William Harvey / by James Risdon Bennett.

James Risdon Bennett

Date:: [1880]

Credit: William Harvey / by James Risdon Bennett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

1/6 page 709

$\ IDONEA. 700 C. Keene had once been kind tb me. She did not re- cognise me, and I did not care to make myself known to her. And all this time Mrs.—Miss Welborn was seeking me, and I was looking for her.” “ And a Iligher Power, who works His will in us, was also seeking—and finding you.” “ Yes. I acknowledge my weakness, and His strength.” Another long pause, broken again by Percy. “ And who shall tell your Brother this strange tale ? ” “ I will. I have done the wrong, and I will atone for it. I will humble myself before him, my younger and nobler. As I left my home, so will I return. Promise that you will tell no one this, my secret, until I give you permission. I have betrayed myself, but 3’ou must be changed indeed if you betray' me.” “Never, Clarina, never! ” The familiar name was drawn from him by the sudden pathos of her voice and an appealing glance. He forgot, for the moment, her other name, her children, her past history, and remembered only the young girl who had been wont to subdue while obeying him. “ And he is ill—myJbrotbor ! He who lias done so WILLIAM HAEVEY. much for me has none but hirelings to wait on him,” she murmured, after a momentary abstraction. “ When may I see Idonea ? ” “ The day after to-morrow, if possible.” “ She must not know who I am. You promise not to betray me to her—to any one ? I trust you as myself.” The impetuosity of this speech recalled to Percy the girl Clarina. Possibly the glance that met hers also reminded her of the youthful Percy, for she looked into the fire, and said penitently, “ Forgive me; I have offended you, Mr. Umfre- ville.” “ Offended me ! At such a moment! after so many years! Oh, Clarina! ” he replied, and with sudden impulse rose and stood by her side. Both were trembling with some strong emotion, but neither spoke nor moved. At last Percy mastered his, and, as if by some sudden impulse, knelt down. “ Let us thank God for His unspeakable mercies,” he said, and in a husky voice Qff^recT Sprayer and praise for her who “ had been lost -and. waY-found,” while tears fell on his .bowed head from^ey^ that had long wept only bitter Brine.'. f uk v\ 1 / 1.-^ 1 CP 7 BY JAMES KISDON BENNETT, M.D., PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OF PHTSICIAHS, ^7 FAMILIAR though the name of William Harvey is, as that of the great physician who discovered the circulation of the Blood, there are comparatively few outside the ranks of his profession who can appre- ciate what that discovery implied, or the extent and value of the benefits that humanity has derived from his genius. The name of Linacre will always be illustrious as one of the earliest and most striking examples of the combination of classical literature and general learning with medical science, which, down to the present day, has contributed greatly to elevate the character and promote the utility of medicine as a profession. But the distinction acquired by Harvey is of a higher and far different character. He inaugurated a new era in medicine. Of Newton it was said with equal truth and grandeur in the well known lines,— “ Nature and Nature's laws lay liid in night; God said, ‘ Let Newton be,’ and all was light.” So may it be said that till Harvey arose and pro- claimed his great discovery, animal physiology, and to a large extent anatomy also, were surrounded by darkness that no one had been able to penetrate. What became of the food that was taken in, and how it was distributed for the nutrition of the body and maintenance of life, no one knew, A good deal of anatomical knowledge had been acquired by the opening and dissecting of dead bodies, both of men and animals, but for the most part the real nature of the marvellous contrivances that were thus revealed were not understood, and when glimpses of their true purport were obtained, these were too often obscured by the various and absurd theories and speculations with which they were ■enveloped. Certain facts cf the utmost importance in connection with the circulation of-thiT blood had, however, been well established, which, when duly considered and estimated by Harvey’s genius, ob- tained a fuller meaning, and served him as import- ant stepping-stones to his further progress. From the earliest period of his professional studies he appears to have been impressed with the importance of ascertaining facts for the basis of all reasoning on medical subjects. He, however, entered on the pur- suit of medicine with a mind well trained by the study of logic and natural philosophy during his residence in the University of Cambridge, which un- questionably proved of the utmost advantage to him. W. Harvey was descended from a highly respectable family in the county of Kent, and was born on the 1st of April, 1578, at Folkestone. At ten years of age he was sent to the Grammar School at Canter- bury, and at sixteen was entered at Caius College, Cambridge. Leaving this University about the year 1598, he betook himself to Padua, then the renowned school of medicine in the world, and where the celebrated Fabricius ab Aquapendente was Pro- fessor of Anatomy. Here he attracted the marked attention of all the professors, and elicited from them the highest estimation of his abilities and attainments. On the 25th of April, 1602, the diploma of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon him in terms of unusual eulogy, and he forthwith returned to England, was incorporated as a doctor at Cambridge, and settled in London as a physician. Having married a daughter of Dr. Launcelot Brown, physi- cian to Queen Elizabeth, he joined Linacre’s College of Physicians, and became a fellow thereof in 1607. On the recommendation of King James i, and the President and Fellows of the College of Physicians, he was appointed Physician to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. In 1615 he was elected Lumleian Lecturer$

William Harvey / by James Risdon Bennett.

Licence and re-use

Contents