272 Mayow 



aerial particles cannot now, as at other times, pass 

 through the spleen on account of its obstruction, 

 they are carried into the stomach, the pancreas, and 

 the other viscera of digestion without any moderation 

 or control. But the digestion of the food and chyme 

 is carried on too quickly by these particles mixed in 

 too great abundance with the chyme in the stomach 

 and other parts of the abdomen, and consequently 

 very impetuous and flatulent fermentation^ must 

 arise. 



Further, as the nitro-aerial spirits cannot be dis- 

 charged into the obstructed spleen, it is probable that 

 they to some extent regurgitate towards the brain 

 and the cerebellum, whence it comes to pass that the 

 motion of the animal spirits will be perverted, and 

 consequently the brain and the animal economy 

 perturbed, as often happens in hypochondriac 

 affections ; although this may also be produced by 

 another cause, as will be set forth below. 



And besides, this also points in the same way that, 

 namely, the spleen in infants is florid and scarlet, 

 although later it acquires a black-blue colour. For 

 that difference of colour seems to come from this, 

 that in infants the nitro-aerial particles come only 

 sparingly to the spleen, so that as yet scarcely any 

 fermentation is excited in it, as will be more fully 

 stated presently. But the reason why the spleen 

 does not perform its function in infants seems to be 

 this. The foetus in the uterus, as also for some time 

 after birth, has hardly any, at all events no violent 

 exercise, and the heart and the organs of respiration 

 do not as yet need to work at all hard : for these 

 natural functions are specially increased in violent 

 motion of the body, as has been shown above. Hence 

 the nitro-aerial particles are transmitted through the 



