The ſame ſpirit pearcing & paſſing forth to the hollow place of the braine, is ther more directed and made ſubtill and is chaunged into ye ſpirit Animal, which is more ſubtile then the other. And ſo this Spiritus animalis is quickened in the formoſt Concauit or hollowneſſe of the braine, and is ſomewhat ſpread into the limmes of féeling. But yet neuertheleſſe ſome part thereof abideth in the foreſaid cels that Senſus communis, the common wit, and the vertue imaginatiue may be made perfect. Then hée paſſeth into the middle cell that is called Logiſties, ſo make the intelligence & vnderſtanding perfect. And when he hath informed the intellect, thē he paſſeth forth to ye place of memory. And bearing with him ye prints of likenes, which be made in thoſe other cells, he laieth them vp in the chamber of Memory. From the hindermoſt part of the braine, he pearceth & paſſeth by the marrow of the ridge bone, & commeth to the ſinews of mouing, that ſo ſedain mouing may be of full working in all the parts of the neather body. Then one and the ſame ſpirit corporall, ſubtill, and airely, through diuerſe offices in diuerſe lims, is named by diuerſe names. For by working in ye liuer it is called Spiritus Naturalis,[1] in the heart Vitalis,[2] & in the head Spiritus animalis.[3] We may not beléeue that this ſpirit is mans reaſonable ſoule: but more truly the chaire or vpholder therof, and proper inſtrument. For by meane of ſuch a ſpirit, the ſoule is ioyned to the bodie: and without the ſeruice of ſuch a ſpirit, no act, the ſoule may perfectly exerciſe in the bodie. And therefore if theſe ſpirites bée diminiſhed, or lette of theyr working in anye worke, the accord of the bodie and ſoule is reſolued, the reaſonable ſpirit is let of all his workes in the bodye. As it is ſeene in them that be amazed, and madde men and franticke, and in other that oſt leeſe the vſe of reaſon. And that is becauſe the inſtrument of the ſpirite is hurt by ſome humour either by ſome wounde. And if theſe ſpirites be comforted, the Soule is comforted: And if they bée feebled, either fayled, the Soule is feebled in his working, touching the ruling of the bodie: as ſayth Conſtantinus. And touching this preſent treatiſe, that that is ſpoken of thoſe ſpirites ſhall ſuffice.
Of the pulſes. Chap. 23.
FOr that the pulſe is a kindly working and effect of the ſpirit Vitalis, it belongeth that we declare ſomewhat of the pulſes, and of their properties The pulſe is a moouing? uinde by opening & cloſing of the heart and of the vaines. Then ſith the heart, being in continuall mouing, from the middle to the vttermoſt parte, in the mouing of the bloud and heate, and in the pulſe of the ſpirit vitall is continuallye moued, by ſuch a mouing he openeth towarde the vtter parts. And when he moueth backward from the vtter parts towarde the middle, then he is conſtrained and cloſed. Wherefore the opening of the heart is to drawe in colde aire, and the cloſing thereof is to put out airie fumoſitie or ſmoake, and theſe two be cauſe of the pulſe. Moreouer the pulſe is needfull, that the diſpoſition ſpirituall be vnderſtood, and the working thereof knowne. The pulſe beginneth at the heart, and ſpreadeth by the vains to the vtter parts of the bodie. And it ſheweth the ſtate of the heart, and the working therof. Phiſitions vſe to finde ye pulſe not in all parts of the bodie, but commonly in ye armes. And that by mouing of the vaines. For in ſome partes, they may not well bee diſcerned, becauſe they be farre from the middle of the heart, and in ſome hiding of the heart that ruleth and gouerneth: & in ſome for ſtraightneſſe of the bones: And therefore olde wiſe men choſe the vaines of the arme to aſſaye the pulſe, And that becauſe it was more eaſie, more profitable, and more honeſt. More eaſie, for that fleſhly partes hide not the vaine: More profitable, becauſe the vains of the arme be neérer the heart then the other: More honeſt for that thereof commeth no ſhame to the Phiſition, neither to the ſick man. It were vnſéemely and vncomely to vnheale the priuy lims. The pulſe is felt and knowen by ſetting
