Ebook: Circulation: William Harvey's revolutionary idea

William Harvey's theory of circulation was as controversial in its day as Copernicus' idea that the earth revolved around the sun. This title charts the rise of the yeoman's son who demolished beliefs held by anatomists since Roman times, going on to become arguably the greatest Englishman in the history of science after Darwin and Newton.;pt. I RAISING HIMSELF FROM THE GROUND -- 1.A Kentish upbringing (1578-1593): `Half Farmer and half Gentleman' -- 2.Cambridge studies I (1593): `Making low legs to a nobleman' -- 3.Cambridge studies II (c. 1593-1599): `Devoting himself assiduously to his studies' -- Essay 1 Galen, Mondino and Vesalius: A brief history of anatomy -- 4.Paduan studies I (1599-c. 1600): `Fair Padua, nursery of the arts' -- Essay 2 A dissection of sacred hearts, feeling hearts and thinking hearts -- 5.Paduan studies II (c. 1600-1602): `The exposition of anatomy' -- 6.Early years in London (c. 1602-c. 1610): `Begin the world' -- 7.Advances (c. 1610-c. 1625): `Good endeavours bring forth much good frute' -- pt. II PLACING HIS HEAD AMONG THE STARS -- 8.A public lecture (late 1610s): `Nasty (yet recompensed by admirable variety)' -- 9.Private research (late 1610s-1620s): `A dog, crow, kite, raven .... anything to anatomize' -- Essay 3 A short history of vivisection -- 10.Birth of the theory (late 1610s-1620s): `I began to bethink my self' -- Essay 4 Francis Bacon, experiment and empiricism -- 11.Demonstration (late 1610s-1620s): `Whereby I offer you to perceive and judge' -- Essay 5 The landscape of Harvey's imagination (I): Microcosm and macrocosm -- Essay 6 The landscape of Harvey's imagination (II): Perfect circles -- Essay 7 Everyday influences on Harvey's theory -- 12.Publication and reception (1628-1650s): "Twas beleeved ... he was crack-brained' -- 13.Dissemination and defence (1628-1636): `He is a circulator!' -- Essay 8 Descartes' clockwork universe -- 14.Civil War years (the 1640s): `Anabaptists, fanatics, robbers, and murderers' -- 15.Last years (the 1650s): `Shitt-breeches'.