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. XI. Of the Heart.

* 1.1THe Heart, is the chief mansion of the Soul, the organ of the vital faculty, the beginning of life, the fountain of the vital spirits, and so consequently the continual nourisherer of the vital heat, the first living and last dying; which because it must have a natural mo∣tion of it self, was made of a dense, solid, and more compact substance than any other part of the body.

* 1.2The flesh thereof is woven with three sorts of fibers, for it hath the right in the inner part de∣scending from the basis into the point, that they might dilate it, and so draw the blood from the Hollow-vein into the receptacles thereof, and the breath or air from the Lungs by the Arteria venosa; it hath the transverse without, which pass through the right at right angles, to contract the Heart, and so drive the vital spirits into the great Artery Aorta, and the cholerick blood to the Lungs by the Vena arteriosa for their nourishment; It hath the oblique in the midst to contain the air and blood drawn thither by the forementioned vessels, until they be sufficiently elaborate by the Heart.

All these fibers do their parts by contracting themselves towards the original, as the right from the point of the Heart towards the basis, whereby it comes to pass, that by this contraction of the fibers the Heart dilated becomes shorter, but broader, no otherwise than it is made more long and narrow by the contraction of the tranverse: but, by the drawing of the oblique, it is lessened in that part which looks towards the Vertebra's, which chiefly appears in the point thereof.

* 1.3It is of an indifferent bigness, but yet in some bigger, in some less, according to the diverse temper of cold or hot men, as we noted in the Liver.

* 1.4The figure thereof is pyramidal, that is, it is broader in the basis, and narrower at his round point.

* 1.5It is composed of the most dense flesh of all the body, by the affusion of blood at the divisions and foldings of the vessels, and there concrete, as it happens also to the other entrails. For the blood being there a little more dryed, than that which is concrete for the making of the Liver, turns into a fleshy substance more dense than the common flesh, even as in hollow ulcers, when they come to cicatrize.

* 1.6It hath the Coronal veins and arteries, which it receives either on the right side from the Hol∣low vein, or on the left from the basis at the entrance of the artery Aorta. You cannot by your eye discern that the Heart hath any other nerves than those which come to it with the Pleura.

* 1.7Yet I have plainly enough observed others in certain Beasts which have great hearts, as Swine; they appeared seated under the fat which covers the vessels and basis of the Heart, lest the

humid substance of these parts should be dissolved and dissipated by the burning heat of the heart. Whereby you may perceive that the heat of the Heart is different from the Elementary heat, as that which suffers fat to grow about this entrail, where otherwise it doth not concrete, unless by cold or a remiss heat, which thing is chiefly worth admiration.

The Heart is one alone, situate most commonly upon the fourth vertebra of the Chest,* 1.8 which is in the midst of the Chest. Yet some think, that it inclines somewhat to the left side, because we there feel the motion or beating thereof; but that happens by reason of its left ventricle, which being it is filled with many spirits, and the beginning of the Arteries, it beats far more vehement∣ly, than the right. It required that seat by the decree of Nature; because that region is the most safe and armed, & besides it is here on every side covered (as it were) with the hands of the Lungs.

It hath connexion with the fore-mentioned Vertebra's, but by the parts composing it,* 1.9 with those parts from whence it hath them; with the Lungs by the Vena arteriosa, and the Arteria venosa; and lastly, with all the parts of the body by the Arteries, which it sends to them all.

It is of a hot and moist temper, as every fleshy part is. The action thereof is,* 1.10 first to prepare the blood in its right ventricle, for the fit nourishment of the Lungs; for from hence it is that Ga∣len saith, This right ventricle was made for the necessity of the Lungs. Secondly, to generate the vital spirits in its left ventricle for the use of the whole body.* 1.11 But this spirit is nothing else than a certain middle substance between air and blood, fit to preserve and carry the native heat, where∣fore it is named the Vital, as being the author and preserver of life. In the inner parts of the heart, there present themselves to our consideration the ventricles, and the parts contained in the ventricles and between them; such are the Valvulae, or Valves, the Vessels and their mouths, their distribution into the Lungs, the wall or partition, and the two productions or Ears of the Heart; which because they are doubtful, whether they may be reckoned amongst the external or intern∣al parts of the heart, I will here handle in the first place.

