264 HUMAN DISSECTION. ITS DRAMA AND STRUGGLE 



Structures of the human body through the eyes of Galen, whom 

 he idolized and glorified. When forced to admit that some of 

 his observations were incorrect, he supplied the answer that the 

 body had altered in its organization during 1400 years. Never- 

 theless, he encouraged dissection, helped to popularize it and 

 give it renown. 



Servetus, with religious leanings, became interested in the 

 anatomy of the respiratory system because he was searching for 

 the site of the soul. This was while he was a student at Paris. 

 There are some who claim that he was the first to discover the 

 pulmonary circulation of the blood. Because he believed that the 

 idea of the union of the three divines of the Trinity was a mere 

 phantasy, he was finally tried, imprisoned and burned at the 

 stake in 1553. 



Probably the most important figure in the history of anatomy 

 was Vesalius. His publication of the Fabrica in 1543 marks a 

 turning point not only in anatomy but in the whole field of 

 medicine. Although working at great odds to obtain suitable 

 cadavers, he was successful in the following: neutralizing the 

 authority of Galen, recasting the instruction of human structure- 

 starting basic, medical research in anatomy, physiology and sur- 

 gery; illustrating his dissections accurately; destroying long es- 

 tablished tenets and making many new discoveries. He ranks 

 among the greats of all time. 



Without much doubt, the most spectacular events in the 

 evolution of anatomy occurred in Great Britain. It was here that 

 the road was paved for student dissection in English speaking 

 countries, which multiplied the problems of cadaver supply, in 

 the face of inadequate anatomical statutes. More and more young 

 men became interested in studying medicine which necessitated 

 more medical schools to accommodate them. vSome of the latter 

 became fly-by-night places or diploma mills. Medical standardiz- 

 ing agencies required that students study human anatomy. Body 

 snatching, which had been largely conspicuous by its absence 

 on the Continent, became the principal method of supplying sub- 

 jects in the British Isles. 



