94 HUMAN DISSECTION. ITS DRAMA AND STRUGGLE 



dissection. Anatomizing was performed in traditional style by ig- 

 norant and uncouth barbers; not once was Guinterius seen to 

 use a knife upon a cadaver. Few human bodies reached the amphi- 

 theatre and those which did, lasted less than three days. The 

 studies made were superficial, at most; they included only the in- 

 testines and abdominal muscles. Vesalius felt that the teachers 

 were ignorant but unaware of it. He took matters into his own 

 hand, grabbed a scalpel, pushed the prosectors aside^ and systema- 

 tically proceeded on his own. Dissecting down to the bones, with 

 Servetus, he won the admiration of Guinterius, who now was able 

 to demonstrate to the class, for the first time, the muscles, ar- 

 teries, veins and nerves of the whole body. 



It was at Paris that Vesalius made a resolution: that he 

 would henceforth devote his energy, talents and his life to ana- 

 tomical study and teaching. One facet of his character now 

 stood him in good stead; namely, his strength of purpose. His 

 goal became the standards which were used at the famous Alex- 

 andrian School under the Greeks, Herophilus and Erasistratus, 

 who represented his ideal. He decided to take advantage of every 

 opportunity, and even to look for them, to dissect both animal 

 and man. He anatomized numerous dogs and haunted the ceme- 

 tery (Of the Innocents) and the place where the bodies of exe- 

 cuted criminals were deposited, looking for a suitable skeleton, 

 sometimes at his own peril. Collecting bones, in such fashion, he 

 was able to become a master of the osseous system, even to the 

 extent of identifying the finer parts blindfolded. At least one 

 time, he was questioned for having possession of them in his 

 home, by the police. Since his anatomical gifts were recognized 

 by faculty and students, it was not long before he was put in 

 charge of dissections; these were conducted to the satisfaction 

 and astonishment of all, particularly the barbers. There is a 

 legend that Vesalius never dissected a cadaver without first ask- 

 ing God's pardon. 



Vesalius studied three years under Sylvius at Paris. Although 

 not happy there, he undoubtedly laid tlic foundation for his 

 monumental work on the Fabrica. 



