FROM PARACELSUS TO HARVEY 



declared that he was unable to find such valves. 

 Others, however, such as Eustachius and Fabricius 

 (1537-1619), were more successful, and found and 

 described these structures. But the purpose served 

 by these valves was entirely misinterpreted. That 

 they act in preventing the backward flow of the blood 

 in the veins on its way to the heart, just as the valves 

 of the heart itself prevent regurgitation, has been 

 known since the time of HarVey; but the best inter- 

 pretation that could be given at that time, even by 

 such a man as Fabricius, was that they acted in retard- 

 ing the flow of the blood as it comes from the heart, 

 and thus prevent its too rapid distribution through- 

 out the body. The fact that the blood might have 

 been going towards the heart, instead of coming from 

 it, seems never to have been considered seriously until 

 demonstrated so conclusively by Harvey. 



Of this important and remarkable controversy 

 over the valves in veins, Withington has this to say: 

 "This is truly a marvellous story. A great Galenic 

 anatomist is first to give a full and correct description 

 of the valves and their function, but fails to see that 

 any modification of the old view as to the motion of the 

 blood is required. Two able dissectors carefully test 

 their action by experiment, and come to a result the 

 exact reverse of the truth. Urged by them, the two 

 foremost anatomists of the age make a special search 

 for valves and fail to find them. Finally, passing over 

 lesser peculiarities, an aged and honorable professor, 

 who has lived through all this, calmly asserts that no 

 anatomist, ancient or modern, has ever mentioned 

 valves in veins till he discovered them in is 74!'" 



