Temperaments of Organs

The almighty creator has bestowed upon every animal and everyone of its organs the most appropriate and the beast adapted temperament for its nature, functions and conditions. Since the verifications of this truth is a matter for philosophers and not physicians, we may accept that man has been endowed with the most suitable temperament and most appropriate faculties for the various actions and reactions of the body. 

Hot organs: Vital force and heart, the center of vital activity, are the hottest things in the body. Next is the blood, which though produced in the liver, because of its contact with the heart, is hotter than the liver. Then comes the liver which is reality is a mass of solidified blood and after it is the flesh which on account of the presence of cold nervous tissue is cooler than liver. Next are muscles, which because of cold ligaments and tendons are not so hot as the flesh; then is spleen, which on account of its high content of the residue from broken up blood, is even less hot. The kidneys show the least heat because they contain the hot blood and other vital fluids. Next in the order are veins, which are slightly warmer on account of the residual blood and, lastly, the skin of palm, which is evenly balanced.

Cold organs: The coldest thing in the body is the phlegm; then, in the order of coldness are hair, bones, cartilages, ligaments, tendons, serous membranes, nerves, spinal cord, brain, solid and liquid fats, and lastly, the skin.

Moist organs: Phlegm is the moistest. Next in this order are the blood, solid and liquid fats, brain, spinal cord, breasts, testicles, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, musles and skin. This order has been assigned by Galen. It should be noted that lungs are not so moist in temperament and structure is implied in the list. The primary temperament of an organ is similar to that of its nutriment while its secondary temperament is similar to that of its tissue excrement. We find that lungs are nourished by the hot blood mixed with an appreciable quantity of bile and this is what Galen had stated in the foregoing description. If lungs are moist it is because of the vapors rising towards them from below and catarrhal secretions dropping on them from above. For this reason the liver is moister than the lungs on account of its innate moisture. Since lungs are constantly soaked in the extrinsic moisture they, too, become structurally moist in the end. Similar is the case with phlegm and blood. The moisture in phlegm is of a kind, which merely moistens the organ while moisture in the blood is of a type, which becomes integrated into the very structure of the organs. Although there is normally more moisture in the liquid phlegm than in the blood, a part of it is dispersed when it gets matured into blood.

Dry organs: Hair is the driest of the tissues. It is formed of smoky vapors solidified by the evaporation of moisture. Next in the order of dryness are bones, which are the hardest organs; they are, however, a little moister than hair because they are formed of blood and constantly absorb moisture from the muscles attached to them. This is the reason why they are a source of nutrition for many animals while hair is reported to be consumed by bats only. Next in the descending order of dryness are cartilages, ligaments, tendons, membranes, arteries, veins, motor nerves, heart, sensory nerves and skin. Motor nerves, as against the normal balance, are more cold and dry in temperament while the sensory nerves are colder but not drier. (Canon of Medicine).