An anatomical disquisition on the motion of the heart & blood in animalsHarvey, William
Science
An anatomical disquisition on the motion of the heart & blood in animals
Harvey, William
Blood -- Circulation
No learned man and Christian, having doubts in such a cause, would have
recommended his experience to posterity, to the imminent risk, and even
loss of human life; neither would he, without very sufficient reasons,
have repudiated the authority of Galen and Fernelius, which has usually
such weight with him. Whatever he has denied in the circulation of the
blood, therefore, whether with reference to the mesentery or any other
part, and with an eye to the lacteal veins or the ancient system of
physic, or any other consideration, must be ascribed to his courtesy
and modesty, and is to be excused.
Thus far, I think, it appears plain enough, from the very words and
arguments of our author, that there is a circulation everywhere; that
the blood, wherever it is, changes its place, and by the veins returns
to the heart; so that our learned author seems to be of the same
opinion as myself. It would therefore be labour in vain, did I here
quote at greater length the various reasons which I have consigned in
my work on the Motion of the Blood, in confirmation of my opinions, and
which are derived from the structure of the vessels, the position of
the valves, and other matters of experience and observation; and this
the more, as I have not yet seen the treatise on the Circulation of the
Blood of the learned writer; nor, indeed, have I yet met with a single
argument of his, or more than his simple negation, which would lead
me to see wherefore he should reject a circulation which he admits as
universal, in certain parts, regions, and vessels.
It is true that by way of subterfuge he has recourse to an anastomosis
of the vessels on the authority of Galen, and the evidence of daily
experience. But so distinguished a personage, an anatomist so expert,
so inquisitive, and careful, should first have shown anastomoses
between the larger arteries and larger veins, and these, both
obvious and ample, having mouths in relation with such a torrent
as is constituted by the whole mass of the blood, and larger than
the capacity of the continuous branches, (from which he takes away
all circulation,) before he had rejected those that are familiarly
known, that are more likely and more open; he ought to have clearly
shown us where these anastomoses are, and how they are fashioned,
whether they be adapted only to permit the access of the blood into
the veins, and not to allow of its regurgitation, in the same way
as we see the ureters connected with the urinary bladder, or in
what other manner things are contrived. But--and here I speak over
boldly perhaps--neither our learned author himself, nor Galen, nor
any experience, has ever succeeded in making such anastomoses as he
imagines, sensible to the eye.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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