H2 Circulation of the Blood 



made of the bodies of persons diseased, worn out by 

 serious and strange affections, how and in what way 

 the internal organs were changed in their situation, 

 size, structure, figure, consistency, and other sensible 

 qualities, from their natural forms and appearances, 

 such as they are usually described by anatomists ; and 

 in what various and remarkable ways they were affected. 

 For even as the dissection of healthy and well-con- 

 stituted bodies contributes essentially to the advance- 

 ment of philosophy and sound physiology, so does the 

 inspection of diseased and cachectic subjects power- 

 fully assist philosophical pathology. And, indeed, the 

 physiological consideration of the things which are 

 according to nature is to be first undertaken by medical 

 men ; since that which is in conformity with nature 

 is right, and serves as a rule both to itself and to that 

 which is amiss ; by the light it sheds, too, aberrations 

 and affections against nature are defined ; pathology 

 then stands out more clearly ; and from pathology the 

 use and art of healing, as well as occasions for the 

 discovery of many new remedies, are perceived. Nor 

 could any one readily imagine how extensively internal 

 organs are altered in diseases, especially chronic dis- 

 eases, and what monstrosities among internal parts 

 these diseases engender. So that 1 venture to say, 

 that the examination of a single body of one who has 

 died of tabes or some other disease of long standing, 

 or poisonous nature, is of more service to medicine 

 than the dissection of the bodies of ten men who have 

 been hanged. 



I would not have it supposed by this that I in any 

 way disapprove of the purpose of Riolanus, that learned 

 and skilful anatomist ; on the contrary, I think it 

 deserving of the highest praise, as likely to be ex- 

 tremely useful to medicine, inasmuch as it illustrates 

 the physiological branch of this science ; but I have 

 thought that it would scarcely turn out less profitable 

 to the art of healing, did I place before the eyes of 