Therefore these Auriculae, or Ears, are of a soft and nervous substance,* 1.12 compact of three sorts of fibers, that so by their softness they might the more easily follow the motions of the Heart, and so break the violence of the matter entering the Heart with great force when it is dilated. For otherwise by their violent and abundant entrance they might hurt the Heart, and (as it were) overwhelm and suffocate it; but they have that capacity which we see given by nature, that so they might (as it were) keep in store the blood and air, and then by little and little draw it forth for the use of the necessity of the Heart. But if any enquire, if such matters may be drawn into the Heart by the only force of the Diastole, ad fugam vacui, for avoiding of emptiness; I will answer, That that drawing in or attraction is caused by the heat of the Heart, which continu∣ally draws these matters to it, no otherwise than a fire draws the adjacent air, and the flame of a Candle the Tallow which is about the wiek for nourishments sake. Whilst the Heart is dila∣ted it draws the air, whilst it is drawn together or contracted it expels it. This motion of the Heart is absolutely natural, as the motion of the Longs is animal. Some add a third cause of the attraction of the Heart, to wit, the similitude of the whole substance. But, in my judgment, this rather takes place in that attraction which is of blood by the venae coronales for the proper nourish∣ment of the Heart, than in that which is performed for attraction of matters for the benefit of the whole Body.

These Ears differ in quantity, for the right is far more capacious than the left,* 1.13 because it was made to receive a greater abundance of matter. They are two in number, on each side one, situ∣ate at the basis of the Heart: The greater at the entrance of the hollow vein into the Heart, the less at the entrance of the veinous and of the great Artery, with which parts they both have con∣nexion. We have formerly declared what use they have, that is,* 1.14 to break the violence of the mat∣ters, and besides to be stays or props to the Arteria venosa and great Artery, which could not sustain so rapid and violent a motion as that of the Heart, by reason of their tenderness of substance.

Of the Ventricles of the Heart.

THe Ventricles are in number two, on each side one,* 1.15 distinguished with a fleshy partition strong enough, having many holes in the superficies, yet no where piercing through.

The right of these Ventricles is the bigger, and encompassed with the softer and rarer flesh; the left is the lesser, but is engirt with a threefold more dense and compact flesh; for the right Ven∣tricle was made for a place to receive the blood brought by the hollow-vein, and for distributing of it, partly by the Vena arteriosa into the lungs for their nourishment, partly into the left ventricle, by sweating through the wall or partition, to yield matter for the generation of the vital spirits.

Therefore because it was needful there should be so great a quantity of this blood,* 1.16 it was like∣wise fit that there should be a place proportionable to receive that matter. And because the blood which was to be received in the right ventricle was more thick, it was not so needful, that the flesh to contain it should be so compact; but on the contrary, the arterious blood and vital spirit have need of a more dense receptacle, for fear of wasting, and lest they should vanish into air; and also less room, that so the heat, being united, might become the stronger, and more powerfully set upon the elaboration of the blood and spirits.

Therefore the right Ventricle of the Heart is made for preparation of the blood appointed for the nourishment of the Lungs, and the generation of the vital spirits,* 1.17 as the Lungs are made for the mitification or qualifying of the Air. Which works were necessary if the Physical Axi∣ome be true, That like is nourished by like, as the rare and spongious Lungs with more subtil

blood; the substance of the Heart gross and dense, with the veinous blood, as it flows from the Liver, that is gross.

* 1.18And it hath its Coronal veins from the Hollow-vein, that it might thence draw as much as should be sufficient.

But the left Ventricle is for the perfecting of the vital spirit, and the preservation of the na∣tive heat.

Of the Orifices and Valves of the Heart.

