AN ANATOMICAL STUDY ON THE 



perhaps in all fluxes. It is clear how the blood can- 

 not escape from the hand when the veins are com- 

 pressed with what I call a medium bandage, but 

 being driven in by the heart beat through the ar- 

 teries, and not being able to escape anywhere, 

 the part must necessarily become gorged and 

 swollen. 



How can it be otherwise? Heat, pain, and the suc- 

 tion of a vacuum have a certain "drawing" power 

 to fill a part, but not to distend or swell it abnor- 

 mally, nor to overcome it so suddenly and power- 

 fully by impact of blood that the flesh and vessels 

 are in danger of being torn or ruptured. It is neither 

 believable nor demonstrable that heat, pain, or the 

 vis vacui can do this. 



Furthermore, this "drawing" power occurs in a 

 ligature without pain, heat, or the suction of a 

 vacuum. If pain happens to "draw" any blood, 

 with the arm tied above the elbow, how may the 

 hand and fingers and their veins become swollen 

 below the ligature, since because of its pressure, 

 blood cannot get there through the veins? And 

 why is neither swelling, nor sign of venous filling 

 or engorgement, nor any vestige of "drawing" 

 apparent above the ligature? 



The obvious cause of the "drawing" or abnormal 

 swelling in the hand and fingers below the bandage 

 is the forceful and copious influx of blood which 

 cannot escape. Indeed, is not the cause of all tumors 

 and oppressive swellings, what Avicenna says, that 



I90I 



