Because Science! -of death and darkness pt2.

As many of you know (and for those who don't) I really like science so i figured i'll just talk about science! and death.... yes, death too. Here are some people who changed how scientists and doctors view the body.




During the scientific revolution a Flemish anatomist named Andreas Vesalius wrote De Humani Corporis Fabrica (aka in the fabric of the human body) Now, there weren't a lot of well written or illustrated works on the human body.  Vesalius earned the title of " the father of modern anatomy" by preforming public autopsies for himself and students. He compared his findings from humans and animal parts, and believed that observations and experimentation are necessary for medical research. (experimentation and hands on learning wasn't popular pre-scientific revolution. solving problems by thinking was generally how things were done. EX: Galen's four humors.)
Autopsies had to be done quickly as there were no way to keep the bodies from rotting (about 2-3 days max)



Speaking of Galen, or as I call him... Galen, Surgeon of Gladiators! (sounds flamboyant, no?)  He made his own mark on science. He thought doctors should also be philosophers, practice feeling for a pulse, and yes, used the 4 humors. The four humors are almost like "elements" that should be kept in balance to maintain health.

1.  Blood- for the heart
2. black bile- intestine
3. yellow bile - stomach 
4. phlegm- for the brain

There's also 

1. cold
2. hot
3. wet
4. dry

     William Harvey discovered that each organ has a function, he also found out that blood circulates through the body. Some of his work, however, was burned. Some of the topics that were lost included how people and animals breath, muscle movement and how animals came from eggs. 

a picture from Harvey's research on circulation