294 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



intimate connection with the j^iiblic purse, cannot fail to assist the 

 whole movement which is taking place in favor of hygienic science 

 and its independent and well-endowed instruction. 



The whole movement is still going on, but not without resistance 

 here and there. This resistance shields itself, sometimes, behind the 

 pretext that there are at present not enough well-qualified teacliers. 

 Certainly the beginning has its difiiculties, but everything must have 

 its beginnings. This was the case with the first periodical in Ger- 

 many for public hygiene, founded by Dr. Varrentrapp, which has 

 achieved an entire success, in spite of all misgivings and discouraging 

 vaticinations before it was started. Worthy representatives of the 

 neglected science will be found for teaching it, as soon as a serious 

 demand manifests itself. A certain species of medical men will be 

 quite made for it, after some preparation. Hygiene is, after all, 

 nothing but applied physiology, with particular reference to the phys- 

 ical well-being of mankind. According to my experience, men of 

 science and physicians, who are specially grounded in the practical 

 and theoretical study of physiology, chemistry, and natural philoso- 

 phy, are those who can most easily fit themselves for the special 

 work of hygienic science. It is true, physiology includes the most 

 essential points of hygiene, and physiology is an application of nat- 

 ural philosophy, chemistry, and anatomy. But as the votaries of the 

 latter sciences have never done the work of pure pliysiologists, so 

 these would never have done, and never will do, the work of pure 

 hygienists. England has preceded other countries in the creation 

 of professorships for hygiene, I confidently believe that the proper 

 men, in sufficient number, will also be met with in Germany in a short 

 time. 



Should my lectures in Dresden have had the efiect, in some de- 

 gree, of turning your hearts and minds toward the most pressing 

 tasks of hygiene, so that every one of you may do his best for them 

 in his own sphere, then I am sure I have done something practically 

 useful, and have not spoken in vain. 







A BPJEF HISTOKICAL SKETCH OF THE DISCOYEKY 

 OF THE CIECULATIOK OF THE BLOOD. 



By GEORGE JACKSON FISHER, M. D. 



AMONG the great discoveries which the genius and patient re- 

 search of man have developed, none lay us under more grateful 

 obligations, in view of its practical value and admirable simplicity, 

 than that of the circulation of the blood. Historians record the rise, 

 progress, and decline of nations, the discovery of new countries, and 



