(For sensation and motion are
exercised in the direction which we term forwards, and it is on this
very relation that the distinction of before and behind is founded.)
But where the heart is, there and surrounding it is the lung. Now
inspiration, which occurs for the sake of the lung and for the sake of
the principle which has its seat in the heart, is effected through the
windpipe. Since then the heart must of necessity lie in the very front
place of all, it follows that the larynx also and the windpipe must of
necessity lie in front of the oesophagus. For they lead to the lung
and heart, whereas the oesophagus leads to the stomach. And it is a
universal law that, as regards above and below, front and back,
right and left, the nobler and more honourable part invariably is
placed uppermost, in front, and on the right, rather than in the
opposite positions, unless some more important object stands in the
way.
4
We have now dealt with the neck, the oesophagus, and the windpipe,
and have next to treat of the viscera. These are peculiar to
sanguineous animals, some of which have all of them, others only a
part, while no bloodless animals have any at all. Democritus then
seems to have been mistaken in the notion he formed of the viscera,
if, that is to say, he fancied that the reason why none were
discoverable in bloodless animals was that these animals were too
small to allow them to be seen.
Pages:
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125