102 CIRCULATION OF THE BLOOD. 



him. Whatever he has denied in the circulation of the blood, 

 therefore, whether with reference to the mesentery or any other 

 part, and with an eye to the lacteal veins or the ancient system 

 of physic, or any other consideration, must be ascribed to his 

 courtesy and modesty, and is to be excused. 



Thus far, I think, it appears plain enough, from the very 

 words and arguments of our author, that there is a circulation 

 everywhere ; that the blood, wherever it is, changes its place, 

 and by the veins returns to the heart; so that our learned 

 author seems to be of the same 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 experience 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 person- 

 age, 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 sue- 



