Page:The Harveian oration on Harvey in ancient and modern medicine (electronic resource) (IA b20420080).pdf/18

HARVEY IN ANCIENT AND and of the affections and emotions. From the left ventricle the vital spirits, together with blood, were conveyed by the arteries to the organs and tissues. But not only was the aërial element derived from the lungs, but the arteries also obtained air from the surface of the body generally, and discharged thence fuliginous vapours. Against this Harvey urged the impossibility of any such cutaneous respiratory process in the foetus in utero, and in animals whose lives were spent in water.

Theories of vital spirits as directly con- nected with the mind, their origin in the heart, and the heart as the centre of emotion and character, still hold place in literature and conversation. We refer to high spirits and low spirits, regardless of the practical philo- sophy of the fool, 'I care not for my spirits if my legs were not weary.' We read without surprise that among the exhilarating effects of the apple Eve attributed to herself 'dilated spirits, ampler heart;' but when so modern and scientific a poet as the Laureate refers to the human heart as the holy secret of this micro- C