Page:The Harveian oration 1911.djvu/11

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6 OLD AND NEW VIEWS ON

bear in mind the numbers and the distinction of the past orators and the many periods of history in which they lived it will be obvious to all here to-day that it is impossible for me to say anything regarding the discovery of the circulation which has not been already said; for again and again the Harveian orators have eloquently set forth its originality and importance, the steps by which it was attained, and the work of previous labourers in the same field.

When you, Sir, appointed me Harveian orator and conferred on me the highest honour you have to bestow in this College, you accompanied the command with a desire that, after due and proper reference to the work of our great benefactor, I should dwell more particularly on the subject to which I have devoted a large portion of my life—viz., tuberculosis; and I will endeavour to carry out your wishes to the best of my ability.

First, to comply with my orders, let us briefly contemplate the state of knowledge concerning the circulation of the blood before Harvey commenced his investigations.

Knowledge of the Circulation in Early Times.

Aristotle had taught that in man and the higher animals the blood was elaborated from the food in the liver, whence it was carried to the heart and distributed through the veins over the body. His successors of the Alexandrine School of Medicine,

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