Imagine a time when surgeons work without the use of anaesthesia and blood-letting is a common practice. It’s a time when very little is known about how the human body works.
This was the state of medicine when William Harvey was born in 1578. He was the oldest of seven children, and lived a comfortable life. Harvey earned his bachelor’s degree from Cambridge University and studied medicine at the University of Padua.
As an adult, he continued to life a privileged life. He married the daughter of one of Queen Elizabeth’s doctors. Harvey also had a great job – he worked as physician to the courts of King James I and King Charles I.
Dr. Harvey was fascinated by the workings of the human body and he wanted to learn more. His good connections and secure working position gave him time to pursue research in the medical field. Up until this point in history, there was little information on human physiology.
The circulatory system was of particular interest to Dr. Harvey. The only previous research on the human circulatory system had been done by Galen, a Greek physician. Galen’s research was conducted 1,300 years before Dr. Harvey was born.
William Harvey did his research by studying the anatomy of various animals. When he was 50 years old his book, “On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals” was published. The year was 1658. Some people criticized his work at the time, but his theories eventually turned out to be correct.
Dr. Harvey’s conclusions were breakthroughs. His research explained, for the first time, how blood flows through the human body. William Harvey proved that blood is pumped throughout the body in a well defined route. His research showed the pathway of the blood through the veins, heart, lungs, and arteries.
At the age of 71, 21 years after the publication of his first book, Dr. Harvey defended his theories by writing a book which gave details about his methods. Harvey’s writing was comprehensive, and his careful techniques helped people understand his theories.
The way Dr. Harvey did his research was also revolutionary. He was the first scientist to use the scientific method for solving problems. The scientific method requires that everything be proven, and that nothing is assumed.
Harvey lived to the age of 79, and died in 1657. He continued to work as a physician until he was 75, and he worked as a teacher until he was 78 years old.
William Harvey’s revolutionary research was a significant contribution to medical knowledge. His innovative methods paved the way for future scientific exploration.
SOURCES:
http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/William_Harvey.php
http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Biographies/Science/Harvey.htm
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=46&HistoryID=aa05
