William Harvey : a history of the discovery of the circulation of the blood / by R. Willis ; with a portrait of Harvey, after Faithorne.
- Date:
- 1878
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: William Harvey : a history of the discovery of the circulation of the blood / by R. Willis ; with a portrait of Harvey, after Faithorne. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
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![shortest possible way by a mark of admiration, here to be taken as one of negation. Addressing Cesal- pino, the Father of Physic proceeds : “You were the fortunate individual who was first aware of the valves of the heart (!) and of their function at its four outlets. (!) You were the first who declared that the venous mouths of the two ventricles of the heart open and give entrance to the blood, and close again to prevent its reflux. (!) You first maintained that, with the con- traction of the ventricles and the expulsion of the blood they contain, the valves of the arterial orifices close and form an insuperable obstacle to its return. (!) With cogent arguments, you showed that the blood sent to the lungs by the vena arteriosa was not for their nourishment, (!) and that the greater part of it must proceed to the left ventricle of the heart by the arteria venosa, (!) whence, by the aorta, it was delivered to all parts of the body. (!) Finally, you first deter- mined, from the function of the valvular apparatus [of the body], the circulation of the blood from the centre to the circumference, and from this to the centre. (!) I therefore ascribe to you the high honour of having made the admirable discovery in debate, and at the same time regret that Harvey, who has shown that he was acquainted with your works, has made no refer- ence to them, and has not even mentioned your name.” Turning to Harvey, Hippocrates then assigns to him his share in the great discovery. But everything having already been given to Csesalpinus, I think it](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21996404_0358.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
