CIRCULATION OF THE BLOOD. 91 



and falls in with our conclusions in regard to the circulation ; 

 yet not entirely and avowedly ; for he says 1 that the blood con- 

 tained in the vena portse does not circulate like that in the 

 vena cava; and again he states 2 that there is some blood which 

 circulates, and that the circulatory vessels are the aorta and 

 vena cava; but then he denies that the continuations of these 

 trunks have any circulation, " because the blood is effused into 

 all the parts of the second and third regions, where it remains 

 for purposes of nutrition; nor does it return to any greater 

 vessels, unless forcibly drawn back when there is a great lack 

 of blood in the main channels, or driven by a fit of passion 

 when it flows to the greater circulatory vessels;" and shortly 

 afterwards : " thus, as the blood of the veins naturally ascends 

 incessantly or returns to the heart, so the blood of the arteries 

 descends or departs from the heart ; still, if the smaller veins 

 of the arms and legs be empty, the blood filling the empty 

 channels in succession, may descend in the veins, as I have 

 clearly shown," he says, " against Harvey and Walseus." And 

 as the authority of Galen and daily experience confirm the anas- 

 tomoses of the arteries and veins, and the necessity of the cir- 

 culation 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 im- 

 plicitly 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 ; 



1 Enchiridion, lib. ii, cap. 21. 2 Ib. lib. iii, cap. 8. 



