CONCLUSION OF THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE CIRCULATION
And now I may be allowed to give in brief my view of the
circulation of the blood, and to propose it for general adoption.
Since all things, both argument and ocular demonstration, show
that the blood passes through the lungs, and heart by the force
of the ventricles, and is sent for distribution to all parts of
the body, where it makes its way into the veins and porosities of
the flesh, and then flows by the veins from the circumference on
every side to the centre, from the lesser to the greater veins,
and is by them finally discharged into the vena cava and right
auricle of the heart, and this in such a quantity or in such a
flux and reflux thither by the arteries, hither by the veins, as
cannot possibly be supplied by the ingesta, and is much greater
than can be required for mere purposes of nutrition; it is
absolutely necessary to conclude that the blood in the animal
body is impelled in a circle, and is in a state of ceaseless
motion; that this is the act or function which the heart performs
by means of its pulse; and that it is the sole and only end of
the motion and contraction of the heart.