294 STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE, ETC. 



" The circling streams once thought but pools of blood 

 (Whether life's fuel or the body's food), 

 From dark oblivion Harvey's name shall save."* 



Harvey was happy in two respects as regards 

 his discovery. It was, in the main and especially 

 in England, recognised as proven in his own life- 

 time, and, again, no one of credit claimed or 

 asserted the claim of others to priority. In 

 research, all inquirers stand on steps others have 

 built up ; but, in this, the most important of 

 single contributions to physiology, the credit is 

 Harvey's and almost Harvey's alone. His other 

 great work, " Exercitationes de Generatione Ani- 

 malium," is of secondary importance. It shows 

 marvellous powers of observation and very la- 

 borious research ; but, although, to a great extent, 

 it led the way in embryology, it was shortly 

 superseded by works of those who had the com- 

 pound microscope at their command. Cowley, a 

 man of wide culture, wrote an " Ode on Harvey " 

 in which his achievement was contrasted with a 

 failing common to scientific men of his own time, 

 and, so far as we can see, of all time : 



Epistle to Dr. Charleton. 



