Page:The Harveian oration delivered at the Royal College of Physicians June 26, 1889 (IA b22361285).pdf/6

 hands, and taken into the country to indulge in his favourite sport, but that even there he could not keep his mind from wandering back to those subjects which had now become torture.

It must be confessed, however, that we have to consider the other view of the case—the triumph of success. The man in whom genius is rendered fruitful by labour and by the corrective influence of the understanding, has most probably within him a source of happiness and contentment unknown to the common world. We can only guess at this, and gladly believe in its extreme value. We may perhaps, however, form some indistinct idea of the philosopher’s gratification when each devious path which in turn had led to error is recognised as a snare—when supposed facts have their true nature detected, and fresh observation has cast light on the true bearings of collected instances—when suddenly the whole truth is grasped, and all is clear.

When reflecting upon the history of discovery, we cannot fail to be impressed by the fact that in many cases discoverers have been greatly assisted by the labours of others—that the progress of science has brought about the discovery so nearly