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restored. If, on the contrary, the artery instead of the vein be compressed or tied, you 

 will observe the part between the obstacle and the heart, and the heart itself, to become 

 inordinately distended, to assume a deep purple or even livid colour, and at length to be 

 so oppressed with blood that you will believe it about to be choked ; but, the obstacle 

 removed, all things immediately return to their pristine state, the heart to its colour, 

 size, stroke, etc." (Chap. X.) 



Again, in this remarkable passage we have an experiment on a 

 pigeon's heart that recalls those of modern times. 



" Experimenting with a pigeon upon one occasion, after the heart had wholly ceased 

 to pulsate, and the auricles too had become motionless, I kept my finger wetted with 

 saliva and warm for a short time upon the heart, and observed, that under the influence 

 of this fomentation it recovered new strength and life, so that both ventricles and 

 auricles pulsated, contracting and relaxing alternately, recalled as it were from death to 

 life." (Chap. IV.) 



The end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the seventeenth 

 century witnessed the marvellous discoveries in the new physics, 

 although as yet there was but little exact chemistry. This is not 

 the place to narrate the work of Torricelli and Galileo Galilei. The 

 latter was called from Pisa in 1592 to become Professor in Padua, 

 where he laboured until 1610. He died in 1642. Harvey went to 

 Padua in 1598, so that he must have become acquainted with much of 

 the " new learning." The seventeenth century also saw the founda- 

 tion of associations or societies of individuals for the cultivation of the 

 " New Philosophy " i.e., experimental philosophy. The first society 

 for the investigation of physical science was " Academia Secretorum 

 Naturae," founded at Naples in 1560, but it was soon dissolved by the 

 ecclesiastical authorities. The " Accademia de' Lincei " was founded in 

 1603, of which Galileo was a member. It was dissolved owing to 

 opposition from Rome. Shortly after Borelli went to Pisa, another 

 society, " Accademia del Cimento," was founded at Florence in 1657 

 under the patronage of the Grand Duke Ferdinand II. Its members 

 included many disciples of Galileo, Viviani the great geometrician, 

 Castellio and Torricelli, and Borelli also was an active member. 

 As regards membership, " all that was required as an article of faith 

 was the abjuration of all faith, and a resolution to inquire into truth 

 without regard to any sect of philosophy." The " French Academy " 

 was established by Cardinal Richelieu in 1635 ; to England belongs 

 the honour of being the first country after Italy to establish a 

 society — the Royal Society — for the investigation and advancement 

 of the "New Philosophy" in 1645. It is to be noted that medical 

 men formed a large proportion of its members, Glisson and Ent were 

 amongst its original members. It received the Royal patronage 

 of Charles II. in 1663. In 1652 Leopold's Academy of Natural 

 Science was founded. The corresponding French Royal Academy 

 of Science was founded in 1666 at Paris by the Minister Colbert. 



