The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
That the breaking of the gall is not the cause hereof, experience hath
informed us. For opening the _abdomen_, and taking out the gall in
_Cats_ and _Mice_, they did notwithstanding arise. And because we had
read in _Rhodiginus_ of a Tyrant, who to prevent the emergency of
murdered bodies, did use to cut off their lungs, and found Mens minds
possessed with this reason; we committed some unto the water without
lungs, which notwithstanding floated with the others. And to compleat
the experiment, although we took out the guts and bladder, and also
perforated the Cranium, yet would they arise, though in a longer time.
From these observations in other Animals, it may not be unreasonable to
conclude the same in Man, who is too noble a subject on whom to make
them expressly, and the casual opportunity to rare almost to make any.
Now if any should ground this effect from gall or choler, because it is
the highest humour and will be above the rest; or being the fiery humour
will readiest surmount the water, we must confess in the common
putrescence it may promote elevation, which the breaking of the bladder
of gall, so small a part in Man, cannot considerably advantage.
Lastly, That Women drowned float prone, that is, with their bellies
downward, but Men supine or upward, is an assertion wherein the _hoti_
or point it self is dubious; and were it true, the reason alledged for
it, is of no validity. The reason yet currant was first expressed by
_Pliny_, _veluti pudori defunctorum parcente naturâ_, nature modestly
ordaining this position to conceal the shame of the dead; which hath
been taken up by _Solinus_, _Rhodiginus_, and many more. This indeed (as
_Scaliger_ termeth it) is _ratio civilis non philosophica_, strong
enough for morality of Rhetoricks, not for Philosophy or Physicks. For
first, in nature the concealment of secret parts is the same in both
sexes, and the shame of their reveal equal: so _Adam_ upon the tast of
the fruit was ashamed of his nakedness as well as _Eve_. And so likewise
in _America_ and Countries unacquainted with habits, where modesty
conceals these parts in one sex, it doth it also in the other; and
therefore had this been the intention of nature, not only Women but Men
also had swimmed downwards; the posture in reason being common unto
both, where the intent is also common.
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