Page:The advancement of science by experimental research - the Harveian oration, delivered at the Royal College of Physicians, June 27th, 1883 (IA b24869958).pdf/33

29 Aristotle, the soul of the Universe by Plato, the Natura Naturans by others, Saturn and Jove by the ancient Greeks and Romans; by ourselves, and as is seeming in these days, The Creator and Father of all that is in Heaven, or earth, on whom animals depend for their being, and at whose will and pleasure all things are and were engendered." (On Generation, p. 462.)

Such was the immortal IIarvey; a mind endowed with the highest gifts. The at- tainment of the knowledge of the circula- tion was a gradual evolution of the truth, as one portion after another was observed, till the whole was clearly seen in the beauty of its simplicity; it was the reward of patient research, and often by experi- ment on the living animal. I cannot find a better answer to those who in their mistaken kindness of heart to lower ani- mals would perpetuate ignorance, than by reference to the inestimable benefit of the researches of Harvey. To stop the ad- vance of science is to encourage the dark- ness of ignorance. If the laws of the