| [p. 17]structed in order to suck
and draw in from the fleshy parts. The nature and construction of
the parts within a man are of a like nature; the bladder, the head,
the uterus in woman; these parts clearly attract, and are always filled
with a juice which is foreign to them. Those parts which are hollow
and expanded are most likely to receive any humidity flowing into
them, but cannot attract it in like manner. Those parts which are
solid and round could not attract a humidity, nor receive it when
it flows to them, for it would glide past, and find no place of rest
on them. But spongy and rare parts, such as the spleen, the lungs,
and the breasts, drink up especially the juices around them, and become
hardened and enlarged by the accession of juices. Such things happen
to these organs especially. For it is not with the spleen as with
the stomach, in which there is a liquid, which it contains and evacuates
every day; but when it (the spleen) drinks up and receives a fluid
into itself, the hollow and lax parts of it are filled, even the small
interstices; and, instead of being rare and soft, it becomes hard
and dense, and it can neither digest nor discharge its contents: these
things it suffers, owing to the nature of its structure. Those things
which engender flatulence or tormina in the body, naturally do so
in the hollow and broad parts of the body, such as the stomach and
chest, where they produce rumbling noises; for when they do not fill
the parts so as to be stationary, but have changes of place and movements,
there must necessarily be noise and apparent movements from them.
But such parts as are fleshy and soft, in these there occur torpor
and obstructions, such as happen in apoplexy. But when it (the flatus?)
encounters a broad and resisting structure, and rushes against such
a part, and this happens when it is by nature not strong so as to
be able to withstand it without suffering injury; nor soft and rare,
so as to receive or yield to it, but tender, juicy, full of blood,
and dense, like the liver, owing to its density and broadness, it
resists and does not yield. But flatus, when it obtains admission,
increases and becomes stronger, and rushes toward any resisting object;
but owing to its tenderness, and the quantity of blood which it (the
liver) contains, it cannot be without uneasiness; and for these reasons
the most acute and frequent pains
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