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. I. Of the Spleen.

I Have spoken of the several parts (in which the Chyle, * 1.1 the Materia Substrata of Blood is prepared, and perfectly Concocted) and first of the Mouth, in which, as a Room of entertainment, we treat our selves with variety of Meat and Drink, which being broken into small Particles (impraegnated with Nitro-aereal Atomes, and Salival Liquor, destilling out of the Oral Glands) are convey∣ed through the Gulet as a Gallery, into the Kitchin of the Stomach, where the prepared Aliment is farther Cooked by the natural heat, and Serous and Nervous Ferments, ousing out of the Terminations of Arte∣ries and Nerves, implanted into the glandulous Coat of the Ventricle, and thence transmitted through secret passages into its Cavity, wherein the said Ferments embody with the broken Aliment (consisting of diffe∣rent principles) preinspired with Elastick and Volatil Airy Particles, and intenerated with Salival Liquor; whereupon a Fermentation ariseth in the Stomach, making in some manner a dissolution of the Compage of Meat, (by Colliquation) out of which a Milky Tincture is extracted in the Ven∣tricle, and transmitted into the Guts, wherein it associateth with new Fer∣ments of Pancreatick and Bilious Liquor, giving a farther Concoction to the Chyle, (as rendring it more attenuated and white) which is afterward di∣spensed through the Mesenterick Lacteal Vessels, into the common Recep∣tacle, and from thence through the Thoracick Ducts, into the Subclavian Veins; where the Chyle confederates with the Blood, into which it is assi∣milated by degrees, and is imported by the Vena Cava, into the right Cham∣ber of the Heart, by whose contraction made by Carnous Fibres, the Vital Liquor is coveyed through the Lungs by the Pulmonary Arteries and Veins, into the left Cistern of the Heart, and there some streams of Blood are im∣pelled through the common and descendent Trunk of the Aorta, and Cae∣liack Artery (a Branch of it) into the Spleen; which is my Province at this time. So that having discoursed of the several parts, * 1.2 in which the Chyle is generated, and dispensed by many Vessels into the Blood, and by various Intestine and Local Motions, is assimilated into it. My Task is now to give you an account, how the Purple Liquor, the perfection of Chyle, is perco∣lated and refined in the Spleen: And to that intent as ambulatory to it, I will handle its Membranes, Situation, Connexion, Colour, Figure, Mag∣nitude,

Vessels, Substance, Glands, and their Uses, to which I will add at last its Pathology and its Cures.

The Spleen is lodged in the Left Side, * 1.3 not directly opposite to the Liver, as being placed somewhat lower, and farther distant from the Diaphragme, in the middle between the Vertebres and the Cartilages of the Bastard Ribs, (according to Vesalius) upon which the Spleen leaneth, and is guarded with the Ribs; it hath a Cavity in its Head, (bending toward the Right Side) which giveth a reception to the Protuberance of the adjacent part of the Stomach, when it is extended: This part of the Spleen is more hollow in Bullocks, Hogs, and Dogs, then in Men, and in those Animals, the Ca∣vity of it embraceth the Convex Surface of the Stomach, the third part of a Circle.

In its upper and Convex Region, * 1.4 it is loosely tied to the Midriff, and in its lower part to the left Kidney, by the mediation of thin Membraneous Fibrils, derived from the Rim of the Belly, and the Spleen; in its hollow∣ish part, it is fastned to the Caul, and Neighbouring parts, and in a healthy Body, it doth not descend below the lowest Rib: But in an ill Constitution, the Ligaments being relaxed, or broken, (by which it is affixed 〈…〉〈…〉 Mi∣driff, Left Kidney, and Caul.) The Spleen hath been observed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cabro∣lius, to fall down into the Cavity of the belly; and by Riolan, to re•••••• upon the Womb, in a Woman of Paris.

The Spleen of a Foetus, * 1.5 is hued with a bright Red, resembling in Colour that of the Liver, but in young Men it is of a more deep Red, and Per∣sons of Elder Years, inclineth to a blackish, or deep Purple; which is more black in some Bruits, and is more light in Hogs, and Ash-coloured in di∣vers Fish.

