LETTER IX

To the distinguished and accomplished John Vlackveld, Physician at Harlem

LEARNED SIR,--Your much esteemed letter reached me safely, in which you not only exhibit your kind consideration of me, but display a singular zeal in the cultivation of our art.

It is even so. Nature is nowhere accustomed more openly to display her secret mysteries than in cases where she shows traces of her workings apart from the beaten path; nor is there any better way to advance the proper practice of medicine than to give our minds to the discovery of the usual law of nature, by the careful investigation of cases of rarer forms of disease. For it has been found in almost all things, that what they contain of useful or of applicable, is hardly perceived unless we are deprived of them, or they become deranged in some way. The case of the plasterer to which you refer is indeed a curious one, and might supply a text for a lengthened commentary by way of illustration. But it is in vain that you apply the spur to urge me, at my present age, not mature merely but declining, to gird myself for any new investigation. For I now consider myself entitled to my discharge from duty. It will, however, always be a pleasant sight for me to see distinguished men like yourself engaged in this honorable arena. Farewell, most learned sir, and whatever you do, still love

Yours, most respectfully, WILLIAM HARVEY.

London, 24th April, 1657.

APPENDIX

THE ANATOMICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BODY OF THOMAS PARR WHO DIED AT THE AGE OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-TWO YEARS

MADE BY WILLIAM HARVEY

OTHERS OF THE KING’S PHYSICIANS BEING PRESENT

ON THE 16TH OF NOVEMBER, THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTHDAY OF HER SERENE HIGHNESS HENRIETTA MARIA, QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE AND IRELAND

ANATOMICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BODY OF THOMAS PARR

Thomas Parr, a poor countryman, born near Winnington, in the county of Salop, died on the 14th of November, in the year of grace 1635, after having lived one hundred and fifty-two years and nine months, and survived nine princes. This poor man, having been visited by the illustrious Earl of Arundel when he chanced to have business in these parts, (his lordship being moved to the visit by the fame of a thing so incredible,) was brought by him from the country to London; and, having been most kindly treated by the earl both on the journey and during a residence in his own house, was presented as a remarkable sight to his Majesty the King.

Having made an examination of the body of this aged individual, by command of his Majesty, several of whose principal physicians were present, the following particulars were noted:

The body was muscular, the chest hairy, and the hair on the fore-arms still black; the legs, however, were without hair, and smooth.

The organs of generation were healthy, the penis neither retracted nor extenuated, nor the scrotum filled with any serous infiltration, as happens so commonly among the decrepid; the testes, too, were sound and large; so that it seemed not improbable that the common report was true, viz. that he did public penance under a conviction for incontinence, after he had passed his hundredth year; and his wife, whom he had married as a widow in his hundred-and-twentieth year, did not deny that he had intercourse with her after the manner of other husbands with their wives, nor until about twelve years back had he ceased to embrace her frequently.

The chest was broad and ample; the lungs, nowise fungous, adhered, especially on the right side, by fibrous bands to the ribs. They were much loaded with blood, as we find them in cases of peripneumony, so that until the blood was squeezed out they looked rather blackish. Shortly before his death I had observed that the face was livid, and he suffered from difficult breathing and orthopnœa. This was the reason why the axillæ and chest continued to retain their heat long after his death: this and other signs that present themselves in cases of death from suffocation were observed in the body.

We judged, indeed, that he had died suffocated, through inability to breathe, and this view was confirmed by all the physicians present, and reported to the King. When the blood was expressed, and the lungs were wiped, their substance was beheld of a white and almost milky hue.

The heart was large, and thick, and fibrous, and contained a considerable quantity of adhering fat, both in its circumference and over its septum. The blood in the heart, of a black colour, was dilute, and scarcely coagulated; in the right ventricle alone some small clots were discovered.

In raising the sternum, the cartilages of the ribs were not found harder or converted into bone in any greater degree than they are in ordinary men; on the contrary, they were soft and flexible.

The intestines were perfectly sound, fleshy, and strong, and so was the stomach: the small intestines presented several constrictions, like rings, and were muscular. Whence it came that, by day or night, observing no rules or regular times for eating, he was ready to discuss any kind of eatable that was at hand; his ordinary diet consisting of sub-rancid cheese, and milk in every form, coarse and hard bread, and small drink, generally sour whey. On this sorry fare, but living in his home, free from care, did this poor man attain to such length of days. He even ate something about midnight shortly before his death.

The kidneys were bedded in fat, and in themselves sufficiently healthy; on their anterior aspects, however, they contained several small watery abscesses or serous collections, one of which, the size of a hen’s egg, containing a yellow fluid in a proper cyst, had made a rounded depression in the substance of the kidney. To this some were disposed to ascribe the suppression of urine under which the old man had laboured shortly before his death; whilst others, and with greater show of likelihood, ascribed it to the great regurgitation of serum upon the lungs.

There was no appearance of stone either in the kidneys or bladder.

