History and Progress of Comparative Anatomy. 15S 



used by the animal. On the same principle he distinguishes the 

 jejunum (i5 nrrii)^ or the empty portion of the small intestines, 



Ttf im^tn Xixroy ; the CCBCUm (rv^Xov rt kcu oyx^wjjj) ; the colon (rt 



KuUi) ; and the sigmoid flexure (rrutm^ov n km uXiyf^i^itii). The 

 modern epithet of rectum, is the literal translation of his de- 

 scription of the straight progress {^viv) of that bowel to the 

 anus (T^ctKrtg). The mesentery he describes as a membrane full 

 of bloodvessels, continued from the attachment of the intestinal 

 canal. 



Aristotle had dissected the elephant, and the general accu- 

 racy of his description is verified by Camper. The intestine of 

 this animal the Stagirite represents as consisting of united por- 

 tions or cells (evTSgov arvfc(pvTUq i^fiv, etm ^»ivi<r6xi nrru^xq xctXiec^ ^X^*)} 



SO as to exhibit the aspect of the quadruple stomach; but he takes 

 care to remark, that in this cavity the food was deposited, and 

 that there was no other receptacle. He also remarks the simi- 

 larity of the intestinal canal of the elephant to that of the hog, 

 thus anticipating the arrangements of the best modem zoolo- 

 gists. 



Fishes he had distinguished by the peculiarity of having 

 gills (/3?fl£y;^<«?), and scaly or rough bodies. Of the gills, he re- 

 marks, some have covers, others are uncovered, to the latter of 

 which all the cartilaginous fishes (atXxxn) belong. He remarks 

 their serrated teeth Qcu^x'^^'^^cvrig), disposed in manifold rows, 

 {'rcXvo-rei^ovi), and the hard thorny tongue ; and he further dis- 

 tinguishes them into oviparous and viviparous. In these dis- 

 tinctions, Aristotle has displayed more philosophical precision 

 than even Linnasus. 



No subject perhaps has Aristotle studied more attentively in 

 the different classes and orders of the animal world, than that of 

 reproduction ; and in general his observations are accurate, and he 

 labours to refute the vulgar errors then current on this obscure 

 topic. His researches on this subject, however, are rather phy- 

 siological than anatomical ; and the mistakes into which he has 

 fallen, may always be traced to imperfect knowledge of the 

 functions. 



Aristotle was followed by Diocles of Carystus, and Praxa- 

 goras of Cos, the last of the family of the Asclepiadae. To 

 the latter belongs the merit of rectifying one of the great errors 