The Spleen is thicker in its top, * 1.6 and more thin toward its bottom, ending in a kind of obtuse Cone, and is called by some Anatomists, Viscus Linguo∣sum, from resembling a Tongue in Figure, which is more eminent in the Spleen of Bruits; it hath a Convex Surface without, toward the Left Side and Midriff, and a flattish in the lower Region, and is hollow toward the Right Side, to give admission to the Protuberance of the neighbouring parts of the Stomach into its Bosome; and is endued with a white Line (run∣ning the whole length, and with some Asperities) where it giveth recep∣tion to the Veins and Arteries: And in some Men, having ill habits of Body, their Spleen is sometime Round, Triangular, and other times Quadrangu∣lar, and very much pointed, and divided into many Lobes. And Bartholine giveth an account of a Spleen, which resembles the Globules of a Bullocks Kidney; which I conceive were its Tumified Glands.

The bigness of the Spleen is various in different Bodies and Constitutions, * 1.7 and is commonly six Transverse Figures in length, three in breadth, and a Thumb in depth, and in ill Constitutions, hath an extravagant greatness, extending it self into the Cavity of the Abdomen (so that it may be discern∣ed by an outward Touch) which is more frequent in Fenny Countries, where the People drink corrupt stagnant Waters. Lindanus giveth an ac∣count of the Frieslanders, to have great Spleens, which he attributeth to the drinking of a great quantity of soure Butter-Milk; which I conceive, may render the serous parts of the Blood, and Succus Nutricius gross, and some∣what concreted and stagnant, in the Parenchyma of the Spleen, whereupon it may obtain a greater bulk then ordinary.

This noble part is accommodated with various kinds of Vessels, Arteries, Veins, Nerves, Lymphaeducts, whereupon it may be stiled a Systeme, made

up of numerous Vessels, accompanied with many Minute Glands, and Mem∣branous Cells.

It hath two Arteries, the one entreth into the upper, * 1.8 and the other the lower Region of the Spleen, according to Diemerbroeck, and according to Malpighius, in four Branches, which do most commonly sprout out of the Branch of the left Caeliack, (having the appellative of the Splenick Artery) and sometime from a Branch immediately arising out of the Trunk of the Aorta, and making an oblique progress near the side of the Pancreas, is after∣ward admitted into the Spleen, and propagates fruitful Divarications; wherein the Blood being impelled into the Interstices of the Vessels, * 1.9 and not having a free recourse into the Extreamities of the Veins, a great Pulsation ariseth, giving a high discomposure to the Patient; of which Tulpius maketh mention, Lib. 2. Obser. 28. and was so great and wonderful, that it was heard Thirty Foot by the Standers by.

An eminent Vein ariseth out of the Spleen, * 1.10 which is commonly stiled the Splenick Branch, whence are propagated numerous Ramulets into its Sub∣stance, which uniting themselves do form three, or more, greater Branches, and creeping out of the ambient parts of the Spleen, do associate in one com∣mon Splenick Branch, and passing crossways under the Stomach above the upper surface of the Caul, and then arriveth the Vena Porta, into which it dischargeth its Vital Liquor, which is afterward dispersed into the Liver.

The Nerves of the Spleen, are lodged in the Left Side, * 1.11 proceeding from the Intercostal Trunk, and Par Vagum, and are the second rowl of Ner∣vous Fibres of the left Mesenterick Branch, (accompanying the Arteries in great Divarications) which being imparted to the Spleen, do furnish it with innumerable Minute Branches, far exceeding all other Vessels in num∣ber: So that the Spleen may be truly called a Compage, * 1.12 integrated for the most part of branches of Nerves and Fibres, making numerous Divaricati∣ons through the whole frame of the Spleen, whose fruitful Extreamities are inserted into all parts of its substance, therein dispersing Nervous Li∣quor into the spaces of the Vessels, which afterward embodieth with the Blood, very much heightned with this choice Juice. * 1.13

