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 passed the discovery of the true cause of the colic of Devonshire.

To put the matter somewhat differently—between discoveries of a more simple and obvious kind, and that of Harvey, there is the same sort of difference as between the merit of discerning the use of a tool never seen before, and that of a man who, having the parts of a complex machine, such as a watch, a clock, or a steam-engine placed before him, should find out their uses, discover its motive force, and (being a work of human hands) succeed in putting, it together, and setting it in motion.

You will observe that I take it for granted that Harvey did really discover the circulation of the blood; that neither he himself, nor his contemporaries who, whether they opposed or supported him, at least took him at his word, were mistaken about the matter. Harvey, who had come from Padua laden with university honours, bearing with him all the learning of the ancients, and the best fruits of modern teaching; intelligent, well-informed, candid, honest; doubtless spoke the simple truth when he said to the President of the Royal College of Physicians, other learned physicians, and his esteemed colleagues, concerning the great work