Food that was digested was thought to turn into a vapor
which passed along the veins and was concreted as blood, flesh,
and fat. After 1546 there was a book listing hundreds of drugs and
explaining how to prepare them, but their use was by trial and
error.
Students were beginning to read for the bar by their own study of
the newly available printed texts, treatises, and collections of
statute law and of cases, instead of listening in court and
talking with attorneys.
In 1523, Anthony Fitzherbert wrote "Boke of Husbandry", which set
forth the most current methods of arable farming, giving details
of tools and equipment, advice on capital outlay, methods of
manuring, draining, ploughing, and rick-building. It was used by
many constantly, and was often carried around in the pocket. This
began a new way to disseminate new methods in agriculture. He also
wrote a "Boke of Surveying", which relied on the perch rod and
compass dial, and gave instruction on how to set down the results
of a survey. In 1533, Gemma Frisius laid down the principles of
topographical survey by triangulation. This improved the quality
of surveys and produced accurate plots.
Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" was a popular book. Through
Chaucer, London English became a national standard and the notion
of "correct pronunciation" came into being.
The discoveries and adventures of Amerigo Vespucci, a Portuguese
explorer, were widely read.
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