divert at least a portion of their gifts in this direction. It is truly aggravating to see not uncommonly in the papers announcements of large sums given or bequeathed to various objects which are, to say the least, not the most deserving. But, if we can do nothing of this substantial nature, we may each one of us, at least, endeavour by our work and character to approach in some measure the high standard set before us by our predecessors, and thus fulfil, however imperfectly, Harvey's exhortation.
SECOND INJUNCTION—EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH.
My next duty is to "exhort the Fellows and Members of this College to search and study out the secrets of nature by way of experiment." What Harvey meant by "experiment" can hardly be strictly defined, but I presume he would include under the term the methods which he himself so successfully employed, as well as any others which might in the progress of events be subsequently discovered or developed for the purpose. His methods were careful, thorough, and systematic observation; dissection of the human body; comparative dissections of a large number of all kinds of animals, as well as during fœtal life; and unquestionably direct inspection of the heart and vessels in living animals, as well as actual experiments, or what we now speak of as "vivisection."
