Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/19

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THE HARVEIAN ORATION.
15

capital, which was employed by his brother Eliab to such purpose that the doctor actually died a rich man.

Harvey's connection with this College demands more than a passing notice. In 1604 his name appears on the roll of candidates for the Fellowship, and in 1607, after having passed through his term of probation, he was duly admitted a Fellow. In 1615, when thirty-six years old, Harvey was appointed Lumleian Lecturer, to deliver the lectures on anatomy and physiology, a position which he held until 1656. In the very first course he presented a detailed exposition of his views concerning the circulation of the blood, which continued to form one of the subjects of his lectures for nine or ten years before he published his celebrated treatise in 1628, and he had gone on demonstrating the subject before his learned oratory, illustrating it by new and additional arguments, and freeing it from the objections raised by the skilful amongst anatomists. Harvey held the office of Treasurer for one year, from 1628 to 1629. He served three times as Censor. In 1652 this College placed his statue, with a complimentary inscription on the pedestal, in its hall at Amen Corner, which, unfortunately, was destroyed by the Great Fire of London. About this time Harvey commenced the erection at his own cost of a handsome addition to the College of Physicians, and also furnished the library with books, and the