The mesentery was loaded with fat, and the colon, with the omentum, which was likewise fat, was attached to the liver, near the fundus of the gall-bladder; in like manner the colon was adherent from this point posteriorly with the peritoneum.

The viscera were healthy; they only looked somewhat white externally, as they would have done had they been parboiled; internally they were (like the blood) of the colour of dark gore.

The spleen was very small, scarcely equalling one of the kidneys in size.

All the internal parts, in a word, appeared so healthy, that had nothing happened to interfere with the old man’s habits of life, he might perhaps have escaped paying the debt due to nature for some little time longer.

The cause of death seemed fairly referrible to a sudden change in the non-naturals, the chief mischief being connected with the change of air, which through the whole course of life had been inhaled of perfect purity,--light, cool, and mobile, whereby the præcordia and lungs were more freely ventilated and cooled; but in this great advantage, in this grand cherisher of life this city is especially destitute; a city whose grand characteristic is an immense concourse of men and animals, and where ditches abound, and filth and offal lie scattered about, to say nothing of the smoke engendered by the general use of sulphureous coal as fuel, whereby the air is at all times rendered heavy, but much more so in the autumn than at any other season. Such an atmosphere could not have been found otherwise than insalubrious to one coming from the open, sunny, and healthy region of Salop; it must have been especially so to one already aged and infirm.

And then for one hitherto used to live on food unvaried in kind, and very simple in its nature, to be set at a table loaded with variety of viands, and tempted not only to eat more than wont, but to partake of strong drink, it must needs fall out that the functions of all the natural organs would become deranged. Whence the stomach at length failing, and the excretions long retained, the work of concoction proceeding languidly, the liver getting loaded, the blood stagnating in the veins, the spirits frozen, the heart, the source of life, oppressed, the lungs infarcted, and made impervious to the ambient air, the general habit rendered more compact, so that it could no longer exhale or perspire--no wonder that the soul, little content with such a prison, took its flight.

The brain was healthy, very firm and hard to the touch; hence, shortly before his death, although he had been blind for twenty years, he heard extremely well, understood all that was said to him, answered immediately to questions, and had perfect apprehension of any matter in hand; he was also accustomed to walk about, slightly supported between two persons. His memory, however, was greatly impaired, so that he scarcely recollected anything of what had happened to him when he was a young man, nothing of public incidents, or of the kings or nobles who had made a figure, or of the wars or troubles of his earlier life, or of the manners of society, or of the prices of things--in a word, of any of the ordinary incidents which men are wont to retain in their memories. He only recollected the events of the last few years. Nevertheless, he was accustomed, even in his hundred and thirtieth year, to engage lustily in every kind of agricultural labour, whereby he earned his bread, and he had even then the strength required to thrash the corn.

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM HARVEY, M.D.

Extracted from the Registry of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

