188 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



sicians fails. And, therefore, though simple anatomy has 

 been fully and clearly handled, yet comparative anatomy 

 is deficient. For anatomists have carefully examined into 

 all the parts, their consistencies, figures and situations; but 

 pass over the different figure and state of those parts in dif 

 ferent persons. The reason of this defect I take to be, that 

 the former inquiry may terminate upon seeing two or three 

 bodies dissected; but the other being comparative and cas 

 ual, requires attentive and strict application to many differ 

 ent dissections: besides, the first is a subject wherein learned 

 anatomists may show themselves to their audience; but the 

 other a rigorous knowledge, to be acquired only by silent 

 and long experience. And no doubt but the internal parts, 

 for yariety and proportions, are little inferior to the exter 

 nal; and that hearts, livers and stomachs, are as different in 

 men, as foreheads, noses and ears. And in these differences 

 of the internal parts are often found the immediate causes of 

 many diseases, which physicians not observing, sometimes 

 unjustly accuse the humors, when the fault lies only in the 

 mechanic structure of a part. And in such diseases it is 

 in vain to use alteratives, as the case admits not of being 

 altered by them, but must be affected, accommodated, or 

 palliated by a regimen and familiar medicines. 



Again, comparative anatomy requires accurate observa 

 tions upon all the humors, and the marks and impressions of 

 diseases in different bodies upon dissection ; for the humors 

 are commonly passed over in anatomy, as loathsome and ex- 

 crementitious things; whereas it is highly useful and neces 

 sary to note their nature and the various kinds that may 

 sometimes be found in the human body, in what cavities 

 they principally lodge, and with what advantage, disadvan 

 tage and the like. So the marks and impressions of dis 

 eases, and the changes and devastations they bring upon 

 the internal parts, are to be diligently observed in differ 

 ent dissections; viz., imposthumes, ulcerations, solutions oi 

 continuity, putrefactions, corrosions, consumptions, contrac* 

 tions, extensions, convulsions, luxations, dislocations, ob- 



