Chapter XXXIII: 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

[This account first appeared in the work of Dr. Betts, entitled: “De Ortu et Natura Sanguinis,” 8vo, London, 1669, the MS. having been presented to Betts by Mr. Michael Harvey, nephew of the author, with whom Betts was on terms of intimacy.]

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.[62]

CHAS. DYNELEY } _Deputy_
JOHN IGGULDEN } _Registers._
W. F. GOSTLING }

[62] [The will of Harvey is without date. But was almost certainly
made some time in the course of 1652. He speaks of certain deeds of
declaration bearing date the 10th of July, 1651; and he provides
money for the completion of the buildings which he has “already begun
to erect within the Colledge of Physicians.” Now these structures
were finished in the early part of 1653. The will was, therefore,
written between July 1651, and February 1653. The codicil is also
undated: but we may presume that it was added shortly before Sunday
the 28th of December 1656, the day on which Harvey reads over the
whole document and formally declares and publishes it as his last
will and testament in the presence of his friend Henneage Finch, and
his faithful servant John Raby.]

INDEX

INDEX

A

_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

B

_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

C

_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

D

_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

E

_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

F

_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

G

_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

H

_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

J

_Jugular vein_
Experiment of dividing the, in the fallow deer, to show course of the
contained blood, 153

K

_King, The._ See _Charles I._

L

_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

M

_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

N

_Nardi, John_, of Florence
letters of Harvey to, 184, 193, 199

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

O

_Oration, Harveian_
founded by Harvey, delivered annually at the College of
Physicians, xxii

P

_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

R

_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

S

_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

T

_Transmission of Disease_
discussed, 193

_Tricuspid Valve_
referred to, 16, 101, 153

U

_Umbilical Vein_
function of, 118

V

_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

W

_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