Anatomical Observations on the Lungs

those pathways are broken; thus it is no wonder if dropsies original: "hydropes"; an accumulation of fluid in the body, now often called edema., the spitting of blood, consumption original: "phtises"; a historical term for wasting diseases, most commonly tuberculosis., asthma, and empyemas original: "empiemata"; collections of pus within a body cavity, especially the lungs. occur in the lungs even from slight causes.

Regarding the use of the lungs, I know that many theories are held by the ancients, and much remains ambiguous concerning them—especially regarding "cooling" original: "refrigerationem". Early medicine often viewed the lungs as a bellows system designed to cool the "burning" heat of the heart., which is cited as their principal purpose. This theory relies on an imagined excessive heat of the heart that requires ventilation. For this reason, these matters have made me curious to investigate another use. From the observations I shall include below, I am inclined to believe that nature has fashioned the lungs for the thorough mixing of the mass of the blood. By "blood," however, I do not mean a collection of the four common humors The "humoral theory" dominated medicine for centuries, suggesting health depended on the balance of blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.—both biles, blood, and phlegm—but rather that entire substance which flows continuously through the veins and arteries. Although this substance consists of almost infinite particles, they all seem—to our coarse senses—to be divisible into two similar parts: namely, a white part, which is commonly called serum, and a red part.

First, I need not persuade you with a long series of words that there are bodies in nature which are not naturally fluid, but instead have their smallest parts so ready for connection and union that they can only be separated with the greatest force; and once separated, they sometimes strive for a mutual reunion. Yet, these same bodies can be made fluid quite easily through the mixing and interposition of another substance. We see this first in metals and other things melted by fire. We also see this in "tartareous" original: "partibus tartareis". Malpighi refers to sediment or mineral deposits, like the "tartar" found in wine casks or the stones that form in the kidneys. particles, which are fluid and invisible when dissolved and mixed with water, but when united, they form the solidity of a stone. Conversely, by interposing aqua regia A highly corrosive mixture of acids (literally "royal water") capable of dissolving noble metals like gold., other acids, and similar substances that break up their continuity, we can make solid metals fluid once more. Indeed—and what is even more marvelous—a state of flow can occur in very dry materials simply from the separation of their parts. This is seen in lead or tin that has been "burnt" Likely referring to calcination, where a metal is heated until it turns into a fine powder or ash. and then ground in a potter’s mill. Such is the coarseness of our senses that we easily believe the smallest grains of sand are themselves flowing just like water.