ne Anatomy of a T Y G M I E. 4.9 



For the prefent we will leave following the Dudt of the Trachea w^ 

 to the Larynx^ ( the Part according to the Method of Nature^ we (hould 

 have began with ) and make fome farther Obfervations, on thofe under 

 our prefent view. In the Cavity of the Thorax therefore, (as I have re- 

 marked) the Pericardium or that Bag that inclofes the Hecrt in our Pyg~ 

 f»ie^ was fattened to the Diaphragm, juft as 'tis in Man. I muft confefs, 

 when I firft obferved it, I was furprifed, becaufe I had not feen it fo in 

 Brutes before. And Vefaliuf, and others make it as a peculiarity to a 

 Ma». I will quote Fefalir/s's words, and make an Inference from our 

 Obfervation, and fo proceed. . ' 



Vefalius (j ^') therefore tells us, Cxternm Invohcrimucro, & dextri ip- 

 pm laterk egregia portio Septi tranfverji nerveo circulo validijjiffie, amploqtte 

 adniodum Jpatio connafcitiir, quod Homimbus eU peculiare. Sim/is quoque 

 ^ Canihm & Porcis involucrum a fepto multum dijiat. Tantkm abeii ut ipji 

 fjiagnafui portione conne^eretur, adeo fane ttt d^ hinc luce claritfs conjiet^ 

 Galenum hominis vifcera aut ofcitanth , aut netitiquam Jpe&iJJe, Simiafque 

 ^ Canes nobk defcribentem, immerito veteres argurjfe. He can't forbear at 

 all turns to have a fling at Galen : But he is here in the right, and Galen 

 miftakcn. So Blancardus (74) tells us, Homo pr£ c£terk Animalibi's hoc 

 peculiare habet, quod e'jm Pericardium Septi tranfverji medio femper accrefcat, 

 cum idem in HHadrHpednm genere liberum, & aliquanto Jpatio ab ipfo remotum 

 fit. 



Now our Pygmie having the Pericardium thus fattened to the Dia- 

 phragm, it feems to me, as if Nature defigned it to be a Billed and to go 

 ere^. For therefore in a Man is the Pericardiu?fz thus fattened, that in 

 Expiration it might affitt the Diajiole of the Diaphragm : for otherwife 

 the Liver Siud Stomach being fo weighty, they would draw it down too 

 much towards the Abdomen 5 fo that upon the relaxation of it's Fibres in 

 iCs Diajiole, it would not afcend fufficiently into the Thorax, fo as to 

 caufe a Subfidence of the Lungs by leffening the Cavity there. In ^la- 

 drupeds there is no need of this adhsfion of the Pericardium to the Dia- 

 phragm: For in them, in Expiration, when the Fibres of the Diaphragm 

 are relaxed, the weight of the ^yreri^ of the Abdomen will eaGly prefs 

 the Diaphragm up, into the Cavity of the Thorax , and fo perform that 

 Service. Befides , was the Pericardium fattened to the Diaphragm in 

 ^iadrupeds, it would hinder it's Syflole in Injpiration ^ or it's defcent 

 downwards upon the contraftion of it's Mufcular Fibres 5 and the more, 

 becaufe the Diaphragm being thus tied up, it could not then fo freely 

 force down the weight of the Fifcera, which are always preffing upon it, 

 and confequently not fufficiently dilate the Cavity of the Thorax , and 

 therefore mutt hinder their In(piration. Thus we fee how neceflary it is, 



Cl^J Andy. Vefalij de Corpork Jfumani fairkafih^.cup.S.^.uujiS. Cl'iJ Ste}h: Blancardi Anatonu 

 Kforntat. ca^,2= ^.8, 



H that 



