PREFACE. ix 



The Wills of great men have always been looked on as 

 calculated to throw light on the character of their authors ; 

 and I have, therefore, great pleasure in presenting to the 

 medical world, for the first time, the Will of William Harvey. 



It only remains for me, in conclusion, to explain and to 

 apologise for the long delay that has taken place in the ap- 

 pearance of this volume. The work was, in fact, nearly three- 

 fourths done more than a year ago ; but with the change 

 made in my sphere of action about that time, all aptitude for 

 literary labour seemed to forsake me, the bow, to use a com- 

 mon metaphor, became unbent, and for a while resisted every 

 effort to string it anew ; and, then, when restrung at length, 

 how constantly was I hindered in my purpose to use it ! 

 With this brief explanation, which will be so well appreciated 

 by the great majority of my fellow members of the Sydenham 

 Society, I confidently throw myself on their kind considera- 

 tion, and pray them to pardon the delay that has occurred. 



R. WILLIS. 



BARNES, SURREY ; 

 Feb. Mth, 1847. 



