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bled in the church (the bishops and chief clergy being invited) to hear an oration by some doctor or other learned person in praise of the study of medicine; and to urge the scholars to its diligent pursuit; the whole assembly then heard mass, after which the Litany of the Holy Ghost was said; for in those days people held, in profession at least, to the belief ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.’
To Harvey no doubt the great attraction of Padua was its anatomical school, which then presented opportunities for study greater than any other in Europe. The statutes of the University prescribed that twice during the academical session, which extended from St. Luke’s Day to the Feast of the Assumption, on August 15,[1] the whole human body should be publicly dissected by the Professor of Anatomy. Nor were the means neglected to ensure the fulfilment of this regulation; for it was provided that, if no criminals were executed within the province of Padua, the University should have the power of
- ↑ Statuta, &c., p. 103. Dies festi, et vacationum.
