29 



classic straits of Euripus. Truly, indeed, may it 

 be asserted that our ancestors stand in the twofold 

 position of our parents with respect to age, our 

 children with respect to knowledge. 



It was not without opposition that Harvey's 

 views were received ; and the high position in his 

 profession he had attained did not suffice to pre- 

 vent his escape from the effect of the prejudice 

 against innovation entertained by the multitude. 

 Aubrey tells us he had " heard him say that after 

 his book on the circulation of the blood came out 

 he fell mightily in his practice ; 'twas believed by 

 the vulgar that he was crack-brained, and all the 

 physitians were against him." Harvey lived, how- 

 ever, to see his doctrine generally accepted. But, 

 such are the vicissitudes of time, that in our day an 

 attempt has been made to deprive him of the title 

 of discoverer of the circulation and give it to an 

 Italian physician, Cesalpino, because it has been 

 found that a few words of what he wrote can be 

 construed into suggesting that a conception of the 

 circulation existed in his mind. Most ably and 

 successfully have my predecessors in the delivery 



