H4 Circulation of the Blood 



clearly shown," he says, "against Harvey and Walaeus." 

 And as the authority of Galen and daily experience 

 confirm the anastomoses of the arteries and veins, arid 

 the necessity of the circulation of the blood, "you 

 perceive," he continues, " how the circulation is effected, 

 without any perturbation or confusion of fluids and the 

 destruction of the ancient system of medicine." 



These words explain the motives by which this 

 illustrious anatomist was actuated when he was led 

 partly to admit, partly to deny the circulation of the 

 blood ; and why he only ventures on an undecided 

 and inconclusive opinion of the subject ; his fear is 

 lest it destroy the ancient medicine. Not yielding 

 implicitly to the truth, which it appears he could not 

 help seeing, but rather guided by caution, he fears 

 speaking plainly out, lest he offend the ancient physic, 

 or perhaps seem to retract the physiological doctrines 

 he supports in his Anthropology. The circulation of 

 the blood does not shake, but much rather confirms 

 the ancient medicine ; though it runs counter to the 

 physiology of physicians, and their speculations upon 

 natural subjects, and opposes the anatomical doctrine 

 of the use and action of the heart and lungs, and rest 

 of the viscera. That this is so shall readily be made 

 to appear, both from his own words and avowal, and 

 partly also from what I shall supply ; viz. that the 

 whole of the blood, wherever it be in the living body, 

 moves and changes its place, not merely that which is 

 in the larger vessels and their continuations, but that 

 also which is in their minute subdivisions, and which 

 is contained in the pores or interstices of every part ; 

 that it flows from and back to the heart ceaselessly 

 and without pause, and could not pause for ever so 

 short a time without detriment, although I admit that 

 occasionally, and in some places, its motion is quicker 

 or slower. 1 



In the first place, then, our learned anatomist only 



1 Vide Chapter III. 



