The Evolution of Anatomy

science from its beginning and in all its branches so related as to weave the story into a continu- ous narrative has been sadly lacking. Singer states that in order to lessen the bulk of his work he has omitted references and bibliog- raphies from its pages, but we may readily recognize in reading it that he has gone to original sources for its contents and that all the statements it contains are authoritative and can readily be verified. In the Preface Singer indicates that we may hope to see the work continued to a later date than Harvey’s time and also that the present work may yet be expanded so as to contain material necessarily excluded from a book of the size into which this is compressed, because from cover to cover this volume is all meat and splendidly served for our delectation and digestion. Singer divides the history of Anatomy into four great epochs or stages. The first is from the Greek period to 50 b .c ., comprising the Hippocratic period, Aristotle and the Alexan- drians. Although, as Singer says, “our anatomical tradition, like that of every other depart- ment of rational investigation, goes back to the Greeks,” yet before their time men groped at some ideas as to anatomical structure, as evinced by the drawings found in the homes of the cave dwellers, and the Egyptians and the The Evo lut ion of Ana to my , a Short Histo ry of Anat omi cal an d Phys iolo gica l Disc ove ry , Mesopotamians had quite distinct conceptions to Harve y . Being the substance of the Fitzpatrick of anatomy of a crude sort. The earliest actual Lectures delivered at the Royal College of Physi- records of anatomical observations, however, cians of London in the years 1923 and 1924, are to be found in the fragments which remain by Charles Singer, m.a ., m.d ., d .lit ., f .s .a ., to us of the writings of Alcmaeon, a native of Fellow of the College, Lecturer in the History the Greek colony of Croton, who flourished of Medicine in the University of London about 500 b .c . He “began to construct a posi- (University College). Alfred A. Knopf, New tive basis for medical science by the practice York, 1925. of dissection of animals. He discovered the Although an enormous amount of material optic nerves and the tubes called in after ages bearing upon various aspects of the history of by the name of Eustachius.” Singer reviews anatomical science has been written there was the work done by his successors among the great need for an authoritative conspectus of Greeks. During this epoch the most important the subject in its entirety and continuity and contributions to Anatomy were those made by this want Singer has succeeded in filling in a Aristotle, whose studies and descriptions of the most delightful manner. Volumes have been anatomy of various animals, and especially written on the life and works of great anato- fishes, are wonderful for their accuracy. Hero- mists such as Vesalius, Harvey and Hunter; philus and Erasistratus, the fathers of the many monographs and books detail the history Alexandrian school, made many notable dis- of anatomical research on special lines, such as coveries. Herophilus distinguished between the circulation of the blood, the lymphatic arteries and veins, divided nerves into motor system, or the special sense organs, and the and sensory, described the brain as the central history of anatomical schools has been very organ of the nervous system, and also described amply written up; but a history of the entire the meninges and the torcular Herophili, to which his name has been given. He distinguished tions of the early illustrated books on anatomy, the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the calamus the “Anatomia” of Mondino, and the books scriptorius, the latter of which he named. of Berengarius, Dryander, and Estienne, and Erasistratus described the lacteals, stated that thus by Sylvius to the work of his great pupil both the arteries and veins arose from the Vesalius. heart, and Singer thinks “came very near The fourth and last epoch which Singer discovering the circulation of the blood”; studies he dates from 1543, the year in which he certainly realized that communication existed Vesalius published his “Fabrica,” to 1628, between the arteries and veins. when Harvey published his “De Motu Cordis.” Singer dates the second epoch in anatomical It is impossible in the space at our disposal to history from 50 b .c . to a .d . 1050. “With the discuss at length the delightful pages in which advent of the Empire and of Imperial ideas the Singer writes the history of the wonderful tone of Science changes. There is a waning in development of anatomical science during enthusiasm for all save “useful knowledge” this great epoch in its history. We know of no and Singer shows how this so-called “practical” better description of the work of Vesalius and outlook proved disastrous to the progress of his followers, Realdus Columbus, Fallopius, science for many centuries. He refers to the Fabricius, and so forth. Not only is the story works of Celsus, Lucretius and Pliny, and the well told, that has been done by others, but the other writers who preceded or were contempo- significance and continuity of the work of all the rary with Galen (circa a .d . i50-200), the “ Prince individual anatomists is brought vividly before of Physicians” whose empire over medical the reader. With Harvey the story is concluded. thought was supreme for more centuries than Dr. Singer’s labor has evidently been per- that of any other medical writer. Singer gives formed con amore. His erudition has given him a concise but remarkably clear and complete the material and his skill as a writer has enabled description of Galen’s anatomical and physio- him to produce the story of the development logical views, and in a few vivid pages relates of one of the great fundamental sciences as a how the curtain abruptly descended on scientific vivid tableau. The book will prove invaluable progress when Christian fanaticism deliberately as a reference handbook for students and inculcated the doctrine of neglect of all material teachers. studies in the overwhelming need to fit the soul Francis R. Packard , m.d . for the life to come. For many centuries there is no evidence of any progress whatever in the sciences of anatomy and physiology. The third epoch, from 1050 to 1250, is marked by the prominence of the Arabians in scientific matters. From the eighth to the thirteenth century the Arabians dominated in intellectual matters, and Avicenna, Hali Abbas, and Rhazes are the leading medical writers until the year 1500. Their works were disseminated throughout Europe by translations into Latin made by Constantine the African, Gerard of Cremona and many others of lesser note. During the thirteenth century occurred the development of the great universities of Italy, and with the opening of the fourteenth century human dissection first began to assume its proper importance in the study of anatomy. Singer goes very fully into the early history of human dissection and the work done by Mondino, Achillini, and the early dissectors, including the artists, Leonardo da Vinci, Michael Angelo, Diirer and Raphael. He then gives descrip-.

Load more