

n] Circulation of the Blood. 29 



And again, speaking of the vein-like artery he says : 

 "Anatomists, not very wise, begging their pardon, in so 

 " doing think that the use of this is to carry the changed air to 

 " the lungs which, like a fan, ventilate the heart, cooling this 

 "organ and not as Aristotle thought, the brain. The same 

 " writers think that the lungs receive the I know not what 

 "smoky fumes (fumos capinosos) (for so in their ignorance 

 " of the tongues they call them) discharged from the left 

 " ventricle. About this, all one can say is that it pleases them, 

 " for they certainly seem to think that the same state of things 

 " exists in the heart as in a chimney, as if there were green 

 " logs in the heart which give out smoke when burnt. So far 

 " concerning the use of these parts according to the opinion of 

 " other anatomists. I for my part hold a quite different view, 

 " namely that this vein-like artery was made to carry blood 

 " mixed with air from the lungs to the left ventricle of the 

 " heart. And this is not only most probable, but is actually 

 " the case ; for if you examine not only dead bodies but also 

 " living animals, you will find this artery in all instances filled 

 " with blood, which by no manner of means would be the case 

 "if it were constructed to carry air forsooth and vapours. 

 " Wherefore I cannot wonder enough at those anatomists who 

 " have not observed a matter so clear and of such importance, 

 " eminent though they wish to be considered and indeed are 

 "considered by many of their fellows. But for these it is 

 " enough that Galen said so. What ? To think that some 

 " folk in our time swear to the dogmas of Galen about anatomy 

 " so that they dare to assert that Galen ought to be taken as 

 " gospel, and that there is nothing in his writings which is not 

 " true ! It is wonderful how men are carried away by this 

 " doctrine; and the princes of the anatomy offer it to the rabble. 

 "■ Yet no one sees how much this is to be blamed. Who indeed 

 " is there who never offends ? But of this enough and more 

 " than enough." 



He without restriction claims the discovery as his own. 

 Let me note in passing that he makes no attempt to draw 

 from the important new fact, the conclusions which chiefly 

 give it its importance. Though he repudiates the Galenic 



