Biologist William Garvey and his contribution to medicine

William Garvey (years of life - 1578-1657) is an English physician and natural scientist. He was born in Folkestone on April 1, 1578. His father was a prosperous merchant. William was the eldest son in the family, and therefore the main heir. However, unlike his brothers, he was completely indifferent to the fabric prices of William Garvey. Biology did not immediately interest him, but he quickly realized that he was burdened by conversations with captains of chartered ships. Therefore, Garvey happily set to work at Canterbury College.

Below are the portraits of such a great physician as William Garvey. These photos refer to different years of his life, portraits were made by different artists. Unfortunately, at that time there were no cameras, so we can only roughly imagine what Garvey looked like.

Period of study

In 1588, William Harvey, whose biography interests many today, entered the Royal School, located in Canterbury. Here he began to study Latin. In May 1593 he was accepted to the Kiz College of the famous Cambridge University. He received the scholarship in the same year (it was established by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1572). Garvey spent the first 3 years of his studies on "disciplines useful to the doctor." These are classical languages (Greek and Latin), philosophy, rhetoric and mathematics. William was particularly interested in philosophy. From his works it is evident that Aristotle's natural philosophy had a very great influence on the development of William Harvey as a scientist.

The next 3 years, William studied the disciplines that relate directly to medicine. The training at Cambridge at that time was mainly about reading and discussing the works of Galen, Hippocrates, and other ancient authors. Sometimes students were given anatomical demonstrations. They were required to spend every winter a science teacher. Kiz College was authorized twice a year to perform autopsies of the bodies of criminals who were executed. Garvey in 1597 received the title of bachelor. He left Cambridge in October 1599.

Journey

At the age of 20, burdened by the "truths" of medieval logic and natural philosophy, becoming a fairly educated man, he had practically no skills at all. Harvey attracted natural science. Intuitively, he realized that it was they who would give scope to his sharp mind. According to the custom of young people of the time, William Harvey went on a five-year journey. He wanted to consolidate himself in remote countries in his timid and vague attraction to medicine. And William went first to France, and then to Germany.

Visiting Padua

The exact date of the first visit to William Padua is unknown (some researchers refer it to 1598), but in 1600 he was already the "starosta" representative (elected position) of students from England at the University of Padua. At that time the local medical school was at the height of fame. In Padua anatomical research flourished thanks to J. Fabricia, a native of Aquapendent, who first occupied the chair of surgery, and subsequently - the chair of embryology and anatomy. Fabrice was a follower and disciple of G. Fallopia.

Acquaintance with the achievements of J. Fabricia

When William Garvey arrived in Padua, J. Fabricius was already at the venerable age. Most of his works were written, although not all of them were published. The most significant of his works is "About the venous valves." It was published in the first year of his stay in Padua Harvey. However, in 1578 Fabricius demonstrated these valves to students. Although he himself showed that always in the direction of the heart opened the entrances to them, in this fact he did not see a connection with the circulation. Labor Fabrice had a great influence on William Harvey, in particular, on his books "On the Development of the Egg and Chicken" (1619) and "On the Ripe Fetus" (1604).

Own Experiments

William thought about the role of these valves. However, for a scientist, some reflections are not enough. We needed an experiment, an experiment. And William began by experimenting with himself. Bandaging his hand, he found that she soon waded below the dressing, the skin darkened, and the veins swelled. Then Garvey set the experience over the dog, which he bandaged both feet with a string. And again the legs below the bandages began to swell, veins swelled. When he cut the swollen vein on his leg, dark dense blood dripped from the cut. Then Harvey cut the vein on the other leg, but now it's higher than the dressing. Not a single drop of blood has flowed out. It is clear that the vein below the dressing is full of blood, but there is no blood over the dressing. The conclusion was that it could mean. However, Harvey did not hurry with him. As a researcher, he was very cautious and carefully checked his observations and experiments, not hurrying to draw conclusions.

Return to London, admission to practice

Harvey in 1602, April 25, completed his education, becoming a doctor of medicine. He returned to London. The University of Cambridge was recognized this degree, which, however, did not mean that William has the right to engage in medical practice. At that time, the College of Physicians issued a license for it. In 1603 Garvey also turned there. In the spring of the same year he held exams and answered all the questions "quite satisfactorily." He was admitted to practice until the next exam, which was due in a year. Harvey three times appeared before the commission.

