Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/234

 great deal was anciently done, though a great deal more was left for Posterity to do.

I shall begin with the Body in general. It is certain that all the great Divisions of the Bones, Muscles, Veins and Arteries; most of the visible Cartilages, Tendons and Ligaments, were very exactly known in Galen's Time; the Positions of the Muscles, their several Originations, the Insertions of their Tendons, and investing Membranes, were, for the most part, traced with great Nicety and Truth; the more conspicuous pairs of Nerves which arise either from the Brain or Spinal Marrow, were very well known and carefully followed; most of the great Branches of the Veins and Arteries; almost all the Bones and Cartilages, with very many Muscles, have still old Greek Names imposed upon them by the Old Anatomists, or Latin Names translated from the Greek ones: So that, not only the easie things and such as are discernable at first Sight, were throughly known; but even several particulars, especially in the Anatomy of Nerves, were discovered, which are not obvious without great Care, and a good deal of practical Skill in diffecting. So much in general; from which it is evident, that as far as Anatomy is peculiarly useful to a Chirurgeon, to inform