Page:The Harveian oration - delivered at the Royal College of Physicians, London, June 24, 1870 (IA b22307643).pdf/9



"Once in a year there shall be given a solemn oration to commemorate the benefactors of the College, and to encourage its members to search out the secrets of nature by way of experiment."

This was the express wish of Harvey, and for the annual fulfilment of it he duly provided. It is this occasion which, after more than two centuries, calls us together to-day. Had I not felt it a duty to comply with the request of our President to deliver this oration, I should gladly have put aside the task thus devolving upon me, feeling as I do very deeply the responsibility of undertaking it. But by doing so I felt I should incur greater blame than by failing in a