The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

CHAP. XXV. Of the Kidneys or Reins.

NOw follow the Kidneys, which that they may be more easily seen, (after that you have diligently observed their situation) you shall despoil of their fat, if they have any about them, as also of the membrane they have from the Peritonaeum. First, you shall shew all their conditions, beginning at their substance.

[illustration]

The ninth and tenth figure of the vessels of seed and urine.

• The first figure sheweth the fore-side; the second, the hinder-side.
• a, a, a, 1. The fore-part of the right kidney.
• b, b, b, 2. The back-part of the left kidney.
• e, 1. The outside.
• d, d, 1, 2. The inner-side.
• e, e, 1, 2. The two cavities whereinto the emulgent vessels are inserted.
• f, f, 1, 2. The trunk of the hollow vein.
• g, g, 1, 2. The trunk of the great ar∣tery.
• h, i, 1, 2. The emulgent vein and artery
• k, k, 1, 2. The right fatty vein.
• l, 1. The left fatty vein.
• *, 1. The Coeliacal artery.
• m, n, 1, 2. The Ureters.
• o, p, q, 1, 2. The right spermatick vein which ariseth neer p. the left neer q.
• r, 1. The place where the Arteries of the seed arise.
• s, 1, 2. Small branches distributed from the spermatical veins to the Peri∣tonaeum.
• t, 1, 2. The spiry varicous body, called Varicosum Vas pyramidale.
• u, 1, 2. The Parastatae, or Epididymis.
• x, 1. The Testicle yet covered with its coat.
• y, 1, 2. The place where the leading vessel called vas deferens, doth arise.
• α, 1, 2. The descent of the same leading vessel.
• β, 1, 2. The revolution of the same leading vessel.
• γ, 1, 3. The passage of the same ves∣sel, reflected like a recurrent nerve.
• δ, 2. The meeting of the same leading vessels.
• ε, 1, 2, The bladder of urine; the first figure sheweth it open, the second shew∣eth the back-parts.
• ζζ, 1. The small bladder of the seed opened.
• η, η, 2. The Glandules called Glandulae Prostatae.
• θ, 1. The Sphincter-muscle of the bladder.
• ιι, 1, 2. The two bodies which make the substance of the yard.
• κ, κ, 1. The vessels which go unto the yard and neck of the bladder.
• λ, 1. The passage which is common to the urine and seed cut open.
• ψ, 2. The implantation of the Ureters into the bladder.

* 1.1The substance of the Kidneys is fleshy, dense, and solid, lest they should be hurt by the sharp∣ness of the urine. Their magnitude is large enough, as you may see. Their figure is somewhat long and round,* 1.2 almost resembling a semicircle, and they are lightly flatted above and below. They are partly hollow, and partly gibbous; the hollow lies next the hollow vein, and on this side they receive the Emulgent Veins and Arteries, and send forth the Ureters; their gibbous part lies towards the loins. They are composed of a coat coming from the Peritonaeum; their own peculiar flesh,* 1.3 with the effusion of blood about the proper vessels, (as happens also in other en∣trails) generates a small nerve, which springing from the Costal of the sixth conjugation, is dif∣fused to each Kidney on his side into the coat of the kidney it self, although others think, it always accompanies the vein and artery.

But Fallopius, that most diligent Author of Anatomy hath observed, that this nerve is not only oftentimes divaricated into the coat of the Kidneys, but also pierces into their substance. They are two in number,* 1.4 that if the one of them should by chance be hurt, the other might supply those necessities of nature,* 1.5 for which the Kidneys are made. They lie upon the loyns at the sides of the great vessels, on which they depend by their proper veins and arteries, and they stick to them as it were, by a certain second coat, lest that they might be shaken by any violent motions. Where∣fore we may say, that the Kidneys have two coats; one proper adhering to their substance, the other, as it were, coming from the Peritonaeum on that part they stick to it. The right Kidney is almost alwayes the higher, for those reasons I gave, speaking of the original of the Emulgent ves∣sels. Columbus seems to think the contrary; but such like controversies may be quickly decided by the Eye.* 1.6 They have connexion with the Principal vessels by the veins, nerves, and arteries; by the coats with the loins and the other parts of the lower belly; but especially with the blad∣der by the ureters.* 1.7 They are of a hot and moist temper, as all fleshy parts are. Their action is to cleanse the Mass of the blood from the greater part of the serous and cholerick humour. I said the greater part, because it is needful that some portion thereof should go with the alimen∣tary blood to the solid parts, to serve instead of a vehicle, lest otherwise it should be too thick.

* 1.8Besides, you must note, that in each Kidney there is a cavity bounded by a certain membrane, encompassed by the division of the Emulgent veins and arteries, through which the urine is strained partly by the expulsive faculty of the Kidneys, partly by the attractive of the Ureters, which run through the substance of the Kidneys on the hollow side, no otherwise than the Porus cholagogus through the body of the Liver.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Their Sub∣stance.
• * 1.2

  Magnitude. Figure.
• * 1.3

  Composition.
• * 1.4

  Number.
• * 1.5

  Site.
• * 1.6

  Connexion.
• * 1.7

  Temper. Action.
• * 1.8

  Their Strainer.