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its situation； can be adequately closed with two； whereas the others being
round are more conveniently closed with three。 Besides； I wish such
persons to observe that the grand artery and the arterial vein are of much
harder and firmer texture than the venous artery and the hollow vein； and
that the two last expand before entering the heart； and there form； as it
were； two pouches denominated the auricles of the heart； which are
posed of a substance similar to that of the heart itself； and that there is
always more warmth in the heart than in any other part of the body… and
finally； that this heat is capable of causing any drop of blood that passes
into the cavities rapidly to expand and dilate； just as all liquors do when
allowed to fall drop by drop into a highly heated vessel。
For； after these things； it is not necessary for me to say anything more
with a view to explain the motion of the heart； except that when its
cavities are not full of blood； into these the blood of necessity flows； … …
from the hollow vein into the right； and from the venous artery into the left；
because these two vessels are always full of blood； and their orifices；
which are turned towards the heart； cannot then be closed。 But as soon as
two drops of blood have thus passed； one into each of the cavities； these
drops which cannot but be very large； because the orifices through which
they pass are wide； and the vessels from which they e full of blood；
are immediately rarefied； and dilated by the heat they meet with。 In this
way they cause the whole heart to expand； and at the same time press
home and shut the five small valves that are at the entrances of the two
vessels from which they flow； and thus prevent any more blood from
ing down into the heart； and being more and more rarefied； they
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
push open the six small valves that are in the orifices of the other two
vessels； through which they pass out； causing in this way all the branches
of the arterial vein and of the grand artery to expand almost
simultaneously with the heart which immediately thereafter begins to
contract； as do also the arteries； because the blood that has entered them
has cooled； and the six small valves close； and the five of the hollow vein
and of the venous artery open anew and allow a passage to other two drops
of blood； which cause the heart and the arteries again to expand as before。
And； because the blood which thus enters into the heart passes through
these two pouches called auricles； it thence happens that their motion is
the contrary of that of the heart； and that when it expands they contract。
But lest those who are ignorant of the force of mathematical
demonstrations and who are not accustomed to distinguish true reasons
from mere verisimilitudes； should venture。 without examination； to deny
what has been said； I wish it to be considered that the motion which I have
now explained follows as necessarily from the very arrangement of the
parts； which may be observed in the heart by the eye alone； and from the
heat which may be felt with the fingers； and from the nature of the blood
as learned from experience； as does the motion of a clock from the power；
the situation； and shape of its counterweights and wheels。
But if it be asked how it happens that the blood in the veins； flowing in
this way continually into the heart； is not exhausted； and why the arteries
do not bee too full； since all the blood which passes through the heart
flows into them； I need only mention in reply what has been written by a
physician 1 of England； who has the honor of having broken the ice on
this subject； and of having been the first to teach that there are many small
passages at the extremities of the arteries； through which the blood
received by them from the heart passes into the small branches of the
veins； whence it again returns to the heart； so that its course amounts
precisely to a perpetual circulation。 Of this we have abundant proof in
the ordinary experience of surgeons； who； by binding the arm with a tie of
moderate straitness above the part where they open the vein； cause the
blood to flow more copiously than it would have done without any ligature；
whereas quite the contrary would happen were they to bind it below； that
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DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON； AND
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES
is； between the hand and the opening； or were to make the ligature above
the opening very tight。 For it is manifest that the tie； moderately
straightened； while adequate to hinder the blood already in the arm from
returning towards the heart by the veins； cannot on that account prevent
new blood from ing forward through the arteries； because these are
situated below the veins； and their coverings； from their greater
consistency； are more difficult to press； and also that the blood which
es from the heart tends to pass through them to the hand with greater
force than it does to return from the hand to the heart through the veins。
And since the latter current escapes from the arm by the opening made in
one of the veins； there must of necessity be certain passages below the
ligature； that is； towards the extremities of the arm through which it can
e thither from the arteries。 This physician likewise abundantly
establishes what he has advanced respecting the motion of the blood； from
the existence of certain pellicles； so disposed in various places along the
course of the veins； in the manner of small valves； as not to permit the
blood to pass from the middle of the body towards the extremities； but
only to return from the extremities to the heart； and farther； from
experience which shows that all the blood which is in the body may flow
out of it in a very short time through a single artery that has been cut； even
although this had been closely tied in the immediate neighborhood of the