This part is furnished with numerous Fibres, which some have mistaken for Veins, as if they were the off-spring of the Splenick Branch: But in truth, as Learned Highmore hath well observed, are fine Filaments, or ra∣ther Fibres, which are Systemes of many thin Threads (by no means ta∣king their rise from the Splenick Artery, or Vein) variously complicated with each other, after the manner of Network, and are firmly tied to the inward surface of the Tunicle, immediately investing the Spleen, from whence they seem to borrow their Origination; and about these Fibres, the Parenchyma of the Spleen seemeth to be Circumvolved, and interspersed every where with many Holes, which resemble the empty Spaces, inter∣ceding the mashes of a Net, * 1.14 not unlike the Cavities seated in Pumice-Stones, or Sponges: And these innumerable Fibres, sporting themselves through the body of the Spleen, have some great use, seeing they are a very considerable part of the Spleen, and as I conceive, are Nervous Fibres, pro∣ceeding from the Mesenterick Abdominal Plex: These Fibres spring from the interior Membrane investing the Spleen, and are propagated crossways from the upper to the lower Region, and are implanted into its Tunicle, both above and below, after they have made many Inosculations with each other, and in their progress through the inward substance of the Spleen, do touch upon the Casula, or common Coat of the Vessels, and do not observe

one direct Course, but make many Maeanders and Arches, often parting and meeting again in manner of Network, and many of them are at last inserted into the inward Tunicle of the Spleen

These Fibres are composed of many Filaments, * 1.15 curiously set together, (with thin Membranous Ligaments) passing the length of the Fibres, whose Filaments being parted, we may take an elegant prospect of the Productions, Inosculations of the Minute Capillary Branches of the Fibrils, and how they are propagated through the inward Recesses of the Spleen, and termi∣nate into its inward Membrane, whereupon we may be drawn into belief, upon easie terms, that these numerous Fibres are the off-spring of the proper Coat of the Spleen, and the Capsula of the Vessels; that the many small Capillary Arteries, Veins, Nerves, and Lymphaeducts, and the tender stru∣cture of the Spleen may be preserved from ill accidents, and the danger of Laceration.

And it may be farther inquired into the nature of these Fibres, * 1.16 (by reason they have been taken for Blood Vessels) whether they are endued with any manifest Cavities? To which the Reply may be made in the Negative, As they have many thin Filaments, so closely adapted to each other by fine Membranes, that no evident hollowness may be discerned, and in this capa∣city, they have a likeness with Nerves, which are compages made of many fine Threads, destitute of all visible Cavity: And great search hath been made, Whether these Fibres sprouting out of the inward Coat of the Spleen, do end into some determinate part, in the manner of other Excretory Ves∣sels; but upon a diligent inspection into the progress of the Fibres, (which seem to be the propagation of Nerves, as having the same frame) they may be traced from the upper to the lower inward Tunicle, investing the Spleen, * 1.17 and some of them into the Caul, and others only into the Capsula, or the common Integument of the Vessels, and into the substance of the Glands, relating to the Spleen; whereupon it may be thought reasonable, that some choice Liquor, impraegnated with Animal Spirits, and propagated from the Nerves, may be transmitted between the Filaments of these Fibres, into the Parenchyma of the Glands, where (as I most humbly conceive) it may confederate with the Blood, and enoble it with its Volatil, Saline Particles.

The Spleen is not only furnished with great variety of Arteries, * 1.18 Veins, and Nerves, but Lymphaeducts too; which Assertion is backed with the Au∣thority of many Learned Authors, Malpighius, Diemerbroeck, Fran. Sylvius, Ruischius, who hath given us a way how they may be discovered, by the Ligature of all the Vessels, * 1.19 and the Amputation of the Spleen. These fine Vessels (having been seen by divers of the Colledg of Physicians) do arise out of the numerous Conglobated Glands, and pass not only between the Coats, but through the substance of the Spleen, and do accompany its Vessels, and are beset in their inside with many Valves, and do convey a reddish, or yel∣lowish Liquor, according to Malpighius; and according to others, a thin Chrystalline Juice through the Spleen and Caul, into the common Re∣ceptacle.

