Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Internal Senses.

THE Internal Senses are those, * 1.1 that are conversant about sen∣sibles revealed by the external senses; and they are three, accor∣ding to the diversity of their functions and operations, which are administred by them; The Common sense, the Phantasie and the Memory.

The common sense is an internal sense, * 1.2 perceiving all external objects by the help of the external senses, discerning them asunder, judging of their absense, and bringing sensible Species to the Phan∣••asie.

The Phantasie is an Internal sense, * 1.3 which considereth more dili∣gently, and longer retaineth the sensible Species received from the common-sense, and those Species that are formed by it self.

The Memory is that which receiveth and retaineth the sensible Species, which are known by the Phantasie, * 1.4 and when occasion re∣quireth exhibits and brings them forth again. But there are two acts of the memory, the one is called by the name of the faculty of the memory, the other is Reminiscence. The memory is a prompt apprehension or repetition of any thing heretofore known and per∣ceived, as it was perceived and repeated and that readily. * 1.5 Remini∣scence is that which out of the remembrance of one or more things spoken of, by regression comes to remember that, which before could not come readily into the mind.

The principle and immediate Instrument of all the internal senses, and of all principal actions is the brain, which other things shew, but this especially; That if that be hurt these actions are hurt, and be∣cause that in curing these, the remedies must be applyed to the brain.

Now all these action are performed in the substance of the brain, nor are those faculties distinguished by their seats or places in the brain, neither are their distinct operations performed in distinct places of the brain. For there is not sufficient reason given why the common sense should be seated in the former part of the brain: for although it be the Center where all the external senses meet and con∣cur; yet the Nerves that are subservient to the external senses, take not their beginning from the fore most part of the brain. So no evi∣dent reason can appear to perswade why the Memory should be se∣parated from the Phantasie, and by consequence from the reasonable faculty; and why the Phantasie in the former, the Rational in the middle, and the Memory in the hinder part of the brain should be

placed; for the Imagination and Memory are conversant about the same things though after a different manner; But although often∣times one of these faculties being offended the others remain un∣prejudiced, as oftentimes the Memory is lost, the imagination, and rational faculties not hurt, and on the other side the apprehension and ratiocination offended, and the Memory sound and perfect; yet that cometh not so much to passe through the diversaty of organs, parts of the brain from whence those actions arise, as by the change of their proper dispositions, and of those things which are required to perform those actions.

The affections of those senses hitherto explained are sleep and watchfulness. * 1.6 Sleep is a cessation of the natural and commonsense, & of the external senses ordained for the health of living Creatures, by detaining of the Animal Spirits in the brain, & hindering them from flowing to the Instruments of sense and motion. The causes that bring it to passe that the Animal Spirits flying into the brain, are there detained, and are as it were smitten and cease, are several, whereof some perform it by taking them away, as watching, labour and other things in the like nature; or by rendring them lesse moveable and, benumm'd, or as others conceive by penning in, and stopping their way as vapours ascending after taking of meat and drink, or as it were pleasingly and contentedly stopping, inviting from motion to rest, which sweet melodies, murmuring streams, gentle rocking and the like occasion; The end of sleep is the re∣freshing and strengthning of the Spirits and external senses, by taking away their motions and operations, and from hence comes a reco∣very of their strength and vigour.

Watchfulness is opposed to sleep, * 1.7 and it is nothing else but the efficacy or force of sense, or solution rather of the senses, proceeding from the hinderance of the free flowing of the Animal Spirits into all the members of the body. Man waketh or is stirred up out of his sleep after a two-fold manner; Either of his own accord, when con∣coction is performed, the vapours that hindred the Spirits coming forth are discussed and separated, or sharp vapours are carried to the brain and trouble the Amimal Spirits, that they cannot freely flow into the instruments of the senses; or by an external cause, when from a more violent external cause, as Clamour, or touch, the sensitive faculty being stirred up converts its self to perceive. Nor do the organs of the senses wholly want Animal Spirits in sleep, but some stil•• remain in them, sufficient to discern more vehement objects.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Inter∣nal Senses are three.
• * 1.2

  The com∣mon sense.
• * 1.3

  The Phan∣tasie.
• * 1.4

  The Me∣mory.
• * 1.5

  Remini∣scence.
• * 1.6

  The af∣fections of the senses are two. Sleep.
• * 1.7

  Watching.