Circulation of the Blood 127 



opinion as myself. It would therefore be labour in 

 vain, did I here quote at greater length the various 

 reasons which I have consigned in my work on the 

 Motion of the Blood, in confirmation of my opinions, 

 and which are derived from the structure of the vessels, 

 the position of the valves, and other matters of ex- 

 perience and observation ; and this the more, as I have 

 not yet seen the treatise on the Circulation of the Blood 

 of the learned writer ; nor, indeed, have I yet met with 

 a single argument of his, or more than his simple 

 negation, which would lead me to see wherefore he 

 should reject a circulation which he admits as universal, 

 in certain parts, regions, and vessels. 



It is true that by way of subterfuge he has recourse 

 to an anastomosis of the vessels on the authority of 

 Galen, and the evidence of daily experience. But so 

 distinguished a personage, an anatomist so expert, 

 so inquisitive, and careful, should first have shown 

 anastomoses between the larger arteries and larger 

 veins, and these, both obvious and ample, having 

 mouths in relation with such a torrent as is constituted 

 by the whole mass of the blood, and larger than the 

 capacity of the continuous branches, (from which he 

 takes away all circulation,) before he had rejected 

 those that are familiarly known, that are more likely 

 and more open ; he ought to have clearly shown us 

 where these anastomoses are, and how they are 

 fashioned, whether they be adapted only to permit 

 the access of the blood into the veins, and not to allow 

 of its regurgitation, in the same way as we see the 

 ureters connected with the urinary bladder, or in what 

 other manner things are contrived. But and here I 

 speak over boldly perhaps neither our learned author 

 himself, nor Galen, nor any experience, has ever suc- 

 ceeded in making such anastomoses as he imagines, 

 sensible to the eye. 



I have myself pursued this subject of the anastomosis 

 with all the diligence I could command, and have given- 