* 1.19THere be four Orifices of the Heart, two in the right, and as many in the left Ventricle; the greater of the two former gives passage to the vein, or the blood carryed by the Hollow-vein to the Heart; the lesser opens a passage to the Vena arteriosa, or the cholerick blood carried in it for the nourishment of the Lungs.

The larger of the two other makes a way for the distribution of the Artery Aorta, and the vi∣tal spirit through all the body; but the lesser gives egress and regress to the Ateria venosa, or to the air and fuliginous vapors. And because it was convenient that the matters should be admitted into their proper Ventricles by these orifices, by the Diastole, to wit, into the right ventricle by the greater orifice, and into the left by the lesser; and because on the contrary it was fit that the matters should be expelled by the Systole, from their ventricles, by the fore-mentioned orifices;

* 1.20Therefore nature to all these orifices hath put eleaven valves, that is to say, six in the right ven∣tricle, that there might be three to each orifice; five in the left, that the greater orifice might have three, and the lesser two, for the reason we will presently give.

* 1.21These Valves differ many ways: First, in action; for some of them carry in matter to the Heart, others hinder that which is gone out, that it come not back again. Secondly, they differ in site:* 1.22 for those which bring in, have membranes without, looking in; those which carry out, have them within looking out. Thirdly, in figure: for those which carry in, have a Pyramidal figure, but those which hinder the coming back again, are made in the shape of the Roman letter C. Fourth∣ly,* 1.23 in substance: for the former for the most part are fleshy, or woven with fleshy fibers into cer∣tain fleshy knots ending towards the point of the heart; The latter are wholly membranous.

* 1.24Fiftly, they differ in number: for there be only five which bring in, three in the right ventricle at the greater orifice; and two in the left at the lesser orifice; those which prohibit the coming back,* 1.25 are six in each ventricle, three at each orifice. Lastly, they differ in motion; for the fleshy ones are opened in the Diastole, for the bringing in of blood and spirit, and contrariwise are shut in the Systole, that they may contain all, or the greater part of that they brought in. The membranous on the contrary are opened in the Systole to give passage forth to the blood and spirits over all the body, but shut in the Diastole, that that which is excluded might not flow back into the Heart. But you shall observe that Nature hath placed only two Valves at the orifice of the Arteria venosa,* 1.26 because it was needful that this Orifice should be always open, either wholly, or certainly a third part thereof; that the air might continually be drawn into the Heart by this Orifice in Inspira∣tion, and sent forth by Exspiration in the contraction of the Heart. Whereby we may gather this, that there is but one third part of that air we draw into the Heart in breathing, sent forth again in the form of vapor in exspiration, because Nature would have but one third part of the Orifice to lye open for its passage out. Therefore the exspiration or breathing out, and the Systole of the Heart and Arteries, is shorter than the inspiration, so that we may truly say, that the inspiration, or drawing the breath in, is equally so long as the exspiration is together with the rest, which is in the midst between the two motions.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What the Heart is, and of what sub∣stance.
• * 1.2

  The three sorts of fibers of the Heart.
• * 1.3

  The Magni∣tude.
• * 1.4

  Figure.
• * 1.5

  Composition.
• * 1.6

  The proper Vessels.
• * 1.7

  The Nerves.
• * 1.8

  Number and site.
• * 1.9

  Connexion.
• * 1.10

  Temper and action.
• * 1.11

  What the vital spirit is.
• * 1.12

  The Auriculae Cordis, or ears of the heart.
• * 1.13

  Their magni∣tude, and Number.
• * 1.14

  Their use.
• * 1.15

  The partition between the ventricles of the heart.
• * 1.16

  Why the right ventricle is more capacious and less com∣pact.
• * 1.17

  The action of the right ven∣tricle.
• * 1.18

  The action of the left ven∣tricle.
• * 1.19

  The uses of the four orifices of the Heart.
• * 1.20

  The Valves.
• * 1.21

  How they dif∣fer.
• * 1.22

  Action. Site. Figure.
• * 1.23

  Substance.
• * 1.24

  Number.
• * 1.25

  Motion.
• * 1.26

  Why there be only two Valves at the Orifice of the Arteria venosa.