Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/80



As the outcome of certain of the methods of research just outlined, remarkable advances have been made as regards our knowledge of the nature, ætiology, and pathology of morbid conditions of the circulatory system, using the term in a comprehensive sense, and of their relation to other organs and systems. In illustration of this statement the following brief summary may be given.

1. Although no doubt some of the more gross lesions affecting the heart and pericardium have been known for a long period, and were probably described by Harvey, considerable progress has been made in this direction even within recent times. We are now quite familiar with the ordinary diseases of these structures, as well as with their chief combinations, and their mutual secondary relations and effects. Most pathological museums exhibit nowadays a fairly complete range of specimens exemplifying these affections, where they can be studied with advantage. As regards the heart, morbid conditions of the valves and orifices, and enlargements of the organ, occupy a conspicuous prominence; but it must be remembered that these are not the only changes to be borne in mind. A marked advance has been made of late years as regards our knowledge of the varieties of acute endocarditis, and how far they are set up by different infective agents, including amongst