Page:The Harveian oration - delivered at the Royal College of Physicians, London, on October 18, 1884 (IA b21778929).pdf/39

 trodden. . . . ." And again, at a later period, he writes: "The doctrines inculcated on the subject of the humours, and which, as being entertained by the ancients, Fabricius regards as certain truths, requiring no further proofs, are in- consistent and false."

7. But Harvey, although bold and strong, was meck, cautious, and politc. He preferred "being wise with the few . . . . to going wrong with the many. Ent, in conversation with Harvey, said to him: "You your- self, I well remember, informed me once that you had never dissected any animal-and many and many a one you ex- amined but that you discovered something unexpected, He something of which you were formerly uninformed." was "greatly afraid lest he might be charged with pre- sumption, did he lay his work before the public at home, or send it beyond seas for impression. . . . unless (as he says) I had first proposed its subject to you (the President and Fellows of this College), and had confirmed its conclusions by ocular demonstrations in your presence, had replied to your doubts and objections, and secured the assent and support of our distinguished President." 38 Perhaps it might be well if a similar submission were sometimes adopted in this nineteenth century. But so much has been added to what is called our scientific Literature during the third quarter of this century and its now current fourth, that, perhaps, no officer of the College will thank me for the suggestion.

8. Harvey fully realized the value to be attached to the "conclusions to which others had come who had looked" at facts for themselves; but he adds, "he who truly

3 Introd, to Ex. on Gen., p. 153. 33 Of the Humours, p. 557. 37 Epistle Dedicatory, p. 146. 36 Intr. to Ex. on Gen. p. 152. 38 Dedic. to R.C I. of Thesis on the Motion of the Heart and Blood, p. 6.