Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/71

 also be emphasised that adequate education and training are essential before it can be entered upon with any prospect of success, or with the hope of carrying it out to the best advantage. Indeed, even some of those who have no original aptitude for scientific investigation may, by dint of persistent practice and prolonged experience, become experts in this line, and help to contribute in no small degree to the elucidation of important subjects. And, further, it cannot be too strongly impressed upon those who take up research work at the present day that they must be prepared to follow diligently on the lines laid down for them by Harvey himself, as well as by Pasteur, Lister, and other of his followers. They must recognise the imperative need of patience and perseverance, especially avoiding undue haste in coming to unwarranted conclusions on insufficient data; and should ever be guided by an honest and earnest endeavour to "search out diligently the secrets of nature," to strive after truth alone, and to fight against every temptation merely to gain kudos or popularity, to achieve a prominent position or worldly success, or to gratify vulgar ambition.

As bearing upon the personal factor, I must not omit to allude to the fact that scientific research is now-a-days by no means limited to men, but that women are also engaged actively in the work, and have already achieved considerable success.