skin, through the insides of the Thigh, & Leg; and when it is now come to the inner Ankle, it ••preads it self into the upper part of the Foot, and scatters a branch overthwart, from which afterward many others arise, that are distributed in their order to every one of the Toes. This vein scatters other propagations by the way, but which are seldome found answerable one to another, either in number, or bigness, as we have already more then once intimated, that nature is found to sport in the veins, but especially in those of the joints. the first [17] of these propagations, not far from the original of the vein it self, is delt into the upper skin of the inner Region of the Thigh, in two branches; of which the outer, which is the thicker, creeps through the fore, and outside of the Thigh, under the skin; but the inner goes more inwardly, and spreads it self into the rim of the Belly. The second [18] is propagated, when the vein has now attained to the middle of the Thigh. The third propagation [19] arises about the knee, and brings forth two off springs, one, which is disseminated into the skin of the forepart of the Knee, by the Patella or Whirl-bone, but the other into the skin of the Back-side, where the bending, or Ham is, about which it is rowled orbicularly. The fourth [20] is carried to the middle of the Ti∣bia or Leg, with surcles forward, and backward. Over against the Saphena, another vein [14] is brought forth from the outside of the Trunk, but shorter then the vein Saphena is, and reaches outward, and overthwart into the skin, that covers the forepart of the Hip-bone, as also into the Muscles of the same place which the later Anatomists call Ischia. These propagations being brought forth, the Trunk afterwards is drencht into the Muscles that compass the bone of the Thigh, and sets out a third propagation [15] which they call Muscula the Muscle-vein; and there use to be two of them. For the outer, which is the less, sends shoots to the second, and fourth, extending Muscles of the Tibia or Leg, together with the skin; the inner, and greater, affords twigs to the third ex∣tender of the Leg, and to almost all the Muscles about the Thigh. After this the Trunk turning to the Backside, and descending by degrees, scatters some other twigs into the membranes of the muscles, and by and by sends out a fourth vein, which runs into the backside of the Thigh, and is called Poplitea, the Ham-vein [16] much spoken of by wri∣ters of Physick, but especially by Hippocrates the chief of them, who 6. Epidem▪ 1.5. com∣mends much the opening of it in diseases in the Kidneys. But it is oftentimes seated too deep to be cut without very great difficulty. I have learnt by frequent experience, that issues made in the Sura or calf of the Leg, to which this vein spreads it self, have done a great deal of good in many diseases. This vein, when it is propagated, some∣times receives the addition of a Sprig from the inner branch of the Muscle-vein; often∣times also two propagations issue from the Trunk, one higher, and another lower, which afterward are united in their journey. But presently after its risen it scatters some branches into the skin of the Thigh, about the higher and hinder part of it; then it runs down directly through the middle of the Ham, or bending of the Leg, into the Calf, to which it distributes many Surcles, that run on with an uncertain course, some directly, some overthwart, and some obliquely. These little branches being thus dissemina∣ted, the vein passes on as far as to the Talus, or Cockall-bone, and there at lenght deter∣mines.
And this is the progress of the Crural-Trunk, and these the propagations which it scatters, before it be divided. For lyi••g upon the bone of the Thigh, it so descends, and runs side-long near to it, that when it has attained to the Knee, it is carried betwixt the two lowest, and hindmost head▪ of the Thigh, in which place [Δ] it is cleft asunder into two branches, an outer, and an inner one. But they are of unequal bigness, the outer being the smaller, and the inner the greater, but both of them [ΘΛ] are scattered through the Leg, and lowest part of the Foot. The inner [Θ] in its descent sends some propagations of the Muscles that are placed on the backside of the Leg, and especially those which make the Calf, but most of all to the inner part [21] of the Gasteronemius externus, or outward Calf-muscle, and so afterward continuing its course downward, when it is come to the lower Appendix of the Tibia or Leg, and has bestowed some shoots upon the skin, it is reflected under the inner Ancle [22] and runs out as far as to the great Toe. The outer [Λ] is presently cleft into two lesser branches, that are likewise un∣equall, of which the inner [Ξ] that is the greater, and lies deep, is wholly spent upon the Muscles of the Calf, running all along directly betwixt the two heads of the Gasteronemius externus, or first moving Muscle of the Foot, as also betwixt the Gasteronemius internus, or in∣ward Calf-Muscle, and the Tibieus anticus or forward Leg-Muscle, and at last betwixt the Mus∣cles that bend the Toes, distributing some surcles everywhere by the way to the Muscles, through which it passes. When it comes to the mid length of the Leg, it is again subdivi∣ded into an inner, and an outer branch. The inner of these distributes a twig near to the joint of the Tibia or greater Leg-bone, and the bone called the Cockall, descends with the Tendons of the Muscles, and is divided into the great, the fore, and the middle Toes. The outer passes on near to the Fibula, or lesser bone of the Leg, and when it comes to the Li∣gament which tyes together the greater and lesser bones of the Leg, it shoots forth a branch, which perforating the Ligaments runs into the Foot, and is scattered into the Mus∣cles which bend the Toes of the Foot outward.