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. I. What the Thorax or the Chest is; into what parts it may be divided, and the nature of these parts.

THe Thorax, or Chest, is the middle Belly, terminated or bounded above with the Col∣ler-bones, below with the Midriff, before with the Sternon or Brest, behind with the twelve Vertebra's of the back, on both sides, with the true and bastard ribs, and with the intercostal and intercartilagineous muscles.* 1.1 Nature hath given it this structure and composition, lest that being a defence for the vital parts against external injuries, it should hinder respiration; which is no less needful for the preservation of the native heat diffused by the vital spirits, and shut up in the heart,* 1.2 as in the fountain thereof, against internal injuries, than the other fore-mentioned parts against the external. For if the Chest should have been all bony, verily it had been the stronger, but it would have hindered our respiration or breathing, which is performed by the dilating and contracting thereof. Wherefore lest one of these should hinder the other, Nature hath framed it, partly bony and grisly, and partly fleshy. Some render another reason hereof, which is, That Nature hath framed the Chest, that it might here also observe the order used by it in the fabrick of things, which is, that it might conjoin the parts much disagreeing in their composure, as the lower Belly, altogether fleshy, and the Head all bony, by a medium par∣taker both of the bony and fleshy substance; which course we see it hath observed in the con∣nexion of the fire and water, by the interposition of the air; of the earth and air, by the water placed between them.

* 1.3The Chest is divided into three parts, the upper, lower, and middle: the coller-bones con∣tain the upper; the Midriff the lower; and the Sternon the middle. The Sternon in Galen's opini∣on is composed of seven bones; I believe by reason of the great stature of the people that lived then. Now in our times, you shall oft find it compact of three, four, or five bones, although we will not deny, but that we have often observed it (especially in young bodies) to consist of seven or eight bones.

Wherefore those who have fewer bones in number in their Sternon, have them larger, that they might be sufficient to receive the ribs. This is the common opinion of the Sternon. Yet Fallopi∣us hath described it far otherwise; wherefore let those who desire to know more hereof, look in his Observations.

* 1.4At the lower part of the Sternon, there is a grisle, called commonly Furcula, and Malum gra∣natum, or the Pomgranate, because it resembles that fruit; others call it Cartilago scutiformis, that is, the Brest-blade.

It is placed there, to be (as it were) a Bulwark or defence to the mouth of the Stomach, en∣dued with most exquite sense; and also that it should do the like to that part of the Midriff which the Liver bears up in that place situate above the orifice of the ventricle by the ligament coming between, descending from the lower part of the same grisle into the upper part of the Liver.

The common people think that this Grisle sometimes fals down. But it so adheres, and is uni∣ted to the Bones of the Sternon, that the falling thereof may seem to be without any danger, al∣though oft-times it may be so moistned with watery and serous humidities, with which the orifice of the Stomach abounds, that (as it were) soaked and drunk with these, it may be so relaxed, that it may seem to be out of its place; in which case it may be pressed and forced by the hand into the former place and seat, as also by applying outwardly, and taking inwardly, astringent and dry∣ing medicines to exhaust the superfluous humidity.

This Grisle at its beginning is narrow, but more broad and obtuse at its end, somewhat resem∣bling

the round or blunt point of a Sword, whereupon it is also called Cartilago Ensiformis, or the Sword-like grisle. In some it hath a double, in others a single point.

In old people, it degenerates into a Bone. Now because we make mention of this Grisle, we will shew both what a Grisle is, and how many differences thereof there be, that henceforward as often as we shall have occasion to speak of a Grisle, you may understand what it is.

A Grisle is a similar part of our bodies, next to a Bone most terrestrial, cold, dry, hard,* 1.5 weigh∣ty, and without sense, differing from a Bone in driness only, the which is more in a Bone. Where∣fore a Grisle being lost, cannot be regenerated, like as a Bone, without the interposition of a Callus.

The differences of these are almost the same with Bones, that is, from their consistence,* 1.6 sub∣stance, greatness, number, site, figure, connexion, action, and use. Omitting the other for brevi∣ty sake, I will only handle those differences which arise from site, use, and connexion. Therefore Grisles, either adhere to the Bones, or of, and by themselves make some part, as the Grisles of the Ey-lids called Tarsi, of the Epiglottis, and Throttle. And others which adhere to Bones, either adhere by the interposition of no medium, as those which come between the Bones of the Ster∣non, the Coller-bones, the share and Haunch-bones, and others; or by a ligament coming be∣tweeen, as those which are at the ends of the Bastard-ribs to the Sternon by the means of a Liga∣ment, that by those Ligaments being softer than a Grisle, the motions of the Chest may be more quickly and safely performed. The Grisles which depend on Bones, do not only yield strength to the Bones, but to themselves, and the parts contained in them, against such things as may break and bruise them. The Grisles of the Sternon, and at the ends of the Bastard-ribs, are of this sort.

By this we may gather, that the Grisles have a double use,* 1.7 one to polish and levigate the parts to which that slippery smoothness was necessary for performance of their duty; and for this use serve the Grisles which are at the Joynts, to make their motions the more nimble. The other use is to defend those parts upon which they are placed, from external injuries, by breaking violent assaults, by somewhat yeelding to their impression, no otherwise than soft things opposed against Cannon-shot. We will prosecute the other differences of Grisles in their place, as occasion shall be offered and required.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The contain∣ing parts of the Chest.
• * 1.2

  Why Nature hath made the Chest partly bony, partly grisly.
• * 1.3

  The number of the bones of the Sternon.
• * 1.4

  Cartilago scuti∣formis, the brest-blade.
• * 1.5

  What a Grisle is.
• * 1.6

  The differences thereof.
• * 1.7

  Their twofold use.