that they should be cooled in the Arteries, many Arguments, besides those before those opposed to the Ebullition of the blood, do disswade.

• 1. Living Dissections, in which neither when the Heart, nor when the Arteries are wounded, does the blood come out drop by drop or rarified, but pure, such as the Ear had forced out.
• 2. The Heart being cut in pieces or pricked, is seen to pulse, without any rarefaction of blood, which is but imaginary.
• 3. In strong Dogs the point of the Heart being cut off, Walaeus observed, that when by reason of the Ef∣flux of Blood, it was not half full, it was nevertheless erected, but not filled by rarefaction: but when it was contracted, that portion of blood which remained in the Heart, was cast out to the distance of more then four Feet. It is in vain to call in the outward Cold∣ness of the Air as an assistant cause: for the blood in the Heart doth not grow cold in a moment, the heat thereof being yet Vigorous, as a boyling pot taken from the fire and uncovered doth not immediately cease to boyl but after some time.
• 4. Jacobus Back doth elegantly devince the same from the structure of the heart and its Vessels. For the Musculous flesh of the heart being firme and

• strong, is unapt to rise and fall by the bare Rarefacti∣on of the blood. A more vehement action is requisite to move this vast bulk. Also the Arteries of the heart should have had a greater Orifice, and the rarefied blood being to go forth would require a larger space, then then was necessary for its entrance.
• 5. A Confusion would arise in the motions of the Heart and valves, as he observes. The Diastole of both of them would be performed in the same time, and so the valves should be useless, both which is re∣pugnant to experience. Moreover the valves must, be both shut and open, in the Systole of the Arterie.
• 6. That it should be cooled in the Arteries, neither reason or occular inspection will permit. It is drawn hot out of the Arteries, differing little or nothing from that which is contained either in the Heart, or near it. In the small Arteries there is indeed no Pulse felt, but that is to be imputed to the smalness of the vessels and their distance from the Heart which forces the blood. Nor ought it because it enters into the Capillary Ves∣sels, that it may nourish the parts with hot Blood, not with such as is cooled and thickned, before it is chang∣ed into the secondary humors. And what use is there of rarefaction, if it presently settle again.

The Experiments and Reasons which learned men bring to the contrary, from an Eele and an hunting dog, from the contraction of the members by Cold from palpitations, from spirit of wine resembling the Pulse, from vehement protrusion &c. are easily an∣swered if you consider

• 1 That a certain motion is restored even in Hearts that are dead, by exciteing their heat as in Muscles.
• 2 The Fault is in the Vessels contracted by Colds not in the Blood. when they fall in and flag.
• 3 Palpitations arise from plenty of blood, as exam∣ples testifie, suppression of the Courses, and the cure by blood-letting.
• 4 In the Heart there is an even motion, different from that which raised by spirit of wine or any thing else.
• 5. The protrusion by pure blood is more vehe∣ment, if the faculty concur, and the Fibres of the Heart be united.
• 6. The Heart is in its Perisystole or very near it, when in the point cut off, no dilatation is observed, if it con∣tinue still in the Systole, the dilatation is not felt, till the Diastole follow.

The pulsifick Faculty implanted in the Heart, must needs be joyned with the blood as the cause of its motion, either that it may guide the influx and egress of blood, and assist the same, which would otherwise proceed disorderly, as I ex∣plain the matter; or that it might of it self produce the motion, according to the Opinion of the Ancients, which cannot be conserved, if the perpetual flux of the blood should be stopped. That the Heart stands in need of such a faculty I prove

• 1. Because the Pulse would be alwaies unequal, the influx being unequal, unless directed by some Facul∣ty.
• 2. When the Heart in Feavers is more vehemently moved then ordinary, through the urgency of heat, and in dying persons Nature being at the last pinch, and using all her might, yet is the motion of the heart weak, as appears by the Pulse, because the inbred Fa∣culty is either lost or weakned. Contrariwise, though the said Faculty be strong, and the influx of the blood cease or be hindred, after large bleedings, or by reason of Obstruction of the Vessels, either in the whole Ha∣bit of the Body, or the passages thereof, or near the Heart, the Motion of the Heart fails. And therefore both are to be joyned together as primary Causes.
• 3. Any Particles of the Heart being cut off, do pulse by reason of the reliques of this Faculty or Spirit re∣maining.
• 4. The Heart being taken out of the Body, or cut in pieces, lightly pricked with a pin, does presently pulse, as Walaeus hath observed.
• 5. It were contrary to the Majesty of the principal Part, to be moved by another whether it will or no, without any assistance from itself, and so to receive a violent Impression.

Regius hath substituted the influx of Animal Spirits into the fibres of the Heart instead of Animal Spirits, and Hogeland the little petite Atomes of the blood mo∣ved in the Parenchyma. But we must know in the first place 1. That the motion of the Heart is Natu∣ral which lasts perpetually, yea against our wills, and when we are asleep, and not Animal. 2. That we ex∣clude not the Spirits, which are the Souls Servants and Instruments. 3. The small Boddikies or indivisible Particles of the Blood, have all dropped out in dis••ected Hearts, because the Vena coronaria was cut asunder. And that if any reliques of the said Bodikies did remain, they could not be excited to motion, either by prick∣ing alone, or by raising heat, unless a Spirit or Faculty be allowed, which being extinguished, though the pie∣ces of the Heart be laid in never so hot a place, they will never pant.

