Physicians are not without the use of this decussation in several operations, in ligatures and union of dissolved continuities. Mechanicks make use hereof in forcipal Organs, and Instruments of incision; wherein who can but magnifie the power of decussation, inservient to contrary ends, solution and consolidation, union, and division, illustrable from _Aristotle_ in the old _Nucifragium_ or Nutcraker, and the Instruments of Evulsion, compression or incision; which consisting of two _Vectes_ or armes, converted towards each other, the innitency and stresse being made upon the _hypomochlion_ or fulciment in the decussation, the greater compression is made by the union of two impulsors. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- _Hast._ | | | | | | | | | | ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- _Pr._ | | | | | | | | ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- _Tr._ | | | | | | | | | | ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The _Romane Batalia_[138] was ordered after this manner, whereof as sufficiently known _Virgil_ hath left but an hint, and obscure intimation. For thus were the maniples and cohorts of the _Hastiti_, _Principes_ and _Triarii_ placed in their bodies, wherein consisted the strength of the _Romane battle_. By this Ordination they readily fell into each other; the _Hastati_ being pressed, handsomely retired into the intervals of the _principes_, these into that of the _Triarii_, which making as it were a new body, might joyntly renew the battle, wherein consisted the secret of their successes. And therefore it was remarkably singular[139] in the battle of _Africa_, that _Scipio_ fearing a rout from the Elephants the Enemy, left not the _Principes_ in their alternate distances, whereby the Elephants passing the vacuities of the _Hastati_, might have run upon them, but drew his battle into right order, and leaving the passages bare, defeated the mischief intended by the Elephants. Out of this figure were made two remarkable forms of Battle, the _Cuneus_ and _Forceps_, or the Sheare and wedge Battles, each made of half a _Rhombus_, and but differenced by position. The wedge invented to break or worke into a body, the _forceps_ to environ and defeat the power thereof composed out of selectest Souldiery and disposed into the form of an V, wherein receiving the wedge, it inclosed it on both sides. After this form the famous _Narses_[140] ordered his battle against the _Franks_, and by this figure the _Almans_ were enclosed, and cut in peeces.