Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/72



As immediately relevant to our commemoration of Harvey to-day, and as an appropriate illustration of the practical results of research following upon his great discovery, it would be entirely within my province to discuss in historical sequence the remarkable progress that has been made with regard to the circulatory system since his time, and to indicate the present state of knowledge and practice in relation to that system. To enter upon this tempting theme, however, at any length is obviously out of the question within the limited time at my disposal, and I must content myself with a very general summary, leaving the details for future Harveian Orators, or for the Lecturers on the "History of Medicine," who might here find very appropriate material for their discourses.

At the outset it is necessary to bear in mind what Harvey really did discover and demonstrate, and thus to have some definite starting-point for studying the results of further investigation and progress. Of course, many anatomical facts relating to the heart and vessels, as well as that there was a movement of the blood, were well known before Harvey appeared on the scene; and these facts he fully appreciated and utilised, at the same time correcting anatomical errors, and controverting the erroneous conclusions and theories of his