xii Editor's Introduction 



bitterness, in Italy; and in 1876 his statue was erected 

 with much pomp and speechmaking in Rome, and an 

 inscription placed upon it recording that he was the 

 first discoverer of the circulation of the blood. It is 

 much to be regretted that this display was not alto- 

 gether free from a desire to depreciate Harvey. 

 Wonder may well be expressed at this procedure, even 

 after allowing for well-meant patriotic ardour, when it 

 is learnt that in his works Cassalpinus speaks of the 

 arteries ending in nerves, of the septum of the heart 

 being permeable, and its valves acting imperfectly, and 

 of the veins carrying blood to the body for its nourish- 

 ment. The statements made by Csesalpinus, which at 

 first sight point to his knowledge of the circulation, are 

 altogether discounted on perusal of his works, and it 

 becomes impossible to believe that he had any clear 

 idea of the circulation as we understand it to-day. 

 The misconception has no doubt arisen from the 

 interpretation of isolated passages in the light of what 

 we now know regarding the circulation. Moreover, it 

 is impossible to believe, seeing how well the works of 

 Caesalpinus were known, that, had he ever been re- 

 garded as putting forward in them the doctrine of the 

 circulation as we now understand it, such a new and 

 startling view would not have attracted the attention of 

 the distinguished anatomists who were his contem- 

 poraries or immediate successors. But that none of 

 them ever for a moment saw any such doctrine in 

 the works of Csesalpinus is shown by their writings, 

 and by the surprise with which Harvey's discovery 

 was received. 



Even Shakespeare has been cited as being acquainted 

 with the circulation of the blood, because he refers to 

 its movement. This only illustrates the confusion 

 which has often been made of movement with cir- 

 culation. From the earliest times it had been believed 

 there was movement of the blood, but there was no 

 clear or correct idea as to the nature of the movement. 