The Viscera being so many Masterpieces of Natures elegant Archite∣cture, * 1.20 (well contrived in the several Apartiments of the Body) do speak the wondrous Wisdom and Power of the All-Glorious Creator, and the ad∣mirable Workmanship of Nature, set forth in the curious Frame of many Mi∣nute well-wrought Particles (finely put together with great Artifice) hued with the red affusion of Blood, which passing between the Vessels and small

Oval Glands of the Spleen, do cover the excellent Mysteries of Nature, as with a dark Veil: * 1.21 Whereupon divers Disputes have been broached about the Substance of the Spleen, which as yet have not been Determined. Ma∣ny Learned Anatomists have thought it to be near akin to that of the Li∣ver, and be different only in its more soft and loose Compage; and it hath been generally approved heretofore, by many great Professors of our Facul∣ty, that the substance of the Spleen, is a Body of Concreted Blood (as a Foundation to support a multitude of tender Vessels) which according to them, hath much affinity with the other Viscera, the Heart, Liver, and Kidneys.

Excellent Malpighius, * 1.22 (to whom the Learned Commonwealth is much in∣debted, for many great discoveries of Natures secrets) having made a great search into the inward Recesses of the Spleen, hath found the Body of it, to be a Systeme of many Membranes formed into divers Cells, as so many Minute Apartiments: And although the Dissected Spleen seemeth to be framed of Concreted Blood, and may be in some part brought into a Fluor by Attrition; yet in truth, it is a fine aggregate Body, of Membranes, Ves∣sels, and Glands, which are very much obscured with the covering of acre∣ted Particles of Blood, adhering to many fine parts, * 1.23 constituting the sub∣stance of the Spleen; which may be made more evident by the injection of Air (the Artery being tied) into the Splenick Branch, whereupon the bo∣dy of the Spleen groweth very much Tumefied, and somewhat Diaphanous, so that the Sinus, and small Membranous enclosures may be in some sort dis∣cerned; as Learned Malpighius hath affirmed it.

And farther, This Learned Author saith, * 1.24 That if the blown up Spleen be dried, and an Incision be made into it, you may discover its substance for the most part to be integrated of Membranous Sinus, and Cells, resembling the Holes of Honey Combs in Figure; which are very hard to be discovered, because while the outside of the Tumefied Spleen is dried, the more inward parts do Putrefie, and the Ambient grow so condensed, that only some foot∣steps of the Membranous Cavities remain: And the Air being forcibly in∣jected by a Blow-pipe first into the Splenick Branch, and afterward into the more inward Recesses of the Spleen, whereupon the thin Tunicles, as so many tender Walls of the Cells are broken, and the Spaces become more enlarged: So that the structure of a dried Spleen is somewhat obscure, and seemeth to be formed after this manner. The Venous Duct being large and oblong, is enwrapped within a Capsula, as a common Covering, and runneth in length, emitting many small Branches, some of them passing crossways, and making many Ramulets, do seem somewhat to represent in likeness the Fi∣bres, besetting the Leaf of a Brake. This Splenick Sinus, is attended with fruitful Branches of Vessels, divers of them determining into the Membranes, immuring the ambient parts of the Spleen. But the Spaces interceeding the Divarications of Vessels, are filled up with Membranous Cells, which are tied to Fibres (running Transversely) and to the Ramifications of Ves∣sels, whereby the Angular Walls of the Cells, are very much secured from Laceration.

These Membranous Cavities are not endued with any Regular Figure, * 1.25 but much differ in shape and size, according to the spaces of the Vessels, in which they are lodged; and these Cells have a communion with each other in one open Orifice, which perforate not only the Ramulets, but the Trunk too, of the Venous Trunk.