Among the Remote Causes there is

1 The vital Spirit, as well that which is implanted in the Heart, as that which comes thither from with∣out, with beat sufficiently manifest in live dissections, and which warms the whole Bodie. And that either not shineing with light, as most will have it, or▪ shineing. That a lightfull heat of the Heart is requisite in this case, many things argue. 1 The motion of the Elements is simple, never cir∣cular, and light moves it self and the humors with a circular motion. 2 The Heart and the Blood are more quickly moved by light then otherwise they could be, which in the twinkleing of an eye, dazeles all things, illuminates all things. 3. There is in all particular parts besides the obscure principles of the Elements, also a lightfull part propagated from the seed, which ought to be preserved by a like flame, kindled from the Heart 4 In Hippocrates to dream of pure and brightly shining starrs, signifies Health of Bodie. 5 No Ho∣mor although hot, does pant and move it self, unless a burning flame, as we see in spirit of wine, a Candle, and other things. 6 In Glow-wormes their hinder∣part only pants and shines, where their Heart is, of whose light I have discoursed in my Second Book of the light of Animals Chap 11 and 12. That the vital spi∣rit is really endued with light, and that there is an in∣bred light in the Blood and Heart, which helps for∣ward the circular motion of the blood, I have demon∣strated in my said Treatise Lib. 7. Cap. 5. 23. H••••∣mont consents that the animated spirit, in the left Ven∣tricle of the Heart, inlightned by the former light, is the Mover of the Heart. After Caimus and other an∣cient Authors, Ent asserts the same thing touching the flame, raised out of the Seed in the first bladder of the Heart raised by the heat of the Hen which hatcheth, and first of all shineing forth, when the Lungs perform their office. yet he errs, that in the external widening he begs, in the Construction more inwardly he tends to the beginning: for in the Systole all that illuminats

is expelled, and then it is vigorated in a narrow heart, which is evident in optick tubes and hollow glasses. I ad that in the Diastole of the left Ventricle, it sets on fire and kindles by the Systole from the Lungs, the vi∣tal flame.

2. The Shape and Conformation of the Heart and Vessels being exceeding well fitted to receive and ex∣pell the blood. Especially the fibres of the Heart, and the fleshy columns. These make not so much for the Strength of the Heart alone, as for the motion. For all the fibres being contracted greater and lesser, in the walls and septum, which according to Harvey are cir∣cular, as in an artificial Net, or Purse squeezed, the contents are expelled. They are stretched in the Sy∣stole, and remitted in the Diastole. By help of the smaller fibres, wherewith the flesh is interwoven, a languishing constriction is made, but to a stronger, those greater fleshy ones concur contained in the Ventricles, which Walaeus often observed in live Bodies dissect∣ed.

3 The Pulse of the Heart, the Blood and the extream parts, the pulse is from the Heart, which ceasing, the motion also ceases. Now it begins from the vena ca∣va, and is continued from the Auricula dextra, by and by from the right ventricle into the Vena arteriosa, or if the point be cut off, externally from the Arteria venosa into the left Earelet, thence into the left Venricle, out of which the Pulse is felt by a manifest constriction to goe into the Aorta, in the Anatomy of living Crea∣tures.

They drive, because 1 The Blood is offensive by its Quantity. 2 They are moved being irritated by any external force. 3 Blood is continually suppeditated. For Blood thrusts and drives on Blood, so that even af∣ter the Heart has bin taken out of Bodies, Walaeus has seen a quick motion of the blood in the veins. Which nevertheless did not happen by any proper power, which the Blood has to move it self, but partly by the driveing of the external parts, which remitt or send back that which remains after nutrition as bur•…•…ensome and superfluous, partly by a spontaneous contraction of the Vessels filled with Blood, whose Arteries in living Bodies being bound towards the Heart, do swell; to∣wards the extream parts they are empty: But the Veins too near the smallest branches and the parts from which they bring back the Blood are puffed up, but are flat where they look towards the Heart, to which they drive the Blood; in a word, partly by the contraction of the muscles and their driving, in the fleshy and outward parts, as Harvey observes.

4 The Attraction of the Heart and Parts, least they be destitute of aliment profitable and sufficient for them, which we observe according to Nature in those parts that are nourished; but besides nature in wounds, Ulcers, Tumors, &c. And this may easily be done, because the blood dispersed in all places, is immediate∣ly fastened to the Heart and Parts which draw it, the Pulse of the cava and Arteries assisting the same.

Notes

• Why the Heart •••• in the middest of the Body.
• A vulgar Error that the Heart is in the left side.
• Why the point of the Heart enclines to the left side.
• Who have the greatest Hearts.
• Connexion.
• Why the Sub∣stance of the Heart is so thick.
• Its Coat.
• Whether Fat is found about the Heart?
• The Coronary Vein of the Heart.
• An Error of Fallopius.
• Whether the Heart be a Muscle?
• The Error of Averroes.
• An Hairy Breast what it signifies?
• An Hairy Heart what it signifie••?
• Whether the Heart doe perfect the Blood.
• What things are requisite to perfect the Blood?
• In which Ventricle the Blood is perfect∣ed.
• What the Pulse is.
• Its Parts.
• The Heart takes in Blood in the Diastole.
• The Quantity of blood in the Heart.
• The form of the Heart in the Systole.
• The shape of the Heart in the Diastole.
• The next Effi∣cient Cause of the motion of the Heart.
• Whether there be a pulsifick Faculty.
• Remote Causes of the motion of the Heart.