210 Mayow 



continuous supply of spirits and consequently an 

 uninterrupted movement of the heart, continuous 

 respiration is altogether necessary, since without it 

 the motion of the heart ceases. 



Furthermore, if after the motion of the heart has 

 ceased from the stopping of respiration, air is blown 

 in through a tube fitted to the vena cava^ we shall see 

 the heart's motion re-established. So that it appears 

 that air is that without which the movements of the 

 heart cannot go on at all. Nor does it matter much 

 how the air is transmitted to the mass of the blood, 

 whether by the lungs or by any other way. 



To this I add, lastly, that it is proved by Boyle's 

 experiments that flies, bees, and other insects which 

 can move with half of their body after being cut 

 through the middle, can yet neither move nor live in 

 a place void of air. To these small animals that have 

 neither blood, nor hearts, nor lungs, at all events not 

 in their divided parts, air seems to be needed for no 

 other purpose except motion alone. Finally, accord- 

 ing to this hypothesis, it is easy to say whence the 

 beasts of burden that exercise nearly all their muscles 

 the whole day long, derive an adequate supply of 

 explosive material for so great an amount of work ; 

 for what the entire mass of the blood is inadequate to 

 supply, the air, that freer fountain, can provide in 

 abundance. 



