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CHAP. XXVII. Of the Testicles, or Stones.
THe Testicles are of a Glandulous, white, soft and loose substance,* 1.1 that so they may the more easily receive the spermatick matter: their magnitude and figure equal, and re∣semble a small pullet's Egg somewhat flatted; their composure is of veins, arteries,* 1.2 coats and their proper flesh. Their veins and arteries proceed from the spermatick vessels, their nerves from the sixth conjugation, by the roots of the ribs, and out of the Holy-bone. They are wrap∣ped in four coats, two whereof are common, and two proper. The common, are the Scrotum or skin of the Cods, proceeding from the true skin; and the fleshy coat, which consists of the fleshy Pannicle in that place receiving a great number of vessels, through which occasion it is so called. The proper coats are first the Erythrois arising from the process of the Peritonaeum,* 1.3 going into the Scrotum together with the spermatick vessels, which it involves and covers; this appears red both by reason of the vessels, as also of the Cremaster-muscles of the Testicles;* 1.4 Then the Epidi∣dymis or Dartos which takes its original of the membrane of the spermatick preparing vessels. The flesh of the Testicles, is as it were, a certain effusion of matter about the vessels, as we said of other entrails. But you must observe, that the Erythrois encompasses the whole stone, except its head, in which place it strikes to the Epididymis, which is continued through the whole substance of the Testicle. This Epididymis or Dartos was therefore put about the stones, because the Testicles of themselves are loose, spongious, cavernous and soft, so that they cannot safely be joined to the sper∣matick vessels, which are hard and strong. Wherefore Nature, that it might join extreams by a fit Medium, or mean, formed this coat Epididymis. This is scarce apparent in women by reason of its smalness. The two forementioned common coats, adhere or stick together by the vessels not only amongst themselves, but also with the Erythrois. You must besides observe,* 1.5 the Cremaster-muscles are of the said substance with other muscles, small and thin, of an oblique and broad figure, arising from the membrane of the Peritonaeum, which (as we said before) assumes flesh from the flanks. Their composition is like other muscles. They are two, on each side one. They are situate from the ends of the flanks, even to the stones. They have connexion with the process of the Peritonaeum and Testicles. Their temper is like that of other muscles. Their action is to hang and draw up the Testicles towards the belly, whence they are called hanging muscles. The Testicles are most com∣monly two in number, on each side one; sometimes there be three, sometimes one alone; as it hap∣pens also in the Kidneys; for some have but one Kidney. They lie hid in the Scrotum at the very roots of the share-bone, connexed to the principal parts of their vessels, with the neck of the blad∣der and yard; but by their coats they adhere to the parts from whence they have them. They are of a cold and moist temper, because they are glandulous;* 1.6 although they may be hot by acci∣dent, by reason of the multitude of the vessels flowing thither. Those whose Testicles are more hot, are prompt to venery, and have their privities, and adjacent parts, very hairy; and besides, their testicles are very large and compact. Those on the contrary that have them cold, are slow to venery, neither do they beget many children, and those they get, are rather female than male; their privities have little hair upon them, and their testicles are small, soft and flat.* 1.7 The action of the testicles is to generate seed, to corroborate all the parts of the body, and, by a certain manly irradiation to breed or increase a true masculine courage. This you may know by Eunuchs, or such as are Gelt, who are of a womanish nature, and are oftentimes more tender and weak than women. As Hippocrates teaches, by example of the Scythians, lib, de aere, locis & aquis.