CHAP. XXXV. Of the Navel.
THe Navel follows these coats; It is a white body,* 1.1 somewhat resembling the wreathen cord, or girdle of the Franciscan-friers, but that it hath not the knots standing so far out, but only swelling in certain places, resembling a knot, only lifted up on one side; it a∣rises and takes its original from a fleshy mass,* 1.2 which we expressed by the name of swelling Coty∣ledones, and goes into the midst of the lower belly of the Infant, yea verily into the midst of the whole body, whose root it is therefore said to be. For even as a tree by the root sucks nourish∣ment from the earth, so the Infant in the Womb draws its nourishment by the Navel. The great∣ness of it in breadth and thickness, equals the bigness of the little finger. But it is a foot and a half long, so that children are brought forth with it, encompassing their middle, neck, arms,* 1.3 or legs. The figure of it is round. It is composed of two Arteries, one vein, and two coats. It hath these vessels from that great multitude of capillary veins and arteries, which are seen dispersed over the Chorion. Wherefore the vein entring in at the Navel, penetrates from thence into the hollow part of the Liver, where divided into two, according to Galens opinion,* 1.4 it makes the gate and hollow-veins. But the arteries, carryed by themselves the length of the Navel, cast them∣selves into the Iliacae, which they make, as also all other, that from thence the vital spirit may be carryed by them over all the Infant. It hath its two coats from the Chorion.
But seeing they are mutually woven and conjoyned without any medium, and are of a suffici∣ent strength and thickness over all the Navel, they may seem to make the Infants external skin and fleshy Pannicle. I know, very many reckon two Umbilical veins, as also arteries, and the U∣rachus, by, or through which the Urine flows into the coat Allantoides.* 1.5 But because this is not to be found in Women, but only Beasts, I willingly omit it, because I do not intend to mention any parts, but such as belong to humane bodies. Yet, if there be any, which can teach me, that these parts, which I think proper to brute beasts, are to be found in women, I will willingly confess that to his credit, from whom I have reaped such benefit.
The other things that may be required concerning the Navel, as of its number, site, connexi∣on, temper and use, may easily appear by that we have spoken before. For we have apparently set down the use, when we said, the Navel was made for that purpose, that the Infant may be nou∣rished by it, as the tree by the root, by reason of the continuation of the vessels thereof, with the preparing spermatick vessels made by God for that purpose: To whom be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.