These Membranous Cavities of the Spleen, * 1.26 seem much to resemble the Lungs of a Sea-Tortoise, which are a Systeme of many Membranous Cells, which appear very plain in the Spleen of a Lion, which being despoiled of its Membranes, the fragments of the Cavities do accoastion view, adorned with various Angles

The numerous Membranes of the Spleen, are beset with Ramulets of Arteries implanted into them, and sometimes make a Reticular work, which I have seen in the Lungs of a Sea-Tortoise blown up; and Mercury being injected into the Trunk of the Caeliack Artery, the Ramulets (sporting themselves through the Membranes of the Cells) have a fair appearance.

And now I apprehend, it may be worth our inquiry, From what parts these Membranous Walls borrow their Origination, which in probability is the inward Membrane (enwrapping the Spleen) by reason the Cells have a firm union with it, and its numerous Fibres? So that these Membranous Cavities (seated in the spaces of the Divaricated Vessels) may be well re∣puted the Propagation of them, and do hold great correspondence with the Venous Duct and its numerous Branches, in reference they have a manifest aperture into them.

The Spleen is accommodated with many small Glands, * 1.27 as so many Colato∣ries of the Blood, and every Gland is a collective body of Arteries, Veins, Nerves, and Lymphaeducts, all which are encircled with a proper Mem∣brane, instituted by Nature, for the greater security of the small and tender Vessels; these Glands adorned with an Oval Figure, are appendant to the Divarications of the Capsula, and Fibres, as also the terminations of Arteries, and Nerves, and twine about them after the manner of Ivy, and beset them in clusters, emulating Bunches of Grapes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The manner of concoction of Chyle by various Fer∣ments in the Mouth, Sto∣mach and Guts, and its distribution through the Lacteal and Thoracick Ducts, and Subclavian Veins, into the Mass of Blood, and so conveyed through the Heart, Lungs, and other Vessels into the Spleen.
• * 1.2

  The Blood is refined in the Spleen.
• * 1.3

  The situation of the Spleen.
• * 1.4

  The connexi∣on of the Spleen.
• * 1.5

  The colour of the Spleen.
• * 1.6

  The dimensi∣ons and figure of the Spleen.
• * 1.7

  The preterna∣tural great∣ness of the Spleen, in un∣healthy Per∣sons.
• * 1.8

  The Arteries of the Spleen.
• * 1.9

  The unkindly pulsation of the Arteries proceeding from a stagna∣tion of Blood in the habit of the Body.
• * 1.10

  The Veins of the Spleen.
• * 1.11

  The Nerves of the Spleen.
• * 1.12

  The substance of the Spleen.
• * 1.13

  The Spleen is in a great part framed of Nervous Fi∣bres.
• * 1.14

  The rise and propagation of the Ner∣voue Fibres of the Spleen.
• * 1.15

  The contex∣ture of the Nervous Fi∣bres seated in the Spleen.
• * 1.16

  The Fibres of the Spleen are not endu∣ed with mani∣fest Cavities.
• * 1.17

  Some Nervous Fibres do ter∣minate into Glands of the Spleen, so that they may im∣port some se∣lect Juice into them.
• * 1.18

  The Lymphae∣ducts of the Spleen.
• * 1.19

  The origen of the Lymphae∣ducts.
• * 1.20

  The substance of the Spleen.
• * 1.21

  Some make its substance to be an affu∣sion of con∣creted Blood, as they con∣ceive in the other Viscera.
• * 1.22

  Malpighius hath discover∣ed many Mem∣branous Cells in the Spleen.
• * 1.23

  An Experi∣ment to find out the sub∣stance of the Spleen.
• * 1.24

  The Sinus of the Spleen, resemble the Holes of Ho∣ney Combs.
• * 1.25

  The Membra∣nous Cells of the Spleen dif∣fer in Magni∣tude and Fi∣gure.
• * 1.26

  The Holes of the Spleen re∣semble the Lungs of a Sea Tortoise.
• * 1.27

  The Glands of the Spleen.