Page:The Harveian oration, 1893.djvu/61

37 physiology. The action of the heart and the circulation of the blood, the absorption of chyle by the lacteals and thoracic duct, the mechanism of respiration and some knowledge of its chemical effects, the function of secretion by glands, the minute structure of the eye and ear, and. of the reproductive apparatus, and a knowledge—imperfect, but true as far as it went — of the functions of the brain and nerves, these were the achievements of the 17th century due to Harvey, Glisson, Willis, and Mayow, among our own countrymen, and to Pecquet, Malpighi, Leuwenhoeck, De Graaf, Swammerdam, Aselli, Redi, and Bartolinus. In all this brilliant advance of knowledge, experiment upon the lower animals was the method used, and the method is as indispensable now.

Anyone conversant with a single branch of Natural Science is aware that experiment, as well as observation, is necessary. Who would expect