In the name of the Almighty and Eternal God Amen I WILLIAM HARVEY of London Doctor of Physicke doe by these presents make and ordaine this my last Will and testament in manner and forme following Revoking hereby all former and other wills and testaments whatsoever Imprimis I doe most humbly render my soule to Him that gave it and to my blessed Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus and my bodie to the Earth to be buried at the discretion of my executor herein after named The personall estate which at the time of my decease I shalbe in any way possessed of either in Law or equitie be it in goods householdstuffe readie moneys debts duties arrearages of rents or any other wayes whatsoever and whereof I shall not by this present will or by some Codicill to be hereunto annexed make a particular gift and disposition I doe after my debts Funeralls and Legacies paid and discharged give and bequeath the same vnto my loving brother Mr. Eliab Harvey merchant of London whome I make Executor of this my last will and testament And whereas I have lately purchased certaine lands in Northamptonshire or thereabouts commonly knowne by the name of Oxon grounds and formerly belonging vnto to the Earl of Manchester and certaine other grounds in Leicestershire commonly called or knowne by the name of Baron Parke and sometime heretofore belonging vnto Sir Henry Hastings Knight both which purchases were made in the name of several persons nominated and trusted by me and by two severall deeds of declaracon vnder the handes and seales of all persons any waye parties or privies to the said trusts are declared to be first vpon trust and to the intent that I should be permitted to enioye all the rents and profits and the benefit of the collaterall securitie during my life and from and after my decease Then upon trust and for the benefit of such person and persons and of and for such estate and estates and Interests And for raysing and payment of such summe and summes of Money Rents Charges Annuities and yearly payments to and for such purposes as from time to time by any writing or writings to be by me signed and sealed in the presence of Two or more credible witnesses or by my last will and testament in writing should declare limit direct or appoint And further in trust that the said Mannors and lands and everie part thereof together with the Collaterall securitie should be assigned conveyed and assured vnto such persons and for suche Estates as the same should by me be limited and directed charged and chargeable nevertheles with all Annuities rents and summes of money by me limited and appointed if any such shalbe And in default of such appointment then to Eliab Harvey his heires executors and Assignes or to such as he or they shall nominate as by the said two deeds of declaracon both of them bearing date the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord God one Thousand sixe hundred Fiftie and one more at large it doth appeare I doe now hereby declare limit direct and appoint that with all convenient speed after my decease there shalbe raised satisfied and paid these severall summes of money Rents Charges and Annuities herein after expressed and likewise all such other summes of Money Rents Charges or Annuities which at any time hereafter in any Codicill to be hereunto annexed shall happen to be limited or expressed And first I appoint so much money to be raised and laid out vpon that building which I have already begun to erect within the Colledge of Physicians in London as will serve to finish the same according to the designe already made Item I give and bequeath vnto my lo sister in Law Mrs Eliab Harvey one hundred pounds to buy something to keepe in remembrance of me Item I give to my Niece Mary Pratt all that Linnen householdstuffe and furniture which I have at Coome neere Croydon for the vse of Will Foulkes and to whom his keeping shalbe assigned after her death or before me at any time Item I give vnto my Niece Mary West and her daughter Amy West halfe the Linnen I shall leave at London in my chests and Chambers together with all my plate excepting my Coffey pot Item I give to my lo sister Eliab all the other halfe of my Linnen which I shall leave behind me Item I give to my lo sister Daniell at Lambeth and to everie one of her children severally the summe of fiftie pounds Item I give to my lo Coosin Mr Heneage Finch for his paines counsell and advice about the contriving of this my will one hundred pounds Item I give to all my little Godchildren Nieces and Nephews severally to everie one Fiftie pounds Item I give and bequeath to the towne of Foulkestone where I was borne two hundred pounds to be bestowed by the advice of the Mayor thereof and my Executor for the best vse of the poore Item I give to the poore of Christ hospitall in Smithfield thirtie pounds Item I give to Will Harvey my godsonne the sonne of my brother Mich Harvey deceased one hundred pounds and to his brother Michaell Fiftie pounds Item I give to my Nephew Tho Cullen and his children one hundred pounds and to his brother my godsonne Will Cullen one hundred pounds Item I give to my Nephew Jhon Harvey the sonne of my lo brother Tho Harvey deceased two hundred pounds Item I give to my Servant John Raby for his diligence in my service and sicknesse twentie pounds And to Alice Garth my Servant Tenne pounds over and above what I am already owing unto her by my bill which was her mistresses legacie Item I give among the poor children of Amy Rigdon daughter of my lo vncle Mr Tho Halke twentie pounds Item among other my poorest kindred one hundred pounds to be distributed at the appointment of my Executor Item I give among the servants of my sister Dan at my Funeralls Five pounds And likewise among the servants of my Nephew Dan Harvey at Coome as much Item I give to my Cousin Mary Tomes Fifty pounds Item I give to my lo Friend Mr Prestwood one hundred pounds Item I give to everie one of my lo brother Eliab his sonnes and daughters severally Fiftie pounds apiece All which legacies and gifts aforesaid are chiefly to buy something to keepe in remembrance of me Item I give among the servants of my brother Eliab which shalbe dwelling with him at the time of my decease tenne pounds Furthermore I give and bequeath vnto my Sister Eliabs Sister Mrs Coventrey a widowe during her natural life the yearly rent or summe of twentie pounds Item I give to my Niece Mary West during her naturall life the yearly rent or summe of Fortie pounds Item I give for the vse and behoofe and better ordering of Will Foulkes for and during the term of his life vnto my Niece Mary Pratt the yearly rent of tenne pounds which summe if it happen my said Niece shall dye before him I desire may be paid to them to whome his keeping shalbe appointed Item I will that the twentie pounds which I yearly allowe him my brother Galen Browne may be continued as a legacie from his sister during his naturall life Item I will that the payments to Mr Samuel Fentons children out of the profits of Buckholt Lease be orderly performed as my deere deceased lo wife gave order so long as that lease shall stand good Item I give vnto Alice Garth during her naturall life the yearly rent or summe of twentie pounds Item To John Raby during his naturall life sixteene pounds yearly rent All which yearly rents or summes to be paid halfe yearly at the two most vsuall feasts in the yeare viz Michaelmas and our Lady day without any deduction for or by reason of any manner of taxes to be any way hereafter imposed The first payment of all the said rents or Annuities respectively to beginne at such of those feasts which shall first happen next after my decease Thus I give the remainder of my lands vnto my lo brother Eliab and his heires All my legacies and gifts &c. being performed and discharged Touching my bookes and householdstuffe Pictures and apparell of which I have not already disposed I give to the Colledge of Physicians all my bookes and papers and my best Persia long Carpet and my blue sattin imbroyedyed Cushion one paire of brasse Andirons with fireshovell and tongues of brasse for the ornament of the meeting roome I have erected for that purpose Item I give my velvet gowne to my lo friend Mr Doctor Scarbrough desiring him and my lo friend Mr Doctor Ent to looke over those scattered remnant of my poore Librarie and what bookes papers or rare collections they shall thinke fit to present to the Colledge and the rest to be Sold and with the money buy better And for their paines I give to Mr Doctor Ent all the presses and shelves he please to make use of and five pounds to buy him a ring to keepe or weare in remembrance of me And to Dr Scarbrough All my little silver instruments of surgerie Item I give all my Chamber furniture tables bed bedding hangings which I have at Lambeth to my Sister Dan and her daughter Sarah And all that at London to my lo Sister Eliab and her daughter or my godsonne Eliab as she shall appoint Lastly I desire my executor to assigne over the custode of Will Fowkes after the death of my Niece Mary Pratt if she happen to dye before him vnto the Sister of the said William my Niece Mary West Thus I have finished my last Will in three pages two of them written with own hand and my name subscribed to everie one with my hand and seal to the last

