New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-31

had made clean work Of the sch parts OF this BODY,
leaving only the bones and hgamenss. Andrew
| succeeded in getting possession Of the legs and
arms, bat when be attempted 10 carry "a the
trunk he found IL so strongly fastened to the stake
nv iron chains that he was obliged to work all
night before he could bear 1t Of in triumph. f-om
his twentieth year he gave Instructions al Far" 70
his sellow-students while attending the lectures Of
sylyius. He was unwilling to rely on the asser-
tions of his teacher, but determined to observe
nature for himself In order to gain subjects nor
his anatomical studies, he would dispute with tho
dogs and vultures for the remains OF criminals q
the bill of Mont6ucoD, or run the risk Of being
accused OF sacrege for stealthily invading GENE
teries in pursuit Of dead bodies. At the age Of
twenty.three he was appointed by the Senate Of
Venice 10 the chair of Anatomy at Padaa, and at
the AGE of twenty mine published his great work on
the Organization Of the Human Body placing
the whole science Of anatomy in new light, and
dis,ancing all the accomplishments Of previous
writers.
From this epoch, anatomical discovery advanced
at a rapid pace. The public mind was ripe for
the resolution, of which the signal had been given
by yesalius. His method was adopted BY Colum-
bus. Eustachius, Fallopius Fabricius, and others,
who appealed from the precedents OF antiquity to
| the observations of nature. The Faculty of Meda
cine, at this period, received many Improvements.
Permanent amphitheaters for dissection were osab-
lished. Anatomical chairs were created ct the ex-
pense of the public treasury In some cities, per-
mission was given to dissect the dead at tho hos
pi,als .as well as to the bodies of criminals.
The practice of dissection received the sanction Of
the Papa authority, by which II bad formerly been
! prohibited on religious grounds
| Anatomy was thus elevated TO degree Of per-
lection which it had never attained under the
Greeks. Plates Of admirable execution repre-
scented the human organs with great distinctness
and accuracy. The nerves OF the body were sop
srated from the tendons and igsments, and traced,
as far as possible, from their origin TO their nnutest
notifications Ii was shown that the muscular
fibre was not produced by an expansion Of the
nervous fibre. A glimpse was obtained Of tho
lymphatic vessels. The vascular apparatus was
more fully demonstrated II was discovered that
there was no bony structure In the tissue Of tho
heart as the ancents believed; and at length tho
pulmonary circulation was ascertained BY Michael
Servetus the Spanish physician who was after
ward burned for heresy ut Geneva.
Prior to the great discovery which has immor-
tazed the name Of Harvey, the liver was consid-
cred as the organ of sangui6cation. The veins
were supposed to take their origin in this organ,
and to be the only natural receptacle Of the blood.
Through these channels the vital fluid was thesght
to undulate in each direction like the ebb and
flow of the sea. The arteries were supposed 10
contain the animal spirits, of which the heart was
the great reservoir. This theory prevailed Until
the time Of Galen who demonstrated that the A.
teres contained blood at every period OF life. But
it was reserved to William Harvey, in the com
mencement of the seventeenth century, TO discover
the actual circulation OF the blood, and to establish
his theory in spite of vehement opposition. This
important step in scientific progress was not taken
without difficulty. Harvey audes with touching
simplicity to the obstacles which lay in his path:
"Deyoting myself to discern the use end utility OF
the movements of the heart in animals, in great
number of vivisectons, found at first the subject
so full of difficulties that thought for long time,
with Fracastor, that the secret was known 10 God
alone. could distinguish, neither, in what man
ner the systole and diaistole took place, nor ct
what moment the dilatation and construction oc-
Cured, owing to the celebrity Of the movements Of
the heart which, in most animals is executed In
the twinklng of an eye, or like the flash Of light
ming / hOated undecided, without knowing on
what opinion 10 rest. Finally, from redoubied
care and attention, by multiplying and varying my
L. ..rss,. tba yQ-
suits, / believed had put my finger on the truth,
and commenced unrsveIing the labyrinth. be-
lieyed had seized the correct idea Of the move
ment of the heart and arteries, as well ~ their
true use. From that time did not cease to COM
uunicate my views either to my friends, or to the
public in my scademical course"
Like all new revelations Of truth, the discovery
of Harvey was received with incredibly and scorn.
An active controversy ensued, which was waged
with more or less yirulence for twentyf five years.
No student of anatomy and physiology but shared
in its excitements 1t even attracted the attention
of philosophers and naturalists. Among the first
who declared himself in favor Of the new doctrine
was the isstrious Descartes. During the conflict
Harvey was always digni6ed and frm- With
perfect trust in the victory Of truth he took but
slight part in the disputes, which his discovery
had called forth Before his death, he enjoyed the
most precious reward, with which Science honors
her yotaries, in the triumph Of his ideas over tho
prejudices of his opponents.
Since the universal adoption OF Harveys doc
trine Of the circulation of the blood the progress
Of medical science has been marked by more pro-