Page:The Harveian oration - delivered at the Royal College of Physicians, October 18th, 1899 (IA b24975941).pdf/19

 or Pliny, Nehemiah Grew, White of Selborne, John Hunter, and Charles Darwin. Like all men who have learnt to distinguish words from facts, his literary style was simple and direct. With him brevity is the soul of wit." His essay De Motu Cordis," the result of at least twelve years of study, meditation, and experiment, is so simple and direct, and written with such attention to method and logical sequence, that it cannot fail to convince the unprejudiced mind. There is in it scarcely a redundant word, and it may be read in a few hours.

Harvey's passion for observation is made evident by several passages in his life. In his study of the circulation he made use of every living thing within his reach that had a visible heart. When absent with the Duke of Lennox in France in 1631, he writes to Lord Dorchester, that "by the way, we can scarce see a dog, crow, kite, raven, or any other bird, or anything to anatomise." When in attend- ance upon the King in Scotland in 1633 Harvey escapes from the pomp of courts and ascends the Bass Rock to study for himself this procreant cradle of the sea-birds. When he was travelling with Lord Arundel we learn how Harvey (whom the Ambassador styles "Little Doctor Harvey" and "Honest little Harvey") "would still be making observations of strange trees and plants, earths, &c., and sometimes like to be lost."

After the outbreak of the Civil War we find Harvey stealing a few hours from duty to visit