he first enters properly on his subject (Chap. 2], is devoted to its consideration. And then, no physiologist up to Harvey's time had questioned the existence of two kinds of blood, one appropriate to each order of vessels, and answering different ends in the economy.
The only name still wanting in this historical sketch, till we come to Harvey, is that of Fabricius of Aquapendente, his teacher in anatomy. Fabricius had given particular attention, among other subjects, to the anatomy of the valves of the veins, which he entitled ostila venarum. Fabricius, indeed, possessed so thorough a knowledge of the valvular elements of the vascular system, that it is really astonishing, as an able writer[1] has remarked, that he should not have had clearer ideas on the functions, among other things, of the pulmonary veins, and should have continued a rigid adherent to the prejudices which prevailed before his time. Fabricius could observe, and he could describe; but he wanted the combining intellect that infers, the imagination that leads to new ideas—to discovery. Though he did little himself, however, to advance the sum of human knowledge, he proved a tooth in the wheel that has since put in motion the whole machinery of modern medical science. He it was who sowed the seed, little dreaming of its kind, which, finding one spot of congenial soil, sprung up a harvest that has continued to nurture the world of physiological science to the present hour.[2]
- ↑ Sprengel, Geschichte der Arzneikunde, ii Abschnitt, 4 Kapitel.
- ↑ I pass by unnoticed in my text several names that have been very gratuitously associated with the discovery of the circulation, such as that of Father Paul the Venetian, Walter Warner and Mr. Prothero, Honoratus Faber, &c. The claims of Father Paul have been satisfactorily explained by Dr. Ent in his 'Apology,' who has shown that instead of Harvey borrowing from the Monk, the Monk, through the Venetian ambassador to London, who was Harvey's friend, had borrowed from Harvey. The others do not require serious mention. Dr. Freind has given an excellent summary of the entire doctrine of the circulation in his Harveian Oration, to which it is with much pleasure that I refer the reader for other information. I also pass by the still-recurring denials by obtuse and ill-informed individuals of the truth, or of the sufficiency of the evidence of the truth, of the Harveian circulation. Those who can not see, must, contrary to the popular adage, be admitted to be still blinder than those who will not see.
