A systeme of anatomy, treating of the body of man, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and plants illustrated with many schemes, consisting of variety of elegant figures, drawn from the life, and engraven in seventy four folio copper-plates. And after every part of man's body hath been anatomically described, its diseases, cases, and cures are concisely exhibited. The first volume containing the parts of the lowest apartiments of the body of man and other animals, etc. / by Samuel Collins ...

CHAP. XX. Of the Stomach of Fish.

FIsh declare the wondrous Works of the All-wise Creator, in the great variety of Stomachs, which differ in Figure, Magnitude, and Sub∣stance, much more then the Ventricles of more perfect Animals.

The Stomach of a Whale is prodigiously large when extended, * 1.1 and some∣what resembleth an Estrich Egg in Figure; of a thin and Membranous sub∣stance, plain, as free from Folds, and adorned with many Arteries, Veins, and Nerves.

A Porpess is furnished with three Stomachs, * 1.2 and are distinguished from each other, as parted by small Orifices: The first Ventricle is the largest, covered within with a white Coat, full of Folds, and in Figure is like a Pouch, ending in an obtuse Cone; and near the top dischargeth it self by a straight passage into the second Stomach, which is of smaller Dimensions then the former; and its Surface is hued with Red, and adorned with smal∣ler, and more regular Plicatures, accompanied with Protuberances, and Exonerates it self near the bottom by a long Neck, into the third Ventricle, being as it were an Appendage of the former, whose Termination is turned a little upward, and afterward conjoyned to the Intestines.

The body of the Stomach of a Dory is large, * 1.3 and of an Orbicular Fi∣gure † 1.4, and endeth in an Arch, where it is conjoyned to the Intestines; and the Ventricle being opened with a Knife, I found it full of half digested Fish, their outside being melted into an Ash-coloured Mucous Matter, of a fishy taste and smell.

The Ventricle of a Cod, is much akin to the Gulet, only somewhat big∣ger in Dimensions. The first Coat is very thin and Membranous, and more reddish then that of the Oesophagus. The second is more thick and Glandulous (being a composition of many small Glands, finely conjoyned by the mediation of thin Membranes) especially near the bottom, and Ter∣mination of the Stomach: The inward Coat of the Stomach, was thicker then the outward, and of a white Nervous substance, full of Minute Per∣forations, through which a Fermentative Liquor was transmitted from the Glands, into the Cavity of the Stomach.

The Ventricle of a Kingston, * 1.5 is somewhat larger in its Origen then the Gulet, and is of one uniform bigness for some space, and afterward grow∣eth more enlarged toward the bottom, and then wheeleth in an Arch † 1.6, and ascendeth along the right side, and is conjoyned to the beginning of the Intestines. * 1.7

The Stomach of a Fireflair, or Sting-Ray, representeth an Arch † 1.8 in Fi∣gure, and its left Orifice is large, and full of Wrinkles in its outward Sur∣face, adorned with white: The right Orifice is much less then the other, being encircled with a Sphincter, rendring the Pylorus very narrow, to hin∣der the regress of Faeces into the Stomach.

The Ventricle of a Skait, * 1.9 consisteth of four Coats: The first is thin and Membranous, and enameled with divers Blood Vessels, and framed of many Filaments, running in several Postures, and curiously interwoven. The

second is thicker then the former, being reddish and fleshy, as dressed with Carnous Fibres: The third is the most substantial of all the coverings, and is a System of numerous Glands: The fourth is a thin, white, tender Coat, pierced with divers Holes.

The Cavity of this Skait being opened, I found the outside of a Plaice Colliquated, and turned into an Ash-coloured Mucous Matter, and some part of this Fish I discerned in the Gulet, which was the Tail, quite dis∣solved to the Bones of the Spine, but the greatest part was contained in the Stomach, whose outside was only melted into a clammy Matter, (and the more inward Recesses remained unconcocted;) which being tasted, seemeth much affected with saline Armoniack Particles: The Stomach endeth in a more thick Glandulous substance, near the Pylorus, which is almost closed up with a Sphincter.

The Stomach of a Base is made of a Body, and two Processes, or Necks, * 1.10 appendant to it: The first is the Gulet † 1.11, being conjoyned to the lower Region, appertaining to the body of the Ventricle. The second Appen∣dage † 1.12 sprouteth out of the upper part of the Stomach, and is conjoyned by the Pylorus (guarded with a Circular Valve) to the origen of the In∣testines; the body of the Ventricle is largest above, and groweth narrower and narrower towards its bottom, which terminates in a point.