WILL HARVEY.

* * * * *

Signed sealed and published as the last will and testament of me William Harvey In the presence of us Edward Dering Henneage Finch Richard Flud Francis Finche Item I have since written a Codicill with my owne hand in a sheet of paper to be added hereto with my name thereto subscribed and my seale.

ITEM I will that the sumes and charges here specified be added and annexed vnto my last will and testament published heretofore in the presence of Sir Edward Dering and Mr. Henneage Finch and others and as a Codicill by my Executor in like manner to be performed whereby I will and bequeath to John Denn sonne of Vincent Denne the summe of thirtie pounds Item to my good friend Mr Tho Hobbs to buy something to keepe in remembrance of me tenne pounds and to Mr Kennersley in like manner twentie pounds Item what moneys shalbe due to me from Mr. Hen Thompson his fees being discharged I give to my friend Mr Prestwood Item what money is of mine viz one hundred pounds in the hands of my Cosin Rigdon I give halfe thereof to him towards the marriage of his niece and the other halfe to be given to Mrs Coventrey for her sonne Walter when he shall come of yeares and for vse my Cosin Rigdon giving securitie I would he should pay none Item what money shalbe due to me and Alice Garth my servant on a pawne now in the hands of Mr Prestwood I will after my decease shall all be given my said servant for her diligence about me in my siknesse and service both interest and principall Item if in case it so fall out that my good friend Mrs Coventrey during her widowhood shall not dyet on freecost with my brother or Sister Eliab Harvey Then I will and bequeath to her one hundred marke yearly during her widowhood Item I will and bequeath to my loving Cosin Mr Henneage Finch (more than heretofore) to be for my godsonne Will Finche one hundred pounds Item I will and bequeath yearly during her life a rent of thirtie pounds vnto Mrs Jane Nevison Widdowe in case she shall not preferre her selfe in marriage to be paid quarterly by even porcons the first to beginn at Christmas Michaelmas or Lady day or Midsummer which first happens after my decease Item I give to my Goddaughter Mrs Eliz Glover daughter of my Cosin Toomes the yearly rent of tenne pounds from my decease vnto the end of five years. Item to her brother Mr Rich Toomes thirty pounds as a legacie Item I give to John Cullen sonne of Tho Cullen deceased all what I have formerly given his father and more one hundred pounds Item I will that what I have bequeathed to my Niece Mary West be given to her husband my Cosin Rob West for his daughter Amy West Item what should have bene to my Sister Dan deceased I will be given my lo Niece her daughter in Law Item I give my Cosin Mrs Mary Ranton fortie pounds to buy something to keep in remembrance of me Item to my nephews Michaell and Will the sonnes of my brother Mich one hundred pounds to either of them Item all the furniture of my chamber and all the hangings I give to my godsonne Mr Eliab Harvey at his marriage and all my red damaske furniture and plate to my Cosin Mary Harvey Item I give my best velvet gowne to Doctor Scarbrowe.

WILL HARVEY.

Memorandum that upon Sunday the twentie eighth day of December in the yeare of our Lord one thousand sixe hundred fiftie sixe I did againe peruse my last will which formerly conteined three pages and hath now this fourth page added to it. And I doe now this present Sunday December 28 1656 publish and declare these foure pages whereof the three last are written with my owne hand to be my last will In the presence of Henneage Finch John Raby.

This will with the Codicill annexed was proved at London on the second day of May In the yeare of our Lord God one Thousand six hundred fiftie nine before the Judge for probate of wills and granting Adcons lawfully authorised By the oath of Eliab Harvey the Brother and sole executor therein named To whom Administracon of all and singular the goods Chattells and debts of the said deceased was granted and committed He being first sworne truely to administer.

