XXVI. These are said to be as Mortal as those of the Brain; and Galen tells us, It is a kind of Brain to all the Parts which are below the Head. For, from it many Conjugations of Nerves spring, which give Sense and Motion to most of the other Parts of the Body; and there∣fore, from it many grievous Sym∣ptoms arise: It also Communi∣cates with the Brain and other adjacent Parts, and is of Diffi∣cult Cure; and the higher the Wound is in the Spine, the more Mortal it is.
XXVII. If the Spinal Marrow be totally hurt in any of the Ver∣tebrae, all the lower Parts are resolved, or suffer a Paralysis, as Galen affirms. But if only one side is hurt, and the other re∣mains whole; the Paralysis af∣fects only the lower Parts on the same Side hurt.
XXVIII. But in respect to the Nature of the Part, a Wound in the lower Part of the Spinal Mar∣row, is far worse than that in the upper. Because, as Colum∣bus observes, the Marrow above is soft, and perfectly of the Sub∣stance of the Brain, whereas that below is almost Nervous: Yet such Wounds must be very great, to make them Mortal.
XXIX. If the Spinal Marrow be cut transversly asunder, it is certainly Mortal. But, if the Weapon has not run deep into it, there is a possibility of Re∣covery.