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On the Nature of Man
Nemesius of Emesa, tr. Wither, 1636
I. Of respiration; of the instrument, of the use, and of the causes of that faculty.
HERE wee will treat of respiration, which is also a worke belonging to the minde: For by the muscles the breast is opened, which is the principall instrument of respiration. Our sighing also, and our thick drawing of breath, when any great sorow happeneth unto us, is an evidence, that the operation hereof belongeth unto the minde.
Moreover, the variations, and alterings of our breathing, whensoever need requires, are in our power: For if we be grieved in any part serviceable to respiration, or in such parts as are moved by the motion of any of these; as the midriffe, the liver, the spleene, the stomach, the small-guts, or the lowest-gut, we then breath short and thick. Wee breath short, that we may not over-vehemently smite the grieved part; we breath also thick, that the often breathing may supply what is wanting in the length of our blast.
When our leg is wounded, wee set it forth very leisurely in our going; which is done to the same end, for which we breath short; and therefore as to goe from place to place belongs unto the minde, so doth also this operation of respiration. But although we should rest and not goe at all it were possible for us to live a long time, whereas it were impossible for us to hold our breath the tenth part of an houre, without death; because the naturall heat which is in us, would bee choaked up and quite extinct by a sowltry fume. For it is as if a man should cover a fire within a small vessell, having no vent; which would be immediately stifled and quenched by it owne fume.
For this cause it is very necessary that when wee are asleepe, our soul should worke neverthelesse in this part; because if it should be idle therein (though for a very small time) the living-creature would perish: And in this it is againe manifested, how the endeavour of the minde and of nature are knit together.
For the minde exerciseth respiration, by an artery which is a naturall instrument; and it is alwaies in motion, that neither it owne work, nor the work of the other arteries may be intermitted. This not being perceived by some, (to wit, how the minde and nature joyne together in this worke) they supposed respiration to bee onely a naturall faculty.
Three things cause respiration, the use, the power, and the instruments. The use is twofold: one for the preservation of our naturall heat, and the other for the nourishment of the vitall-spirits.
The preservation of our naturall heat consisteth both of drawing in, and breathing out of aire, For the drawing of the breath doth not onely coole, but (in a mediocrity) stirreth up heat also. The breathing out of the aire, drives away the foggy heat which is about the heart (whereas nourishment of the vitall-spirits, is respiration onely) for the heart is dilated abroad, and a certaine portion of aire is attracted thereunto.
The power (which is a cause also of respiration) is that which it hath from the soule: for it is the minde which moves the instruments of respiration, by meanes of the muscles (and especially by the breast) wherewith our lungs, and the sharp arteries (which are also a part of the lungs) are moved.
For that part of the sharp artery, which is gristly, is the instrument of the voice; the ligaments thereof which are like skinnes, are instruments of respiration: and that which is composed of both together (which is the forementioned artery) is the instrument both of respiration, and of the voice.
IIThe lungs therefore are a composition folded up together, and consisting of these foure, a sharp artery, a smooth artery, a veine, and of a spumie flesh; which flesh doth fill up all the void places of the folded skin, as it were a moist bed, (or the herbe Sleve) both of the two arteries and of the veine; so that it becommeth both a seat for them, and a band keeping them together.
The flesh of the lungs, doth naturally cōcoct the spirits; as the liver concocts the humour which commeth from the belly: And as the liver, with his utmost edges or skirts, spreads it selfe about the belly, because it needeth heat, so the lungs inclose even the very middle of the heart; because it needeth some cooling by respiration.
To the sharp artery the gristle of the winde-pipe is immediately joyned, being compounded of three great gristles, whereunto the throat is annexed, and which are continued unto the mouth and nostrils, by both which, we draw the aire that is without us. From the mouth it ascendeth by a bone like unto a sieve, or like a sponge, which is full of holes, that the braine may not be harmed, if there bee any excesse in the qualities of the aire, or if too much winde should enter into it at once.
Here hath also the Creator placed the nose both for smelling and respiration, according as hee hath ordained the tongue, for the voice, for the tasting, and for chewing.
Thus the most principall parts, serving both for the very being of the living-creature, and for the necessary uses of this life, are divided together with the powers of the minde: and if any thing hath beene formerly omitted, it may bee understood by that which is now expressed.
Now as it falls out in all IIIother created things, that some are made onely for their own sakes; some for themselves and others also; some onely for the sakes of others; and that some things fall out accidentally, together with such things as are made; Even thus you shall find it to be also in the parts of a living-creature.
For all the forenamed instruments, of those three principall things which governe the living-creature, are made for their owne sakes: For those things are especially and principally made which are named according to their proper nature; and are ingendred in the wōb even of the seed it selfe, as the bones are.
But the yellow choller is made both in respect of it selfe, & some other thing; For it helpeth concoction, stirreth up to the avoiding of excrements, and (in that respect) is in some sort, one of the parts that serveth for nourishment. Moreover, it ministreth unto the body a certaine heat, as doth our vitall-faculty; and in respect of all these things, it seemeth to bee made for it owne sake: But in that it purgeth our blood, it seemeth after a sort, to be made in respect of the blood.
The spleen also helpeth concoction; and that not a little: For being tart, and of a sharp astringent nature; it bindeth the belly by powring out into the same, the avoidance of a black moisture; Yea, it strengtheneth it also; assisteth concoction, and purgeth the liver: For which causes, that part also seemeth to have beene ordained in respect of the blood.
The reines likewise are a purgation for the blood, and a cause of the desire which we have to carnall copulation: For the veines, which (as we have declared before) doe fall down into the cods, passe along by the reines; and from thence carry with them a certaine sharpnesse, which provoketh lust, even as a certaine sharp moisture which is under the skin, procureth an itch. And looke how much the flesh of the stones, is tenderer then the other skin of the body; by so much the more, (being tickled by that sharpnesse) are they stirred up to the ejaculation of seed.
These things therefore and such like, are made both for their owne sakes, and also in respect of other things. But the kernels, and the flesh are only ordained in respect of other things. For the kernells doe serve to cary up and underprop the vessels, that they may not be broken when they are lifted up, or stretched forth with any violent motions. And the flesh was made to be a covering to the other parts; that it might coole the living-creature in the summer, by being as it were, a morning dew thereunto, and that it might in the winter bee as it were a quilt of wooll to the parts of the body.
The skin was ordained as a covering, both for the tender flesh, and all those parts that are inward. The flesh is of a nature hardened like a scar, by reason of the aire which compasseth it about, and by meanes of those other bodies wherewithall it is conversant.
The bones are an undersetting to the whole body, and especially the chine of the back, which is termed the foundation of a living creature.
The nailes are most commonly used to scratch withall, by every living-creature (which hath nails) and they are also for sundry particular uses, to divers living-creatures. For they are given to many for a defence; as to those which have crooked talons; and they be as it were an instrument to execute anger.
Many have them both for a weapon of defence, and also for a strengthening to their feet, as horses; and all such as divide not the hoofe. But nailes are bestowed on men, not onely to scratch themselves withall, and that they might by so doing, disperse the sharp moisture which is under the skin: but that they might also take the firmer hold of small things. For by help of them a very small thing may be taken up; because their meeting one against another at the very ends of the fingers, enables to the taking of firme hold.
The haires grow out accidentally with other things, by the meeting together of such fumy vapours as ascend out of the body; and yet the Creator made not their accidentall generation, without some profitable use; for they serve both to cover and beautifie living-creatures: They are a covering for goats and sheep; they are an ornament unto men; and they are both a covering, and an ornament to Lions.