112 
ON THE PROCESS OF SECRETION AND EXCRETION. 
smaller ones. Thence smaller ones encom- 
pass the body as with a net-work. 
There are 19 strong working nerves, which 
like roots, descend from the brain, the ocean 
of nerves ; from among them there are 13 
that are hidden, and connect the intestines 
— six others, connecting the outward parts, 
are visible ; from them spread 16 small ten- 
dons or sinews. 
There are three vital nerves (oT veins) in a 
man. The one encompasses both the head and 
the body ; the second, associating with res- 
piration, moves accordingly ; the third is 
the principal, and connecting the veins or 
canals, for the circulation of air and blood, 
is occupied with generating or increasing the 
body, and being the vital nerve, is called, by 
way of eminence, the artery or the principal 
vital nerve.” 
Judging by the foregoing analysis the au- 
thor must be allowed to have been a man of 
considerable observation : however erroneous 
some of his conclusions may be ; he has 
notwithstanding displayed great ability. 
Considering the dark age in v/hich he 
lived and the rude inhabitants of the 
country among whom he dwelt, we are 
really surprised at the depth of his learn- 
ing, There is scarcely any subject con- 
nected with medicine and surgery upon 
which he does not fully express his senti- 
ments. His opinions on the process of 
digestion are worthy of being quoted. 
“ The meat and drink, after being digested 
in the stomach, are changed into chyle and 
faeces. These turn into ordure and urine, that 
is, for the nutrition of the body, by increasing 
the blood. The blood preserving the moisture 
or humidity of the body, keeps up life, and 
increases the flesh. The flesh covering and 
cleansing the body, both within and without, 
produces the fat. This makes the whole 
body ixnctuous, and causes the increase of the 
bone. This supports the body and increases 
the marrow. This improves the essential sap 
of the body, and produces the semen virile. 
This conduces to the well-being of the whole 
body, and to the production of a new one. 
The manner in which meat and drink are 
changed. Whatever is eaten or drunk, is car- 
ried into the belly or stomach, by the vital air 
or wind ; afterwards, by aid of phlegm, it 
comes into fermentation of a sweet taste, and 
increases the quantity of phlegm. Afterwards, 
being digested by the aid of bile, taking a hot 
and sour taste, it produces bile. Afterwards, 
by the aid of the air or wind that conveys an 
equal heat to the whole body, the dregs or 
faeces being separated, and taking abitter taste, 
it generates thin wind. The faeces being chang- 
ed into thick (or solid) and thin (or fluid) parts 
become ordure and urine. 
The chyle, after having passed by nine veins : 
from the stomach into the liver, it becomes or ; 
changes into blood ; afterwards, successively, ' 
it is transformed into flesh, and the seven sup- 
ports of the body. ! 
2ndly. The hurtful things or bad humours. 
These are three : wind, bile, and phlegm, 1 
each with a five-fold division. ’ 
1. Of Wind. The life-keeping wind or air ! 
reside in the upper part of the head; that i 
which operates upwards, has its place in the ' 
breast ; that which pervades or encompasses 
all, resides in the heart ; that which commu- 
nicates or conveys an equal heat to the body, 
has its seat in the stomach; that which i 
cleanses downwards, abides in the lower 
part of the trunk. 
2. Of Bile. The digesting bile resides in the i 
stomach, between the digested and indigested 
part ; that which forms the chyle, resides in , 
the liver ; that which prepares or increases, 
in the heart ; that which assists the sight (or ^ 
causes to see), in the eye ; that which gives 
a clear colour, resides in the skin. 
3. Of Phlegm. The supporting phlegm re-’j 
sides in the breast ; the masticatory, in the;i| 
indegested part ; the tasting, on the tongue ;'i;j 
the refreshing (or that makes contented), in|! 
the head ; the conjunctive or uniting, resides* 
in every juncture (or joint). 1 
The characteristic signs of the above-speci-“| 
fled humours — that of wind ; roughness, light-*® 
ness, cold, smallness, hardness, and mobility.! 
That of bile ; unctuousness, sharpness, 
lightness, foulness, depuratory moisture. l! 
That of phlegm : unctuousness, coolness, 
heaviness, and dulness, softness, or gentle-S 
ness, steadiness, adhesion, passionateness.”* 
The service, rendered by the faeces, is : the I 
ordure serves for the support of the bowels, * 
guts, &c. By urine, morbid humours are a 
carried oif ; and it serves also for a suppoi*t of* 
the thinner faeces, and carries olf the putrid ! 
thick sediments. 
The office of sweat is to soften the skin,,|! 
and to change the obstructed poi-es of thel 
hair of the body. «j 
Fire -warmth is the common gentle ¥ 
warmth, or heat, of the whole body. The § 
warmth of the stomach is the principal cause of « 
the digestion of meat and drink of every kind. ,1 
If this warmth is in good state, the digestion 1 
of meat and drink is easy ; no diseases then || 
arise, the lustre of the face, the chyle, the f 
supports of the body and life, then increase. | 
Therefore, the warmth of the stomach must ,» 
be kept up, (or if lost, must be restored,) with | 
every endeavour. 5 
On dietetics our author enters with his ! 
usual systematic arrangement, not only re- | 
garding the several kinds of food and the ! 
manner of using them, but also rogarding I 
those kinds which are inimical to health, I 
and defines what may be used together. | 
