( 47 ) 



quantity of blood in the body, and muscular motion (1708), and also 

 " concerning the force of the heart in driving the blood through the 

 body." 



Here is a picture of Sanctorius and his method of weighing 

 himself. The point in the whole affair is that long before the balance 

 came to assume its true importance in matters chemical, Sanctorius 

 had, by its use, found a means of determining the loss of weight of his 

 own body under certain conditions by what is known as " insensible 

 perspiration." It is obvious that the word perspiration is taken 

 broadly. Two quotations will suffice. 



APH. VI. 



" If eight pounds of meat and drink are taken in one day, the quantity that usually 

 goes off by insensible perspiration in that time is five pounds." 



APH. XVII. 



" A person may certainly conclude himself in a state of health, if upon ascending a 

 precipice he finds himself more lightsome than before." 



COPY OF THE ORIGINAL FIGURE IX THE " MEDICINA STATICA " OF SANCTORIUS. 



Santorio — the Italian form of the name — the celebrated pre- 

 cursor of the iatro-mechanical school, was born at Capo dTstria (1561), 

 and studied at Padua, where he became Professor of Medicine (1611- 

 1624). According to Nelli, Sanctorius invented and described a 

 thermometer in 1612. {Biog. Lexikon.) 