CHAS. DYNELEY } Deputy JOHN IGGULDEN } Registers. W. F. GOSTLING }

INDEX

INDEX

Anastomosis, 63, 127, 172 how far observed by Harvey, 128 Harvey states his views on, 179, 180

Aneurism pulsation of an, 15 axillary, its bearing on the pulse, 30 its effect on the pulse, 135

Animals importance of dissecting the lower, 42

Aorta why its walls thicker than those of the pulmonary artery, 107 case in which portion of, ossified, 137

Argent, Dr. dedication of treatise on Heart and Blood to, 5

Aristotle referred to, vii, 27 on the pulse, 30 on the chick, 34 quoted in support of pulsation of heart of embryo, 46 circular motion of rain suggested by, compared to that of the blood, 56 on the heart, 93, 97, 105, 166 his error regarding the mitral valve, 101 on the study of the lower animals, 137 on trusting to the senses, 160

Arteriotomy experiments of, 14, 28, 29, 129, 163 outflow of blood in, 29

Arteries ancient views regarding the, ix contain blood only, 12 contain same blood as the veins, 12 Galen’s experiment on, 12 filled like bladders, not like bellows, 13 dilation of, due to impulse of blood, 14 diastole of, corresponds to systole of heart, 29 called veins, by Galen, 30, and the ancients, 57 why empty after death, 62, 140 coronary, supply the heart itself, 88 reason for greater thickness of coats of, 106 nearer to heart, more they differ from veins, 106 contained only aërial spirits, according to Erasistratus, 140

Artery ligature of an, of a snake, 66 experiment of dividing an, 129, 146 experiment on an exposed uncut, 136 case of ossification of portion of an, 137

Arundel, Earl of Harvey accompanied the, on an embassy to the Emperor, xxii

Aselli discovered the lacteals, 117, 186 lacteal vessels of, referred to by Harvey, 197

Baer, Von Harvey, a precursor of, xxi

Bandages on the arm to show flow of blood in the veins, 81 et seq.

Bauhin, Caspar his observations on the heart, 31

Bibliography of Harvey’s works, xxiv

Bird observations on the beat of the heart of a, 33 observations on the heart of the chick, 34, 36

Blood its course from veins to arteries, 42 in the lower animals, 43 in the fœtus, 44 its passage through the lungs, 48 quantity of, passing through the heart, 55 circular motion of the, 56 demonstrated from impossibility of whole amount of, being derived from the ingesta, 58 amount ejected from ventricle at each beat, 59 enters a limb by arteries, leaves it by veins, 67 circulation of, proved by experiments with ligatures, 67, 68 quantity of, passing through bloodvessels supports circulation, 76 circulation of, supported by valves in the veins, 78 manner of escape of, in surgical operations, 107 the whole of the, circulates, 114 is cooled in passing through the lungs, 122 force with which it flows from an artery, 136 is of same nature in arteries and veins, 138, 143 reasons why a different view has been held, 139, 140 velocity of, varies in different parts, and at different times, 156 gives heat to the heart, 167 passage of, from arteries to veins, xvi, 168

Cæsalpinus, Andreas claimed in Italy as the discoverer of the Circulation, xi this claim criticised, xii

Calidum innatum, 145 not distinct from the blood, 146

Canalis arteriosus of fœtus, shrinks gradually after birth, 45

Capillaries too minute for Harvey to see, xvi first observed by Malpighi, xvi

Carotid artery experiment on the, 129 force with which blood flows from the, 136

Charles I. his interest in Harvey’s discovery, xviii Harvey appointed physician to, xxii remained such by request of the Parliament, xviii dedication to, of treatise on Motion of Heart and Blood, 3 present at a demonstration by Harvey, 153

Chick first sign of the heart in the, 34 Aristotle on, 34 observations of, on the fourth and fifth days of incubation, 36

Chordæ tendineæ, 99, 100

Chyle absorbed by the blood, 92 vessels containing, 186

Circulation of the Blood circulation as distinct from motion, xii first suggested to Harvey’s mind, 56 compared to circular movement of rain as suggested by Aristotle, 56 confirmed by three propositions, 58 varies in rapidity, 61 explains the results of ligatures, 67 et seq. explains phlebotomy, 73 summary account of, 85, 168 confirmed by probable reasons, 86 proved by certain consequences, 90 confirmed from structure of the heart in many different kinds of animals, 96 doctrine of the, the opposite to that vulgarly entertained, 108 first reply to Riolan on the, 111 applies to the whole of the blood, 114 in the mesentery, 119 coronary, or a third and very short, 125 through every part of the body, 126 second reply to Riolan on the, 133 reply to those who cry cui bono?, 149 reasons given by opponents for not accepting the, 149, 150 velocity of, varies with age, sex, temperament, etc., 156 influenced by the emotions, 158 recapitulation of work on Motion of Heart and Blood, 161 interference with, followed by dangerous results, 171 further illustrations of, 176 et seq.

