VENTRICULUS.

Lying hidden beneath the transverse septum is our

sac-like pipe, and the kitchen of the house.

Most call it the *Ventriculus*, as being smaller than the belly,

indeed, a small portion gave it the name of *Stomachus*.

A brute that ruminates herbs has four stomachs,

and winged creatures have two, but man has only one.

You have seen its shape; but no less do its mouths deserve

to be observed, for both assist with various uses.

The mouth of the stomach, called the heart by the ancients, situated on the left,

begins here to solicit our hands.

It is wider and larger and thicker than the right mouth,

and it is encircled by various fleshy fibres.

Here it is worthwhile to demonstrate to the senses the miracles

of swift sensation, and to give certain signs.

For that various emotions of the mind frequently arise

when this mouth is in pain, the matter itself provides proof.

Often the chest gives way to a sudden faintness,

when the mouth of the Stomach drags the Heart into sympathy.

To not a few, indeed, the silvery threads of the Nerves

seem to produce such an effect by their particular power;

But why do we continuously seek out ambiguous passages,

while the lacteal vessels of the Thorax lie sufficiently open?

These can show the true paths, these can teach many things,

which hitherto have lain hidden in darkness.

Hence the Heart itself often palpitates when the Stomach is full,

the pulses are altered, and unexpected death presses close.

That here, as though in a centre, both life and soul are seated,

a writer of unheard-of Physics had taught;

But so far, this opinion pleases few; for he

whose mind is seated in his Stomach, lacks a mind.

The right mouth, commonly the lower, which is called the Janitor,

discharges and distributes the digested food.

But it does not remain closed until the full digestion

of whatever foods has already been completed;

Rather, little by little, all the chyle flows down,

and the digested parts precede the raw, and there is no delay.

Moreover, these mouths of the stomach can be greatly distended;

I think there is scarcely need for examples.

What shall I say of a cherry pit, or what of little stones?

We know that other meals have been swallowed.

Indeed, it is established that frogs, snakes, and lizards

have hurled themselves into the stomach by this route,

Or soon, through the lower mouth, with the Pylorus unlocking the gate,

having been expelled, they have established another home.

Furthermore, fibres strengthen the stomach with joined force,

which you see are of three kinds;

Namely longitudinal, transverse, and then also straight,

and just as many Tunics may be counted here at the same time.

Of their number the first is called common,

but the second comes girded on all sides with fibres,

The third is nervous, touching and sharing the common home

alike of the mouth and of the lips.

And thus bitter things are better prevented from approach,

and things too unpleasant, and whatever is able to do harm.

Moreover, you will examine the glands of the villous crust,

which are visible, comparable to grains of millet;

They say that these gradually secrete the serum of the blood,

so that this liquor may assist the ferment of the stomach.

Besides, this lowest membrane contains many wrinkles,

so that it can be extended and drawn back.

Hence you may see that the stomach is quite capacious for many,

Whose custom it is to devour immoderate amounts of food with the mouth.

Nor is it surprising that the wretched thing has raised various complaints,

For whose injury gluttony is ingenious.

Yet the gluttons, pigs from the herd, laugh at this,

Who sacrifice to Ceres and Bacchus night and day;

Rather, they think that the stomach is encircled by no bones for this reason,

So that it may indulge them,

And offer obedience to gluttony, when the amphora is brought,

And great cups are crowned with unmixed wine.

Why should the stomach refuse to drink, while the desire to drink

Takes hold? Ha! Let it serve my inclination.

Thus chatters the glutton, whose mind Bacchus has taken away,

Whom Drunkenness has rendered like the beasts.

But what does Nature teach? To live well on a little,

And to enjoy lawful things everywhere with moderation.

The greatest peace is to want nothing more than necessity demands,

And even to have abstained from pleasing goods.

Eurycion died by foolishly drinking the wine given him,

And Tamyris alone destroyed Cyrus with unmixed wine.

It is also wealth, to have peacefully lacked wealth; happy is he,

Whose first care is of the Mind, the second of the Skin!

But whither do I digress? My intention was now to observe the vessels of the stomach,

And to enumerate their new uses.

Therefore let us return to our subject by a straight path,

Since no short journey remains for us.

The stomach has received very many, and diverse, vessels,

With more than one organ contributing its own.

The Ancients held that the short vessel is owed to the spleen,

Yet that matter hangs on uncertain faith.

To confess the truth, this connection has been sought in vain

by our eyes; perhaps none is even given.

The greater gastric is present, by which we see the highest

part of the stomach encircled, behold, as a diadem is wont to do.

The lesser gastric vein flows forth from the same branch,

and passes into the hump of the stomach, full of fluid.

There are still other veins, whose names I know,

yet they are not quite suited to my verses.

They flow from both sides, and the left wanders over the stomach's

fundus, and carries a few small vessels to the omentum.

The right owes its origins to the mesenteric branch,

and a common name is usually given to both.

As to what duties they perform, not everyone is of one mind,

as is wont to happen, while each is wise in his own eyes.

Consult the constant courses of the blood, with the English guide,

from there you will be permitted to know the whole work.

Namely, from the nourished part they bring back the overflowing

juice, which the splenic branch takes up with its mouth.

For indeed all the veins pass into this in beautiful order,

and not just one valve shows you this path.

Thus it is enough to have seen the veins. Now the artery

longs to be touched, giving nourishment to its stomach.

Each of these vessels are sprouts of the celiac branch,

and they agree in name with their veins.

Therefore, you see it is nourished not by chyle, as doubtful error

once believed, but by pure blood;

you see the stomach is nourished by blood, to which, furthermore,

behold! a portion of the Sixth Pair has given white threads.

Hence, when the stomach is upset, the head is mostly forced

to ache, and to suffer the same fate and malady.

What the action of the stomach is, and moreover what its use is?

The mind and the eye will gather from what is seen, I think.

Namely, it receives and holds both food and drink at once,

So that the first digestion may better be able to take place.

The primary glory is owed to its innate heat,

But the other adjacent members assist it.

Thus the Ancients decreed for a long time. But in our time

The agency of an acid liquor has added its aid to this.

Most call it a ferment. The things that Heat itself cannot dissolve,

They think this is able to dissolve all of them.

Perhaps this humour is better known to the intellect

Than to Nature herself; and credulity helps!

Why does not the spirit that attends the stomach through the nerves

Complete the chyle, and stir up hunger?

But it is not my intention to settle such great disputes,

Anyone may believe what he himself wishes; it is permitted.