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. IV. Of the true Skin.

* 1.1THe true skin, called by the Greeks Derma, is of a Spermatick substance: wherefore being once lost, it cannot be restored as formerly it was. For in place thereof comes a scar, which is nothing else but flesh dryed beyond measure. It is of sufficient thickness, as appears by the sepa∣rating from the flesh.

But for the extent thereof, it encompasses the whole body, if you except the eyes, ears, nose, privities,* 1.2 fundament, mouth, the ends of the fingers where the nails grow, that is, all the parts by which any excrements are evacuated. The figure of it is like the Cuticle, round and long, with its productions, with which it covers the extremities of the parts.

* 1.3It is composed of nerves, veins, arteries, and of a proper flesh and substance of its kind, which we have said to be spermatical, which ariseth from the process of the secundine, which lead the sper∣matick vessels even to the navel; in which place each of them into parts appointed by nature, send forth such vessels as are spred abroad & diffused from the generation of the skin. Which also, the similitude of them both, that is, the skin and membrane Chorion, do argue. For as the Chorion is double, without sense, encompassing the whole Infant, lightly fastened to the first coat, which is called Amnios; so the skin is double, and of it self insensible, (for otherwise the nerves were added in vain from the parts lying under it) ingirting the whole body, lightly cleaving to the fleshy Pannicle. But if any object, That the Cuticle is no part of the true skin, seeing it is wholly different from it, and easily to be separated from it, and wholly void of sense: I will answer, These arguments do not prevail. For, that the true skin is more crass, thick, sensible, vivid, and fleshy, is not of it self,* 1.4 being rather by the assistance and admixture of the parts, which derived from three principal it receives into its proper substance; which happens not in the Cuticle. Neither, if it should happen,* 1.5 would it be better for it, but verily exceeding ill for us, because so our life should lye fit and open to receive a thousand external injuries, which encompass us on every side, as the violent and contrary access of the four first qualities.

* 1.6There is only one skin, as that which should cover but one body; the which it every-where doth, except in those I formerly mentioned. It hath connexion with the parts lying under it by nerves, veins, and arteries, with those subjacent parts put forth into the skin investing them, that there may be a certain communion of all the parts of the body amongst themselves.

It is cold and dry in its proper temper, in respect of its proper flesh and substance, for it is a spermatical part. Yet, if any consider the sinews, veins, arteries, and fleshy threds which are mixed in its body, it will seem temperate, and placed (as it were) in the midst of contrary quali∣ties, as which hath grown up from the like portion of hot, cold, moist, and dry bodies. [Use.] The use of the skin is to keep safe and sound the continuity of the whole body, and all the parts thereof, from the violent assault of all external dangers; for which cause it is every where indued with sense, in some parts more exact, in others more dull, according to the dignity and necessity of the parts which it ingirts, that they might all be admonished of their safety and preservation. Lastly, it is penetrated with many pores, as breathing-places, as we may see by the flowing out of sweat, that so the arteries in their diastole might draw the encompassing air into the body, for the tem∣pering and nourishing of the fixed inbred heat, and in the systole expel the fuliginous excrements,* 1.7 which in Winter, supprest by the cold air encompassing us, makes the skin black and rough. We have an argument and example of breathing through these, by drawing the air in by transpiration, in women troubled with the mother, who without respiration live only for some pretty space by transpiration.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The substance. Magnitude.
• * 1.2

  Figure.
• * 1.3

  Composure.
• * 1.4

  The skin it self is void of sense.
• * 1.5

  The number.
• * 1.6

  Connexion.
• * 1.7

  The reason why the skin is blacker and rougher in Winter.