Working at St. Bartholomew's Hospital

In 1604, on October 5, he was accepted as a member of the College. And three years later, William became a full member. In 1609, he petitioned, asking him to enroll him in St. Bartholomew's hospital by a doctor. At that time, a very prestigious job was considered for a medical practitioner in this hospital, so Harvey supported his request with letters from the president of the College, as well as some of its members and even the king. Accept his hospital management agreed, as soon as there is free space. In 1690, on October 14, William was officially enlisted in her staff. He was supposed to visit the hospital at least 2 times a week, examine patients and prescribe medications. Patients were sometimes sent to his home. William Garvey for 20 years worked in this hospital, and this despite the fact that his London private practice was constantly expanding. In addition, he continued his activities in the College of Physicians, and also carried out his own experimental research.

Speech at the Lamlian Readings

William Harvey in 1613 was elected to the post of superintendent of the College of Physicians. And in 1615 he began to act as a lecturer at the Lamlian Readings. They were established by Lord Lumley in 1581. The goal pursued by these readings is to improve the level of medical education in the city of London. All education at that time was reduced to the presence at the autopsy of the bodies of criminals who had been executed. These public autopsies were arranged four times a year by the Society of Barber-Surgeons and the College of Physicians. The lecturer, speaking at the Lamlian Readings, was to twice a week conduct a one-hour lecture during the year so that students could complete a full course of surgery, anatomy and medicine for 6 years. This duty William Harvey, whose contribution to the biology of the priceless, performed for 41 years. At the same time, he also spoke at the College. The British Museum now holds a manuscript of Harvey's notes to the lectures that he held on 16, 17 and 18 April in 1616. It is called "Summaries to lectures on general anatomy".

Theory of the circulation of W. Harvey

In Frankfurt in 1628 was published the work of William "Anatomical study on the movement of the heart and blood in animals." He first formulated his own theory of blood circulation, and also brought experimental evidence to her in William Harvey. The contribution to medicine made by him was very important. William measured the total amount of blood, the frequency of contractions of the heart and the size of the systolic volume in the body of the sheep and proved that all the blood in two minutes must pass through her heart, and in 30 minutes passes the amount of blood equal in volume to the weight of the animal. This meant that, contrary to what Galen had said about the arrival of all new portions of blood to the heart from the organs that produce it, she returned to her heart in a closed cycle. And the closeness is provided by capillaries - the smallest tubes that connect veins and arteries.

William becomes the physician-physician of Charles I

In the beginning of 1631 he became the physician-physician of Charles I William Harvey. The king himself appreciated the contribution to the science of this scientist. Charles I was interested in Harvey's research, provided the scientist with royal hunting grounds, located in Hampton Court and Windsor. Harvey used them to conduct his experiments. In 1633, in May, William accompanied the king during his visit to Scotland. It is not excluded that during his stay in Edinburgh, he visited Bass Rock, where cormorants, as well as other wild birds, nested. Harveya at that time was interested in the development of the embryo of mammals and birds.

Moving to Oxford

In 1642, there was a battle at Edgehill (an event of the Civil War in England). William Harvey went to Oxford for the king. Here he again took up medical practice, and also continued his experiments and observations. Charles I in 1645 appointed William dean of Merton College. Oxford in June 1646 was besieged by supporters of Cromwell and taken by them, and Harvey returned to London. The circumstances of life and his studies for several years are not known much.

New works of Harvey

Harvey in 1646 published two anatomical essays in Cambridge: "Studies of blood circulation." In 1651, his second fundamental work entitled "Studies on the Birth of Animals" was also published. It summarized the results of Harvey's research, which he conducted for many years on the issue of embryonic development of vertebrates and invertebrates. He formulated the theory of epigenesis. Egg is the common origin of animals, as William Garvey argued. Contribution to science, which subsequently made by other scientists, convincingly refuted this theory, according to which the egg comes from all living things. However, for that time, Harvey's achievements were very important. A powerful impetus to the development of practical and theoretical obstetrics was research on embryology, which was carried out by William Garvey. His achievements ensured him fame not only during his lifetime, but also for many years after his death.

last years of life

Briefly describe the last years of life of this scientist. William Garvey since 1654, lived in London in his brother's house (or on the suburb of Rohampton). He became president of the College of Physicians, but decided to abandon this honorable elective office, because he felt that he was too old for her. In 1657, on June 3, William Garvey died in London. The contribution to his biology is truly enormous, thanks to him, medicine has made great progress.