Advancement of Learning 1 1 3 



of the lawyers, who are careful to report new cases and 

 decisions for the direction of future judgments. This con 

 tinuance of medicinal history I find deficient ; which I under 

 stand neither to be so infinite as to extend to every common 

 case, nor so reserved as to admit none but wonders: for 

 many things are new in the manner, which are not new in 

 the kind ; and if men will intend to observe, they shall find 

 much worthy to observe. 



In the inquiry which is made by Anatomy, I find much 

 deficience: for they inquire of the parts, and their sub 

 stances, figures, and collocations ; but they inquire not of 

 the diversities of the parts, the secrecies of the passages, and 

 the seats or nestlings of the humours, nor much of the foot 

 steps and impressions of diseases : the reason of which 

 omission I suppose to be, because the first inquiry may 

 be satisfied in the view of one or a few anatomies : but the 

 latter, being comparative and casual, must arise from the 

 view of many. And as to the diversity of parts, there is no 

 doubt but the facture or framing of the inward parts is as 

 full of difference as the outward, and in that is the cause 

 continent of many diseases ; which not being observed, they 

 quarrel many times with humours, which are not in fault; 

 the fault being in the very frame and mechanic of the part, 

 which cannot be removed by medicine alterative, but must 

 be accommodate and palliate by diets and medicines 

 familiar. As for the passages and pores, it is true which 

 was anciently noted, that the more subtle of them appear 

 not in anatomies, because they are shut and latent in dead 

 bodies, though they be open and manifest in live: which 

 being supposed, though the inhumanity of anatomia vivorum 

 was by Celsus justly reproved; l yet in regard of the great 

 use of this observation, the inquiry needed not by him so 

 slightly to have been relinquished altogether, or referred to 

 the casual practices of surgery ; but mought have been well 

 diverted upon the dissection of beasts alive, which notwith 

 standing the dissimilitude of their parts, may sufficiently 

 satisfy this inquiry. And for the humours, they are com 

 monly passed over in anatomies as purgaments; whereas 

 it is most necessary to observe, what cavities, nests, and 

 recptacles the humours do find in the parts, with the differ 

 ing kind of the humour so lodged and received. And as for 

 1 De Re Medicd, i. i. 



