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 34 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. Stated in this summary way, nothing seems easier, more obvious, or more readily understood, than the physiology of this great and important function ; but until the time of Harvey it was in- volved in the greatest obscurity, and mixed up with all manner of contradictory absurdities. And yet before his day many things were made out ; the valves of the veins, for instance, were known ; the pulmonary circulation was understood, and several other essential points had been established ; still the great inference had never been drawn. So often are we on the very threshold of a disco- very, which by some fatality we miss ; and when it is at length made, have only to express our as- tonishment that we were so marvellously purblind as to overlook it ! But the early life of Harvey, and the opportu- nities of his education, led him step by step in the brilliant career of his investigation, till it was finally crowned with success. William Harvey was descended from a respect- able family in the county of Kent, and was born at Folkstone on the 1 St of April, 1578. He was born in the house described as built of fair stone, which, after his death, became the post-house of the town, and which Harvey left by will, together with some lands adjoining, to Caius College, Cam- bridge. His younger brother, Eliab, would, it is said, have given any money in exchange for it, be- cause it was the paternal mansion, and all his bre- thren had been born there ; but the doctor thought that his own memory would be better preserved, by leaving it to the college where he had been edu- cated ; besides, his brother Eliab, who had become