university. Haeser and Haller both attribute some portion of this popularity to the fact that Sylvius combined genuine eloquence with a wonderful charm of manner and a profound knowledge of chemistry, pharmacy and pathological anatomy. In the practice of medicine he followed Van Helmont very closely, but he was not willing to accept his teachings about an "archaeus insitus" and an "archaeus influus." The system which he advocated was of a very simple character, and this fact undoubtedly contributed much to his popularity among the students. His therapeutic methods were also of a thoroughly practical nature.
Of the works which Sylvius published the following deserve to receive special mention: "Disputationes medicae," a book in which are set forth his views regarding the fundamental principles of the science of medicine—physiology in particular; "De methodo medendi," a treatise on therapeutics; and "Praxeos medicae idea nova," a new idea concerning the practice of medicine.
Sylvius was one of the earliest defenders of Harvey's great discovery, and he was also one of the first to call attention to the part played by chemistry in elucidating some of the problems in physiology and pathology. At the same time he was always ready to acknowledge the importance of the part played by mechanics in respiration, in the circulation of the blood, in the movements of the intestines, etc., in which respects he was in entire agreement with the iatrophysicists or iatromathematicians.[1]
Finally, there is one more respect in which Sylvius is entitled to great credit: he paid most careful attention to the work of giving clinical instruction. Recognizing, as I do, the importance of this branch of medicine, I shall not hesitate to devote here a page or two to a brief review of the manner in which it came to hold the honorable position which it occupies to-day in all the best schemes for medical education.
During the sixteenth century, as Puschmann assures us, an attempt was made at Padua, Italy, to render clinical
- ↑ Physicians who maintain that all physiological and pathological phenomena may be explained by the laws of physics.
