What was his influence on religion?
He substituted, for the repetition of worn-out theories, a conscientious and reverent search into the works of the great Power giving life to the universe; he substituted, for representations of the human structure pitiful and unreal, representations revealing truths most helpful to the whole human race.
The death of this champion seems to have virtually ended the contest.
Licenses to dissect soon began to be given by sundry popes to universities, and were renewed at intervals of from three to four years, until the Reformation set in motion trains of thought which did much to release science from this yoke.( 323) (323) For a curious example of weapons drawn from Galen and used against Vesalius, see Lewes, Life of Goethe, p.

343, note.

For proofs that I have not overestimated Vesalius, see Portal, ubi supra.

Portal speaks of him as "le genie le plus droit qu'eut l'Europe"; and again, "Vesale me parait un des plus grands hommes qui ait existe." For the charge that anatomists dissected living men--against men of science before Vesalius's time--see Littre's chapter on Anatomy.

For the increased liberty given anatomy by the Reformation, see Roth's Vesalius, p.