Columbus, Realdus claimed as discoverer of the Circulation, xi referred to in relation to the Pulmonary Circulation, 12, 16, 50

Columnæ carneæ of the heart, 99

Contagion of disease spread, explained by circulation, 90 nature of, referred to by Harvey, 193

Contraction the source of all animal motion, 102 of the fibres of the heart, 105 of muscles as aid to movement of blood in the veins, 116

Conviction means of acquiring, of physical truths discussed, 158

Coronary vessels supply the heart with blood, 88 circulation, a third, very short, 125 vein usually has a valve at its orifice, 125

Darcy, Sir Robert case of, illustrating obstruction of the circulation through the heart, 155

Descartes supports Harvey’s discovery, xvii Harvey makes his acknowledgments to, 169 his observations of the heart of a fish, 169 his explanation of the pulse not accepted by Harvey, 170

Diastole and Systole of arteries as of the heart, 138 constituting the pulse, 163

Dissection uses of, 112 failed to reveal any of the “spirits” of the schoolmen, 141

Diuretic drinks, their quick action in illustration of the large quantity of blood circulating, 49

Ductus arteriosus shrinks gradually after birth, 45 its function in the fœtus, 98

Eel observations on the heart of the, 33

Embryology Harvey a pioneer in the science of, xx

Ent, Dr. George persuaded Harvey to publish his treatise on Generation, xx directed in Harvey’s will to present his books and collections to the College of Physicians, 216 Harvey left him his presses and shelves, 216

Epigenesis Harvey’s doctrine of, xxi

Erasistratus thought the arteries contained only spirits or air, 40, 140

Euripus the tides of, the motion of the heart as perplexing as, 22 Galen refers to, in speaking of the use of the semilunar valves, 53 Riolan applies, to the movement of the blood in the mesenteric vessels, 115

Experience importance of, for scientific observation, 160

Experiment the direct appeal to, viii Galen’s, to show arteries contain only blood, 12 Galen’s, to show arteries filled like bellows, controverted by Harvey, 14 of arteriotomy, 14, 28, 29 Galen’s, of dividing the trachea, 18 to observe the beating heart, 24 of dividing the gill vessels of fishes, 28 on the hearts of an eel, a fish, and a pigeon, 33 to show the capacity of the left ventricle, 59 on the heart of a snake, 65 of tying the veins below the heart in serpents and fishes, 65 on a man’s arm with a bandage, 68 on the veins of the arm by ligatures, 82, 84 of tying the vena cava near the heart and dividing carotid artery, 129 Galen’s, on an artery, 134 performed and disproved by Harvey, 135 on an exposed undivided artery, 136 to show the blood of arteries and veins the same, 138 to show the different character of outflow of blood from artery and vein, 147 to show blood cannot pass from heart by the veins, 147 with the dried intestine of a dog filled with water to illustrate the pulse, 152 on the jugular vein of a fallow deer, 153 by appeal to, endeavour to demonstrate circulation, 163 of dividing exposed artery to observe effect on pulse, 163 of tying the pulmonary veins, 165 of bandaging arm and plunging it into cold water, 168 of tying the vena portae, 171 of tying the vena cava near the crural veins, 172 on the body of a man recently hanged, to show course of blood through lungs, 177

Fabricius, Hieronymus, of Aquapendente Harvey’s teacher of anatomy at Padua, xiv his views on the heart and lungs, 9 pulmonary veins, 18 his anatomical work, 23 discovered the valves of the veins, 78

Finch, Heneage Harvey’s cousin, advised him as to his will, 214 witness to codicil of Harvey’s will, 217

Fish experiment on gill vessels of, 28 observations on the heart of, 33 the heart of, has only one ventricle, 42 auricles of the heart of, 103

Florence Harvey refers to his visits to, 185, 194 and three of his nephews, 199

Flourens on Harvey’s work, viii

Foramen ovale of heart of fœtus, 20, 44 its significance in fœtal life, 47, 98

Frankfort-on-Main Harvey’s treatise on the Heart and Blood first published there, xv

Fuliginous vapours views of the ancients on, ix, 10, 11, 17

Galen high regard in which he was held by mediævalists, vii on the object of the pulse, 9 his experiment to show arteries contain only blood, 12 his experiment to prove arteries expand like bellows, and controverted by Harvey, 14 his experiment of dividing the trachea of a dog, 18 on the beat of the auricles, 32 quotations from, on movement of the blood, 40, 41 aware of the use of the semilunar valves, 51, 52 believed blood passed from right ventricle into the lungs, 53 on the structure of the heart, 105 his experiment on an artery, 134 performed and disproved by Harvey, 135

Galileo at Padua with Harvey, vii, xiv as a pioneer in scientific discovery, viii

Generation of Animals Harvey’s treatise on, its publication, xx interesting points in, xxi Harvey refers to his work on the, 177 Quotation from, on the Acquisition of Knowledge, xix

Haller on Harvey’s discovery, xiii

Harvey as a pioneer in scientific discovery, viii greatness of his discovery, viii, ix his life, xiii et seq. his views on controversy, xviii, 133 on the manner of acquiring knowledge, xix his treatise on Generation, xxi, 177 his statue, xxii oration in his memory, xxii his brother Eliab, xxiii, 212, 219 his various works, xxiv on the pursuit of truth, 7 describes how his discovery was received, 23 his letters, 175 et seq. on the use of terms, 182 his will, 212

