Page:The Harveian oration, delivered before the Royal College of Physicians, Wednesday, June 27th, 1877 (IA b22314623).pdf/8

 "like persons purblind or groping about in the dark," had failed to recognise the intimate con- nexion and beautiful harmony of the different parts involved in the process.

The entire tenor of Harvey's life and work forbids the view that he was a plagiarist, and that, as Cesalpino's panegyrist has recently asserted, he arrogated to himself a discovery which belongs to the latter. Contemporary writers failed to recog- nise in Harvey's doctrine a reproduction of the teachings of Cesalpino; and, though his great adversary, Riolan, was satisfied that Harvey had been anticipated by Aristotle and Cesalpino, we can scarcely doubt that Schlegel correctly describes the state of medical science and the effect pro- duced by the great work published in 1628. He says of Harvey's doctrine:* " Inaudita, communi- busque et per multa sæcula inveteratis opinionibus adversissima sententia, omnes commovit."

But let us do justice to Cesalpino; for, though it is clear to my mind that he failed to appreciate the truth as it was made plain by Harvey, he ap- proached nearer to him than any of the physiolo- gists of earlier days. Any one who was satisfied with the evidence afforded by solitary passages in his writings might fairly assert that Cesalpino had taught the true doctrine of the circulation; but,


 * De Motu Sanguinis Commentatio, p. 1. Hamburgi, 1650.