g68 A TREATISE 



ration for eating : for when we eate, nature drawcth a moy fture 

 into our mouth , to humeftate cur meate , and to convey the 

 taft of it into the nerves of the tongue , which are to make re- 

 port of it unto the braine : but when we laugh , the motion of 

 our face aymeth at no further end, and fblJoweth only by the 

 connexion of thofemufcles, which draw the face in fiich a fort, 

 unto fome inward parts, that are moved by the pailion, out of 

 which laughing proceedeth. 



But we muft not leave this fubjecl: without fbme mention of 

 the diaphragma : into which the other branch of thofe nerves, 

 that are called of the fixt conjugation, doth come : forthefirft 

 branch we have faidgoeth into the heart , and carrieth thither 

 the objects that come into the braine : and this , we fhail find, 

 carrieth back to the braine the paflion or motion, which by the 

 ob jecl: is rtyfed in the heart. Concerning this part of our bo- 

 dy, you are to note, that it is a mufculous membrane,, which 

 in the middle of it hath a finewy circle ; whereuntois fattened 

 the cafe of the heart, called the pericardium. This Dia- 

 phragma is very fenfible, receiving its vertue of feeling from the 

 above mentioned branch of the fixt couple of nerves : and being 

 ofa trembling nature, is by our refpiration kept in continuall 

 motion : and flappeth upon all oceafions, as a drum head would 

 io,if it were flack and moyft ; or as a fay le would do, that were 

 brought into the wind. 



Outofthisdefcriptionof it, it is obvious to conceive, that 

 ' all the changes of motion in the heart, muft needs be exprefled 

 in the Diaphragma. For the heart beating upon the pericar- 

 dium, and the Pericardium being joyned to the Diaphragma ; 

 fach jogges and vibrations muft needs be imprinted and e- 

 choed there , as are formed in the heart : which from thence, 

 cannot choofe but be carried to the braine by the fixt couple of 

 nerves. And thus it commeth about, that we feele and have 

 ienfation of all the paffions,that are moved in our heart. Which 

 peradventure is the reafon , why the Greekes do call this part 

 $ ; and from it derive the verbe f f*i> , that in latine /igni- 

 fycth Stprrc , with us , to favour or to like for by this part of 

 tmrbody, ^re have a liking of any object , cramotionofindi- 

 aaticn towards it :from whence <r*tfv*' w derived, by compo/iti- 

 oa.of f f*vvich <' ; for a prudent man is he^chgc lijketh,andis 



moved 



