Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/39

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE HARVEIAN ORATION.
35

1874. No words can convey in any adequate degree the feelings of admiration, esteem, reverence, and affection which we students entertained towards this great teacher, and always our loyal friend. Possibly to some now present, and probably to the modern medical student, Sharpey may be a mere name, but let it never be forgotten that in his day his fame had spread throughout every civilised country, and he was universally recognised as one of the foremost physiologists, and most attractive and accomplished lecturers of the age. I have still a vivid recollection of the delight with which we listened to his lectures, and the inestimable benefit which we received from his instructions.

Dr. Oliver, who has himself done excellent scientific and practical work in relation to the circulatory system, as well as in other directions, in January 1904 gave to the College in trust the munificent sum of £2,000 sterling, to found and endow an annual lectureship or prize intended to promote physiological research by observation and experiment on man himself, and encourage the application of physiological knowledge to the prevention and cure of disease and the prolongation of life. It is left to the President and Censors to determine whether a lecturer shall be appointed, or a prize awarded for work already done. It was most fitting that the first Oliver-Sharpey Lecturer should have been Dr. Oliver himself; and he was succeeded this