Page:The Harveian oration - delivered at the Royal College of Physicians, London, June 24, 1870 (IA b22307643).pdf/24

 accomplished, we cannot admit that their investigations have as yet approached even the confines of the organic kingdom.

Physiology, in the range of animal and vegetable morphology, has done much to give us the assurance that the infinite variety of organic forms will be traced to their secondary causes. It may seem but trifling to note how vegetable symmetry is dependent upon the relations of light and moisture, and the circumambient fluids, air or water; or that leaves and flowers will be regular or not, according to the varying firmness of the stem on which they are supported. But if from these observations we can be carried on to those elaborate arrangements which have been described as so admirable in their intentions as to surpass the utmost inge- nuity of man to conceive, we cannot believe that there is a limit to our progress but that which our supineness or pride of intellect im- Whilst we accept this en- poses upon us. couragement, it is to be remarked that the explanations afforded are chiefly statical or