Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 004.djvu/151

 He concludes his Discourse by recommending the method which seems best and most convincing to him, for making true Discoveries in Anatomy; where he adviseth, that for obtaining the true history of the parts, we should examine and accordingly draw them in that State, in which they are found naturally, without at all forcing them; thereby to find, whether the parts are indeed joyned together or separated, and what situation is assigned them by Nature it self. Where he desires, that the Anatomist would not only be intent upon the part, on which he is for the present employed, but also reflect upon all the Operations,he hath made before he came to that part, which may have caused some change or other in the same, as to its scituation, connexion &c. Of which he also alledges divers Examples, especialy as to the Brain.

Besides this exact attention on all the Operations, he further counsels the Change of the ways of Dissecting, and deduceth the ill consequences of binding ourselves to certain fixt Laws of dissecting each part; this benefit resulting from that Change, that if it doth not always discover something new, it lets us know at least, whether we have been deceived in what we have seen formerly, especially in things dubious and contested. Of the necessity of this Change he brings manifest proofs, and having done so, he alledges the reason why he says nothing of the Use of the parts of the Brain, nor of the actions called Animal; it being impossible to explain the motions, that are made by an Engin, if the artifice of the parts be not known, and those Anatomists rendring themselves ridiculous, that discourse so magisterially of the Use of the parts, of which they know not the structure.

Last of all, he observes, that when all this, he hath discoursed of, is done, that is but the least of what is to be done; in regard that for the acquiring of some good Knowledge of the Brain, there muff be Dissections and Examinations made of as many Heads, as there are different species's of Animals, and different States and Conditions of each kind; since that in the fetus's of Animals it will be seen, How the Brain is formed; and what could not be seen in sound and entire Brains, may be seen in such, as have been changed by sickness.

II. Instead of the other Book, of which we purposed to give here