382 The American Naturalist. [May, 
edge of physiological fact was derived, as is well known, in 
greatest part from his own observations on man, the lower 
animals, and plants; and to a large extent it forms the basis 
of all subsequent development of the science. His pupil, 
Theophrastus, founded the science of vegetable physiology. 
Contemporaneous with Theophratus was the development of 
the great school of medicine at Alexandria, and here, under 
Herophilus and Erasistratus, animal physiology, along with 
anatomy and pathology, as a part of medicine undoubtedly , 
made great progress. The extent of that progress can be 
inferred only imperfectly from later writers. The loss of the 
Alexandrian records is most lamentable. Aristotle had dis- 
sected animals; the Alexandrians dissected the human body 
and, more important for our science if true, it is possible that 
they performed experiments on animals. The facts made 
known by Aristotle were added to; physiological material 
accumulated. Thus, while the first period had been specula- 
tive, the second was descriptive. But not yet was there a 
science of function. 
Then came Galen, the great physician, investigator, and 
writer, and if was he who organized the mass of knowledge 
that through the centuries had been growing. From Galens 
time animal physiology has had a recognized position as& 
branch of natural science. A modern writer? says of him: 
“In the midst of contending factions he alone and for ae 
first time shaped physiology into an independent science. Ta 
established physiology as the doctrine of the use of organs; 
he experimented upon animals * * * ; and he suggested ques- 
tions which he answered by the aid of such experiments. | 
opposition to all his predecessors and contemporaries, he main- 
tained physiology to be the foundation of medicine. Further 
he, first of all and so far as it was possible at his umé, 
described and explained the functions methodically : 
pletely. Upon the one side he sought to refer vital gener! 
ena to natural causes, and upon the other he lauded their pt 
poseful character, with expressions of admiration 
dom of the Creator, while their fitness aided him 1 
*Preyer, Allgemeine Physiologie. 
and com- — 
for the WS 
