Introductory Book

of the Human Body

...found another book in the same matter which contains the opinion of the philosophers, which is situated in the eastern parts, so that it does not begin immediately, but after the finished speculation, one providing help to another, one having the eastern part of the world, with its creatures, and which is opposite to the western, or which the northern or southern, is disposed by nature; whence it is difficult to stand the machine of the world anywhere. And behold, it is proven that the east is hot and humid, the west is cold and dry. Now, however, according to the four regions, the air and the heat of the sun occupy the whole sphere, namely that which, by its vehemence, it was necessary to know, because with nothing resisting, [it extends] to the right, until it completes the world with the elements. Now, however, cold is opposed to heat, heat to cold; humidity is opposed to humidity, humidity to dryness. And the world is stabilized by the adjustment of these opposed qualities. Believing that the complexion the combination of the four humors of these gives life and effects, and these herbs vary the singular air. Therefore, if anyone applies study to the arguments of faith and the corrections of morals, he will find the means to understand. And bringing it into the middle, he who, by the investigation of the scriptures, aptly brings forth witnesses for those who cease from speeches, so that if one hears it often, they are not moved, at least by their own new mode, they might...

...they soothe before, from man himself, it must be taken from us, who in mortal things, mortal... concerning the immortal soul, it is debated. The first book is On the Anatomy of the Human Body. The second is on the soul. The third is on monstrous men. The fourth is on quadruped animals. The fifth is on birds. The sixth demonstrates. The seventh is on those which crawl and marine ones, and on the creeping ones. The ninth is on worms. The tenth is on trees. The eleventh is on trees of seasoning and medicinal ones. The twelfth is on herbs of seasoning and diet. The thirteenth is on fountains. The fourteenth is on precious stones, their sculpting. The fifteenth is on the seven metals. The sixteenth is on regions and rivers of the air. The seventeenth is on the sphere and the seven planets and their virtues. The eighteenth is on the passions of the air, lightning, thunder, and the winds themselves. The nineteenth is on the four elements. Their powers are, without labor, summarized. Thus, it is necessary to add to this work that which in the path of the ornamentation of the sky and the movement of the stars and planets is admitted. Concerning the sphere and the eclipse of the sun and moon, it is seen to be most evidently investigated. We have added some things and subtracted some, and we have connected some from the same book.