Page:The Harveian oration 1866.djvu/16

 mation the best interpreter of her own secrets (c). He saw the necessity of considering the motions of the heart and arteries not only in man, but in all animals that have hearts (d). He recognised the general fact, that to ascertain the function of an organ it must be examined not in one only but in various species of animals. This was one clue to his success. He was the first English Comparative Anatomist.

Another aid in his research was his knowledge as a practical physician (e) and pathologist. It is clear that he had a large acquaintance with Morbid Anatomy, and a just appreciation of what might be learned from it (f), though at that time it had scarcely been recognised by others as even a subject for study. Had he carried out his intention of publishing his "Medical Anatomy"(g), he would have been the founder of that branch of science; for the Sepulchretum of Bonetus did not appear till twenty years, nor the great work of Morgagni until a century, after Harvey's death.

In short, Harvey had mastered all the medical knowledge of his time, and had gone beyond it. He was an untiring student of nature, ever observing, and reflecting on what he observed, and