Page:The Harveian oration, delivered before the Royal College of Physicians, Wednesday, June 27th, 1877 (IA b22314623).pdf/3

 THE

HARVEIAN ORATION,

1877.

MR. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, GENTLEMEN,—

The fog that prevailed in the realms of science before the publication of Harvey's great work, compared to the ever-brightening light that has been shed over them since he taught the doctrine that has been all but universally asso ciated with his name since 1628, necessarily renders us, as it did his contemporaries of this ancient College, anxious to see that his fame suffers no diminution through our neglect.

It might seem impossible for any one who has carefully studied the literature of the subject, to entertain a doubt as to Harvey's claim to be regarded as the regenerator of human and animal physiology. The feeble opposition of the un- generous Riolan,* who taught a modified Galenic doctrine of the functions of the heart and vessels,

de la Circulation, p. 37- A 2
 * "Les mauvais raisonnements de Riolan."-Flourens, Histoire