The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-14
Grenina telegraph
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER "a. 1884.
THE CIRCULA cIoN OFTr BLOOD.

An eminent physician Of Dubln, Ireland, Doc
TOT Robert Adams, in recent lecture in that city
referred to some OF the Scientific Discoveries Of
Modern Times as having been anticipated by the
Bible. Asan example Of the striking condolences
which he finds, we take brief extract in regard
to the circulation OF the blood This has been
claimed 80 one Of the great medical discoveries OF
modern times, having been discovered by Harvey
In the year 1919 But the lecturer dates the
knowledge Of this fact as far bact as the time of
King Solomon, in proof which he quotes from the
twelfth chapter Of Ecclesiastics. His argument
At least is curious and we commend it to those
who are interested in tracing such analogies -
Before Harveys time, as We hear often men
toned, air was supposed 10 occupy the great
arteries, but in SolOmon's description we have
laid before us not pneumatic, but a hydraulic
apparatus, which consists of four parts-foun-
tain, pitcher, wheel, and Cstern-by which con-
tinuOus canal and circle are tigurayely alluded
TO, and through which fluid blood, not air evil
IDENTITY flows. Harvey's discovery added but lit
tie TO Solomon's inspired dictation of &C. If IL
were rightly interpreted. No doubt Harvey in
addition exhibited valves and flood gates which
clearly pointed out the direction of the current
Of the circulation, and the truth of his observa-
tiOns he proved by experiments which estab-
lishCd, beyond all doubt, Notwithstanding much
opposition, his theory, which the practising
surgeon may see verified by his daily experience.
While am thus lost In wonder at the description
of the circulation, as indicated by the words Of
Solomon, would not wish by any means TO de-
precate the value of Harveys great discovery,
which has proved Of such vast importance TO
medicine. When we compare with Soomon's
words the true description of the circulation
as it is now known, we find, l think, that
what the inspired writer deSignates as the
pitcher is clearly the aorta, which rises up
out Of the fountain or left side of the heart;
the blood next courses through the arch
Of the aorta, and thence through all its
numerous ramifcations throughout the body,
and returns again to the right side of the
heart by the large veins, which the inspired
writer designates by the term wheel" Here
some might infer that the term wheel had no
reference to the hydraulic terms and figures
used throughout Soomon's description of the
blood but in explanation of this matter let us
bear in mind that in the East, before the laws
Of Atmospheric pressure were known, or pumps
used TO elevate water from deep wells, large
wheels, placed vertically and descending into the
ground, were used for this purpose. Let us then
suppose the blood thus brought back by the
large veins, or wheel, to the right side of the
heart or cistern; it will then be in condition TO
fill the fountain containing the purified blood
at tie left side of the heart, from which the
aora or pitcher arose, and which for descrip-
tons sake we made the starting point of the
circulation.