Heart ideas about the, before the time of Harvey, ix object of its beat connected with Respiration by old anatomists, 9 movements of the, 24 contracts and becomes paler at its beat, 24, 25 does not suck in the blood, 27 the auricles and ventricles of the, their movements, 31 the auricles of the, the primum vivens, ultimum moriens, 34 observations on the heart of the chick, 34, 36 always has auricles or something analogous, 35 of a shrimp, its movements studied, 36 movements of, summarised, 37 intimate connection of lungs and, a grand cause of error to the old observers, 39 of fish, has only one ventricle, 42 great vessels of the, in the embryo, 44 foramen ovale of the, in the fœtus, 44, 98, 165 of embryo, pulsation, etc., known to Aristotle, 45 compared figuratively to the sun, 57 amount of blood ejected at each beat of the, 59 of a live snake, observations on, 65 influenced by emotions, 87 curious case of distended heart under emotion, 156 coronary vessels of, 88 only organ containing blood for general use, 88 structure of the, in different classes of animals confirms the circulation, 97 papillary muscles and chordæ tendineæ of, 99 arrangement and use of the valves of the, 100 the heart a muscle and acts as such, so called by Hippocrates, 104 development of the, in the fœtus, 104 arrangement of the fibres of, 105 the first part which exists, 105 high importance of the, in the bodily economy, 105 distension of, after hanging, 154 Sir Robert Darcy’s case of ruptured, 155 receives heat from the blood, 167 innate heat of, suggested as cause of the pulse, 168 of the fish, observations of motions of the, 169

Hippocrates entitled the heart a muscle, 104 his doctrine as to the constitution of the body, 142

Hobbes on the reception of Harvey’s discovery, xvii

Hofmann, Caspar letter of Harvey to, 175

Horst, J. D. letters of Harvey to, 195, 197

Huxley, Prof. T. H. on Harvey’s treatise on Generation, xxi

Jugular vein Experiment of dividing the, in the fallow deer, to show course of the contained blood, 153

King, The. See Charles I.

Lacteals discovered by Aselli, 117, 186 Harvey refers to the researches of Aselli and Pecquet on the, 186 Harvey discusses the, in a letter to R. Morison, 187, 188

Lamentius, Andreas quoted by Harvey, 20, 22

Lennox, Duke of Harvey accompanied him abroad, xxii

Letters of Harvey, 173 et seq.

Ligature of veins near the heart, 65 assuming circulation, action and use of ligatures readily understood, 67, 68 of vena cava, 129, 172 of pulmonary veins, 165 of vena portæ, 171

Liver absorbed food passes through the, 49 absorbed chyle passes through the, 92 in the fœtus, 92 nature of blood brought to, 94 chyle transferred to, by mesenteric vessels, 118

Lungs speculation on changes in the blood passing through the, 48 blood cooled on passing through the, 122, 145 course of blood through the, shown by an experiment on the body of a man recently hanged, 177

Malpighi the first to observe the capillaries, xvi

Medical Observations Harvey refers to his, 157, 158, 171

Medicines externally applied confirm the circulation, 91

Mesentery bloodvessels of, 94, 115 Harvey combats Riolan’s denial of circulation in vessels of the, 115 Harvey suggests an experiment to convince him, 171 valves in the mesenteric veins, 116 veins of, transfer chyle to the liver, 118

Metamorphosis doctrine of, contrasted with that of Epigenesis, xxi

Mitral Valve references to, 17, 101 Aristotle’s error regarding the, 101

Morison, R. letter of Harvey to, 185

Movement of the heart, 24, 36 of the auricles and ventricles, 31 of the heart summarised, 37 of the blood from veins to arteries, 42 of the blood in the fœtus, 44 lower animals, 43 is circular, 58 of the blood in the veins aided by the circumjacent muscles, 116

Muscle the heart a, and so called by Hippocrates, 104

Nardi, John, of Florence letters of Harvey to, 184, 193, 199

Nutrition of the Tissues connection of the, with the circulation, 119

Oration, Harveian founded by Harvey, delivered annually at the College of Physicians, xxii

Padua Harvey and Galileo there together, vii, xiv famous for its university, xiv Harvey studies medicine at, xiv

Parr, Thomas anatomical examination of the body of, 207

Pathology how best advanced, 112

Pecquet Harvey refers to his discovery of the Receptaculum Chyli, 186 Harvey praises his industry, 196 See also Lacteals

Phlebotomy explained by the circulation, 73 shows nature of flow of blood in the veins, 154 influenced by temperature and mental state, 157

Physicians, College of Harvey elected a Fellow of the, xv Harvey built a Convocation Hall for, and gave books to, xvii his treatise dedicated to President and Fellows of, 5

