The Circulation of the BloodIf the pulsations of the arteries fan and refrigerate the several parts of the body as the lungs do the heart, how comes it, as is commonly said, that the arteries carry the vital blood into the different parts, abundantly charged with vital spirits, which cherish the heat of these parts, sustain them when asleep, and recruit them when exhausted? and how should it happen that, if you tie the arteries, immediately the parts not only become torpid, and frigid, and look pale, but at length cease even to be nourished?-from the IntroductionThis seminal work of medical literature, first published in 1628, spells out in clear, lucid language how the human heart pumps blood around the body via its own exclusive circulatory route. What seems like an obvious concept to us today was in fact quite revolutionary at the time: Harvey's defiance of the medical "common knowledge" of his time laid the groundwork for all modern investigations of the circulatory system, and may be the most momentous discovery of 17th-century medicine.This important volume also includes a series of letters from Harvey to his medical colleagues in which he defends his then-astonishing theories, plus Harvey's "The Anatomy of Thomas Parr," a fascinating 1635 report on the dissection of the corpse of "a poor farmer of extremely advanced age."OF INTEREST TO: readers of scientific history, medical studentsBritish naturalist, anatomist, and doctor WILLIAM HARVEY (1578-1657) was educated at Cambridge, Canterbury, and Padua, and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1607. He served as court physician to both King James I and King Charles I. |
Contents
ANATOMICAL DISQUISITION ON | 9 |
CHAP | 22 |
OF THE MOTIONS OF ARTERIES AS SEEN | 28 |
OF THE MOTION ACTION AND OFFICE | 37 |
CHAP PAGE | 49 |
OF THE QUANTITY OF BLOOD PASSING THROUGH | 55 |
OF THE QUANTITY | 64 |
THAT THERE IS A CIRCULATION OF THE BLOOD | 75 |
THE FIRST ANATOMICAL DISQUISITION | 111 |
TO CASPAR HOFMANN M D | 175 |
TO THE VERY EXCELLENT JOHN NARDI OF FLORENCE | 184 |
TO THE MOST EXCELLENT AND LEARNED JOHN | 193 |
TO THE VERY LEARNED JOHN NARDI OF FLORENCE | 199 |
THE ANATOMICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BODY | 205 |
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM | 212 |
223 | |
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admit anastomoses anatomists anatomy animals aorta appears Aristotle arteries and veins become bladder blood passes cause cavities channels chyle circulation colour compressed contained contraction contrary demonstrated diastole dilated dissection distended effect Eliab embryo Erasistratus escape experiment extremities fibres filled fillet finger flesh flow fluid foetus force fuliginous vapours further Galen greater hand Harvey's heart and arteries heat Hieronymus Fabricius impelled impulse incessantly intestines Item I give John Nardi kind lacteal larger learned left auricle left ventricle ligature liver living lungs manner mesentery milk motion nature nourished nutrition observed opinion organ orifice passage perceive physician pores pounds Item present propelled pulmonary artery pulmonary veins pulsate pulse quantity of blood reason receive reflux regurgitation respiration right auricle right ventricle Riolanus seen sense septum spirits systole thence things truth tunics valves vena arteriosa vena cava vena portæ vessels vnto whence wherefore whilst WILLIAM HARVEY