54 FATHERS OF BIOLOGY. 



impart the power of motion to muscles that the former 

 are derived from the anterior parts of the brain, while 

 the latter arise from the posterior portion, or from the 

 spinal cord. He maintained that the nerves of the finer 

 senses are formed of matter too soft to be the vehicles 

 of muscular motion ; whereas, on the other hand, the 

 nerves of motion are too hard to be susceptible of fine 

 sensibility. His description of the method of demon- 

 strating the different parts of the brain by dissection is 

 very interesting, and, like his references to various in- 

 struments and contrivances, proves him to have been 

 a practical and experienced anatomist. 



In his description of the organs and process of nutri- 

 tion, absorption by the veins of the stomach is correctly 

 noticed, and the union of the mesenteric veins into one 

 common vena portce is pointed out. The communica- 

 tions between the ramifications of the vena portse and 

 of the proper veins of the liver are supposed by Galen 

 to be effected by means of anastomosing pores or 

 channels. Although it is evident that Galen was ignorant 

 of the true absorbent system, yet he appears to have 

 been aware of the lacteals ; for he says that in addition 

 to those mesenteric veins which by their union form 

 the vena portse, there are visible in every part of the 

 mesentery other veins, proceeding also from the intes- 

 tines, which terminate in glands ; and he supposes that 

 these veins are intended for the nourishment of the 



