Page:The Harveian Oration1876.djvu/7

 great discovery is even now not given, for we are still painfully learning what the blood does in that marvellous circuit which never ends, yet ever recommences. The discovery can no more be overlooked or passed by in physiology, than the movements of the world round our sun, and of our sun round some great centre, could be overlooked in the investigations of astronomy. We may then, I think, confidently assert that this discovery is what we call an immortal one—that is, that it is too great and too momentous to permit men to let the name of the discoverer fade from their minds.

The oration which I have the honour to deliver to-day was not originally intended either to celebrate the discovery of the circulation or the name of the discoverer. It was, in fact, instituted by Harvey himself, and was intended to recall to the memory of the Fellows of the College of Physicians the names of the benefactors who, in their day, had done the College good and true service, and to exhort the members of the