The Stomach of a Dog-Fish † 1.13, called by the Latines, Galaeus Levis, * 1.14 is much broader and greater then the Gulet, and hath largest Dimensions in the middle, and is more and more Contracted toward the bottom.

The Ventricle of this Fish, is composed of four Coats: The first is Mem∣branous, and hath its surface shaded with many divarications of Gastrick Vessels, which take their rise from the left side, and lower Region of the Stomach, and do coalesce into a common Duct, passing along the right side of the Stomach, and is at last implanted into the Trunk of the Vena Porta, which entreth into a Fissure, seated in the Concave part of the Liver.

The second Coat of the Stomach is fleshy too, denominated, by reason it is furnished with many Annular Carnous Fibres, which passing cross-ways, do encircle the Stomach.

The third Coat is of a Glandulous substance, as it is framed of many Mi∣nute Glands.

The fourth is Nervous, as framed of divers Filaments, ordered in several Rows, which make their progress after different manners.

The Stomach of a Bream, hath an entrance seated on the right side, * 1.15 and passing in a wheeling posture, maketh an Arch † 1.16, and then taketh a right course, till it meeteth with the first Intestine, where it formeth a Circumvo∣lution, and afterward on the left side, till it arriveth near the top of the Stomach, and then maketh another Circumvolution, and passeth between the Stomach and the Intestines.

The Pope, and Perch, have a Gulet seated in the left side, * 1.17 which is after∣ward inserted into the body of the Stomach, of a large beginning, and end∣eth in a Cone; † 1.18 and about the middle of the right side of the body of the Stomach, a Process sprouteth out, climbing up, and uniting to the origen of the Guts.

A Smelt also hath a Gulet, placed in the left side, * 1.19 and a Process coming out of the right side of the Ventricle (making an Arch with the body of the Stomach) and is at last, by the mediation of its Pylorus, † 1.20 conjoyned to the beginning of the Intestines.

A Gudgeon hath a Ventricle, * 1.21 large above, and groweth smaller and smal∣ler towards its Termination † 1.22, where it is in conjunction with the Guts.

The Stomach of a Rochet is furnished with a Neck, * 1.23 or Gulet, which is seated in the left side † 1.24, and hath a large Mouth, or entrance into it, which is full of Folds, running down its side in length; the Ventricle hath a Pro∣cess also placed in the right side † 1.25, coming out of the Body of it: And these two Appendages make the Stomach forked, as being divided as it were into two Branches, the one being as an inlet of Aliment into the greater Cavity, and the other an outlet of Faeces, and Chyle. The body of the Stomach is largest above, and terminates into an obtuse Cone.

The Stomach of a Tench, hath larger Dimensions in its top † 1.26, and hath much less towards its bottom, which hath somewhat of a Cone † 1.27, and in the whole, much resembleth a Pooch.

The Stomach of a Grey and Red Mullet, Gurnet, and Whiting † 1.28, do much resemble that of a Rochet, as having a Gulet seated in the left side, and inserted into the upper part of the Stomach; and in reference to the Process, it ariseth out of the middle of the right side of the body of the Stomach, and afterward climbeth up, and is conjoyned to the origen of the Intestines.

The Stomach of a Turbat, * 1.29 hath a large entrance (full of folds) seated most in the right side of the Throat, from whence it runneth down the same side of the Fish in form of a Semicircle † 1.30; of which some part passeth Transversly toward the left side, which it partly encompasseth, and immu∣reth within a great portion of the Intestines, making a Circle, in whose Circumference is contained a part of the Liver, divided by many small Fissures.

The Stomach of a Plaice, * 1.31 hath a Neck of less Dimensions then the Body of it, † 1.32 which being carried round, maketh almost a perfect Circle, within whose Circumference is contained the Liver, being one entire body without any Division, or Lobes.

The Stomachs of a Prill, * 1.33 Soal, Flounder, and most flat Fish, are of a Semicircular Figure † 1.34, and do enclose the Liver within their Circumfe∣rence.

The Stomach of a Garfish, * 1.35 is only as it were the upper part of the Inte∣stine, † 1.36 or Origen of it, having no Plicatures, as are found in other Fish; the Ventricle in this Fish hath the same structure with the Gut, and is only a little larger, and is not parted from the Intestine by any straightness of the Pylorus, but there is a free passage out of the Stomach into the Gut.

