INTRODUCTION. 35 



period of 500 years, trie names of Asdepiades, Eufus Ephese- 

 uSj and Celsus, stand most prominent. The two latter gave 

 the names and localities to many parts of the body. Clau- 

 dius Galenus or Galen appeared and flourished about the 

 close of the second century. He was considered one of the 

 most remarkable and learned men that ever lived. He 

 applied himself especially to the investigation of Anatomy, 

 but, unfortunately, his descriptions were mostly taken from 

 the brute creation. In his works, Anatomy is made to 

 occupy a prominent and methodical place, and for 1500 

 years his name and influence reigned supreme, in spite of 

 all his errors; so much so, that it was considered the very 

 height of medical folly even to suspect, and a far more 

 unpardonable presumption to call in question and attempt 

 to correct any of his opinions. 



A treatise "on the nature of man," is recorded as being 

 the production of Nemesius, Bishop of Emissa, who wrote 

 about the end of the fourth century, his most prominent 

 Anatomical claim being the discovery of the use of the bile. 

 From the period of Galen to the 16th century, Anatomy, 

 with every other kind of learning, was on the decline. Du- 

 ring this long lapse of what has been very significantly 

 styled the Dark Ages, very little or no improvement was 

 made. After the destruction of Alexandria, learning, as 

 much as was left, was introduced among the Arabians, and 

 they applied themselves to the study of "physic;" but, as 

 their law, like that of the Jew, prohibited dissections, of 

 course they could make but little improvement. 



In the llth century, the school of Salernum, in Sicily, 

 was established, and obtained considerable reputation. But 

 owing to the ignorance and superstition of the times, and 

 from its being viewed as a "crime" to dissect a human body, 

 this school did little more than teach the dogmas of the 

 Arabian doctors. 



About the close of the 12th century, Abdollalliph distin- 

 guished himself in osteology, by exposing many of the 

 errors of Galen in this department. 



