382 ON GENERATION. 



such foresight, art, and divine intelligence, wherefore should we 

 not, with equal propriety, admit an exalted nature in the blood, 

 and think at least as highly of it as we have been led to do of 

 the semen ? the rather, as this fluid is itself produced from 

 the blood, as appears from the history of the egg; and the whole 

 organized body not only derives its origin, as from a genital 

 part, but even appears to owe its preservation to the blood. 



We have, indeed, already said so much incidentally above, 

 intending to speak on the subject more particularly at another 

 time. Nor do I think that we are here to dispute whether it is 

 strictly correct to speak of the blood as a part ; some deny 

 the propriety of such language, moved especially by the con- 

 sideration that it is not sensible, and that it flows into all parts 

 of the body to supply them with nourishment. For myself, 

 however, I have discovered not a few things connected with the 

 manner of generation which differ essentially from those mo- 

 tions which philosophers and medical writers generally either 

 admit or reject. At this time I say no more on this point ; 

 but though I admit the blood to be without sensation, it does 

 not follow that it should not form a portion, and even a very 

 principal portion, of a body which is endowed with sensibility. 

 For neither does the brain nor the spinal marrow, nor the crys- 

 talline or the vitreous humour of the eye, feel anything, 

 though, by the common consent of all, philosophers and physi- 

 cians alike, these are parts of the body. Aristotle placed the 

 blood among the partes similares ; Hippocrates, as the animal 

 body according to him is made up of containing, contained, 

 and impelling parts, of course reckoned the blood among the 

 number of parts contained. 



But we shall have more to say on this topic when we treat of 

 that wherein a part consists, and how many kinds of parts there 

 are. Meantime, I cannot be silent on the remarkable fact, 

 that the heart itself, this most distinguished member in the 

 body, appears to be insensible. 



A young nobleman, eldest son of the Viscount Montgomery, 

 when a child, had a severe fall, attended with fracture of the 

 ribs of the left side. The consequence of this was a suppurat- 

 ing abscess, which went on discharging abundantly for a long 

 time, from an immense gap in his side ; this I had from him- 

 self and other credible persons who were witnesses. Between 



