Guide to an Exhibition of 
W ITH the foundation, during the middle of the seven¬ 
teenth century, of effective scientific societies, the study 
of Natural History may be said to have entered upon a fourth 
period of its development—the period of co-operation. 
The regular assembling of both collectors and practical 
observers with the object of communicating the results of 
observations made, and discussing subjects of common interest, 
had great influence in encouraging and promoting all scientific 
pursuits. 
As early as 1560 an Accademia Secretorum Natures^ also 
known as De Secretis, had been founded at Naples, but coming 
into collision with the Church, was dissolved by the Pope. 
In 1603 the Accademia de'* Lincei was founded at Rome by 
Cesi, but flickered out at his death in 1630. 
No publications of these bodies survive. 
In 1652 a number of German naturalists founded the 
Academia Ccesarea Leopoldino-CaroHna Natures Curiosorum : 
No. 38. this society, however did not publish till 1670, whereas the 
Royal Society of London^ which was founded in 1662 (having 
existed as an informal body from 1645) began to issue its 
No. 37. Philosoph 'ical Transactions in 1665. 
The French Academic des Sciences was founded in 1666 (its 
members having begun as a private society in 1630), but only 
began to print in 1702. 
In Italy the Accademia del CimentOy founded at Florence in 
No. 39. 1657, issued its earliest Saggi di Naturali Esperienze in 1667 ; 
whilst the L'lnceiy revived for the third time in 1795 as the 
Accademia Pontific'ia de"* Nuovi Linceiy did not venture on 
publication till 1851. 
ALTHOUGH the study of Anatomy, as such, does not 
enter into the present history, certain important resultant 
Biological Discoveries of this period must be referred to, viz. — 
Firstly the discovery by William Harvey [1578-1657], of 
the Circulation of the Blood,* and his detection of the principle 
* The circulation of the blood between the heart and lungs, and through 
the lungs, was known in 1553, and alluded to by the Spanish physician 
and martyr, Miguel Ser^eto [1511-1553]? in his De Restitutione Christian- 
Umi, 
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