A Lobster hath a large Stomach, * 1.37 considering the smallness of its Body endued with a strong thick Membrane, and hath three Teeth lodged within its Cavity; which are moved with two pair of Muscles for the Comminu∣tion of Aliment, in order to Concoction: And as Doctor Willis hath ob∣served, two soft glandulous bodies are affixed to the sides of the Stomach out of which Holes do come, by which Liquor may be transmitted into, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 received from the Cavity of the Ventricle.

The Stomach of a Viper, is lodged near some part of the Lungs, and afterward creepeth out, and taketh its progress in the left side of the Liver; and afterward passeth much farther, being six Inches in length, and endeth in a point where it is endued with a Sphincter Muscle, contracting the Py∣lorus, to keep the Aliment from being transmitted into the Guts, before it is duly Concocted.

Almost the whole lower Apartiment in a Silk-Worm, is filled with a large Stomach, which extendeth it self from the Mouth, almost to the Anus; the substance of it is Membranous, as being composed of a double Coat, the one outward, and the other inward (as Learned Malpigius giveth an ac∣count) under which many white fleshy Fibres do exspatiate, consisting of two Ranks; some pass in a straight Course, from the Mouth toward the Anus, and others cross the Stomach, whereupon it is straightned by the strong contractions of these Fibres, which render the Ventricle full of Globules; these various Fibres, encircling the fore and hinder Region of the Sto∣mach, do serve instead of Ligaments seated in the Colon.

The Stomach of this Insect, is long and flattish, somewhat resembling a Wallet, and is furnished with six Semicircular Protuberancies (produced by the various contractions of Fibres) which are refreshed with so many Bran∣ches of Wind Vessels, transmitting Air into the Cavity of the Stomach, which mixing with the Aliment, do open its Compage by its Elastick Par∣ticles, and much assist Concoction.

In other Insects, may be discovered more, and more distinct Ventricles, as Aristotle hath observed three in a Snail: The first may be called a Crop, as being of an Orbicular Figure; the second is much longer, then the former; and the third is small, and terminates into a Gut.

In a Locust, may be discerned two eminent Ventricles: The first is ador∣ned with a round Figure, and is attended with many Processes: The second is very large, and may be subdivided into five small Venters.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Stomach of a Whale is very large.
• * 1.2

  A Porpess hath three Stomachs.
• * 1.3

  The Stomach of a Dory, is of an Orbicu∣lar Figure.
• † 1.4

  Tab. 26. d d.
• * 1.5

  The Vintricle of a Kingston.
• † 1.6

  Tab 27. f f
• * 1.7

  The S••omach of a Sting-Ray.
• † 1.8

  Tab. 28. l l l.
• * 1.9

  The Ventri∣cle of a Skait hath four Coats.
• * 1.10

  The Stomach of a Base.
• † 1.11

  Tab. 31. e.
• † 1.12

  Tab. 31. h.
• † 1.13

  Tab. 32. m.
• * 1.14

  The Stomach of a Dog-fish,
• * 1.15

  The Stomach of a Bream.
• † 1.16

  Tab. 34. g.
• * 1.17

  The Stomach of a Pope, and Pearch.
• † 1.18

  Tab. 35.
• * 1.19

  The Stomach of a Smelt.
• † 1.20

  Ta. 35. Fi. 3.
• * 1.21

  The Stomach of a Gudgeon.
• † 1.22

  Ta. 35. Fi 4.
• * 1.23

  The Stomach of a Rochet.
• † 1.24

  Ta. 36. Fi. 1. b b.
• † 1.25

  Ta. 36. Fi. 1. e e.
• † 1.26

  T. 36. F. 2. f f.
• † 1.27

  T. 36. F. 2. g.
• † 1.28

  Tab. 37.
• * 1.29

  The Stomach of a Turbat.
• † 1.30

  T. 37. c c c c.
• * 1.31

  The Stomach 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Plaice.
• † 1.32

  T. 37. F. 5. b b.
• * 1.33

  The Stomach of a Prill.
• † 1.34

  T. 37. F. 4. e e.
• * 1.35

  The Stomach of a Garfish.
• † 1.36

  Tab. 38.
• * 1.37

  The Stomach of a Lobster.