Chap. 16. ^4 Treatife of B O D I E S. 



place in them : neverthelefle, \vc are fure they beat, and do 

 open and flint regularly. Befides , if there were no other 

 caufe but this of gravity for the motion of a mans heart,it would 

 follow that one who were fet upon his head or hung by his 

 heels, could not have the motion of his heart: which pofturene- 

 verthelerte, we lee men remain in for a pretty while, without 

 any extreme prejudice. 



But the(e difficulties are cafily anfwcred; for whether beafts 

 hearts do lie directly horizontally, or whether the bafis be fa- 

 ftencd fbmcwhat higher then the tip reacheth, and fb maketh 

 their heart hang inclining downwards; ftill the motion of 

 gravity hath its effect in them. As we may perceive in the 

 heart of a viper lying upon a plate, and in any other thing that 

 of it felf fwelleth up, and ftraight again fiuketh down : in 

 "which we cannot doubt, but that the gravity fighting againft 

 the heat, maketh the elevated parts to fall, as the heat maketh 

 them rife. 



And as for the latter; it is evident that men cannot ftay long 

 in that pofture without violent accidents; and in any little while 

 we fee that the bloud cometh into their face and other parts 

 which naturally are fituated higher; but by this pofition become 

 lower then the heart : and much time is not required, to have 

 them quite difbrdered and fuffocated; the bloud patting through 

 the heart with too much quicknefle, and not receiving due con- 

 co&ion there; and falling thence in too great abundance into 

 places that cannot with conveniency entertain it. 



But you will infift, and ask, whether in that pofture the 

 heart doth move or no, and how? And to fpeak by guefle in a 

 thing I have not yet made experiences enough to be throughly 

 informed in; I conceive without any great fcruple that it doth 

 move. And that it happencth thus; that the heart hanging fbme- 

 what Joofe,muft needs tumble over, and the tip of it lean down- 

 wards fome way or other; and fo lie in part like the heart of a 

 beaft; though not fo conveniently accommodated: and then the 

 heat which maketh the vifcuous bloud that is in thefubftanceof 

 the heart to ferment will not fail ofraifing it up: whereupon the 

 weight of that fide of the heart that is lifted up,wil prelently preflTe 

 it down again. And thus, by the alternative operations of thefe 



caufcs, 



v 



