THE MIDDLE AGES AND DURING THE REVIVAL. 63 



CORNUA of the ventricles of the cerebrum ; speaks of the 

 choroid plexus. 



1581 1626. Asellius discovered the LACTEALS (1622), 

 which carry from the intestines the nourishing matter of the 

 food to make fresh blood a discovery made more complete 

 in 1647 by PECQUET, who determined the function of the 

 thoracic duct (which conveys blood-making fluid into the 

 large veins, and then to the heart); and in 1649 still 

 more so by RuDBECK, who detected the lymphatics, which 

 play the same part as the lacteals in other parts of the 

 body. These three anatomists thus supplemented and 

 crowned the labours of Harvey, by finding and tracing the 

 vessels which carry nourishment to the blood. 



Medicine and Surgery meanwhile were advancing 

 through 



1517 1590. Pare, who created modern surgery, and was 

 the first to understand the nature and treatment of FIRE-ARM 

 WOUNDS ; replaced red-hot iron cauterisation by the binding 

 of arteries after amputation a reform which saved thousands 

 of lives. 



1553 1617. Alpinus created DIAGNOSIS. 



(Fl. 1534.) Goiter created PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY; 

 he studied the influence of the brain and the action of the 

 heart, and distinguished himself by his researches on the 

 nerves, the bones, and the cartilages. 



(Fl. 1540.) Plater set forth the CLASSIFICATION of 

 disease. 



All these learned men and many more could be men- 

 tioned contributed in one way or another work done for 

 all times. They did more. By them, men were taught one 

 great lesson : that Aristotle, Ptolemy, Galen, had been far 

 from settling everything for ever as it had been asserted 

 for centuries ; that there were whole groups of phenomena 

 they had not suspected, let alone their mistakes ; that 

 NATURE, THE SUBLIME TEACHER, must be examined and 

 consulted ; and that it exercises more sway over truth than 

 human authorities, however revered for their antiquity, their 

 station, their number, and their unanimity. The Church, the 

 interpretation of Scripture, the science of ages, the testimony 



