Contents xxi 



CHAPTER v.— Of the Ferments of the Stomach, 

 THE Pancreas, and the Spleen. Incidentally, 

 OF Diseases which have Reference to the 

 Animal Spirits. 



The ferment of the stomach does not seem to be an acid 

 liquor, p. 264. How steel dissolves in the stomach just as 

 in an acid liquor, p. 264. The digestion of food is chiefly 

 effected by the animal spirits, p. 265. The saliva assists in 

 the digestion of food, p. 267. On the origin of hunger, p. 

 267. The bile is destined for the fermentation of the chyme, 

 p. 267. Of the ferment of the pancreas, p. 267. It also 

 serves for the digestion of food, p. 268. The pancreatic 

 juice does not seem to be acid, p. 268. Of the use of the 

 spleen, p. 269. The nitro-aerial spirits pass through the 

 brain in a continuous stream, p. 270. There must be some 

 vessels that bring them from the brain, p. 270. There seems 

 to be a threefold use of the spleen, p. 271. Why such 

 plexus of nerves are to be found in the abdomen, p. 271. 

 Whence arise hypochondriac flatus and eructations, p. 271. 

 Why the spleen is florid in infants and not dark as in adults, 

 p. 272. Whence arises the fermentation of the spleen, p. 274. 

 How dropsy can be produced by scirrhus of the spleen, p. 274. 

 In what way black bile is produced, p. 275. The spleen 

 consists of two kinds of vessels, p. 275. From the various 

 obstruction of these vessels different diseases arise, p. 276. 

 How an animal can live when its spleen has been entirely 

 removed, p. 276. How the fixed salts of the food are 

 volatilised in the mass of the blood, p. 277. The spleen 

 seems to help towards that end, p. 277. Of the diseases 

 which concern the animal spirits, p. 278. On phthisis, p. 

 278. On apoplexy and paralysis, p. 279. On epilepsy and 

 intoxication, p. 279. On the cause of inflammable sputum, 

 p. 279. On melancholia and mania, p. 280. That indisposi- 

 tion to move may arise from disorder of the muscular flesh, 

 p. 280. Also the spontaneous lassitude of scorbutus and of 

 jaundice, p. 280. Convulsive cramps of the tendons may 

 arise from the same cause, p. 281. How exercise favours 

 health, p. 281. 



