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THE Vital faculty which Physitians call the second faculty, al∣though some would refer it to the Animal, * 1.1 some to the Natural faculty, and others think it to be mixed of them both; Yet since it differs not only from those actions, which are performed by the na∣tural and Animal faculties, but also goes forth by its own organs, nor doth it move hither and thither by the assistance of the Animal
Spirits, but by its own proper Spirits, which from thence are called Vital Spirits, it is deservedly to be esteemed a peculiar faculty, di∣••••inct from the Vegetable and Animal faculties.
There are three sorts of Vital faculties, * 1.2 and so many motions of the heart wherein they relide. The first is the generation of the Vital Spirit and heat; The second is the Pulse; The third is the Irascible faculty.
The first to wit, * 1.3 is the generation of the Vital Spirits, and influent heat; The second, without the which the first cannot perform its office is the Pulse, namely the motion of the heart and of the Ar∣teries, consisting in dilating and contracting, that so the Vital Spi∣rits may be generated and distributed, and the natural heat may be preserved in its natural harmony: By Dilatation the heart is filled, and attracts to its self air, with blood from the right Ventricle, by the Venous Artery (which goes from thence to the heart) and at∣tracts from the lungs air and blood by help of the Arterial Vein into the left Ventricle of the heart; for the generation and refresh∣ing, and restauration of the Vital Spirits and heat. By the Systole or Contraction of the Heart, it distributeth the Vital Spirits and Arterious blood through and by the help of the great Artery into the whole body, and sends the fuliginous excrements to the Lungs by the Arterial Vein. In like manner the Dilatation of the Artery through its little Orifices, terminating in the skin, attracts to it self ambient air to form and cool its heat; the Orifices that are termi∣nated neer the Heart, draw from it the hottest and thinnest blood, full of Vital Spirit; But as the mouths of the Arteries with the Ori∣fices of the Veins, do draw the purest and finest Spirits to fostet and cherish their heat, but by Contraction they exp••l fuliginous excre∣ments, which action is called a steaming through or transpiration, which is made through the hidden Pores of the skin, and by the Latines is called Transpiratio.
In the third place the Irascible faculty belongeth to the Vital faculty, * 1.4 from whence, Anger, Joy, Fear, Sadness, and terrour, and other passions of the mind arise. And that its residence is in the Heart is most evident, because the motion of the Heart and the Pulse of the Arteries are most evidently changed in the passions of the mind.
Respiration is also added to the Vital faculty as principally ne∣cessary to further its action, * 1.5 and hath the same end and purpose, as the Pulse hath, and is instituted for the benefit of the Heart. It is per∣formed principally by the Lungs, and the Lungs are as it were the fan or bedows of the Heart, and are the primary Instruments of breathing, and are indued with a peculiar power of moving them∣selves,
even as the Heart is, differing only from the Animal faculty. Nor are the Lungs moved only by the motion of the breast, but by their proper force and power. * 1.6 And although the motion of the Lungs and Breasts are made together; yet neither are the cause of the others motion, but they therefore move together, because they con∣spire to bring one end to pass: for the Lungs are st••e••ched that air may come into them, as into a pair of bellows drawn wid••, and are so much dilated and extended, as the dilating of the B••east will give way to; and on the other side the Breast is dilated more or lesse, as there is more or lesse air to be drawn in
As the Pulse consists of two motions Dilatation and Contraction, * 1.7 so Respiration is performed by a doub••e motion, Inspiration, and xspiration. By inspiration, the Lungs and Breast being ex••ended the air by the mouth and nostrils is drawn in: by expiration the Lungs and Breast being contracted, the hotter air and fuliginous vapours are sent forth at the mouth and nostrils.
The Vital faculty dif∣fers from the other faculries.
Its actions are three.
Generati∣on of Vital Spirits. A Pulse. Its defi∣nition. Of Dila∣ting. Of Contra∣cting.
The Irasci∣ble faculty.
Breathing.
The motion fo the Lungs.
A two-fold motion of respirati∣on. Inspira∣tion, Ex••••i∣ration.