PMID: 11618779Jul 1, 1995Paper

Reconsideration of the "conversion theory" from the primacy of the heart to the primacy of the blood--William Harvey's observation, logic and the construction of the exercitatio

Kagakushi kenkyu. [Journal of the history of science, Japan
M Tsukisawa

Abstract

In De Motu Cordis, W. Harvey sometimes waxes lyrical on the primacy of the heart. In his another treatise, De Generatione, however, he insists on the primacy of the blood. The "conversion theory" explained this discrepancy with Harvey's conversion as caused by his discovery of the antiquity of the blood. But Whitterridge showed that Harvey had already described the antiquity of the blood in his earliest notebook, Prelectiones. As shown in this article, Harvey's observation was not a mere accidental discovery; based on the "classic questions", it was continuously and persistently conducted until he was assured of having seen the blood to exist prior to the pulse and movement to occur in the blood. While this crucial observation was not yet made in Prelectiones and De Motu Cordis, it was described as crucial evidence of the theory of the primacy of the blood in De Generatione, in which this new theory was introduced as an independent topic of the exercitatio. The topic of the order of the generation was a crucial issue in the theoretical medicine of Harvey's days. That is, the Aristotelian primacy of the heart had been seriously challenged by the Galenic tripartite theory which pursued the antiquity of three organs. Harvey's theo...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.