An Extract of a Latin Letter, Written by the Learned Signior Malpighi to the Publisher, Concerning Some Anatomical Observations, about the Structure of the Lungs of Froggs, Tortoises, & c. and Perfecter Animals; As Also the Texture of the Spleen, & c.

had a just and full number of prompt disciples all over England, which would offer no worse sacrifice upon our publick Altars, then Hony and Wax, the good example of Piety, Devotion, Arts and Industry. An Extract of a Latin Letter, written by the learned Signior Malpighi to the Publisher, concerning some Anatomical Observations, about the Structure of the Lungs of Froggs, Tortoises, &c. and perfecter Animals; as also the Texture of the Spleen, &c. Desideratissimus de Respiratione Doctissimi Thrustoni libellus tandem ad meas devenit manus; ubi propugnatum vidi meam, de Pulmonum substantia*, sententiam. Quapropter Te anxie rogo, ut ipsi meo nomine officiosam dicas salutem, plurimasque eidem gratias agas pro spontanea & honorifica meorum dictorum tutela. Miratus sum valde, Animadversionum Authori in Testudinum, Lacertarum & Ranarum Sectionibus non occurrisse Commerciun inter Bronchia, & Pulmones, quos Vesiculas, à laxitate exterioris Pulmonum membranae obortas, vocat; cum sane immisso in Tracheam fistula, simul insufflato Aere, Pulmones eadem Trachea appensi, hinc inde circa Cor turgant; quod & ad libitum animalis frequenter accidit: Hi etiam, dum Aere turgent, si filo innodentur ut ficce seant, scilicet patenter oculis Cellulas & Vesiculas, evidenter membranecas, exhibent. Et licet in Ranis brevis sit Bronchiorum processus, à Larynge tamen bini ductus, semi-circularibus aliquot annulis conflati, in membranecas vesiculas hiant, atque ita succedit Inspiratio & Exspiratio. At in Testudine, Lacerti & similibus, oblonga Trachea in binos subdivisa ramos, Aerem pulmonariibus Vesiculis subministrat. Scio, in Ranis, propè os, hinc inde binas interdum turgentes erumpere vesiculas (procul tamen à Pulmonibus,) quae buccae sunt Appendices, & Aere interdum, à pulmonibus in oris cavitatem Expiratione propulso, foras exilire. Circa Circa exaratos Pulmones reticularem Musculum locari scias, cujus carneos plexus, sinus, & vesiculas ambientes alia ru- diter delineavi. Hujus mirabilis contextus patet in Ranis, & La- certis praecipue; nam multisplices carnei lacerti per longum pro- ducuntur, & transversaliter elongatis fibris invicem continuan- tur; intermediae vero areae reticularibus carneis plexibus ulteriùs occupantur, non absimili ritu ac in Arborum foliis accidit: Retis autem narrata hæc minora spatia rectis postremo fibris, quasi brevibus tendinibus, pervaduntur. Mirabilis hic Musculus non exteriorem tantum Pulmonum ambit regionem, sed interiores quæcunque vesiculas & sinus circumdat, ita ut suos motus singulas pulmonis partes comprimendo, Expirationem Sonumque promo- veat. Hæc eadem structura in pulmonibus Perfectorum animali- um proportionaliter observatur, & in Agnorum extremis praecipue lobulis, Aere turgidis, & adhuc mollibus, patet. Hujus occasione communicandum Tibi duxi, Lienis fibras, quæ tot ingentia torsere, nequaquam nerveas (quod & aliquan- do ipse autumavi) sed carneas esse, ita ut ex carneo exteriori in- volucro, & productis transversaliter fibris, mirabilis fiat Mus- culus, Lienis cellularis comprimens, quo sanguis per Splenicum ra- rum propellatur non absimili structura ac ritu, qualis in grandis oribus Cordis auriculis observatur: Carnei etenim lacerti, per transversum ducti, quarum fibrarum implicazione Rete effor- mant, membranæ cellularis comprimens, susque extremis finibus, mirabiliter productis, carneum involucrum constituent. Parum absimili structura Equinos praecipue Testes Natu- ra ditavit; interior quippe ipsorum tunica Carneas fibras, seu extensum musculum in sui meditullo, una cum varicosis vasis continet, quæ diversas inclinationes, ut in Liene habentes, per transversum productæ, & reticulariter implicitæ, Intestinorum congeriem firmant & compriment. Pauca hæc & inordinata in mei amoris & obsequii testimonium habeas, precor. Vale, Dabam Bononiæ die 20. Februarii 1671.