A SECOND DISQUISITION TO JOHN 



RIOLAN 



IT is now many years, most learned Riolanus, since, 

 with the aid of the press, I published a portion of my 

 work. But scarce a day, scarce an hour, has passed since 

 the birth-day of the Circulation of the blood, that I have 

 not heard something for good or for evil said of this my 

 discovery. Some abuse it as a feeble infant, and yet 

 unworthy to have seen the light ; others, again, think 

 the bantling deserves to be cherished and cared for; 

 these oppose it with much ado, those patronize it with 

 abundant commendation ; one party holds that I have 

 completely demonstrated the circulation of the blood by 

 experiment, observation, and ocular inspection, against 

 all force and array of argument ; another thinks it 

 scarcely yet sufficiently illustrated not yet cleared of 

 all objections. There are some, too, who say that I 

 have shown a vainglorious love of vivisections, and 

 who scoff at and deride the introduction of frogs and 

 serpents, flies, and others of the lower animals upon the 

 scene, as a piece of puerile levity, not even refraining 

 from opprobrious epithets. 



To return evil speaking with evil speaking, however, 

 I hold to be unworthy in a philosopher and searcher 

 after truth ; I believe that I shall do better and more 

 advisedly if I meet so many indications of ill breeding 

 with the light of faithful and conclusive observation. It 

 cannot be helped that dogs bark and vomit their foul 

 stomachs, or that cynics should be numbered among 

 philosophers ; but care can be taken that they do not 



