things that would go into the Eare, and is termed Hircus the Goat, because Hairs grow thereon.
The Parts whereof the external Ear is composed, are either common, as the Skarf-Skin, the Skin, a Nervous Membrane, Flesh, and a little Fat in the Lobe: Or Proper, as Muscles, Vessels, and a Gri∣stle.
The Skin is exceeding thin, cleaving to a little Flesh with a firm Gristle; and as in the Palms of the Hands a Nervous Mem∣brane is firmly fasten'd thereto; by the sense whereof it happens that cold water sprinkled on the Lap or Lobe of the Ear doth cool the whole Body. In the Lobe it is so mingled with Flesh, that it becomes thereby fattish, fleshy and spungy: Hence the Lobe is soft and flexible, so that it may be bored with no great trouble, and therefore some hang Jewels and Ear-rings thereon.
As to Vessels: it hath Veins from the Jugulars.
Arteries from the Carotides.
Little Nerves, two from behind, and two from the sides, arising from the second pair termed Cervi∣cale.
Muscles rightly conspicuous in such as move their Ears, are common or proper. which it was my luck once to see, and such Justinian must have had, whose Ears could move as Procopius describes him. But in most people the Ears are unmoveable, both be∣cause of the smalness of the Muscles, and because there was little need of their mo∣tion, because a Man can do that with his Hands which Beasts do with their Ears, wherewith they drive away flies.
The first Muscle is common to the Ear and each Lip; and it is a part of the first Muscle which moves the Cheeks, and the Skin of the Face, and it is termed Quadratus, the square Muscle, sufficiently thin and broad. It is implanted into the Root of the Ear under the Lobe, that it may draw the Ear to one side downwards.
The second is proper and seated more foreward, leaning upon the temporal Muscle, from the end of the Muscle of the Forehead (from which it differs by the carriage of the Fibres) arising somtimes with a round, otherwhiles with a corner'd beginning, and being Tendinous, it is implanted into the upper part of the Ear, where it is narrower, that it may move the Ear upwards and forewards.
The third and hinder more arises a∣bove the Processus mammillaris, from the hind-part of the Head and its Muscle, with a narrow beginning; af∣terward growing broader and divided as it were into three parts, it goes hindlongs to the Ear, that it may draw it, somwhat backwards and upwards.
The fourth arising from the Processus mammillaris, being broad, grows nar∣rower by little and little, till at last it ends in a Tendon. This Muscle is ra∣ther threefold, because it hath three Insertions, yet all spring confused from one place. Some of these are somtimes wanting, otherwhiles they are all found; somtimes there are more, nature variously sporting her self in the Muscles of the Ear.
The Ears Gristle, is a substance tied to the Os petrosum, by a strong Ligament springing from the Peri∣cranium.
Certain Kernels there are out∣wardly about the Ears, thick and large, which are termed Parotides, though this word do also signifie the swellings of the said Kernels.
They are not only behind the Ears, as is commonly imagined, but on both sides and under the Ear, but not above.
These Kernels by the Ears are called the Emunctories of the Brain, because they receive the Excrements thereof.
There are also many other Kernels in the whole space which is under the lower Jaw, in which many Diseases are bred, and swellings called Scophulae in some Creatures, as wild Swine. The common people count these Kernels a dainty dish and cal them Sweet∣breads.
Their Use is, to moisten the parts, and to assist in the divisions of the Vessels.
The Use of the External Ear is,
I. For Ornament, and therefore the English, Dutch and other Nations punish Male-factors by cutting of their Ears.
II. To saveguard the Brain, that it may not be hurt by the Air suddenly rushing in.
III. To be the Organ of Hearing, not principal, but assistant. The true Organ lies within, as doth that of the swelling. And as the Nose being cut off a Man can smel though imperfectly; so if the Ears be quite cut off close to a Mans Head, he can Hear, but dully, confusedly, with a m••••mering noise, so that Articulate words will seem as the noise of Water∣streams, or the screekings of Grass-hoppers, as they know who have lost their Ears. Yea, and the Hear∣ing of that Ear which is not cut off, is dammaged, un∣less the cut Ear be stopped.
The Use therefore of the External Ear, is more rea∣dily and rightly to receive sounds; and to gather them when they are scattered in the Air into the Cavity of the Ear, that they may come unto the Drum without violence, being first moderated and allayed in the hol∣low and winding passages. Hence, least sounds which are diven towards the Ears, should slip beside, Beasts turn their Ears this way and that way to sounds. Hence also the Emperor Hadrianus; that he might heat more distinctly, would hold the hollow of his Hand before his Ears, which also deaf persons fre∣quently practise. Hence some Scythians, whose ear∣lets ar mortified and rottted of with cold, doth apply a Fish-shell to their Ears, that the Air being detained in the Cavity thereof, may be more easily received, that so they may hear the better. Hence, they hear most exactly, whose Ears stick furthest out from their Heads, and if our Ears were not too much pressed down, what by long lying upon them. what by the binding of Nurses, we should hear better then we do.
The Internal Ear hath also sundry parts contained in the Os petrosum, and besides the parts and little cavernes of the Bones, there are: The Drum, two Muscles, the Vessels and in∣bred Air.
In the auditory passage cloathed with Skin, through which sounds are carryed, is found a Cholerick clam∣my humor, which the Ancients cal'd Cerumen. Ear∣wax, being purged from the Brain▪ but Intrinsically it is obliquely placed before this hole or passage of Hearing.