**3. Virchow's studies of thrombosis and embolism**

Virchow's objective from 1846 to 1856 was to prove that pulmonary 'phlebitis' is actually 'pulmonary embolism' arising from thrombi formed in distal veins, and thus to contradict Cruveilhier. He wrote almost nothing of note about the mechanism(s) of thrombogenesis, but made crucial observations about the morphology of venous thrombi and the sites at which they form. Acceptable accounts of the aetiology of DVT must explain those observations.

Virchow's work on thrombosis and embolism has been widely misunderstood and misrepresented during the past half century.
