Gaspare Aselli’s discovery of lacteals

Abstract

Article is dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the discovery of lacteals by the Italian surgeon and anatomist Gaspare Aselli (1581-1626). The author's translation of a fragment of Aselli's original text "De lactibus sive lacteis venis quarto vasorum mesaraicorum genere novo invento" with a description of the circumstances of the discovery is provided. A brief biographical note of the scientist is given.