Physiology importance of its study, 112

Poisons action of, confirmatory of the circulation, 90

Pulmonary Artery formerly supposed to carry nourishment to lungs, 17 why coats of, thinner than those of aorta, 107 transmits far more blood than required for nutrition, 108

Pulmonary Circulation speculation as to its use, 48 follows from continual passage of blood from right ventricle to lungs, and from lungs to left ventricle, 54 course of, shown in body of a man recently hanged, 177

Pulmonary Veins ancient views regarding their function, 17

Pulse caused by contraction of the ventricle, 29 due to the impulse or shock of the blood, 30 Aristotle on the, 30 found in all parts of the body, 121 not inherent in walls of arteries, 135 in an artery beyond an aneurism, 135 in an artery beyond an ossified portion, 137 illustrated by experiment with dried intestine of a dog, 152 cause of, in arteries near the heart, 163

Rabies how confirmatory of the circulation, 90

Riolan, John, Jun. controversy with Harvey, xix quoted on the movements of the heart, 31 Harvey’s First Disquisition addressed to, 109 presented a copy of his work to Harvey, 111 his views on the circulation, 113 denies the mesenteric circulation, 115 favoured view that septum of heart is permeable, 123 Harvey’s Second Disquisition to, 131

Scarborough, Dr. a friend to whom Harvey left his surgical instruments, 216 and his velvet gown, 218 directed by Harvey’s will to present to College of Physicians his books and collections, 216

Science dependent on pre-existing knowledge of more obvious things, 160

Semilunar Valves references to, 16, 45 Galen aware of their use, 51 function to prevent regurgitation, 116, 153

Senses facts cognisable by, wait on no opinion, 150 importance of appealing to the, 158, 159 Aristotle on trusting to the, 160

Septum of the Heart Cæsalpinus thought it permeable, xii Harvey on the view that it is porous, 19, 20 Riolan believed it porous, 123

Servetus, Michael gave a description of the pulmonary circulation, x curious history of his work containing it, xi

Shrimp movements of the heart of a, 36

Sigmoid Valves See Semilunar

Silvius, Jacobus discovered the valves of the veins according to Riolan, 78

Simon, Sir John on Harvey’s discovery, ix

Slegel, P. M. letter of Harvey to, 176

Snake observations of heart and bloodvessels of a live, 65

Spirits views of the ancients regarding, ix arteries supposed to contain, by Erasistratus, 140 the common subterfuge of ignorance, 141 three kinds of, admitted by the medical schools, 141 not distinct from the blood, 143, 146

Spleen bloodvessels connected with the, 94 vein of, has a valve, 116

Systole and Diastole of arteries as of heart, 138 constitute the pulse, 163 observations on, 170

Transmission of Disease discussed, 193

Tricuspid Valve referred to, 16, 101, 153

Umbilical Vein function of, 118

Valves semilunar, 16, 45, 116, 153 tricuspid, 16, 101, 153 mitral, 17 Galen on valve of pulmonary artery, 51 of the veins discovered by Fabricius or Silvius, 78 of veins, their structure, arrangement, and use of, 78, 80 Fabricius did not understand use of valves of veins, 79 of veins compared with sigmoid valves, 82 experiments on the arm to show action of the, and how the blood moves in the veins, 82, 84 not found in all veins, 116 of the mesenteric veins, 116 coronary vein has a valve at its orifice, 125

Veins pulmonary, ancient views regarding their position, 17 near the heart, experiment of ligaturing the, 65 of the arm, experiment on with bandages, 82, 84 coronary, 88 of the mesentery, the function of the, 118 umbilical, function of, 118 coronary vein has a valve at its orifice, 125 experiment on, by cooling the arm, 168 valves of the. See Valves

Vena cava of snake, experiment upon the, 65 experiment of tying, near the heart, 129

Vena portæ blood passes from the, through the liver, 118 its branches, 128 Harvey suggests the experiment of ligaturing it, 171

Ventricle no right ventricle if no lung, 15, 54 the left, the principal part of the heart, 98 the left, three times thicker than the right, 100 case of rupture of the, 155

Ventricles structure of both, almost identical, 15 both contract simultaneously, 19 movements and use of the, 37 in the fœtal heart, 98 valves of the, 100

Vesalius the “Father of Anatomy”, x Professor of Anatomy at Padua, xiv did not properly understand the heart’s motion, 26 refers to Galen’s experiment on an artery, 135 wrong in his interpretation of Galen’s experiment, 138

Vlackveld, John letter of Harvey to, 200

Warmth felt in the hand on loosening bandage on the arm, 69 restored to parts chilled by the influx of blood, 121, 146

Will of Harvey drawn up by Heneage Finch, 212, 214 proved by Eliab Harvey, 219 legacies by, to Drs. Scarborough and Ent, 216

Wolff, Caspar Harvey as forerunner of, xxi